The Hunter’s Code: Book 2: A Portal Progression Fantasy Series

By Oleg Sapphire

I am Monster Slayer Fifth Class, Baron Alexander Galaxius. I'm still a baron with no barony, lands or family ring.

Just like my past life, this one hasn't given me anything on a silver platter. I'll have to use my own strength to create the world I need. Once more...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Magic Dome Books
• Release date: Apr 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9788076934849

Book preview

Yuri Vinokuroff & Oleg Sapphire

The Hunter’s Code

Book 2

A Portal Progression Fantasy Series

Published by Magic Dome Books

The Hunter’s Code

Book # 2

Copyright © Yuri Vinokuroff, Oleg Sapphire 2024

Cover Art © Vladimir Manyukhin

English translation copyright © Alix Merlin Williamson 2024

Published by Magic Dome Books, 2024

All Rights Reserved

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Shop and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is entirely a work of fiction. Any correlation with real people or events is coincidental.

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Table of Contents:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

About The Authors

Chapter 1

I SURRENDER! I WAS THE ONE who stole the ice cream... I admit it... It looked so tasty, and I was seven years old, and I just couldn’t resist. This monologue delivered, I raised my hands in supplication.

What ice cream? What are you saying?! Androsov looked at me like I was a nutcase.

I turned my head to him and smiled.

I was trying to remember any possible reasons for my arrest. That’s the only one I could think of... I turned my head toward the people and frowned, and cast my armor and aura. Otherwise I demand an explanation — by what right do you think you can arrest me?

I added metal to my voice, enough to make even Androsov shiver. Come on, what were they doing? Did they think they’d found a dumb stooge they could pin all their cold cases on? More likely that someone had ordered this.

You’ll be told everything you need to know down at the station, don’t worry, they said, paying no mind to my threats.

I wondered — what would I get charged with if I attacked the police?

I am Count Androsov, and I demand an immediate explanation! By what right do you address a noble in this manner, and what is he accused of?! Wow, now I was seeing Androsov’s serious side.

His title and surname gave them pause, and they cowered slightly. But of course — what did some homeless baron mean to them? Bastards...

A complaint has been issued against your friend for beating up respected individuals. We don’t know the details except the reason. Our job is to take him in. The shit-head even stood to attention as he reported to Androsov.

May I see your documents? my friend persisted. Who’s in charge here?

The cops exchanged glances and one of them took out a little blue book and opened it for Andrei. Without a hint of embarrassment, Androsov took a photo of it on his phone.

Ri-i-ight... he said slowly, glancing at me. I’m riding with him!

Not allowed, your lordship. We could be punished for that, the second one piped up with an apologetic look. But you can follow behind us.

Androsov frowned, and I stood and grinned on the sidelines. It all seemed like a joke to me. Who could I have beaten up!? Yeah, yeah, okay, could be anyone... But all problems in life have a solution, so I wasn’t worried. And it doesn’t matter whether the solution is to summon a Snowhopper or call Goldsmith and get him to bribe someone.

Come on, my friend, no need to go anywhere, I said, putting a hand on Andrei’s shoulder. He frowned unhappily. There are specially trained people for that whose contact details you already gave me.

Androsov’s face brightened.

Want me to call them?

Please do, I nodded.

Or my father, perhaps? My dear friend scratched his chin, thinking. Those words really put the cops’ backs up.

No, no need to trouble His Highness, I said, for some reason taking pity on the local cops as I imagined the royal guard of the Androsovs descending on them from helicopters.

As you say, my friend said, nodding with displeasure.

I clapped my comrade on the shoulder again and turned to our raid leader, who hadn’t yet said a single word.

Helga! I have a big favor to ask you! I looked at the girl, who was biting her lips as if thinking about something.

Yeah? She moved her eyes from the cops to me.

Please take Caramel home!

The girl’s eyebrows shot up. Before she had time to think too much about it, I pushed my keys into her hand.

Leave her with the concierge, I said, smiling. Don’t worry, she won’t eat her!

I already knew that I didn’t have to voice orders to the panther out loud, I just did it out of convenience. This time I gave the order mentally.

Go with this girl. Her name is Helga. Do her no harm. She will take you home. Do not leave the apartment. Do not come looking for me. You don’t need to save me. I’ll be back soon! — and I scratched the kitty behind her ears.

B-b-but... the girl stammered, gesturing at the panther.

She doesn’t wear a leash or collar, I said, shaking my head. Just tell her what you want. She’s a smart girl...

When I was invited into the service vehicle, I watched with a smile as my party dispersed and Helga started leading Caramel home with a bewildered expression on her face. She’d be surprised at how smart that kitten was!

High time I taught that cat to bring chicks home for me. Why not? She’d do a great job.

The journey was uneventful. I was taken to the police station and made to wait a whole hour in the corridor. At least they didn’t slap cuffs on me. Not much point anyway — as a Gifted, I could just break out of them. True, the corridor was still locked, and that would be less easy to get out of.

Two cops came for me after around an hour, and took me to a detective’s office without a word.

The detective was a somewhat overweight and balding man of around forty-five.

By the look in his eyes, I was about to have an interesting chat, one that at first I wouldn’t like and later he wouldn’t like. How could it be otherwise? He’d attack me, and I might not hold back if he went too far. I’d send him a little scorpion with twenty times more venom than it takes to kill a man.

You must be Galaxius, he said with a chuckle, pointing me to a chair. Take a seat.

Thanks, I said, nodding at him reservedly, but not forgetting to add a smile. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get straight down to business. I’m fresh out of a Rift and I haven’t even had lunch yet.

I’m afraid that isn’t for you to decide. He grinned and looked me up and down. That said, where you’re going, the food is just fine. At least it is for aristocrats. And it seems like you’re still an aristocrat... for now. With those last words his grin grew even wider.

For now? I raised an eyebrow in surprise.

What, didn’t you know? You have nothing to your name but the name itself, and that means your rank hangs by a thread. People like you can easily lose their titles. And as it happens, you’re in such deep shit here that I’ve already written two letters to the right people to try and make that happen.

What a naive man. He had no idea that if that was true, then tomorrow he’d die in his bed and I’d be dealing with a new detective.

All I showed on my face was boredom. He waited for me to show some emotion. I was sure there were cameras all over, and he probably wanted to throw me off balance.

When he realized it wasn’t working, he reached for some documents on the desk.

Before we get started, I’d like to clarify a few questions, he said, staring intently at the papers. It says here that your father died, and after that your mother worked in the brothels of Europe, is that right? Wow, real smart guy... Thought he had the perfect bait for a hot-headed teenager. Just for our information, could you name the European brothels your mother worked in?

The main thing was how he introduced it — ‘it says here,’ meaning that it wasn’t his opinion, but maybe just a mistake someone made, as it would surely turn out to be if I attacked him.

Unfortunately for him, I didn’t know my mother, and wished I didn’t know my father either.

Hmm... I said, rubbing my chin. I grew up without my mom, and I don’t know where she worked. But if you got this information from your own mom or wife, you’re better off asking them about it. Sorry, I can’t help you there. Or was it your daughter?

Oh! Direct hit! At the word daughter he clenched his teeth; there’s his sore spot.

Time to chip away at his nerves now. By the way, would you like to tell me your surname? I asked. As far as I know, it’s considered polite to introduce yourself when you meet someone. Or were you not taught basic etiquette?

Huh, proud and foolish both...

Well, Tatiana Zhuravlyova didn’t think I was foolish, but a smart and handsome young man, I said, looking straight into his eyes with a mocking smirk clear on my face. What’s wrong, Zhuravlyov? Feeling ill? Need a little vodka?

Well done, Shnoop — he had pulled out a wallet from the man’s jacket hanging up in the room. It happened to have a signed family photo on it and a ring. He wore a ring like it on his finger, which meant this one must be his wife’s.

She must have left him... or died... Well, I could help him join her if it was the latter. I’d send him that way if he kept grinding his teeth at me like that.

You watch your mouth, asshole! he shouted at me, but quickly got a grip on himself, although the veins in his forehead said otherwise. He dimmed his aura right away, which meant he wasn’t weak. Here, take a look! he said, throwing the papers in front of him practically straight at my face. I easily caught them.

Alright, what’s this he gave me..? Let’s see...

Uh-huh... right... yep... got it...

Assault, battery, grievous bodily harm and disparagement of respected individuals. Plus hooliganism, damage to personal property, obscenity, not to mention vandalism and threatening to harm family members. He oozed satisfaction as he read out the charges.

So, those merchants’ sons were holding a grudge and decided to get their revenge... Too bad for them...

So I guess you’ve been bought, then, I said, and it was a definite statement, not a question. Tell them from me: they can all go to hell together, and you can keep the last paper for yourself as a memento. I threw the papers back at him. He barely caught them before they smacked right into his face.

Sergeant! the man shouted at the top of his lungs, and a young man ran into the office. Why is this criminal not in cuffs? He attacked me! Lock some anti-magic cuffs on him now, and take him to a high security cell.

Damn, your boss here really has a stick up his ass, I said, laughing as I stood up and made it clear that I’d follow to my cell.

For some reason they didn’t put cuffs on me — guess they were too rare and valuable for the likes of me, — but just led me to my new cell instead. Great, just great...

I was going to kill those bastards as soon as I got out... Those little assholes filed charges and bribed that detective.

That last paper, the one I threw in his face, was a plea deal they were offering me. To think — they wanted public apologies and penance, for me to admit my guilt and make a statement of wrongdoing. And then give seven years of service to the Tagilov family, the one whose son I made fall to his knees and piss himself.

Oh, I’d show them service alright. They didn’t know who they were going after. It was clear they had plenty of money, which was why they felt like the gods of this city.

Ugh... Shame that all my things had been taken off me when I came in; I wanted to call Androsov and tell him to ask his dad to send in the cavalry after all. Just for fun...

To top it all off, they put me in a general population cell, which was definitely against the law. Even I knew that!

A big bald thug walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder. Hey, new guy, how come you ain’t sayin hello?

Would you look at that, Shorty! A noble lord’s come to visit us! a toothless smiling man said, peeling an apple with a knife.

Uh-huh, hey, man! I answered Shorty, and punched him in the solar plexus.

His crooked armor didn’t help him. There’s an art to good armor. It has to be cast and woven properly. A couple of poorly intersecting energy flows and it won’t be as strong as it should be.

This guy’s was terrible, and it collapsed like paper.

Unhh... he groaned, crashing to the floor.

Any other contenders? I looked over the gathering.

There actually were some... Had they really been talked into bullying me? Did they take me for a moron? They could have at least read my file!

So silly, and I didn’t give a damn that they were all Gifted. A couple of minutes of fun, and ten groaning bodies lay on the cold floor.

Cool... And they were all Gifted.

Since there was now a seat free at the table, I swept their possessions from it and took a seat. I wanted to sit in comfort, after all.

Right... Time to think... What to do? Well, I doubted they could put me away. I wasn’t afraid of that, it was more that I didn’t like languishing in here like a prisoner.

Hey, do they feed you punks or bring you tea? I asked the men groaning on the floor.

They didn’t answer... Guess I shouldn’t have hit them so hard. Damn, I overdid it... I added a specific type of energy that attacks the muscles, and now they wouldn’t be able to move for some time. I thought they’d turn out to be stronger and wake up sooner.

* * *

Office of V. I. Zhuravlyov, Irkutsk PD Detective

I did everything like you said, Mr. Zhuravlyov, the young sergeant reported.

Zhuravlyov sat at his table, and he was still shaking. How did that bastard dare talk to him like that? A pathetic worm with no family, who got his status simply by being born to a filthy kitchen slut, there could be no two ways about it.

Oh, how he would have loved to tear off the boy’s head where he’d sat. Damn... He was furious... He’d wanted to provoke the boy, but had done the opposite.

He’d gotten everything he had all on his own — his police position, his Veteran Gift rank... and now little bastards like that kid came to him and dared to disrespect him.

Galaxius had been offered a way out of his situation, just a short term of service of a few years and then he’d be free, if he didn’t die in that service. Anything was better than serving out his sentence in the kind of places Zhuravlyov could send him... And he would indeed try to send him to one such a place for a long time, the kind of place that can break even the very strongest spirit.

The detective was a little taken aback by the young man’s Slayer class — somehow class five. The Center was certain to become involved in the case, but his... ahem... temporary employers had promised to take care of that.

Did you hand the inventory out to the inmates? Zhuravlyov asked his inferior.

Yes, sir! the sergeant smiled. They asked for a knife yesterday to cut apples and bread, and a screwdriver to fix the bench; it’s been creaking.

Good... Bring him back to me in five hours. That should be enough time. He shouldn’t have all that much strength left; he just closed a Rift. With that he waved his hand, dismissing his subordinate.

Zhuravlyov lit a cigarette and took a deep drag on it. That son of a bitch had known about his wife. How?

After another deep breath and a gulp of cold tea, he walked over to his jacket for the wallet that contained the photo of the wife who left him...

Only... the wallet was gone.

* * *

I sat a while, rested a little and thought: things really aren’t so bad here. Except that really needed a bite to eat.

A couple of the others had already come around, and now they’d walked to the opposite corner from me and were staying there.

Listen up, punks! I shouted, not caring that there were men over forty in here. Can cash buy me some better food in here?

From what I could tell, this was a holding cell for people waiting for their case to be heard, and by the look of some of them they’d been waiting months.

They couldn’t be let out, and they couldn’t be sentenced yet either.

If you have cash, then food can be found... one of them finally said.

Great! I said, my mood brightening, and reached into my pocket. Here’s some money. Order food for everyone.

I threw them two hundred rubles. I didn’t know what the rates were here, but I thought it’d be enough. The money was stolen from that dumbass Zhuravlyov anyway.

Sure, it was a lot of money, but this was a police station, not a food court.

Next I watched as they started banging their bowls against the bars, and only then did the guard come up to them. They whispered something to him and passed him the money.

Around thirty minutes later, they brought the food. It was take-out from a normal restaurant, three bags.

I took one of them, the heaviest, and gave the others to the inmates, who huffed angrily as they looked at me.

Eat, and stop givin’ me evils, I said to them and got stuck into my food. Your own fault, assholes, I ain’t no punching bag for you, you got your own asses knocked out.

I knew how to talk to this kind of crowd. I’d met many of them in my past life, and my old ‘job’ had often brought me face-to-face with criminals. There weren’t many manners involved, but there was a particular code and style of speaking.

The food helped them come round, and they stopped seeing me as an enemy. They even sent over an envoy to ask forgiveness and tell me they were threatened with beatings before.

On the one hand, I got where they were coming from. They didn’t have much choice; they might have even been offered freedom in exchange for taking me out. In places like these the rules were always the same, and it didn’t matter if you were a noble or a pig farmer. If you have strength, you have respect. But strength is expressed in deeds, not words. I had shown them strength, but stopped short of humiliating them while they lay defenseless. They could appreciate that.

Life was looking up. If only this place had a shower too. The locals told me they got showers once a week, but I wasn’t planning on staying that long. I mentally gave Shnoop the order to pick up my phone, which I’d left in a storage locker. Invisible, he brought it to me and placed it in my pocket.

All the other prisoners were shocked when I took out my phone and called Goldsmith.

At your service, Sir Galaxius, my lawyer said on the other end of the line. I’m already aware of your problem and working on it.

So quickly? I chuckled in surprise.

Androsov must have called him.

Your friend Sir Androsov informed me, he said, confirming my suspicions. Only, according to my information, you are currently in a holding cell and shouldn’t have a phone. A man of tricks, eh?

Tricks are all we have, along with incompetent authorities. We laughed quietly together. Anyway, I’m calling because I have a job for you.

Not just to get you out of there, I suppose?

That’s right... It was nice to work with such an intelligent man.

I quickly told him the three surnames of those merchants who filed charges against me, and asked him to assemble full files on them. He tried to tell me it wasn’t his job to dig up dirt. But dirt wasn’t what I needed; they were already screwed. I just wanted to know all I could about them.

While we were still talking, I heard the warden approaching and quickly said good-bye, thrusting the phone into my pocket.

Funny, but there was a rat in the cell... Someone had given me up. They came to shake down me and only me.

The hell with them! I showed them my pockets and even turned out my socks — there was nothing. I was checked with artifacts, and again no tech was found. They crowed and threatened that I wouldn’t get away with my tricks. But I already did... Shnoop had pulled the phone out of my pocket and put it back where he found it, along with the money and everything else.

As for the detective’s wallet, I asked him to flush that down a toilet. Finally, I sat down at the table and got back to my interrupted dinner... Now I’d finish eating, and if I still wasn’t pulled out by then, then I’d start to get mad. And when I get mad... Well, then people find out about it...

Chapter 2

Monster Slayer Center

Second Barracks, Room 114

ANDREI ANDROSOV FELT ILL AT EASE. He stood beneath a hot shower and turned the events of the day over in his head. And the more he thought, the less he liked the answers he came to.

Sure, he knew already that Galaxius was a complex character. But what happened in the Rift went way beyond that! They’d been driven into a corner, and the only option they’d had left was to wait for aid from the Center. But what happened in the end? All on his own, Alex cleared that whole damn nest of rat people. How did he do it!?

They didn’t discuss that point after the young baron was picked up by the police, although Andrei could tell by his comrades’ faces that they felt the same way he did. The worst part was, knowing Galaxius, there was no way could you get something out of him if he didn’t want to talk about it himself.

Andrei also felt uncomfortable because his proud ally had rejected his help. Despite the fact that he ran away from home, he was ready at any moment to call on his father’s help for his friend. And he refused, and for Androsov that was unusual. People were usually only too grateful for his social position and connections, but it was like they meant nothing to Alexander. Sometimes he got the impression that the man only respected the personal strength and qualities of others, not their Family.

Sure, he called Goldsmith right away, of course, and Rafael would certainly solve the matter, but he could have done more.

Although... The words his friend whispered into his ear before he was taken away partly explained his actions.

Remember, Andy! Parents aren’t forever! Be glad you have them, but be ready for the day when you have to get yourself out of things! It’ll come sooner or later! Think about that...

Count Androsov thought about it.