In the capital, a steady stream of talented individuals continues to arrive. Among them are heirs and prodigies from various sects in the human Empire. Secret meetings are held, and an air of tension permeates the atmosphere.
The competition is fierce, and no one wants to lose out on the valuable legacy to their rivals. Rather than entering the tomb for the experience and resources, their sole focus is to win the legacy at all costs. The stakes are high, and the secrecy surrounding the meetings only adds to the intensity of the situation.
In a specific restaurant inside the biggest hotel in the entire Kingdom 'Alpha M,' seven young people sit around a table. The air around them is heavy with tension, their faces betraying a mix of determination and unease. They sensed the pressure and gathered to explore the possibility of allying. These seven individuals are the heirs of prominent families in the Sundance Kingdom. Their families have already announced that they will appoint the seven fairies they adopted as leaders for the upcoming expedition.
Understanding the seriousness of the situation, they want to prove their strength to their families and make them realize they are more than qualified to lead this expedition. They are hesitant to follow the fairies because it means obeying their orders, something they're not accustomed to. Issuing orders is their forte, and the idea of following others unsettles them. Among them is a young man Rasoul is quite familiar with - Jude Charleson, his first slave.
"We need to take action. We can't just let the fairies lead us. We must show our families that we can handle important matters on our own," Kelvin, the heir of the Cilas Family, a sturdy and average-looking young man in his twenties, voiced his thoughts with determination.
"I'm on board with that. We can't let those sect bitches swoop in and take control. We have to stand our ground and let our families know we are more than capable. I, for one, refuse to follow those bitches," added Ruben from the Moris Family, a slightly taller and more muscular guy than Kelvin.
"How do you propose we go about it, Kelvin? We still don't know the strength of the other heirs from the other kingdoms. We need to be cautious," expressed Mavis Johnson, the heir of the Johnson Family, a beautiful lady with sharp blue eyes, her tone reflecting a mix of concern and determination.
"Why not form alliances? I heard that three assassins from the Dark Minions Assassins group would also be entering the tomb. If we team up with those three Semi-Saints, our chances of obtaining the legacy will double. I learned they're sending their best," suggested Jude, the heir of the Charles Family and Rasoul's first slave. Rasoul had been in contact with him since they set off for the capital, providing him with instructions on things he needed to do.
"That'd be awesome if we had something to sweeten the deal for our alliance," chimed in Nilly from the Xian Family, a family notorious for their sneakiness and penchant for poisons. Much like the Pity Family in the Rainy Kingdom, they were well-known for their skilled spies. Nilly, being one herself, realized that forming an alliance with a massive and mysterious organization wouldn't be a walk in the park.
Jude spoke up again, "It's not like we've got much choice. It's either considering them or trying to buddy up with different guilds, teams, or rogue cultivators."
"I don't know if you guys noticed, but our families have already made up their minds. They're sending two Semi-Saints each to accompany the fairies. It's not about replacing us; we're just not cut out for this mission, that's all," said Ben, the heir of the Binoto Great Family.
"What a numbskull! Seriously, Ben, have you ever thought about what chaos will unleash if those morons get their hands on the legacy? Their status will skyrocket, and mark my words, our families will blindly thrust them into heirship," Mavis retorted, directing her frustration at Ben, who seemed to lack insight.
"So, what's the game plan now? We can't let those jerks snatch the legacy from us," chimed in James of the Oslo family, his voice tinged with concern.
"Why not team up with the other top disciples from different sects? Joining forces with the Assassin Group won't be a walk in the park, so let's consider banding together with disciples from other factions in the kingdom," suggested Nilly, sensing the difficulty in aligning with the Assassin Group.
"That's a solid idea. They're all Semi-Saints, so teaming up with them has major perks. But here's the kicker—we need a killer proposal. We can't go empty-handed. Let's hear your suggestions, and then we can cherry-pick the best one," Mavis proposed. However, before they could dive deeper into the discussion, the restaurant door swung open, and in walked three drop-dead gorgeous individuals with hair colors that screamed uniqueness.
Unfazed by the commotion, Rasoul brushed it off and made a beeline for the counter.
"We'd like to grab a pair of rooms, the fanciest ones you've got, and a table for three," Rasoul requested.
However, the lady at the counter promptly replied, "Sorry, sir, but the last two rooms are booked for some VIPs. No can do."
"Well, that's a downer... Anyway, appreciate your time. We'll be on our way. Let's bounce, guys," Rasoul said, leading the exit charge. As they were reaching for the door, a deep voice cut through.
"Look at these rookies, thinking they can just stroll in and own the place because they're easy on the eyes."
Laughter echoed around the room. The onlookers realized that the trio of silver-haired youths had miscalculated the prestige of this hotel.
"And who's this idiot?" Rasoul shot back as soon as the laughter died down. His question caught everyone off guard, but he didn't give a hoot. Walking towards the table where the comment originated, he continued speaking.
"Who's this piggy, huh?" he asked again.
"I don't know where you crawled from, but next time you end up in a joint like this, maybe try biting your tongue. Simpletons like you don't belong here. Your very presence is an affront to everyone in this joint. How 'bout you go join the swine outside; that seems more your speed." As Rasoul wrapped up his remark, he was standing center stage, and every pair of eyes in the room locked onto him. The bystanders were left dumbfounded, trying to process the unfolding scene. The atmosphere turned tense, brimming with anger, as the young man who had initiated the confrontation rose to his feet.
He towered at a solid two meters, a smidge taller than Rasoul, and had a sturdy build. Taking a booming step forward, he closed the distance to Rasoul. Unfazed, Rasoul just stood there, casually twirling his pinky finger in his ear, making it abundantly clear he couldn't care less about the approaching menace. With a quick mental check of the stats, fear was nowhere to be found in Rasoul.
[Name: Kelvin Cilas]
[Age: 70]
[Class: Brawler]
[Potential: king]
{Bloodline: Human]
{Realm: Semi-Saint]
[Rank:1]
[Identity: Heir of Cilas Great Family, Sundance Kingdom]
[STR: 2100| AGL: 1100| DEX: 1200| INT: 1040| DEF: 2100]
'Weakling trying to flex. This guy's the perfect pawn for my scheme,' Rasoul mused inwardly, a sly grin playing on his lips.
"Do you even have a clue who you're messing with?" the hulking guy growled, closing in about 4 meters from Rasoul.
"I'm the heir of..."
"The mighty heir of the Cilas Great Family, Kelvin Cilas. Gotta say, your family's got me disappointed. How did they end up with such a wimp as their future big shot? With your strength, even a lowly foot soldier would be a step up if you went army way," Rasoul cut him off before he could pull the family card. His aim was to rile the guy up, pushing him into a brawl that Rasoul, naturally, intended to turn into a showcase of his own prowess. Right on cue, the guy swung a punch, only to find himself unceremoniously slammed to the floor in the blink of an eye, like a tossed ragdoll.
Rasoul delicately planted his foot on the guy's back, gradually increasing the pressure. Onlookers were left in disbelief. They all recognized the brawny dude and knew his capabilities, so seeing him sprawled on the floor was nothing short of shocking. With the Cilas family scion successfully lured into his trap, Rasoul tapped into his Mind Manipulation ability, navigating the intricate mental web to breach the guy's consciousness. After a few minutes of tenacious effort, he triumphantly gained access, swiftly imprinting the slave seal.
Mindful of the risks associated with infiltrating someone's mind while they were still conscious, Rasoul, fueled by his heightened mental prowess as a grand master, pressed on without hesitation. Once he confirmed the system's notification of the successful slave seal placement, he withdrew his foot and delivered a decisive kick, sending the guy hurtling into the wall until he slumped into unconsciousness.
"Next time, think twice before hurling insults, and if possible, keep your mouth shut," Rasoul declared, pulling out 2 million gold coins and handing them to the lady at the counter.
"I suppose this should cover the damages. Apologies for the commotion."
With that, they strolled out nonchalantly, not bothering to glance back...
*****
And just like that, four days flew by. In the capital, a swarm of folks started heading to the spot where the entrance to the Tomb would be. Everyone wanted to be the first through, but since they couldn't all go in at once, it became a bit of a race. Rasoul and his crew were on the move too. Four days back, following the restaurant incident, they booked a hotel room elsewhere to keep a low profile.
After a short walk, they hit a vast field. Thousands of people were chatting or chilling, eagerly waiting for the gate to pop open. Rasoul and his gang were drawing eyes, thanks to their distinct look. Rasoul, in turn, kept scanning the crowd, hunting for some specific faces. After a bit, he spotted seven youngsters mingling with the Rainy Kingdom crew. Rasoul smirked inside, ready to stir up trouble in the lives of these so-called heirs.
At the distant end of the crowd, seven individuals were visibly furious, their minds echoing with a single question...
'How in the world are these three still kicking?'
******
After a two-hour wait, the gate finally creaked open. Excitement buzzed in the air as folks geared up to explore what they saw as a goldmine. Rasoul swiftly entered the small tent they'd pitched and signaled for Lara and Sabrat to join the RingWorld. He then stepped out, deciding to inch closer to the gate. As he moved forward, he felt a tug from within. He resisted, but suddenly, his mood took a turn. A creepy voice crept into his mind.
'You're finally here. Hope you don't let me down, Supreme One.'