Chapter 11 Part 2 of 2 (Patreon)

The man nodded, closing the doors behind him. Detrick took out a complex formation plate and turned it, activating the runes.

Chonglu opened his mouth, popping his ears.

“Sorry about that, we just need to check. The information I am about to give you was supposed to be given to you by Director Elan himself. It is information on our operations in the Fourth Realm, the Willful Institute in the Fourth Realm. Pertinent information on different groups in Vuzgal and the cities that surround us and covert actions we have found within Vuzgal.”

Detrick pulled out three potions and then started pulling out information books.

“What are the potions for?”

“They are concoctions that the alchemists came up with to help with using multiple information books in a row. You will need to use all of the information books while I am here. We can’t leave any with you. It is just policy. It isn’t that we don’t trust you, but you have children and a wife that doesn’t have a contract with Alva.”

“Okay, I understand,” Chonglu said.

“Please, take a seat and take this potion.”

Chonglu sat at his desk and drank the potion offered to him. He smacked his tongue afterwards, it felt as if all of the lights in the room had become brighter, his senses heightened. His mind started to move easier as half forgotten thoughts were brought to the surface.

“Alright, we’ll start with information on the different factions within Vuzgal and possible covert operations we’ve detected.” Detrick pushed a stack of books forward across the desk.

“Okay,” Chonglu opened the book

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Information Book: 01

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Do you wish to activate this Information book? Doing so will destroy this Information book.

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YES/NO

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“Yes.” The pages of the book started to flip, the words turning into a stream of light that shot between Chonglu’s brows.

After the last page turned  the book slammed shut, smouldering and collapsing into ash as Detrick pushed the next book forward.

Chonglu’s brain was reeling.

“If I consume these too fast, won’t I lose information?”

“No, though you’re going to have one hell of a headache in the morning, but I have a potion for that too.”

“Shit. Alright, give me the next one,” Chonglu grunted as Detrick pushed the next one to him.

***

High Elder Cai Bo marched through the halls reaching two large doors. The guards standing in front of the doors knocked as she arrived.

“Send her in,” Head Foster’s [mc1]  voice came through the door.

The guards opened it for her.

Head Foster sat in the middle of the training room. He was sitting in a formation that purified and concentrated his mana. The purity and density of mana in the entire room made Cai Bo shudder and slow her steps for a half second.

The door closed behind her as the head of the Willful Institute opened his eyes.

She bowed deeply, recovering from the massive amount of mana all around her.

“Head Foster. The group in Vuzgal led by low elder Kostic have had some interesting results. It looks like the Adventurer’s Association has deep ties with Vuzgal. Their primary business.”

“Tell me their weaknesses,” Head Foster skipped over her.

“They is a mercenary company, they protect traders and people. We use bandits and wear them down, raise up their competition. There are groups of traders within Vuzgal that want to gain more power. We back them. Get them to snub the Adventurer’s Association.”

“Is the Adventurer’s Association part of Vuzgal?” Head Foster interrupted.

“It is possible. Their members and the Vuzgal defenders talk to one another more than the guards talk with other groups. There are rumors that their guild hall was also given to them by Vuzgal.”

“Prepare a plan to attack Vuzgal. We take out the headquarters of this guild and show that we do not care about our opponent.”

“That will be hard with the associations there.”

“Yes, they’re not very pleased with us right now. They care about money more than they care about face. If we give them enough we pull them back onto our side. See what it will take.”

Cai Bo nodded her head.

“This connection to the leader of the Vuzgal fighting force?”

“I sent a group to the Second Realm with a junior, Mercy. She knew him. They are looking into our past records in the Second Realm, then they will work lower.”

“It is odd, but not a focus. What have you found about the Adventurer’s Association locations?”

“They have hundreds of locations across the lower realms. I believe that we have all of their known locations. They do not own cities, but instead have guild halls in cities with totems. It creates a vast network.”

“Strength in these cities?”

“Not high, they are highly extended in the fighting.” With all of the high elders having to work together on the surface I was able to get a lot more information on them than if I was working on my own.

“They have participated in three of the last eight attacks,” Head Foster growled.

Cai Bo remained silent, waiting.

There was a knock at the main door.

“Good, he is on time, come in!” Head Foster said.

The doors opened, revealing a young man with deep black eyes wearing fine battle armor. He moved naturally with the sword strapped on his hip as if he had been born as an armored knight.

Nico Tolentino? One of the top five candidates to get accepted into a fighting academy? Talented with combat techniques and smithing ability. He formed his liquid core according to my sources and is preparing to temper his Body Like Iron.

Cai Bo had practically reached the end of her path. Now she was innately linked to the Institute, as it rose or fell then she would as well.

Nicoe Tolentino was of the newest generation. There were plenty of opportunities for him to increase his strength. If he was able to enter into a Sixth Realm academy, then it was possible he could reach the Seventh Realm like others from the older generation.

Head Foster actually paused his cultivation.

Cai Bo could only bite her cheek at the different treatment.

“Nico, you will be leading the Fourth Army to attack the Adventurer’s Association. A group of mercenaries that are so bold to think that they can attack us without repercussions. You can use those captured as ingredients for human core pills for your training.”

So opulent! Refining their entire being down into a pill. Even if we can only draw out seventy percent of their overall strength, with tens of fighters with strong bodies and some training in mana cultivation. Truly it is the best way to cultivate.

“Head Foster you are too kind,” Even Nico who got more resources than a city in the Third Realm was moved by the reward.

“High Elder Cai Bo has information on the different locations. Cai Bo, guide Nico well. Crush the Adventurer’s Association guild halls.”

“Yes Head Foster,” Cai Bo bowed.