Chapter 867 (2/2)

Randidly Ghosthound frowned at Jerome. “What is it?”

Jerome whimpered.

*****

Feeling pleased that the strange High Knight had insisted on paying him double the quoted price for the result, Randidly returned to Engraving. For the rest of the night, he continued through a routine of Engraving, testing out his Leveling Engravings, training his images, and the Engraving solo Skills onto items.

Unfortunately, most of the equipment he made for himself in the hut was only in the high 40s or low 50s. Without a specific blacksmithing Skill, high-quality equipment was impossible to just make out of thin air.

Honestly, Randidly suspected most people would be as shocked as the High Knight had been that he could just casually make items at the level. Still, Randidly clicked his tongue at this rather annoying limitation. But he knew learning blacksmithing now was not the answer; he had already wasted more than enough time working on his own engraving.

Besides, the morning meant a shift in his focus. This had been a break. After this, he had to prepare for his meeting with Donnyton’s leadership. In addition… this shift would mean the announcement of his presence in Donnyton

And that would mean that his movements would be restricted and travel made more obnoxious.

Dawn was just rising over the waking town of Donnyton, bathing it in a golden light. Therefore, Randidly planned on heading into the city and spending the money he had earned to get more materials. After all, things would… change soon.

But as he made to walk down the path toward Donnyton, Randidly paused.

One of his Riders had just died.

It wasn’t one of the original two that wandered away, but one of the three that he had sent after the first two the prior morning. In addition, Randidly noticed that the Level of the Skill had crept up four more Levels while he had been working through the night.

What the hell was going on with those Riders?!?

But then he shook his head. Well, regardless of what happened he was gaining Skill Levels. Hopefully, they weren’t marauding across the countryside for experience…

So Randidly proceeded down the dusty trail, through the outskirts of the Production District, and then into the Northern portion of Donnyton.

There he found a crowd of wide-eyed group of people silently waiting. At the head of the group was a certain very nervous butcher. Randidly froze, cursing himself inwardly. Because his mind was on the deceased Rider, he hadn’t been scanning his surroundings at all. It was only due to that he had walked right into this waiting trap.

For several seconds the silence stretched. Randidly considered his options. Running just seemed… immature. But he knew that very soon-

“Mr. Ghosthound,” A portly woman toward the front of the crowd said hesitantly. “I… I don’t suppose I can have your autograph? I’ve admired you and Donnyton for as long as I can remember…”

*****

At lunch, Randidly recounting the events of the morning had Donny snorting into his meal. “Honestly, I’m more surprised you managed to keep your presence a secret for that long! Three days? Ha, what a record.”

“It’s just because so few recognize you,” Regina said with a nod. “But now your likeness is being spread everywhere. I doubt such a thing could happen again.”

Randidly dourly stared down at the tender filet in front of him. He sniffed it: musky and sour, yet extremely tender. Then he sighed. Most of his appetite was gone after awkwardly speaking with people the entire morning. They continued to gather and mob him, content to shake his hand and tell him their Class and touch Acri or Sulfur and speak about their dreams…

It was strangely innocent, almost childlike. But Randidly could feel fragments of their images slowly sinking into him as they pressed closer to him. Those small fragments gathered into the heavyweight of hope and expectation.

Pressing his eyes closed, Randidly finally released the tight fist of his unwillingness that had constricted slowly around his heart. Although the morning had been lost, he had truly gained something else.

Something heavy and unwieldy, but he knew that weight would come in handy someday. He forced himself to relax and accept the gift given to him. Slowly, his body and soul complied.

As his heart calmed, Randidly’s eyes opened. Time for business.