Chapter 11

"Mmm."

"What of it?"

The three frowned by his careless remark, showing a little bit of contempt to his arrogance. The three of them could probably deal with it but they can't because of some restrictions placed on people like them, even if they want to help.

"I'll leave the fifty tasks on you and meet on the Cloud City after three days. I would give you an advance payment and full after finished, that way if something happened to me you would not lose out."

"This…"

Ares give a good deal.

The three were probably agonizing over the fact that he had taken a troublesome task. Ares, himself, had faced this beast before but he had his own ways to deal with it.

They could help but surprised by his sudden suggestion, in truth it was very good for them. They who knew how were terrifying the beast and the story of its streak of kills of Martials who wanted to take the plant.

"Honestly, if we can't do a task we would have to pay double the agreed amount, but if you wanted to do it we won't force ourselves."

"I wanted you to give us five days and about the money…" She trailed off.

"I have 10 000 silvers in here, is that enough?"

"More than enough."

The three were pleased. His tasks, even if numerous, were easy. Even though some plants had guardians, they were not that strong enough and they could just dedicate themselves in stealing the plant rather than defeating the guardian first.

The five plants – Ares took as his tasks – had guardians having powerful bloodlines among spirit beasts, especially the Red Lion Tiger.

"Then it's a deal."

…

After Ares give them the promised advance payment the three of them were left behind, troubled.

After all, if their own client died on them their reputation would plummet. Even if there is the thing about the advance payment, if word gets out, their competitors could use this to drive them out.

"Haa…"

Mira turned to them looking depressed.

"What should we do?"

They were also at loss, then Kara suggested–

"Should we at least follow him? Then once he completed that task, then we can focus on ours."

–something that perhaps can lift up their worries.

"Um… I see… We should do that…"

The "task" they were referring to was the General Rank task that he took.

With that, the three followed his tracks.

…

There were few unwritten rules in the world and one of them is the forbidden distribution of countries maps. But, of course there were always exceptions.

Maps were very useful for travelers, adventurers, merchants and to people regarding the matter of going from one place to another. However, having a map of certain country could cause trouble for that very country. Wars would eventually happen if one ever managed to take detailed maps of different countries. Therefore, those who were proven to be distributing such maps were executed either in public or on the spot.

Only the military had the right to have such map, that is if they ever succeeded. In the first place, a map could give chance to turn the tides in warfare in the blink of an eye if they took advantage of it.

But, there are exceptions. Uncharted territories that were explored then made a map for it were acceptable to be distributed at least, especially if that place is not near territories or if would not affect various forces. There were also places allowed to be mapped, like the Howling Mountain Range to prevent people from going into the Danger or Forbidden Zones of that place. There were many cases where few individuals went into these zones and caused disasters.

The map for the Howling Mountain Range was commonly distributed and one could even get it free.

Ares stopped momentarily– looking at the map for a second checking the place where the Wild Wine Nectar is located– before proceeding once again.

…

The three easily found him since he didn't get far away, but his tracks would prove difficult to find if given the chance.

The Howling Mountain Range stretched long bordering with nine forces– two kingdoms (Vosmonia Kingdom, Reingard Kingdom) and seven Martial Domains – four sects (Supreme Sect, Black Dragon Sect, Houken Sect, Heavenly Sect), two manors (Lendel Manor, Tolsia Manor), and one sanctuary (Divine Holy Land).

Either some mountains cleaved into two, tunneled, having a crescent shapes, craters and others. The cause of these irregularities was from the fight of the Death God and the Black Dragon Emperor in the past and this mountain range was only one of its remnants.

Even though that fight was thousands of years ago, nature cannot hide the result of it.

Ares would tilt his head from time to time witnessing the carnage of the past.

The location of the Wild Vine Nectar– also where the beast resides– sat on the center of the Rose Forest, is one-day travel from the Cloud Peak, that is, if they would fly straight to it. Moreover, he also needed to cross the Howling Mountain Range and get to the other side, since the forest was near the ocean.

According to the map given to him, he had to follow the Groven Road then cross the Yulim Pass straight to the Rose Forest. There's also a southern path that can lead him to the Ling Port after that, where he can find supplies if he ever needed.

There's another route easier for him to follow which he can circle around the end of the mountain range and follow the Groven Road directly to the Ling Port, but needed to go through Meisen Forest, which is just below the Rose Forest, which occupies the peninsula of Alkania Continent– the far southeast end. The only problem is that the Meisen Forest, to its west and just below the Supreme Sect is near to a Forbidden Zone and only powerful people would dare to go through. It has also to be known that this road was listed to the "Red Lines" which is a list dangerous of roads and borders near every Forbidden Zones of the Alkania Continent, and put to top thirty to the list.

Even though the leader of that Forbidden Zone was in cooperation with the sect, he can't guarantee that every being living in it will follow his orders. Caution was always advised.

…

After spending a day traveling from the Cloud Peak to the border of the Supreme Sect and Howling Mountains, then another two days in the Groven Road to Yulim Pass, he was exhausted.

The Sparrow saw him start meditating under the shade, so they rested. Mira the leader of the three wanted to help Ares for them to reach their destination much faster but they followed him secretly and what would they say if Ares asked them "Why did you follow me?" so they just let him be. The Sparrow had known the lefts and rights going in some parts of the Howling Mountains, technically they can just wait for him in the location he was going but the plants they needed to find could also be found on way there so they persistently followed him.

The night fell and the insects music started to chime. The Wild Vine Nectar was near and he was probably conditioning his body for tomorrow.

One of them had withdrawn incense from their space ring and lighted it.

Little smoke was born then, started to envelope them making an orb of smoke with them inside it.

"Haa…"

"This is Spirit Incense, right?"

"En. This was very useful if you are in the forest because it hides your presence from your surroundings."

"This must very expensive."

"… You're right. One hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones…"

"… That's, er, 1000 Low-grade, then 5 000 gold…!?"

Gulp*

The two slumped their shoulders.

Haaaaa…

"… That's no surprise. Sister Mira is rich after all."

The other said as a matter-of-fact.

"Maybe I should find a Martial lover." And started to look on a distance when–

"Pfft… You? Seriously?"

–someone doused their beautiful dream, being on someone's warmth and comfort.

"What?!"

"… Nothing… it's just… I will certainly respect your future lover."

They said in disdain with their hand on their mouth, shoulder heaving.

The other looked displeased and started to draw their dagger then their leader sat down and sighed.

The other pulling their thread–

"If you have that much energy, use it instead on cultivation."

Grrrrrrrr…*

"Hmph!"

Both locked eyes.

'We're not done. You better watch your back tomorrow.'

'Oh? Bring it on.'

'I'll kill you.'

*Sigh*

The leader looked at them once more as they finally settled down and faint lights shrouded their body.

…

While absorbing the world's energy – in which by means cultivating – a Martial's sense of time be either to slow or fast depending on person to person.

Kara of the Sparrow lifted her chin as the gentle rays descend on her skin. The Spirit Incense surely helped them in absorbing spiritual energy in their surrounding and could feel the ever-nearing breakthrough.

Looking at the incense it hardly lost height, it was possible that it was a high grade one and their leader lied on them on its real price or their leader just manage to struck it on the Black Trade.

Well, those sorts of things happen from time to time.

–Swoosh*

A dagger thrown only to be intercepted by a thread.

"Tsk."

The thread returned on its original form, a fingernail.

"That Nail Thread Technique was a waste on you, you know that?"

"Ho?"

"It was supposed to be one of the deadliest techniques in assassinations but you can't even use its third art… how pathetic."

"Says who cannot wield their clan's heirloom."

"Hmm… That's right, but at least I'm improving and not stuck on two arts."

They spat. The two gained some freedom as the leader was away.

Both sneered on each other.

The rustling breeze brought their leader.

"Are you done?"