Chapter 777: Feels like Cheating

[Holy crap, y’all weren’t kidding about massively overhauling this place while we were away.]

[Everything...is...bigger...]

[A part of me wants to know how you managed to pull this all off...the other part of me is scared of knowing what the answer is.]

[You’d honestly be surprised how much and how quickly things get done when money and manpower isn’t an issue,] Arachnidame said with a confident tone. [Granted, that aforementioned manpower was actually unpaid zakopowerr. None of them died in the process by the way, but a good gome of them actually did end up evolving due to everything they’ve been through. Who knew wrestling with gorillas was good for building core strength.]

’I...think I asked this before, but are the zako closer to D*gim*n or P*kem*n?’

=To give a proper answer for once, the former. Zakos tend to evolve based on the type of data and experience they gather while in use.=

∆Constructijins, form-∆

’NOPE!’

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"Sir? Is everything alright?"

"Uh...breakfast sounds good," Patriarch Zhen Shi eventually managed to answer after getting over the shock of seeing his secretary riding in in a giant spider aether beast. "But why can’t we have breakfast back at the estate?"

"Oh, apologies on that, but the house’s dining hall is undergoing some renovations as we speak. It should be done by this evening though."

"What happened to the dining hall?"

"Nothing in particular, but one of the younger disciples managed to a punch a hole through a wall."

"A hole in the-those walls were a foot thick and made from solid stone," Elder Zhen Long commented.

"I know. Crazy, right?," Aranea asked with a smile on her face. It was the kind of smile one would have if a student or child they raised grew beyond their assessment. On a related note, several of the Zhen Clan warriors that had left their own children behind while they went to Roaring Tide, couldn’t help but wonder if their kid was the one to display such raw power.

"Now, as I was saying, if you wish to head back the estate, please note that any meals prepped before the dining hall’s completion, will be relegated to a tray delivery to the requested room. If you wish to acquire breakfast outside of the estate today, don’t worry about your luggage and cargo, I will make sure David and the rest bring it back in pristine condition."

"David?"

"Say hello, David."

Prompted by Aranea’s command, the giant stone tarantula familiar lifted a single claw in order to wave at the Zhen Clan.

"Huh..."

On the one hand, it was impressive that Aranea managed to tame a giant spider aether beast, one of the few local species that the Zhen Clan had yet to train successfully. On the other hand, they were stumped to as to how she managed to pull off such a feat in the first place, let alone, several more times given the amount of tamed spiders roaming the streets.

Regardless, as patriarch of the Zhen Clan, Zhen Shi decided to do his job and finalize the decision.

"Well, if the dining hall isn’t available then we’ll go out for breakfast."

"Excellent."

"So I guess you want us to load up the-"

"Don’t worry about that, milord. This is a very menial task," Aranea said while lifting one of her elegant hands in a snapping motion.

A loud, crisp snap could heard the moment she snapped her fingers, summoning forth a squad of spider riding Zhen Clan warriors from who knows where.

"Oh dear gods, we actually do have a spider rider division."

"Told you."

It only took the riders a couple of seconds after appearing to hitch up their spiders to all of the Zhen Clan’s caravan wagons and leave in the direction of the estate.

As for the various animals that were used to pull all of the carts and wagons, they were escorted back to their respective stables for the sake of their own breakfast and so that they could rest. It had been a rather long journey.

"Groa?"

"Kuu?"

"Groa!"

"Kuu!"

Another spider rider even made sure to bring Mini the baby Raijin Hippo with them so that she could be reunited with their mama, Tiny.

Needless to say, now that her job of escorting a caravan of humans was finished , Tiny and Mini both returned to their peaceful stable, anticipating a good long rest.

As for the wagon Tiny was in charge of, David the Giant Stone Tarantula proceeded to take up the hitch and drag the wagon back to the estate himself.

Consequently, this left Aranea by herself to lead the Zhen Clan’s core members, not that she minded.

"Uh...I honestly thought you were going to have us ride David to whatever restaurant we were going to be eating at for breakfast," Elder Zhen Xi couldn’t help but to comment.

Expecting this reaction, Aranea simply laughed it off.

"Oh, no. The restaurant is actually very close to where we are now and figured you’d appreciate being able to stretch out your legs after being in those cramped wagons for so long. Now then, this way," Aranea said before straight up walking away, prompting the others to follow.

Once they were all in the groove of walking, Aranea used this opportunity to talk to Zhen Shi in a more intimate and quiet manner.

...

"This walk also gives me time to explain everything that had changed while you were away and to explain why I had to forge your signature for some of these decisions. I do apologize for that by the way, Patriarch," Aranea said with sincerity.

Zhen Shi was taken aback by this honesty, he was expecting a bit more denial and possibly a level of blame gaming.

"I...okay, wasn’t expecting for you to be so forward about it."

"I was taught from a very young age that it is better to face the consequences of one’s actions head on, rather than attempting to hide it. It’s easier to heal a light burn than it is to heal a full body one after all."

"Huh...to be completely honest then, I actually can’t even really get mad at you for spending so much money since it seems you’ve managed to make it back and then some. As well as do it without misusing clan personnel. How the hell did you manage to coordinate so many puppets, by the way? It honestly feels like cheating, being able to control so many coordinated fighters."

"Ah, yes...it’s a trick my master taught me. You’d be surprise how...lively a puppet can be when controlled just right."

"Ah...the same method in which Xiao Liu controls his puppets?"

"More or less, yes."

"Any chance that skill can be taught to others, or..."

"Apologies, but you need a certain... constitution to do what I and the young master does."

"Ah, pity."

"But...there are some tricks. Ones that I believe you are able to use...assuming my master is okay with the idea."

"Really?"

"I’ll send him a letter later tonight."

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’Did you seriously just promise to teach my grandfather how to use [Chaos] arts?!’

[It’ll be fine, your grandfather appears to have some inkling of [Chaos] in his veins anyways. Might as well teach him how to properly use it.]

’I...fair enough. Where are you taking us for breakfast exactly, anyways?’

[Oh, a new chef had recently appeared in our humble little city. I honestly forgot what his name was exactly, but I can at least tell you that he specializes in a dish that you’re very familiar with.]

’Is it dim sum? Because I’ve been eating dim sum for a couple weeks at this point.’

[No, no...well...hmmm...do you consider Eggs Benedict to be dim sum?]

’...I’m sorry, what?’

________________________________________

’Once again, I need to recalculate my asessment of this branch clan and it’s capabilities.’ Zhong Wei thought to himself as he watched the interaction between the branch clan’s patriarch and his supposed "secretary".

At this point in time, Zhong Wei had become familiar with the branch Zhen Clan, it’s history and all the strange rumors that seemed to be inexplicably connected to them.

He had figured a majority of those rumors were simple exaggerations, but after seeing the branch clan’s territory..perhaps they weren’t exaggerating. After all, being able to overhaul an entire city and then some is not something a normal branch clan can afford.

’One of the rumors stated that shortly after the betrayal of the patriarch’s original assistant,a pair of highly competent Aether Grandmasters appeared out of nowhere to take up his place. I’m guessing this Aranea woman is the first part of this pair...but then... who’s the second?’

Zhong Wei continued to mull over these thoughts for quite some time, all the way until they finally reached this restaurant.

"Here we are, everybody. Welcome to Cafe Jack."

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’Welp...it appears their sign is both in English and Hoof Speech...’