519 An Annoying Encounter (1/2)
As they entered the atmosphere, Daniel and the others joined the immense number of cultivators who turned into a stream that descended into the only visible city on the planet's surface.
This city was not unlike many others that Daniel had seen. In fact, it was quite similar in its architecture and in how it was constructed, to the one he was born in. Round in shape, surrounded by a twenty meters tall wall, and separated into sections that belonged to each different faction that contained the offices of their strongest groups.
These separate sections were built around the city's core, which contained the buildings of the independent factions-The place where every cultivator would go to ask for the permit to use the inter-dimensional problem.. but only after reporting their arrival to their faction of belonging.
”Can any of you get us into the core area?” Asked Daniel after landing on the sector of the Blackrose faction, which existed to manage the territory of the first ranked Blackrose family, and to which the Half Moon sect belonged.
In response to Daniel's question, Rose, Dawn and Lilith turned to look at Cassie, who said timidly, ”My family is only a branch of a fifth ranked group who resides in another universe. I should be able to get us a permit to visit the main family.”
Cassie was not the only one amongst her friends who had this type of connection.. After all, each of their families had not always existed in this universe, and instead, had been sent to support another fifth ranked group in their task of winning the competition, and adding this universe to the Blackrose Faction's territory. Nevertheless, Rose, Lilith and Dawn knew that their connection to other unranked families was much less valuable than the one Cassie could provide, and for that reason, they chose to remain quiet.
”Very well.” responded Daniel as the group of five reached the office of the Blackrose faction, which was surrounded by what looked like taverns, hotels, and gamble houses.
Before they could join the line that reached all the way outside of the building, however, a group of a dozen male cultivators approached them, led by a well-dressed young man with short blonde hair, and who showed an aloof expression and arrogant mannerism. ”Beautiful ladies, where are you going all dolled up like that? Somewhere I should be invited in?”
Lilith's cold personality took the better of her, and she turned to look at this young man in order to tell him off, but when she noticed the insignia that was sewn on his shoulders, she immediately closed her mouth. That was because she had recognized the insignia as the crest of the fifth ranked family that was in charge of the Blackrose faction in this universe, and therefore, recognized him as someone that not only her, but the patriarch of the half moon sect would need to show respect to.
”We are only here to request for a permit.” Said Cassie, who was the recipient of most of the lustful stares from this blonde young man, and his companions.
”In that case, why don't you join us for a cup of tea? If losing your place in line is what is bothering you, I can speed things up. It will save you a few hours of waiting.” Said the blonde young man, unwilling to give up on his attempt yet.
Cassie turned to look at her companions, unsure of what to say, but before she could think of anything, Daniel responded by saying, ”How arrogant. Why do you believe that a cup of tea with you is more enjoyable than waiting in line? Don't you know that some people like this sort of thing?”
”What did you say?” Asked the blonde young man, baffled by what he had just heard, and yet too proud to believe in his own ears.
”See? You can't even listen when people are talking to you. What makes you think that your company is worthy of the time of a cup of tea?” said Daniel, embarrassing the blonde young man even more than he had before.
As the latter closed his hands into fists, and began to tremble in anger, Cassie turned towards Daniel, and said, ”Stop, he is someone from a fifth ranked family.” Her tone filled with worry.
Daniel's narrowed eyes moved towards Cassie, then back towards the young man. ”Can he stop us from getting a permit?” he asked.
”I.. I don't think so.” Responded Cassie. What was worrying her, were the rules of this universe which allowed cultivators of similar level to challenge one another because of the smallest slight.. and while the young man from the fifth ranked family had no rights to stop unranked groups from traveling to see the groups to which they were related, offending him would possibly slow the process.
”Ignore him then. At some point he will get bored, and will leave along with the rest of his pack.” Said Daniel while making the subtle comparison between this group of cultivators, and a pack of wild dogs.
Originally, Daniel would have preferred to avoid finding trouble, but he knew that the intention of these young men wasn't to simply have a cup of tea with his companions. In fact, having a cup of tea was only an expedient to get them to accompany them to a tavern, and once there, they would use their position and reputation to convince them to concede more and more. This was a behavior that Daniel had seen many times in the past, and knew that the only way to stop it, was to force them to give up.
”Did he just call big brother a dog?”
”Dead man walking over there.”
”.. he had guts, at least.”
The companions of the blonde young man commented on Daniel's behavior, and as the nasty ticks they were, they did not fail to instigate the blonde young man to act-Something that he could have not avoided unless he would have wanted to appear weak in front of others.