Chapter 103: S-Rank Beast Taming Talent Veldeline |
...
Jonas: ?????
How did she know he was here?
Veldeline's gaze was already fixed on his location - this couldn't be a bluff.
Did she have some special detection ability?
Jonas immediately had the system display information about the girl before him.
[Character: Veldeline]
[Beast Taming Talent: S-Rank]
Jonas: !
Perfect! Just when he'd been searching everywhere, she falls right into his lap.
Come right this way.
[Disease: Shadow Addiction]
[Shadow Addiction: This condition stunts growth while gradually causing loss of the five senses, eventually resulting in loss of cognitive function, turning the victim into an empty shell.
(Already lost: Hearing, Smell)]
[Abilities: Hive Network, Innate Beast Affinity]
[Hive Network: Through the Hive Mind, achieves control and coordination over all lower-tier insects.
Gains visual access to all units.]
[Innate Beast Affinity: Naturally possesses ability to establish positive relationships with magical beasts.
Affinity manifests as easier taming, commanding, or interaction with beasts.]
[Background Information.
Veldeline: One of Hua Lier's adopted daughters.
Inherited Hua Lier's information guild "Darkstone" and expanded it through her own abilities.
However, was targeted by the Sand Tribe, who kidnapped her sister Lise and others as leverage to force her cooperation.
The Sand Tribe exploited her abilities.
To uncover vast amounts of intelligence, enabling Sand Tribe infiltration into Bostaya's imperial forces.
Simultaneously used Veldeline's abilities to discover magic crystal deposits, greatly enhancing their military strength while taking 80% of Darkstone's magic crystal profits.
Goal: Wishes to fulfill adoptive father Hua Lier's dream of creating a world where even the weak can live well and be respected.
Hobby: Completely unable to resist fluffy magical beasts.]
[Hua Lier: A generous and kind-hearted merchant.
Took in numerous lower-class people of various races, including beggars, prostitutes, vagrants...
Originally, Darkstone was just a humble shelter he established.
As more people of various races were taken in, Hua Lier gradually became their commonly revered figure, worshipped as their leader.
With members spread across several cities, Darkstone eventually evolved into an information trading guild, which Veldeline later expanded into the largest intelligence network.
Lower-class informants permeated several major cities in Bostaya.
Goal: Hoped to create a world where even the weak could live well and be respected.
This philosophy posed significant restrictions to the Sand Tribe, leading to his assassination by them years ago, disguised as an imperial killing.]
...
So the reason Veldeline could detect him was due to this so-called Hive Network's shared vision.
Even blind, she could still "see" him through the insects.
This ability was incredibly powerful!
Shared vision and information from lower-tier insectoids.
Where in the world didn't have ants or other low-level bugs?
With such an ability, one could theoretically be omniscient regarding information.
Moreover, with this capability to monitor everything, there'd be no fear of ambushes.
Combined with that beast taming talent...
She was practically tailor-made genius for his needs!
Having reached this conclusion, Jonas stopped hiding and stepped forward.
...
Veldeline exhaled and asked, "Who are you?
To remain hidden from Frost Silver-level individuals, you must possess remarkable abilities."
Jonas: "Me? I'm precisely the Jonas you were just discussing."
Veldeline stiffened slightly: "What?
You're Jonas?
The one who killed three Sand Tribe elites?!"
"Indeed it is me."
Veldeline tilted her head up slightly: "You're bold to appear here now.
While you may have such capabilities, exposure here would inevitably bring the Sand Tribe's pursuit. After years of development, their strength is truly terrifying."
Jonas casually took a seat, smiling lightly: "So Miss Veld, will you report me?"
After a pause, Veldeline replied: "I won't.
Since you threaten the Sand Tribe, I'd actually prefer to assist you."
Jonas said directly: "If willing to help, why not come to Giant Spirit City as my retainer?"
"No."
Jonas: "Prefer to remain here as the Sand Tribe's slave?"
"......"
Veldeline fell silent, her delicate face showing traces of helplessness.
Jonas: "With Miss Veldeline's capabilities and access to such intelligence...
You must know who truly killed Hua Lier, correct?"
"You... how do you know about this?"
Jonas grinned: "Not only do I know this, I understand how Miss Veld can perceive my presence!"
"What?"
Jonas clenched his right fist as spatial magic vibrated, sending out rippling waves.
Thud-thud—
The magical vibrations instantly knocked out all insects and ants in the room's corners and crevices.
Suddenly, Veldeline panicked.
"You... you..."
That single move had severed her connection with all insects in the room.
Now she couldn't sense Jonas at all - everything plunged into chaos.
Truly blind again.
Did he understand her abilities?
How could such a person exist?
She'd kept her powers completely hidden!
Even the Sand Tribe and her closest sister didn't know - how did he discover them?
Jonas circled behind Veldeline: "Miss Veld, no need for alarm."
Losing visual tracking and hearing his voice behind her, Veldeline instinctively shrank forward while internally screaming.
Veldeline: "What... do you want?"
"Simply wish for Miss Veld to become my retainer and pledge loyalty.
In the future, I can overthrow the Empire, topple the Sand Tribe, and create the world you and Hua Lier desired.
Where even the weak can live well and be respected."
"You... you..."
Veldeline was at a loss for words.
Despite her unparalleled information gathering, this man before her was an enigma.
While he seemed to know everything about her.
After her surprise faded, Veldeline said seriously:
"Though you're strong.
You still can't succeed - you've no idea how powerful the Sand Tribe truly is.
They've long possessed the strength to overthrow Bostaya, merely biding their time. Their fear isn't the Bostaya imperial forces.
But the colossal families of the upper Empire."
As her words hung in the air—
Crack-crack—
Suddenly.
The ground fractured like spiderwebs, gray-brown soil churning like boiling tar.
A millstone-sized mandible erupted, serrated pincers snapping toward Jonas's throat.
The ant stood half a person tall, its exoskeleton gleaming metallic blue, compound eyes composed of hundreds of diamond facets swirling with murky crimson, like countless dying embers flickering in its pupils.
Six barbed limbs slammed against the ground.
The monster launched forward at physics-defying speed, forelimbs slicing air with shrill whistles.
The pincers snapped shut three inches from Jonas's neck.
.....