[Well, are you just going to stand there? That guy is waiting for you to show up, you know.]
[... Oh God, please save me.]
<... You have a God that you worship!? How amazing.>
[...]
[... It's not as easy as that. There are barriers that will prevent you from advancing.]
[You have to pass the Towers of Ascensions. Each rank has a tower of Ascension, except for God rank. Basically, it's a tower where you have to pass many of it stages for you to advance your rank. The requirement to go fight in the Tower of Ascensions is level 5,000. There are 100 stages for each Tower of Ascensions and you need to pass at least 60 stages to rank up and the higher the score you have, the more benefits you get when you rank up. Equipments and skills will have their effects halved in the Deva rank Towers of Ascensions but base stats will be doubled.]
[Yes.]
[... Wait.]
[You're not supposed to know that until you're level 5,000! AHHH! You freaking blackmailed me into giving you information that would give you an advantage! NOOOO!]
<...>
[That's it! I need to report you!]
[For blackmailing information out of me!]
[I don't care! You tricked me into telling you!]
<...>
[That's it, I'm reporting you!]
[That's... impossible?]
[N-no... way.]
[... Fine. I'll let you off this time.]
[...]
[... As if I'm going anywhere.]
Clinton pushed open the door and walked in. There was an old man sitting on a chair in the room. It was the same old man that Clinton had just talked to. "Hello?"
"Yes, welcome," said the old man. "Before we talk, I need to make sure that no one is listening." The door that Clinton had just walked through slammed close by itself. Then, lines that made up beautiful patterns and drawings appeared in the room and lit up. The lines faded after a few seconds. "Well, that's good enough."
"You couldn't just have told me in that crystal ball."
"Just to be safe. We can't afford having my kins learning about the stolen treasure and panicking over the stolen treasure and turn everything chaotic."
"Huh. Why don't you just have them help go for it and inform them that the city can run just fine without it and there is no need for panic."
"..."
"But isn't that the truth? You told me the city could hang on for some time. Plus, wouldn't it be better if more of your kins were helping out? Even if your power did get weakened in the water, can't you make it up with numbers?"
The old man coughed. "You see, quantity doesn't always beat quality, and that is the same as in this case."
"But surely you could of asked some water-dwellers to help you?"
"None of them are strong enough to take on the thief."
"You're lying. There's no way that the thief is the strongest beast in the River."
The old man coughed again. "Well, you see, although there are beasts that can actually beat the thief, they are not willing to help us."
"Yeah, you're just flat out lying at this point. I feel like you are just making excuses right now and there is some other reason you and your kins can't go inside the Starlight River and another reason why you can't ask other water-dwellers to help your empire."
"..."
"Do not worry, I will help you."
"You have my most sincere gratitude," the old man bowed.
"Of course, it isn't without a cost."
"... Speak. What is it that you want?"
"I want to borrow your national treasure for a week."
"Is that all you want?"
"Yes. That is all I need for my payment."
"This..."
"I think there is no problem, no? Your empire can run perfectly without the national treasure for years, so there is no problem with lending it to me for a week, no?"
"Very well. I will grant you permission to use our national treasure for a week if you can help us get it back."