Chapter 30: Eternal Cloud Sect 1

As expected, Gurim arrived later that morning.

Fortunately, Allen Stryka had already finished his muscle training. And had already rested his body.

But the green-haired information broker seemed to have noticed the signs of the activity. He looked around the cell to verify his observations. He then asked,

"Exercising?"

"Yes. What else am I supposed to do in this cell anyway?"

Allen confirmed the suspicion. There was no reason to deny it after all. Or else the other person would think that he had done something else.

True enough, Gurim dismissed the issue. He then went on to the reason of his visit. He ordered,

"Hmph, get up. We are heading out."

This was within the expectations of the young man. Nonetheless he tried to ask for further details. He inquired,

"Out as in outside the city or just out of this jail?"

"Enough asking questions and just follow already."

Gurim seemed to be in no mood for pleasantries. Probably because every question was supposed to cost something.

And since Allen no longer had any spirit crystals to trade, there were no longer any need to answer.

The green-haired person pulled out a set of keys in his pocket. He then opened the door of cell number 10. He gestured for the young to get out immediately.

Allen stood up from his sitting position. He then reached out of his cell. He passed through the neighboring cell.

He saw that the person named Nolan Toffer was also sitting near the mat of his own cell. He seemed to be observing the situation quietly.

When their eyes met, the low-cost cowboy nodded upwards. He was probably saying something like 'take care' or 'be careful'. But that was just a guess.

It was not like the two could share the same thoughts after all.

Gurim was unperturbed by these creepy thoughts though. He walked away from the cells as quickly as possible. He exited the jail as the young man followed through.

They walked along the streets of Nosales. But they were not heading towards the gates like they used to.

In fact, the direction they were heading was most likely towards the center of the city.

After almost an hour of walking, Gurim finally stopped. He stood in front of a well-walled area. He stated,

"Welcome to the Eternal Cloud Sect."

The new area he visited had taken Allen aback. He surveyed the constructs and noticed that they followed the oriental-type of architecture. He then commented,

"So, this is where your affiliation truly belongs."

"Yes. Now go inside."

Gurim did not deny the accusation. The young man on the other hand shrugged on the cold response he received.

The two then entered through the Sect gate. It had a scenery which was similar to the eastern action movies.

A place where disciples trained their arts of combat. In other words, a dojo of some sort.

They then reached a sector of the place. Gurim moved the sliding door of a certain building. He then gave praise to the person inside.

"Lady Etena, I have arrived with the recruit."

The lady in question was sitting on the center of a well-furnished room. She was surrounded by decorations typically found on those novels about Sects and those sorts of stuff.

Her presumably long black hair was tied up behind her head. With ornaments fitting of a well-pampered member of such organization.

She raised an eyebrow. She seemed to have been offended with what she heard. She asked in a high pitched tone,

"What did you call me?"

"Lady… I apologize. I mean, Elder Etena."

Gurim finally noticed his mistake. He nervously corrected himself. He kneeled down as he asked for forgiveness.

When this was not enough, he even kowtowed in front of the so-called lady. This had finally satisfied the other person wearing an expensive-looking garb. She hummed,

"Hmm, remember that always disciple."

"Yes, elder."

Allen wanted to raise an eyebrow here. How come someone who was probably around his age behaving this way?

On second thought, she even looked younger than him. And yet Gurim who was actually older had to appease the girl. Someone who seemed to be throwing a childish tantrum.

Be that as it may, the young man did not have the chance to voice his complaints out. That was because the green-haired person was glaring at him.

He was probably mentally telling the former to kneel down as well.

Allen had no reason to do this initially. But he got curious on what was about to happen. Thus he decided to humor the order of the green-haired person.

He kneeled his right leg but did not give any greetings. He simply waited for the situation to carry on.

The lady wearing an expensive-looking garb stood up. She went closer to the young man unconcerned that pleasantries were still not given. She commented,

"This is what you been talking about?"

"Indeed, elder."

Gurim replied immediately. He seemed relieved that the issue did not escalate further.

But then,

"I don't believe you."

The so-called elder snorted. She then walked past the young man. She headed for the hallway of the building she was in.

Gurim stood up immediately. He looked like he wanted to reprimand the young man. But for some reason he decided not to do so. He instead ordered,

"Get up, let's follow her."

"Are you not even going to explain anything here, Gurim?"

Allen asked as he stood up. Not because he was ordered to but because he was planning to do so in the first place. The green-haired person had just spoken quicker.

Gurim was probably still not in the mood to answer any questions. But he seemed to have notice that the young man was not willing to move unless his got what he wanted.

The former gave in. He sighed,

"Fine! But let's walk while we talk."

He decided to compromise. He followed the direction where the lady went. He saw the young man following him. He then continued,

"What do you want to know?"

"Why did that lady call me a recruit?"

"Because from now on you will be affiliated with the Eternal Cloud Sect."

Gurim grinned widely when he answered the question. He seemed to be quite pleased with this arrangement.

This on the other hand had taken aback the young man. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He asked further,

"Why should I?"

"Because I said so."

Allen did not like the arrogant reply he received. He decided to stop walking forward. This was to show that he was not joking around this time.

The green-haired person seemed to have panicked when the latter halted. He sighed in exasperation. He then gave a proper answer,

"Because the alternative is you spending five years on the jail."

"?!"

Gurim smiled triumphantly. He seemed to have taken the silence of the young man as a prompt to continue. He explained,

"You really think I haven't noticed? When I asked you before if our transaction would be a long-term or single time only. You answered, short-term."

His smile then grew wider. He was probably thinking that he had cornered the young man. He added,

"That means you are planning to venture out of the city soon. So imagine being delayed from your journey for five years."

"That doesn't add up. The punishment is too severe for a first-time offender."

Allen finally gave a remark. He had learned a lot from his conversation with Nolan. He was now aware on how long his sentence should have been.

"Quite informed now, huh?"

Gurim could probably guess where the young man had gathered the information. And yet he was unperturbed by this. He revealed,

"The influence of the Eternal Cloud Sect can affect the ruling judge of this city. That's how powerful this organizations is."

Allen had fallen silent for a few moments. Not because he was taken aback by the blackmailing. But because how did not expect the information broker to stoop that low.

Nionetheless he decided to walk forward. Because he wanted to see how things would develop now.

He made a comment as he moved,

"To be honest I'm disappointed."

"Oh? Of what?"

Gurim asked as he followed the young man. He seemed a little curious about it.

Allen did not bother to look at him though. He simply answered,

"Of you."

"Like I care. What matters here is I complete my business."

Gurim snorted. He hastened his steps and overtook the young man.

The two then reached an open area outside of the building. There they saw the female named Etena standing on the far side. A few other people were behind her.

Gurim fixed his posture. He placed his held fist forward. Similar to those eastern movies before the apocalypse. He greeted again,

"Salutations, elder."

"Hmm, disciple come forward."

"Yes, elder."

Gurim answered readily. He immediately took a few steps forward.

However this angered the so-called elder instead. She yelled,

"Not you, imbecile!"

She then pointed towards a different person behind her. She continued,

"I'm talking about this disciple!"

The green-haired person was startled. He immediately apologized as he backed away.

The other disciple that was pointed out came forward. He was a tall and bulky man. He greeted,

"Elder."

"Take that down."

Allen was a little irked that the lady kept on calling him 'this' or 'that'. How large could this person's ego be?

But before he could express his dismay, Gurim approached him. He gave his warning in a lowered voice,

"Fail this and I'll make sure your sentence will become ten years."

"Like I care."

Allen replied defiantly. He had no time to consider any threats. Especially now that the disciple was looking at him with murderous eyes.

The bulky disciple still bowed in agreement though. Perhaps acknowledging the so-called elder was more imperative. He answered,

"As you wish, elder."

"Begin!"

The lady named Etena announced. She seemed eager to see how the 'recruit' would perform.

Allen rushed forward. He decided to take the initiative of the fight.

[Fire Fist]!

However,

The bulky man caught the flaming right fist with his left hand. He was also not affected by the fire that made contact. That was because he had also manifested his element.

An armor made of earth began to protect his entire body.