My Last Hunt

Level Four Chaser (part 2)

Qiao looked at the hunter with doubt. He still wanted to pretend that he didn't know him. He was in bad situation where he was bound to think what to do or what not to do. 

"He is a trustable chaser in the entire Middletown and being a hunter of level six in the entire Middletown I testify his words. I believe that my own brother can backstab me in time of greed but this chaser won't." the hunter spoke confidently. 

Qiao heard and finally gave some face. 

"Ah, thanks senior. I appreciate your favour." The reception men had no other objection after a stronger hunter was giving his words. He registered him as a new chaser. 

"For your test of skills, you will be sent with a normal team in the fourth region in the Middletown forest. The winter quest teams tend to venture to Snow Island situated away from the seventh exit of the Middletown, so it is necessary to test your sustainability to collaborate with a team as well as hunting experience." The reception man wrote down his name and handed him a key for his lodge. "Four level two spoils for Guild fee." The other reception man demanded and Qiao hurriedly places the stones on the desk. 

Though in his original plan, he thought to hunt solo like a rogue but the words of the Limmu were also fresh in his mind. Those rogue chasers lost their chances for class tests and could not level up. Those who aim to become stronger should necessarily take those tests, especially when his sole purpose was to become strongest of all. 

And if he could not get registered here, he won't be getting anywhere. Time was also a problem for him. He cannot wander here and there and waste time. 

"Wait here till the team gathers." he gestured toward the waiting chambers. 

Qiao nodded and walked. The senior hunter walked with him. "Thank you senior." he formally spoke. 

"Oh, I just wanted to know your name before leaving Middletown. I will be waiting in the Hightown for you as I strongly believe that you have a real enthusiasm for levelling up." He scratched his hair and formally spoke as well. 

"My name is Qiao and I will definitely reach Hightown in the last of two month's winter." He spoke with a determined tone and the hunter also got shocked. If he truthfully speaks, there was not a single chaser who had attempted two levels in one and a half month but because he has spoken up earlier for him, he cannot deny his words. He also anticipated what would he do in this winter.

He brought out the level five sword which Qiao has seen before and handed it to him. "I know you like to have a strong weapon; take it and you can return it back when you find a better weapon. This one is level five but for me is more precious than a level seven Pole of the Entity." The sword was uniquely designed and its surface gave off the aura of warmth. 

Qiao was shocked, until now he was forcing himself to give face to this hunter but to see this he was slightly moved. He had completely forgotten to get a good weapon because of the small amount of stones he had. 

"If this weapon is truly this precious then why are you giving it to a week chaser? I mean if someone snatched it from me what would I do?" Qiao shrugged his shoulders. He was about to meet new chasers and who know what level of greed they bear in them. 

"Haha, the sword know it's master and since I am giving it to you, it would obey as it is my command, so no matter who snatched from you the sword would not follow the attack of a snatcher, unless he is a level seven or above which is almost impossible to meet in the whole Azzura continent." The hunter patted his shoulders. 

The senior hunter then left after a formal conversation and Qiao sat to wait for the team. Qiao carefully moved his hand on the surface of the sword and nodded. Now he had a reason to believe that good karma would return back some day. He met the senior hunter when he needed his favour, he found this sword when his own weapon was no longer powerful enough. 

For him to be on the same level as the weapon was a sign of threat for hunting, he believed. 

The reception men were sneakily looking at them when they saw the respected hunter giving away his previous sword. Almost every hunter was known to the fact that this senior hunter would do anything for his sword to remain safe from anyone's approach. They were even more shocked now.

Qiao kept the sword in the hilt and hung it at his back. He preferred to keep the shapeless weapon in his hand and the sword was for really dangerous times. He couldn't take out a precious weapon carelessly, specially when it did not belong to him.

Half an hour later, the team came. This was their last quest in the Middletown after which they would leave for the Snow Island. There was a small encampment of the hunting teams who were given permission to hunt in the Snow Island and the stronger hunting organizations take care of their night rest in their camps. The team leader met the reception man and who gestured toward Qiao as he was looking for a last member for his team. All the team members were level four primary, only the leader was at half way through level five. 

"It's good that we finally found a chaser for our team, now it will no more delay us from setting out for Snow Islands." he nodded and called Qiao by his name. The reception man had told him the guy's name and the present level already.