FWF Chapter 424: “Tradition”
Chapter 424: “Tradition”
Under Loren's disguised enslavement, the fiercely possessive Raven finally began to look forward to a different way of coexisting with its master.
Actually, it wouldn't be so bad if that idiot master took on a few more contract partners...
At least I could take it easy...
Raven quietly calculated these thoughts in its mind.
Clearly, the multiple "heavy burdens" had already taught it a measure of "tolerance" in certain matters.
"Don't think about it, Raven. I'll only ever have you..." Loren's will echoed through his mind.
"No! Master, you can totally have other partners!!!"
Raven's somewhat mournful voice came through.
Although it sounded more like a despairing wail, if you listened closely, you could still detect a hint of joy buried beneath the shrill scream.
Master was so good. He couldn't live without me...At that moment, sensing Raven's thoughts, Loren's mouth twitched imperceptibly.
"Raven, wisdom is turning you into a pervert..." But seriously, he was really easy to appease...
"Like it, idiot master?" Raven asked in a somewhat coy tone.
"Not really... thanks. It's actually kind of disgusting."
"Oh, what a hurtful thing to say, my dear master..."
"Act normal, you stupid bird!"
...
Returned to solitude, Loren descended calmly to the ground in Clear Mine City amidst his "verbal sparring" with Raven.
Raven, who had merged with Loren, also unmerged and reappeared on Loren's shoulder.
One man and one bird, bickering all the while, headed toward the Lower District...
Just like at the very beginning, they moved in silent harmony through the city streets of this planet.
But unlike countless past trips, this time, Raven could talk.
And Loren was no longer the mere First-tier Superhuman he had been back then.
"Raven, wisdom is turning you into a pervert..." But seriously, he was really easy to coax...
From this day forward, the "Rotten Star" existed in name only.
As long as Loren hadn't vanished from the Star Realm, those factions that grew in the Gray Zone probably had no interest in reaching out to the homeland of such a dangerous figure anymore...
"God's Favored One of the Nature Sect," "the youngest Legendary Hunter in the Interstellar Hunter Association," and "the dark hero in the hearts of the Federation populace."
The symbols of these three identities, coupled with his own ferocious past, could keep the vast majority of forces and ambitious individuals reasonably sober.
In a sense, once today's "cleansing incident" spread.
Everyone should understand one obvious fact:
"This place is the private preserve of Loren, that dangerous figure."
This extremely dangerous man, in his own way, had brought this rotten-to-the-core planet back to a relatively peaceful state.
As time passed, everything changed.
Destiny pushed everyone forward...
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Federal Calendar 7709, January 2nd, in the evening.
With the well-behaved Raven on his shoulder, Loren strolled leisurely through Clear Mine City under the fearful gazes of the survivors, walking back to his home in the Lower District.
The most dangerous gray zone in the planet's past slums—"Sin Street."
Standing at the entrance of the street, Loren habitually took a deep breath of its unique rotting stench.
This time, his brow furrowed slightly.
"The smell of decay has weakened this much, huh..."
Because the Spirit Stone deposit on the planet had resumed mining a few months ago, the overall economic conditions in Clear Mine City had clearly improved.
And the improved economy had also driven environmental quality up.
Of course, the main thing was that the Energy Department's resumption of mining had also attracted the characters they knew best—those fanatical environmentalists from the Nature Sect.
This remote planet had finally welcomed the Nature Sect's stationed personnel.
Moreover, in the eyes of many Nature Sect members, Loren's homeland, as a legendary Grand Druid, should rightfully receive nature's protection.
Especially when "Grand Druid Loren" was forced to travel abroad, they should all the more protect the homeland of this "God's Favored One."
This was "nature's guidance."
It was also their "responsibility"...
Standing at the street entrance, Loren noticed the air in this street had significantly improved and silently tilted his head.
"Did killing those guys improve the air quality? Or was it because of the fire burning?" he mused with some regret.
"Idiot master! It's pretty obvious those two things have no direct connection!" Raven's mocking voice followed immediately.
Loren didn't respond to Raven's "invitation for a verbal duel" this time. He calmly lifted his foot and walked into the street.
As Loren entered the street, the survivors on this road skillfully closed the doors to their shops.
As Loren walked past, a faint sound of shop doors closing accompanied him, interspersed with some tense breathing and choked sobs...
Clearly, no matter how big a figure Loren had become, their attitude toward him remained unchanged.
Utterly pure.
In the end, aside from Little John, who ran over excitedly, none of the residents on this street came out to welcome Loren, who had been away for so long...
Evidently, neighborhood relations were still "troubling" Loren.
Fortunately, Little John's enthusiasm finally helped Loren find a bit of the feeling of returning to his "homeland."
"Mr. Loren! Long time no see! Have you been doing well lately?!"
Faced with such a warm welcome, Loren smiled faintly.
He lightly tipped his hat and addressed the exuberant Little John in front of him, saying:
"It's been exhausting from the travel, but also quite fulfilling."
"If Little John likes to watch the news, he'd know..."
At this point, Little John shook his head in frustration.
"At the place I work, the uncles won't let me watch any news about you. They're afraid I'll learn bad things from you."
"Oh?" Loren hummed softly.
Then, after a moment's thought, he spoke seriously:
"It seems you need to learn some negotiation skills, Little John..."
Raven: "..."
No, you damn master, Little John doesn't need that kind of skill...
5 minutes later.
Under Loren's meticulous explanation, he imparted to Little John the "social skills" he had summed up over the years.
And he showed Little John a sanctuary of knowledge called the "Interstellar Hunter Forum."
During this, Raven couldn't bear it anymore and interrupted several times to stop him.
Unfortunately, he was ruthlessly ignored by Loren and Little John, who were chatting happily...
Little John left, beaming with joy.
Carrying Loren's precious "legacy," he happily went back to work.
In a place like the slums, people influenced each other...
"The elder will pass on precious skills to their favored younger ones, helping them survive better."
This was the tradition of the slums.
And Loren had perfectly upheld this tradition.