Hector cultivated for another couple weeks. During that time the maidens grew increasingly nervous. He noticed that they seldom left the hotel. A symptom of their declining funds, no doubt. Meanwhile, his energy reserves were rising. He was about half full now. Though the way that came about made his belly feel constantly empty. Skipping meals and reducing his protein intake felt like much more of a sacrifice than what he knew it objectively was.

He paid Eva in gold for information on the various royal properties of the previous dynasty and received an annotated map in return. There were three primary locations. One was the capital city of Kern. Hector didn't intend to go anywhere near the Lord Annihilator, so that was an automatic non-starter. Another was Rags, the destroyed city that had been his entry point into Stein. He would spend some time searching there based on this new information, but Hector had very little optimism that he would find anything in the ruins. The final location was an abandoned fort in the eastern plains, not far from the border with Zing. Stein no longer relied on a manned fort to defend its territory – the reputation of their new king proved adequate deterrent.

The days of peace ended with a note in beautiful calligraphy delivered to him by the clerk.

Hunter Hector, you are cordially invited to attend the Burgermeister Ball in one week's time. Arrive in clean formal attire and be prepared to socialize. I anticipate your attendance.

Burgermeister Ajax of Toll Burgh.

Hector read through the note twice before looking at the clerk. "Is this real?"

"Written in the burgermeister's own hand. Refusing to attend would not be wise. If you truly want to avoid the event, your only option is to leave the city and not return."

While he could disappear, Hector decided not to. He didn't want to lose access to this city in the future. Despite the fact that Toll Burgh wasn't a good place to search for his target, he had formed a relationship with an experienced smuggler. In the future, should he resume providing goods to Esther for sale in the cafe, Eva would be the perfect trading partner.

So he bought an overpriced formal suit. On careful questioning, the clerk revealed that a host gift would be expected. Hector spent an entire gold coin on a bottle of expensive wine for the burgermeister's gift. Then he waited the last few days, passing the time restoring his energy levels.

A trip to the bathhouse the day of the event ensured he wouldn't offend anyone's nose. He also made sure his mood wouldn't be too volatile by consuming a large meal with a hearty helping of venison. The meat elevated his mood greatly. Hector felt ready to face whatever social nightmare was waiting for him.

The spear maidens departed the hostel at the same time as him. They eyed the bottle of wine in his arms and spoke among themselves in their own language. Hector turned to the women shadowing his every step. "You know, we might as well talk to each other. If you're worried you didn't have a host gift, we can present this as from all of us. We're all stuck in Toll Burgh because of One-Shot Jerry."

Isabel, the woman with southern European features, spoke on behalf of her sisters. "We are not worried about a host gift. We hoped you would escape while the ball was starting. If you agree now, we can all leave now. You choose one gate, we will take the other."

"I'm pretty sure Jerry will follow the lone target, so this plan sounds like a bad deal for me. Besides, I don't want to be prevented from returning to Toll Burgh."

Isabel pouted. "After we escape Toll Burgh, we are done with Stein."

They walked up the series of stairs leading up to the manor of the burgermeister in silence. Ahead of them was a line waiting to enter. The holdup seemed to be a steward who was dutifully cataloging each host gift. Hector's eyes lit up as he saw a familiar form several spaces ahead.

"Darius!"

The eunuch spun about with a scowl. "Of course you are wasting time hiding in this city."

"I missed you, too."

Darius noticed the maidens then. "And you have made friends with the women you brought me here to kill? How curious."

"Not friends. Maybe reluctant allies. There is some fellow by the name of Jerry we're watching out for."

The bald, muscular man standing directly behind Darius laughed. "You mean One-Shot Jerry?"

Hector briefly glanced at the guy, identified him as barely level five, and turned back to his friend. "You should watch out for him, too."

"Absolutely," the bald guy said. "He is the most dangerous treasure hunter in Stein. I heard he is attending tonight, so all of you should head out of town while you can."

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Hector heard hushed whispers from the Zing ladies and turned to see them staring at the bald man like they were watching a deadly viper. What did they find so threatening? Hector narrowed his eyes. "My name is Hector. Who might you be?"

The bald guy's eyes glowed with glee as he bowed. "You can call me One-Shot." A sudden shift in the flow of ambient cosmic energy allowed Jerry's full level seven might to shine from him.

Darius flinched, then scowled and leaned forward as if determined to prove himself beyond intimidation. Hector waved for his friend to move back a few spots to join him. The offer was ignored. Meanwhile, the maidens were discussing everything among themselves in a language Hector didn't understand.

Events were greatly complicated by the presence of Darius. Hector didn't think Eva would allow another person back into her cavern. That meant they had to figure out a way to escape without this Jerry fellow harvesting their cores. Or the maidens. They might be playing nice within Toll Burgh, but Hector remembered they weren't exactly friendly their first encounter.

As he entered, Hector gave his name and handed over the expensive wine bottle. The steward documented the gift and gave a brief explanation of the expectations placed on him. He was to socialize and dance and at some point visit briefly with the burgermeister. Refreshments and snacks were available but no meal would be served.

Hector found Darius waiting for him, scowling at the band playing a version of polka music.

"How long have you been lounging around in this city? Riley is captive."

"I have a map of places associated with the old royal family to search," Hector said, unwilling to start an argument in public by revealing the poor odds of success. He deserved every accusation Darius would make, but this was not the time. "Where is Hans?"

"I left the hateful man behind." Darius scowled at Hector. "Why were you associating with such a person?"

Hector blinked. This seemed like a hypocritical stance for the eunuch to take, considering Darius was one of the more hateful people Hector ever spent time with. "I didn't choose Hans. He offered me some help, then attacked five of the maidens while I was with him. I'm surprised his bigotry bothered you."

"He beheaded a child while I battled an older maiden."

"A child?"

"She could be no more than twelve. Level six already. No doubt she was a great talent."

Hans had murdered a preteen. "What about the older one?"

"Dead by my bolt."

Hector sighed. He wished the killing hadn't been necessary. "After we escape Toll Burgh I can bring you back to Union Central."

The look Darius shot him should have been named 'are you an idiot'. "Despite how this came about, I am where I wish to be. All the resources I could ever want are here for the taking and no one in Stein suspects anything of me."

Resources. He didn't think his friend spoke about the food. Hopefully it was spirit pills and not human cores. Another topic they should avoid for the moment. Hector began to feel that the two of them were walking on egg shells.

"What about after I get Riley back? Will you come home then?"

"The future will take care of itself, Hector." The man abruptly stormed away.

Which gave an opening for Jerry to swoop in. The bald, muscular man walked around Hector like a shark circling a victim. "You are quite mysterious, Hector. Did you arrive with elixirs to restore your reserves so quickly? But then why wait so long to drink them? You were empty as a busted bucket when you arrived."

Hector searched his mind for a witty response, but the best he could find was a lame quip. "You seem to spend a lot of time thinking about me."

Jerry laughed as if it were a grand joke. "I like to play with my food, Hector. Disgusting habit, I'm told. Are you bothered by the knowledge that one day I will consume your core?"

"I think it will be ironic when I let your core rot in your body." Hector crossed his arms to hide how much he was sweating in his pits. He resisted the urge to turn to face his circling tormentor, wary of showing any weakness. Better to come across as cocky than afraid, he figured. This man was a true hunter – a hunter of men – and would use any weakness against his prey. Better to present a false carelessness.

Ideas spun in his mind. Could he bring back elixirs to level up Darius before the man tired of cowering in Toll Burgh? Probably not. Even if he could easily acquire such resources, Darius was not the patient sort. There had to be something that would give them an edge if smuggled into the city. He remembered the conversation with Wayne about making guns from Tian materials. That didn't seem like a real option since auras were so potent. Maybe explosives would work better.

There was no time to pursue that thought as Jerry escalated his taunts. The hunter came in close, wearing his crazed smile, and whispered in Hector's face. "You are my priority, Hector. I'm going to make sure I take your core. Do you know why?"

Hector made eye contact. "I'm sure you'll tell me."

"Because you pretend to be strong when you are weak. Someone invested many resources to drag you to your current level. I can tell. You don't have what it takes to reach your level without help. Maybe you have some talent for cultivation, but you are unbelievably soft. I know this. I've been watching you. The wolf takes the weakest member of the herd. That is you, Hector."

Quipping with an adversary intent on killing him was not a skill Hector possessed. Try as he might, nothing clever came to mind. He stood there impassively, trying with little success to hide his nerves. He was more muscular than One-Shot Jerry, but the outcome of their clash would in no way be determined by the diameter of their arms. The specter of the cosmic bolt had tormented him since the tournament. He had no response to such attacks.

He was saved from further indignity by the arrival of a spear maiden. The one named Isabel held out her hand to him in formal invitation to dance. "Hunter Hector, I require a partner."

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