Chapter 66: A Growing Reputation
"Transfer, right? I'll inform the High Command immediately," Brighton stammered, his tone laced with fear. "You'll receive your full payment without delay."
The once-proud officer now faced the infamous bounty hunter, Kassadin, without a shred of arrogance. In his mind, Kassadin was no longer just another mercenary—he was a force of nature, a living nightmare. Though Kassadin had assured them he wasn't a threat, the fear of the unknown monster standing before him was enough to keep Brighton's body retreating, despite his mental resolve.
Harvey noticed Brighton's overwhelming fear but decided now wasn't the time to preach about the Void. There was no point; fear had clouded the man's judgment. With a glance at the quivering officer, Harvey silently turned and disappeared, hauling the massive chunks of the slain mother bug with him.
The carcass was valuable—its energy levels were off the charts, unlike anything Harvey had encountered before. Consuming it would yield an enormous amount of evolution points. Despite its grotesque form and the parts Harvey found utterly repulsive, there was still plenty of flesh to feast on.
So, he found a large establishment on Kilf Star and requested their chefs to prepare the meat. The chefs were stunned at the sight of the colossal bug meat, trembling at the task ahead.
After assuring them to discard the head, tentacles, innards, and other unsavory parts, the staff hesitantly got to work. In just over an hour, they had prepared the meat, which, surprisingly, looked a lot more appetizing once cooked.
Over the next two hours, Harvey devoured a significant chunk, netting an impressive 530,000 evolution points. He couldn't help but marvel at the sheer power locked within the flesh of this planet-wrecking creature. Even after discarding the undesirable bits, there were still 27 pieces left—enough for nine full evolutions.
As Harvey dined, word of the bug's death spread like wildfire across Kilf Star. The news shook the system: the Mother Bug, the planet's most feared scourge, was dead. With her demise, exterminating the remaining hives was just a matter of time.
Leaders of the Kilf Coalition were quick to act. They watched the footage of the battle and immediately demanded a detailed report. When they learned that the mysterious figure who felled the Mother Bug was a bounty hunter named Kassadin, many began considering ways to recruit or at least ally with him. Their coffers were full, but what they truly lacked was overwhelming firepower—a force like Kassadin's.
The coalition didn't waste any time. Per Brighton's report that Kassadin disliked delays, they promptly wired the full one billion credits to his account. In the political landscape, many matters could be pushed aside or delayed. This, however, was not one of them. No one dared even consider withholding the payment, not when the consequences could mean inviting an even greater catastrophe onto Kilf.
After the money was transferred, the coalition issued an official announcement: the Mother Bug had been slain. In the restaurant, the head chef caught sight of the announcement on the news broadcast, recognizing the creature's likeness. He turned to the rest of the staff, his voice trembling.
"Are we… are we cooking the Mother Bug right now?"
His fellow chefs, eyes wide, nodded. "Seems like it."
"I thought Kilf didn't have creatures this big!"
"So, that means the bounty hunter who killed it… is eating in our private room?"
The head chef's expression quickly shifted from awe to excitement. "Everyone, do your best! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We're cooking history here!"
These chefs, each with over 20 years of experience, had handled countless alien creatures in their careers. But none of them had ever thought they'd be preparing the flesh of the Mother Bug—a being that had plagued Kilf for decades. The chance to cook such a legendary creature was a story they could boast about for the rest of their lives.
Even with special tools, the bug's flesh was tough, making it a real challenge to carve and cook. But none of the chefs complained—instead, they relished the challenge, pouring their hearts into the work.
In just a few hours, the entire planet knew the name "Kassadin." For years, Kilf's coalition had offered bounties for the elimination of the Mother Bug. The mission had been an open secret for as long as anyone could remember. Many off-world bounty hunters had come, lured by the promise of riches, only to leave empty-handed—or worse, not leave at all.
But now, someone had done it. A bounty hunter named Kassadin had slain the Mother Bug. For the first time, the people of Kilf felt awe and curiosity rather than dread. Who was this mysterious man, and how had he accomplished the impossible?
The news wasn't just shaking Kilf Star. The bounty hunter community was abuzz as well. The extermination of the Mother Bug was listed as a high-tier, level-3 bounty. Most hunters knew of it, even if they didn't have the strength to pursue it. Some jobs at this level could be completed through sheer numbers, with a group of level-2 hunters banding together. But others, like this one, required more than just manpower. They required overwhelming force.
Many hunters, especially those just starting, had attempted the task, only to be crushed under the weight of its difficulty. It had become almost legendary in its futility. But now, someone had succeeded.
The bounty logs had been updated: the task was completed by a single level-2 bounty hunter named Kassadin.
The entire hunter community was in shock. Kassadin? Who was this guy? Many had never heard of him before, and when they discovered he had only registered as a bounty hunter the day before, their jaws collectively dropped.
In just two days, Kassadin had completed both a level-2 and a level-3 mission—notoriously difficult missions, even for veterans. And now, the bounty hunter world knew one thing for sure: a new powerhouse had entered the scene. His name was Kassadin, and he was not to be underestimated.