Chapter 178 - Back to the ship (2/2)

”Mr. Balthazar. You have been quite cautious and seem to have experienced some similar situations before this. That makes your performance much better than the others,” he started. Even if Harek didn't specifically point to Robert, it was clear to all that Balthazar's evaluation was better than Robert's as he was the only other participant of the trial.

”You have good capabilities in being a leader, basic understanding of few groups and security constraints involved, decent physical skills for someone your age, but could still get to know more if you wish to pursue a life similar to that of Walter, probably learn to get through obstacles without use of technology so much. Sometimes the technology which you depend on so much might fail badly,” he said looking at the sheet in front of him.

”Nevertheless, you are among the best of all young men and women that I have evaluated in my life. Frankly, I think we need a better trial to get to know your limitations and probably need to conduct these trials in stages separated by some time,” he continued. ”You are being given the topmost grade of having surpassed our best expectations for the present youth. I would recommend you take the post of the elder that has recently freed up, if not for the fact that you have a successful career in the armed forces.”

He put the papers in his pocket. ”That is all that I am willing to inform you now. You will be given your proper evaluations along with your pitfalls and strengths and suggested methods to improve yourselves in a few days. We plan to create the new system proper and then include your results in the manner so that the new system will not be delayed. I hope you are fine with it?” asked Harek to which the pair nodded as they didn't really care much about it at that time.

Done with the trial, the pair of them were much more relaxed as they had successfully made the first step in getting a proper say in the works of the elder council. Robert considered it important for getting power in the family and Balthazar wanted to have a source of information in as many places as possible. He already started thinking about contacting the underworld acquaintances that he had in his past life as he they walked back to their room.

”I am glad that it all went well. With him having already mention that I passed with a performance better than the average, the first step towards a seat at the elder council is successfully taken,” said Robert as he lay down on a sofa. ”I will contact Elias about the progress of the other thing. I was informed by Richard about your deal with Elias when you were bathing. I will keep a close eye on it from now on.”

”Thanks, that would be very helpful,” said Balthazar. It would be better for him if his cousin took some of those responsibilities from him. He didn't want to completely trust Elias with it, and he believed that it would be better if Robert participates in it and gets a decent understanding of the usage of warframes too. With the war with the apes which he knew was only going to intensify, it is best if his cousin knew how to use some tools of war. He didn't have much trouble with his sister as she is already researching on warframes and she would probably know to use it enough to at least escape an attack using it.

”Fine, you keep an eye on that. Also, do you know how to operate a warframe?”

”I am surgeon at Asklepian. So, no,” replied Robert.

”Well, it is not necessary, but it is good to get a good handle on the basics. It is an extra skill that will definitely be useful if you have your own territory later as an elder,” suggested Balthazar as he put on the somnium headgear. He couldn't do much about other things, but he could play the game while on the ship.

He found himself in the White Heart City. He quickly contacted Rudra and the other for the latest information in the game. He came to know that the team of Blazing fury managed to get the first clear for the hell mode of the Bungar's Keep without him. It was a good thing for the team. A team can't have a sense of dependency on a single person for it to flourish and such a feeling would arise, if the team would only get achievements when led by the single person. It is fine if he was going to allocate all his time for the game, but that wasn't possible either.

Apart from that, a good amount of the players had now reached level 15 and the top few are already at level 16 including Merlin and few others from his team. As expected, he was losing his level advantage and he needed to do something quick if he intended to maintain that advantage.

He came to know that Merlin's group managed to get another dark gold forging design for the first clear of the hell mode but was also informed that they have already sold the designs through the Crimson Realm shop auction already. So, he headed to the shop to see if he can get anything from the shop or even Hammer so that he could use it get experience faster. Trade profession players find it hard to increase levels in the game, but Balthazar had the experience of his past life which made it much easier to gain experience and increase levels through forging and engineering.

”Hi Bel,” greeted Lizzie as he got into the Crimson Realm Store.

”Hi Lizzie,” responded Balthazar. ”Where are Slaine and others? I am unable to contact them.”

”Oh! You haven't heard. Rudra and Slaine were talking with their previous employer. He is claiming the ownership of Crimson Realm name and called for a meeting with them,” said Lizzie.

”Jack?! Didn't he already agree to leave you guys alone. What is his problem?” he thought out aloud.

”Yes, we did make the severance pay and Rudra was always the guild leader in other games, but Jack is claiming ownership of the guild as he had been providing all the monetary support and funds for the team. He brought lawyers and stuff. Rudra also called someone from his family to help with it and they are having a virtual meet,” said Lizzie.

”You know the details of the meeting?” he asked her.

”Yes, I was also sent the invite, but Rudra insisted that he and Slaine along with his lawyers are enough to represent the guild. They are frequently on some quest or something, but I am always at the shop. So, they didn't want to let him use my absence to spread any kind of rumors or gossip about the guild losing its name. That would be a big mark against the reputation,” explained Lizzie as she forwarded him the mail invite to the meeting.

”Ok! Let me go talk. I don't understand how that idiot thought of only talking to Rudra and others behind my back when I am the majority shareholder having 50% of the shares,” said Balthazar with a creepy smile as he logged out of the game to get into the virtual meeting.