Chapter 30: Responsibility


    They awkwardly crowded in around him. Chance barely had a chance to ask what Joe meant by that before the disk lurched into the air. He helped, grabbing onto therge mans arm as they rocketed away.


    Wind struck Chance like a hammer, nearlyunching him off instantly. He managed to cling onto Joe as the howling air yanked away his surprised cry. Gleam blurred past them  for all of a second. Then it was over, and they were on the ground again.


    Chance, who had been fluttering in the air like a g, flopped down with a thud. He groaned and sat back up. They were in the Graywall district  no more than a few minutes walk from the Shikari base. Joe had set them down a bit farther than theyd gone before, just in front of a small park. What was that?


    Air travel, Joe said, rising to his feet. The metal te turned into a beam of energy and shot back into his ring. Youll probably find a way to do it yourself soon enough. Its very convenient.


    Agree to disagree, Be said. Chance nced at her and suppressed a chokingugh. Her curly hair stuck out in every direction and waspletely frazzled. She ran her hands through it, trying to detangle the mess, but that only managed to make it worse.


    Yeo, whose hair was tied back in a ponytail, had no such difficulties. He also didnt attempt to suppress hisugh. Be red at him.


    Save it. We need to find Maria, Be said, giving up on attempting to control her hair.


    Right you are. Joe smoothed his single hair down. It sprung back into its proper ce as soon as he released it. Therge man tilted his head back and sniffed the air. I smell her. She doesnt smell dead, so no need to worry.


    Where? Chance asked, ncing around.


    Joe pointed at the park. In there. I smell an Imp as well. Probably the lesser one you three were supposed to be hunting.


    He ambled toward it, and the three of them trailed after him. Unlike the park that Be had taken him to, this one was actually green. Small, bushy trees lined its sides and a tiny creek ran through the center of it. At the far end, there were severalrger trees in a cluster. A smallke sat in their shade, with a bench overlooking it.


    They drew up to the cluster of trees and Joe cocked his head to the side. Then he was gone. Wind buffeted Chance as it rushed past him to fill the void where the muscr man had been standing.


    Leaves rustled in the cluster of trees and a blobby red body flew out from them. It mmed into the ground, its limbs windmilling around it as it bounced and skidded until it came to a stop at their feet.


    About a second ago, it had been an Imp. Now, calling it a corpse might have been exaggerating how much was left. The monsters body had caved in and was partially ttened, like it had been caught under a steamroller.


    Ichor leaked from its body, bubbling up through every spot it could. Joe strode out of the forest, Marias body slung over his shoulder.


    I located the Imp, Joe proimed. It, unfortunately, did not survive.


    You dont say, Yeo said. Dont you think this was overkill?


    Joe rubbed his head and gave them a sheepish smile. That was the weakest punch I could muster, Im afraid.


    Forget that, Be said. Is the woman okay? Howd she get to the forest? She should have been near her house for the Greater Imp to be copying her, right?


    It looks like she was transported here recently, Joe replied. I scanned the area, but I didnt find any trace of other monsters. Well have to fill in a request for a higher level Shikari to take a look around. This is her, right?


    Yeah, that looks like Maria, Chance said, still in awe at how fast Joe had moved. He logically knew that cultivators could be powerful, and by all rights, Yamish and Vex were examples of that, but this was the first time hed really seen just how much power they really had  and something told him that Yamish was leagues more powerful than Joe.


    Fantastic, Joe said. He nced at the Imp and grimaced. I dont want to waste a Collector on that. One of you is wee to take it yourselves. Ill take this youngdy back to the Shikari base and make sure she and her son are properly treated. Youve all done very well.


    What about the other Imps involved? Yeo asked. It feels like there was more to this than what we saw.


    That wont be your concern,d, Joe said with a chuckle. Youve done more than your part already, and Ill be sure to make note of that. This isnt a Foundling level job. Let the stronger Shikari handle it.


    Yeo pursed his lips but nodded. Understood. Thanks for your help.


    Of course. Im always happy to take a little trip with my beloved juniors, Joe said with a wide smile. He extended a hand and his ring lit once more, creating the metal disk beneath his feet. Care to travel back with me?


    I think were good, Be said. Well just swing by the base on the way back to confirm the job is done and turn in the Greater Imp we defeated.


    Whatever you want, Joe said with a shrug. Take care, kids. Make sure you put some jackets on too. Its getting cold.


    Then he was gone, little more than a streaking blur fading into the evening sky. Chance shuddered.


    I hope we never do that again.


    Not as much as me, Be grumbled, still trying to tame her hair to no sess. At least that turned out fairly well overall.


    Is this kind of thingmon? Chance asked. Getting stronger monsters than we were supposed to during jobs.


    Not at all, Be replied, giving up on her hair and letting out an irritated sigh. I think it happened to me once or twice when I was working alone, and I did dozens of jobs.


    Lucky us, Chance said.


    Be and Yeo both stared at him.


    What? You think this was because of me?


    No, Be said, studying him closely. Probably not. But you <em>do </em>cultivate Karma. Youll have to be really careful with anything that just seems like luck or happenstance, Chance.


    Especially now that you arent on Earth, Yeo added. When you be a more powerful cultivator, its really possible that things might just start happening around you. That feels like something that could realistically happen to a Karma cultivator.


    I think Ill worry about that when I get there, Chance decided. Lets go turn that orb thing in and see if we managed to make any profit after breaking down Marias door.


    The trio did just that, arriving at the Shikari base after a few minutes of walking. They stepped inside and Chance froze in the doorway.


    In the short time that theyd been gone, it looked like a tornado had been set off in the center of the room. Tables were strewn across the ground. Cultivators were strewn across the ground and draped over smashed tables.


    Even stranger, the people that were still conscious didnt seem to care in the slightest. Theyd just moved away from the wreckage or  in the case of one group  continued sitting at their upside down table, eating as if nothing had changed.


    Chance stepped over an unconscious man in their way and nced at his friends to see if either of them were as confused as he was. He was relieved to find that they both looked equally as stupefied.


    Uh what happened? Chance asked.


    J, the maid that Joe had tasked with looking after the base before hed left, hopped down from the counter and strutted up to them.


    We got a bit rowdy, J said with an embarrassed giggle. She tapped a fist against her head and cocked it to the side. Oopsie.


    Is, uh, Joe back yet?


    Mr. Joe is taking the civilians to an apothecary, J replied. Im managing the base right now.


    I see, Chance said diplomatically. Weve got a Greater Imp to turn in. A Lesser one too. Is this the ce to do that?


    Sure is, J said cheerfully. She knelt beside arge, unconscious man. He had a bushy ck beard and a tattered hide jacket. The maid gently prodded him in the side. He didnt budge, which earned him a second, slightly harder prod.


    Burget, wakey-wakey, J said cheerfully. Youve got some orbs to collect!


    Burget snorted and mumbled something under his breath. His eyes fluttered and he rolled over, fast asleep.


    Wake up, youzy piece of shit! J screamed, her face contorting in fury as she grabbed him by the hair. She yanked the man upright and pped him hard across the face with the other hand.


    Burget let out a strangled gasp and his eyes shot open. He raised a hand to his cheek, which was quickly turning red. Whu- huh? I was sleeping. What do you want?


    Burget, dearest, weve got some young impressionable Shikari whod like to turn in their orbs, J said, instantly reverting to her polite smile. She fluttered her eyshes at therge man. Please take their orbs so they can get on with their night. Im sure they have a lot of things to kill, like all responsible children do.


    Right, sure, Burget muttered. He thrust his hand out. Give em here.


    Burget, J warned, her voice dropping an octave. Be a good example for the kids.


    Burget grimaced. He straightened up and adjusted his jacket, then cleared his throat. Ill take your orbs, young Shikari. Youll receive payment to your house once the analysis of your job has beenpleted and any damage to the city has been repaired.


    They handed Burget the two orbs, who slipped them into his pockets. He nced at J, who gave him an approving nod before punching him hard in the chin, sending the man spinning. He copsed back to the ground, snoring before he even hit it.


    There we go, J said, brushing her hands off. Is there anything else I can help you with? Some food, perhaps?


    I think were quite alright, Chance said. Thank you, Miss J.


    Oh, Miss! Nobody calls me Miss, J said, her eyes lighting up. I like that. Youre so polite. Pleasee again soon. Its a wee change.


    Chance nodded empathetically as he slowly backed out of the Shikari base. Yeo and Be slipped out the door with him. As soon as they were out of line of sight, all three elerated.


    Shes got more than a few screws loose, Yeo said. Kinda cool, though.


    She might need some professional help, Chance said carefully. What do you think the chances are that J caused all that destruction we saw?


    I dont bet on things, but Id bet on that, Be said.


    Are Shikari bases always this crazy? Yeo asked. Ive never been to one outside of my town.


    Not sure, Be admitted. I know where they are, but Ive never really used them much. I always reported directly to Pete because of the whole solo Fledgling situation.


    Weird, Yeo said. I hope we didnt lose too much money for mowing thatdys door down.


    Even with the sun setting, the streets of Gleam were stillrgely lit by glowing signs and the floating inds above. They reached the Whiteheart house several hourster, after a long walk back through the streets of Gleam.


    Chance was relieved when they finally made it back, having half expected to get pulled into someone elses Ward on the way back. The sun had long since set, and weariness had quickly set into all three of them.


    They headed up to their rooms and copsed into bed, allowing sleep to beckon them into its arms.