11 Fine then!

After getting Ling-chan to bed, I walked out of the shop and headed towards the east, to where I usually trade. After coming there, I noticed there was still a crowd of people, all with some amount of stones. I smirked as I thought how the threats of wealth confiscation from the chief and other politicians weren't that effective.

"Sorry guys, I had some things to deal with. Now that I'm here, who wants some meat!?"-I asked in a loud voice.

People started to form a line and I started trading. Of course, I didn't miss those people that left when I came, probably going to report to the chief or one of the branch leaders. I didn't really concern my self with them, as even if the chief comes here, what could he do?

So I waited, while trading, and wasn't disappointed. After about half an hour from when I appeared here, the chief with entourage came here.

" Stop! Stop abducting funds this instant!"-voiced the chief.

Abducting the funds? Well, that is a new tactic. I'd say that it's just a surprise mechanic, where I give some meat for stones.

"Well, chief, what do you mean by abducting the funds? You wouldn't stop trade with an outsider, right? Because if anything, I smell racism.."-I reminded him with my words his yesterday's fiasco. I still chuckle to this day remembering it.

" Of course not. It's just that there are laws that. New laws I mean. Ahem, the new law, named "Rules of Trade and Economy" says, that any person, be it citizen of Heavenly Fate Plateau or any person from outside the village's influence must, as a seller, without exception, hand over 15 per cent of his profit, when conducting any kind of trade in Heavenly Fate Plateau village..."-and he kept blabbering on and on. Basically, the only worthwhile information is now that I would need to hand over 15 per cent of my profit, which I don't know how they are going to calculate, to the mayor. There are even fines when conducting trade without a supervisor.

Oh, they are so dumb.

"Okay then, I won't conduct any kind of trade while I'm in the Heavenly Fate Plateau."-I said with a smile.

The chief, thinking that he won, said-" That's okay, as a show of goodwill, to an outsider, I will not claim anything from your prior trades. After all, as the wise say, ignorance is bliss. As you didn't know any laws, you will be exempted from them this time. Of course, from now on you must abide them."-God his grin is so shit-eating.

"Oh, okay. Anyways, respectable chief, I couldn't help but notice that the I don't know any other way out of this village other than the one I came from. If some of your warriors could show me one, I would be glad…give something in return."- I said with a look clearly indicating a big piece of meat.

" of course, Ning! Come over here!"-the mayor shouted.

One of the warriors that were following the chief's entourage came over.

"This is Pu Ning. A proud silver ranked Warrior. Very experienced. Mister..uhh"

"Edo"-I supplied.

" Ah, yes. Mister Edo, he would be the best choice for your request."- the chief said with a sly grin.

"Haha, then I thank you. Here, this is something I found when travelling."-I said as I gave him a gold-ranked demon spirit. It's one of the weakest in the gold ranks, even a strong silver ranked beast could defeat it, but of course chief didn't know that, hence he thought that is a very expensive gift, hence his bulging eyes, hence the greedy looks of other officials, hence…STOP WITH THEE HENCE!

*ahem*

After making sure the chief understood, or rather misunderstood, the price of that spirit, I walked towards a path, together with Ning, I've seen when hunting beasts.

Of course, he was confused about why I was leading the journey when it was me who asked for guidance. So he voiced his question like a naive boy he is.

"You don't have to worry about it, Pu Ning. Let the adult lead. You just need to tell me when we cross the border of the village."-I said not looking at him

" But...aren't you like ten?"-he said.

Fuck. I hate this body…

Okay, I don't but I would love me some enhanced growth pills.

"Sometimes, age doesn't indicate wisdom, just like age doesn't indicate strength, it would do you good to remember that as, for example, I could trash you anytime I want. "-I said while glaring at him. Just you wait 'till I hit my puberty. Humph.

After that little threat, he finally understood his place and we walked in silence. Of course, this wouldn't be a fantasy world without something jumping at us out of blue.

*roar*

Oh, another one of those flame tigers. This one looks young. APPRAISE!

[305]

Yeah, It's still young. Merely gold three-stars.

" RUUN!"- Shouted the guard as he started to run, only for someone to grab him after few seconds.

"Shut up and come on. We're losing light."- I said annoyed as I dragged the guard, who was still staring at the now-dead tiger with a punctured skull.

Eventually, he got something to work in that head of his and started asking questions.

"Who. How did you do it?!"-He asked with glimmer and greed in his eyes.

"None of your business."-I answered curtly.

What? Do you expect of me bragging about the awesome techniques I have? Only for a one-in-a-million chance for some greedy hidden expert to hear it and pursue me? Plus, the less these people know of me, the better. Remember the whole people-sent-after-me deal with the god?

Yeah, thanks but no.

Of course, the little warrior wasn't happy.

"How could you be so shameless and greedy and…shameless? Those techniques you used could save lives of those you would share them with! Why would you-"-he started spewing nonsense. I snapped.

" LISTEN HERE LITTLE SHIT! I don't have to listen to you yapping shit all day. Your whole little backwater village is greedy and shameless! Not only they are trying to obstruct me helping them, but the higher-ups are already centralizing the whole 'help'. They are even oppressing their own people! So listen, and pay attention"-from here I grabbed his collar and practically growled-"I can fucking kill you here, go to the village, kill all your warriors, enslave your women and sell your children, and you better believe it when I say I have these urges. But I fucking don't act upon them, unlike you all, you fucking rapist pigs. So listen,your life. Is. Fucking. Worthless in my eyes. And believe it when I say that your so-called chief would kill you himself for a bronze-ranked demon spirit. So you better hold your tongue, before it forces me to lose that tiny bit of humanity I have left after all the shit I went through. AM.I.CLEAR?"

"y-y-yes…yes you are…"-he somehow managed to utter.

" Good, from now on, I don't want to hear, see or feel you opening your worthless face-hole unless it's something important, you waste of space."-I didn't ask him if I am clear this time as it wasn't a question. It was an order.

Fuuu~ that felt good. It's like lough therapy, just instead of laughing you swear.

After that, we resumed our walk. After about an hour he finally said that it was about here that is the village border. Really, there isn't any building anywhere in any direction for at least 5 kilometres.

Sigh~ it must be their ego forcing to 'claim' this big of a border. Nevermind.

"Okay, go chop those trees and saw them in planks with this."- I said as I gave him a simple saw and an axe.

"You better make it quick, or else…"-I didn't finish my threat, but it was clear to him what I would do, as previously in the day I remarked seemingly randomly how I would like to feed someone alive to a demon beast, but sadly there weren't any idiots around to act as chew toys.

After stuttering a word or two of acknowledgement he got to work, I got a lounging chair out and lemonade, I started to appreciate how good this world actually look.

No pollution, no sounds of the city, just the greenery and yourself. I should stop sometimes to appreciate this…everything.

After a couple of hours, Pu Ning finally had enough planks for me to work on. Well, of course, I could just buy them from the shop, but as I have to be here anyway, I'd rather not waste points when I can get perfectly fine planks made by free labour.

" hmm, good. Now make a stand. I want a huge plank for a sign at the top. Now get to it."-I simply said when Pu Ning came back from the forest. He visibly deflated when I gave him this job.

"But couldn't you pay some villager to do this. Why me?"-He said indignantly, finding some of his bravery again.

" So, you're saying I should kill you, so you wouldn't waste my time, and get a villager?"-I asked with a predatory grin.

"N-n-no, sir. This w-will be the best stand you've seen"

Hmm, that's better. While he was hammering the nails I gave him, with his fists ofc, I left a smelly package that would ward off any demon beasts and walked into the forest.

Time to hunt some shit.

As I burst out with my speed, the trees, bushes, grass blurring beside me. I activated my [Law inspecting eye] and searched for any colour indicating blood, battle, or concentration of life force, as demon beasts are giant clumps of it. Not even after 10 seconds, I found my first prey. Snowbear. A huge bear towering four meters in height and eight in length. With teeth the size of two fingers, and claws the length of my arm, I knew this will be a good fight.

I haven't had a good fight for a couple of days, and I need one to stay on top of the game, and further refine my tactics against beasts.

I didn't bother with the sneak approach, as bears even in my past life had incredible noses, so there is no chance I could get near it without being seen.

But I don't have to get near to it.

With Spear of pure soul energy in hand, I hurled the punishment like a god of thunder. Okay, a bit overdramatic but stay with me.

The spear soared, and like always, hit it's a target on the spot. Namely the ass of the bear.

*ROOAAAR*

Haha! Feel the pain of your sins.

*ahem*

The bear whirled his head towards me, and seeing the small offender, instantly became enraged at how such a small bug could dare to go against it.

Here, have another one.

*zoom*

*ROAR*

This one embedded itself in the bear's shoulder, inducing another roar from the poor bear.

And another one!

*zoom*

Another one!

*zoom*

-another-

*zoom*

Eventually, after twenty or so spears were deeply intervened with the bear, it stopped trying to attack me, now only breathing rage and glaring at me.

I walked up to it and patted it's head, earning a low growl from it.

"Well now. We can do this three ways. One, I kill you, extract your Demon Spirit, and then force it to work for me and my children for ages, effectively imprisoning it. Two, I can extract your demon spirit and destroy it, for some energy, effectively killing you for good. Or three, where you accept my brand and become my mount, living a life of luxury and whatever things you bear-like. So what do you say?"-I said, expecting a full-on hostility. Instead, all I got was a puff of hot air.

"Neat, now don't resist if you feel something."- I said using one of the techniques I purchased recently, [Soul Brand]. A simple name for a simple technique. You just create a brand using your soul force, or in my scenario, soul energy, injecting to whatever the target has inside of it, and making a link where you can order the target.

As for why do I need a beast that is effectively weaker than me? Intimidation of course. You see, I didn't really give that much attention that the chief was, crudely saying, ordering me around. I always was a passive guy, not caring if people antagonised me until it becomes too big of a nuisance. But after threatening the Pu guy, I understood. I understood that in this world, this approach wouldn't work. While on earth life was difficult, it was manageable, as the people weren't oppressed as they are here. That made earth's people, including me, softer than necessary. While here, that won't do. People here are more ferocious and more competitive, fully willing to go great lengths for some benefits.

Just looks at how many and how much people want to cultivate. Majority of these people don't cultivate for the sake of strength, but for what that strength would give them. From riches to beauties, when you are an expert which everyone fears, there's no door that will be closed to you.

Now, back to the beast. As I said, it's for intimidation. If you're asking why do I need a beast for intimidation, ask yourself if you see a ten-year-old kid with a gun, what would you do, feel? Fear. But not towards the kid. No, you will fear the gun, as for the kid, he's just innocent and doesn't know what he's doing. Plus, he's young, so it's easy to trick him to hand over the gun. Which you would be later able to use.

Same here. People won't fear a kid with Black Gold strength, as they are sure I won't be that evil to go and start killing people.

Now, another situation. A kid with a gun, but behind him is also a two-meters tall gruffy looking bodybuilder that will break your neck if you try to get the gun. I bet you won't try to trick the kid if tricking him will make the big bad man go and pull out your spine through your ass.

Same here. When people will see me sitting on a huge bear, no chief will dare to write new laws that could upset the kid, in turn upsetting a bear who likes human meat.

With this, I won't have to be violent and bloody-handed, as the very potential of what I could do will deter anyone with bad intentions going up against me. Effectively saving lives and time.

Plus, who wouldn't want to ride a huge bear, being looked upon as god among mortals.

Damn that ego of mine.

*ahem*

So, after branding the bear, I got the spears out of it, and using a health potion, yes there are some, healed the wounds. Although I lost 199 points, the price of the potion, I did gain a bodyguard. A very fluffy and comfortable bodyguard.