Picking up Girls With My System - Chapter 457: Liquor Store Owner
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The moment when one got familiar was an important one. Everyone always expected a small little creature, one that would instantly connect to the mage, turning into a partner for life.
But with Tracy, it was different. What came from the other realm was an egg, a dragon egg! Arthur was certain of it as he had seen it!? There was no denial.
“How long will it take to hatch?” Tracy asked.
She would leave for school in a month, and by that point, Tracy wanted her familiar to be around, just like everyone else!
Arthur wanted to give her the answer, but that was not within his reach, “I don’t know, but all we can do is take good care of it.”
Victor and Emily were jumping with happiness! Others may see what happened to Tracy as a misfortunate, but they knew how incredible Arthur was!? If the dragon from their daughter’s egg had a similar power to him, the path for her would be incredible!
They extinguished the torches and returned to their house, which was right there. Tracy slept with her familiar that night, trying to make the egg hatch as soon as possible, yet nothing happened during that night.
Arthur returned to his cabin and told his wives, “I will have to leave for some time, maybe one week. Can you take care of Tracy and her family?”
It happened suddenly, “what is wrong? Did something happen?”
Something had happened on his way back to his cabin that night. Arthur sensed something. At first, it felt like nothing, but then his head hurt, and he had visions about those who were after him!
For some reason, they found their way to that planet and knew he was there!
But his friends, who were supposed to find him first, were nowhere to be seen. That concerned Arthur, and he did not know what to do!
He was certain of one thing, though: to leave the village and lure those who were after him before they arrived there and killed everyone!
“I have a problem, but please promise me you will stay here, lay low, and protect everyone. Those who were after me are getting closer, and I will lure them away,”? he said.
They wanted to stay and help him, but when they saw Arthur’s face, it was clear that the situation was beyond their reach, and even Arthur had no idea if he would leave that encounter alive!
“Understood.”
Arthur kissed them and quickly left their cabin, moving as farther as possible from the village, trying to erase any trace of him being there! Jane left the cabin right after, going to the village to warn Victor and his family about the situation.
Before long, everyone from the village knew they had to keep a low profile and not touch Arthur’s identity until things returned to normal.
“What should I do? I think I have a few days before they arrive here,” thought Arthur.
The people who were going there were the ones who wanted one of his Forbidden Eyes, the same that warned him about their arrival through the visions.
Arthur did not know if he would have the power to face those people, but there was one thing he could do: hide.
He changed his appearance to that of an old man with a long beard and changed his clothes to those of regular people.
After that, he aimed to find a remote place and a way to overcome the threat.
“How can I get stronger? Even if I meditate daily, increasing my power will take some long years!”
That was something Arthur had to find out about at another time. He kept flying across the country, finally stopping in the biggest city, the same place where Tracy would attend school.
Why? Well, it was the best place for him to find ways to get more power, and it had too many people! The capital was immense, making it almost impossible for those chasing him to check everyone, especially if he found ways to hide among the crowd.
Also, he would still be close to Tracy if she needed him.
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“The person who stole the eye is in this shit planet? This place is close to our hometown, yet we never came here. I did not know it existed,” a middle-aged man wearing a long robe said.
“It does not make any sense. This planet was not here previously; no one could see it from afar. Strange,” the other man said.
They had left their metal balls — the same ones George gave Arthur — and were staring at their surrounding area.
“We cannot feel his presence, only if he gets close enough, and if by any chance he knows we are close to getting him, then it will be even harder to find him.”
“Yes, but not impossible. Let’s move.”
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The capital had the name of Jinther, built by the legendary mage Jinther, who fought against a powerful demon, and his battle created the valley where the city was located.
Many people went there. Some wanted to see its festivals, others to enjoy the beautiful scenery around the city, as it was home to the tallest mountains in the country!
Some went there to look for opportunities, be it a job offer, opening a store, or chasing their dream of attending the biggest magical school in the country!
Almost everyone had at least the power of a first-circle mage, which was nothing compared to the big dogs inside the city, like the current country king or the advising mage of the king.
The magical school also had plenty of talented students, and their teachers had the power of Official Mages! Not only that, but the mage’s guild also had those who had reached the Adamantium rank, which was incredible, and their position made others envy them.
Amidst all these incredible figures was an old man who came to the city one day through the same straight line everyone had to endure at the main gates, and within two days, the old man opened up a store inside the city, selling liquor!
Yes, it was called ‘Old Nefion Liquor Store!’. Arthur decided to use that old man’s name, as no one knew him by that name anyway.
He arrived at the city just like everyone else, trying not to catch any attention and looking as ordinary as possible. Arthur’s aura was that of a sixth-circle mage. Not strong, and neither too weak, the perfect balance.
“Nefion, how’s the store going?”
Arthur decided to settle in a more calm and more remote area of the city where most people who lived had family or were old enough to be grandpas!
The one talking with Arthur, for example, was Jonathan, an old man who owned an alchemy shop beside Arthur’s store, and they quickly became friends.
It was normal for an old man to have other old people as friends, so Arthur did just that, trying to mingle with the place the best he could!
“Pretty good. People around here love a good drink, right?”? Arthur said, laughing.
“Hahaha, you betcha. Want to play some table games in the park later?” Jonathan asked.
“Sure thing.”
Arthur’s store had a few clients, even in his first days, but nothing too extraordinary. Ordinary people or weak mages would buy liquor at such a store.
All the important figures were busy doing other things and shopping in the better stores near the center of the
His store was made of wood; the only things inside were a counter where the customers paid and shelves upon shelves with bottles of liquor. Of course, Arthur had some special liquors hidden, which only premium customers could have, exactly like how a normal store would work.
Arthur went to the basement area where his safe was and used his magical powers to contact his wives, who were still near the village.
“Keep training Tracy and protect everyone till the day she leaves to come to the school. I am here, hiding inside. I plan to get more power, but it will take some time, and we might have to stay hidden here for a while like ordinary weak mages. Also, bring Delphine too!”
The plan was simple: lay low with the identity of a weak mage owner of a liquor store and slowly get more followers of his new demonic cult, increasing his power until those looking for him finally find him.
Arthur knew it would probably take a while for them to find him, as he was good at hiding, and these people were rank six mages at most, maybe lower than that, peak rank 5. They did not have the immensurable strength to find him instantly.
“The slender beast said those coming from me weren’t that powerful, but the ones behind their backs were, so I also need to find a way to kill them without warning those in command.”
After giving the message to his wives, he went upstairs, ready to put the closet sign on his store, yet a new customer came right before it closed.
It was a young lady with two guards following her closely behind. Arthur could tell that one was not the ordinary mage who came to his store but someone from the nobility.
“Who is the owner of this place?” the lady said arrogantly.