Code Collector

Swift, powerful, and long lasting.

Those were the words that completely describes Allen's strength at the moment. The power that he gained from the equipment that Jake gave him was enough for him to become someone who was equal to three times his level.

He also realized that he didn't have to worry about the size of the items since he was going to wear the cloak anyway. It can conceal all the items even though they had bright colors and large sizes.

The boy finished his exercise and decided to take himself for a test run. He sought the forest for anything to hunt, just to grind a couple of Codes for Hilda and Jake He was now a supplier of two people, he had to work harder even when hunting for him was easy.

Allen was in the middle of the woods when his eyes caught a glimpse of a shiny pair of horn from a horse. It looked like a unicorn but it was much larger than a regular horse and its legs resembled a cow's legs rather than an actual horse.

The beasts found in the Otherworlds would seem different and odd to regular people, but to Hunters they look nothing out of the ordinary. After all, each hunter would see much worse looking beast the longer they hunt.

Neigh. Neigh. Neigh.

The beast sounded exactly like a horse and it acted like one too. It was eating grass and would constantly grind its leg on the ground as if it was digging something.

Allen didn't attack just yet. He wanted to make sure that the beast was alone, and that his attack would seal its death immediately. If he make a mistake and scare it, the beast would run away and he would lose his chance of getting it.

Patience is a virtue in hunting. If a Hunter would blindly attack beasts just because they feel like it, they would not last long in the field. Each and every hunt was a life and death situation, and it wasn't something to be taken lightly.

A few moment had passed and Allen was sure enough that the beast was alone and its guard was down. He crawled slowly closer to it, making sure to not make any sound. Beasts have high sensitivity to sound and movement, so he has to be very careful.

"Raging Slicer!"

Out of nowhere, a man jumped from a bush. He carried a large broadsword that he swung like it weighed nothing at all. He had agile movements, quick enough to not alert the deer right away.

With a single swing from the giant sword, the deer was cut in half. Allen scrunched his face when the guts of the beast littered the forest floor, not even letting it take its final thoughts before dying just like that.

"You're really amazing, boss!" two more men came out of the bush the man was hiding on. They all looked awfully familiar to Allen that he was wondering where they've seen them before.

"Truly a marvelous man," the second man said. He was a bald man wearing sunglasses while the other one had a buzzcut like their apparent boss. All of them had scars on their faces and it slowly dawned Allen where he had seen them before.

The boss took out something from his pocket, a pair of sunglasses. He wore it on his face, making Allen gulp in both fear and sheer thrill.

"Chen."

'Ehanced Instincts II activated.'

Just as the word exited his mouth, a giant sword was swung his way. The boy was able to dodge it thanks to his passive skill.

"Who's there?" Chen growled. "I do not like peeping toms."

Allen didn't speak. He was wearing his cloak and mask to practice. If he reveals himself, the man might turn him in and it will be the end. He wasn't sure if he could fight Chen off due to his immense speed and strength, and he also wasn't sure if he could run away.

"You seem to be strong," Chen said. "You swiftly dodged my attack even when I didn't show any sign of killing intent."

Allen stood over the bush and didn't speak. He just stared at Chen while thinking of ways to escape this man. Out of all the times he was in the forest, he had to run into Chen today, and exactly after meeting Jake.

"Just my luck," Allen said to himslef inside his head.

"I said," Chen vanished from where he stood. Allen's eyes widened when the man stood right in front of him, his sword was on his neck just a few inches away from cutting his head off. "Who are you?"

'You are facing an enemy that is much stronger than you.'

Allen felt relieved and baffled after he heard the lady of his interface speak. He was now hoping that the Snake would help him get out of this situation. He wanted to live for another day and he didn't expect for his death to be like this, so sudden and painful.

'You have successfully gained a skill.'

< Bluff of the Prey >

This skill allows the user to relax their muscles and release an aura that will scare the enemy by 60%.

"Scare the enemy?" Allen asked himself. He wanted to know what it means immediately, but he didn't have time to test it. Whatever this skill was, he was going to use it. 

'Bluff of the Prey I activated.'

Allen felt all his nerves settle down and the fear that was boiling in his guts vanished. He looked at Chen in the eyes through his mask, the man's angry expression slowly calming.

"I think you know who I am," Allen's lips moved on their own and spoke. He looked at the two guys that were Chen's subordinates and pointed at them. "At least you should know who I am."

"The Phantom Cunt!" the man with the buzzcut yelled. "You're actually real!"

Chen lowered his sword and turned to face one of his men. "The guy who molested the b*tches? This is him?"

"For the record, it wasn't proven that the Phantom Cunt did anything to the women," the bald man defended. "You know how the Smiths are. They twist the truth just so that the tides would turn in their favor. It's what happened to the Minister of Defense that's why he got the job."

The bald man's voice sounded like wedding bells for Allen. It was another key for him to open a new door of opportunity. John did something dirty to get his position. If Allen can get to know what that is, he can use it to his own advantage.

"If he's the Phantom Cunt, why is he here?" Chen asked. "I thought he would hang out at alleys to find more women to molest."

Allen tried his best not to scoff and attack Chen. The rumors are really twisted to the point that it wasn't the truth anymore, it was so far from the truth.

"I didn't do anything to those girls," Allen said. "I merely did a task from one of my clients."

"Clients?" Chen snickered. "And what kind of job do you do and what type of people are your clients? You seem like you don't just sell drugs or something."

"I do not do something of the sorts," Allen replied. "I deal with Codes, and my name is the Wandering Trader."

"The Wandering Trader," Chen repeated. "So, you do things for Code?"

"Not just any things," Allen said. "Tasks, revenge, or even trading of Codes. I do all that, but I'm particularly picky with my clients."

"Picky?" Chen scrunched his face. "How so?"

"I don't just offer my service just to anyone," Allen said. "I choose all of my clients wisely, and pick them apart from those who are just normal."

"How come I never heard of this service before?" Chen crossed his arms. "Am I one of the normal ones?"

"Certainly not," Allen denied. "I just started doing this, but I already have quite a bit if clients. They were sworn to secrecy and I have something of them that I can use in case they disclose my information without my approval."

"You dug your own grave, man," Chen snorted. "The twins were daughters of John Smith. Of course, they would look for you after what you allegedly did. I slept with those twins before, and I can say that they will try to find a way to make your life a living hell."

"It's too late for that," Allen said. "I already made their lives hellish enough so they don't want to live anymore."

"Speaking of them, where are they?" The bald man asked. "I never seen them these days and it's bothering me why they don't show up anymore."

Allen couldn't help but form a sinister grin on his lips. His fangs was showing as he felt his body flare up with excitement.

"They're done for," Allen whispered.