Street Cultivation 2

by Sarah Lin

  He'd been shoveling food into his mouth while soaking up what she was saying, but now Rick hastened to swallow. "So which is better? Rebuilding or a secondary foundation?"

  "Oh, the choices are way more complicated than that." Emily sat back and waved her fork in the air, which probably wasn't good manners, but she clearly didn't care. "If you want the most common option, there's something called an Investment Foundation. It lets you put away a lot of lucrim for your kids. Or for you, it could let you re-purpose all the lucrim you've invested in Graham's Stake."

  "You mean... is the fact that it's in my lucrima soul hurting me in some way?"

  "Think of it as carrying a generator around with you. It's useful, but it's slowing you down. With an Investment Foundation, you'd make it weightless. Then you could advance faster while simultaneously improving your generator."

  "Huh." Rick realized that he'd heard hints of this in a few places while reading online, but the conversations had always seemed so far beyond him that he ignored them. Yet somehow, now he was in a position where he needed to care about this kind of thing. "You said that was one of the most common options. What else?"

  "One that's harder, though even simpler, is getting a combat foundation. Those vary, but at the most basic the purpose is to let you invest lucrim into new Lucores even when the growth of your generation rate is flagging - which it will, though you haven't run into that yet. Anyway, the point is, Jack almost certainly has a combat foundation."

  "You said that was at the most basic... don't dumb it down for me."

  Emily shot him a wry grin. "The more complex part is that there are endless types of combat foundations. Some are like nothing but storage containers for lucores. Others are more expensive, but grant some benefit as an inherent property. And I don't mean just benefits like a little technique, I mean things like biological immortality. That's far beyond what you should care about right now, of course."

  Though there was a lot to keep in mind, Rick was more interested than overwhelmed. "And none of these things are the same as an M-type foundation?"

  "Nope. That's actually a much more complex lucrim asset, something that has advanced significantly since ancient times. Old fighters always worked on their core foundation, referring to it as reforging themselves. An M-type..." Emily fiddled with her fork for a while, trying to decide how to put it. "Think of it as a large chunk of power that brings a nasty aura leech along with it. Potentially a huge boost, but a calculated risk. And that's not even getting into other forms, like RR-type foundations. I'd advise not worrying about it."

  "Is doing one of those as risky as a demonic bond?"

  That got an odd look from Emily, but eventually she shrugged. "They're actually considered the standard safe path in some combat sects. But for my money - literally, I suppose - I think that they're a risk that most people shouldn't take. M-types work fine when life is easy, but one bad accident and everything could come falling down around you."

  Realizing how long they had been chatting purely about lucrim techniques, Rick felt vaguely guilty. He didn't want to hijack the conversation, but saw a chance to ask about her instead. "What about you? Out of all these options, which did you choose?"

  "I have three: my original foundation, an Investment Foundation, and a combat foundation I designed myself."

  "Oh, really? I don't know enough to say if that's impressive, but... it sounds impressive."

  "Not something to do lightly, anyway." Emily seemed slightly uncomfortable, eyes wandering around the restaurant. "But that's my choice. As for you, I advise thinking carefully before you make any decisions. You can liquidate foundations later, like Lucores, but it's not a trivial process. Better to analyze carefully and choose the best option for the long term."

  Since she didn't seem to want to talk about herself, Rick asked a few questions about what advice she had for him. Emily answered gladly, though in the end it seemed to come down to his exact portfolio and his priorities in life. Which wasn't helpful, since there were still so many questions in his mind about what he wanted to do.

  That conversation carried them into more general topics, which lasted until they'd finished all their food and even after. Emily certainly seemed to enjoy herself, and so long as the conversation was flowing smoothly Rick was happy too. It didn't seem quite like they were dating, since they'd had talks like this before, but he supposed that wasn't a bad thing.

  The bill was a bit pricey for him, but Emily paid the entire thing with a credit card so smoothly that he didn't have a chance to object. A stubborn traditional part of Rick felt like that was wrong, but he wasn't going to be an ass and insist that he had to pay. Especially not given the price and the fact that Emily was a lot richer than him. She didn't make any more of a deal out of it than she had the difference in their combat strength, and in fact she didn't seem to even think about it at all.

  When they walked out of the restaurant, Rick wasn't quite sure what would happen next. The conversation had faded on the way out and he didn't want to force it to start again. Before he could decide, Emily stepped up beside him and slid her fingers through his, giving him an almost shy smile.

  "I had a good time tonight, Rick. Let's do something again soon... eating or fighting, I don't mind."

  "Right, definitely." Since that seemed to be farewell, they split up there. Part of him wondered what Emily would be like just relaxing, or if she was constantly driven by something or other. He could honestly see it going multiple ways.

  As he walked away, Rick discovered he had a spring in his step. They'd gone on their first date and he hadn't screwed anything up. He felt a bit weird that they'd barely talked about anything personal, but he couldn't deny that he'd had a good time. Though someone like Emily was out of his league in multiple ways, she wanted to be with him and she'd had a good time.

  He was in such a good mood that he got several blocks down the street before he even thought about his bike.

  Chapter 27: Joining and Breaking

  Going back to work the day after the date was just about the worst possible thing for Rick, since it gave him way too much time to think about things. Melissa had needled him with multiple insinuations once he got back, but he couldn't actually talk to her about all of that. For one, it was private, and for another, it would just give her more ammunition.

  That left him wandering in his own thoughts as he hiked through the Peakless Wildlife Refuge with Delsin, however. Most of his thoughts were positive, it was just too easy to get lost in them. He was pretty sure the old man noticed and spent more time away in irritation.

  Unfortunately, the third anomaly within the Refuge proved to be harder to find instead of easier. Even though there wasn't any more interference, a broader effect seemed to be making the aura flicker strangely. Rick had to double-check the surveying technique multiple times, but the problem didn't seem to be with him. A few others on the CSLA forums mentioned it, and though there were no answers, he assumed that it must be some broader trend. Hopefully not one that would make all future anomalies this difficult.

  Once he spotted Blue in the distance. He immediately froze, not sure whether he wanted to avoid the aura bear or go up against it again. Yet this time the bear only let out an odd breath and trundled onward, as if he was no longer interesting.

  Whatever the bear was interested in, Rick couldn't find it, because his day was filled with useless surveying. Just to keep his mind from shutting down he began trying to do his meditation simultaneously with the surveying technique. Slightly challenging for a while, though not something that could hold his interest for hours. When Delsin appeared out of the woods, Rick was relieved.

  "You look like you're done for a while." Delsin leaned back against a tree and folded his arms. Rick wanted to object, yet found himself nodding.

  "I think I'm getting too unfocused to work anyway. I guess I'm done early today, so take me back to the offices."

  "Nah. You look like a man who could use a break." The world blu
rred around them for a moment, then Rick found himself outside Delsin's cabin. Immediately the man began walking toward it, barely glancing over his shoulder. "The offer's only good for a few seconds, kid."

  Just sitting down for a while sounded good, much less the potential to chat with Delsin. Rick quickly followed him to the cabin, but this time the old man was in and out too quickly. When he emerged he was carrying two microbrews, one of which he handed to Rick. They walked a few paces around the side of the cabin where there was a wooden bench Rick hadn't noticed before.

  For a while they just sat and drank, looking out over the forest. Not a great view, but it was a pleasant one. Rick wasn't sure if he'd ruin things by speaking up first, so he kept silent. Fortunately, half-way through their beers, Delsin finally broke the silence.

  "I've been talking to my nieces and nephews. They seem to agree that you're a good sort."

  Instead of risking a response, Rick just nodded and took a sip of his beer.

  "You've fulfilled your side of the agreement, you delivered the misshapen creatures, and Wemilat says you've been helping out a bit. All good things." Delsin shifted to look at him, his eyes turning hard. "But you've refused payment. It's almost enough to make a man think you're trying to get leverage."

  "I'm not interested in leverage." Rick took a drink in order to buy a bit of time and decide exactly how he wanted to say things. "I just want fair compensation."

  "Well, you sure seem to be refusing it."

  "The whole reason you agreed to work with me instead of throwing me out was because I was providing a service you couldn't buy with lucrim. And I'm not helping you out for a few bucks - that's what I have my job for." Rick forced himself to look at the older man without flinching. "I think it's only fair that in exchange I get something more than a bit of money."

  Delsin stared at him for a long moment and Rick became extremely aware of the shotgun leaning against the side of the cabin. Eventually the older man grunted and took a drink, cutting through the tension. "At least you're honest about the manipulation. Fine, what do you want?"

  "I'm not sure how strong you are, but you're stronger than me. I want you to teach me something I couldn't learn anywhere else. That teleportation technique, maybe."

  "Out of the question. You couldn't learn it even if I was willing to teach you."

  "But you're open to the offer?"

  "Maybe." Delsin took a long drink, then gave him a grudging smile. "I don't like to admit it, but you've done my family a real service. The surveyors other than you are getting more aggressive, and I couldn't throw all of them out of the Refuge easily. Plus, I don't want attention from the CSLA. So I respect that you were willing to listen and that you've helped out."

  The words didn't seem to come easily to the old man but they sounded sincere, so Rick let himself feel a little bit of hope. He hadn't been sure this gambit would work, just felt that he had to try. It was taking so many days to resolve things, he wasn't actually getting much of a leg up on his competitors, so he needed an edge. Ideally something that would last.

  "Thing is, we don't teach our tribal techniques to just anyone." Delsin leaned closer to him, all trace of humor gone from his dark eyes. "If you want to learn even one, you have to become a member of the tribe. This is no petty ritual, it means giving up your old allegiances and taking up our causes as your own. Only when you truly fight for us can you become one of us. Can you do that?"

  "I..." Rick took a deep breath and almost said yes. His instincts only warned him at the last instant and instead he eyed the old man shrewdly. "Do you ever give up?"

  In response Delsin barked a short laugh. "Damn, I really thought I'd get you that time." He didn't answer right away, though, so after pausing long enough Rick just responded in annoyance.

  "If you had been serious, how do you join the tribe?"

  "You don't. If you'd taken me up on that, I'd have shown you the fucking door." Delsin took a drink and shook his head. "Seriously, it's no small thing you're asking."

  Rick took a deep breath, focusing on the fact that there was still a chance. "I know that. There isn't a group in the world that would give up secrets lightly. But for all the nonsense you spew, I don't think I'm asking you to give up something sacred. You know that they're just techniques for fighting."

  "Good ones, though. Your ancestors couldn't conquer their way through the continent because the lucrim was too equal. The only thing they had over us was their filth and all the diseases that came with it. Without them, you never would have gotten us to sign any truces. So it's no small thing to just hand over our techniques."

  "Oh, hah hah. You can do that act for someone el-"

  Abruptly the end of a beer bottle was in his face, almost hitting him. "I'm not messing with you this time, kid. We might have everyone's respect these days, but it's a kind of respect that starts to taste like poison. If I sensed any of it in you, I'd have blown your head off."

  The words came out like ice and Rick found himself frozen, not sure if those hard eyes were sincere. Fortunately, after a while Delsin pulled back his bottle and gave him a dry smile.

  "Fortunately, you're just power hungry, like most kids are. Why are you pushing so hard to grab power, anyway?"

  "I have my reasons."

  "I know, that's why I asked for them." Delsin stared at him, not drinking, looking like he wasn't going to budge. Unfortunately, the biggest thing keeping Rick from speaking was uncertainty instead of stubbornness. It was a question he often asked himself, so he didn't have much choice but to think out loud.

  "I'm not sure. Just becoming strong... that sounded appealing when I was a kid, but the older I get, the more that starts to feel empty. It's not anything noble, it's just like... wanting to own the biggest pool in the neighborhood. It's empty."

  "Not if it's a good pool."

  Rick ignored him and kept speaking. "For a long time I wanted to help my sister, or just be able to keep my extended family from taking what wasn't theirs. But I was strong enough to do those things. Part of me feels like there's gotta be something even worse coming, so I need to prepare for it. I don't think that's the real reason, though. Maybe if I'm being completely honest... this is what I know how to do."

  For a long time Delsin didn't answer, staring out over the woods and taking a drink from time to time. Rick decided to do the same, trying not to look nervous. When Delsin finally finished his bottle, he let out a sigh, set it down, and spoke without looking at Rick.

  "Say I agreed to teach you something. What do you want? We could do the Ancient Prongs, which is a damn good offensive skill. Or maybe the Cloak of Midnight Beads? That'd be one that would blend pretty well with your defensive core. My teleportation technique is still way beyond you, but we do have some good movement skills. Take your pick."

  "If you were in my position and your life was on the line, what technique would you learn next?"

  Delsin gave him a long stare that was almost impossible to read. Then he cursed under his breath and looked away. "Okay, that is a bullshit answer."

  "I think you were offering a bullshit choice. I don't know a thing about any one of those techniques. You just wanted to teach me something quick and get rid of me."

  "Damn right." Delsin slapped his hands on his knees and pushed himself up. "I'll think about it."

  "About your answer?"

  "About whether teaching you something is worth getting rid of you for good. But fine, if we're going to do this, show me your portfolio. I assume you have one of those apps everyone uses these days?"

  Normally Rick didn't just show that to people, but he thought that this was probably an exception. Quickly pulling it up on screen, he handed the phone over to the old man. Delsin seemed to have no trouble reading it, and Rick knew what he'd see.

  [Name: Rick Hunter

  Ether Tier: 15th

  Ether Score: 315

  Lucrim Generation: 49,025

  Effective Rate: 47,097

  Current Lucrim: 35,
289]

  [Rick Hunter's Lucrima Portfolio

  Foundation: 4200 (Lv IV)

  Offensive Lucore: 8100 (Lv V)

  Defensive Lucore: 19,650 (Lv VIII)

  Bunyan's Step: 8375 (Lv V)

  Graham's Stake: 8700 (Lv II)

  Aura Leech: -1928 (Stage I)

  Gross Lucrim: 49,025

  Net Lucrim: 47,097]

  "Huh." Delsin's expression might as well have been a mask, hinting at absolutely nothing. "I still haven't decided yet, but I'll say this... if you want something good, you're not ready. If I were you, I'd stop investing in my current cores and start building a mass for something else."

  That was as close as an answer as Rick was going to get, so he nodded, trying to keep from grinning. "I'll do what I can, though I don't know how fast my generation rate will increase."

  "Shave some off your foundation, too. Looks like you've gained some fat to trim from all that biking."

  "I... will do my best." Rick hadn't considered that and immediately filed it away. If he didn't know better, Delsin might have given him some actual advice. He didn't think the old man would ever truly warm to him, but he did think that they might be able to come to an agreement. That was better than he thought he'd get when he started the conversation.

  "Alright, then shut up and get back to work." Delsin sent him blurring through the forest, and though the bottle was still in his hand, the break was clearly over.

  ~ ~ ~

  "Okay, now!" Wemilat called out and Rick obeyed, pushing a bit of aura into the rod in his hand.

  In an instant the ether-enchanted mechanism manifested an entire cage, wrapping itself around the running creature and trapping it in place. Of course, it was only a squirrel, not exactly a dangerous beast. The squirrel ran up against the side and chittered at him, but good-naturedly. The thing was practically tame.