Demon Wolf

No, that’s stupid. Law enforcers would crawl all over my ass. Even if I don’t kill any officers, I’ll wind up a wanted man in no time. Wait, Brilliant Gate, that sounds fancy and imposing. It could be a big sect. Then Wolf recalled the tip about organization naming he read in How to start your very own sect.

“You’re from the Brilliant Gate, and you received news about Forsaken Wastes? Does that mean Brilliant Gate is Boreo’s greatest martial society?” Wolf said, trying to sound as fawning as possible.

His sudden shift in the way he addressed them made Marie sneer under her fan. Miss Daseldoff maintained her casual expression, but her shoulders eased and her grip on Wolf’s wrist loosened. She took the chance and rubbed his hand with her thumb, enjoying his supple skin.

“You heard correctly. Brilliant Gate is Boreo’s greatest gathering of geniuses. It is a fully domestic force and accepts no outsiders. However, if I put in a good word for you, Martial Ancestor will admit you.”

“You’re that important, Miss Daseldoff?” Wolf gawked in the most embarrassing manner he could imagine, mimicking a yokel. So, they are a third rate power. Maybe worse, if they limited themselves to this sheep-herding kingdom.

“Call me Lena,” Miss Daseldoff said, sliding her fingers down to entwine them with Wolf’s.

In his peripheral vision, he caught Marie’s jealous glare and several plans began forming in his mind.

I could try to play them against each other. But then he considered Marie’s equine features. How do I flatter her without lying? She’s got a smooth tongue and seems intelligent. Complimenting her knowledge and sharp wit should work.

Wolf winked at her, making sure Lena could not see the gesture. Marie’s fan froze, but Wolf shifted his gaze towards Lena, stroking her fingers. If she forces herself onto me, I’ll try to snatch a fragment of her soul without a shred of guilt. If it works, she should save me some recovery time.

“Lena,” he called her name. Suddenly, Wolf felt his cheeks genuinely blushing. The forced familiarity did not embarrass him; rather, it was the daring of his half-formed idea. “Where is the Lindworm you’re trying to find? I might help you.”

Lena gave Wolf the Bear Tribe’s general direction. “… You needn’t worry. We will ensure your safety. I know you’re a refugee, not a warrior, but as long as I draw breath, nothing bad will happen to you.”

She stopped talking, training her gaze on him. For a moment, Wolf was not sure what she expected of him. Her lines were so trashy; they left him stumped. He drew his lips in the most charming smile he could manage.

“Thank you.” Mandy said you can never go wrong by saying ‘thank you’. What’s more, giving thanks is never a lie.

Apparently, Mandy was right. Lena nodded with a pleased grin.

“When would you like us to leave?” he asked.

“We agreed to depart after lunch, but because of you, I’ll make an exception and spend the night in this inn. Marie’s mansion is overcrowded, anyway.”

Marie bit her lip. Despite the apparent urge to protest, she swallowed her grievance. From her gestures and forced obsequiousness, Wolf guessed her status was inferior to lady Daseldoff’s.

And what the hells am I supposed to do with that observation? I’m not cut out for scheming and plotting, but I can’t torture the information out of them, either. Back home, I would’ve turned them into living puppets, or searched their memories with Reforge Mind. How else do you gather intelligence?

Wolf whiny train of thought stopped. He knew a mundane method of gathering intelligence regular people used all the time.

“Have you entered a Treasure Rift before?” he asked. There’s no way they’d ever think I’m from the other side, looking for a way home. Even if I told them, they wouldn’t believe me.

Lena shook her head, surprising Wolf.

“No,” she answered. “Sects don’t allow their inner and core disciples to visit them. You shouldn’t either. If you encounter monsters or fiends, you will lose your mind and regain your sanity only after killing them. Even if you don’t enter an endless frenzy and die of exhaustion, you can’t use the trip for training. Anyone with enough money won’t risk death and insanity over a bit of coin you may or may not earn.”

She gave Wolf a sly smile. “If you really need money, I can help you settle in our gate. And if you wish to visit secluded worlds and similar trial grounds, what you call Treasure World is the worst.

“After the first wave of rifts closes, various secluded worlds will appear. They contain thick World Energy and true riches…” Lena explained, but her offhanded statement about different rifts gripped Wolf’s attention.

Demon World is a hub for various other worlds? The books I read mentioned nothing of this. Then again, I read crappy books.

“… unfortunately, our kingdom only has Qi Gathering and Blood Saturating grade secluded domains. I think Blood Saturating grade portals sometimes appear in the Uncivilized Lands. But the closer you are to the Glorious Tyranny’s Eternal City, the greater the grade of portals and areas beyond them.”

“Huh?” Wolf grunted slack-jawed.

If that is true, then maybe some of those rifts lead home. Ten empires of man are barren compared to Terrorwealds. But even if those rifts aren’t a direct passage home, maybe I could take a roundabout route through one of those secluded worlds? It’s quite possible those rifts open somewhere in the Terrorwealds’ unexplored depths.

“Don’t be so surprised.” Lena boldly placed a finger on Wolf’s half-open lips, beaming a grin fishermen reserved for lunkers. “You’ll see I treat my men well. Come on, eat. You’ll need plenty of energy for the advanced lessons I’ll impart.”

In the corner of his eye, Wolf saw Marie grimace. ‘Hope you bust an ovary’ her lips subconsciously moved without making a sound. In her gaze, Wolf recognized the glint he often found in himself, after what he perceived as Wayde’s one-upmanship.

He almost smirked. The situation and Marie’s feelings were quite familiar. Just as he started recollecting, Wolf clenched his jaw.

Don’t grit your teeth. Be docile. Getting angry now won’t help anything. Be positive and plan for your return.

“So, you’re saying these places are more fantastical than Treasure World…”

The three of them continued chatting. After securing her catch, Lena graciously granted Marie abundant chances to speak and flaunt her wit. Wolf asked various questions a country hick should ask, mixing in genuine inquiries. Unfortunately, even Marie, who was more learned than Lena, knew little regarding secluded domains. Disappointed by the lack of useful information, Wolf focused on the spread before him.

Despite his ravenous appetite, he savored the food others prepared. It failed to sate him, but it was not snake cooked in one hundred and one ways, which he ate every day. No matter how exquisite the meal, after two weeks, it will grow monotonous.

“You’re such an elegant diner,” Marie said, folding her hands beneath her chin. “You nibble like a petite white bunny.”

Wolf’s hand froze midway to his mouth, and his throat clenched. Bunny?

“You better savor the aroma by taking small bites,” he said, placing a morsel of aged yellow cheese soaked in a hot pepper dip into his mouth.

“Do you always act with such meticulousness?” Marie pushed her question, and Wolf recalled stuffing his mouth with bacon until he choked.

He shook his head, haunted by the mental image of jerky chunks crumbling from his ravenous maw. “Not really. This food won’t sate me no matter how much I eat. So I may as well enjoy it.”

Marie’s lips drew into a smirk, and Wolf recognized the conscious effort she took not to reveal her teeth.

“Do you mean to say you’re insatiable, mister Wolf?” Marie’s eyes glistened with predatory light as she ogled him.

“I wou—” he started, but Lena cut in.

“That depends on what you put before him,” she said, glaring at Marie with undisguised rivalry. She had already claimed Wolf as her own, and she believed these insinuations about him being insatiable targeted her.

How did I get into this mess? They are a couple years younger than me, but they are still adults. Why are they acting like horny teens?

Lena turned towards Wolf. “If this food doesn’t suit you, we can order whatever you want. And if nothing the kitchen offers can satisfy you, I will do everything in my power to fill your needs.”

Wolf struggled not to grimace, but he caught the bodyguards rolling their eyes at Lena’s obvious insinuation. Marie remained expressionless, but there was a glint of joy in her eyes. She achieved her goal and maneuvered Lena to make a fool of herself.

“Um, nothing here can feed me properly.” Wolf said, accepting his fate. I guess tonight I’ll discover whether Conceptual Art works in this world.