Right now, the large hall of the Trade and Research Union's headquarters was very noisy. There were many tables around. And in the centre, there was a beautiful table with ten people sitting on a dais.
During this time, Diso had already had a lot to drink. Previously, he had never gotten very drunk at the union meetings. Every time he drank, he was reminded of his Brother Kai. Because of that, he wasn't in the mood to drink.
But now, it seemed like this was the first time he had ever been seen like this. He was already barely conscious of what was going on.
Diso kept getting up and starting to say something about Kai, and how great a man he was. How they had met, and how they had inadvertently ended up in the Border Beast City.
Even though he was telling the same stories for the tenth time, no one was angry, but only laughed good-naturedly. Everyone could see that their Head was truly happy today. A whole new side of him seemed to have opened up.
Although when toasts were raised in the past, everyone was also cheerful, but the reaction of the Diso Head was completely different. He was more melancholy rather than cheerful. Not once did he fail to raise a glass to Councillor Kai. Over time, it had even become a tradition.
Today, the situation was completely different!
- To my Brother Kai! Hehehehehehe. You'll see, things will go even better now! You can't even imagine what a valuable person he is! Hahaha! - Drunken Diso, once again started singing dithyrambs to Kai and raising a glass to him.
- All Fatty, shut the fuck up... - Having said that, Kai stood up and put Diso in his seat. - Just because you're the Head doesn't mean everyone has to listen to your bullshit all night! - Rolling his eyes, Kai said.
At this point, many people could barely contain their smiles, some even couldn't stand it and laughed. But then they quickly covered their mouths with their hands.
It was strange for everyone to see how the atmosphere had changed. Also, Kai and Diso's manner of communication was funny. It seemed as if they were like older and younger brothers. And their head wasn't the eldest....
- Ahem. Let me say a few words. - After Kai sat Diso down, he continued to speak.
Everyone quickly fell silent and began to listen carefully. It was interesting to hear this person. To their alliance, he was a local legend, without whom their very organisation wouldn't exist.
- So, my name is Kai. To be honest, I'm not good at all the big speeches... You can just call me by my first name. I don't give a shit about all this officialdom. - Kai said calmly, and continued, "Since you are all allies of my friends now, you can count on me. To be frank, you can disregard my cultivation stage. If a Cloud Sphere master underestimates me, he will instantly die. - Kai tactfully didn't say which Cloud Sphere stage he was referring to, so as not to shock everyone.
- ''If you think that I'm only strong with my combat power, make no mistake. I can definitely justify being a member of the Trade and Research Union that mainly specialises in artisans. - Kai didn't really understand the hierarchy and orders of the union, so he decided to establish his authority right away. During the time of being imprisoned alone on the brink of life and death, Kai's character had become even more overwhelming.
When he said this, a black flame lit up on his left hand, with purple sparks jumping in it. And with his right hand, he drew a symbol directly in the air with his black energy, and it began to slowly gather energy around him.
"What?! What's going on!!! He's a monster!" - Suddenly, there was an uproar throughout the hall, some people even seemed to sober up from what was being taken away. Even Mr Fabian instantly got up from his seat!
- Kai, how are you?! - Fabian said dumbfoundedly.
It was clear to everyone that the energy in his left hand was not energy with a fire attribute, but an incredibly powerful fire. Everyone thought that he was probably an Earth Flame, and of a very high grade!
With his right hand, he very calmly drew an uncomplicated energy gathering array. Although it was simple, it was unlikely that anyone here could repeat it so quickly and effortlessly
- ''Kai, are you a dual tinker! How? - Fabian-san asked, incomprehensively.
Smiling, Kai casually began to speak further, interrupting the exclamations from everywhere.
- It so happened that the entire time I was away, I was trapped. In the forbidden land, I accidentally fell into a confinement array. Good thing there was water, and food. Since I had absolutely nothing to do, I endlessly tried to break the array. The only way out was to learn to draw them and understand them. - Kai began to tell me.
- Thankfully, before that, Mr Fabian had given me a book on the basics of array crafting, and I at least understood their principles. That's why I learnt without end, by trial and error... Only after a year and a half, I was able to get out, and took with me some good knowledge. Hehe. - Smiling evilly, Kai said.
Of course, he wasn't going to tell the story of Astral Grad and what he had actually experienced. That would be stupid. Therefore, he made up a story on the fly that could neither be confirmed nor disproved.
In the world of martial artists, no one wanted to tell their secrets. Even if someone suspected Kai of lying, they would tactfully keep quiet about it. Realising that they were prying.
- About alchemy... I just never told anyone about it before. I couldn't really control my Earth Fire with my previous level of strength. Unlike now. Hehehe. - Kai laughed quietly, and continued, "Perhaps my friends earlier wondered why my energy was so strange. It was all just that, through my unusual Earth Fire. - Kai said serenely.
Now that was the perfect excuse, for his abilities. No one would be able to refute his words.
Kai had to put it this way, as he had no right to reveal his secrets. Especially, he realised that in the Border Beast City, there were spies of other forces everywhere. Right now, with his monologue, he had briefly given everyone an answer to their questions. Of course, he was manipulating the information as it benefited him.
- All in all, as a dual craftsman, I am fully compliant with the Trade and Research Union. So, please love and applaud! Now, let's get drunk together! Hahaha - Saying it loudly, Kai laughed merrily. And sitting down, he quickly emptied his glass.
"Long live Counsellor Kai! Our Counsellor is incredible! Wow, there's a reason I always thought he was an amazing person!" - All the people began to enthusiastically cheer him on and drained their glasses.
- Brother Kai, is everything you just said true? - Mr Fabian asked sceptically.
At this moment, all nine people at Kai's table began to stare at him intently, waiting for an answer. They were reasonable people. Especially they knew that what he said didn't quite match what had happened the day he went missing.
- Guys, I'm going to be honest with you, because I don't want to lie to you. Everything I've said is true, but only partially! And I can't tell you everything... I hope you'll understand me. - With a kind smile, Kai said, "I'll just say that I was really trapped then. There was a terrifying displacement array in the cave... I guess you also thought about it, and tried to trigger it more than once. Except it turned out to be disposable, so your attempts were futile. - Kai began to explain in general terms.
- That's where I got the legacy of the old Alchemist, and my whole passage about having had Earth Fire for a long time was just a lie. But, I did study the array for a long time to get out. You gave me a treatise on the basics of the craft..." Kai said, looking at Fabian gratefully.
- Anyway, after I got the legacy, I trained it. At the same time I studied the array to get out. When I was able to do so, I was transported to a completely different place in the Endless Wasteland. It took me long enough to get back to the Border Beast City. Anyway, that's all I can tell you. - Smilingly said Kai. He was as frank with them as he could be.
- Brother Kai, it is enough that you are alive and back with us. And thank you for telling us anything at all. You could have kept it quiet and not shown your abilities. Although knowing you, there was a reason for that display, too. Let's drink as originally planned! Hahaha. - Roga quickly said all this while expressing the thoughts of everyone at the table. Everyone was thinking roughly the same thing.
Even if someone was curious about the details, they wouldn't pry into Kai's soul. He had probably been through a lot recently.
- I agree, let's drink to the reunion! Hahaha. - Gontas said loudly and raised the wine up.
They raised their glasses amicably, followed by all the other members of the Trade and Research Union in the hall.
Today will be a grand feast until the wee hours of the morning!