Chapter 27 - The next step

In that sense, skills like Invisibility and Instantaneous Movement became invaluable tools for Zack. With Invisibility, he could move unseen, observing his surroundings and planning his actions without fear of detection. And with Instantaneous Movement, he could cover vast distances in the blink of an eye, showcasing his agility and speed. Everyone knew that hunters had many skills based on their traits, and it would be hard to guess what else they could do based on those alone.

However, Zack was also aware that relying too heavily on these skills could be risky. While they were powerful tools, they also came with their own set of challenges and limitations. He would need to be cautious, using them only when absolutely necessary and being mindful of the consequences.

When Zack woke up the next day, he went to buy a map of the province. He needed to make the location of all the territories of the monsters around in order to find which territory didn't belong to any guild after all.

"I guess I will spend the day today doing scouting," Zack thought. 

Doing that was actually easy. With Instantaneous Movement and Speed Hack, Zack just crossed the well-maintained roads that he could find around, and then when he found the monster territories, he used Invisibility to look for hunters around.

The guilds had taken all the territories closest to the city, at least within fifty kilometers. He found thirteen monster territories, which fit the information about the guilds' territories.

"I guess the people from our city don't want to overreach," Zack thought once he marked the final location on the map. "Well, while they are being careful, I can do whatever I want. Once they start to make a profit with the territories, they should avoid getting in my way as well."

Once he was done with that, Zack returned to the city to eat something. It was mid-afternoon already, and he used a lot of stamina while moving around, so taking it easy for the rest of the day would be fine. Still, it looked like that had been a bad move…

When Zack finished his meal, he saw a large guy in front of the restaurant glaring at him. It was the metal warriors guild master. Zack had seen him a few times on TV, and he recognized him because of the large mace on his back. He had a shaved head and three scars on his face that looked like he had been hit by some sharp claws.

"Do you know who I am, kid?"

"I have some ideas, but you probably don't want to hear them," Zack said. 

"Do you think that you can come to my guild and ignore me?"

"I didn't see you there, so how come I can ignore someone I didn't see?" Zack shrugged.

"You should be careful, kid. Don't make enemies of those you don't know nothing of."

"Should I be worried that I will be attacked on my back, then?" Zack asked.

"Maybe you should, with that attitude of yours,"

After that, the guild master left the area. He sure knew how to make himself look imposing, but from Zack's perspective, he was being more silly than anything. Being prideful was fine since it kept people motivated to reach for more, but there was only so much pride that one could have without being a nuisance.

Suppose your pride makes you angry at anyone who doesn't respect your accomplishments and position. In that case, you will be for an endless ride of anger. Different people value different things; it is useless to make them think or act like you when that doesn't benefit you.

In any case, Zack went home to rest since he was going to have an early day tomorrow, and he wasn't planning to return until he took one territory from the monsters. 

Zack realized the importance of preparation for his expeditions. Using his Inventory skills, he stocked up on essentials like water, food, and other supplies. With his inventory expanded, he could carry a substantial amount of provisions, ensuring he wouldn't run out during his journeys.

By stocking up on supplies, Zack could minimize his need to return to the city frequently. He preferred to work without constant interruptions, focusing solely on his goals. After all, every interruption meant precious time wasted, time that could be spent honing his skills and gaining more power.

Zack's determination to achieve his goals was strong enough that he was willing to spend days alone in the monsters' territories. He didn't want to be bothered by trivial matters and was willing to work hard to achieve his objectives. The more he accomplished, the stronger he would become, and that was his ultimate goal.

The next day, Zack left the city when the sun was rising and decided to head North. That was the area where most of the territories covered in snow were supposed to be, and it would be easier to find tracks of other hunters if they were there.

Still, the more he headed North, the more Zack felt the cold growing stronger and the wind blowing as well. He didn't notice that before, but the walls on the territories of the slimes and dire wolves really protected him. Eventually, he found the first free territory… the territory of the frozen witches.