As far as tails went, Jack had to admit that his current ones were rather capable- most of them at least- with ordinary people no doubt failing to notice their presence. Unfortunately for them, Jack was anything but ordinary, though since they had yet to take action- and aside from the merchant Mustafar- Jack had only a couple of ideological reasons to torch the whole place down. He would stir some shit, of that there was no doubt in his mind, however the scale of said shit had yet to be decided upon. The slave collar makers would be cooked though- at least the model Jack had encountered so far.

  With the tails maintaining distance, he allowed to be led across the town by the girls, their destination being the largest and most respectable market streets. If they had human traders within them- all the better, for Jack could then begin to iron out the more pronounced nuances of the place. Aside from the obvious racism, with beastmen being the default free ones and humans, elves and the like relegated to mostly slave status, Jack had to figure out the way their economy worked.

  So far, it was clear they had issues with proper high level members, the unique way the dungeons worked around here meaning plenty of guaranteed access low level dungeons, but at the same time high level monsters were extremely limited in numbers. What then about the level of crafters and gear? If high level stuff, as well as wood and metal due to the enormous steppe they were in, was scarce, how high could their crafters push their own craft?

  His question was soon enough answered as the group began checking out numerous shops in one of the first streets that the Jack's maid core advised. Lined with the same style brick buildings, though two or even three stories high, numerous shops filled out the streets, with plenty a beastmen walking between them, each and every one holding some sort of a weapon or piece of armour. However, Jack also quickly noticed that despite the number of beastmen around, plenty more humans could be seen across the street and in the nearby back-alleys, with most of them carrying some heavy looking chests and boxes. More so in his eyes jumped the slave collars that almost all humans wore.

  'Slave labour. And they have no issues with them in clear view, their status as barely above beast of burden clear to all.' Jack thought as his eyes darted around, absorbing information at a speed that would make many onlookers gawk should they be made aware of the amount- not that they ever would mind you, Jack had no desire to advertise that part of his skill set. It was always better if those around you believed you to be a brute with limited intelligence, more than likely easily played and led by the nose. Such an evaluation would open plenty of chances to take said people- humans or otherwise- unaware, attaining maximum benefits.

  What also metaphorically screamed of change as they stepped into the trade quarter was the distinct smell that could be sensed permeated in the background. Unlike the poorer areas, where smell of filth and despair clung in the air, the trade district was filled with a mix of all manner of more pleasant aromas. Smell of freshly baked bread, with no doubt crunchy crust and all manner of toppings, like some sort of a bakery sale was on, scent of beer, freshly brewed and just poured from a cask, waiting for its consumer to arrive, almost luring them over to the place it was sold at, the slight smell of fresh oil, just applied to brand new weapons or armour, all to ensure they were maintained in the perfect condition to be worn and used in a combat scenario at a moments notice. The smell of herbal remedies and potions, their miraculous effects no doubt written down on plaques in front of said concoctions, promising power and safety to adventurers and braves heading out in search of growth and luck, as well as endless treasures, sprinkled with just a pinch of danger and excitement.

  And yet, despite all the pleasant and mind rousing smells, there was a hint of darkness beneath all of it if one looked and sensed enough. The smell of oppression and despair lingered between the glorious smell of prosperity, hints of suffering and moral decay, of racial supremacy and strong caste system. The smell of middle ages with slavery and all the filth it came with. It should come with little surprise then that Jack found this particular scent not all that to his liking, preferring his cities and towns with more polish, cleanliness and less desperation in the air, as well as much, much more developed. He found that no matter how nostalgic and rural it felt, nothing could beat the convenience of highly developed technology- be it electricity based like on earth, or run by mana generators and Idea Materializators like in the divine realm.

  "The sanitation could have been worse, what with the amount of fully furred beastmen living within the city." Jack commented as they moved forward, not the least bit concerned that some of said beastmen could overhear and understand what he had said in english "Could be much, much worse as well though." he added, as a final verdict, finally reaching the whole reason he spoke aloud "Aside from the poor area- the slums let's dub them- is most of the city in a similar state as here, better or worse? And is the condition I found you in the norm for human, and alike, slaves, or was your previous master just that much of a scum- keeping you starved and with regular beatings? And do be as honest. There is no reason for you to cover for any previous master, for the likelihood they could harm you is high non existent, and in the off chance they somehow manage to pull anything of that sort anyhows, death is the quick way out they will be begging for once I am through with them."

  As Jack? words left his mouth, the girls could feel the cold certainty he spoke of, as well as a sensation that he was doing anything but bluffing or acting tough. His words? He had meant each and every one of them, all but promising out loud to deliver suffering unimaginable to anyone harming, perhaps just trying to, his newly acquired maids. And so, the girls spoke truly, not hiding or sugar coating their experience so far. They spoke about the whips, the meals, or lack thereof, the tasks assigned to them, as well as the punishments when delivered when clearly unreachable goals had been set before them. They spoke of the barns, run down as they were, they had to sleep in, huddling together when rain drenched them, the near non existent roof barely stopping a mere fraction of it.

  Miserable. No other word came to Jack's mind as he heard more and more of their lives as slaves, his reasons for crashing the current system growing by the second. Worse yet, they could not have even escaped in death, their previous slave collars denying even that exit, forcing them to live on in false hope of a better future. He could also see the irony of it all. The one thing that had denied them their only possible salvation, no matter how well aware the girls had been of said curse, was also the reason why they were here, still living with an actual brighter future ahead- so long as Jack lived that is. He could also understand why said condition felt to them as fragile and likely fleeting as it did. He was, as far as the six women could understand, just another human like them, except Valente of course, and just a little stronger. And humans? Humans were detested any only tolerated so the city could have nearly free work force, allowing the beastmen to live much better lives at the expense of theirs. Human lives were fleeting, especially so in the land they had called home for their entire lives.

  Soon enough, they entered a well decorated and clearly better maintained and adorned building, its walls painted entirely light blue, making it stand out among the mostly brown coloured brick building with less distinct and complete paint jobs. According to the maid girls, the shop was called Rugors' Wonders, a variety shop selling all manner of things, starting from alchemy and blacksmithing tools and appliances, all the way to the finished products and all manner of other bits and ends. Food and spices- check. Silverware- rare and expensive, but check. High end combat gear- a catalogue of options available and ready to be ordered with ten percent of the items price as deposit displayed and awaiting a willing and loaded customer.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  It was precisely this catalogue that gave Jack all information he needed, explaining the current state of local crafters and their skill level, making him even more disappointed in their level and the overall might of the neutral zone he had found himself in. initially, once he came across said catalogue, a large, excited grin spread across his face, the boundless opportunities to have a glimpse of a whole new item list- both equipment and alchemical in nature- tickled Jack's fancy quite a bit, only for his grin to slowly dim with each page he turned. By the middle of the admittedly thin book, his face was once again entirely neutral, his mind already grasping at and mulling over questions he had slowly formed during the walk from the rivers shore to the town, with some of the more intriguing ones forming only once past the walls.

  "Tell me girls, how come I did not see a single beastman slave as we walked through the city? There is no way a place this big have zero crime involving their kind as well."

  "It's kept out of sight, with criminals mostly being incarcerated and forced to work in underground workshops and the like. And, of course, they never truly become slaves, not in the same sense as we do. They get collared, but never branded."

  "Let me guess, the brand would cross their bottom line with the damage its application would do to their oh so important and sacred fur?" Jack scoffed, his voice not too loud, just enough for his maids to hear, though the shopkeeper at the far end of the room and behind the counter still picked it up, the twitch in his large dog ears not escaping the corner of Jack's vision.

  "Something along those lines master. We- the non beastman slaves- were never given an actual in depth explanation, only made it clearly ingrained in our minds through pain that no matter the beastman, they would always be above us in status." Sindu quietly explained, almost whispering in his ear.

  "Anything caught your fancy from our list?" at this moment the shopkeeper spoke from his place, clearly not all too pleased about the conversation he overheard.

  "Unfortunately no." Jack responded cooly, placing back the catalogue in its original place "Have a nice day." he added as he turned away, gesturing for the maids to follow, leaving the building behind and moving on towards the next place of interest.

  'Everyone still present.' Jack noted mentally, their tails still sticking around and keeping their eyes on his group. 'Look, they even brought friends.' he snickered in his mind, all while telling the girls to lead him towards the best of the local smithies. He doubted that the very best local craftsmen could be working under general merchants like the one they had just visited, with some of said craftsmen perhaps cooperating on occasion through special contracts.

  "That would no doubt be Kirin Blood-Forge. This way master." Valente smiled, almost hopping forward, her cheerfulness only growing with each moment it seemed.

  "Kirins? Is it what I am thinking it is? Surely not?" Jack raised an eyebrow, the name implicating quite the sight.

  "A long, long time ago it might have been just as you likely think master, though with centuries past and no other beings of similar nature around, their bloodline has thinned a great deal, with the master smiths of their lineage now showing barely any of their original traits. Gran gran often mention the majestic aura their ancestors would carried with their mere presence, but those times are long since past. Ahh, what would I not give to have lived back then." explained and daydreamed Valente, still skipping at the very front of the group, leading them forward.

  "You talk like some ancient old granny Valente. You are not even fifty." Jack snickered.

  "Yes, but gran gran was almost two thousand when she passed away." Valante explained "She had trouble remembering most of what she had lived through, save for the most vivid memories, among which was her meeting some true blood kirins, or as close to ones as possible. Mind you, that too was when she herself was no more than fifty years old, and that too only in passing. And yet, the presence they had carried was immense, so much so that even two millennia later and with her mind mostly clouded and gone, she could still remember said moment with near crystal clear clarity."

  "Anything else she told you stories about?" Jack asked, a bit intrigued by what such an old lady had to share.

  "A few things." Valante smiled as she reminisced, clearly tapping into some of her fondest memories. Then, she began retelling the stories she had heard numerous times, seemingly memorizing them by heart to one day pass them down to her own children or grandchildren like some precious, invaluable even, family heirlooms. She told stories about a Kraiko so big, the ones now inhabiting the river Jack had crossed seemed like some random chicken next to an elephant-size comparison Jack drew upon from his own memories and understanding- terrorizing the coasts for nearly a century. She spoke of a dungeon that apparently spawned only once every few hundred years, of brave and all too confident men trying their luck, only to never return, and of a party that cleared it, all as one hiding their identities and gains they earned inside.

  "I do have a few more to share." Valente spoke, turning back towards Jack and the rest "If master wants to, ask for it any time. For now though, we have arrived." she added, gesturing towards a four story brick building, with a rather large yard that was filled with a group of smiths working their trade, each and every one of the craftsmen hammering away at their station, their workstations neatly arranged along the path that customers would have to walk to reach the shop itself. And aside from the hammering the smiths performed, no other discomfort might be felt by said customers, the safety being top notch when it came to the smiths and distance between their workstations and the path taken by the customers.

  Jack noticed how said smiths glanced over, their momentary glances lingering on his maids longer than they themselves no doubt wanted, the exotic clothing doing its job. The smiths were also unlike most other beastmen, with their skin reminding that of a reptilians, scale-like and rough. A couple, small sized horns adorned their heads, the only actual connection Jack could make out that could perhaps betray their bloodline connection to kirins.

  "These ones are no master smiths." Jack concluded, quickly identifying their unrefined and clumsy technique, his class giving him plenty of insights regarding regular crafting jobs. "Looks quite impressive though, have to admit as much at least." he added, not quite using his previous comment like a supposed insult, merely a stated fact. His comments did not seem to stir any kind of reaction in the apprentices on both sides of their advancing party, either too engrossed in their own job or simply not caring about the opinion of some random passerby. Or, and this was what Jack believed to be the actual reason after giving it some thought, the apprentice smiths simply did not understand the language itself, likely having deemed english the language of slaves- much like the rest of beastmen.

  The building itself towered over others in its surroundings, telling a story of a family, clan, or whatever else the group owning it was, as one of the more influential groups around, their word no doubt carrying a lot of weight when it came down to the decision making. Assuming that they even cared about said decisions. Crafters groups like the one before Jack often disregarded such things as the mundane world and politics, focusing on their own craft and development. Why were the Kirins then not mentioned among the ruling clans, Jack wondered, voicing the question out loud.

  "They do not care much about the politics, with their only interest being a constant supply of as high a quality materials as possible. In exchange, they utilize their passed down skills to arm and armour the four ruling clans at a discount."

  "Makes sense." Jack nodded as the group reached the front door, with only Sindu stepping up and showing him inside, with the remaining five maids waiting outside near the entrance. Jack entering was fine, as well as one of his servants who would serve as a translator, with most of the Kirin clan not speaking the language of slaves. And the rest? Kirins might not be among the furred beastmen, but they still held many of the same beliefs as the rest of the ruling clans.

  "If anyone approaches you and tries to take you away, no matter the reason, you know what to do." Jack reminded the remaining maids, clearly referring to the safety precautions he had taken, providing each of the maids with a distress signal to be used in similar scenarios.

  "Yes master!" the five replied in unison, and only then did Jack and and Sindu disappeared in the building entirely, with Jack's spirit senses locked on the remaining five regardless.

  'Let's juts hope the fools are not as dumb as everywhere else.' he thought as he disappeared inside the building.

  Jack Raja(?)

  Age- 27

  Species- human(?)

  Level- 30

  Class- Awakened twin aspect of Creation and Destruction(Ex)

  Stats unassigned: +4

  Attributes:

  Strength- 24 (14+7+3)

  Vitality- 23 (12+8+3)

  Dexterity- 21 (15+6)

  Intelligence-15

  Spirit- Spirit- 30 (20+10)

  Skills- Wisdom of Creation and destruction(EX), Choice of the creator(EX), Eyes of procurer(EX), Matter storage(EX), Arukain language(C), Spark of inspiration(EX), Origin of matter(EX), Unbound by laws of the lessers(EX), The end made manifest(EX).

  Spells- none.

  Titles(unlocked): The real Monster, Big Game Hunter, The brilliant rookie, The insane Solo. Monster debugger.The actor. Executioner. Survivor. Pioneer, Record breaker.The new champion supreme. Slavemaster.

  Gear: amulet +2 vit: weapon- Gundao+3 str. Rings- spatial storage,