Chapter Eight: The Sponsors Arrive
"Oh. If it isn't my sons. When are you going to acknowledge this daddy of yours?" Twilight said with a light chuckle. Seeing that his words had struck a nerve, he added with a long sigh:
"Don't worry too much about it. After all, unfilial children like you can't recognize their elders even when you have eyes."
Twilight slowly shook his head, his expression resembling that of an aged father giving up on reprimanding his stubborn children.
"Y-you!" The bulky youth pointed a trembling finger at Twilight, his body shaking with rage.
The lean youth, meanwhile, flushed a deep red as he gnashed his teeth in utter humiliation. Never in his life had he imagined that the frail, fragile boy he looked down on would not only awaken a godly potential but would also taunt him so ruthlessly.
At that moment, Twilight became his sworn nemesis. He vowed to make him pay tenfold for this humiliation.
"You're already afraid? I thought you'd stick to your word. I guess I overestimated you both," Twilight sighed despondently, faking disappointment.
The two youths, however, burned with rage and shame. If it weren't for the presence of the administrator and the cloaked assassin, they might have lunged at Twilight right then, intent on ripping him apart.
Still, they knew what he meant. But swallowing their pride and following through on their bet would be the ultimate humiliation. Calling this scrawny boy "daddy" was a shame they could never live down.
Various emotions swirled in their hearts: regret, envy, hate, and disdain.
Their hatred for Twilight grew with every passing moment, but deep down, they knew they were fools. They had made the mistake of angering such a talented young man.
As much as they despised him, they were clear-headed enough to accept their error. For now, they could only grit their teeth and vow to repay this debt in the future.
Without further hesitation, they slowly lowered their heads, their bodies trembling.
"F-father…" the bulky youth muttered in a low voice, barely louder than a mosquito's buzz. After speaking, he slumped to the floor, his eyes brimming with intense hatred.
The lean youth, on the other hand, simply kept his head bowed and muttered through gritted teeth, "Father."
He knew there was no point in resisting. From the moment he made that bet and angered Twilight, his fate had been sealed.
Twilight wasn't just any genius—he was someone empires would go to war to recruit. Now, with an assassin under the city lord's command present, the lean youth was certain that the cloaked man would do anything to protect Twilight.
This was why he hadn't lashed out like the bulky boy. Instead, he steeled his heart and accepted his fate.
As Twilight observed the two youths, he felt an unexpected pang of guilt as he saw their despair and unwillingness.
Even after they fulfilled their end of the bet, he found no satisfaction. Why had he done this? Twilight wasn't sure.
But they had brought this upon themselves by betting against him and cursing him so openly. Even if he wanted to help them, he couldn't—they were merely side characters in the larger story.
Making them suffer a little before their inevitable downfall didn't seem so cruel, especially after their earlier behavior.
Pushing these thoughts aside, Twilight shifted his attention to his surroundings.
Mr. Stone and Wilson were both staring at him as if he were a rare artifact, while the crowd looked on in silent fear.
Twilight's performance had sent chills down their spines. Many pitied the two youths, but others believed they deserved their fate and couldn't care less about their humiliation.
"Mr. Stone, you may resume the awakening ceremony for the remaining five individuals. As for Mr. Nightfall, he'll be coming with me, if you don't mind," Wilson said in a calm yet commanding tone.
Mr. Stone's heart clenched as an invisible pressure bore down on him.
This was undoubtedly Wilson's doing, a warning to comply. Panicking, Mr. Stone hurriedly replied, "I-I don't mind, Lord Wilson."
"Good. I'll be on my way now."
In a flash, the assassin vanished and reappeared beside Twilight.
Twilight's heart skipped a beat at the sudden movement. He had expected his performance to draw the attention of the emperor or someone even more powerful than the city lord. Yet, no one else had shown up.
'Could I have miscalculated? Dammit!' Twilight cursed inwardly.
"Mr. Nightfall, we'll be leaving," Wilson said in an overbearing tone, his grip on Twilight's shoulder leaving no room for refusal.
This was exactly why Twilight didn't want the city lord as his sponsor. The lord and his subordinates were tyrannical, restricting the freedoms of anyone under their control.
Having such a sponsor wasn't a blessing—it was a gateway to hell. Twilight resolved to resist, no matter the cost, even if it meant dying here.
Just as he prepared to shrug off Wilson's hand, several powerful presences descended upon the area. At the same time, a series of messages rang in Twilight's ears:
[Your awakening performance was astounding, drawing the attention of the White District's Ruler.]
[White District Ruler has chosen to sponsor you. Do you accept?]
[Your awakening performance has shocked the Flame Empress of the Fiery Phoenix Sect.]
[The Flame Empress of Fiery Phoenix Sect has chosen to sponsor you. Do you accept her sponsorship?]
[Your awakening performance has caught the attention of the Crystal Barrier Sect Master.]
[The Sect Master of Crystal Barrier has chosen to sponsor you. Do you accept?]
…
[Immortal Rain has chosen to sponsor you. Do you accept?]
…
[Heavenly Bamboo has chosen to sponsor you. Do you accept?]
…
The sheer number of sponsors left Twilight stunned. However, one name in particular caught his attention.
His eyes narrowed, radiating a fierce killing intent as he read the notification:
[You have done astoundingly well.]
[Your potential, endurance, and willpower have summoned the attention of Earth's Ruler.]
[Earth's Ruler has chosen to sponsor you. Do you accept?]