"I guess that makes us school mates in the future but wouldn't this cause the martial art establishment to lose their business?" He's confused, news like this is accessible to powerful families and establishments.
Both definitely have differing views as the conflict in interest carries different weights in either sides.
"You can still be a member of a dojo or a power while still be a student, in fact, you can recruit both teachers and students to go under your dojo if you are charismatic enough." Sean was surprised by this.
"All dojos and other such powers are now forced to become soldiers to combat the growing number of threats our human race faces against, they don't have enough time to care for such things." Nima added.
The Gold Family are tasked to either give substantial support or join the fight in the frontline, they chose both worlds.
They recruited and nurtured a lot of martial artists under their banner, according to the Federation, the wall dividing the territory of mystique creatures, monsters and humans are now under attack.
The Federation is recruiting more soldiers, even forcing some, now taxes are being strictly implemented.
Those who can't pay taxes or contribute to society are all turned to sl*ves, such a drastic change in the earlier rules.
Even civilians are now feeling that the world crushing down on them, only those that has powerful backing or rich can still live peacefully.
For normal people, they had to work hard just to provide for their family, the only way to escape this cycle is for one of their family members to become martial artists.
It was quite difficult before but now there's a chance, they just need to go to school and complete tasks, show their worth or join an organization.
Sean's eyes flashes, this meant that both Hina and Yana had to go back to school, Tsu can continue living in the house practicing alchemy.
"Did something happened in these past few days?" He's confused, he knows that he didn't stay that long in the inner core.
"No, in fact, these plans had been in discussion for a long time but no one in the core city zones wants to pass up such drastic changes." Nima heard this from her father.
With lacking numbers of innate rankers, humans are now being bullied without even the ability to retaliate.
Sean sighs when he heard this, the future isn't looking good for humanity it seems.
"Now that I had broken through bronze rank, I think I'm going to the Evergreen Shop to find a compatible mystique creature for my third contract." Hearing this, everyone turns to him immediately.
"Why don't you ask my family for help?" Nima looks at him quietly.
The thought of Sean relying on another family is bitter for her.
"I know that the Gold Family has their own pet shop but nonetheless, I worked at the Evergreen Family for two months, I might not claim I know every mystique creature there but I can say I know most of them, I sign contract with mystique creatures I feel an affinity with!"
Just cherry picking is great and all but with the system's ability, he can pick even the lowliest creature and nurture it to a giant dragon.
What he wants are those that have distinct personality compared to their own kind.
Two Fighting Bunnies, one variant and one normal, yet, the latter is much braver than the former, willing to lay down her life to protect her sister.
The former, obsessed with training, not a hint of laziness in her, wanting to become like her brave sister.
A Iron Monkey despised by its own race but still tried to protect and befriend them, strong but mischievous, talented in using staff and willing to be the vanguard for his new family.
A brave Spirit Fox, betting an unknown future, always tethering in the edge of the abyss but continue to stand tall.
All four have unknown future but none can be called cowards, these are all his partners and they are willing to follow him through heaven and hell.
Nima pouts but can only relent, Chika suddenly hugs his arm and looks at him with shining eyes.
Sean's eyes twitches, he had seen large melons before as every one of his family are like that but this is the first time he's feeling the sensation.
Chika might not be as big as his family but hers are one of the largest he had ever seen.
"Can I come and watch you sign a contract!?" She wants to see just how Sean pick his partners.
Everyone looks at him but his words caused them to become silent.
"Sure but if you're going to bring others please only bring two people, I don't want to trouble my former co-workers." He thought about Priscel and Dorothy.
He wonders how the two had been, Flowery too, he misses that mischievous brat.
"Chika I-" Fred was about to say something when Chika cheers loudly.
"I'm bringing my two sisters with me! My little sister always wanted to meet you!" She was happy that Sean accepts her request.
Since she was young, she was energetic but her demands always ticks people off in the wrong way.
She had started to hold herself back in these years but in front of Sean, her true personality seems to come out.
She sees him as a reliable older brother even though she's a year or two older than him.
Sean, on the other hand, doesn't care about her requests and just accepts them, it feels like he's raising Wuk again when he's with her.
Maybe that's why he let her be, seeing that he's not even caring about Chika ruffling his head, Nima and the others was speechless.
They can't help but think that Sean would be a good father.
After their meal, their group starts walking back to the city.
Sean feels a bit dirty after staying outside for days without bathing.
Fortunately, he doesn't smell, he was pondering on what to do this next couple of days.
Firstly, teach the girls about Basic Cultivation Technique, secondly train CQC State and Charm and thirdly, start researching for suitable mystique creature to sign a contract with.
Land, he needs earth-type mystique creature, if only he can have a dual attribute one but they are extremely rare.
"We're going to sell some of our hunts, care to come with us?" Asks Steel Plate.
Sean shakes his head. "I had been out for a couple of days, I should return home to erase the worries of my family."
Steel Plate sighs, as a man that lived for a century, he no longer has anyone waiting for him.
Most martial artists are like this since they can't just magically turn every family and friends into a martial artist.
Sean doesn't want to end up just like him, he already felt the loneliness in the former world, he doesn't want to experience it once again.
Returning to the estate, the guards were gawking from his appearance.
Seeing this, he's a bit embarrassed, after all, it feels like he's some sort of exotic animal.
"Ranker Sean, please wait, following lord Harold's order, when you return home, please report to him directly."
'I guess he's feeling anxious in these days.' He thought and nods his head.
The guards respectfully escorted him to the mansion, the maids and butlers then welcomes him with open arms.
'Wow! I know he's desperate but it seems that I underestimated his obsession towards that treasure, he must truly loved his wife.' He thought.
Before they can even arrive at the patriarch's room, Harold came running to see him.
"You've returned and you broke through bronze rank without being filled with medicines!" His eyes are tearing up.
Those that spent a fortune only increasing their vital force with medicines would have a hard time entering the silver rank.
No one had managed to reach gold rank like this and as such, powerful families, dojos and organizations wouldn't recommend their members to fully adapt such growth.
"Yes, I've returned because I found some information that's very important for the Gold Family."
Harold's excited expression turns serious, he might be obsess with the treasure but he also has the duty to maintain the family's legacy.
"Come in, we'll take about it inside my room." He waves to the servants.
Instantly, they brought tea, snacks and utensils before leaving.
Sean watching everything was thinking a different thing.
'I wanted juice or coffee.' Eating some snacks, he shares to Harold about his discovery regarding the Golden Paradise.
Just like Nima and the others' reaction earlier, Harold was shocked by the fact that Sean was lucky enough to reach that place without dying.
Sean continues to share his experience, he also emphasizes the danger one would encounter if they really dares to create a base at such places.
"I'm grateful to your hard work, if that place is truly Golden Paradise, then, the Gold Family will do everything at our power to gain a foothold at such place!"
The Gold Family's main pet beast is the Gold Eating Beast, their only diet are raw ores, making it very difficult to raise them but once they evolve, they can devour all manners of metal but in order for them to evolve, they need to eat a large amount of raw ores and a place filled with metal element.
Golden Paradise is perfect for them and setting a foothold in that location is paramount to them.
"I'll inform ancestor and my cousin about this, as long as we can create a base there, our family's foundation will only grow firmer!" Harold's eyed blazes.
Sean nods his head, he agrees with this, not everyone has a system that can evolve their pet beast like him.
"For this intelligence, all debts you owe to our family is paid in full!" Even though he's reluctant to let him go, he's still a man of integrity.
"Don't worry, I will still drop by in this place from time to time, besides, Nima already told me about that treasure of yours, I might not promise that I can really become an innate ranker but I can swear on my martial path that if I really become one, I'll help you."
Harold was stunned, he then looks at him with a complex expression.
"Rest here for now, I'll have some of my subordinates and our family's worker build your home in order to hasten its completion."
He never thought that his daughter would notice his action, it seems that he was really like a desperate wild beast during this time.
Slumping on his chair, he seems to lost some energy, feeling guilty for what happened to his wife.
"I don't know the full story about your life and I'm not someone to judge that early but I think your daughter still wants to reach out to you." Harold raises his head and looks at him with a blank expression.
"You hate yourself that's why you are like this but if you don't want to live for yourself, live for your daughter, isn't your dream to create a innate ranker? Your daughter has that potential."
Leaving these words, he left the room, with the existence of Golden Paradise, it won't be long for metal-type resources to be pouring into the Gold Family.
Someone like Harold shouldn't continue moping around the silver rank, with his potential, he's fit to reach the gold rank.
Meanwhile, inside the patriarch room, Harold looks at the painting of their first ancestor, then, turns his gaze to the picture in his desk.
Looking at the beautiful woman in the picture, tears starts forming in his eyes.
"Anny, since when was I so blinded? If I truly die like that, then, your love would be wasted, the fruit of our lives is still breathing, I still need to support the sky for her." Hugging the picture with tears on his eyes, Harold, in a long time, grieves loudly.