Meeting with Blue's-Tiger

"It is not that I think you are, but it is a fact that you are a strong hunter. For a rookie hunter to go save the minicity with the Knife-Edge clique and come back alive, it proves that you are a strong hunter," Gabriel said.

"I think your logic is flawed," Niklas said. "The Knife-Edge clique is a top-rated clique because it has strong and experienced members; hence, a rookie is bound to survive if the hunter goes on an adventure with them."

"What if the adventure is as risky as saving the city from a relentless hoard of uncharted beasts accompanied by a smart rank-A beast? Do you think that the hunter would survive?" Gabriel said with an exasperated glare.

"Stop glaring at me," Niklas said.

"Dude, your game of humility is pissing me off. I just need your help. Help me out," Gabriel melted into a desperate plea.

Niklas didn't want to indulge in any hunting adventures. He wasn't sure of himself. He had to take the risk to come to this settlement because he wanted medical help for his family in Kernel Village.

Niklas groaned while his face was in his palms. Suddenly, he had an idea. He glanced at the barman and then stared at Gabriel with a smile.

Gabriel sighed in relief, thinking that Niklas had accepted to help him. "Thanks, bro. I'm really grateful."

"It is not me that you are going to be thanking," Niklas said, retaining his smile.

Gabriel raised his brows in curiosity, confused.

"You see that guy over there?" Niklas pointed at the barman. "I bet he can help you. Since he is strong enough to oversee this meeting, why don't you work up to him and ask him for help?"

Gabriel facepalmed. "I must be running low on luck," he said to himself.

He told Niklas, "The bartender can't leave and can't join any hunting adventure because he is a contracted employee of this building."

"Honestly, I don't want to go on any adventures or join any clique anytime soon," Niklas said.

Gabriel sat in silence for a while with his eyes closed, biting his lower lip. He stood up and said,

"You know what, Niklas. I think I will return your money to you. I don't need your help in any way. I'm disappointed that we couldn't help ourselves."

He headed for the door to leave the room. Niklas didn't move from his seat. He took some seconds to think. He concluded his thoughts in a few seconds and quickly went after Gabriel. He stopped the man with a Mohawk haircut from leaving the room.

"I will help you," Niklas said.

"Are you pulling my legs?" Gabriel asked.

The question confused Niklas; he narrowed his brows as he responded with "no" in disgust. At this instant, he understood the question and responded, "Yes, I'm serious," before Gabriel could make an utterance.

Gabriel walked towards the table. He paused along the way and said to Niklas, "Your mind is disgusting."

Niklas laughed in a self-deprecating manner. The two men settled back in their seats. Gabriel resumed the conversation.

"I will call the clique boss who I offended now and tell him that I have the money to pay off the debt I owe him. And I will also inform him of your interest in joining his clique."

"I forgot to ask about something," Niklas said.

Gabriel didn't respond. He kept quiet to let Niklas talk.

"The hunters' code says that you need to make available a strong hunter for the clique boss to rebuild his clique. What level of strength does the hunters' code regard as strong?"

Gabriel said, "At least comparable to a C-rank uncharted beast.

"You don't feel like a C-rank-powered hunter. You seem like a B-rank who is about to become an A-rank."

Niklas nodded slowly. He wondered if this ranking equated to his system ranking him as a demigod. His mind didn't catch the fact that it was odd that Gabriel could sense his aura.

"You didn't come with your sword," Gabriel said.

"I did," Niklas said. "I left somewhere safe before coming here."

And by "somewhere safe," he meant that he left it in the hotel room he checked into.

Gabriel got on a call with the clique boss, whom he offended. Niklas observed that the clique boss' voice was calm; he didn't rush to complete a statement, nor did it change in anger due to some unintentionally provocative questions Gabriel asked. Gabriel finished his discussion with the clique boss. He informed Niklas where they were going to meet with the clique boss. It was still within the building, but on the 6th floor. This was where the Central Guild's building's exquisite VIP lounges were situated.

Gabriel and Niklas left the meeting room. They saw Blue's-Tiger ahead of them, but he was moving in the opposite direction. They both paused in the tracks in surprise. Blue's-Tiger's was shocked as he sensed a strange aura coming from Niklas. However, he composed himself, not showing any abnormality in his posture.

"Good to see you again," Blue's-Tiger said to Niklas. There was no smile on his face, but his tone sounded welcoming.

"It's good to see you too," Niklas courtly responded with a smile.

Blue's-Tiger directed his gaze at Gabriel. "Are you also a rookie?"

"No, I'm not, Mr. Tiger of the Blue," Gabriel said.

A smile flashed on Blue's-Tiger's face before vanishing. He said to the duo, "Are the two of you friends?"

Gabriel spoke before Niklas could. He said, "Yes, we are. But we aren't really tight. We just met yesterday."

Blue's-Tiger said no more. He stood there quietly for a few seconds with a deadpan expression. He said to Gabriel, "Niklas, can I talk with you?"

"Of course," Niklas said with a nod.

"Please give us some privacy, Mr… How should I address you?" Blue's Tiger said this to Gabriel.

"Just Gabriel, call me Gabriel," Gabriel said with a beaming smile while he walked away to give the two hunters some privacy.

Blue's Tiger began with a lowered tone, "Did anything remarkable happen to you after you went home yesterday?"

Also in a suppressed tone, Niklas hesitantly said, "Nothing at all. Did you notice any changes in me?"

"Your aura changed. It feels more powerful than yesterday. Your aura is as rich as an A-rank, uncharted beast. Don't you know how to hide your aura?" Blue's Tiger spoke tersely.

"No, I don't," Niklas said, feeling nervous.

He understood that his evolution into a demigod must be responsible for the change in his aura.

'So, I'm supposed to hide my aura. I have messed up big time. Some people in the village must have picked up my aura today. They will surely notice the change and very possibly want to know what I am up to. I hope I have not stirred up trouble for myself,' he thought worriedly.

Blue's-Tiger noticed Niklas panic. He took out a pendant from his trousers' pocket and handed it to Niklas.

"This pendant suppresses your aura. Most people can't sense your aura when this pendant is on you—not even I can. But you must do well to learn a skill that can suppress your aura.

"As a rookie, you need to be wary. Know who you can trust."

He glanced at Gabriel, who was waiting for Niklas.

Niklas had worn the pendant around his neck after confirming that he felt no risk within it. He controlled his expressions. He appeared expressionless as he asked, "Do you know him?"

"Personally, I do not, but I have heard of his recent crime. He used to be trustworthy, but I think that he can still be trusted to an extent," Blue's-Tiger said.

"He is taking me to meet with a clique boss named Alexis Dunk. I plan on joining Dunk's clique," Niklas said.

He intentionally didn't mention that he was joining the clique to help Gabriel pay off his debt. He did so to know whether Blue's-Tiger knew more information about Gabriel's crime.

"But Dunk's clique is short of members, and he [Gabriel] still has to settle the debt by providing Dunk with a strong hunter," Blue's-Tiger said.

Niklas nodded. "I am aware of this. He begged me to help him out of his trouble.

"Sorry for holding you down with this question, but can you describe Dunk's character?"

"Dunk is a trustworthy man. He has principles he follows. He is also business-savvy. You will enjoy working with him if you can present something worthwhile on the table," Blue's-Tiger said.

"Do you have any more questions?"

"No. I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Blue's Tiger," Niklas said. He and the top-rated hunter exchanged handshakes before they went their way.