Chapter 220: Union or Separation (2/2)
”I heard beastmen of pure blood get to grow tails and that represents their power,” Leis continued with a hand on his chin. ”There's no way to lose levels, right? I just wanted to know if it's something I should be careful about…”
”Nothing like that. I just shed them for a certain skill,” Rakna replied vaguely.
Leis smiled. ”I see. Since you're probably far ahead of us, I was just worried if there were things capable of making even you lose levels. I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to ask you to avoid it for my team.”
The therian shrugged. ”I haven't encountered anything like that for now. What do you say, Ceres?”
[There exist level penalties, other than the failure to conquer a Plateau in time, but they are quite uncommon and only found in rare Ordeals or particularly dangerous Dungeons.]
”Hm… From what my AI's telling me, you'd need to really be searching for it to fall prey to anything like a level penalty.”
Leis blinked in surprise then sighed. ”Even your AI is better… Mine didn't have an answer.”
”Probably because it concerns higher Plateaus. I simply have an unusual clearance. Anyway, did you want something else from me?” Rakna asked. ”I still have things to do.”
The swordsman shook his head. ”We won't bother you any further then. We were just here to take a few quests as well. I honestly expected you to brush us off. You seem different from before…”
”Things happened,” Rakna said and beckoned Higure to climb his shoulder. ”Before I go; my old man was pretty close to the Walkers, so if you need help one day, I'll treat it as a favor,” he added and left with a wave of his hand.
Leia stared at the therian's back for a moment. ”He looks almost… gentle now.”
Her brother smiled. ”I suppose this kind of place can change people in a lot of ways. Anyway, we've already spent too much time here. Let's get some Quests and try the 30th Plateau's Trials with the others.”
”Alright.”
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”That boy isn't half bad,” Higure suddenly said as Rakna walked down the stairs.
”You mean Leis?” Rakna asked. ”What makes you say so?”
”Observant. Vigilant. Loyal. Sharp. He asked you something that has low chances of being a threat to him and his friends, but he still did. And I could tell with a glance that it wasn't just to make idle chatter,” the cat said as Rakna stopped near the reception of the Pavilion where the young woman behind the counter started sweating as she waited for them to finish their conversation.
”I see what you mean. Even when relaxed, his mind goes straight to benevolent practicality. He is not a goody-two-shoes; he's far beyond that. He's a leader through and through with a mind made to survive first and succeed second but never one without the other.”
Higure nodded sagely. ”As expected of you. An even better analysis than mine.”
”Not hard.”
”Hey!”
Rakna snorted and turned to the receptionist who stiffened and flushed at the same time due to the coldness accompanied by the beauty of those purple eyes.
”Ahem, what can I do for you?” She pulled herself together and inquired with a professional smile.
”I want to establish a Sub-Guild,” the therian declared and she froze. Everyone around in earshot also had the same reaction. Rakna frowned and looked around.
”Don't you all have something better to do? Like pathetically dying during a Trial?” He said without even an ounce of subtlety. ”Don't listen in to other people's conversations. And I swear… if this is ever mentioned in the news tomorrow,” he snarled and his hair and tails glimmered.
”I will hunt you down and eat your damn heart,” he uttered icily and a black aura of despair arose over him in the shape of a wolf with a red skull mask. The effects were immediate and most people ran out of the Pavilion while the others fainted.
Higure watched with an amused eye as they bumped into each other at the exit. Rakna turned back to the receptionist who hiccupped.
”Sorry, I've had a bit too many grievances with news outlets. As an Emperor, I should be able to go to them directly and threaten- I mean, retrieve compensation, right? What do you think?”
The werewolf made a barely visible smile at that and she nodded as fast as she could.
”Yes! Of course, Sir!” She shouted but her mind was singing a different song. 'Why is that smile so damn immaculate after he threatened to kill dozens of people!? Mom, I wanna go home!'
”So, about the Guild-”
”I WILL NOT TELL A SOUL!”
Rakna sweatdropped. 'Did I overdo it?'
[Yes.]
”{Yep.}”
”{Indeed.}”