Passing by the road, Kale felt slight vibrations from his bag, he put his hand inside and took out his phone, the LED indicator on it was continuously blinking showing the notification received after he entered the network zone.
He removed the screen lock and checked the missed calls, there were 34 missed calls and a mail, the mail was from Riyan, his dad and the missed calls were from Layla.
'Did sky fell or earth split? What the heck does this girl wants from me?' Kale shook his head, he was just about to put it back into his pocket when the phone vibrated and started to ring.
It was an incoming call from Layla.
Kale thought about it and picked up the call, he was about to speak but Layla's voice came from the other side the second the call was connected.
{Hey, you are finally alive again,} (Layla)
{I was always alive, the people surrounding me died though,} Kale replied lazily.
{Yeah, yeah, you probably killed them lol. Now tell me, why weren't you picking up calls since yesterday,} Layla said jokingly.
{Indeed, I was in the hunting zone without signals with a few new friends, that's why, but why so many calls?} (Kale)
{Seems like you are not updated, you should check the Academy App sometimes. I will briefly explain about it, you know about the Torchbearer Rookie Competition that happens in Fallen Unicorn City every decade?} Layla asked.
{The competition that happens once in every ten years to provide the stage for new genius practitioners to show their talent, and discover the future leaders of the kingdom,} Kale said while he thought 'That's the bullshit they tell people, but in the end, it's a competition for aristocrats to keep their mental pressure on commoners, to show that their bloodline has higher innate talent by whatever means possible, find new capable soldiers to strengthen their forces and also check out the new generation in rival families while at it,'
{Yes, anyone under a certain age and cultivation base can participate in it, and its main event requires participation as a team, I believe you should have also reached Tier 2, so why don't we participate together?} Layla said.
'Participate in a bratty competition that is based on fame? I don't have time to waste our such a thing,' Kale thought, hence he replied {You can ask Arlo or Alice for that, I'm not interested, cya later,}
{Hey, wait wait, lemme finish the first idiot, this time the Hero chosen by our kingdom has invited the Heroes of the other three alliance kingdoms for friendly get together, and because of that, the importance of the competition has increased by a few times, that's why Academy has given out a notice that anyone who participates and gets a good ranking in the competition can skip one test.
You have already completed two tests, if you get a good ranking with me, you will be able to skip the third one too. Furthermore, the prizes would change depending on your subclass, if we win then we will surely get a good amount of resources and attention from the Academy,}
Kale's steps slowed down, Elza and others also slowed down to match his pace.
'Skip one more test? The faster I graduate from Academy the better it would be, as for resources, now that I have reached Tier 2 I can't keep using Tier 1 spells, I have Tier 2 spells but they are not for combat, I can't use Battle Qi most of the time, because showing high-level Martial Techniques is not the best idea, as for mutant trait… Mutants are best at using technical equipment but I don't have a single piece of equipment that is mainly made for mutants, should I participate?' Kale thought.
{When is it?} Kale asked.
{Woah, you agree, right? It's around 2 weeks later, you should be able to come here in that much time, call me once you are here, and don't go back on your words now, oh the network here is bad if you are rejecting I can't hear you, Bla~ Bla~ Bla~ my voice is getting cut, listen if you don't come, you would be responsible for my failure, oh my network died, Baiii~} Layla disconnected the call as soon as she finished speaking.
Kale's lips twitched as he looked at his phone's screen.
'Bad network my ass, Fallen Unicorn City has the biggest technology trade market that can influence the whole kingdom, even generation old phone models will give full signal there,' Kale shook his head.
"Fallen Unicorn City is an expensive place, is going there just for a competition even worth it?" Xaxa asked out of nowhere.
Kale looked at her and faintly smiled "Leave the thinking to me, you just need to follow,"
"Humph, whatever," Xaxa snorted but didn't say anything.
She didn't want to accept it but the incidents earlier and Elza had thoroughly explained to her that Kale is more formidable than their previous group leader, he can kill them if they disobey him, that's why she was following Elza's advice and maintaining the contract. According to them, unless they break the rules of the contract, Kale could do nothing to them, they knew about the loopholes but had no idea how dangerous were they for them.
Kale looked in front and saw that they were already in front of the Town Lord Mansion, the same two old guards were standing outside the door.
When the guards saw Kale, their expression became respectful, they knew how their lord invited him in hastily last time, they had no inside information that's why they didn't know about other things.
They were also fearful thinking about the bribe they once took from Kale, but seeing that he didn't mention it, they felt grateful instead.
"Tell your lord, some friends have come to visit him," Kale said with a kind smile.
The young guard nodded "Please wait here for a while, I will go tell the lord,"
After saying that much, he hurriedly rushed into the manor and informed an inner guard who went further in to inform the Lord.
***
Town Lord Mansion, Dining room.
Enan was having dinner with his family that included, Dale his son, Rachael his daughter, Serene his wife.
The long dining table was filled with several kinds of dishes, Enan set on the leftmost side while his second wife Serene sat near his right, his son and daughter were on the farther left.
Rachael was younger than Dale, she had black hair and a slim figure, her taste was more into jewellery and fashion, with not much interest in cultivation, it was why even after a considerable amount of investment she was barely an average Tier 2 Wind Mage.
Serene, her stepmother, was a beautiful woman of noble blood, who knew how to coax a man, she had long curly black hair and brown eyes that complimented them, she had a charismatic smile that went well with her seductive figure, although she was a middle-aged woman, she knew well how to maintain her body.
Rachael and Dale were not her real children, they were her stepdaughter and stepson. Enan's first wife was not a talented practitioner, so she failed to break through to Tier 3 with a good foundation, she died due to a disease once she got old, soon after, Enan married his second wife. As he had only one male heir, he spent a lot of resources and money on him to increase his cultivation base fast as possible and fend off the wolves who were after his property by planning to marry his daughter.
"It's a chance for you to get in contact with the younger generation and even meet the Hero if the situation allows it, that's why you will be heading there, as for your sister, with Royal Princess beside him there is not much hope of catching his eye so there is no need for you to go," Enan said in a serious tone as he shook the wine glass in his hand.
Dale looked hesitantly at his father, he wanted to decline but he knew, he couldn't. His sister was also quiet, she acted like a third party who had nothing to do with it, rather than participating in the discussion, she seemed eager to leave the room as soon as possible.
"Son, your father is right, this task is very important for our family and your future as the next lord of the house, you should go," Serene said in a polite tone.
Dale stared at her from the corner of his eyes and gave a light snort.
Enan noticed it and snorted "Didn't you hear what your mother said?"
"No need to be so forceful dear, it's all right," Serene said in a worrisome tone.
"I- I will go," Dale spoke just after her.
Seeing him agreeing, Dale's mood softened "Good, I will make preparations for your departure-"
Thump... Thump... Thump...
Enan was still speaking when his main butler walked in, it was an old man with white hairs wearing a black tuxedo.
"What happened? The town got attacked by bandits or monster stampede, what was it that made you disturb us while eating?" Enan asked in a bad tone.
"Lord... Things are a little problematic," The butler said in a hesitative tone, he then walked closer to him and whispered something in his ear.
When Enan listened to his words, his expression changed several times, he then stood up abruptly and headed out of the room.
"Is everything all right dear?" Serene asked as he left, but Enan wasn't in the mood to reply.
On the way, Enan took long strides, seemly almost running, to rush to the main door, the second he arrived at the location, he saw Kale standing there with a smile that made him look harmless by nature.
A Tier 3 Martial Artist was standing on his both sides, Fynn on right and Elza on left, the two dwarf sisters were also there behind them.
"It's been a while... Town Lord," Kale said in a polite tone, Enan just stared at him and didn't reply.
"You seem... Surprised?" Kale added with an increase in tone by the end of the sentence.
The change in tone, brought Enan out of his daze "No, I was just thinking something... Why are you here, this month's gift has already been sent,"
'How is he alive, why haven't they killed him yet? Not completing the task after taking the whole payment, and this new woman too... Did something happen? No, even if there were two Tier 3 protecting him, that group had a veteran Tier 4 Martial Artist as the leader. A Tier 4 infamous assassin that can't kill a brat? Useless people,' Enan inwardly thought.
He didn't meet Elza before that's why he had no idea that she was the member of the group he hired to assassinate Kale.
She didn't hide her aura, that's why it was easier to sense her life level, as for Fynn, Enan knew about him since long ago because he was the one who used to come for taking money every month.
"Haha... We can talk about the gift later, my friends here wanted to meet you, so I brought them here for lunch, I hope we are not intruding," Kale said as he walked inside the door by his side, the others started to follow behind him.
"Wait, where are you going? Stop!" Enan applied some force to jump back and arrived in front of Kale in two long steps.
Kale stopped smiling and looked at him with a half confused face "Stop? Why should I? What would you do, If I don't, call another Nura Clan?"
Enan was ready to refute with a comeback but the second he heard the words Nura Clan, he was tongue-tied and his eyelids twitched "What are you saying?" Enan instinctively asked in a louder tone.
"Who knows," Kale stretched his words in the reply, as he scanned through the guards who were curiously listening to their conversation.
Enan came to himself, he realized he just lost his calm.
While he was thinking, Kale took a step to the side and continued on the way, Enan didn't stop him this time.
He also turned and started walking in the same direction.
Kale was heading in the direction of his office room like before, so he knew where the conversation would take place, but when it was the last corner, Kale took a right turn.
"Where are you going?" Enan instantly asked.
"Didn't I say, I am here for lunch," Kale said without stopping as he sniffed the aroma in the air.
Enan wanted to stop but he was hesitating, due to the words Kale said earlier.
Before he could reach any conclusion, Kale reached the dining room.
The second he got in, he saw the table decorated with different kinds of delicacies and the three diners having their meal.
Kale looked at Dale, Racheal then his eyes stopped at Serene, looking at her from top to bottom without a care in the world.
Dale, who was looking at Kale's clothes and face trying to figure out his identity saw his actions and got angry, He spoke in a loud tone "Who are you?"
Kale turned to him and smirked "Me? Devil to some and Angel to others, but..." After saying that he paused for a second before continuing "You don't worth anything in both categories,"