Broken Earth: Unveiling the Secrets of the Worlds

Ferdrick's progress

The meeting continued with the hunters that opposed Xerxes ended up fearing him for his weapon that can cut through other sword so easily. As much to the marquis surprise, the hunters were then obedient and no longer acted like they were before the meeting started.

       What’s more is that Xerxes is able to establish himself and his group as forces that should not be reckoned with after they showed their other weapons that help take down the armored beetles. It turns out that most of the hunters have already heard of his flintlock but were not convinced until Xerxes fired a shot that echoes throughout the room.

              At that point, none of them dared to oppose Xerxes in the fear of dying needlessly. “Thank you very much for attending the meeting Mr. Xerxes, I hope I am not bothering you, am I?” the marquis ask and Xerxes shakes his head. “Not at all marquis, it was my obligation to come here nonetheless as part of the people that also walks inside the portal.”

             The two share a few words with each other until the guards of the marquis arrived to fetch him after they ready his lodging. “Thank you very much again, Mr. Xerxes, let us talk again some time.” The two share a generous bow and the marquis left with a smile after making a connection with Xerxes even if it’s only little.

            “We have already gathered everything master, we are ready to go.” Ramirez informs him but as they prepare to leave, the hunter that defended Xerxes against the other hunters appears and introduce himself. “It’s an honor meeting you in person, Mr. Xerxes, I am Benedict Foyer. I wish to talk about business regarding the weapons that you used to demonstrate earlier. Will that all be ever released in the market? I find the blade really interesting as well as the weapon that shoots out projectiles but I don’t think I will be able to afford the flintlock was it? But I guess I can afford the sword.”

             The hunter introduce himself with a generous bow and respectful manner, Xerxes somehow recognize the hunter after a few encounters with him inside the portal and the market and remembers that none of his group nor him curse at him but sadly, Xerxes planned to keep the weapons for his group and his group alone. “Nice to meet you as well Mr. Benedict. What you did earlier, are you not worried that some of the hunters will hold a grudge against you? You let go some vicious words after all.” The two shake hands.

         “Nah- they will never have the balls to do anything to me and my group, I have long opposed them and chew them from time to time but nothing happened. Maybe it is because they are so focused to you that they ignore the other things.” Benedict says with a smile but Xerxes is felt sorry for the hunter that showed interest in his weapons and so he tells him what he intends to do.

           “Mr. Benedict, you are certainly not the first person that is interested in my weapons. I know that you have already heard of the rumors in the past and because of that I decided to keep the weapons exclusive to me and my group.” Xerxes expects the hunter to be sad or show any signs of disappointment but he failed.

             Not only that the hunter smiled but he also sigh in relief. “Well, that is to be expected. I am just taking my chances but maybe its all because of the time that you were all just starting right? A man from my group told me that you were looking for someone to fund your weapons right? But I guess that is for the best. If there are a lot of people that has even one of those weapons, you can’t expect to have order in this village.” The hunter says with a smile.

        “Sorry about that Mr. Benedict, It’s just that I can’t trust people easily anymore. I nearly had my head cut off by some of the people that I hired but thanks to my weapons, I got out scot free.” Benedict understood Xerxes concerns but promises not to give up and will try to persuade Xerxes next time. “I will try my best to at least sell me a sword.” He promised.

    “Ahaha! Then show me your determination next time. Maybe I will change my mind and sell you one.” Xerxes accepts his challenge and the hunter leaves with a good impression on each one of them. “Looks like there are hunters that thinks differently after all.” Rupert mutters after hearing the words that left the hunter’s mouth.

           “Just the very thought that I have. I did not expect that there are hunters left with that kind of thinking.’ Rupert supported. “Well, let’s just see what happens next. It won’t hurt to have some connections in case something happens.” Xerxes says as he boarded the cart. “Let’s go home now. The others might be worried sick after knowing that all the hunters will be gathering.”

             The three talked about what their reactions would be like but more importantly. It was the first time that the three of them are able to enjoy themselves. They can no longer remember the times where they threatened their enemies with something overwhelming and in this case, they used the weapons that set them apart from other hunters.

            And just as they expected, their juniors surround them and ask more questions than they can answer and even go so far as checking their bodies for wounds and injuries. Xerxes will not be enough to explain everything but with the other two’s testimony, the chaos cleared.

             “So that happened huh? I thought all of the hunters are aiming for the weapons but some of them still have decent minds. Is what I want to say but thinking it like that only after a few exchanges is too naïve. Even for adults that is too naïve. What if its his plan all along? To make himself have a good impression to you. There are people like that and I have seen it for myself, Britt sees a lot of them as well.”          

              No one have ever expected that Bianca would be the first one to say that after hearing their story. But its is within Xerxes’ expectations. “It is within my expectations so there is no need to worry.  If he is indeed different from the other hunters then it’s a win for us. In this business, being alone is really dangerous so we somehow need to make some allies and not make enemies all the time. We will be the ones that would have it hard in the end.”

                            Their talk shifted from having a funny atmosphere to a serious one but Rupert and Ramirez could not stop themselves from grinning at the events that occurred earlier. “What is wrong with you two? Are you that glad that you were able to silence all of them?”  Cynthia asks with a confused expression as the two burst in laughter.

              “Pffft! That’s it, I can’t handle it anymore. Hahaha! You won’t be saying that if you only saw their reactions earlier, I thought the katana cutting the dummy would suffice but I never expected that the flintlock would give an even more satisfying reaction from them!” Ramirez grabs Rupert’s shoulder when he could not kept laughing until his stomach ached.

              “I even saw one of them turned pale. I was about to call out to the marquis that we might need a doctor but when I was about to, his comrades take him away and guess what? That guy even peed his pants. I mean, I get that what master demonstrated is scary  but to end up like that. How will he face the weapons if the demonstration alone is enough to make him piss his pants? Hahaha! That was hilarious!” Xerxes could not help but laugh at what Ramirez reminded.

              Everyone else stare at them blankly and wonder if they really are the three that left with stone cold and serious faces. “I think we should have them checked.” Cynthia suggested and the others agree immediately. When everyone is having a good time on their own. Ferdrick walk passed them hold his new creation. “Oh- there you are. I was looking all over for you.” He said with a sleepy face. “Guess what I just made.”

                            Xerxes’ eyes widens after realizing what Ferdrick had made. “Is that what I think it is?” Ferdrick only smiles with a contented expression. “Based form your reaction, I think you already know what this is.” Ferdrick smiles proudly as he raise it like a holy item for everyone to see but to his disappointment, none of them share the sentiment of the two who were the only ones that knows what he created.

                            “You all are no fun. Even though I poured everything to this thing here, all you showed me are reactions of confusion and indifference. Why do you think I would react like this huh?” Ferdrick sneers at them for their indifferent reactions. “How are we able to relate to that? Who knows what you do in your workshop so its only understandable that we are not able to relate at all.” Cynthia retorted.

                            The two are about to engage in a fight but then Xerxes exclaims in Ferdrick’s major breakthrough. “This is amazing Ferdrick!  This is the skeleton of the improved flintlock!” everyone then turns to Xerxes with shock written all over their faces while Ferdrick on the other hand raise his nose up high like he is the most successful crafter of all.

                            “Woah! You mean the thing that will not need to be reloaded for a shot?! That’s amazing!” Britt and the others who likes the flintlock now share their sentiment. “Yeah- bow down to my greatness!” Ferdrick says with a cocky expression.

But out of all of them, Xerxes is the only one that doesn’t have any reaction which surprises almost everyone. But then all of the sudden, he started making weird sounds with his chuckle. “Kekekekeke! Hahahahaha!” Xerxes covers his face as he continues to laugh with everyone staring at him, completely lost.

“Sorry about that everyone. I’m just glad that Ferdrick is making some good progress. With that weapon in hand, hunting those giants will be easy. The bigger ones will be heavy but the results will be astounding.” Xerxes continue to grin to himself as he wonders of the things that they will be able to do in the future with Ferdrick’s help. “Good work Ferdrick. Lets storm this kingdom with your greatness.” Xerxes praise Ferdrick who immediately look like an i***t with his weird expression.

“Leave it to me Xerxes, the people that called me crazy will regret ever cursing me. I will savor this sweet, sweet revenge.” Xerxes and Ferdrick lock hands with the most villainous smiles on their faces like they are going to take over the world with their weapon. “What’s going on with them?” Britt ask but most of them doesn’t really have an idea. “Look at them grinning like maniacs. I can’t believe that they used to be normal people. Now I can’t look at them like I did until today.” Cynthia expresses her discomfort at the unlikely duo.

“Well, I’m sure the are both of them has some ideas in mind. Let’s just wait and see what they plan to do.” Samantha says with a relieved expression on her face. She is clearly relieved that Xerxes and the others are not harmed. Everyone else then looks at her with teasing expressions except for Xerxes and Ferdrick who seem to be communicating in their heads as they make those ridiculous facial expressions.

Rupert and Ramirez then continue talking about the funny things they say in the meeting and eventually, everyone got influence by them who were laughing so hard that Ramirez irritates his throat and starts to cough.