Ralph left with a dark face. After his character had completely disappeared from the party, Aobashi smiled broadly and said, "Well done, Bryan!"
Aobashi and Erebus did not get on well with Ralph. It was easy to see why they supported Han Shuo's actions. As soon as Ralph left, they began to praise Han Shuo.
"Bryan, this Ralph has always been arrogant. Don't take it too seriously," Erebus comforted him. Then he let out a slight groan and said, "His Second Corps has been on top of me for too long. I'll make sure that doesn't happen again!"
"Save it. Your Third Corps is no match for him. The Second Corps is formidable in team combat. If my First Corps has no confidence in defeating them, what hope does your Third Corps have?" said Aobashi with a sweet smile. She clearly did not think that Erebus' Divine Guards could defeat Ralph's.
The leaders of the City of Shadows' Divine Guards knew each other's strengths well. Their divine guards had fought against each other many times in the Centennial Tournament, and they knew each other's level of strength. It was clear to Aobashi that Erebus' divine guards were hopeless against Ralph's.
"Bryan, this Ralph is not easy to handle. But since we're all Divine Guard Chiefs, he wouldn't dare make trouble for you in private. Don't take what just happened too seriously. His main goal in coming here is to lower our morale while he tries to learn about our situation. When the time comes to fight, I'll make sure he gets a good beating! Aobashi said to Han Shuo.
Han Shuo nodded with a smile. He knew that both Aobashi and Erebus had taken his claims as nothing more than conceited, nonsensical words just to enrage Ralph. The two of them did not believe that Han Shuo's Fifth Corps had any chance of defeating Ralph's Second Corps.
Soon after, Han Shuo decided he had had enough chitchat for the day and left the party.
Carmelita happily followed him out. As soon as they had left Aobashi and Erebus, she remarked, "Bryan, you really are discreet when it comes to displaying your strength!"
Han Shuo had never demonstrated his mighty strength to Carmelita all this time. Although Andre and Wallace had told her a few things, and she had learned about Han Shuo's beating of Portlem in the Celestial Pearl banquet hall, Carmelita had never seen Han Shuo in action, and so she had never really treated Han Shuo as a peer.
But now, finally, Carmelita had witnessed with her own eyes how Han Shuo had made Ralph stumble backwards with one little punch. It was very surprising to her, considering that Ralph's strength was one realm above hers!
For no apparent reason, Carmelita suddenly found herself in a cheerful mood. She remembered when they first met and thought it was no wonder Han Shuo had managed to survive and even save her from danger when all the divine guards were killed in that treacherous mountain range.
It turned out that he was a formidable expert who had been hiding his true strength all along!
Not knowing how to respond to Carmelita's pleasantly surprised looks, Han Shuo forced a smile. He did not know how to explain this to Carmelita. Han Shuo could try to be honest and tell her that he only possessed Lowgod strength when he joined their mission in this mountain range. But if Han Shuo said that, not only Carmelita, but no one in the world would believe his words.
This was because no one in Elysium had ever managed to ascend from the Lowgod Realm to the Highgod Realm in such a short time!
"Carmelita, that Ralph really has an attitude. I didn't expect that he wouldn't even give you a face!" said Han Shuo, trying to change the subject.
Anger could be seen immediately on Carmelita's face as she was about to ask Han Shuo something. She replied, "This guy is a mad dog that my father keeps! He will bite anyone he sees - as long as that person is not my father. However, no one can deny that the guy has outstanding strength and is very capable. Even his Divine Guards of the Second Corps are amazingly strong. He always manages to somehow solve all the difficult problems facing the city. Therefore, even though he is as wild as a mad dog, his position in the city remains unshaken!"
Han Shuo had heard many rumours about Ralph. Wallace, the City Lord, would assign Ralph some of the most dangerous, sensitive and despicable missions critical to the City of Shadows. And Ralph would not disappoint the City Lord. He would accomplish all the mission objectives as required. It was also why Wallace trusted him more than any other Divine Guard leader, so much so that Wallace even dismissed Carmelita's complaints against Ralph.
"Don't worry, after the competition, Ralph will learn to behave!" Han Shuo put on an unruffled face and said confidently, "My Fifth Corps will defeat his Second Corps in the team competition!"
Carmelita was astonished to hear Han Shuo make such a claim. She did not know where Han Shuo's confidence came from. Although Carmelita was sceptical about Han Shuo's claim, as Han Shuo had just taken a swipe at Ralph for her, she did not express her doubts, but patted Han Shuo's shoulders with a smile and said, "It's up to you!"
Han Shuo nodded. Shortly after, the two of them parted ways. Han Shuo returned to the Fifth Corps campsite while Carmelita returned to the Central Region campsite where Wallace and Andre were staying.
*** In the middle of a lush forest in the southeastern region of the Soaring Cloud Mountain Range stood a large number of emerald green camps. They were the temporary shelters for the Divine Guards of the Second Corps.
Ralph flew back to his camp with a sombre face. On his return, Kiffan, the captain of the company that would represent the Second Corps in the contest, stepped forward, bowed slightly and asked, "What ails you, my lord?"
Kiffan was an illegitimate child from a small family clan where he had suffered endless years of abuse and torture. There was only hate in his heart and malice in his mind. Boundless as his hatred was, he lacked the strength to take revenge on his own. This changed when he met his mentor. Ralph took him into his Second Corps, seeing the rage and bloodlust in Kiffan's eyes. He trained Kiffan and helped him wipe out the family clan that had caused him so much pain. He watched as Kiffan slowly killed his own father.
After Ralph helped Kiffan get his revenge, he submitted completely to Ralph and took Ralph as his master. He served Ralph faithfully for countless years, going through fire and water for him. Kiffan was also responsible for training the new recruits of the Second Corps with extreme and insane methods. There was no regard for their lives. At the cost of tremendous injury and death, the Divine Guards of the Second Corps were transformed into bloodthirsty, deadly beasts.
"I have met the head of the Fifth Corps - the one the rumours are about," Ralph replied in a sinister voice.
A corner of Kiffan's lip curled in icy contempt. He said, "That apothecary from Celestial Pearl? What does he know? He should be making medicine in his room instead of running the Fifth Corps! How foolish of him to enter this competition in the first place. He needs to learn his place! My Lord, have you taught him a lesson?"
Ralph's face suddenly turned cold, as if he remembered how Han Shuo had knocked him back with a single punch. Ralph replied in a cold, loud voice, "He has declared that he will defeat our Second Corps and the company you lead will lose to his!"
Kiffan was stunned. After a long moment, he snapped out of his daze and grinned sinisterly, "What a funny boy. Our Second Corps has stood tall and unchallenged in the City of Shadows for many years. Does he think he can surpass us and unseat us right after becoming Chief? How absurd!"
"In every competition, every team is bound by a quota - a maximum number of casualties they can cause. Kiffan, when you face the Fifth Corps later in the competition, you may exceed the quota. I will deal with the consequences!"
Kiffan was startled. He immediately knew that Ralph must really be angry with the Celestial Pearl Pharmacist. Otherwise, Ralph would never have disobeyed Wallace's order to kill more divine guards of the Fifth Guard than the rules allowed.
Kiffan was a blind follower of Ralph. His loyalty was to Ralph, not to Wallace. Therefore, Kiffan did not object to Ralph's order. Quickly recovering from the shock, he nodded and replied, "Understood, my lord. As soon as the Fifth Corps crosses our path, I will make them pay the price for insulting Your Lordship!"
"Excellent!" replied Ralph, his mood suddenly brightening. It was as if he could already smell the blood of the Fifth Corps Divine Guards as they were being destroyed.
At the same time, on the other side of the mountain range, Han Shuo smiled grimly and said to himself, "So there is such a thing as a body count quota. Hehehe, Ralph, Oh Ralph, let's see who has a higher number of casualties!"
Han Shuo immediately gathered Sanguis, Gilbert, Bollands and Barnard to give them some secret instructions.
Three days later, the Seven Divine Guard Chiefs and their men gathered in the central region of the mountain range. Wallace and the patriarchs of all the major clans were present. In their centre, on one of the viewing platforms, was a huge oval sand table. The terrain of the Soaring Cloud Mountains was reflected on the sand table. It was also filled with numerous markers and many red and blue lines.
Ralph had been staring at Han Shuo with cold eyes since the moment Han Shuo had appeared. There was no hiding the hostility in his eyes. Wallace, Andre and others noticed it and took note of it.
Han Shuo, meanwhile, completely ignored Ralph's unfriendly looks. He chatted in low voices with Aobashi and Erebus. They laughed loudly or shouted from time to time. Obviously, Han Shuo was not the least bit affected by Ralph's hostile looks.
Andre looked at Han Shuo and then at Ralph from the distance of his platform. His eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Wallace had been talking to the other three patriarchs of the great family clans. Finally, he stepped onto the stage and raised a hand to get the attention of the crowd. As everyone looked at him in silence, Wallace began a motivational speech before leading the crowd in a kowtow and prayer to the Overgod of Darkness.
Every century, just before the competition begins, a simple ceremony is held to worship the Overgod of Darkness. Everyone was used to it and followed Wallace's lead in kowtowing. Han Shuo, however, was not so willing. The Overlord of Darkness was not the god Han Shuo worshipped and he felt he had no reason to be so humble. Seeing that no one was looking at him, he did not kneel on the ground, but merely bowed his body slightly.
Han Shuo thought that no one would notice his sinful act of disrespecting the Darkness Overlord. But as the ceremony came to an end and he was ready to stand up straight, he suddenly noticed Ralph watching him coldly from a distance. He sneered as if he had caught Han Shuo in the act.