[Back to Xeno's POV]

After my little raid into the lizards nest, I swiftly ran towards the shuttle stop.

Today's hunt had ended like this, now I just wanted to eat these tasty lizards and take a good nap.

As soon as down broke once again, I woke up.

A new feeling of accomplishment permeated my body, in fact I had grown again, probably reaching my current limit.

Just a quantitative growth, but still I was a little surprised as I reached about 2.7 metres of height.

The old me would consider this size as a true behemoth.

As always I had to stretch up some more, to get accustomed to these very changes.

During this day of hunt I didn't encounter any particular beast, and ended up eating five feline like monsters and four canines one.

Just as I had speculated before, after all these meals my body didn't change.

I clearly had hit a bottleneck, to progress further I have no choice but to ask Aiduth.

Since my body isn't giving me some clear signs or anything like that.

On the contrary I feel that my need to eat, is not more finalised to grow but just to maintain myself.

After a few hours of torpor, the time to regroup has finally come.

But as I advanced towards the shuttle stop I heard a signal coming from my bond with Vix.

I don't think something ba happened to her, as seems to be more amused than anything else.

I can tell it, from our connection I can feel part of her emotions.

Naturally I need to be close enough, needless to say but at long distances I can perceive roughly her position.

As I arrived near the area she should be, I found a pile of bone in the centre of an open space.

Maybe they cleaned the tall grass and made a little camp here.

My two servants ere waiting for me, I could see Zaha now completely black in colour, but still it wasn't as dark as my skin.

She grew to about 1.8 metres of height, but without particular changes.

Probably she would remain very basic even in her adult stage.

Well, I mean she will become pretty plain compared to me or Vix.

Anyway she's clearly exuding a savage and wild demeanour, I think she will become a great asset to me.

Next to her I sensed a very bizarre scene, there was a young celidre standing on the ground in quadrupedal position.

He seemed in pain, his back arched from the weight it was sustaining.

[Master we were waiting for your arrival.

This little worm said to know something about you, we refrained ourselves not to eat him.]

Vix said to me, as I locked on the 2 metres tall red figure that was pleasantly sitting over the celidre.

Every so often she looked at him, showing her sharp triangular teeth menacingly.

Did something happen between these two?

[How did you encounter him? Did he tail us from the city?]

Before anything I wanted to understand better of the situation.

I won't permit someone backstabbing me ever again.

[Indeed he probably followed our tracks, but he says that he got commissioned buy one of your acquaintances.

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He probably isn't lying, he even pissed himself from fear earlier.

We had been disrespected, as such he got punished a little.]

I see, but I didn't know a great number of people, the only one that cared a little was uncle.

Although I was never contacted by him since the time I left his mansion, to come back in the slums.

There aren't many other explanations. The next more plausible conclusion is him being related to my presumed murder.

[Make him speak, than give him two options, to be either enslaved or killed.

Here in the hunting grounds we can make up some lies if someone come and ask about him.

Anyway after we go back to the exchange district I'll buy a good trace erasing [tool].

And another thing, was he alone?

Did you see anyone else?]

After hearing my speech, Vix stayed silent for a bit, before responding again.

[We found another one, but he ended straight into my stomach.

This one had tried to run away and resist us, we think he was here to gather informations.

Also as the one we captured didn't try to save him, they probably weren't accomplices.]

Once she ended I gestured her to make him speak.

The guy seemed a bit indisposed, he was really suffering down there.

As such I signalled Vix to get up and let him breath.

"Little worm, stand up and state your terms to our master. You will be either killed or enslaved, chose your words carefully."

Looking at the celidre's face I could see him being relieved, what ever could be pleasant about his situation?

"Your Excellency, may you reign supreme above all. This measly engineer has been sent to look around for the well being of a certain Xeno.

I hope that this great being like you, with unlimited and unparalleled wisdom will spare this measly one.

I am but a poor messenger, devoted only to his duty."

Wow, this guy is clearly good with his flattery, he matched pretty well with his facial expression too.

Did he take me for a fool? My senses could perceive him lying under his teeth.

The part about looking for me in a good way could be true.

But for free? Only for duty itself? I don't think so.

I guess he got blinded by greed and adventured inside the hunting grounds without precautions.

Anyway this flattery of his is only due to fear, he doesn't have any real malicious intent.

Even more he seems to have been already punished for having trailed behind us.

As such I got myself closer to the little creature, completely shadowing over him.

I rapidly grabbed his arm and lifted his body, putting his face on the same level of mine.

"Speak again… No flattery… Click Click"

Under his petrified gaze a few specs of my saliva landed on his clothes, slowly eroding them.

Then I dropped him on the ground, waiting for his response.

Looking at him his expression had totally changed, resembling someone that got terribly scammed.

Obviously he was scared shitless too.

Was he unhappy that I couldn't be tricked from his simple flattery?

I kind of understand why Vix felt rather amused.

"Y-Yes yes, as I explained to the beautiful lady here, I was tasked from uncle Luse to search information about his lost nephews.

His name was Xeno and worked at the mines of Mt. Elkos, that's why is strange for him to be killed.

Even more his death was more of the dissolution of his entire body.

I just followed some traces I found inside his apartment.

There I encountered a really hateful smuggler, I think he positioned one of his underlings to trail behind me.

S-Sspare me please! I don't know anything else!"

Just after ending his speech he leaned his forehead on the ground, accentuating his pleadings.

I think I won't kill him, adding him as one of my servants will suffice. Even more Vix seemed to have taken a liking into him.

Well, not in the most conventional sense...

He does have some acting skills too, and didn't he say that he was an engineer?

"Name… Click Click"

I need to at least get his name to initiate a slave contract through the system.

"You can call me Dock, now at your service"

After hearing his answer I was starting to get tired of speaking normally.

I was doing so to scare him a little more, but more than this and I would stress my facial muscles too much.

[Speak telepathically with me, from now on.

About this little search of yours, you found your target, you can call me Xeno.

But none of it matters for you right now.

Since I can't make you one of us, you'll become one of my servants in the standard way.

Most and foremost, we'll pay a visit to this very smuggler after we are done with this.]

Hearing the decisiveness of my speech, Dock's expression finally broke, tears rolling down on his cheeks.

As such, Vix gave him a menacing gaze.

"You better behave in front of our master, how can you be sad in front of his kindness"

Realizing who just spoke to him, he stopped crying and revealed an expression of pure terror.

Trying to minimize the damage inflicted upon my future servant I tried to console him a bit.

[Dock I assure you that I always treat fairly my servants.

But at the same time I won't meddle too much in your personal disputes.]

Saying this I directed my head towards Vix, to make him understand.

If he disrespected her somehow he must make up for it on his own.

He seemed seriously relieved, but at the same time really scared too.

Concentrating on my ID status, I called for the presence of the [system].

[System, I would like to obtain an enslavement contract]

I projected my thoughts, waiting for an answer.

[Request accepted, coins required: 15]

Oh I forgot I'm penniless, but my new servants should have some [coins].

[Vix, did you grab some coins from Dock or the guy you ate?]

Soon after Vix started to search into to pile of bones behind her and threw out a small leather pouch.

From the sound it made the pouch must be full of [coins].

Then pointing at the pouch with my index finger, I linked them to my digital currency.

As such, I quickly added another 50 [coin]s into my funds.

Refocusing my thought towards the [system] I paid what it required me to.

At the same time dock's expression turned grim for a moment, then a prompt from the [System] arrived.

Declaring Dock as a contracted slave, very well.

I was a little unsure of the outcome. Since one must accept of his own volition to become a slave in the standard way.

I think Vix must have scared him enough already.

[Good, we'll go back on the city now. Follow us]