Chapter 144: First Beast (2)

With the Suran City’s perimeter stretching out before them, Filmos couldn’t help but feel a sudden wave of nervousness leaving their home behind.

For some reason, he could feel his unresolved problems waiting for him back there. However, he knew that taking this trip served a vital purpose. Because of that, he managed to push down his guilt about stepping outside his home district.

Looking forward, Suran City wasn’t radically different from their home city. It was filled with similar depictions of a post-dystopian landscape, featuring makeshift materials across several outskirts, though most of the inner city consisted of decently architected structures.

"This is Suran City," Jake said, gesturing toward the skyline. "The home of Nustra’s enemies."

Filmos’s brows raised slightly. This was his first time hearing that particular title attached to the city. Although Suran was already infamous for several shady dealings, being called the home of Nustra’s enemies was news to him.

"You’re probably wondering why, right?" Jake asked.

"I was just about to ask."

"I can see it on your face." Jake chuckled, leading the way onto a crowded cobblestone sidewalk. "The term ’Nustra’s enemies’ comes from the infamous local beast seller. You don’t know about this because it’s strictly classified information."

"Wait," Filmos stopped dead in his tracks, his body language stiffening with hesitation. "If this is really something illegal or dangerous, let’s not waste our time here. I could be using this afternoon to complete tasks for Mister Cortez."

Jake laughed out loud, sensing Filmos’s sudden reluctance. He stepped over and firmly tapped his friend’s shoulder in reassurance.

"Don’t worry about a thing. I wouldn’t have brought you all the way here if it was bad news. That title is just the result of a massive misunderstanding and fierce market competition between cities. Nustra recently faced a massive surge in the power levels of tamers acquiring high-ranking beasts. Some of those creatures were downright weird."

"Weird?" Filmos repeated, narrowing his eyes.

"This rumored beast shop sells creatures that people would normally deem completely useless," Jake explained. "But the moment a beast comes from their inventory, it turns out to be ridiculously powerful. You can bet money on that."

"Where did you even get all this information?" Filmos asked, picking up his pace to keep up.

Both of them turned down a bustling side alleyway where commercial activity grew far denser than on the main road. The crowd here was noticeably thicker, and most of the shoppers were dressed in fashionable, expensive attire.

They had official entered the central business district of the city.

"Classified sources," Jake whispered with a smirk. "But here in Suran, it’s not really a secret anymore. Most people in this district have bought from the shop at least once. But recently, the beast shop started strictly filtering their customers. They won’t just sell a beast to anyone, and they strictly enforce a one-beast-per-lifetime rule. No returning customers allowed."

Filmos nodded slowly, pieces falling into place. "So, this whole thing about being the ’home of Nustra’s enemies’ is just because the neighboring cities can’t keep up with Suran’s sudden rise of powerful beasts and tamers?"

"Bingo! You got it!"

For strange and political reasons, the surrounding cities in the Nustra region neighboring Suran deeply resented the sudden jump in power among Suran’s local tamers.

Even though there had been a sudden shift in local leadership following the recent violent attack on the Lee Family by an unknown powerhouse, the city’s economy and tamer ranking had maintained its steady climb.

Furthermore, the official manhunt for the mysterious tamer owning a flying beast had been abruptly called off. City administrators quietly halted the investigation after discovering that the sole beast shop selling these powerful creatures was owned by that exact same flying-beast tamer.

In recent months, however, no one actually knew the current whereabouts of this master tamer. Even the authorities of the Hanging City, who had placed full blame on the man named Terrence, couldn’t track him down.

He had completely vanished from public view, leaving his legendary beast shop to be run entirely by his trusted subordinates.

"I like that you’re catching on so fast," Jake teased, flashing a grin. "So, even if you end up becoming an official enemy of Nustra, please don’t forget about me!"

"Jake!" Filmos’s brows furrowed in annoyance.

It was only then that he realized they had stopped directly in front of a modest storefront.

"Anyway, we’re here."

Filmos faced forward, staring at the front of the only beast shop of its kind in the entire Nustra Region—or perhaps the entire continent.

Just like any commercial establishment, it featured a prominent sign hanging right above the main double doors.

"’Beast God-Tier Supply’?" Filmos read the letters out loud, his face twisting in skepticism. "What a bizarre name for a legitimate business."

"Just ignore the name and get inside," Jake said, reaching out to push the glass door open.

TING!

A small chime rang around Filmos’s wrist.

"Wait!"

Filmos didn’t immediately follow Jake inside. His digital watch had suddenly vibrated with a sharp alert chime.

He lifted his wrist and opened the incoming notification, his teeth biting hard into his lower lip as his eyes scanned the threatening lines displayed on the screen.

’Fuck... the next debt collection date is right around the corner. I desperately need to earn money today. Shit, why am I standing here?! I have to inform Jake that I need to back out right now. How could I possibly forget that the collection deadline was this close?!’

Panicking internally, Filmos stepped into the cool interior of the shop, strode quickly over to Jake’s side, and kept his head lowered.

"Hey? What was that about?" Jake asked, noticing his friend’s pale face.

"I... I think I really have to go back home right now," Filmos mumbled, squeezing his hands into tight fists.

Jake let out a long sigh, instantly realizing that it was another financial crisis Filmos was forced to face whenever he was on the verge of spending money.

Sighing again, Jake reached out and placed a heavy, comforting hand on Filmos’s shoulder.

"Don’t stress about it, bro. You can just repay me whenever you get back on your feet. I’ll let you borrow the funds for this one."

Filmos firmly shook his head, his chest tightening with guilt.

"No! Please... I’m already way too indebted to you as it is. I can’t keep taking advantage of your kindness like this."

Jake sighed softly. Here they were again, running in the exact same emotional loop as always.

"Don’t worry about it," Jake said, looking Filmos straight in the eye with complete confidence. "I believe in you, Filmos. I know for a fact you’ll pay me back in full in the future."

Filmos recalled the looming threat of the collection notice on his watch. Then, thinking back to everything Jake had claimed about this unique beast shop guaranteed to grant a contract, he reluctantly gave a single, firm nod despite the heavy weight in his heart.

"Okay... let’s buy a beast."