Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: Verzan 02 (3)
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The Cult shop owner and the leopard-headed Wolf who had given me a fresh feeling.
Seeing that even the Insectman clerk knew him, the Cult owner was quite famous in this district. There were too many eyes in such a bustling place to launch an immediate attack.
So, I planned to have an in-depth "interview" with them later that night.
In the meantime, I stopped by another shop the Insectman clerk had recommended. Unfortunately, there were no traces of the 22nd-ranked Coldblood ranker.
'He might not be in this city.'
The chances of the 22nd having left Verzan 02 were slim. Escaping secretly from this planet with its tight surveillance wouldn't be easy. And if things went wrong, he could get caught by Jason and the ruling faction.
So, he was definitely somewhere on this planet. Of course, there was no guarantee he was in this district or city.
'I already expected this to turn into a long game.'
That's why I'd prepared a hideout. No need to get impatient yet.
"Time to head back."
｢Hold on.｣
I was heading to the hideout to rest before moving out again at night when the Mother of the Sky stopped me.
"What is it?"
｢Let's buy some clothes.｣
"Because of that guy?"
｢That's part of it, but walking around like this is just going to cause trouble.｣
She scratched at her beak in annoyance.
Actually, in this case, the Cult owner had acted strangely. The silver collar around her neck proved she was a slave, not her nudity.
Moreover, her body bore black wave-pattern tattoos. Anyone could see she was a free tribesman of the Wolf clan.
'But...'
Cults had a strong sense of chosen superiority and rarely changed their minds. By their standards, the Mother of the Sky would look utterly barbaric and uncivilized. While few would act as brazenly as he did, the potential for uncomfortable situations was high.
｢I need to wear clothes while we're here. I don't want to run into more of those damn... annoying bastards.｣
"I'm naked too, you know?"
｢Shut up with the nonsense. You look like a normal Cult thanks to your mimicry organ.｣
"Just kidding. Want to look around a bit more before we go?"
After leaving the slave market, I toured clothing stores with her. There, I bought something resembling a stola, the kind worn by high-ranking Cult women when going out. No one would dare ignore the Mother of the Sky now.
｢...Feels weird wearing clothes after so long.｣
She fidgeted, unaccustomed to the fabric against her body.
The warrior beastwoman vibe was gone now that she was in soft cloth. The form-fitting design highlighted her figure, hidden before by fur. Taut muscles blended seamlessly with feminine curves, exuding a subtle allure.
"Looks good on you. Suits you perfectly."
｢Tch, it'll rip the moment I transform.｣
"Then take it off and transform before fighting."
｢In the middle of battle? Would you?｣
Despite her grumbling tone, her amber eyes curved slightly. She was just awkward from not wearing clothes in ages, but didn't seem to dislike them.
With that, I returned to where Charaas was waiting with the Mother of the Sky.
"Master. I've found out where he went."
In a lavish room of a mansion.
The leopard-headed Wolf reported to the young Cult man after ending a communication.
His name was Alkadi—silver-haired with yak horns. He owned the most slaves in the District of Light and was the brother of Alshas, captain of the Defender of Verzan 02.
With his brother commanding the Empire's mothership and himself wielding immense wealth, everyone in the district knew him. His influence even extended into Verzan 02's political circles, impossible to ignore.
However, his reputation among Cult nobles was poor, thanks to his hobby.
Alkadi was obsessively fixated on collecting slaves. He gathered beautiful ones, strong fighters, intelligent ones—any kind for his collection. Even slaves with owners had to be acquired to satisfy him.
Even in Cult society, where owning slaves was a personal freedom, Alkadi's behavior caused issues. Especially among conservative nobles.
His brother had begged him to stop—brilliant enough to be an advisor to the rival reformists. Alkadi had restrained himself for a while.
Until he encountered the suspicious man at that shop today.
"As you said, he wasn't a gunner. He's staying at the ruined hover bus center."
"My hunch was right after all."
Alkadi nodded smugly at the leopard-headed Wolf's words.
'No soldier wouldn't know my face.'
No warrior defending this planet—his brother's ship captain—could be ignorant of him. Especially a gunner.
Besides, Alkadi had a special tool others didn't know about: a bracelet his brother gave him to detect stealthy threats from political enemies.
It didn't reveal how they hid or their identity, but that was fine. Knowing a threat lurked nearby was enough.
Anyway, the bracelet had pointed to a suspicious gunner who didn't know his face. Meaning something was off—possibly a Vortex One cultist, like the Empire's cancer.
So, wasn't it fine to seize his beautiful slave?
"I'll send warriors to his location tonight."
"Good. Don't kill the owner—just bring him to me. If he's a cultist who infiltrated this planet, I need to hand him to the Prophets' Assembly."
"Understood."
"Oh, and that Wolf. Absolutely no injuries."
He'd seen countless Wolf slaves, but none as alluring as the female with the suspicious gunner.
Golden fur gleaming like novametal, muscles delicate yet steel-forged. Eyes like shrunken, radiant stars.
Nothing ordinary. Imagining mating with her was intoxicating.
As Alkadi lost himself in her beauty, the leopard-headed Wolf nodded and spoke.
"Master. She seemed highly skilled to me. I should go too to minimize losses."
"Needs you personally?"
The leopard-headed Wolf was his finest slave warrior. If he was wary, she wasn't ordinary.
"A strong, beautiful fighter. All the more tempting. Go yourself and handle it."
"Yes, sir."
After the leopard-headed Wolf left, Alkadi summoned other slaves. Even as various females served him, he fantasized about the Wolf female's body.
Time passed, and night fell on Verzan 02.
Though called night, sunlight still poured from the sky.
The Aour star system containing Verzan 02 was a binary with two stars. Thus, Verzan 02 saw two suns.
Of course, their orbits rarely aligned for dual visibility. Cults called the brighter one's rise "day," the dimmer "night."
Now, the dim companion star shone.
'Time to head out.'
Cults, like humans, needed sleep to survive. At night, they retreated home to rest. My target Cult owner was likely closing shop or heading home.
｢Big baby, where you going?｣
[Zuzuzu zuzu (I have some business)]
｢Business?｣ ｢What kind?｣
Adhai, buried in sand enjoying a heat pack, lifted its head.
[Zuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzu (There's prey I scouted during the day)]
｢When you｣ ｢come back｣ ｢bring｣ ｢us｣ ｢gifts｣
｢Yeah! I want gifts like Middle Baby!｣
[Zuzuzuzu (If possible)]
They'd shown great interest when the Mother of the Sky returned clothed.
From Adhai teasing about the ugly friend in dwarf clothes, No. 26 whining about no gifts for them, to PS-111—watching via MPS-05 backpack—asking for upgraded genes.
'Not sure why that one's joining in.'
To the Seed Demon and Galleron's cute protests, I promised gifts.
'I was planning to implant new traits anyway.'
My outing now was related. They'd love good traits.
[Zuzu zuzuzu (Let's go then)]
"Good luck. Please."
I grabbed MPS-05 and headed out.
There lay a kingdom of sand preserved in ruby light.
Dim rays bathed red sands, tinting the world deep cherry. I'd seen it in-game, but reality felt worlds apart.
'Creepy in the game.'
The red nights turned some players away.
Yet the scene before me was beautiful, majestic despite the eeriness. A destructive beauty—that was Verzan 02's night.
I raced through streets of endless red sand. The hideout vanished quickly; sand-buried buildings lined my path.
My four legs pumped furiously while auxiliary organs below my jaws scanned buildings for presences.
With the sun changed, temperatures had plummeted. Unless burrowed like Adhai, wandering ruins wasn't wise. As expected, no signs of life in the buildings.
'Yeah, empty as... Huh?'
Relieved—then my organs caught something. A group approaching.
I buried myself with MPS-05.
Soon, masked suspects appeared: armored, armed, passing my sand.
Once gone, I emerged.
Face coverings didn't fool me. Leading was the leopard-headed Wolf from earlier.
They headed straight for my hideout.
'Ha.'
Their heavily armed slaves' target was obvious. Their master hadn't given up on the Mother of the Sky.
'Playing it like this, huh?'
The novelty wore off quick. Their actions soured my mood.
No—made me furious.
[Zuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzu zuzu (Tell the kids prey's coming)]
"Target confirmed. Enemy. Confirmed!"
[Zuzuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzu zuzuzu zuzu zuzuzu zuzuzuzu (Spare one. Need to find their master's location)]
"One. Spare."
After ordering PS-111 via MPS-05, I bolted back to the District of Light.
No need to return—the intruders would be annihilated by the kids. I'd get the master's location from the survivor and move.
'Wonder how impressive this guy is to pull this.'
It'd been ages since anyone irked me this much.
Would he act the same seeing me?
Dare this after parasites in his brain?
Before night ended, he'd pay dearly.