Devouring Dragon Heir

Klaus immediately started packing his bag and all the limited amount of stuff he had in his house. He had to move to another city and find a new residence to avoid suspicion.

He did not want to expose the fact that he had returned alive from a mutated gate.

While he was not the first one in history to achieve such a feat, those who had accomplished it were universally recognized as some of the strongest hunters humanity had ever produced—individuals of legendary status.

An F-rank hunter, like his public identity, returning alive from a mutated gate would only bring intense scrutiny, unwanted attention, and significant trouble.

The Hunter Association would undoubtedly launch a thorough investigation into his miraculous survival, and he could not afford for his Origin Absorption skill to be discovered.

He had already brewed up a plausible story in his mind. He would now become Klaus , the twin brother of the recently deceased Mr. Vance.

This identity offered a convenient explanation for his resemblance to his "dead" former self. To make this new persona convincing, he just had to get a new haircut and shave his thick beard clean, aiming to look different enough to be a distinct individual, yet similar enough for people to believe the twin narrative.

Plus, with the recent increase in his Physique stats and the acquisition of the Herculean Strength (D-ranked) skill, a subtle but qualitative change had already happened in his face, body fat distribution, and overall body composition.

He looked much fitter, more toned, and slightly taller than before, which would naturally contribute to a believable difference in appearance.

With that thought in mind, he immediately found a rusty razor in the bathroom and meticulously shaved his beard, revealing a sharper jawline.

He then used a pair of dull scissors to trim his long, unruly hair, giving himself a neater, more boyish look than his previous rugged appearance. The transformation was noticeable, making him seem younger and less recognizable.

Then, he picked up his single suitcase, which contained all his worldly possessions, and left the dilapidated house, walking towards the railway station.

To blend in and appear inconspicuous, he had worn a bright summer beach outfit: a loud Hawaiian shirt with vibrant floral patterns, a pair of worn denim shorts, and a wide-brimmed Hawaiian hat pulled low over his eyes.

He aimed to look like a carefree tourist, someone completely disconnected from the dark realities of monster gates and cultists.

Upon reaching the bustling railway station, he purchased a ticket for the public coach of a train bound for the capital city of the Blue Country.

He specifically chose the public coach because it was known for being a diverse melting pot of travelers, including many rogue hunters, merchants, and ordinary citizens.

It was a chaotic environment where it was easier to blend in without detection, offering him the anonymity he desperately sought.

Thankfully, he found an empty seat near a window. As the train slowly pulled out of the station, gaining speed, Klaus looked at the passing outside view, the urban sprawl slowly giving way to greener landscapes.

He used this time to systematically plan the next steps in his journey, mentally outlining his immediate and long-term objectives.

He had chosen the capital city, City #1, due to its vast amount of resources, including a larger variety of gates, specialized shops, and information networks.

Crucially, its huge population of hunters provided excellent cover; it was easier to blend into a massive crowd than a smaller, more tightly-knit community.

His most immediate need was to obtain a new hunter's identity one that would be officially recognized but also possess a significant amount of influence, or at least a higher rank, that didn't immediately garner unwanted attention from top-tier investigators.

An F-rank would be too suspicious if he suddenly started displaying advanced skills. He needed to find a sweet spot, perhaps starting as a D or C-rank hunter, which would allow him to access higher-tier dungeons while still remaining largely unnoticed by the elite.

He also had to find suitable accommodation. Owning a house in the capital was prohibitively costly, far beyond his current 100,000 Union Credits.

He had initially considered a luxurious hotel, which his current funds could sustain for about a month. However, since he might need to sustain himself for a much longer period, potentially years, he decided to look for accommodation in the more affordable outskirts of the city.

He still had to meticulously plan his next course of action to perfectly camouflage his unique skill, Origin Absorption, and grow stronger without worrying about trouble coming his way from the Hunter Association, cults, or other powerful entities.

The train continued its journey for several hours. Eventually, it slowed down and stopped at an intermediate station, a smaller town along the route. Several passengers started boarding the train, filling up the remaining empty seats and the aisles.

"Uncle, would you like to read a newspaper?" a jolly-toned, cute little girl, who appeared to be around ten years old, suddenly appeared in front of Klaus, bringing him out of his intense thoughts. She held a stack of newspapers clutched in her small arms.

A genuine smile, something rare for Klaus in recent times, formed on his face as he looked at the child. Her innocence was a stark contrast to the dark realities he was now accustomed to.

"Kid, why are you selling newspapers instead of going to school?" Klaus asked in a friendly, gentle tone, his voice devoid of any pretense.

To which the kid replied with a surprising tone of maturity, her voice clear despite her young age. "Uncle, I do go to school.

I sell newspapers after school to manage my tuition fees and food." Her eyes, though bright, held a depth that spoke of responsibilities beyond her years.

Looking at the amount of maturity already evident at such a young age, Klaus instantly figured out that the child must have gone through some difficult experiences early in life, forcing her to grow up quickly.

Still, he didn't have the immediate liberty to completely help the child from her predicament, to solve all her financial struggles.

He couldn't just give her a massive sum of money without drawing attention to himself or potentially exposing her to danger.

But he still did what he could right now, a small act of kindness. "Little sister," Klaus said, his smile softening, "I would like to purchase the whole pack of newspapers from you.

Give these to me, and go home and rest for today." With that, Klaus gently took the entire stack of newspapers from her hand.

He then, with a practiced motion, also held the kid's small, worn school bag, unzipped it, and took out the remaining newspapers she had stored inside.

"Uncle, stop! Those papers are from yesterday, they are outdated," the little girl protested, her eyes wide with surprise, clearly not understanding why someone would want old news.

"Doesn't matter," Klaus replied with a reassuring smile, waving off her concern. He placed the entire stack of newspapers on the empty seat beside him.

The little girl, in her mind, likely thought, "(¯―¯٥)." Her expression shifted, perhaps realizing that Klaus wanted to help her by buying unsellable papers. She kept quiet for the rest of the transaction, a small, grateful smile replacing her initial confusion.

After Klaus paid her the agreed-upon amount, which was probably more than the newspapers were worth, she turned to leave.

Before stepping away, she paused, looked back at him, and said, "Big brother, once I become a hunter, I will repay you one day. Please tell me your name." Her voice held genuine sincerity.

"My name is Klaus... Klaus Roach," he replied, giving her his new, improvised last name, a nod to his recently acquired trait.

Hearing his name, particularly the surname, the little girl was momentarily stupefied. Who kept their last name "Roach"? It was an oddity, certainly.

Nonetheless, her sense of gratitude overshadowed her confusion. She simply nodded, turned around, and walked away, disappearing into the crowd of boarding passengers.

Soon, the magical engines of the train hummed, a low, powerful vibration, and the train started moving again, accelerating slowly out of the station.

Having so many newspapers, Klaus stuffed some of them neatly into his small suitcase and kept the rest of them on the side hanger above his seat, easily accessible.

The capital city was still far away, so he decided to read some of the newspapers to pass the time and catch up on the world's affairs beyond what his limited laptop Browse had revealed.

The front headline on the top newspaper immediately caught his eye: it was about the recent increase in murder cases in the capital city.

The articles speculated that the murderer was suspected to be an A-rank hunter, an individual of significant power, who possessed a mysterious ability that consistently helped him escape the grasp of law enforcement and even the Hunter Association's elite tracking teams.

Some speculations among the public were about him having abilities related to extreme speed, allowing him to evade capture. Others suggested it was a stealth-based ability, making him undetectable.

However, the theory that caught Klaus's eyes the most, despite its seemingly fantastical nature, was that the murderer possessed shapeshifting.

But this thought was immediately negated by the prevailing public opinion and expert analysis, which largely believed that a shapeshifting skill must be of a much greater rank than A-rank, perhaps SSS or even Divine, to be so complete and untraceable.

Or, if it was indeed an A-rank shapeshifting ability, it must come with severe restrictions or drawbacks.

Klaus's eyes brightened at first at the mention of shapeshifters. He got excited. If he could acquire such a skill through his Origin Absorption, he would be able to maintain multiple identities effortlessly, allowing him to operate completely off the grid.

He wouldn't have to worry about the complexities of showing multiple different abilities in public, or about his physical appearance changing as his stats increased. It would be the ultimate disguise.

But on second thought, the idea was not feasible at his current stage. It was not even confirmed whether the murderer really had such an ability; it was mere speculation.

And even if he did, Klaus was certainly not strong enough to attempt to confront an A-rank criminal, much less absorb his ability, at the moment.

He had to get strong as soon as possible, and safely. His current priority was a stable identity and consistent growth.

The train continued on its course for a few more hours, the rhythmic clack of the wheels on the tracks a steady backdrop to Klaus's thoughts, until it finally reached its destination. The capital of the country, officially designated City #1, loomed outside the windows.

The terminal where he disembarked the magi-train was incredibly crowded, a bustling hive of activity. The sheer gigantism of every single structure in the city, from the towering skyscrapers to the colossal public transport hubs, made him feel as though he had stepped into a hyper-futuristic metropolis, similar to the images of Chinese cities he had seen in his previous world.

Klaus, ever mindful of his finances, traveled on foot throughout the city to save the cost of a taxi. Thankfully, detailed digital maps were readily available on public terminals and he had downloaded one earlier, so he did not get lost much amidst the sprawling urban landscape.

He walked for nearly an hour, past towering buildings and bustling markets, until he reached the outskirts. First, he navigated to a cheap inn that he had learned about after asking a few questions to a station guard earlier. It was far from luxurious, but it was discreet and affordable.

After securing a room, a small, basic space with a single bed and a worn desk, he kept all his luggage inside.

He then took a refreshing, much-needed bath, scrubbing away the grime and fatigue of his journey. Then, he changed into new, clean clothes – a simple t-shirt and jeans – and finally stepped out of the inn.

The first thing he did was to purchase some basic supplies: fine-mesh nets, a few bottles of non-toxic insecticides (the kind used for common household pests, not dangerous monsters), and several small, clear jars with secure lids.

He paid in cash, ensuring no digital trace. His objective was clear. He walked towards a nearby public park, one of the few green spaces in the dense urban environment. In the capital city, a tropical season was prevalent, which meant insects were present in abundance, even in seemingly clean areas.

Since actual forests outside the city were often infested with dangerous mana beasts, venturing into them for simple insect hunting was too risky at his current level.

He could only safely search for insects in public parks or within the confines of old, abandoned houses in the neglected parts of the city.

As for sewage lines, he was not truly interested in exploring those dark, unsanitary environments just yet.

He looked around the park, observing its well-maintained lawns and ornamental flowerbeds. He knew he wouldn't find much in the open areas.

He had to look in the denser bushes and unkempt plants, the neglected corners where nature still thrived in miniature. Looking around, methodically searching, he finally found a small mound of soil with numerous tiny holes on its top, partially hidden beneath a large, overgrown shrub. It was unmistakably an ant colony.

A predatory smirk crept up on his face, a stark contrast to his earlier gentle demeanor with the little girl.

It was time for some pest control.