The holess-looking man grabbed the chair opposite Jack, giving him a wide, yellow-toothed grin. Can I sit? he asked.
Jacks eyes flickered up, staring at the guy. He didnt respond right away.
The other mans smile didnt falter. Dont worry. Despite my appearance, Im quite a pleasant person. They call the Sage.
He extended a hand. Jack raised a brow.
Appearances matter little here, he replied, smiling. Is Sage your na?
My na ans nothing. The Sage is who I am.
This person was quite enigmatic. Jack was intrigued. He grabbed the outstretched hand; it was steady and calloused, worn down by years of hardships. John, he said.
A pleasure, the Sage replied. So, may I? You might be interested in what I have to say.
Jack didnt need to be told thrice. He motioned at the chair. The Sage took a seat with a smile, then extended his hand at Brock.
Hello, my muscular friend. Im the Sage.
Brock had been wary so far. Suddenly, his face beca filled with joy, and his mouth ford into an O. Then, he pretended to be serious, grabbed the Sages hand, and nodded in a manly way.
Jack cracked a smile. Have you been following ? he asked.
Not at all. Coincidences are miraculous things.
Good morning, a voice ca from above. It was a smiling lycan waitress. Would you like the nu?
Yes, please, Jack replied, and the waitress left two shiny leaflets on the table.
Let know if you have any questions, she said before taking her leave.
The Sage grabbed the nu and read through it as if forgetting Jack was there. Jack did the sa, with Brock spying over his shoulderthough he couldnt read, there were pictures.
The restaurant offered all sorts of delicacies; at skewers, stakes, as well as a variety of fishboth earthen and alien ones. There was also a plate that resembled pasta-pie, along with a slew of appetizing appetizers.
I recomnd seafood, the Sage said. The pastichio is good too, but seafood is where this place shines. Pastichio was the pasta-pie thing.
How do you know?
Ive been around.
Jack squinted, then dropped his nu. Very well. Then, you can order for as well.
The prices were in the tens at most, and he had thirty thousand credits to sparetwenty from Gan Salin and ten from his recent victory in the arena.
Excellent choice! The Sage gave a wide smile, motioning the waitress over. How hungry are you?
Pretty hungry. So is Brock.
Alright.
She arrived. Yes?
We would like one grilled cheese, a greek salad, a plate of fried squid, and fries, please.
Very well, she responded, writing the order down on a white notebook she carried. Watching soone use pen and paper in the Integration City was disorienting. Is that all?
So white wine too, please. Three cups.
Very well. Thank you very much.
She took their nus and walked away, disappearing in the building beside them.
Youre fast, Jack noted.
Im a sage, the other man responded. I knew what we would order before even sitting down.
Jack cracked a smile. Am I that predictable?
Yes, but dont take it the wrong way. Everyone is.
Being a sage sounds boring.
We have our days.
Jack laughed. This guy had co out of the blue, but he was turning out to be good company. Whats your story, man? he asked, leaning back on his chair. Its two front legs left the ground, but he balanced.
A simple one, the Sage responded, leaning back himself. I was alone and forgotten, rotting between park benches, rehabilitation, and ntal institutions. The world was lost for . I had nowhere to go, no future, no escape from my destiny to die under a bridge. Then, the System ca, and everything changed. I found power. I found purpose. I found myself.
ntal institutions? So, you are crazy.
I thought I was. As it turns out, I just didnt have the ans to process what my mind detected. He shook his head. I cannot tell you much more, unfortunately. There are secrets whose re knowledge could destroy you.
Co on. Now youre just bullshitting. Jack barked out a laugh.
Maybe I am, the Sage said with a small smile. In any case, I chanced upon the Dao of Divination, and here I am.
Can you fight with that, though?
In certain ways. But I am not built for single combat. I will make it to the final sixteen participants, but not any further.
Youre boasting again.
Im just speaking the truth.
Then, how far will I make it?
Prophecies co at a cost. If I tell you, I risk changing fate and disrespecting the Dao.
Jack groaned.
However, he had to admit that he empathized with the Sages story. Though he didnt have it nearly as bad, hed felt equally trapped before the System ca. His future wasnt a dead-end, but a compulsory, slow, dull ride to death.
In a way, both of them had been equally helpless. Now, they were free.
Jack already felt closer to the Sage.
Thank you for waiting, the lycans voice ca from above them right as a tasty fragrance t Jacks nostrils. She placed three small empty plates, three cups, and a tin wine jug on the table, along with a square block of orange, fried cheese and half a lemon. She also left them a bowl of salad filled with tomatoes, sliced cucumber, olives, green bell pepper, and red onion, with a wide block of feta cheese placed above them. Finally, there was a small woven basket of baked break peppered with olive oil and oregano.
Jack gave Brock a piece of bread to stop him from tearing into the salad, then took a knife and cut the cheese into small square pieces. The Sage grabbed two big spoons and mixed the salad.
Mmm, the Sage said, trying the cheese. Delicious!
Damn. Jack agreed as the cheese lted on his tongue. Brock made monkey noises of incredible excitent; this was the best food hed ever tried. Jack had to grab Brocks head to stop him from tearing into the salad.
Easy, he said, laughing. The food isnt going anywhere, Brock. Lets learn to eat like a proper person.
Brock pouted, but Jack was relentless. Eventually, the little monkey ceded and kept munching on his bread while pouting. Jack filled a plate with salad, cheese, and bread, then gave it Brock, who proceeded to annihilate it.
Keep a piece of bread, the Sage advised. Youll need it later.
Brock did not keep a piece of bread.
These are very tasty, Jack said in approval, tasting his share of the salad. Good choices.
Of course.
Jack groaned again. The Sage laughed; a raspy but pleasant sound.
You should be careful of Gan Salin, by the way, the Sage said, reaching out to fork a piece of cheese. The scions ca here with enormous quantities of credits. They will destroy the Integration Citys market like Brock here would do to the salad, if you let him.
Jack pretended to be nonchalant. Why Gan Salin specifically? It was Rufus Emberheart I antagonized.
Yes, but you beat Gan Salin.
Jack stared. He tensed up. He didnt drop his fork, but he slowed down, and his stare got heavier.
You shouldnt know that, he said, with a vague hint of threat in his voice.
The Sage was nonplussed. You dont need to worry, Jack. I wont tell anyone; I just happen to be a sage.
Jack did a double-take. Suddenly, he realized he couldnt read this man at all. Carry on, he said. You were talking about the scions.
Hmm, yes. The scions. Not only are they talented prodigies of the noble families, but theyre also equipped with knowledge and resources that a newly-integrated planet like ours lacks. And, even amongst them, Rufus Emberheart is a monster. You should be careful.
Ill try not to spank him too hard, Jack said, eliciting a chuckle from the Sage. Then, he leaned in. The scions claim they are natives. Even the System said so when I scanned them, but Im pretty sure thats not the case Whats up?
Workarounds. The noble families had scanned this astral space manually before having the System do it, so they were already aware of this planets existence. Then, they secretly moved the top genius of each family here before the Integration, along with wiping all records of them. When the System ca, it recognized them as natives.
Isnt that illegal? My guide ntioned sothing about a Star Pacta set of laws?
Highly illegal. The Sage agreed. However, the Star Pact was made between the B-Grade factions of our galaxy, and it is also enforced by them. They allow so leeway for each other as long as its done discreetly enough that the rest can claim ignorance.
Jack grumbled, stabbing a piece of cheese harder than usual. Fucking cheaters.
I echo that statent.
But why do they need to pretend? If everyone wants to sneak people into newly-integrated planets, they can just abolish the law that says they cant, right?
Ah, excellent question.
Jack waited, but nothing more ca out of the Sage.
Does he an that he doesnt know, or that he doesnt want to tell ? Or is he simply crazy? Jack wondered. He waited, eating in silence for a mont.
In any case, the Sage finally said, this is a rare phenonon. The astral space outside the Systems reach is trendously wide and expensive to comb manually. The Animal Kingdom just got lucky with this one.
The waitress arrived again, placing a plate of fried squid on their table, along with one of salted fries. Enjoy your al, she told them. Jack and Brock fell on the squid before she even stepped away. It was cut into bite-sized pieces and rings, and the fragrance it emitted was heavenly.
Unlike the cheese and salad, this al ca from E-Grade creatures and was Dao-infused. When Jack bit on the squid, it cracked, releasing an aura that filled his mouth and reached all the way to his chest. His entire body was revitalized, and his Dao Root shivered in joy. The warm taste remained on his tongue even after hed swallowed.
This is incredible! he exclaid.
Dao food is delicious. Its my first ti trying it myself, the Sage replied with a nod. This is cooked well, too.
How do you know? I thought it was your first ti.
Yes, but Im a sage.
The squid practically evaporated from the plate. It was only then that Jack rembered the fries. He tried a few, but while they were tasty themselves, they simply could not match up to Dao-infused food.
Higher-end places will offer Dao-infused appetizers and salad, too, the Sage said. Here, its only the main courses. They stay low-cost to be affordable.
Jack nodded.
Suddenly, a ruckus drew his attention. Their tavern was placed closed to a wide open space by the islands edge, where two groups of people were currently facing off against each other. One was the Fla River, and the other the Ice Peak; the two major factions of Earth, beside Jacks Bare Fist Brotherhood.
They were led by a dark-skinned tall woman and a hard-faced, icy man respectively.
These two factions seed like polar opposites in everything. First ca their Daos, of course, but they were also contrasted in terms of attitude and appearances. Each faction reflected their Dao; the Fla River was fiery, while the Ice Peak was cold.
Jack had seen them face off before. When two of their mbers had fought in the arena, the two factions had exchanged heated words, but the rules against violence had stopped things from escalating.
Now, however, though the rules remained, there were no spectator stands between them. The two groups were standing in the square, staring each other down with the hardness of people whod fought and killed to survive. At the sa ti, the two leaders were jousting with words.
Jack couldnt hear what they were sayingmany people were speaking at oncebut he could see the tension brewing fast.
Think theyll co to blows? he asked.
I already know what will happen, but it doesnt matter much.
Oh yeah? Wanna make a bet?
What kind of bet?
Predict what will happenwith details. If you get it exactly right, you win; otherwise you lose. The loser pays for the food.
Sure thing. However, to respect the Dao of Divination, I will write my prediction on a piece of paper and reveal it after everything is over. Is that fine with you?
Whatever.
The Sage smiled. He fished a pen from inside his tattered clothes, along with a very crumbled piece of paper, then quickly scrambled down a few words. Finally, he folded the paper and gave it to Jack, who put it in his pocket.
About our previous subject, the Sage said, most shops in the Integration City tend to remain low-cost. The one who doesnt is the Hand of God. I believe youve heard about their upcoming auction.
A bit.
Jacks gaze was still mostly focused on the two factions. He reached out with his fork to grab a fry but only t the plate. Looking down, it was completely empty.
He looked to the side. Brocks cheeks were inflated to their limits, but he shook his head and shrugged as if saying, no idea where they went, big bro. Jack couldnt stop a chuckle. The little monkey had been sneaking his hand underneath Jacks gaze the whole ti.
The auction is a trendously important occasion, the Sage continued. True to his foresight, hed moved so fries to his plate before Brocks sneaky assault. They will offer expensive items in a market that can barely match a fraction of their true value. The more credits you can save up by then, the better.
Really? Jack gave him a side glance. My guide said its too early to start saving up.
Your guide wasnt lying. In most other cases, that would be the case, indeed. However, they simply dont know the truth, as the auction contents arent public. The Hand of God will be very generous in this particular auction. His face suddenly got serious. He leaned in. I will tell you this, Jack, and heed my words. You must gather two million credits by the ti of the auction.
What!? Jack exclaid. Two million? Thats too much! Every victory in the arena gives ten thousand, so Id need two hundred of them! No way the tournant will last that long.
There are other ways to make money. The Sage shook his head. Bet. Trade. Borrow. Do everything in your power. It is extrely important that you gather two million by the ti of the auction. That will be the tipping point for your fate and our entire planets.
Jack narrowed his eyes. Our entire planet? Nah, dude. Youre just ssing with .
Am I? I told you. Prophecies co at a cost, and this one He chuckled. Its almost enough to bankrupt . The decision is yours, of course, but rember my words well.
Sure, Jack responded. He leaned towards believing this man was a sagehe did know many thingsbut two million That was a mind-boggling amount. A few monts ago, Jack considered himself rich with thirty thousand.
Why would the auction be generous? he asked curiously. If what you say is true, theyre losing money.
There are various organizations in the galaxy, both big and small, and the higher-end ones dont care about credits. They have other directives. The Hand of God is trying to cultivate the galaxys first A-Grade cultivator, so theyre willing to invest in newly-integrated planets and rising geniuses. The Black Hole Church wants to spread knowledge of the Old Ones and poach the galaxys greatest geniuses for their own. Interestingly, those two organizations are at war. Funny, right?
Jack had gotten too much information at once. What? was all he could get out. Before he could say anything further, the ruckus from the nearby square intensified. A dark-skinned man of the Fla River pushed a woman of the Ice Peak. A nearby man drew a white knife from his sleeve and plunged it into the dark-skinned mans chest.
Everyones eyes widened. Shouts filled the square. Flas and ice rushed at each other from a close distance.
Three large figures fell on the attacks out of nowhere, taking them head-on and extinguishing them. Five more appeared around the two groups, surrounding both. A final figure fell from the sky and landed right next to the knife-wielder. Before he could react, a set of large jaws bit around his head and crushed it, killing him on the spot.
Everyone frozeand not because of ice. Even Jack was lost for words.
The guards of Integration City had appeared; and they were massive, tallic dogs.
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