Kaden checked out without fuss. After all, at some level these were his employees, in an indirect manner. S&K Holdings employed Mistress Scylla, who had hired Mr. Vela, who had hired everyone else. With Trinity at his side, he strolled through the streets of the City.
“Stop, [Thief!]” someone shouted up ahead.
A man bolted through the streets, dodging carts.
Kaden couldn’t help sighing. “Trinity—”
“If you don’t mind, keep out of my training exercise.” A man-mountain in gold armor stood behind Kaden. Captain Blanco, head of Verona’s City Knights.
Kaden willed Trinity to stand down and shuffle to the side, then leaned on Remembrance as the [Thief] sprinted past with five [Guards] in pursuit. “You going to help them?”
“Absolutely not.” The [LanceMaster] waited until the last [Guard] stumbled past. “The best training for catching a [Thief] is trying to catch a thief, so I hired one. You finally going to take me up on a meal?”
Kaden waved to the market. “I could have eaten at BirchHaven but I love market breakfast. Come on, let’s grab food there. What exactly makes you think I’d ever fit in with the Justari?”
“What makes you think you don’t?”
“Sometimes what’s right doesn’t match what people expect.” Kaden bought sausage and omlets and biscuits beside the man who ate four times as much, and they sat at an open table while the crowds milled about them.
“You’re young. The longer you’re alive the easier it is to understand what’s right. It’s easier to commit to doing what’s right.”
Kaden shook his head. “I don’t have that kind of conviction.”
“Yet. I watched you look James Dervish in the eye and say ‘No.’ That’s the beginnings of conviction. Or insanity, sometimes it’s hard to tell at first. But I’m betting conviction.”
Which meant it was worth a shot. “Are the Justari interested in partnering with me to resettle the town?”
Captain Blanco gave him a grin. “I knew you’d ask, but doing what’s right is what you do. For now, that Town is just a stack of buildings. There’s no right or wrong. But once there’s people there, we’ll help protect them.”
“Thank you. I don’t want to offend you by not accepting an offer to join.”
“You’re not offending me. I don’t think you should join the Stateri, though James Dervish will eventually ask. You have a long, long time until you have to decide, so don’t decide. Not even if you want to join us. The right thing to do is almost always wait, and Justice is patient.”
“Sir! We caught him just outside the city gates!” A [Guard] rushed toward them. “He ran out of stamina and stopped running.”
The look of exasperation on Captain Blanco’s face said a more likely scenario was that the [Thief] had been told to stop at the gates. “Put him in my office gently. I’m coming now. Kaden, see you around.”
Kaden surrendered his table so others could eat and walked toward Beast Control.
“Kaden!” Sara called from down the street. “I have absolutely wonderful news. Would you like to know our latest venture?”
Sharing the System Logs would be rude. “You don’t really mean you managed to convince those Mercari, did you?”
“I did! The power of recognizing opportunities! And we don’t need nearly the manpower Erris did. Guards? Absolutely. Loaders? Of course. But Erris had to work in fear of the Mercari, while we offer needed services. With a schedule of caravans, we can staff as appropriate, provide feed for caravans, shortcut shipping for critical supplies. The options are endless.” Few things brought Sara joy like negotiating contracts or organizing businesses.
Few things brought Kaden joy like letting her handle all the fiddly bits. “You are brilliant.”
“I leveled Contract Negotiation and my business manager profession. It’s so much easier now. It’s like my Planning skill lays out options better. I can understand who I’d need to partner with to reestablish Birchville.”
“Not Birchville,” Kaden said. “Eville, after Eve. She saw through the illusions to help me clear it.”
“She’s going to object to having a town named Evil,” Sara said. “Ashiton? As in we have a shit ton of problems?”
“Town,” Kaden said. “I’m going there after Mr. Dervish is done to sweep it. As long as we don’t let it go, nothing major will move in.”
“Oh.” Sara spoke softly. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d do you a favor. I issued a Quest through the Guild for some level fifteens to scout. They killed a Rat Man and an injured Graht and the Quest Report made it sound epic.”
Trinity’s high pitched whistle said it was not epic. Nothing that didn’t involve hordes of monsters fleeing in terror as Trinity destroyed them was epic. Certainly not a single injured Graht or Rat Man (or Woman).
“Thank you. That means I’m free to go find a Ruby Hydra.” Kaden put an arm around Sara, Sara put a psuedopod around him and Trinity, and together they headed to Beast Control. “Can’t believe you’re issuing Quests.”
“The Party Leader is a Healer named Anika. So sweet, and thoughtful. Her application had all the reasons why her party would be a good fit for the Quest.” Sara stopped as they entered Beast Control.
The sheer din of beasts made it near impossible to speak, until Kaden realized that couldn’t stop him. *Nasky’s core isn’t regenerating. I’ve been very careful about removing it from Inventory. It’s still bound, but I would have expected her to recover.*
*Let’s ask the experts.* Sara stopped as a [Giant Crab] came barreling down the hallway, leashes trailing behind it.
“Stop!” Kaden shouted, focusing on [Beast Soul].
It did not stop.
It did not even consider stopping.
Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] and leaped to grab a leg and land atop the [Giant Crab].
You have tamed a beast.
Now it stopped. Now it turned and slowly walked back down the hallway, with Kaden keeping his head low to miss the lights. “Where do you want it?”
*Keep going, right at next turn, all the way to the holding pen,* Sara sent.
A few moments later Kaden dropped to the stone floor and rolled clear, releasing the [Giant Crab] once the doors closed. And then took the opportunity to tame five more Beasts from the aquatic section.
You have completed a Quest: Gotta Tame Some More - Tame 100 Beasts. Reward: Taming Slot.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Yes! Kaden whooped with glee. That meant the thousand Beast Quest was probably also available. And he could borrow another skill.
Sara led the way to the Summoning Room, where Mr. Dervish waited. Beside him stood a ghost of a man. Professor Treadle looked nearly dead, his hair wild, his skin pale and eyes sunken. He looked away as Kaden entered.
“Kaden. Sara.” Mr. Dervish produced a table from Inventory. “Already got the runes set right, let’s see that Demon Core.”
When Kaden set it on the table, the first thing that struck him were how similar the two bindings were. While the red one on his soul was bound to Trella, a cold blue one snaked out to the core.
Mr. Dervish began to experiment, trading soft whispers with Professor Treadle as they worked to remove the binding on the Demon Core. By noon, Kaden had grown tired of hearing what they couldn’t believe, or excited cries of discovery. By late afternoon, he’d just plain grown tired, and still the Centurions poked and prodded, removing fibers of the binding and testing how they moved, how they re-attached.
“One last test,” Mr. Dervish said. “We need to know if you’re somehow directing it without knowing. This one’s going to hurt.”
Kaden didn’t care. “Do it. You can’t kill me in one hit.”
Resilient Constitution has blocked 5,341 points of damage.
Your health is critically low.
You require healing.
The next thing he knew, he was looking up as Sara poured a Healing Potion into his lips. “What was that.”
“He punched you in the face,” Sara said. “You’ve been unconscious for nearly an hour.”
That explained the lumpy, broken feeling in his jaws. And the lack of teeth, which were currently growing back in. “Did it work?”
“The binding itself is doing it,” Mr. Dervish said. “You were out cold and it was still re-binding. That eliminates easier ways. But the best part is that the bindings are subject to [Mana Drain]. I hired a [Mage Executioner] to hit you with it while you were out, and every point drained slowed it down.”
“Can you remove it from Trella?” Kaden asked, spitting out shards of broken teeth.
“Close. I think if I dose both of you with Kalarak essence, then hit you with [Mana Drain] until you’ve got nothing left for it to feed, I can pull it lose from both ends. Damn thing’s a leech. We’ll need to do a few more test runs, but this is it.” Mr. Dervish pulled Kaden to his feet. “The girl you sent our way, I put her to work at the big house. She ain’t got a Class but she knows how to take care of people. You can’t teach that.”
“Give her a chance, that’s all I’m asking. Also, we had the Town cleared.”
“What town?” Mr. Dervish asked.
“Eve-il,” Kaden said. “We’re still working on a name. And a plan. And I’m going to make it work. You still keep in touch with Lady Mirage?” The Portal Herald had left on good terms and he wanted to keep it that way.
“I do.”
Kaden handed him the pendants. “Got these from someone who won’t be needing them anymore and Flavius said they were hers.”
Mr. Dervish roared with laughter and slapped Kaden on the back.
Resilient Constitution has blocked 217 points of damage.
Your health is critically low.
You require healing.
Kaden swigged another potion. “I really don’t want the Portal Herald looking to kill me.”
“That’s the truth. I’ll pass them on and tell her you got ‘em back.” Mr. Dervish was careful to avoid touching him while Kaden’s health ticked back up. “Erris Karn? That’s the man she was looking to kill. If the Portal Herald can’t find you, you’re hiding good. She’s going to want to talk to him herself.”
“She’ll have to take it up with the River Serpentors,” Kaden said. “You should see what all I got from him.”
“That I should. Just in case.” Mr. Dervish opened a portal and ushered Professor Treadle through it. “Show me.”
Darkness had fallen by the time Kaden left. He kept the Wand of Elements, gave the [Binding Knife] to Sara for her to give to Cutter, and sold the door—and lock—plus most of the trinkets to Mr. Dervish for a few hundred gold. Gold Kaden would use to pay for the gates of the town to be rebuilt.
The Stateri would be helping, if only indirectly.
Sara headed to the Guild to find Cutter Karn, while Kaden headed back to the Holding. And the moment he arrived, something felt off. “Eve?”
“Kaden.” Eve’s voice came from the other side of the farmhouse.
Kaden sprinted around to find Eve huddled under the [Shield Tree]. Dominion wasn’t active, but Eve’s terrified look said there was good reason. “What’s wrong?”
“Look.” Eve pointed out at the fenceline where Dominion ended.
Dozens of minor demons stood, focused on Eve.
“They can’t survive Dominion,” Kaden said, drawing Thorn Caster. He began to methodically poison demons. “Have any of them survived Dominion?”
“No, but Hated by Demons makes me feel what they feel. I can sense their hunger. Their rage. Their desire to reach me.” Eve stood, staying close behind Kaden as he moved closer, burning mana to shoot every single one of them.
And Eve’s aura began to damage them.
Kaden had better ideas. He bound a [Goatman] and turned it on its neighbor, then a Graht against another Graht, winged bat-thing to attack the first Graht. [Binding Mark] worked easier with every binding.
Your skill with Binding Mark increases.
“Yes!” Now Kaden bound a Minotar and set to work slaughtering the lesser demons until it fell. “Hit them with everything.”
Including Trinity, who materialized in the grass and roared with delight as she sprinted toward the line of demons. She plowed through the fence, striking three different demons and spearing a fourth.
It was less battle and more masscre. The more demons died, the braver Eve became, until there weren’t any left. Kaden went demon to demon using [Reap Materials]. He understand now why Centurions begged for Eve to accompany them. “How long have you been there?”
“The last couple hours. They kept massing at the fence line. A few died to Dominion, but most gathered. I don’t know if they were after me or if they hate that tree.” Eve followed Kaden inside.
“You want me to make you some food?”
“No thank you. I’m hungry for something nice.” Eve began cooking her own dinner, while Vip sat patiently at her feet.
Trinity squeezed through the front door and then lumbered over to the fireplace, bent over, and coughed. A moment later, smoke curled up, and flames began to crackle in the fireplace.
“You taught Trinity to use matches?” Eve asked.
Kaden studied her status. “[Acidic Drool] must have reached level ten, and now she has [Flaming Drool.”
[Flaming Drool]
This creature’s spit will catch fire and burn, which is perfect unless you’re what it’s spitting on. While not exactly flame breath, it is a great way to punish its enemies.
Trinity’s status reflected constant, steady growth as well.
Trinity (TriTerror)
Level: 9
HP: 750/750
Mana: 200/200
Skills: Flaming Drool (1), Acidic Drool (5), Razor Scales (10), Spear Tail (9), Bone Breaker (8), Cooking (3)
Talents: MultiTasker, Resilient Constitution
Razor Scales was at level ten and probably ready to specialize as well, but Kaden didn’t know how to help Trinity. He focused on her with [Beast Soul] “What do you want to do with that skill?”
Trinity’s bone armored head rose to look at him and gave a deep groan, which [Beast Soul] translated as ‘kill everything and then kill it all again.’ Kaden couldn’t see what options were available, and since she was one of a kind, [Beast Knowledge] didn’t have anything to offer. “You have to make a choice. Work it out among yourselves. Whatever you choose, we’ll work with.”
Trinity laid down next to the slowly growing fire and closed all her eyes, while Kaden ran his hand over her back. Small bumps trailed down the back of every head, joining together at the spin and running down to where they lengthened to the stabbing tip for her tail.
Her breath came faster and faster, and her blind head opened its eyes to roar. Something was changing, but Kaden didn’t know what. Razor scales usually rose up from Trinity’s skin so the edges stuck out, but now the scales were alternating raising and lowering, and her normally gleaming scales now glistened at the edges.
Her tail lashed, and Trinity thrashed, breaking one of the couch legs as her body went stiff, and every head groaned or rumbled or shrieked in agony. And then she relaxed, breathing slower.
Kaden brushed the edge of Trinity’s scales. A tiny drop of red liquid came away. Not blood. It burned his fingertips.
[Venom Scales]
The edges of this beast’s scales are poisonous. This poison slows the target and reduces health and mana regen. The poison can stack five times. This poison cannot be washed away.
Trinity had chosen to become poisonous. This wasn’t likely to be a useful skill for Kaden, but if it made her happy and more effective, this was good. [Spear Tail] would be ready to evolve soon, and [Bone Breaker] wasn’t far off.
None of Vip’s skills were near evolving, and that was fine. Vip wasn’t a battle beast, more of a companion, and she had the skills she needed most for that, the ability to cuddle, warm fur, a constant patience and a [Love] that was at least level ten and seemed to specialize into more [Love] every time she met a new person.
Vip sensed him thinking of her through their Soul Bond and came over to nose him, then Trinity. *Slow.*
“She was evolving one of her skills, don’t be rude,” Kaden said. Tomorrow he’d take a Far Portal to the Emerald Isle and find a lieutenant for his Dungeon. It was time. Maybe past time.
Kaden left Trinity sleeping at the fire and headed to bed. Adventurers didnt’ keep normal hours. They stayed up all night, napped during the day, and eventually came to accept that the best time to sleep was when they were exhausted.
After dumping all his loot in the basement, Kaden crawled into bed. He’d only been sleeping a few hours when the bedroom door opened. A flash of light from the passing [Assistant] revealed a woman in the doorway.
“Kaden.” Ashi spoke softly as she approached.
“You’re back already?”
She sat on the edge of the bed. “I need your help.”