NOVPUB
Chapter 1083: Permission
The man who questioned Vicente’s reason for seeking permission to hunt was a 9-Star Grand Magus, by far the most powerful in terms of cultivation base that he and his companions had ever seen.
They knew that in the Humfail Reef there were individuals stronger than this guy, as well as several others of similar cultivation. But they hadn’t interacted with anyone like that until they came across this member of the local sovereign army, waiting for them in the room that had called his number.
Vicente became a little more serious, not worried about some kind of combat, but about the political problems he could face locally if he made a mistake with such a strong and well-placed individual.
Before giving his answer, Vicente saw how the local forces attached importance to the matter he was seeking there. The person who was receiving him was certainly one of the strongest on the whole island. Why would someone like that deal with a bureaucratic matter like this?
The answer immediately came to Vicente’s mind.
’This is a very delicate matter. I have to be careful or I won’t get what I want in this place.’
"The Farthest Chain is the place I’m looking for, senior," Vicente said as he lowered his head and gestured with his hands, forming a respectful bow to the old man sitting in the middle of the room.
Meanwhile, Larissa, Rex, and Lyra tried to remain invisible, each of them staring at the floor as they breathed slowly, ignoring even the bright decoration of the room.
Vicente continued, "I’m looking for something compatible with me. I’ve reached the 8th stage, but I still have a space left to fill with a new pentagram."
"Oh? A 4-Star Grand Magus without his eighth pentagram?" The guy asked as he got up from where he was standing, for the first time coming into contact with someone who had gone so far without such an important addition.
Pentagrams, for magical beings like Vicente and Larissa, as well as the dominant race of Humfail Reef, were essential for consolidating one’s magical powers. Going a few stars beyond the initial level of a new stage was something unusual to do without first adding a new essence to one’s foundation, something related not only to new powers, but something critical as a foundation.
A clear sign of strong magical foundations was just how far one could go without the addition of the new pentagram, something quite difficult to achieve, but also dangerous.
The peak Grand Magus approached Vicente, thinking of testing this magician. But as he approached the young foreigner, he sensed something else and stopped.
"Curious... You have a good talent. Tell me, boy, do you belong to a great force? Where do you come from?"
Vicente replied humbly, "I come from Light Cay, from the island’s dominant force, Stonewall. I’m currently on a trip unrelated to the sect and have no date to return. In particular, I’m passing through Humfail Reef in search of opportunities."
"Interesting... So you’re not tied to this sect?" The expert asked, obviously not recognizing Stonewall’s name. Between Humfail Reef and Light Cay there were more than 100 islands. Hardly anyone would recognize the name of a force and its history so readily in conversation.
"No. I can represent you in mid-level deals, but I’m not obliged to do anything other than protect honor and not cause trouble for the sect." Vicente replied.
The man understood. To hold back someone as talented as this boy seemed to be, a force would have to be very powerful or it wouldn’t make it. Below a certain level, they could only make concessions so as not to lose someone like Vicente once and for all.
"So you don’t wish to join any Humfail Reef force? You’ll be leaving straight after your hunt?"
Vicente and his companions couldn’t tell whether the high-ranking elder wanted to hear an affirmative or negative answer to his question. But Vice’s next words would define their relationship with the local sovereign force.
While his three companions sweated silently with the tension of the short silence following the peak Grand Magus’ questions, Vicente took a deep breath and tried to answer as best he could, with sincerity.
"Exactly, senior. There are certain parts of Anicane that I wish to explore, so staying on Humfail Reef, as much as it wouldn’t slow me down in my cultivation, would hinder my goals. When I docked on the island, I planned to rest and acquire resources before hunting and then leaving stronger."
The old man looked silently at Vicente, thinking about the young magician’s answer, a clear prodigy not only because of his cultivation base, but also because of his young age.
He smiled and threw a golden pendant in Vicente’s direction. "Very well. You have my permission. Good luck with your hunt and your stay on the island. Use your time here to do business and help your sect. Even if you don’t return here in the future, your old companions will be able to make good use of the relationships you build."
Vicente thanked him with a surprised smile, making more respectful gestures before leaving with his group.
The old man stayed behind, returning to his meditation position, while two of his disciples emerged from behind the curtains over there.
"Master..."
The old man closed his eyes and said as he returned to his unreadable appearance. "Watch this group, but don’t do anything. I want you to leave the way open for them to fulfill their mission and then leave."
"Of course, master."
"Why?" The girl from the disciple couple asked, causing her companion to give her a serious look.
The old man smiled subtly, but explained, "A powerful external element is something you either ignore, or you deal with. I prefer the first alternative, as long as it doesn’t harm me."
"That sounds like blind trust to me, master..."
"That’s why I’m sending you on this journey. Watch them from afar and make sure that they comply with what they’ve laid out here. Now go. They’re fast."
The two of them gestured to the old man, leaving this place as quickly as the wind swaying the curtains there.
Finally alone, this old man stopped thinking about Vicente, having believed in the boy, even though he had taken precautions by sending those two.
There were only two fates for someone like Vicente. Stay and join the sovereign force, or leave. Anything else would mean a hunt followed by his death!
But as violent as that thought was, it worked well in this society. With so many coming and going from islands like this every day, you couldn’t consider a murder right off the bat because of just one individual interested in a quick passage through the island before returning to the dangerous Sea of Stars.
As for Vicente’s talent, it didn’t matter. Against the Sea of Stars, either he would reach the peak of his cultivation and it was better not to be against him for free, or he would die and his talent wouldn’t be a problem for groups like the local sovereign force!
