Vickers

Sam entered the carriage and dropped the partition, which happened to be a bed that has a hinge below and stood up and vertically. Behind the partition is another big bed that is sufficient for at least four people. Sam offered the bed to the ladies and he slept on the partition bed. Philip, Jack, Shawn slept on the extra mattresses and slept on the floor. The other girl who is not familiar with them also took an extra mattress and slept a distance away and rest of the people were left alone outside. Sam didn't even bother to ask them what their plans on sleeping and he just laid down on his bed and drifted into sleep as he looked at the view through the window.

Next day morning, everyone woke up early and started their journey. If they travel faster, they can reach the city by the evening. The journey is smooth as there are no mishaps. Sam just stayed silent as he thought about what to do in the Falcon cliff city and about Yanwu's message. He wants to see how Yanwu is doing.

With their own thoughts, the group arrived at the City before it got dark. They stopped at the city gate and the Starwood City lord went to the guards and took a letter out to show them. After the guards examined the letter, they looked at the extravagant carriage and felt quite surprised. Clearly, these guys are not the only city that came here, but they didn't see anyone making such an extravagant entrance with level 2 beasts as the carriage steeds. They let out a sigh and allowed them to enter.

Sam looked at the city through the window and felt quite surprised. The living conditions of this Falcon cliff city are way better than the Starwood city. He estimated that the city is around four times bigger the Starwood city. Principal led the way towards a street which is full of inns and some of them are booked for the contestants for the tournament. When they entered the inn designated inn and showed the required documents, the attendant guided them to their respective rooms. But when they saw the rooms, they couldn't help but shake their heads. The rooms are narrow and they are not even one-third as big as Sam's carriage and except for the Principal and the City lord, everyone has to share a room with another person.

Sam looked at the Principal with a questioning gaze. Principal excused himself and went to find the manager and came back after sometime with a gloomy face and a box along with him.

"The manager said that the inn is totally allocated and we are only left with these rooms and the authorities responsible for this also approved of it. Here, these are the tokens that you need to have through out the stay here." He said and opened the box and passed the tokens. There are 10 tokens with numbers from 1 to 10 and two tokens that have word 'supervisor' and five tokens with 'extra' on it. There is Starwood city written on all the tokens. Principal distributed the tokens to all the students and distributed the 'extra' token to the students who are not a part of the team. While, he and the City lord took the supervisor tokens. Every student took their respective tokens that can kept on their waist bands. Eisen, looked so proud as he looked at his token with '1' on it. He gave Sam, who is examining the token number 10 token a proud and disdainful look which the latter disregarded without even acknowledging.

Sam looked at the token and tried to store it in a normal storage ring but was unable to. Then he hung the badge inside the coat and then started walking outside.

"Where are you going?" Principal asked as soon as he noticed.

"Just to take a look around." He said and without even turning back walked towards the entrance. On the way, he noticed the other people who seemed to be from other cities and when he looked at the room through the open doors, he felt quite surprised by the difference. The students have separate rooms for each and the rooms are neat and spacious. He went to the receptionist and asked.

"Can I know, how many inns are booked for the contestants?" The receptionist looked at him with a strange gaze and said.

"Three inns are booked. The one on the right and the one on the left." Sam thanked and left to look at the street. The street has inns on both sides and each inn might be having around twenty to twenty-five rooms. He walked towards the inn which was not taken by the students and asked the receptionist.

"Are there any rooms left?"

The receptionist sized him up a bit and asked. "Are you a student from other cities here for the tournament?" Sam nodded his head.

"Then, we can't give you a room. There is an order from Sir Arlo that the rooms can't be given to the candidates or the supervisors from other cities. If we get caught by doing so, we will get our inn sealed." Sam raised an eyebrow at the reply.

"Why?" He asked a little bit curious. But the receptionist also doesn't know.

Sam came out and walked towards the allocated inn. This time all the people from the Starwood city are coming to the dining area for the meal. Sam encountered them and joined the meal. But when they entered the dining area, they were held up outside and weren't allowed enter for sometime as they said that the dining room is filled. They waited for sometime until the others came outside the dining room and when they entered and took the seat, they were only served with some porridge. All of them frowned and asked the waiter who replied.

"The dishes are over and there are no ingredients left. I hope for your understanding." Even though with their cultivation level, they can stay without eating anything for a while, they still felt indignant for the treatment. Sam looked at the Principal and Starwood City lord and asked.

"Do you guys know who Arlo is?" Principal felt confused and shook his head, while City lord's expression changed and sorrowed his brows. Sam understood and didn't say anything and just walked outside. When Philip and others were about to follow him, he stopped them and said that he would come in a while. He went to the carriage and stored the whole along with the bulls and the Panthers into the divine dimension when there is no one near and walked back to the dining room and looked at Philip and his friends.

"I don't want to stay here. How about you guys?" He asked them without looking at the two middle-aged men. Philip, Jack, Shawn, Freya, Haley, Kelly shook their heads. He looked at City lord and said.

"How many days is the competition due?"

"A week from now at the Falcon Cliff academy." He replied in low voice.

"We are leaving. We will meet you at the day of the competition. Everyday one of us will come here and you can relay any message if you have." Sam said and turned around to leave.

"Where do you think you are going?" Eisen asked even before the two supervisors. Sam didn't bother and this time Principal asked.

"Sam, where will you stay? How about we go to another inn?"

Sam shook his head and said what happened when he went to find a room. He looked at the City lord and said. "You can clean up your own mess. I don't want to bear the consequences for whatever you have done." He then turned around again and when he was about to leave, Eisen yelled.

"You aren't allowed to leave. I don't agree." Sam halted and looked at him with a cold and sharp gaze. Looking at that Eisen continued. "Where do you think you can stay now? You said that they are not giving any rooms for us." Sam smirked at his words and said.

"Who said I am going to inn? I am going to my own house."

"How can you have a house here?" an underling of Eisen asked him.

"There is none for now, but there will be in a while." This time he didn't stop and left with his group without even looking back. Principal shook his head and led the rest to their rooms. Now that the seven people left, there is more space and some of them got single rooms to sleep.

Sam and his group are walking on the streets as they watched the bustling city which is many times livelier than Starwood city. They wandered the streets and at a random restaurant before finding their way to a shop. This place is a Pawn shop. Sam asked around the streets to find out where he can buy a house and most of the people said only one thing. "No matter you want to buy, you can find it in the Vickers's Shop". He finally arrived after finding out the directions. The shop is so big. It is almost in the size of his river side mansion.

Sam along with the group walked inside the shop and were surprised as soon as they entered. There are myriad of things. Weapons, Articrafts, animal remains, carcasses, special treasures. There are almost all kinds of things in the shop.

There is a counter where a middle-aged man sat lazily. The middle-aged man is wearing a bright red outfit and he has his eyes closed as if he was dozing off. He has a short beard and moustache. He has a bronze skin and his face has a mischievous charm.

They slowly walked towards the counter and just as they were about to wake him up. He immediately woke up and looked around. His eyes brightened up as soon as he saw Sam and his group.

"Welcome to Vickers's shop. How may I help you? Whatever you want, if it is available near the premises of the Falcon cliff city, you can buy it. We will not only accept money, but also trade with treasures." He then looked at Sam and sized him up. His eyes narrowed and a mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"I need a house." Sam said as in an emotionless voice and cold voice.

"Oh, you came to the right person. What kind of place do you want?"

"Quiet, Peaceful and Spacious. It is fine even if it is in a deserted location."

"Aha, I have a perfect place for you. Please follow me." He said and came out of the counter. He led the group to the outskirts of the city. The place has a no houses nearby and there is a large yard with a lake. The mansion is large and there are several rooms. But the colour seemed a little faded, indicating that it has been a while someone stayed here.

"Do you have any other places?" Sam asked Vickers.

"Hahaha, actually this is the only place available right now." Sam raised an eyebrow at the answer and said.

"Okay then. I will take it. How much?"

"How much are you willing to pay?"

"35,000 spirit stones."

"Deal." As soon as Sam made the offer, he agreed. Sam was surprised a bit for this action but he didn't say anything. He took out the spirit stones and made payment.

"You have to come to the shop, for the deed." Vickers said with a smile.

"Okay. I will go with you." Sam replied and said to his friends. "You guys go inside and chose your rooms. Just leave me a room with study." He then walked along with Vickers.

When they arrived at the shop, Vickers went inside a room while Sam sat near the counter. After a while, Vickers came out with a scroll and the transaction is completed. Sam looked at the deed and nodded but didn't leave. He seemed to be pondering and finally asked.

"You said that I can buy anything as long as it can be obtained near the Falcon cliff city, right?"

"Of course. Anything." Vickers replied in mischievous tone. Sam just looked at his eyes without answering. Something about this guy is making him feel uncomfortable. But he didn't sense any danger. The unease is because, he wasn't able to see through him at all. His strength, his level, his age everything seemed to be a mystery.

"I want information." Sam said after a short silence.

"Sure. What information do you want?"

"About the underground organisations in the city. I need the name, strength and types of business they deal with?"

"Deal can be done Sam. But the info is one of the most expensive things you can buy." Vickers said.

"How much?"

"5000 spirit stones."

Sam didn't say anything and just placed the stones on the table. Seeing this Vickers just smiled and said. "The info will be delivered to your door-step tomorrow. Do you need anything else?"

"Dark element spirit stones." Sam said in a low voice.

"Oh, that is unexpected. I thought you might ask fire and light attributes." Vickers said with same smile but Sam's expression changed as he looked at the man vigilantly.

"Don't worry Sam. We will never harm our customers. This is the motto of our business." Vickers said. Sam didn't say anything and just place a big bag of stones on the table. There are around 100000 spirit stones in it.

"What is the exchange rate?"

"Hehe, in falcon cliff city, dark element stones are very rare and exchange rate is around 1:7, but since you are making such big exchange, I will give you discount and accept 1:5." Sam didn't refuse and received the twenty thousand dark element stones and left.

Sam reached the mansion and looked went into the room. Surprisingly, the main room was left for him and it is fully cleaned without a speck of dust. He opened the window and laid down on the bed. He looked at the night sky as he thought about Vickers. After all, this is the first person who was able to point out his elements right after a single glance.