Vengeance of the Returner

Chapter 225: Homeless

They began punching others and continued to pick the scattered coins and plundered from those who collected a larger sum than themselves.  The desperation was evident by their actions and gave Nix quite a judgment about them.

They did not pay heed to him nor their surrounding. Their minds and concentration were solely focused on collecting the gold coins thrown by Nix.

Nix waited for them to finish calmly and observed each and every one of them using his truth eye. None of them were exceptional and his truth eye wasn't something that can accurately pinpoint talents. All he was able to do at the moment was calmly observe and read each of their information with dedication in order to find talents who he can make use of.

Upon picking up the coins the hoodlums of the streets looked at him wearing a perplexed face. It was as though they were wondering "why did this guy throw his valuables? What does he want?"

Each looked at him with several questions clouded in their minds. Nix just smiled.

"So, are you people down to have a conversation now?"

He asked indifferently.

"What do you want from us."

One of the men asked.

"Nothing" Replied Nix.

"Nothing? Do you take us the tramps for a fool?"

"If I'd have to be honest then yes."

Nix replied with an outright straight forwards answer wearing an expressionless face.

"Ohh boy, You really don't want to leave this street alive do you?"

"Hah, come on? Still, whining about killing me? Don't you people want a place to live and a job to have?" Asked Nix with a hideous smirk.

"Are you a commander of a city or something? From the looks of it you don't seem like one. Perhaps a growing crusader?" Asked the leader who was dripping sweat as he was anxious to even talk back.

He scanned the tall young man before him up and down. He seemed nothing extraordinary but at the same time, the young man gave out an ominous feeling, that he felt like he was underestimating. Judging from the way he handled his crossbow and the chains that were surrounding his hand said he is rather skilled and dangerous to approach.

The only reason the homeless folks approached him, was because he wasn't wearing shiny armor nor carried a sword. He didn't seem like an Outlaw nor a Regular who is quite cautious when it comes to traveling.

So Nix, seemed like one of the entizens since his clothing was plain and nothing grandeur. He was wearing a black t-shirt and some random pants matching it. So they judged him as an insolent young man who was naive enough to take the route.

Although Nix's mindset was different. He knew the risks yet chose to leave his clan house without armor nor preparation. In fact, if he needed he could pull out weapons from his inventory and didn't need to wear heavy armor just to visit a city that is under his friend's control although the condition was quite bad.

Apart from all those reasons, he acted like he was defenseless for a particular reason. 

{Aren't you greedy? Trying to pull the homeless to your side... I'd say that is indeed a good idea yet, do you believe they'll see you as an existence closer to that of a god. If that's what you are aiming for.}

Astaroth contemplated to Nix.

And most importantly Astaroth was someone who rose to the top after immerse struggle and such a guy can obviously see through what Nix was planning to achieve. What is he planning to achieve? It's obviously the Divinity and belief from the homeless.

Sooner or later things will become quite abrupt. There will be camps and abduction where people will be abducted and placed in suppression camps.

Suppression camps are a concept used in the underworld where they'll shatter the will of one's soul something similar to dark elixir extraction and other processes which will make the people go through severe torture to make them volunteer to lose their will.

One can be a god, a transcendent, a celestial being, a dragon... they can be any other higher existences but, still, no one can wholely devour a soul. Astaroth had already indicated this once. A soul's potential is phenomenal and Nix is a prime example of what one can do.

As such one cannot be destroyed easily. A soul has a barrier by default when one tries to crack it the soul destruct itself instead of letting the predator absorb it.

In fact one can but, if the particular entity wants to absorb the soul forcefully they'd be able to only grasp a tiny potion this is why they use torture to break souls. When the barrier gets broken the untouched pearl called a soul that's inside a shell will be under their clutch. This also doesn't mean one can totally devour it however tedious process one goes through the soul cannot be wholly devoured.

Meanwhile destroying one is quite easy.

"Yeah, I aiming to amass divinity akin to reaching Transcendent state but if I let these unpolished diamonds slip by. Other entities will abduct this opportunity and make full use of it."

Nix has done his part of the research and already knew about this fact. He was also feeling trouble about the possibility of letting his enemies grow.

{Hah, It isn't easy to amass divinity as you think. From their point of view, you are a human akin to them. if you want them to devote themselves. You'd have to make them devote themselves. For that, you have only two choices. One is to make them bow their heads forcefully and the other is to make them do it voluntarily using kindness.} Astaroth explained.

"Hah, I don't know which I'll be choosing and I am not going to start doing it from now. I'd rather take it slow. I am after divinity but that's not truly the main cause." Nix replied.

{hmm, So, you are worried about the suppression process. I'd say it will happen soon. Both regulars and Outlaws will be trying to use them to brew Dark elixirs secretively and sacrificing the souls to the devils to buy abilities. All in all, there are several ways but, it all comes down to your opponents becoming stronger.}

Astaroth said wearing a straight face.

"Hmm, yeah... You've grasped it right. You are truly a supreme of the Underworld aren't you?"

Nix said with a smile.

Astaroth looked with his nose high with a smirk and seemed rather proud of himself since Nix called him supreme of the underworld.

The people opposite were staring at Nix with a blank face since he was standing Idlely without opening his mouth for a few seconds but, in reality, he was having a conversation with Astaroth.

"Young lad?" Called the leader of the homeless group.

"Yes, I am a lord of a town. Which is growing into a city."

Nix replied after glancing at the crowd that was gathered in front of him. 

"Why should we believe you?" Asked the leader.

"Hmm, good question. Then simply don't believe me."

Nix shrugged and began marching towards the other side of the city where the chamber of gods was.

"Please wait!" A little boy yelled pulling Nix's clothe.

When he turned he saw the homeless people wearing desperate faces.

"Sir, will we get a job and roof to stay under?" Asked a lady.

Nix just smirked at the crowd and said. "Those you believe in me, stay here until I return. You all will be teleporting to my Town."

He uttered and left the street casually.

{Hmm, good choice. You didn't force them nor acted too kind like a pushover. It was concise. You have started growing in socializing.}

"Thanks for the praising."

{Hmmph, but you are still a lame-ass, you need my assistance.} Astaroth pouted.

"Haha, I was thinking of throwing you away."

Nix said after laughing while continuing his walk toward the other side.

{Hah, throw me if you are sure.} Astaroth sighed.

"Sure, after I inherit your knowledge I'll throw this rusty dagger of yours away," Nix replied with a mocking smile on his face and stopped before a huge wall.

"State your purpose of the visit! And show me any Id if you have one," said a man pointing his spear towards Nix.

The city was divided into two. One side is for the rich and prosperous ones. The other was devoured by criminals, pickpockets, and hoodlums. This was why walls and iron gates were constructed in the crossing paths of streets which leads to the brighter side of the city.

"Here..." Said taking out an insignia given by Nagendra when they parted after the subside of war.

{Don't believe in those back stabbers}

Astaroth warned as Nix entered the gate.

Astaroth warned about the gods. He had his share of past with them and knew about them quite well.

"Sure..."

Nix replied.