n

n

n

nThe senior went back to the meeting. He looked at Christos and said.

n

"Make Pearl agree to this. As soon as we are done with this, we need to deal with these new worms that came out of nowhere. The ones that caused disruption in the ceremony. They are dealing with a bunch of students from the Olympian Academies.

nThe Zeus academy in particular lost fifteen students. All freshmen. They might be of filthy blood, however, they are our gods' believers and our future servants. We cannot let someone else destroy them. It is the same as eating from our plate.

nAlso, Stone said something about a reason that's only known by Dean and Pearl. Find out what it is.

"

nIt is apparent that this senior is way too influential within the group.

nChristos who always led the group didn't refute and concluded the meeting after some more details.

nHe directly went to a different meeting. A meeting with Pearl.

nPearl is sitting alone in her yard. There are no lackeys, no servants, no one. She was alone when Christos arrived.

nShe was watching a video on her wristband. The video is a compilation of fights Stone had against the students of the Zeus Academy. Every day, a new fight is being added to this compilation and she was watching them without missing a single one.

nHer eyes showed, shock, confusion, anxiety, all at the same time.

n

"I guess, it is true that you must know the reason for this sudden attack on the Zeus Academy. Care to explain?

"

nShe looked at Christos and gestured him to take a seat before cutting the video off.

n

"I don't want to explain myself if it is not about the deal.

"

n

"Well, it is better to give some info. After all, whoever this persistent insect is, he attacked the Noble League member. He is also relative of a Primary member.

nWe need more details and from what we learned, his arrival has something to do with you and the Dean. It is better to tell us the story so that we could be well prepared. After all, if it is a conflict between you two, then you should keep it between yourselves.

nThe rest of the Academy shouldn't be affected. Not Noble League at least.

"

n

"I don't have anything to say about it.

nIf you want to talk about the issue at hand, then we can talk. Or you can take your leave.

"

nChristos sighed. The senior asked to get the information from Pearl. Of course, even if Pearl doesn't reveal anything, he could find other methods. He didn't want to wait on the current important topic.

n

"About dealing with Sam and the rest of the rankers. You are still reluctant about dealing with them. I don't understand why.

nEven if you want some lackeys, you can pick from a very wide range of people. I can even give you a very heavily vetted list myself. There is no point in trying to get these guys on board with you.

nNot when they already knew that you planned such an elaborate scheme to screw with them.

nDo you think they will forgive you for it?

"

n

"The plan I have in my mind might need your help Christos, but that doesn't mean, I can compromise on such a big thing.

nI have my own plans regarding the rest of the rankers. I need them for a specific purpose and I cannot tell you what it is. However, it is true that they need to be alive.

"

n

"Okay, don't tell me about what this purpose is, but I am sure you can tell me what kind of people you want for that. I will arrange what you want. I will pick them up directly from the Noble league. In fact, you can even call in a collaboration.

"

n

"Why? So that you can just swallow everything after I carefully set everything up for you?

"

n

"If you are that doubtful, then we can operate with Soul Contracts.

nI don't know what you are thinking of or why you need those people Pearl, but we have not interest in it. Our ambitions lie elsewhere.

"

n

"Even if you can guarantee that, your people won't be able to handle my requirements. They should be far stronger than your noble league people. These geniuses… I don't know where they came from, but they came at the right time.

nI need them for my own vision.

"

nChristos sighed.

n

"Well, Bronte, one of the rankers is a member of Noble League. He is within top ten. So, I don't think your standards are that hard to meet, are they?

"

nPearl suddenly thought of something and asked.

n

"Speaking of Bronte, I wanted to ask. What is it with this special program? Is your Noble League really in a deal with Joker and the Hub?

"

nChristos looked at her expression and started calculating in his mind, then he had a sudden thought.

n

"Yes, we do have a deal and we are indeed training with the Joker at the Hub. It is an exclusive deal between the Noble league and the Hub.

"

n

"Exclusive deal?

"

n

"Yes of course, you have seen many people try it, why do you think that they were unable to reach a deal with Hub? Why? Are you interested?

nYou have a rightful place at Noble League, if you want I can help you join the training program.

"

n

"So, all of your freshmen are in this?

" She asked again.

nChristos nodded and Pearl went into a deep thought. After some time, she sighed and spoke in a solemn tone.

n

"If you really want, we can find a way for both of us to get what we want. However, I will not be joining the Noble league and I need some extra training slots within Hub.

"

n

"That is a starting point, we can negotiate a bit…

"

nChristos and Pearl discussed the terms of the deal and finally they found a common ground.

n

"So, now will you tell me the plan on how to deal with them?

"

nChristos asked.

n

"I am not going to tell you now. Not just you, I am not going to reveal it to anyone. In fact, I will be away for the next fifteen days. Tell your father to receive me, I will only talk to him about the plan and you will only learn of it in the last minute.

nAt that time, just prepare as many people as you can. I want everyone you can gather who are at the Grade one cultivation level…

"

nShe continued on to give more details.

nHowever, none of them are critical details that gave out the framework for the plan. Sam who was listening in on the conversation from far way felt a bit odd. The way Pearl was acting so conscious made him curious.

nWhy would she become so cautious all of a sudden?

nHe didn't know.

nHowever, he still decided to keep an eye on her and Christos. He needs to be careful and he will be.

nAs he was about to leave the conversation was over, he noticed that Pearl was going to meet Jade. He became curious and stayed on listening.

nHe saw the whole thing from the bird puppet's eyes. Jade was dancing when Pearl arrived there.

nHowever, her dancing wasn't sad like before. Instead, it is happy, brimming with joy and there are tears of joy streaming down her face. She presented an elegant picture with her graceful moves. He could feel that gently, warm and positive aura from just that video.

n

"Stop.

"

nPearl spat coldly. Jade looked at Pearl and her smiled widened.

n

"Good to see you too, Sister. What made you find time for me in your busy schedule?

"

nHer words had a hint of sarcasm in them.

n

"I am guessing you already heard the news. From the past two weeks, that guy named Stone is wreaking havoc.

"

n

"Yeah, I heard.

"

n

"How did he get those powers? He was a pathetic slave a few days ago, how can he be so powerful all of a sudden? Where did he get the strength like that?

"

nPearl shot those questions one by one. In the past two weeks, she wanted to ask Jade these things, however, her uncle, the dean wanted to investigate the issue by himself.

nHowever, they couldn't find any details. Stone had spatial transference scrolls that led him out of the city into the forest, whenever he finished a target and dealt with the trial, he went back and escaped.

nNobody knows how he came back without knowing anything. Now, she lost patience after discussing with Christos. At first she thought Stone was throwing a temper tantrum, however by the way things are going it is a lot more than that.

nIf the factions like Noble league gets involved, it will become a mess that they cannot control.

n

"I don't know.

"

n

"You don't know? He didn't tell you anything about it before?

"

n

"No.

" Jade's tone is making it apparent that she couldn't care less about this.

n

n