Zukal stood nearby, holding his sound transmission device. “Do you want me to report the Fifth Realm Institute fighters to the sects?”
Domonos paused. “Leak that we ran into some powerful forces; use it to make them bolder and show their ability. Don’t say their actual levels. Have the spies report that we are looking to hunt them down to make them pay.”
“Make them double their efforts to hunt them down to try to look better than us.” Zukal nodded.
“Out here, we have to deceive the enemy and those who hire us. Once we cut out Craghorn, the Willful Institute will only have four remaining cities that can supply their training resources.”
“With how hard the Willful Institute is fighting, there isn’t going to be much left.” Zukal rubbed his face.
Domonos clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, it’s a good thing that we don’t need the city. The other sects can fight over it. We just need to get paid and move onto the next fight. Find out if the Institute is sending out their riders to attack the other sects.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I have a feeling they’re starting to target us.”
Zukal grimaced at Domonos’ words. “We knew that it was a possibility.”
12
Vuzgal’s New Acting City lord
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Title: Acting Vuzgal City Lord
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Ability to control the Vuzgal City Interface
Ability to banish others from the city’s domain
Cannot create new city lord
Cannot alter the rights of the city lord(s)
==========
Chonglu dismissed the screen and bowed from the hip to Erik and Rugrat. He turned and repeated the motion to Hiao Xen.
He rose to applause. Tan Xue, Qin Silaz, Julilah, and other teachers from the school were there with the leaders of the Vuzgal Defense force.
Domonos was still commanding the battle at Craghorn. Officially, he was training.
There were some select traders, people from the battle arena Chonglu had worked with, and others from the Vuzgal Administration.
Branch heads from Vuzgal’s different associations were all in attendance: the Fighter’s Association, Crafter’s Association, Alchemist’s Association, and Blue Lotus. Even Elder Lu Ru of the Fourth Realm Blue Lotus headquarters had come.
Chonglu smiled, but his mind kept wandering to the information he had been given by Deputy Director Detrick, Hiao Xen, and what he had figured out on his own. His eyes drifted to Mira, who was holding up their two young ones in either arm. They were clapping and wore wide smiles.
Chonglu winked at them and looked at Erik and Rugrat. He felt his throat closing as they grinned at him. He owed them a debt he would never be able to repay. Until the end of his days, he would support them in whatever way he could.
Oskar Elsi’s dull blue eyes drifted across the game of Go, watching his great-grandson ponder his next move as he held the black stone in his hand.
His robe softened his large shoulders and hid his tempered body underneath. His back was as straight as a spear while his head had been shaved clean.
On his chest, he wore the emblem of a Stone Fist Sect Elder.
His smile made one think that everything happening was as he intended.
“You know, Eduard, if you hold that stone any tighter you might crush it.”
Eduard released his grip and coughed. “Sorry, Great-grandfather.” Eduard bowed.
A loyal child, unlike that other disappointment. Oskar’s eyes chilled for a second.
Eduard placed down his stone, taking two prisoners.
“Decisive when you act, but you aren’t paying attention to the long game.” Oskar looked at the board and picked up a white stone without looking. He placed it on the opposite side of the board.
Oskar debated his move. Eduard swallowed, his eyes flicking across the table as Oskar’s hand paused above different pieces.
There was a light knock at the door. Oskar frowned, looking up and lowering his hand. “Come in.” The door swung out as attendant Ilsa walked in with her head bowed.
Oskar glanced at her before he cleared his throat. “Shall we take a break for now? We can continue after your practice tomorrow.”
“Yes, Great-Grandfather.” Edurad raised his hands and bowed to Oskar. He quickly got up from where he was sitting.
He closed the doors with a bow, reactivating the formations in the room.
Oskar indicated for Ilsa to speak.
“Chonglu has become the Acting Lord of Vuzgal. It was a quiet ceremony, but all of Vuzgal knows. Lords West and Rodriguez were in attendance. Hiao Xen has been awarded a position as a branch manager in the Sixth Realm.”
“Rats, nothing more than rats.” Oskar’s face twisted into a sneer. “Did West not think we’d link him to Mira leaving the clan and the sect? Did he think we’d forget the shame? That Lord Chonglu and his bastard seed, dirtying one of our own!”
Oskar smashed the game across the floor, sending pieces everywhere. He stood, flexing and relaxing his arms as he breathed, focusing his mind.
“Without the Blue Lotus’ manager as the acting city lord now, any action taken against them is on their honor, not on the Blue Lotus. What about the traders we support?”
“They have been testing their boundaries vigorously. A few have been captured by the Vuzgal police and are on trial. They don’t know enough, and the police will only ban them from Vuzgal.”
“There are plenty of others to take their place. What about the Vuzgal warehousing district?”
“Through different subsidiaries, we now control seventy-two percent of the warehouse district.”
“Once we reach eighty percent, increase the warehousing fees, double them for traders with close ties to Vuzgal. Apply pressure to the other warehouse owners to sell off or follow what we’re doing. Have the Black Hawks pay a visit to anyone that doesn’t.”
“We should control the majority of the warehouses within two weeks.” Ilsa bowed her head.
“Seems that Vuzgal and its lords forgot about our Elsi clan. At the end, we’ll have them on their knees begging forgiveness, offering to give Mira back to us.” Oskar sniffed.
“Have you been working on your alchemy or healing skills?” Rugrat asked.
“Not much.” Erik glanced at his skill level.
==========
Skill: Healer
Level: 84 (Expert)
==========
You are an expert on the human body and the arts of repairing it. Healing spells now cost 10% less Mana and Stamina. Patient’s stamina is used an additional 15% less.
==========
==========
Skill: Alchemy
Level: 81 (Expert)
==========
Able to identify 1 effect of the ingredient.
Ingredients are 5% more potent.
When creating concoctions, mana regeneration increases by 20%
==========
“I’ve been working on mass-producing pills for tempering the body and making the revival concoctions.”
Erik pulled out a needle, sharing the stat screen with Rugrat.
==========
Revival Needle
Grade: Low Expert
==========
Inject directly into the patient’s heart.
==========
Increases natural regeneration by 200% for 30 seconds.
Increases Stamina regeneration by 400%.
Heals blood vessels.
Heals respiratory system.
==========
“Enough to get the patient stabilized, tossed into a medical cage, and pushed to the rear,” Erik said.
“How many can we produce?” Rugrat asked.
“Currently, about seventy per day. We’ve been stockpiling them. Only ten percent make it to the deployed medics.”
“I’ve never worried as much about the supplies we have at the rear going into a fight.” Rugrat passed the need
le back to Erik.
“We were always at the front, wondering where the damn ammo and water was. Armies move on their supply trains. Thankfully, we have the Trading Guild to support our forces and factories to mass-produce our weapons, gear, and most consumables.” Erik stored the needle away and put his hands behind his back. The duo looked out over Vuzgal. “So, have you been working on your crafting?”
Rugrat shook his head. “Distracted, still getting used to this new power. I want to work on a Gatling gun-style weapon system. though it would take time and resources away from other projects we really need. Not worth it. Was thinking about getting on the training program.”
“Which one?”
“The undead one,” Rugrat grinned.
“The Blood Demon Sect undead that we have grinding through dungeons to increase their power?”
“Yeah, Egbert was thinking ahead. We have multiple training dungeons, our personal crafter’s dungeons. The Beast Range trial now creates random creatures from our stock of known dungeon beasts according to different levels. Endless dungeons. Same mechanism, more creatures, not as powerful.”
“Wait, explain the Beast Range Trial.” Erik held out a hand to slow Rugrat.
“The dungeon spawns a random powerful beastie. You have to fight and defeat it to get dungeon points and choose to move on to the next fight or exit. Still has the medallion, so if you break it, you get returned to where you started. While we were gone, Egbert worked on making the dungeons better. He took gaming knowledge and planning from Matt and Tanya. Created dungeons more in the style of games back on Earth. They were meant to be as challenging as possible, pit people against real odds. Worked out well.” Rugrat tapped the box on his hip.
“They’ve been the best training aide we have. The crafter dungeons allow people to work with real pressure and a sense of competition. The fighting dungeons give people combat experience, solo and with a group. It’s the only way we could have grown our army and our people’s levels without them fighting across the realms. So, good ole dungeon grind?”
“Hell, yeah, man, and don’t discount the undead. The old Vuzgal guards are hella strong now. Can’t send them into the dungeons anymore on account that in fights they drain the dungeon of all its built-up affinities to create the different beasts. Some of the new guards have reached that stage and others will shortly. When they were alive, they were powerful already.”
“Kind of fucked up when you think that we’re using our enemies’ bodies as a fighting force.”
“Well, it was that, or let them disappear. We have a serious lack of people. This makes up for it. Our units are trained on how to operate with undead support. They’re basically simple automatons with additional armor and gear. They’re a constant hidden weapon in our back pocket.”
“You keep a blade in your back pocket?” Erik asked.
“No! What idiot would put a blade in his back pocket?”
There was a knock at the door, interrupting their talk.
“Come in,” Rugrat said.
A messenger walked in, looking nervous. “Sirs!” He bowed suddenly.
“Well, do you have something for us?”
“I-am-really-sorry-lords, but-there-is-a-lady-called-Momma-Rodriguez-that-has-been-harassing-the-Sky-Reaching-Restaurant-and-asking-about-you-both!” He gulped down air after spitting out the words rapid-fire.
Rugrat and Erik turned from the window. Erik felt his stomach tighten and Rugrat’s mouth was twitching in an attempt to form words.
“What did she say her name was?” Erik demanded.
“Maria Josefina Rodriguez.”
Erik’s entire body shook. Rugrat stared back at him in a similar state of shock.
Is it really her?
Erik and Rugrat set their jaws.
“Which location is she at?” Rugrat said as they walked forward.
“The fifth location!”
“Stand up, boy. You’re coming with us,” Rugrat said, grabbing him by the shoulder, raising him, and forcing him to walk with them.
Erik used his sound transmission device. “Roska, we’re heading to the fifth Sky Reaching Restaurant location. Send word ahead to bring the person calling herself Momma Rodriguez into a private room. We’ll move through the under-city.”
“Understood. Meet you down there in five.”
Erik and Rugrat walked out of the room. Their guards moved around them. Rugrat handed the messenger to two of them. They checked the boy’s medallion and his identity several times, asking him questions to verify he was who he said he was.
Erik and Rugrat kept grim expressions, ready to be let down, still hoping they were wrong, but everything checked out.
Momma Rodriguez sipped her tea. She was so focused on other things, the flavors seemed dull with her heart.
She stood up as the doors to the room opened. A man and a woman walked into the room. Both wore comfortable and loose shirts and pants with boots, but there was a hardness to them she had often seen in Rugrat and his friends’ eyes.
They scanned the room before one went back out and the other moved to the side.
Maria’s hands shook as time seemed to slow. Two men pulled back their hoods as they entered the room. They looked like contractors from their rugged cargo pants and shirts. The one on the right was a bit taller than the one on the left. Their broad shoulders crowded the doorway as they stepped inside. One had brown-almost-black hair and wet brown eyes with that same goofy grin, and beside him, the man had blond hair and sharp blue eyes.
Maria let out a shuddering breath. Her legs trembled as tears blurred her view. She stumbled, and the two men rushed forward to support her.
“My boys,” she whispered. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she hooked her arms around both of their necks, hugging them both and covering their cheeks in tear-stained kisses.
“Momma,” Jimmy choked out.
They knelt on either side of her, patting her back.
She squeezed them tight again, letting out a shuddering breath as she released them. She laughed and looked at them as they all wiped away their tears. The others in the room looked away. The door had closed at some point.
“I told you there was no getting away from me. Had to chase you across this Ten Realms!”
“How did you?” Erik asked.
“Found a lady on the internet that had the curse. With all of your experiments and posting about them on the internet we figured out what we needed to do, and I went with her,” Momma Rodriguez said.
“Momma.” Rugrat’s words were filled with feeling and admonishment.
“I lost your brother to war and your sister to drugs. You two are all I have left. Do you really think I would just sit at home, Jimmy Enrique Rodriguez?” She waved a finger as if it were a weapon with her hand on her hip as her accent became heavier.
Rugrat bowed down, stepping back.
“You’re all I have left. I might not go fight with you, but I will always be there when you come home!” Her voice softened as she lowered her finger, putting it on her other hip. “And did you think I wouldn’t notice you selling all my recipes?”
Rugrat laughed weakly and tried to make himself small, looking anywhere but at Momma. “I was hungry.”
“Bottomless damn pit,” growled, but there was no heat in her voice. “You know how hard it is going to be to set up my own restaurant having to compete with everyone on fried chicken? What did you even use as a chicken?”
“Well, you see...”
Erik coughed, trying to hide his smile, fighting his face’s attempts to betray him.
Erik laughed, shaking his head. His heart filled to bursting while his stomach churned, thinking that this was all some dream.
Rugrat scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Momma Rodriguez, it’s great to see you.” Erik smiled. “Need someone around that can keep him in line.”
“Hey!” Rugrat said, glaring at Erik.
Momma Rodriguez laughed and walked up to Rug
rat, pulling his cloak in, fixing it, and then patting his chest. “We made our promise long ago, you and me, didn’t we?” she said to Erik.
Rugrat frowned and looked between them.
“Stick together and we’ll make it through anything.” Erik looked down, pressing his lips together and closing his eyes. “And know that no matter what, there will always be a home to return to.” His last words came out raspy as he choked up.
Momma Rodriguez moved over and pulled Erik’s cloak tight. “And home is where we are,” she said softly, and wiped Erik’s face.
He nodded and cleared his throat forcefully. He looked into her deep brown eyes. She was short, but as fierce as ever. Her wrinkles and easy smile comforted others.
“Lords…” She shook her head. “Seems that someone around here has no idea about you two.”
There was a cough from the side.
Erik looked at Roska.
“I’m sorry, but we need to verify you are who you say you are.”
Rugrat made to say something, but Momma Rodriguez put her hand out. “It’s good that you have someone around here with common sense! A strong young lady like yourself. Do you have a significant other in your life?”
“I’m going to have you agree to this contract on the Ten Realms.” Roska held out a piece of paper and a small blade.
“You didn’t answer the question, and I agree to this contract on the Ten Realms.” Momma Rodriguez cut her thumb and pressed it to the paper.
“Momma,” Rugrat tried to hint.
“What? She’s a pretty young girl, strong and determined. She’s following you two around, so she’s smart. I just want to know the kind of people you two have been hanging around with. So, any significant other? What’s your name?”
The glow of the Ten Realms contract covered Momma Rodriguez.
Roska looked at Erik and Rugrat, who gave her no help.
“Uhh, no ma’am, and Roska.”
“That won’t do! Fighting isn’t everything, as I keep telling these two!”
“I have to ask you some questions,” Roska said timidly.
“Ask away, dear.” Momma Rodriguez smiled, standing there.
Seventh Realm Part 1: A LitRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 8) Page 12
