"President Aurelius, we have found traces of abyssal sorcery in the vicinity of the explosion in Zara. We can now conclude that the abyssals and demons are working together."
The silver-eyed spatial magic specialist, Vice President Argentium, reported directly to his superior. In a room that resembled a sanctum of magic and arcane, ten shadows sat in a half-moon arrangement. These shadows and projections formed a team of the "ten" cabinet members.
The names and affiliations of these members were unknown to the public, as they were all appointed anonymously or had questionable reputations that could bring intense scrutiny to the president.
'The Ten' were an enigma in the Republic since the people only knew of them because each president has their own group of unknown individuals who safeguards the nation's interests.
The current president's Ten cabinet members had always followed the motto of 'the means do not matter to achieve an end.'
Everything they had done was for the good of the nation, but sometimes there were sacrifices that would make people question where their loyalties lie.
Some critics would whisper in the shadows if it was for the people? Or for a person? Their reputation would have gone a hit if the president ever failed in protecting his people or wasn't a competent leader.
President Aurelium was anything but incompetent. His policies and strong desire to make the Republic the greatest nation in its history is unparalleled.
Nonetheless, all members of the cabinet gained the complete trust of the President and his Vice. Along with their unquestionable competence in their fields of intelligence, surveillance, defense, and threat elimination, the Republic could rely on them for safekeeping their order and peace.
But for now, The Ten is a specter that will hunt anyone who dares to harm the Republic.
The president is known for his meritocracy and appreciation of all talents regardless of their upbringing, clan, or lineage. There were even rumors of the president having subordinates from other races.
Some even accused him of having a demon in his cabinet.
But that man was sent to the prison of Stormhaven where he was never to be seen again.
"I want it checked again if they only mimicked abyssal sorcery or have joined hands together."
A voice from one of the ten shadows gave out a neutral pitch that couldn't determine a gender replied, "The detection seals I've placed in Zara were of rank 7 - Saint level. There is nothing that could fool my seals in the material plane. If there were, then there's no point in making camouflage like that. They could have just destroyed the whole world with Immortal level magic."
"The seals in Zara showed the fusion of abyssal magic and demonic magic at a rank 6 sacred level where only a Malefic General could cast was confirmed, president."
The president nodded and trusted the voice of the confirmation and asked, "Is there anyone who could reach Northern Thiodan in less than 24 hours?"
Another voice from the shadow came out, and this time, the man's voice was distinguishable with a hint of low growl that is unique to the beast race.
He replied in a casual tone, as if the president was his long-time friend, "Aurelius, I'm having a dinner with Yuanwu later, maybe you could join us."
"Your offer is much appreciated, Nikita. But the situation wouldn't allow me to leave the Halls of Paragon at the moment. I want you to ask Yuanwu to divine the rivers of fate and see if there are changes in the Path."
President Aurelius didn't mind the casual tone of Nikita, even if he was a direct subordinate as a member of the Ten.
"Your wish is my command, Aurelius!" A guffaw of playfulness and admiration came out from Nikita as he disappeared from the conference hall.
Aurelius scratched his face as his old friend's habit never changed. His face turned serious in less than a blink on an eye and asked, "Little Quercus, give me an update on your situation."
——
It was afternoon in Ziront in the estate of Zemof where the master and disciple could be seen eating pastries and tea on a veranda.
"Before we go to the capital and determine what your talents truly are, I want you to learn some of the terminologies that aren't usually written in the books. Some of them are recently classified and spread to the republic, and you wouldn't have seen them in the library since I last updated it 800 years ago."
"I'm having a hard time wrapping around my head what your definition of 'recent' is, Master Horace."
A metal bat appeared in Horace's hand, and he let it drop to the floor. As soon as the bat hit the floor, it went straight through it and the whole estate shook from its impact.
The cup of tea that Kyrian was holding in his hand splashed in his face, and he looked at his master in incredulity. He was just speaking his mind! What was that for?
Horace continued like nothing happened from his veiled… not so veiled threat.
"Perhaps you know the rankings and the levels, and the known limits of the material plane."
Kyrian wiped his face and took a bite from a cheesecake. He replied while he was enjoying its sweet taste, not minding the prank or punishment his master made, "I know that there are 7 achievable ranks in the material plane, and the world prevents anyone from reaching rank 8. Although there were records that had shown that there are people who can break usual conventions and release power levels reaching rank 8."
"Correct. That hasn't changed for as long as the records had shown."
"There are seven ranks in the material plane, starting from rank 1, they are classified as basic, intermediate, advance, expert, master, sacred, and saint. It is said that above the saint level is the immortal level or rank 8. There are some ancient texts that there are ranks above immortal stage, but as of now, it is treated as a legend."
"So as of now, I'm in Intermediate rank that has a mana core supposedly unique to those in Advance level or rank 3."
"We're going to Arcana to confirm that. My specialties lie in MagiTech and Steel Puppetry, and I couldn't really determine your situation a hundred percent. As for me, I'm in the middle of Saint level, or also known as Rank 7. I almost stand at the peak of this world. So don't worry about anything happening to me. You'll never get harmed as long as I'm your master."
"You're setting a big flag here, master."
"What flag are you talking about?"
"I don't know… it just felt like the correct word to say in this situation."