Return of the Tower Conqueror

  The Greedy Seven (I)

Everyone except for Lukas and Daniel reached at least level 40 -- that was the summary Cain received from Emma before she bolted downstairs to yet another makeshift party Rick threw over gaining some new levels, skills, and items. By the time Cain joined them, the 'party' was already in full swing, music swelling and blaring.

In the corner, he saw Senna and Lana playing, with Jenny's kids spying on them from a bit far off, appearing jittery over joining in. Emma and Diya had joined up with Jenny and Sarah and were excitedly decorating the massive Christmas tree plucked in front of the apartment complex. Even Lukas was dragged off by Jamal as Cain remembered the latter mentioning that he 'wanted to confirm whether Germans could truly drink or not'.

The only outliner appeared to be Daniel who was sitting on his lonesome, draped in full black, a can of beer in his hands. Shrugging, Cain made his way over and sat next to the young man who merely glanced at him, remaining silent. Not for long, however.

"It's all pointless," the young man said. "Looks like you get it too."

"Yeah, yeah," Cain assented, taking out a cigarette and lighting it up. "That's why I smoke, y'know? It's a silent rebellion."

"Smart!" Daniel exclaimed. "Why did I never think of that?! Society has convinced me all my life that cigarettes are terrible. But, clearly, it's just another bullshit story."

"How are you finding the party?" Cain asked.

"... they talk too much," Daniel replied. "Joking all the time. It's exhausting."

"..." though Daniel merely scoffed as a reply, Cain easily noticed the happily-twitching corners of his lips, prompting the latter to barely stifle a chuckle. "We'll set off shortly after Christmas," Cain said. "For a long-term expedition. You in?"

"... whatever." Daniel shrugged. "Does it even matter?"

"Well, yeah, it kinda does. 'cause if you ain't coming, we gotta find a new member and all."

"Oh. Right. Khm, yeah, yeah, I'll come."

"Cool. I was hoping you would."

"Where will be going?"

"Second floor."

"Oh, cool. I wonder what's it like."

"Me too." Cain said. "That's why we're going."

"Makes sense."

"Yeah."

"..."

"..."

"So, khm, uh," it appeared as though Daniel wasn't the type who could endure awkward silence, Cain mused inwardly. "Your... your wife, you know, she really likes bragging about you."

"Oh? Really?"

"Yeah. Makes it sound like you're some kinda superhero."

"What's the point?" Cain played the game. "Good or evil, it's all the same."

"Exactly! I told her that and she... she..."

"She smacked you?"

"Super hard, dude!" Daniel complained. "Like, right on the head! I swear I had a bump there for a while."

"Yeah, she's like that. One time, when we were having sex, she bit into my shoulder so hard she ripped off a patch of skin."

"Dude... what?"

"Yeah, I'm serious," Cain said, pulling back his shirt and showing a tiny scar on his shoulder. "Look. Had to get like sixteen stitches."

"Damn... nice."

"Dude..."

"... khm, anyway... uh, I'll go and, uh, see what Lukas is doin'. Yeah. See ya'."

Cain smiled faintly as he watched the young man awkwardly saunter off. He may be a bit weird, he noted, but he was far from a bad kid. Standing up and stretching, he glanced at the Tower with a determined glint in his eyes. He'd relaxed long enough and any more might genuinely make him too complacent. Even though the requirements for the second floor were still likely at least half a year to an entire year off, that didn't matter too much to him. We should be able to clear the Fiery Lakes in three months or so even at a relaxed pace. The others can also register on the solo stele though it will be a bit difficult to get into the top 40. Nah, at least Senna should hound for the top 3. We'll see...

"Dad, dad!" Lana's voice drew him out of his thoughts as he noticed the young girl sprinting toward him and leaping with all of the faith in the world that he would catch her. A smile appeared on his face as he stretched out his arms and heaved her up and onto the back of his head. "Woaaa~~I'm so tall! Look, dad! I'm so tall!"

"You sure are, princess, ha ha. The tallest in the world! Where is the big sis?"

"She's playing hide and seek!" Lana replied.

"Eh? Why aren't you too?"

"... I... I got caught already..."

"How?"

"Mom told on me!"

"Ha ha ha..."

"She's so mean!" Lana pouted, lowering her head and placing it against the top of his.

"Your birthday's coming up, princess," Cain said. "What would you like for a present?"

"To learn magic!"

"Besides that."

"Uuuww..."

"It's too dangerous, Lana," Cain sighed. ���I promise you I'll help you learn magic in the future. Just be patient. For daddy, okay?"

"... okay."

"That's a good girl," Cain said. "So, anything else?"

"Hm... grandpa Rick already buys anything I ask him to, though..." Oi, old man, the fuck are you spoiling my kid for?!!! Cain glared at Rick in the distance, the latter shuddering for a moment and yet not knowing why.

"H-he does, huh?"

"Yeah! He's so nice!"

"I bet he is..."

"Then... I want a pet!" A pet? A glint appeared in Cain's eyes as he remembered he still had an item that he was slowly beginning to out-scale. I'm sure I can find something in Rick's collection to replace the base stats...

"A pet, huh? You know what -- I have a perfect pet for you."

"Eh?! Really?!"

"Yeah -- nobody else has that kind of a pet in the entire world!"

"You're lying, dad!"

"No, I'm really not lying!" Cain said, putting Lana down. There should be enough Mana around here now that she can activate the item... I can just teach her how. "Look," he took out Crown of Flames from his inventory and handed it to the young girl who took it, appearing confused.

"This... this isn't a pet, dad..."

"I-I know!! But it's an item from the Tower that can summon a pet!"

"E-eh? Really?!"

"Yeah," he said, putting his hand on the top of her head. "Okay, listen carefully to daddy now. Close your eyes. Yes, just like that. Okay, hold the item really tightly -- don't worry, you can't get hurt. Yes, yes, just like that. Okay, great! Now, feel carefully how daddy uses energy. Feel it?"

"Uh--this... this weird thing?" Lana mumbled.

"Yes, that -- see how I'm using it, slowly, to push it into the item?"

"Eeeh~~ it's funny, he he he, it tickles..."

"Just endure for a bit. Feel it? Okay, that's it! Open your eyes now."

"..." Lana slowly opened her eyes, a curious look in them, as the Crown of Flames lit up for a moment, followed by a chirpy screech of a bird that flung its wings open.

The young girl's eyes lit up like lanterns as the Phoenix landed on top of the crown, the tiny, bead-like yes scrying around curiously.

"Eh? What did daddy tell you, huh? The best pet!"

"He--he's so cute!!" Lana exclaimed, accidentally dropping the Crown and grabbing the tiny Phoenix who cried out in confusion. Cain shushed him through Mana immediately, prompting the bird to quiet down. "Oh my God! He's so fluffy! And he doesn't hurt at all!"

"Yup, yup. Say it -- say that I'm the best daddy in the world!"

"You are the best in the world!!" Lana exclaimed though most of her attention was still on the bird.

"He he~~ I am, aren't I? Okay, listen here," he quickly dragged the young girl's attention away from the bird and onto himself. "This chick can only be out in the open for ten minutes each time you summon it. Then, you have to wait 30 minutes to do it again. You just use that method dad taught you every time you want to summon it, okay?"

"Hm, hm!"

"If you still don't understand it, you can ask grandpa Rick to help you. And you," he turned toward the bird, looking directly into the bead-like eyes. "That's my kid, so play nice with her. If she ends up really liking you, I'll look for the Scroll to split your Spirit away from the item."

"Koo, koo!!" the bird cried out excitedly as it flopped out of Lana's hands and on the top of the young girl's head, posturing by extruding its tiny belly with pride as though to say 'leave this to me, boss! I got it!'.

"Ha ha ha, he's so funny!" Lana chirped along as Cain beamed a smile at the two.

"Alright, go on and show off your new pet to your friends! And remember, daddy got you the pet! Ha ha ha."

"Yes!!" Lana exclaimed as she picked up the Crown from the floor and ran off toward the other kids while Cain watched her back gently, his heart swelling with warmth.

**

A party of seven stood partly stoically and party excitedly in front of the Tower, geared to the teeth, the looks of determination on their faces. There were two exceptions, however -- Cain, who overslept and was currently yawning, and Daniel who tried his damnedest to put on an indifferent and disinterested front.

Their expedition toward the second floor was ready to set off under quite a few hidden pairs of eyes observing them carefully. Cain casually took a glance around and sighed inwardly, realizing his warnings had fallen on deaf ears. It should be fine for now, he mused. If they are dumb enough to go after Rick... well, they weren't really a threat, to begin with anyway...

"Well," he turned toward the party and spoke out, smiling faintly. "Let's head out."

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