He shrugged as if the answer was obvious.
"Besides, there's never been any need for more. Rank-E warriors are more than enough. No one has ever tried to attack us here. The problem has never come up."
Kaiser stayed silent, watching his brother's casual attitude.
'If we can't find them, couldn't I create them? Whatever, maybe I should look into the protagonist's future companion.'
"Do you have a kitsune demi-beast, pretty one."
Isaak moved to another folder, smiling.
"Looks like Ruby isn't enough for you anymore. We have a few decent ones. You can pick one later. But they're merchandise, you still have to pay even if I give you a discount."
"Hm, yeah. I understand. If possible, aged between 12 and 16."
"We don't have many in that age range. I think there are a few. Anyway, think with your dick later…"
"Alright…" Kaiser leaned back in his chair. 'If I could find Katrina before the protagonist, that would be better.'
"I've got something interesting. It's your lucky day."
He opened a folder, placed a few sheets in front of him, then looked up.
"We have a buyer coming today. You'll get to see how I negotiate and how we maximize a sale. Then you'll take part yourself. It'll be your first test."
Kaiser nodded without visible emotion. "I'll follow your instructions."
Isaak slipped on an long dark coat, adjusted his mask over his face, then headed for the door.
"You can stay here. I'm going to greet him and show him our products. Watch from the balcony if you want. It'll help you understand how we handle an important client."
Kaiser didn't reply. He simply stood and walked to the window overlooking the portal platform. Isaak went down through the hall, his steady footsteps echoing on the marble. Kaiser grabbed a spyglass placed near a piece of furniture, a tool meant for discreetly observing movement in Neon.
He opened the window, stepped onto the balcony, and aimed the spyglass toward the portal that had just activated. A blue glow pulsed before a masked individual stepped out.
The man wore a long hood covering his head, but Kaiser immediately noticed his athletic build. He moved with some hesitation.
"He's looking around way too much. Probably not a regular. But no nausea, so he's used to portals… Hmm…"
Kaiser frowned slightly. He followed the figure descending the few steps of the platform with his gaze.
"Wait… what the hell?" he muttered.
He adjusted the spyglass. One detail instantly caught his attention.
"Looks like a tattoo…"
The hood shifted slightly as the individual glanced around. Kaiser clearly made out a dark pattern on his neck. It climbed along the skin, following a line that disappeared under the clothes.
He zoomed in closer.
"A dragon tattoo…"
His eyes widened all at once. His breath caught. He took a step back, the spyglass shaking in his hand. The masked man had just turned his head toward the manor. Despite the distance, Kaiser felt as if their eyes had locked.
The stranger's eyes were a very striking amber. For a second, they seemed to glow, catching all the surrounding light. A chill ran up Kaiser's spine.
He knew exactly who it was.
Long reddish hair slightly poking out from under the hood.
The musculature of a trained warrior.
The dragon tattoo stretching from shoulder to neck.
There was no doubt.
"Shit…" Kaiser breathed.
He gripped the balcony railing to steady himself.
"I'm fucked…"
His fingers clenched the spyglass so hard his knuckles went white.
He finally recognized the one person he never wanted to run into in Neon.
"It's… it's Kris Donoghan…"
A name enough to freeze his blood. That hot-blooded dog in a place this cruel was going to fuck everything up.
"He should already be an E+ magical warrior, and here we only have E- and E ranks… I'm fucking cooked."
POV: Kris Donoghan
I'd expected something more impressive. To be honest, I thought I'd find a den packed with heavily armed bandits, traps, mercenaries, and tension that would put me on edge right away. But the place I'd just arrived in looked more like a normal city with gray, soulless buildings and a few lamps flickering softly. The air felt heavy, like it had been sitting there too long. I glanced around as I walked.
"This place is pretty plain," I muttered, looking at the facades. Nothing suggested a major criminal hideout dealing in stolen goods. And yet, this was definitely it.
I'd ignored big sister's advice. Isabella had told me to go to Father and launch an official investigation. She was right, but I didn't have the patience to wait for the procedures, reports, and weeks of deliberation. I wanted to see what was going on. I wanted to understand who was profiting from this illegal trade.
So I used a few of Father's connections to get a discreet invitation. A mistake, maybe, but my reckless nature often won out.
A steam car suddenly pulled up in front of me. A masked man stepped out. Dark clothing, nothing that screamed noble or warrior; he looked a bit frail. I straightened up and calmed my breathing before analyzing the aura or mana he gave off. I instantly activated my combat sense.
'Pretty weak. Rank E at most.'
Strange for someone greeting a supposedly important client. He walked toward me confidently. Was he the boss?
"The Kruger black market told me a high-profile client wanted to visit us. So I came personally," he said.
He extended his hand. His voice was calm. I shook it to avoid drawing attention.
"Where exactly are we?"
"Well, client, everywhere and nowhere. But you can call this place Neon."
"Fine."
He turned to a thin man getting out of the car.
"Larson…" he signaled.
The man held a small metal device. He ran it over my entire body, probably checking if I was armed. The fact he wasn't wearing a mask intrigued me. His identity must be completely anonymous for him to show his face like that.
The so-called boss spoke again.
"So, you've come a long way. You must have something specific in mind?"
"Show me your best items," I answered simply.