Bas was stunned. He suddenly realized that he had been in a very hyperactive state since the day started. He was easily excited and highly impulsive. Bas immediately grew worried.
He had broken through to the sky foundation stage and had level 15 soul power. Reasonably, he already had the soul power of a mid-level Hunt Expert. Thus, he rashly came into the sewers right before nightfall to randomly search for a league of sewer hunters he had no reason to believe existed.
Even worse, his mask was just an altered bandana covering the lower half of his face. Was he dumb? Of course, this mask worked surprisingly well, all things considered.
When he got to the sewer hunter collection, he met a stranger who handed him a token and just casually believed everything the guy said. He made some chubby girl in a wheelchair his manager, even though he doesn't remember agreeing to this. He challenged a random ranker of the league, embarrassed, bullied, and robbed her.
How was he supposed to explain that to his mother?
He then recklessly dominated the entire Fifth Class, sparing only those whose number he didn't randomly choose on the way up. His intention to challenge Hunt Experts was unabated.
He met some random, admittedly smoking-hot woman and rocked her damn world in a corner of the sewers. How did he even know how to work his hips like he did? It was incredible. Bas wasn't sure if he was cursed, drugged, or guided by the divine.
He had his first vassal now, and what a vassal she was. He decided to hide somewhere and power up again, deciphering a skill while still in the sewers. This crazily resulted in him coming face to face with a celestial who shed light on the truth of his existence and gifted him even more remarkable power!
Then he returned to the league for reasons he couldn't comprehend with his sober mind. Well, other than the money. Why did he want to test his strength so severely? It's not like he was as strong as a deity. Such paltry strength was nothing in Bas' eyes. So what was happening to him?
'Could it be...' Bas suddenly thought of his truth record.
True dragons were known for their lusty natures that spread the dragon clan all over the cosmos. Even humans were said to be descended from dragons somehow. When the Evil Dragon Sovereign record became a soul record, did it change something in Bas? Could a soul record made by a Fifth Class hunter be so powerful to influence a soul touched by eternity?
However, it suddenly made sense when Bas remembered the Celestial Dragon Pharaoh still existed. This creature was likely always far more powerful than what people thought. The pheromones it released must be next level. Could it be that Bas was now releasing these same pheromones? Considering he was in the middle of puberty, this was probably not an easily managed issue.
Having cooled his head, Bas focused on the beauty before him.
"Is everything alright?" Bas asked gently, breaking the silence between them.
Beverly hesitated for a moment before deciding to speak up.
"I'm sorry if I came on too strong earlier," she said softly as she looked down at the floor.
She wasn't sure why, but this young man in front of her felt unfathomable. Looking at him, she couldn't see a teenager at all. From his charisma and confidence, he seemed like a seasoned veteran.
"It's okay," Bas reassured her with a smile. "I understand what it's like to be put in difficult situations."
Beverly nodded slowly as they stood silently together in the dim light of the false moon above.
Bas noticed the change in Beverly's demeanor and couldn't help but smile. He wasn't entirely sure why she was so shy around him, but he now had an idea.
He enjoyed her company nonetheless.
Beverly took out a tiny table and tea set. When she poured herself a cup, Bas could smell it wasn't tea but Mortalee Whiskey, the strongest brand in the country.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Bas asked as Beverly handed him the cup she just poured before pouring another for herself.
Seeing Bas nonchalantly drinking, she smiled. Indeed, this youth couldn't be treated as a regular teenager. This was whiskey; he didn't even frown when drinking a bit. This was better than herself! Plus, that he didn't even hesitate to drink meant he either trusted her character or was a naive fool.
This young man was no fool.
She also took a sip before answering.
"I'm actually on the hunt for someone," she said vaguely, not wanting to give too much away.
"Ah yes, I heard some commotion going on earlier," Bas said with a smirk, wondering why any of this should matter to himself. "Who had you guys riled up? Anyone interesting?"
She was stunned to hear he noticed a commotion. No one but the experts should have been privy to this. Beverly hesitated before deciding it wouldn't hurt to divulge this information -
"I heard that one of your competitors is trying their luck here in Mortalee," She paused, taking another sip from her glass, "And since I'm after them, it's pretty convenient that we are meeting."
Bas raised a brow. Competitors?
Then it dawned on him. These people researched his identity, and General Kar called him Prince of the Night. By competitors, she meant another scion of the King clan. One of his cousins had come into town. Was it to look for him?
Bas suddenly felt the desire to return to his family's side. Mirocca would protect their mother, but if anything happened to his little brother and sister, Bas would likely flip more than a few castles.
"I see", Bas mused while contemplating other ways this woman could be helpful. "Well,I have been around these parts long enough. Maybe if you tell me more about who you're looking for...I might just have come across something."
Beverly thought about what that bastard King had done to her sister, and coldness seeped out of her heart and into her atmosphere. She knew that she shouldn't blame the entire field for one seed's evil violence, but she considered reducing it all to ice anyway.
However, when she saw that handsome chocolate face and those dazzling violet-golden eyes smiling at her, she felt her ice melt again, and her face heated up.
Bas couldn't help but notice the change in Beverly's demeanor. However, she looked into his eyes before he could ask, and it changed again.
Was she blushing?
He had seen countless women fall for his charm tonight, but there was something different about her. It wasn't just attraction that he sensed; it was doubt and insecurity, too.
"What exactly happened with those bastards?" Bas asked her softly, the fury and disgust hidden deep in his gaze inadvertently crumbling the wall of distrust Beverly had been trying to reconstruct.
Beverly hesitated before replying. She didn't want to reveal too much to him so soon, especially since they were both competitors who would ultimately have to fight each other one day.
"I'm fine," she said with a forced smile on her lips.
But Bas knew better than anyone how to read people's energies and emotions by now - it had saved his life many times over before. So when Beverly looked away from him after speaking, he saw the hidden pain behind her bright eyes that made them sparkle like diamonds in the sunlight.
"Do you want me to leave you alone?" Bas offered gently as if reading into her heart.
She did want to be left alone, but she was the one who asked Bas to talk alone. Wouldn't he find her unreasonable if she asked him to leave?
"No...I don't mind your company," Beverly replied honestly, this time without even thinking twice about retracting after utterance anymore...
They sat together quietly under the dim moonlight for a while. Beverly told him that her target was Tracy King, a name that made Sebastian's latent soul roar in discontent. Obviously, this was one of the characters that beat his ass for two hours. Bas would be upset as well, so he understood. Beverly saw the young man's face changing from anger to indifference repeatedly but didn't comment on it.
'At least they weren't on good terms...I don't have to touch him...' she thought to herself.
They continued talking for nearly an hour until finally realizing how late it really was. They exchanged numbers, promising each other contact later. That attraction still lingered between them after sitting together. Deep down, Bas knew she'd make an excellent ally professionally and possibly...romantically.
Well, his views on romance seemed to be experiencing unexplained changes.