At the colony Europe 9, the boy was waiting at the hospital and a few anxious acquaintances. Nick wagged his finger at him and gave him a lecture about how all the Ferins are traitors and cannot be trusted. Maria was calm and reminded him that the colonists' meeting was tomorrow. He could learn the intricacies of the question of acquiring Independence. Hannah Muller came to visit for breakfast and listened suspiciously to the story of the boy and cat's flight to the neighboring sector to discuss tribal affairs.
"Your girlfriend is an important person. Why didn't you involve her in our colony affairs?"
"She has no authority. And she is not part of the management. An ordinary assistant to her father," replied Lee.
"You're wasting your time. But this acquaintance might be of some benefit," admitted Hannah. "I have many acquaintances in the capital. I don't have a problem with ferin. It's just that they're all different. I prefer to have such friends in the capital."
Lee Long nodded his head respectfully and thought he didn't want to make acquaintances among the capital's employees. Hannah bit off a piece he couldn't swallow. He was talking seriously to Cracked Bone. This cat turned out to be no ordinary smuggler.
There was a strong opinion among the people of the colony that the Ferin government had become a frozen collection of traditionalists. By the nature of their race, the Ferin was strictly traditionalists. Conservatism flourished in such societies. The Ferin did not welcome innovation and change. The human race was not immediately accepted as junior partners. Only the prospect of developing water magic made humans an interesting partner. But the Ferin was against any further change in the status of the bald monkeys.
Lee performed a healing session at the hospital and was rewarded. His Healing skill reached level 7. Lee smiled and thought that in a month he should bring the skill to the limit of development and take up Ice Arrow. He didn't practice attack magic at all. Even to develop Healing, he was doing damage to himself with a knife. The short blade skill had reached level 5 and increased the damage! Lee wanted to rely on physical attacks. His enhanced Strength attribute increased attack damage. Magic did not increase damage with Intellect development. This was an unfortunate and unpleasant discovery. Intellect acted as a means of increasing the amount of mana and gave increased development speed to the mage. But it was a long way to the highest level spell of training.
The boy decided to devote two days to the academy and the Legion training halls. Sometimes you can do hard and monotonous training. Lee spent eight hours in the arena. It was a variety of fights. Some opponents offered decent resistance, others lay down from ten blows. The losers received a quick artifact cure and were ready for more fights. Every year all the academies participated in a big tournament. The winner was rewarded with 7,000 credits. It was a good prize to train hard. Lee had long noticed that the arena sectors did not practice demonstrating special techniques. Everyone relied on strength and dexterity. The boy didn't stand out with his attributes, but his stamina was 30 points. And that gave him an advantage in reaction and the ability to fight with confidence.
After the academy, the boy ate at home and went to the halls of the Legion. There he worked with amateur knife fighters. It allowed him to apply to heal discreetly. He did not heal partners completely and activated the skill only once. His health was maintained by the mage at all times.
In the evening, Lee looked sadly at his status,
[Lee Long
Race: Earthman.
Type: Duelist. Mage.
Level: 21. 747500/839800.]
Two more days of similar training and he'll get level 22. Nasty business. It will take him a very long time to get to level 30. And only the colony gives the best conditions to level up. All adventures elsewhere don't give that kind of dueling opportunity.
The new day went by according to the old schedule. Lee Long realized that he was tired of the endless fights. In the evening he went to a meeting of Amateurs to discuss Independence.
The meeting took place in one of the halls of the large entertainment complex Europe 9. This building had a great library. Many enjoyed watching movies with a virtual full immersion into the events of the story. A great gymnasium with a large pool. Several restaurants with different cuisines of different nations.
Lee Long went to the door of one lounge and used his electronic invitation card. He gained access and entered the room. The room was bright and comfortable. Along the walls were couches with small tables. Opposite the door was a small podium for someone who needed special attention. On the couch next to the door sat a familiar professor from the academy.
"May I have your attention," the scholar and diplomat announced loudly. "I think our new communicator would like to introduce himself. Lee Long is pleased to have you among us. You missed two lessons at the academy!"
"Professor, I got permission from the management, they let me go on an expedition," muttered the boy's excuses. In a more confident and louder voice, he introduced himself to those present. "Lee Long. Academy student. 1st year. Thank you for your attention."
"Have a seat next to me, it is customary for us to maintain an atmosphere of quiet friendliness and consideration," the professor invited.
Lee rubbed his nose and sat down next to the professor.
The room was small and there were about three dozen people in the room. Lee saw familiar faces and expected their presence. These people did not hide their names in the Pro-Independence forum. Four people were unfamiliar to the boy. He quickly applied his Appraisal skill. Two of the men revealed the duelist's names and potential. The information about the third stranger made Lee wonder.
[Grand Maran.
Race: Zagran.
Type: Mage. Saboteur.
Level: 42.]
Lee Long stopped paying attention to the words of the conversation about the colonists' paths to their cherished dream.
What is a spy of another race doing among humans on a small colony on an ordinary planet of Ferin? Do they have enough spies to stick their noses into any hole? The most plausible possibility is that this is the chief specialist on the Human race. He travels around the colonies and gathers information. It is necessary to wait for his active participation in the discussion and find out whom he is masquerading as. He killed a man! Or Zagran imprisoned him on his planet. Level 42 is 11 in every attribute. One might consider eliminating him. This will cause unpleasant consequences! How do you set up an accident for this spy? You can't lure him out on a hunt on the prairie or in the woods. Gotta gather information.
After a few minutes, the boy wanted to wrinkle his face in boredom. Chattering! These were grown men and they didn't stoop to chattering about good men versus bad ferines. But the whole point was that Europe 9 was looking for a path to Independence and was willing to go to considerable expense and effort in that direction. No details of specific cases or missions were touched upon.
The professor's voice brought the boy out of his calm state,
"Our young new friend has a great deal of experience with the Ferin tribe. Let's hear it from him!"
The diplomat pointed to the podium. Lee didn't want to become the center of attention but decided not to argue. In Europe 9 knew him. He walked to the podium and planned his options. It was possible to impress strangers and get the Zagran spy interested. Stop! It is not possible to make contact with him! Such an adversary must be destroyed quickly and remain an unknown liquidator. No trace should be left behind. Zagran has centuries of experience in espionage. It takes a disguise and a racial dance. It is necessary to find it elsewhere. There is no trashing in one's own home.
But Lee Long did not restrain himself and expressed his simple attitude toward the tribe.
"At the very beginning of my speech, I want to clarify my age. I am 10 years old. For four years I have been spending time in the company of the kittens of the Ferin tribe. My magic didn't wake up for a long time. Everyone knows that I have been acting like a nasty boy who stands up for his opinions with his fists. I am not a fool and I understand responsibility. I was comfortable and pleasant in the company of kittens. It's better to beat the ferin than to ruin my reputation in the colony. Ferins are simple and stick to their simplicity. I understand that this simplicity is a complex and multifaceted set of Ferin traditions. Two hundred years of cooperation give me hope that Europe 9 has serious agents of influence among the Ferin. There is more than one way to kill a cat. I hope we will choose a reliable and safe way for Independence. I'm sure that's the direction we should be spending our efforts. It's a worthy target for any colony. Our race has gained a place in the galaxy. We must not rest on our achievements. I will be happy to answer questions."
"Your girlfriend is the daughter of the Head of the Tribe. Are you sure your friendship will do any good?"
"The tribal patriarch is an elected position. He is not the hereditary leader of the tribe. The girlfriend will put up a fight for her right to lead the tribe. Conflict among the cats is good for the colony. I'll be sure to lend my support to my friend. I hope our security will consider my involvement in this matter."
"Are the details of your absence a secret?"
"Of course. I'm not at liberty to share that information. The girl was beginning to reinforce her status. It is no secret that we have not been seen elsewhere in the Ferin sector. The Tribal Council gave us a chance to prove ourselves. We did well. There will be consequences."
"Hopefully the consequences will be good for our colony." Laughed the familiar gray-haired veteran.
"Master Sergeant Brown, I will remain the son of a Legion soldier, either way, sir."
"Two years from now, the planet will be chaotic. Your friend will gain the status of an adult member of the tribe. Is your participation in the conflict mandatory?"
"Mandatory. You can't be a reliable partner only in good deeds, you have to provide support in times of trouble. I don't know the details of the ritual fights. I certainly won't be able to take part in this ceremony. I haven't been a bald monkey for a long time, but don't overstate my status."
"Did you know that you are one of only four living people with such strong contacts among the powerful Ferin?" asked Gran-Maran, who was masquerading as a human.
"I didn't know I was so special. But the influence of the Patriarch of the planet is not serious. Black Star comes from a lineage of hunters. Her kin does not wish to become part of the metropolitan aristocracy. They are provincial masters of the most important branch of the economy. There's a good side to Europe 9."
Lee Long thought this Zagran was running into trouble. The boy didn't want to draw attention to himself. Especially he didn't want to be one of the four special members of the human race.
He is the one and only! The Duelist's way is only his way.