After making all the preparations for lunch, Elissa was waiting for aran to arrive. Since she couldn't talk to him about the deal the last time, due to all the things that happened; She wanted to do it this time no matter what.
As she was waiting, she heard someone knocking on the door. As she instantly walked towards there and opened the door, expecting Aran, what waited for her outside, was a big surprise!
Elissa had invited aran to personally talk about their deal. But what she saw was his whole teaming waiting outside fully dressed up.
Without showing her feelings outside, she just invited them inside.
***
As aran got inside Elissa's residence with his remaining teammates, he saw that the residence was almost five times bigger than the one they had gotten.
It seemed like a whole mansion itself and it was filled with all kinds of fancy lighting and appliances.
As he was looking at the room with amazement, Elissa said
" This is a high-ranked residence. Only given to the top three ranked teams of the last tournament. I heard that Reinfred have a battle tomorrow. If he wins that, you might get third place in the tournament and next year your residence will be as big as this. It's amazing, isn't it? "
" Yes, it is! " Aran replied.
As all of the teammates looked around the residence with Elissa explaining the things there, something seemed weird to them. Because they found that, there wasn't anyone else except for them. Looking at that Alexia asked,
" So, where are your teammates? "
" Ohh, they, they couldn't come. Something important came up for them at the last minute. "
Elissa said. But in reality, she had told her teammates, not to disturb them while she and aran have lunch. She had made all the arrangements to impress aran and make him forgive her mistake in the last mission and make him accept the sword techniques deal.
" What could be more important for them than listening to their captain? " Alexia asked since he was still a little suspicious.
But Elissa didn't want to continue talking about that, so she immediately changed the subject.
" You have met them, you know how they are right? But forget that. It's good that you guys are here, otherwise, we would have been here all alone. Come on, let's have lunch. "
She said and took them all to another room, which had an enormous dining table filled with all kinds of foods. As everyone got there Elissa said
" Take seat everyone!" and the others sat down at the table.
"Let's start! " when Elissa said this suddenly, Alexia asked.
" What? Just like that? "
" Yes! I am starving! I have been waiting for aran to come. So, come on, grab a plate. " She said and even started eating.
But for the others, it felt really weird. Although they knew Elissa is usually weird, they all waited for her to talk to aran about the help in return. But Elissa didn't talk and she remained silent until she finished her lunch.
After finishing lunch they all went back to the residence hall with Elissa and sat down on the couch at the centre of the hall room, expecting that she might talk about that.
***
As they all sat on the couch, facing each other, Alexia started the conversation by greeting Elissa.
" Thank you for the lunch! "
"You're welcome! "
Alexia said. Soon she turned towards aran and continue.
" And about the thing, we talked about,"
But Before Elissa could finish, Alexia asked
" What thing? "
" Huh, nothing. I, I was just asking him about his pet! " Elissa said since she couldn't find anything to say.
" What about his pet? "
" You know, It's different from most pets! "
Now that Alexia thought about that she also thought the same about aran's cat.
" Ohh, right. "
" Yeah, as I was saying,"
Elissa was about to continue to talk but suddenly,
" Kreeeeek"
Everyone heard the door of the residence opening.
'Those stupid bastards! They couldn't do one thing I told them to! ' Elissa thought as she turned towards the door, thinking that it was her teammates entering the residence since the others would have knocked on the door. But to her surprise, it wasn't her teammates!
****
As the door opened, a strange man in a knight's clothing was standing outside!
Although others couldn't recognize him, Elissa knew exactly who he was.
He was the personal guard of her father!
As the Knight moved to his right, William Bryde, the patriarch of the Bryde family and the father of Elissa slowly walked in.
Everyone in that room was shocked because everyone except aran knew who he was.
As they all saw him, they immediately got up from their seats in shock and aran, who was confused also got up. As the patriarch walked towards them, everyone bowed and greeted him. Aran also did the same.
" Rise! " William said and soon the others rose their heads.
" So? who are these people? " He asked looking at Elissa, about aran and his teammates.
" They are my friend's father! From the phoenix academy. " Elissa said calmly.
As aran heard the word 'Father ' he looked at William with shock.
A man who was in his fifties and had the peak of the master stage cultivation. With the earth wind attribute, he seemed extremely strong. Even while his cultivation was being hidden by a seal, He still had a terrifying aura.
" Ohh, the phoenix academy, I have heard a lot about your academy. It's nice to meet you "
" Thank you, sir! " Captain immediately replied since he was the captain of the team.
" Well, if you don't mind, there is something I need to talk to my daughter about, so can you wait outside for a minute? " William asked.
"It's fine sir. We came here for the lunch. We were just about to leave.
Nice to meet you, sir. So, until next time Elissa! " Reinfred said and slowly walked away from the room and his teammates followed him after saying goodbye to Elissa.
As all of them got out, the Knight who opened the door, immediately closed the door from outside.
It seemed there was going to be a serious conversation in the room. Without waiting there even for a second, the captain and the team immediately went back to their residence.
***
" In happy to see you father.Although I didn't expect you to come here before the final battles, "
" So do I. But how can I help not coming here, when I have a daughter whose only goal in life is, to do everything her father tells her not to? " William said seriously.
" What? What happened, father? Is there any problem? "
" Problem, You ask? Here is something. Someone was so stupid to attack the base of the dark creed and the cult wants revenge now! Is that problem enough? "
' That, How did he know that this early? ' Elissa thought, as she asked,
" But father how did you? "
" How did I ? did you think I wouldn't know it?
Tell me why? Why would you ever do something like that? And who were those bastards who helped you? "
" Father I can explain! "
" THEN EXPLAIN! I am listening. "
William said with a terrifying voice and his tone started to get louder and scary. It was as if he was talking to an enemy rather than his daughter. His voice alone made the whole residence tremble, and Elissa realised she can't help it now.
" I took a mercenary mission, but I didn't know they belonged to the dark creed until I came across the targets. It's just that, I couldn't control myself after knowing that the people who killed my squad members are living peacefully without any issues and causing more problems! "
" So, you destroyed one of their towers and the defensive formation worth millions. Killed almost thirty people and wounded more than forty bandits. And even declared war against them?
I am not asking why did you do it, daughter, What I am asking is where did you even get the courage to do something like that? "
' Destroying the towers, formation, What is he even talking about?' Before she could ask her father, William continued.
" And who were those Lightning cultivators who helped you? And how did you even get them to go against the dark creed? "
" Father, it's true that I acted on my emotions. And I am sorry about that. But I didn't destroy any towers and there weren't any Lightning cultivators with me."
" What? Are you saying the intel I got is wrong? "
" Why would I lie to you? I only entered the base to get the bandits alive to complete the mission. But in the middle, I messed things up and had to kill some of them to defend myself. That's it. I don't know what you are talking about ! "
"That's it? Then who were all the cultivators accompanied you.? "
" There was only one guy with me. And he is not a Lightning cultivator. But forgive me. I can't say who he is! Because I already risked his life once. And that's it. I sincerely apologize for what I have done father, and I am ready to take any punishment for it! "
Although William was angry about Elissa, hearing her, it didn't seem like she was lying. So, he realised that there were more things about the attack than what he found.
Soon he started to wonder if the intel was wrong. He wondered if what her daughter said was true and if someone else has involved in that and was trying to blame it on the bryde family. After thinking for a moment, he decided to complete the investigation before questioning her daughter.
" Fine. I am leaving this here for now. But remember, This is not the end! And also you are going back to Eastbourne today, for further investigation!"
William said and he left the residence with a lot of questions in his mind.
As he got out, he asked his guards to start a thorough investigation once again. After saying that, he headed to the royal palace of the Cardinal family.