The Elusive Book Keeper - Chapter 7

Bang! Bang!

With two shots, one of the holographs disappeared with a pained cry. The remaining two bull-like creatures seemed to pick up speed as they rushed to Zane.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three more shots followed the first as the realistic holographs slowed down, blood spurting, they struggled with their injuries.

Two more shots were decisively fired. The huge kinetic energy of the rotating bullet tore through the muscles and organs inside the creatures and only came to a stop after the kinetic energy was fully expended. Of course, the entire process was viewed by Zane through the new Go-lens.

He shook his head, his shooting was not yet good enough to cleanly go through the bones of the creature. If they were real Kibulls, Zane might be killed.

Zane smiled as he pulled off the earplugs, kept the gun whose barrel was rapidly cooling in a rack and turned to Ren who was looking at the device in his hands, his brows furrowed..

“What is it?” He asked

Was anything wrong with the reader? He pressed down a red buŧŧon and brought a can of orange juice and a towel from a locker next to him. Zane let the cool, refreshing drink go down his throat as he wiped his face with the other hand.

“Congratulations,” Ren said flatly, “A score of 8.5 accuracy at a range of 100 meters. You have reached Intermediate Firearms Proficiency.”

Zane clenched his fist in obvious joy. Intermediate firearms proficiency, at last. He looked at the boy who had accompanied his training from when he began two years ago.

“Why do I have a feeling that you are not happy for me?”

Ren kept the proficiency reader and took out a drink, took a sip, before looking at Zane.

Looking at the impatient genius in front of him, Ren laughed, “Zane, do you still want others to live? Intermediate firearms proficiency, add that to your other skills and tell me Mr. 2nd rank genius, Do you still want ordinary people like me to live?” His tone at the end was tinged with a slight bitterness.

He was going to choose a specialized sword pathway so he had focused his entire being on the sword since he was 5 and he was an intermediate swordmaster.

This friend of his has been practising shooting twice a week for two years and he is also an intermediate firearms masters. 2 years vs. 13 years? Where is the justice?

Zane’s nose twitched. He was not really worthy of this praise. He was going to awaken a non-combat main and subclass. Learning to protect himself is only a necessity.

Not only had he browsed the city library and the school library, but he has also spent an entire 500 knowledge points to buy Blue Book of Gun Values by S.P Fjestad and The long-range shooting handbook by Biden More.

He had digested the knowledge of many types and models of firearms, their disassembly, maintenance, and usage. The integration of the knowledge into his head had given him a near instinctive feel for aiming them. Although shooting at targets, virtual and holographic images was different from reality, Zane was sure he would manage.

Zane slapped Ren’s back lightly. “It is just 2nd rank among known students. Most families and organizations have their own private preparatory school. I am sure many students there have advanced firearms proficiency even before choosing a class.”

Stunned eyes looked at the smiling boy in front of him, “Are you comforting me?”

Zane chuckled, mirth dancing in his eyes, “Just exposing you to reality so you would not hurt anymore.”

“Get out,” Ren said furiously.

Zane laughed lightly, “I can’t go home now. My house is surrounded. If I explain myself to one more guild….”

Ren rolled his eyes, “No wonder, you ran over here so early in the morning.”

With a hurt expression, Zane asked, “Why do you always think the worst about me? I came over because I missed you”…’ and because from tomorrow, we will be walking in two separate worlds.’

“Do you want to tell me anything?”Ren sensed something was wrong, he was not just sure what.

“No, not really. You will be entering Rica, you have reached all their requirements. I never imagined you would choose Rica. Its training is really brutal. Do you know the school is in the Giza mountains? You know the kind of ruins and dungeons around it. Why on earth would you choose it? Base and Loire University both offered you entrance. They are ranked higher than Rica and their students are normally alive at the end of their education.” He murmured the last words as he focused on Ren.

Ren just looked at him with a complicated smile. “Zane, you will be going to the capital city soon.” He looked like he wanted to say more but stopped, he smiled widely, his gaze a bit teasing and a bit frivolous, “I am your friend so I won’t lose to you.”

Even though he said it in a joking manner, if Zane could not notice the sheer determination and stubbornness burning in those eyes, his observation skill training would be for nought. “Are you sure I would work even harder than now?’

Ren’s answer was an even more burning gaze. Zane nodded with a slight smile

If he told Ren that he was choosing a non-combat class, Ren would probably take him to the hospital, better accept his challenge and keep his fire burning, he would soon forget this anyway. ‘I am really a good person’, he thought.

“Would you join us for lunch?” It was time for lunch and he received a message from his brother to invite Zane to have lunch with them.

“I would rather go and eat at Shrimp or Tuna.” Zane said, his eyes already filled with longing for all the seafood dishes he would order, he gulped audibly. Apart from his friends, that restaurant was one of the major things he would miss in Cloud city.

“And spend two hours waiting for you to choose, Impossible!” His tone was filled with disdain before his eyes brightened, “Besides we ate there yesterday. Let’s go to Ari’s gourmet parlour.”

“Spend the 2 hours drinking soup before they serve the main dish that can be finished in one bite.” He returned in the same distasteful tone.

Ren was ruffled, “It is called fine dining.”

“I am sure it is” His tone was incredibly patronizing and soothing like he was talking to a child.

Ren just gritted his teeth. What politeness? What elegance or cheerfulness? This is the true face of Zane Black, he was nothing more than a big bully.

Determination flooded his eyes as he swore to do his utmost best at Rica university, find Zane, challenge him to a fight and then beat him up. Joining his team would come after the beating.

They both settled for Lasai, it was a high-concept restaurant that served seafood.

“Should I call the girls?” Zane asked as they were reaching the restaurant.

Ren did not deem this question worthy of an answer. You want to call the girls? You did not call them when we were at the shooting range; you will call them in front of the restaurant. How long would it take them to dress up and come over?

Ren was not ready to play any mind games with Zane, he decisively turned on his Atlas, connected it to the web and began to stream.

“You have an incoming audio transmission.” The system alerted him.

“Accept.”

His mom’s voice soon came through, it sounded distressed but there was an obvious joy within.

“Zane, you have to come home now. It is extremely urgent.”

“Yes, mom.” It seems like it has already begun. He sighed, things would only get rougher now.