Introductions

"Fuck, I'm not perverted! I'm just a normal man." Hervy cursed.

Garrett chuckled.

"See what I mean?"

After a moment, he continued introducing his team to Lucian.

"The man with the rabbit ears is Lane. Even though he looks like an assassin… and is an assassin, he isn't cold after you get to know him." Lane nodded at Lucian, and he nodded back.

Garrett then pointed at the twins.

"And the twins are called Cody and Coby. If you get them mixed up, don't worry. Even I forget whose who sometimes."

Cody and Coby bowed to Lucian and respectfully said:

"We will be-"

"In your care."

Lucian nodded. Instead of them being in his care, it would be the opposite. But he saw no reason to clarify their mistake since it would only benefit him.

After the introductions were finished, Lucian asked, "When do we leave and is there a meeting place?"

Garrett thought for a few seconds, quickly recalling they had not received such information from the receptionist. He hesitantly replied:

"At the moment, we don't know. The receptionist didn't tell us."

He paused, and then continued more confidently, "When we receive more information, we'll come tell you. Just be ready."

Lucian nodded.

"Alright."

"For now, it's time for us to leave. We still need to prepare for the escort quest. Thanks for the delicious meal." Garrett waved and then departed with the rest of Lion's Liver.

Lucian waved and saw them off.

As soon as Lucian closed the door, he sat cross-legged in the middle of the dining area.

After closing his eyes, he began taking deep breaths to concentrate. 

Since he was going to a place where even Bone Tempering Mages were mere cannon fodder, he wanted to increase his chances of not being discovered as much as possible.

His Shape-Shifting Skill would not work on Mana Vein Tempering Mages. 

And with a limited time of less than a day, the best strategy at his disposal was to increase his Mage Rank as much as possible. 

Ideally, he would have liked to increase his Mage Rank to the Tendon Tempering Realm, then that would mean the strongest experts in Harmony City who were all at Mana Soul Realm would not be able to see through his disguise. However, to go from a non-Mage to the Tendon Tempering Realm within a day was impossible.

Twenty-five Low-Grade Mana Stones appeared around him.

Now that his Mana Veins had been restored, he could feel the Mana in the air and the Mana contained in the Mana Stones.

Slowly, he began drawing the Mana from both the air and from the Mana Stones into his body through his pores. 

After the Mana entered through his pores, he willed it to enter his Mana Veins and circulated back and forth, nourishing his body.

As he absorbed more Mana, gradually, the speed of his absorption increased. With each passing second, he could feel his Mana Levels increasing.

At some point in time, his breathing became slow and rhythmic, in sync with the Mana entering his body.

It was a slow and delicate procedure, but Lucian did not mind.

—------------

Hours passed, and the sun climbed higher into the sky, shining its warm orange glow upon Arcadia. 

By noon, Lucian could feel a significant increase in the density of the Mana he was absorbing. His body was like a sponge as he soaked up the Mana with increasing efficiency.

Without even beginning his path of Body Refinement, Lucian felt his blood, tendons, bones, and Mana Veins becoming stronger.

When the Mana reached an extreme point, Lucian heard a dull thud between his eyes.

This was it, the moment he had been waiting for.

The pain was intense as though his forehead was being pierced by a spiked dagger.

But he simply gritted his teeth. Despite having a Mortal body, he was someone who had experienced way worse to cry out in pain.

After ten minutes of agonizing pain, the pain receded, and Lucian felt his senses had been sharpened. His mind was clearer than ever before. 

Even then, he did not open his eyes and continued to absorb the Mana from the world and from the Low-Grade Mana Stones. 

Unless he was disturbed, he wanted to push through to the Blood Tempering Realm.

—----------

By the time the sun began its descent, Lucian's body was giving off a blinding golden light.

—---------

On top of a building directly opposite of Transcendence stood a full-black-robed person with a black mask covering their face and a bamboo hat on top of their head.

The black-robed person had been standing there for approximately five hours and simply stared at the restaurant.

For the hundredth time, a hoarse-sounding voice without any inclination of the person's gender rang out from the black-robed person.

"When did this restaurant appear here? And why is it so beautiful?"

After a while, the person continued.

"Big brother shouldn't be coming back… should I go inside?"

But then the person hesitated. A few seconds later, a beautiful female voice sounded out from the person. It was a voice that was gentle and soothing to the ears.

"What if Big Brother comes back…?"

Whenever she was not absorbing Mana to increase her Mage Rank or simply lazing around she would go out into the city to get some fresh air.

And today was one of those days she decided to explore.

Even though she was not allowed to leave their home, after living in Thunderfall City for five years she had seen every place. 

After all, as long as her big brother did not know she had snuck out, then it was fine.

Yet, when she decided to follow her big brother, to her surprise she found the most beautiful restaurant she had ever seen. It was even more beautiful than the Harmony City's Four Noble Clans mansions.

Despite the golden chandeliers that hung above each table and burgundy drapes that lined the wall, she did not feel the decorations were gaudy. Instead, they added a touch of elegance to the already beautiful restaurant.