Chapter 397: Elites (1/2)
“Pretty, why didn’t you join in on the hunt?” Leyara asked with interest as she looked over at her friend with a spurious smile. “Did you know that guy would be so strong? But I still think you would have a chance to trap him.”
“I’ve told you a thousand times, call me Daoist Summit Reacher,” the beautiful woman said with an annoyed look as she glanced at Leyara.
This family and their naming sense, Leyara lamented as she shook her head. And wasn’t it Swordmistress Grace last time?
The two sat at a friends’ viewing terrace that overlooked the Tower Square and the entrance to the Tower of Eternity. They had all gotten the quest, but only Ulmar and Presseus had made a move. They now sat to the side with their frizzy hair, looking a bit embarrassed. They probably hadn’t expected to get drowned in a sea of high-grade flames infused with a Dao Fragment the moment they set out.
“So?” Leyara probed.
Pretty was the strongest person here, which meant she was one of the strongest people in Base Town, especially now that Reoluv had left. Furthermore, as the granddaughter of that war maniac she was probably loaded with nasty treasures perfect to create havoc. It was a bit surprising she didn’t make a move considering the quest reward. It was something that only those with the stoutest Dao Hearts would be able to resist.
“That guy was always so annoying, stupid upstart family. It’s not my problem he got himself killed. The latest Zethaya generation must have let their excessive wealth turn their brains into excrement for things get out of hand like that. Why should I exert myself to clean up their mess?” Pretty shrugged with disinterest.
“But that guy who was with him came from your Allbright Empire though?” Leyara said with an impish smile. “I remember him hiding in the corner looking scared at the party you held a month ago.”
Leyara was so bored after all these gatherings and auctions. There was finally something interesting happening, and she couldn’t help but try to stir the pot a bit to make things even more exciting. She knew things would get chaotic if Pretty made a move.
She didn’t just have one or two suitors who had timed their climb to be here at the same time as her. Intergalactic dating was pretty hard after all, especially opportunities to meet outside the gaze of the elders. No matter if she decided to help or hunt the results no doubt be spectacular to witness.
“I’m not from the Imperial family, why should I care about what some guy from our Empire does or what company he keeps? I don’t even think he’s from the Empyrean sector,” Pretty said with disinterest.
“Yeah… But your grandfather…” Leyara said.
“What does grandpa have to do with some small squabbles between the younger generation?” Pretty snorted.
Leyara only rolled her eyes and gave up. It looked like she wouldn’t be able to drag her old friend into the mess.
“Besides, the fun has only started,” Pretty suddenly said with a smile.
“Oh?” Leyara asked, hope reigniting.
“Haven’t you noticed? We all still have the quest even though a few minutes have passed. I think the Ruthless Heavens doesn’t feel this play has acted itself out yet. Won’t he be kicked out of the tower in a day at most?”
Leyara’s eyes lit up in excitement as she looked down at the large crowd who stayed by the entrance. Only a few were leaving, but most seemed content to simply wait, intently waiting for that lunatic to return.
“What do you think, Pretty?” Leyara said. “Will he survive? Do you think I should join in on the fun?”
“I know you don’t care about which floor you end up on, why should you join this fight? As for whether he will survive…?” Pretty said with a mysterious smile. “I think he will surprise us all.”
“And don’t call me Pretty.”
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Catheya looked down at the square from the window far up in the tower belonging to the Undead Empire, her pitch-black eyes absorbing the candlelight like two black holes. Calmness had already returned to the core area after the destruction of the Zethaya Pill house, but a storm was still raging inside her heart.
“Did you find out the identity of the man?” Catheya asked into the shadows, eliciting a dour zombie to emerge.
“I am afraid not, mistress,” the zombie said with a bow. “The warrior entered the Pill House by challenging their array, and he only identified himself as Zac before things deteriorated. However, I did manage to find out a few facts from one of the assistants.”
“Oh?” Catheya looked over at Varo, the leader of her deathsworn and her personal steward.
“He was able to forcibly pass through the array by virtue of his attributes alone. His constitution should be quite impressive. Also, his main goal of visiting the Zethaya was to find a cure for a fractured soul. It seemed quite urgent for him,” the zombie finished.
“A fractured soul?” Catheya mumbled, her pale lips curving slightly upward. “The Zethaya better pray that man never grows too powerful. Such a response when he came looking for medicine will no doubt plant a seed of intense grudge. Was that what he wanted to say before he got whisked away?”
“Do you wish us to prepare an ambush of him for when he exits?” the Zombie probed. “A free level would guarantee smoothly passing the 7th floor.”
“No, it would be shameful to use such a crutch in this place. Besides, I have some confidence in passing the 7th floor without any outside assistance. By the way, who was the man he killed?” Catheya asked as she looked over at her assistant.
“Rasuliel Tsarun. A main branch descendant of the Tsarun clan, but only of middling import. He was a talent to be nurtured, but not in line for succession,” Varo said.
“Tsarun? Never heard of them,” Catheya muttered.
“They are a somewhat young force local to this remote sector. They have some connections to the local provinces of our Empire, mainly providing high-quality corpses,” Varo dutifully reported.
“How many of that clan are here right now?” Catheya asked.
“One more main branch member, 8 from side branches, and 17 employees,” Varo said without missing a beat.
“Are you confident in killing them all?” Catheya asked.