“I suppose that I should call Lotus and Rae back if there is a big group meeting.” Karl realized as they started to walk back toward the centre of camp.
Inquisitor Israel laughed. “I think everyone in the media and government would be happier if they forgot that High Priestess Lotus was a thing. But yes, call them back, I am looking forward to the uncomfortable looks they give her when they have to address her as High Priestess for formal introductions.
I don’t even think they had her do a short, cameo length interview. She said they asked her to wait two hours, and it hasn’t been that long yet, but they’re wrapping up the press duties.
They almost definitely lied to her about how long everything would take and then sent her away so that she didn’t notice she was being excluded until everything was done.” Karl laughed as he realized that the Inquisitor was right, so he called Rae and Lotus back to do the final meet and greet.
Rae appeared in front of them, and Israel instinctively drew his sword before he saw the laughing High Priestess on her back.
“Hey guys, are we ahead of schedule?” Lotus asked.
“They tried to trick you because the world wasn’t ready for High Priestess Lotus. But we’re about to do the group photo shoot, so I called you back. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on all the fun just because they weren’t going to do a full interview.” Karl explained.
Lotus frowned. “I have half a mind to show up on Rae’s back just to punish them for not interviewing me.
I’m a High Priestess, I should get some respect. freēwēbnovel.com
It was fun playing in the woods, though.”
Rae returned to her space as Lotus hopped down to accompany Karl and the others to the meeting. The frustration and annoyance on the face of the reporter who had come to fetch them was obvious, but that was only making it more fun to escort Rae back with them.
“Wait for it.” Israel whispered as they reached the edge of the lights around the photo op mingle. They had set it up to appear to be some sort of military base, with ballistic walls that were made of composite armour and then decorated on the inside to look like a garden pavilion. The cameras wouldn’t be looking up, they just wanted to make certain that the location wouldn’t be obvious to anyone who wasn’t here when they saw the footage.
“Announcing Prince Karl, Lord Inquisitor Israel, and… High Priestess Lotus.” The staffer declared as they entered so that the ones keeping track of the photos would know who had arrived.
They hadn’t seen most of these Elites before, as they were almost all students, but everyone needed some shots of them meeting with the visiting dignitaries and politicians. Mostly so that the visitors weren’t accused of playing favourites with the Elites, but it was also a valuable way to network and make new connections that would help you later in life.
Karl knew the theory, but he had never actually tried to make those sorts of connections. He should likely start now, he realized as he saw how easily some of the students got along with the wealthy businessmen and policymakers. The problem was that they were all so smarmy and obviously lying through their teeth that he couldn’t blend as smoothly as he would like.
He could see the change in their skin temperature when they flushed as they were embarrassed or nervous. He could track every little fidget and tell when they lied. His enhanced senses were making it nearly impossible for Karl to deal with people who weren’t completely honest.
So he naturally gravitated to the ones who were the most honest with themselves, and that was the few Elites among the businessmen, and the Clergy.
“Prince Karl, I am Awakened Warrior Nathan Roth, head of the Roth Savings and Loan Corporation. We finance homes and businesses all over the nation.” One of the men introduced himself when he noticed that Karl didn’t have that signature disapproving look for him.
“You look like you don’t care for these functions.” He added.
Karl laughed quietly. “I have thermal vision, and Hawk eyes. I can literally see them lying, and it’s disturbing.”
The banker looked confused, so Karl continued.
“See the way he clenches his thumb and forefinger? His skin temperature increases at the same time. He’s nervous, but only at those certain moments.” Karl explained.
“Crap, you really can see them lying. How long did it take you to learn that skill?” Karl smiled. “I have been around people who don’t see any good reason to lie, or they make it very obvious that they’re not going to tell you the truth. So, when I see people trying to fake it, their actions just look unnatural, and it’s creeping me out.”
“That skill would make me a fortune at the poker table, but what about that man in the gold tie? Does he have a tell?” Nathan asked.
“A business competitor? Hmm, let’s see. He’s confident, I don’t actually see any strange reactions from him. Either he’s not lying or he’s very good at it.” Karl replied.
“That’s what I was worried about. He’s pitching a new commercial development to anyone who will listen, and he’s self financed it. If he was running a scam, it should have been obvious to you, as it’s his own money backing it.
Did you have any plans for a namesake development? Royal Rank Elites tend to make obscene amounts of money after a while, so if you want to build a community, or a high rise somewhere, it won’t be long before it’s in your budget, and we can help you with not only the financing, but the permits and legal blockades that often delay development.” He suggested.
“I will have to think about it. I haven’t actually spent much time in the cities to know what sort of development would be best suited both to the area, and to myself. I am a Beast Master, after all, so something more attuned to nature might be best. But if you happen to see more news about me later, my plans for my work might make the choice more obvious. I just don’t know where that’s going to lead me next.”
The banker nodded and adjusted his expensive suit coat. “You want to do something that is associated with your work, or the people you were working with, then. That makes sense, not everyone wants a landmark building in the Capital in their name.
I am told that you met Prince Corbin already, and he made that Sect compound for the Spellblades. They used to be in an ancient monastery near the border, but it was becoming too dangerous for new students, so he relocated all his people.”
“That’s actually a great idea. Perhaps if there are more Beast Masters in the future, I can set them up with a place that raises tamed beasts, so they don’t have to head out into the wilderness looking for rare monsters or make a random guess as to what their first beast’s skills will be.” Karl suggested.
“Do you really think that there will be more like your mark in the future?” Someone asked from behind Karl.
“I do. Now that there is one, there are likely to be others. But there are also similar classes, like the Rangers, that bond a living partner. Most of them end up bonding with a common animal. But what if they could bond with a relatively docile monster instead? They would get the benefits of something like a Warbear instead of a hunting dog. It might make a noticeable difference to their progression if they were able to find monsters that weren’t wild and territorial when they first entered the Academy.” He explained.
“You are quite dedicated to assisting the growth of the Elites, are you planning to apply to the Bureau of Elite Development?” The man asked.
“Colonel Valerie is a good friend of mine, and Commander Morgana, who might be Princess Morgana soon if I’m judging her power correctly, is an agent, and a member of my team. But as for officially joining the Bureau, that isn’t in my immediate plans.”
The visitors didn’t seem to know what to do with Karl’s independent stance, and the man just nodded vaguely as he failed to determine Karl’s current alliances.
“I’m afraid I missed your name.” Karl added when the man didn’t say anything else.
“Oh, my apologies. I am Director Jones of the Military Finance Committee. We’re part of the Department of Defence, and in charge of ensuring that money is being properly allocated for the needs of those defending the nation.” He explained.
“It’s a valuable job, Director. From what I can tell, your committee has been doing an outstanding job. Nobody expects money to be endless, but none of the locations I have been stationed at were desperately short of supplies.”