As Kaizen started walking back toward the Lyren forest, he noticed a few people gathered at the gates, each shouting to recruit others.
"Join our group. We do not go beyond the beginner strip of the forest, and everyone gets a share of the monsters we hunt."
"For those who like a real fight, join us. We exclusively go for strong beasts. No threat of dying as we have a healer in our team."
"Voyeurs can join us, we've found a good spot in the Lyren forest. It's pretty cozy. We'll provide the blankets and everything."
Those…are pretty interesting groups.
"Hey, can you fight silently and efficiently?"
While Kaizen was considering whether joining a group would be worth the trouble, a young woman approached him.
She was taller than Steve in his opinion, lithe build, shoulder length orange hair, and light freckles on her small nose, which rested nicely on her overall small but chubby face.
Kaizen was immediately wary of her. Before he could ask her the reason for her question, she continued, as if seeing his suspicion.
"Don't worry, I just want a quiet and efficient fighter to go with to Lyren forest. I am a Formation Master. I've learned the Concealment formation, so you can rest at a safe spot after fighting."
Kaizen narrowed his eyes.
"Why me?"
"Dude, trust me. It's completely random. I do not know who you are, nor do I have any interest in killing you or whatever. I do not care if you don't want to team up. I'll just grab someone else."
Kaizen tilted his head slightly.
From what I've gathered, news of me, the fifth prince, waking up, shouldn't have spread yet. I don't think someone out there is already planning to assassinate me over succession rights.
"Is there something you want to do in the forest for which you need someone who can fight? A Formation Master who only knows Concealment formation cannot really fight after all."
At this, the young woman smiled sheepishly, glancing around covertly before speaking to him in a lower voice.
"I do indeed want to do something. For like just half an hour, we'll need to go to a certain place."
Kaizen's brows twitched, and he responded in a similarly low tone.
"Lady, I really don't think you're making a good case here.
"You are good at Concealment formation, and want to bring me alone into the forest to some place for half an hour.
"You see how wrong that sounds? I'm committed, you know."
Without a hint of shame on her face, the young woman smirked.
"I mean, you aren't far off the mark. But it's them I have business with."
She pointed her finger at the group which was recruiting voyeurs.
…You see, the problem is not getting better.
Kaizen muttered mentally.
"Let me explain before you get the wrong idea. I just want to watch them."
A profound silence enveloped them. Perhaps under the blank stare of Kaizen, she explained further.
"Okay, okay. It's not just that. But you can absolutely not reveal what I'm about to tell you, okay? Promise me to not expose anything and that you'd tag along after hearing everything."
Is this girl naive? Casually revealing her secret? Maybe she has ran off from her home where she was sheltered all her life?
Kaizen had no interest in listening to it, but perhaps it was his brain that spasmed, causing him to nod.
Yes, I am absolutely not interested. It's just my thoughts derailing.
Also, if this turns into a cult initiation ritual, I am running.
The young woman leaned in, opening her hand just enough for a brief glimpse before snapping it shut again. He only had a second to see it.
A small cyan gemstone.
Through his knowledge of the future, Kaizen immediately guessed what it was, and indeed, the lady confirmed it.
"It's a recording stone. I plan to record them and sell copies of the video on the black market. It's my path to wealth. I'll give you a share too."
Kaizen took a deep breath, absolutely holding himself back from crashing out.
Can I meet anyone normal?
He leaned forward again, matching her hush-hush tone.
"But have you thought about them?"
The young girl tilted her head, as if she was genuinely puzzled by his question.
"Thought what? They are clearly not afraid to do it in the public. I am just giving them a wider audience.
"In fact, I am increasing their brand reputation, and improving market penetration. They should pay me."
Kaizen deeply felt there was something wrong with her logic but he had no proof.
"Alright, let's go."
He nodded with grim acceptance.
Yes, that was the chaotic side of me making decisions again. Nothing to do with me. My sensible thoughts are innocent in this.
If I end up in trouble, I will simply blame fate. Or Steve. Probably Steve.
As they walked the barren road toward the Lyren forest, outside the city walls, Kaizen broke the silence between them.
"By the way, I'm Kaizen. What is your name? And how did you get that recording gemstone? I don't think I've seen one anywhere here."
In fact, Kaizen was downplaying it. The recording gemstone was native to only a handful of planets in the entire Nine Heavens, and planet Calan wasn't one of them.
So it absolutely couldn't have been found anywhere on this planet. It must've definitely been teleported from the outside.
"I'm Alice. And yes, the recording gemstone can indeed not be found anywhere here.
"I actually come from a family of information gatherers, and we once ordered this through utilizing our connection with the Cosmic University.
"It is so rare that in all the years I have been alive, we only ever received two of these. Once a recording is made, a piece of it can be shaved off, and that fragment will contain the exact same video. This one is the smaller one of the two."
Ever the curious one, Kaizen asked.
"Where is the other one?"
"The crippled fourth prince of this empire bought it from us a few days ago. Don't ask me how and what he paid, nor why he wants it. I do not know a damn thing."
She squinted at him accusingly.
"Stop asking me so many questions. Tell me about you. Who are you?"
Kaizen hadn't really adapted to and accepted his identity just yet, but he must admit, he was loving this part.
"Me? They call me the most mysterious and the most powerful, the mighty fifth prince of the Aeonhart Empire."