Il Ji pressed the bags to his chest. "I have more than one, but not enough for all of you. I have prepared the bags with the memory orbs for those that I feel have the most to offer me."
"The bags that do not possess the orbs are filled with orbs of similar size and weight. I'd ask that you go home before opening them. If you receive one of the memory orbs, you can leave the promised materials with Orio Santers, Head of Research in Chao City."
"I have presented the confidential list of those that will be receiving the orbs to the Legislator. That being said, I'm sure that the valued and prestigious members of this High Council will not try to cheat me."
Everyone looked the straight-faced Legislator Kairo. Several telepathic entreaties were sent, but he refused to respond.
"Very well." The Sky Emperor spoke. "We will do as you ask." The others nodded.
His task complete, Il Ji sent the small pouches fo each of the High Council Members.
"Legislator, I request to adjourn this meeting." The Tyrant Queen spoke.
As she did, Il Ji walked up to the Lotus Queen. "My Lady, your greeting gift…"
As he fell at her feet, the entire group quickly summoned their beasts to heal him.
Orio Santers watched as the ragged heap at his feet roused to wakefulness. "Gentry, spray this one clean."
The tall [Mystic Saurian] waved his head and sprayed a load of water. The heap sputtered. As the heap came to, Orio spoke.
"I don't know what's more crazy, Myria attacking me the moment we met, or you doing what you just did."
"Ye-ye-ye-"
"Save it. I know what you did, and I know what happened. See, I've got a storage stone with over 20 soul fruits to prove it. By the way, Myria left a message for you. She said, and I quote, 'I'll see you around. If you can make it inside my Lotus Palace, I'll consider your proposal.' "
Orio looked down expectantly as he watched the man in front of him blush. "Here's the stone. Now, tell me what you want so I can hear it from you myself."
Kneeling, Il Ji bowed to the ground. "Please take this one as your Creation Master apprentice!"
"Good!" Orio growled. "Stand up. From this moment on, I'm your master. Also, I was told not to look at your contract mark. Myria said it was also on the beast you gave her, which means it's a bloodline mark, and only ever alllowed to be with the descendants of those great families."
"You can't leave her now, boy. Pursue her with all you have, or I'll kill you. Understand?"
"I completely understand the immense gravity of the situation, Master. More than you know."
"Pcht. Which [Mystic Saurian] did you want?"
"The one with two heads."
"…I'll get her. Pick which fruits you want to eat and which you want to save. Keep in mind, some of the fruits may have undesirable effects."
"Yes, master."
Il Ji looked through his acquisitions. He had obtained just under 30 soul fruits, 4 all-access passes to the Federation Research Labs, 11 all-access mansion invite passes, 11 un-accepted discipleships, 1 un-accepted girlfriend, 7 [Archaic] beasts, 28 [Myth] rank beasts, 1 personal beast on loan, and two [Soul Awakening Fruits].
In exchange, he had lost one of his beast slots, a primordial bloodlie beast, and gained the interest of a woman he found to be… not only one of his kind, but also beautiful beyond words.
First, he began looking through the Soul Fruits.
All told, he had 2 [Creation Master Soul Fruits], 2 [Beast Tamer Soul Fruits], 6 [Beauty Soul Fruits], 4 [Aerial Combatant Soul Fruits], 5 [Beast Rider Soul Fruits], 2 [Ground Combatant Soul Fruits], 2 [Support Tamer Soul Fruits], 2 [Insectomancer Soul Fruits], 1 [Chaos Magician Soul Fruit], 1 [Pyromancer Soul Fruit], 1 [Oracle Soul Fruit], 1 [Tyrannic Muscle Soul Fruit], and 2 [Enhancement Soul Fruits].
After notating the various effects of the fruits in his mental herbarium, he first took one of the [Enhancement Soul Fruits].
[Enhancement Soul Fruits] were the rarest of the four soul fruit types. Instead of adding a soul star, they would pick a random star and strengthen it.
Since his second and third stars were already [Unique], he could go ahead and use the two fruits to upgrade [Sacrifice]. This way, he knew exactly where they'd be going. If he unlocked a pointless D-rank skill, the fruits might wander that direction, and he'd be worse off.
After swallowing the first fruit, he checked his soul space. As he saw Dovewun and Jackpot, he remembered the Lotus Empress' message to Orio.
In his hurry, the simple contract mark he had given Dovewun had turned into the same bloodline mark on Jackpot's star…
Not letting it consume his thoughts, he moved on to his first Soul Star.
[Rank A][Tamer Talent: Give] [By using a portion of his inner strength, the Tamer can transfer one of the stars in his soul space, as well as a portion of his health or stamina.]
'That's decent.' He thought to himself before ingesting the next fruit. In hurried excitement, he dove back in to check.
[Growth Evolution][Unique Tamer Talent: Give and Take] [By using a portion of his inner strength, the Tamer can transfer one of the stars in his soul space, as well as his health, stamina, magic, aura, soul strength, vision, or any of his other attributes.]
"No freaking way…"