Chapter 237: Fresh Meat

Ding!

[Quest completed]

Gate Creature Ghrul-Mahuuth x1Eliminated!

Rewards will be distributed at the end of the trial.

Not concerned by the quest or the weird name he didn’t know how to pronounce, Moon pulled his blade from the pierced skull.

The rewards the system promised were not passing by his nose by a mistake, even. Unless someone made the quest specifically with the reward placed, he couldn’t get any rewards from the Tower.

"Welp..." Moon stared at the gate that had already vanished like a lie. "I guess that’s it for today."

He whipped his blade, cleaning it of the mixed-colour liquid it squeezed out on its way out. Yet, some traces lingered.

Moon came closer to the dead gate creature and wiped his blade clean on its fur.

Studying the blade’s sheen, Moon nodded with a face full of satisfaction.

Yet, he suddenly felt something wrong; it was...

Too quiet.

His head whipped in the direction where everyone was standing, only to find them watching with their weapons hanging in their hands.

"What?" Moon asked. "Never seen a scorpion cow before?"

His eyes fell on Dorbish next. "You wanted to say something?" he inquired.

He remembered Dorbish shouting something, but he was already into combat and wasn’t sure what he was trying to say.

The giant axe in Dorbish’s hands disappeared. He shrugged. "Nope, it was nothing," he said, dismissing Moon’s question.

"Pok-Leader strong, good," Fisher said, coming closer. "Cut fresh meat?" he asked for permission.

"Ah man, that’s a lot of work too." Moon had just cleaned Liquid Mountain and didn’t want to dirty it again.

In Fisher’s hands, two identical cleavers appeared. Each was around two feet tall, with a handle long enough for a normal person to use two hands to hold it.

He threw one to Moon. "Let’s cut fresh meat."

Moon caught it, swung it around, before nodding. "Good cleaver."

The two of them started logging the creature’s legs apart first, which didn’t seem to be easy to cut or break.

Tougher than a normal person trying to cut a tree, but they seemed too energetic. Each took a side and started butchering as if they were familiar.

Meanwhile, Gustav approached Talia quietly. "Lady Talia, may I ask where Sir Moon came from?"

Talia knew they didn’t have any means to watch the events Moon had won while in the Facility, nor did they have means to do a background check on the ascenders who were joining them.

Maybe recognizing emblems that were of high profile and universally known within the Tower.

But Moon didn’t have any of these aspects they could use to assert one’s status or strength.

Talia understood that most of the trust Gustav had in Moon was thanks to the fact that she had agreed to be under his command while daring to carry the Winged Sword emblem.

She wasn’t sure if she should explain Moon’s background or not, or if she should let Moon do it himself.

The impact it would bring, leaving their fate to a mercenary from the first floor who happened to win in fights where Echo was restricted.

It was something ridiculous to say, especially under the occurring events the kingdom was going through.

Telling a war general that his fate was in the hands of a sellsword...

Yet, that wasn’t the only problem she faced when explaining his identity; there was much more to it.

Little did she know, he wasn’t even a sellsword.

Such a title was too fancy for him, once upon a time.

Meanwhile, in the Control Centre.

Ed nodded in approval. Proud, but wordless.

Yutian and Uon seemed impressed. Though Hugh’s and Lazzaro’s sides didn’t have much of a reaction.

Lucen was the one watching most intently. "That’s an impressive method," he said with a look of deep thought.

"I’ll have the hunting instruction guide updated to have this method as the primary one for hunting down Ghrul-Mahuuth."

He turned to Ed. "You see it now; he fits best in Assault Facility," Lucen said curtly.

Ed shook his head. "Like hell, Lucen, most of the kids you pick die within a couple of years at most."

"They live far longer, though I agree it’s inevitable for gate suppression troops to meet unfavorable situations where least expected," Lucen retorted before sharing his own side of the story.

"That kid would fit in specifically for that reason; he can find his way around well." Lucen stared at the screen where Moon and Fisher were cutting up the oversized cow-like creature.

"He could help reduce the number of cadets that would fall," Lucen added.

"You should give me something in return for having you send a few brats to him," Ed struck back without holding back.

"There’s no guarantee they would make it either," Lucen retorted.

He knew too well the nature of the trial and the mortality rate... He wasn’t young or childish enough to believe that those who came from his side would live while others would die.

Lucen knew too well and was already prepared for it, the death of the twins he had sent; one of them was even an arcanist.

A huge loss, but he didn’t seem reluctant to take it.

"They chose to go with him; if they make it, it’s thanks to him." Ed leaned forward, rubbing his thumb over his index and middle fingers in a universally known gesture.

Ed was seeking to exploit something expensive from Lucen, who appeared to be filthy rich.

"Let’s discuss this if they do make it alive, then." Lucen decided to postpone the discussion.

"There’s also an experience fee; you gotta pay for the updated instruction manual," Ed added, raising his index finger with certainty.

"Edmond, you’re getting more presumptuous lately." Lucen’s tone turned slowly into impatience.

"Don’t be like that." Ed wasn’t feeling threatened in any way. "You see, this will give you credibility with the younger generation."

"Getting them scammed by people like you is now called credibility?" Lucen spat back.

"A man must keep his word to the grave," Ed said with certainty. "A man’s word is law and a decree," he added.

"You’re starting to sound older than me." Lucen dismissed his seriousness.

"I am old, very old; I keep my word at any cost," Ed innocently said. He pointed at Lucen. "What about you, promising so much glory and prosperity only to find death at the beginning of the road?"

The two stared at one another for a little too long, making the room feel suffocating for everyone except Samuel.

Everly, who came to watch a trial for the sake of acquiring new talents, and Uon, who only came to watch a screen so he wouldn’t be left alone for too long.

"Um, C-chchchef Ed." Uon tugged Ed’s sleeve in a desperate attempt to defuse the tension.

He didn’t believe a fight would break out, but what if it did and somehow he got crushed?

He ended up pointing at a screen. Enzo and his group were also crossing large farmlands, moving closer to the gate and the second checkpoint. "Look here; they seem to be progressing fast."

Ed shook his head, shrugging off the tension he kept building with Lucen before looking at where Uon pointed.

Enzo’s over a thousand ascenders had been crossing the large lands rapidly thanks to the different terrain and well-paved lands.