201 Back to the Neutral Lands. (1/2)

Since it was the Neutral Lands, Irvin and Ozul themselves needed to be present. Meanwhile, it became Oliver and Haley's duty to manage everything in their absence.

There were many more Rank-7 Mages under Haley's command, so they need not be so worried if anything unforeseen happened.

Irvin took some men and they headed towards the Neutral Lands together with Ozul. In these more than 5 years, he hadn't once returned there since he did not have any solid reason to.

Unbeknownst to him, Raymond and Alver were waiting for him to visit. As much arrogance as they had for being Rank-9 Mages, they were hesitant in being the first one to approach since their only nephew had grown up to be someone who could match them without them ever being there for him.

And they were afraid that he would think negatively of them as if they were telling him only now they got to know of his power. Even if it were not true, they were afraid that Ozul would think as such.

”Where are they going?” Ozul asked right after meeting up with Irvin and the tens of men behind him. He was pointing towards those men.

”Uhm... with us?” Irvin answered while hesitating.

”No. They are staying. Only take Rank-7's.” Ozul did not want those below Rank-7 to join because it would again take months to travel all the way to the Neutral Lands.

If there were only Rank-7 Mages, then they would require only about a month or so.

”But I will need men there...” Irvin muttered meekly.

”Hire your men there. If you can't, then the Ashin family will help... If they don't help, then you will create the base by yourself,” Ozul replied resolutely. Listening to his tone, Irvin knew that he had no hopes in persuading him out of this.

He ordered those below Rank-7 to return and only kept the few men who met the requirement. He sighed in defeat and hoped that he would be able to find more men to build the base.

They could just empty some big building and call it their headquarters, but proper measurements were required. Not only did he have to work on the defensive formations, but also initiate the proper steps to set up communication artifacts.

There were supposed to be two giant artifacts each having identical runes etched on them. Once both were powered, anyone would be able to convey their message from one artifact to the other in written form. These artifacts were usually giant glowing crystals. At least that was what Irvin had in his Spatial Ring.

They started their journey towards the Neutral Lands immediately.

. . .

A few more days than a month was all it required for the group to pass the barren ring of area and step in the Neutral Lands.

Irvin was familiar with this place, so he led everyone directly to the town where they planned to create their headquarters. Comparing this town with any city outside the Neutral Lands would result in this town winning, but here in this place, they were only known as towns.

Ozul scanned the whole town and found something that he could not ignore even if he wanted to.

'Why is there a Rank-9 Mage here?' he was confused exactly because he sensed a Rank-9 Mage right in the center of the town!

”Stop right here,” he ordered Irvin at the entrance of the town before flying his way over to the tall building in the middle.

Only when he reached there did he realize the reason for that Rank-9 Mage to be staying here in this town. He squinted his eyes at the extravagant sign that spelled out 'The Mercenary Guild' at the top of the building.

He had almost forgotten that even the Mercenary Guild's main headquarters was in the Neutral Lands. But since this organization was really neutral, they hadn't built it in the Neutral City for the exact same reasons as the Three-Eyed Stranger's.

'From what I know, there shouldn't be only a single Rank-9 Mage in the Mercenary Guild,' Ozul remembered that they were supposed to be a force that individual Rank-9 Mages did not dare to offend.

For all he knew, there might even be a Rank-10 Mage supporting the Mercenary Guild. So, he wanted to avoid getting into a conflict with them as much as possible.

”That Irvin...” Ozul muttered before making his way back to the group.

Irvin approached him as he landed and was about to ask a question, but Ozul beat him to it, ”Irvin.”

”Yes, Young Master?” Irvin asked respectfully. He did not know why they were ordered to stay at the entrance in the first place, so he was clueless at the moment.

”You knew the Neutral Lands from when you used to work for the Ashin family, yes?” Ozul started with a question.