Inside of a wide and completely dark room, a rather pleased Xeno, stood silent while watching yet another of his servants coming to life.

GAAAAHAGGHHH

After the smuggler had gulped down the 'mysterious' solution, his abdomen had started to vigorously spasm and move.

"TAKE IT OFF!! AAAAHHH"

However, his desperate pleads didn't cause any reaction on Xeno, he felt nothing but the futile delusions of a dying creature.

Time slowly made its course, as the thug started to madly roll and writhe his body in pain, Xeno observed attentively how the scene unfolded.

He kept note of every one of his experiments, even if the process itself seemed always the same, the black alien had noticed some differences.

In this case for example, the 'fetus' inside him had developed in a more painful way. Black and blue bruises started to appear from under his skin, probably the monstrosity had started to feed and ravage on his insides. Ten minutes later the stream of internal carnage had reached the torso of the celidre, making his life finally slip away.

Little white clawed hands ripped apart the now mangled belly of the smuggler, and a small white creature emerged from it.

He was covered with a thin membrane over its body, with his tiny claws was trying hard to tear it off him. However his particular traits were still easily recognizable, the classic elongated head, a face absent of either eyes, ears or a nose, that had only a voracious mouth filled with teeth.

Xeno felt another burden materialize inside of his head, as yet another connection was formed with this new servants of his. Nonetheless he still felt satisfied for this new addition into his ranks.

In fact this procedure had a high mortality rate for the 'fetus'.

This new type of lesser he had discovered as good way to fill his ranks wasn't a natural creature. They weren't neither female nor male or couldn't reproduce in any possible means. they could grow fast, even faster than him, as after a few meals they would become complete adults. They relied heavily on their instincts to do everything, as such their intellect was heavily lacking. However the loyalty they expressed to their master was absolute.

Way more than with his first three companions. For example Vix and Zaha had amble freedom other than the tasks given by Xeno they could even permit themselves some free time. Vix in particular had formed a liking in stressing out Dock during the spare time he had out of his laboratory.

Nonetheless either her or Zaha couldn't disobey a direct order from Xeno, in any way.

On the contrary Dock had been enslaved by the system under its special contract. As such, the latter looked more like a subject or an employee than a slave. He still couldn't go against Xeno's interests, but this type of pact wasn't absolute at all. Dock could easily sabotage some parts of the spaceship he was currently building, he had just to do some unnoticeable 'accidental' mistakes here and there.

However such thing would only backfire him, as Xeno had guaranteed him a seat in this very ship.

[Your name will be No. 5 from now on. Now, clean the corpse and join Vix's squad. They will depart soon towards the hunting grounds.]

As No. 5 had completely broken free from the membrane, Xeno had sternly stated his new orders.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

[Yes Master.]

The response he got back was composed of two of the few words through these beings could express themselves. Even through the telepathic link, Xeno could feel the emptiness that harbored inside them. If he was now almost an unemotional being, these new pawns of his were completely empty. They were containers filled with reverence and loyalty toward their master.

'The perfect stooge, indeed.'

As for the hunting ground he had mentioned, Xeno's team had stopped their bounty hunting practice.

Actually, this group of ferocious and merciless hunters had gained a certain fame for themselves. Their main targets were mostly low tier criminals, whose ranks didn't reach the third level. As true rankers were not only exponentially dangerous, but the very same system would punish Xeno.

This does same literally dumb, as it meant almost going back on its own words. Didn't the system put a bounty on these criminals to be disposed off?

However one must remember that this particular being only put two things above anything else. First and foremost its personal gains, and then strength and authority.

Xeno had already made a vile act in the eyes of the system by subduing Dock under his command, while he was of two ranks under him.

Although the punishment had been changed just into the system keeping tabs on Xeno. In fact he had not killed nor tortured Dock, even more he had put him steadily on work. All the stuff he had bought from the shop to build his spaceship had started to alleviate the watchful eye the system had put on him.

As such now Xeno had to lay low, being careful not to antagonize on rankers that possessed an authority higher than his. Another violation of the 'laws' of the system would probably lead him put under a trial.

Said so, these low ranked criminals had started both to hide in groups and to observe every move of Xeno's apartment. They would alarm the others at the aliens slight appearance, before escaping into the most defiled nooks and crannies of the slums. As such Xeno just gave up and retorted to the classic beast hunt. He basically divided his team in two, one part lead by Vix and the other by him. They usually raided in the same hunting ground, but parted in the opposite directions to widen their hunting area. Their preys were mostly medium sized packs, however from time to time Xeno focused on bigger and lone preys.

The latter was easier to kill, as their ambush abilities coupled with their numeric superiority made the deed quite easy. However these solitary preys weren't that common in the first place.

[No.1 and No.3, today we are getting later to the hunting grounds. I have a little errand to accomplish first, you are coming with me.

Vix, you take Zaha and the rest of your team to the 'arid steppe' and start the hunt, my team will arrive a bit later.]

The serious orders quickly arrived to the still relaxed Vix, who was peacefully resting over the brown leather couch of the living room of Xeno's apartment. She was wearing a long pair of white clean pants, well fixated thanks to a striped black and white belt. Coupled with a tight black shirt, she enlightened her well proportioned curves. She wore three spatial golden rings on her tiny and delicate hands.

As she was still unmoved, Xeno 'stared' fixedly at her.

[Argh! I get it, you can drop your stare, or whatever it is. I'm gonna change.]

In the end Vix had no choice but to execute her duty. She got up and directed herself towards the south-eastern angle of the room, were she installed a little tent like structure to change herself.

'Again with this useless stuff, she even care about style, fashion and these useless things. Whatever, at least it makes her happy.'

Soon after Xeno nodded at No.1 and No.3 before heading off the apartment.

Three figures stood in front of a rather small pristine door, which looked surprisingly clean as it emanated the classic light azure metallic glee that could be usually found in the middle district.

The rectangular building who's access was granted by the mentioned door, was not as broke as most of the run down agglomerates all around it.

A holographic image representing a well cooked and rich meal was sparkling right above the entrance.

The place was one of the rare restaurants present into the slum district. They were mostly frequented by emerging criminals, the heads of various delinquent groups. They were usually at least rankers, as they usually sought profit and commerce. To squander more and please the system they had to gain and horde even more.

In fact, if they happened to go past the limits imposed by the system, the latter had just to increase the bounty they had on their head.

Anyway, this kind of place was often used for common reunion among them or some of their pawns, for example with the managers of the brothels or other lucrative activities.

The tallest of the figures, almost reaching three meters of height commanded the two intimidating aliens. He had to be clear and concise, stating a simple order.

Otherwise they might just get confused, as they clearly possessed low intelligence.

[We are going inside, follow me.]