The conference room was silent in the aftermath of the battle with Talia and the determination squad.
Seeing that video gave everyone a huge eye-opener. Not just on Talia, but on the rest of the Seven Blessed from Heaven in general.
These kids, they're all monsters and they've been hiding more of their power than we thought.
"Who would've thought that the aloof and regal Phoenix Princess would be so vicious." Zamir said, speaking everyone else's thoughts in the room as he turned and looked at Tala, "Like mother like daughter huh?" he asked with a smile.
Tala frowned, "I had no idea that Talia was hiding her cultivation but it seems that we were all fooled." Tala said but none of us believed her. She was known for her schemes and her ability to play men but her fame in that department couldn't compare to Rastia who had no shame in letting all know her deeds.
"But that leaves the question if Talia was hiding that much stronger than what about the others?" Treysin asked and all of us felt chill down our spines.
Talia was a peak Heavenly Transformation Realm expert but she toyed with that squad like a fool. Core Disciples of the Immortal Blood Sect are said to be monsters, those guys have Realm of Dao battle prowess even though they are in Heavenly Transformation and Talia easily slaughtered them like rats. The only reason Nen was even able to put her in that position was that he had the drop on her and his mysterious soul artes.
"Is this why the sect sent those squads to kill all of them?" Leonel, that fool asked.
"Impossible." Zamir denied without any hesitation, "If they knew then the squads they sent would've run deep with experts in the Realm of Dao. They would not take any chances, you can even see based on how the squads were reacting when they found their targets. There was only fear, shock, and confusion on their face."
I nodded my head in agreement, "So we can all agree that the Immortal Blood Sect has decided to make this move because they either have a backing that makes them not fear the royals or they have found a treasure that they were willing to go to war with the royals over it." I said while giving Mizuki and Irani a look, seeing them react differently to what I said, I didn't know whether to be relieved or scared.
"We all knew that." Kirean said and then looked in a certain direction, "In fact. I think that we even met the secret backer today."
"Huh?" I sounded and then followed his gaze and my eyes stopped at the chair empty chair that devil Alucard was sitting in.
"Hakari said something to him and then he disappeared. I wonder what it was." I questioned and went through scenarios in my head.
Alucard was always calm, cool, and always smiling. Things a typical devil would do. I hate dealing with devils, even though I've killed a lot of them that doesn't remove the fact that they are feared for their intelligence and schemes. it's things like this that make me so fearful of the Fallen, beings who see demons and devils as their dogs.
"Talia, what did you offer Hakari for him to go save your daughter? Even I can't get that grandson of mine to move. Tell me the sauce, it seems I must learn." Kirean asked in a respectful tone, like a disciple asking their master for guidance.
"Please, Hakari stopped listening to your request right when you asked him your very first one. Which helped set you up with the empress. Your shamelessness has no bound father, asking your grandson for booty, booty that belongs to the emperor no less." Treyson chided.
Kirean's dark skin took a shade of red from anger and embarrassment, "You unfilial brat. See how I, your father deals with you."
"But that does interest me and I believe I speak for everyone here?" I asked and nodded my head as everyone nodded in agreement and I turned back to Tala, "What did you offer him? He is not easy to convince, you had to have paid a serious price for his help." I said with my intent pricing Tala with my gaze in an attempt to know more.
Hakari is not someone you just order around. Even I fear that monster, though I'll never admit it, even when I'm on death's doorstep. For a Dark Phoenix, one of the most prideful creatures in Genesis to ask a Black Dragon for help is shocking and it's more shocking that Hakari did it. We didn't even know he left the conference room until we saw him on the screen.
Tala frowned, being pressured by the rest of the heads of the Federation but like a true empress her face returned to elegance and indifference and she responded, "Instead of asking me about my deal with Hakari why don't you all ask me the question that is really on your minds. If the Talia is that strong, then how strong is the rest of the seven, specifically Hakari?" she asked with a smile while the rest of us froze.
She was right, I would be lying if all of us were not interested in his real strength. We have never seen Hakari battle, the most we know about him are the massacres he has carried out in the past.
"If you all wanted to know so bad you could've just asked." Said the voice of Hakari as he materialized in the conference room in a sea of scarlet black nodes with a calm smile on his face as his scarlet eyes glowed with an evil feeling.