Chapter 29
In the hidden City of Sky, Arthur sat looking at the candidates chosen to enter the Black Ops competition.
Ray sat beside him, helping gather the people for Arthur's Black Ops unit, as per the agreement they made when Arthur asked for every piece of information about the people in Division 9.
Arthur also wanted Ray's help because Ray had chosen amazing talents for Division 9, and Arthur wanted his insight.
He couldn't ask his father, who was still resting.
The competition would be held soon to test each candidate's strength, since Arthur wanted to place the strongest in his personal group and the rest in the sub-branches of Black Ops.
The main group would be the one he trusted the most — the one he would keep an eye on.
But when he saw someone Ray wanted to remove, he understood a few choices, yet one confused him.
It was a kid with silver hair and blue eyes who had somehow gone from a 3-Star war-promoted brat to a 5-Star in nine months, at least according to the records.
"Why are you removing him?" Arthur asked. He had researched everyone he believed was worthy of being part of Black Ops.
Arthur suspected Ray wanted Lucas for himself, so he questioned him.
Ray snorted and answered, "That kid was connected to Elijah before he defected. So he should be a spy, especially with that sudden growth. My people will kill him after he comes back from his mission."
Arthur frowned at him. "Do you think I don't know that, Ray?" He said Ray's name clearly to make him look at him.
"I chose him because I knew he was connected to Elijah. The boy wanted to survive his Bloodline Disease and even used Elijah to try to get into contact with Eleanor. That didn't happen Eleanor was busy at the time, so there was barely any real connection between them. I understand your reason, but I will test his loyalty myself. When the Cleaning Process happened, he was already at his breaking point because of his disease, but he found a way to survive and gained a huge boost in his bloodline abilities in the process, which explains his sudden growth. We have already lost too many talented people. I won't allow you to take more away because of a man you hate for betraying you. And don't think we don't know your connection to him too."
Arthur's voice was threatening and authoritative.
Ray frowned. "Do you think I'm part of Elijah?"
"No." Arthur's voice dropped low, and the air around them became so heavy Ray couldn't breathe.
He dropped the papers and grabbed his chest, his eyes filled with fear as he stared at Arthur.
"Try anything against my City," Arthur said coldly,
"and I promise you — you and your division will disappear overnight. The only reason you're still alive, and the only reason your division still exists, is because you are useful."
"Do you understand?" Arthur asked, his power as the Sky King pressing directly on Ray.
Ray nodded quickly.
Arthur's aura vanished, replaced with a smile. "Good. Now put this kid back and don't touch him. I'll test him, just like the rest."
Ray nodded again as Arthur continued looking through the papers.
"But he still has to win the competition first. And there are a lot of promising people here."
So this is why he wanted information on everyone in Division 9… just in case he decides to kill me and everyone else. He doesn't trust me at all. And for him to get that information, he must be digging deep into my background… and probably everyone else's too.
Ray sighed and cleared his throat as he continued looking at the recruits. I need to be careful and keep my head down until he forgets about me because of the incoming war.
I'll hide everything and support his decisions to lower his guard around me, Ray thought, accepting some recruits and denying those he knew would be useless for Black Ops.
If Arthur really wants that kid in his Black Ops, then maybe I should get him on my side first… and use him as a spy inside Arthur's circle, Ray thought with a smile.
Somewhere Else
Lucas and Blake were jumping from tree to tree at amazing speeds, Blake barely able to keep up with Lucas and burning a lot of mana to do so.
As they sprinted, Lucas talked casually, as if the speed didn't affect him at all. They were moving at 30 meters per second not even Lucas's top speed, but he slowed down because of Blake.
"So you're saying you don't have your eyes on any girl?" Lucas asked, surprised. "With your talent and your background as the patriarch's son, your clan members should be rushing toward you. So you're saying not even one caught your eye?"
"Not really… I never put much thought into it," Blake said, embarrassed.
"Bro, when I was ten years old I was thinking about surviving war and about women. Why do you think most men want to go to war?" Lucas asked.
"So you're saying men go to war because of women?" Blake asked.
"Yeah. 'The Sky Empire has hot ladies, let's go check.' Or 'The Masan Empire has beautiful sand ladies, let's go check.' It's like that," Lucas said jokingly.
Blake chuckled. "Seriously, you're saying men are ready to die just to sleep with women from other empires?"
"What men would do for women," Lucas replied, making Blake burst out laughing.
"That's not like me at all," Blake said between laughs. "Yes, I like girls, I look at them sometimes, but I think girls are always controlling, wanting you to do what they want, and then breaking your heart because you did."
"Well, true. But love is just a game men and women play," Lucas said. "But don't be like everyone else. Loving a woman too much has been the downfall of many men. Focus on yourself nothing wrong with that but remember this: what's the point of having power if you have no one to share it with? Family, sure, that's fine… but having a girl is cool too. Enjoy your free time."
Lucas finished speaking just as they reached their destination.