Loki’s Successor System

Chapter 216: Back Home

Jin was once again amidst the colony within the earthen walls. Suprisingly, the person governing the Colony was an actual Wizard; he even founded the place to begin with. There were citizens and workers and Hunters all busy on a daily basis here. People sold goods at stalls, some were, of course, shoddy but there were still goods. Citizens at times had little ceremonies, especially religious ones. And the Hunters held big events like the Hunter’s Tournament—in which Jin hoped to enroll. 

The village was a sizable place. People were even surprised that there were only three attempts to conquer the settlement from the outside world. The walls provided great protection from Voids and creatures and many other threats. Intrusions seldom happened when these walls were so effective. Unless, of course, Jin simply walked right through the walls like nothing.

Jin smiled upon returning to the village. He looked around. Citizens were busy this afternoon. There were also more carts and traverses happening than before. Something had spiked up the business in the colony in his absence. The place also smelt strong of food. Jin loved food, and he was quite hungry today. The cake had done much less than he’d thought it would.

The clone behind him also looked around. This clone had Doctor Alan slung over his shoulder. Jin had only remembered this. He turned around, and faced the clone. 

The clone stood solemnly.

Jin jammed his hands in his pockets. “That body will decay quickly in the open like this. Plus, I don’t want to be seen carrying to dead body around the place like some mortician. Ensure the body is preserved somewhere. Maybe in a freezer.”

The clone nodded, and disappeared. 

Jin turned around again. In front of him, the Wizard stood. He looked up slowly, and then smirked. The Wizard looked happier than normal. He seemed genuinely happy. Jin hadn’t quite seen him genuinely happy before. Was he happy to see him or was he happy to see him to gain benefits?

The Wizard folded his arms, and tapped a boot upon the floor. “Well, are we going to just stand here like we’re falling in love at first sight or are we going to actually greet and converse?”

Jin grinned. “The staring was enough for me, but I’ll like to converse.”

“Good day, Jin,” The Wizard said, “great to have you back.”

“It’s great to be back,” Jin said, “in here makes out there like like hell.”

“I’m working on making it not look like hell but actually be hell,” the Wizard said.

Jin shrugged. “Great.”

“How was your travels?” The Wizard asked, looking at Jin in his eyes.

Jin was about to avert his gaze, but he relented. Trouble maintaining eye contact was like an obvious sign that someone was keeping the truth buried somewhere. “It was … good.”

“Thought you said it was like hell,” The Wizard said.

“It was like hell,” Jin said.

“Franklin told me that there’s no need for you to kill in order to gain points,” the Wizard leaned in, “You didn’t kill anybody in there, did you?”

“Nope,” Jin said, “I just knocked out a few.”

The Wizard raised a brow. 

Jin grimaced. “What’s with that look?”

“I saw your clone toting a human body just now, Jin,” the Wizard said.

“That was just an injured drunkard I found outside,” Jin said.

The Wizard frowned. “I really hope you didn’t stir up too much trouble in there, Jin.” He turned around and started roving at the surroundings. “It took me quite some time to build all of this up from rock bottom. Sweat and tears. Things are finally beginning to look like my hard work is paying off.” He turned to Jin again. “Please don’t ruin this for me,” he put out her hand, and directed it behind him, “please don’t ruin this for them.”

Jin simply looked away. He couldn’t care less about ruining anything. As long as he was leveling up, not even a splinter in the foot could bother the living hell out of him. 

He looked at the Wizard. “I won’t ruin it. I’ll just renovate the place a little. As long as I stay a Hunter, you should expect a lot of greatness. Just make sure I have people to fight or I’ll start turning to our citizens for some points.”

The Wizard glanced at him. He said that last thing coldly, like he didn’t care, not even a trifle. “I’ll make sure you have opponents to fight, Jin. Like the upcoming tournament …” 

Jin started walking. 

The Wizard followed. “I’m surprised you’re back so soon, Jin. As a matter of fact, I’m shocked. Less than three days and you’re already back. Did you hold back on fighting more people or something? Because two days is a short time, Jin.”

Jin shrugged. “I honestly didn’t want to return yet.”

“Back home in two days,” The Wizard said softly.

Jin looked at him. “Who said this was my home?”

The Wizard slowed his gait. “Isn’t that what this is? In case you haven’t noticed, I offered you a place to stay here—a home.”

Jin furrowed his brows. “Yeah, but it’s a place to say I’m paying for. You think I’m doing all of this hunger business for free? You think I’m holding back from slaughtering all of your people for free? You think I’m not using you people as a means of getting more leveling benefits? I know you’re not keeping me here for free either. You’re using me just as how I’m using you.”

The Wizard smirked. “Precisely.”

“Nothing comes free in this world,” Jin said, “kindness isn’t a thing. Kind people always want something in return.”

The Wizard let the words etch behind his mind. 

Soon, the walk had become quiet. All they heard were their footsteps on the ground, and citizens working and talking and battling each other. The place was busier than normal, and so, there were more onlookers than ever. 

People watched The Wizard walked the streets in awe. They praised him, and tried to give things to him, all of which he had kindly declined acception. Even Jin had gotten some praise despite being a new guy everyone was afraid of. Jin liked himself some good praises.

“So …” Jin trailed off, “what did I miss?” He looked at the Wizard. “What big thing happened while I was gone? How are the stocks?”

“Things are running smoothly,” the Wizard said, “I could only hope it continues. We haven’t had anything drastic happening since the defeat of the Mole, credit, of course, due to you. 

“Nothing else really happened. After all, it was only two measly days you were gone for. We’re simply building a new Hotel for people to stay at. The scouts also found some new people. The only thing that happened big was the refurbishment and renovation of an old battleground we have here. That place is where the tournaments will be held monthly.” 

“Monthy?” Jin raised a brow, looking at the Wizard.

The Wizard smirked. “You heard me right,” he said, “monthly. I figured it would be the best choice to make. People are spending a lot to see this tournament and we’re promoting ourselves and imploring people to train themselves in order to climb the social classes here. But I mainly did it so that we can make you and Kaylie stronger. After defeating about, say, twenty weaklings in a free for all or a twenty versus one battle—think about how much points you can obtain.”

Jin couldn’t hold back a wide smirk.  “But isn’t that basically similar to beating up or even killing the citizens anyway?”

The Wizard looked over his shoulder, smirking. “It isn’t. You don’t get to kill them. You get to knock them out. Franklin told me that knocking out suffices when you’re system user. Said he learned it from Kaylie. But …” The Wizard’s face hunger at his guilt, “it’s basically similar to beating up the citizens for the purpose of leveling up.”

Jin tittered. “Exactly! My point right there!”

“But you see,” The Wizard said, “they just sign up to get a chance to move up the ranks and probably later become Hunters themselves or if already Hunters, higher-ranked Hunters. They don’t know they’re signing up to get their arses kicked in order to contribute to the growth of the system users.”

Jin rubbed his hands together. “I’m quite fond of this proposal.”

The Wizard smirked as well. “Oh no,” he said, “this isn’t a proposal—it’s a thing that’s happening from now.”

Jin perked up upon heeding all of the benefits. This was great for him. The number of gains he could make had him excited for what’s to come of Hunter’s Tournament. Surely he didn’t like hearing ‘successors’ he wanted to be the only one there was. But this was great at the moment. 

“Don’t the thought of leveling just makes you excited?” Jin heard a voice say. 

Jin answered, “yes, it does.”

The Wizard looked back at him. “What does?”

Jin’s lips parted and suspicion took his face. That voice again. It certainly wasn’t Cliff’s nor his nor anyone he knew. 

He simply shrugged and moved on with his life. It was, after all, a busy life. An intriguing one.