Chapter 181: Anyone else? [2/2]
The man with a missing arm beside him replied in a low voice.
"Um, forgive us, Mr. Limitless. There was a bounty on your head. 500,000 souls to anyone who could catch you alive, 200,000 if you were dead."
"Hmm. Is that so? So what now? You fuckers want to try me again? I can go all night if you want!"
When no one else answered, I invoked the death resonance as I roared.
"Tell anyone who wants the bounty. Be prepared to die if you want my head! As for you cowards, get out of my sight. I will put a bullet in your heads the next time I see any of you."
After my challenge, dozens of people stood up and ran away. When the rest saw that I wasn't going after those who ran, a stampede began. The injured were picked up by their allies, and in less than a minute the reception area was cleared.
The Administration people who cleaned up vomit stared in horror at the pools of blood left on the floor. Some of them barfed even more, adding to the mess to be cleaned up.
I stored my weapons and was about to leave the reception area. My next destination was the dispatch office and the production building.
I noticed a group of burly men and a woman approaching. They were all from a mix of races and carried bladed weapons.
What struck me odd was that I knew all of them, and my personal clerk was even leading their group. They eventually reached me and I couldn't help but ask.
"Why the hell are you all here?"
"Glad you seem to be doing fine John," Joshua Hwang remarked wryly.
"White boy! You still loony!" greeted Angela Kim.
"Hombre, you look like you had fun, those pendejos had it coming," remarked Santiago Gonzales.
"Damn John, now that's how you do a beat down!" added Scott Davis.
"Boss, I knew you were mean enough to steal the coins off a dead man's eyes but holy shit." Mike Walker said wryly.
"See? Didn't I tell you? This nigga has balls of steel, ain't no way a bunch of no name Wraiths could even touch him," Warren Bryant exclaimed.
"Esteemed Limitless, allow me to explain. In response for the bounty anonymously placed on your head, I gathered this group from the zones you saved. I told them if they performed well you would scout them," Phillip explained.
Mike then chucked as he continued. "Not that any of us believed you needed help. Still boss, you have been really busy."
"The hillbilly is right white boy! We made a fuck ton of souls from your ass. Good job!"
"Oy Chink, get your bitch under control. Mike may be a stupid ass cowboy but he is not a Hillbilly."
"Santi, your word game is shit."
"What? You want die fucking cholo? Go build wall!"
"Listen puta, I am not a cholo!"
"Aight you Niggas, let's all play nice."
"I no nigger, I Asian! Fuck off blackie and find dad, yes?"
"Look bitch, I was trying to help you, why come at a Nigga like that?"
"You all baby dicks! Want fight? I kill you all!"
"Gela, stop picking fights all the time... everyone, please forgive my wife. She means well."
"But Oppa, these fuckers weak as shit…"
Ugh, as if the Sirens were not enough. Now I had to deal with these fuckers as well. They were from very different backgrounds, conflict was inevitable.
Not bothering to listen any longer, I walked away as their group continued to insult each other. My clerk, who also had a exasperated look on his face, followed me.
"Would you mind telling me what is going on, Phillip?"
"It's a secret to everyone but Administration, the bounty was from the Saviors. They wanted to mess with you before the real fight on Saturday."
"Can't say I'm surprised."
"Well, I don't think regular Wraiths would be able to best you, but please be careful."
"Oh? Are you worried about me?"
"Mr. Smith, you are my golden goose, laying a year's worth of souls every time you appear. I can only get benefits for the next three nights, so of course I am worried."
"..."
"What? You expected me to care about you beyond Saturday?"
"Never mind. You can still take on other reapers, right? Even though you are my exclusive clerk?"
"I can, but the reapers have to be part of your faction. They have to be either in your squad or your army."
That worked out well, I guess. The girls can simply split off or join other groups if I died. If not, they will be part of my future assault group.
"Okay, then prepare for seven phantoms, they will arrive here within a week."
"..."
"Mr. Smith, you are in command of seven Phantoms? As a Wraith?"
"Hmm. I do not command them, but they listen to me, I think. Besides, I am no longer a Wraith, I just became a Phantom a few hours ago."
"What? Does anyone else know?"
"Just the group I told you about."
"Good, let's keep it a secret for now," Phillip commented, rubbing his palms together.
"What? Are you going to sell the information or something?"
"Haha, Mr. Smith, in the two days you were here, you topped the annihilation rankings twice with 500 to 1 odds. Just last night, you even sent the production guilds into a panic. The guilds you hired are all trying very hard to keep your identity a secret."
"Phillip, get to the point," I said impatiently.
"Well, everyone is still waiting for you in the Wraith annihilation rankings. Most are too stupid to understand how many souls it takes to even place there. Very few would have expected your promotion to the Phantom ranking after only two days."
"Haha, is there any way I can bet on myself?"
"There isn't, but I can place the bet on your behalf."
"Okay, sounds good. Then let's make some money."
My clerk and I went to the production guilds, if I wanted to survive the Seeker War, I needed every soul I could get my hands on.