"Uncle Jack, how's the progress so far? Agatha doing good?"

Eren asked Jack Sullivan, Jake's father. He was at the latter's shop in the city of Lionhearts. Agatha was working as Eren's contact and one of the store managers.

"Yep. Everything's fine. The channels have been established. I have taught Agatha a few things about the work we do here. The girl is a fast learner. She is picking up everything at an exceptional rate."

Agatha had started living on the upper floor of the shop. Eren had arranged everything that was needed as a daily necessity for her. The trio was now gathered at her place for the talk.

The Anthrope wasn't happy her master was asking a third-person about her progress. She preferred that he ask her directly. But to Eren, Jack's perspective was more important.

"Good. Don't worry. I will send you consistent supplies of goods through Agatha. You just make sure that you only sell my goods to your trusted sources. We don't want things to go out of hand and attract heat unnecessarily."

Jack nodded and agreed with Eren's words:

"Yeah. your products aren't meant for a mass audience anyway. The potion bombs already have a steady purchase channel. It is stalked by nobles and some authorities of the kingdom.

Your aphrodisiac vials can also create a rift between the shop and female rankers. So that is something I've kept under the counter as well. Of course, unlike the potion bombs, these products have more customers. And they can be sold for a huge profit margin.

So keep on churning these products. Hehe! If Jake learns the potioneering from you and gets just as good, our profits will double."

Eren nodded before replying:

"That is indeed good to hear. Don't worry about Jake, uncle. He'll be a good potioneer. But he needs time. And I would prefer if you take Agatha with you whenever the selling of my products is involved.

I also had some other work that I could use your help with."

Said Eren and looked expectantly at Jack. the latter just patted the teen's shoulder before answering:

"Don't be shy, young man. This old merchant has a lot of contacts. I'll take care of whatever you need. Just say the word."

Jack assured Eren with his merchant smile and attitude. The latter just nodded his head as if he was only waiting for those words to get spoken by the merchant before saying

"Alright. I won't hold back then. I want C-Rank potion bombs or killer arrays of the same rank, at least two of them. When can I get them?"

Jack was still smiling when he heard Eren's words. But that smile soon broke into an ugly expression when he heard Eren's demands. He stuttered in a speech to confirm what he had just heard:

"Y you want C-Rank potion bombs?"

Eren nodded plainly before explaining:

"I know C-Rank potion bombs are weapons of mass destruction. So I won't press on that demand. But I believe C-Rank killer arrays can be arranged. I want the ones that are meant for slaying the beasts of the same rank without injuring their bodies."

Jack regretted boasting about his contacts to Eren. He smiled mirthlessly before trying to explain to the teen the hurdles in getting those things:

"Eren, what you said about the potion bombs applies to the killing arrays as well. It's just that the killing arrays for animals are relatively easier to get. That too is only applicable if we are talking about F or E-Rank animals and killing arrays. Things get exponentially difficult to get when they reach D-Rank. Yet, you want C-Rank items, which would be even more so.

And you even need two of them. Even with my underground and black market contacts, they'll not be easy to get. Plus, the kind of Extols we are talking about buying those things"

"Oh, money is not the problem, uncle Jack. Just locate them and get them as soon as possible."

Eren cut the merchant off in his speech and fast-tracked his purchase order. The latter had no choice but to just give up on explaining things to the teen.

That's because he believed that Eren would have the money to walk the talk if he had said so. Now he had to again deal with the shady people in a shady way to make the boy's wish come true.

Jack wondered if Eren being friends with his son was a good idea.

'Too late. Now I'm stuck with this dangerous kid.'

Said Jack to himself and left Eren and Agatha to their devices. The master and slave had a few things to talk about.

******************************

Some weeks after Eren's visit to the city of Lionhearts.

Eren completed his training regime with exhaustion coursing through his veins. He laid flat on his back over his courtyard's ground and recalled his status window.

Name- Eren Elijah Idril (Verified)

Organization- Lionhearts Adventurers' Academy

Academic Status- Class 1/C

Ranked Status:

Intra-class individual- 11th Place Holder

Intra-class team-based- 3rd Place Holder

Inter-class individual- 23rd Place Holder

Inter-class team-based- 16th Place Holder

Inter-year individual- Unranked

Inter-year team-based- 37th Place Holder

Merit Points- 36,549

Base Stats:

HP- 4.6 / 4.6

MP- 5.5 / 5.5

STR- 2.9

AGI- 4.7

INT- 3.5

BTP~ 21

BTP Visibility- Private

Ranking Technique- Five-star, lightning element, Indra's Levin

F-Rank Spells:

Lightning Element, Four-star, movement type: Blitz Steps

Lightning Element, Four-star, defence type: Blitz Shield

Lightning Element, Four-star, attack type: Blitz Bolt

Lightning Element, Four-star, Area of Effect: Blitz Storm

Lightning Element, Four-star, healing type: Blitz Heal

Time Element, Four-star(?), miscellaneous: Sedated Perception

Time Element, Three-star, miscellaneous: Ingredient Age Expedite

Time Element, Two-star, miscellaneous: Ingredient Age Reverse

Time Element, Three-star, movement type: Stunning Speed

Fire Element, Four-star, attack type: Firesnake

Fire Element, Four-star, attack type: Fireball

Fire Element, Four-star, attack type: Firebreath

Apprenticeship: Verified

Daily Training Regime: Complete

Run: 5KM / 5KM

Pullup: 500/500

Situp: 500/500

Pushups: 500 /500

Planks: 30 minutes / 30 minutes

Stretching Position 1: 5 minutes / 5 minutes

Stretching Position 2: 5 minutes / 5 minutes

Stretching Position 3: 5 minutes / 5 minutes

******************

Eren felt that sought-after high one feels after working out after he looked at his BTP value again. All his hard work and his extended technique practising sessions weren't failing him.

He was just three units away from entering the upper stage of the F-Rank.

AN: Merry Christmas, everyone. Take care of your diet during these holidays and don't consume too many empty calories. I Hope Eren's training regime inspires you to make new year workout resolutions. ;)

PS- Check out the new Christmas special book cover for VEH!