Once we arrive, Jiang Shaoxu abruptly drags all the girls away to enjoy Japanese delicacies. She's infatuated with Japanese culture, speaks the language fluently, and apparently prioritizes food over the win stamp. Ah, achieving victory against Japan's defenders means one of their authorities stamps the captain's sheet (a list of every nation with empty adjacent boxes for stamps) in the row containing Japan.
The embassy is located atop Huwang Mountain, uniquely containing two peaks separated by a deep abyss. The Twin Guardian Towers are two enormous, ash-gray rooks on each of the peaks, connected to each other via a loose, hanging bridge. Roads only lead to the West Tower, so the East Tower must be accessed via the bridge. Vicious formations surround the East Tower, eliminating all who approach it via any route other than the bridge.
Two Magicians dressed like samurai guard the entrance at the walls surrounding the West tower. A young woman leaving the structure notices us. She's dressed in a kimono, with an umbrella in her hand to shield her pale skin from the sunlight.
Derision flashes across her face, and she stomps to our position, speaking in English.
"Are you Chinese?"
I reply, "Indeed. Why the query?"
She hisses, "Because you tourists from China never follow the rules. There's a giant board at the bottom of the mountain saying no visitors are allowed."
"We aren't visitors, we-"
"Even worse if you're here for visas. I despise those like you that work here merely to obtain a visa. Leave, or I'll toss you down the mountain!"
Her acerbic words render us speechless, and cold fury fills the faces of most of my teammates. Noticing that we're not budging, she continues her rant.
"The Twin Guardian Towers is a sacred location in Osaka. Your filthy air is staining its aura."
I mildly rebuke her. "I'll be sure to let our team's advisors know our filthy air prevented us from challenging your defenders."
She blanches. "... You… you're China's national team?"
"Obviously. Please escort us inside."
Her face darkens. "As if I'm a maid here. Go up on your own!"
"Chihaya? What's the matter? Ah, I see you're greeting China's national team. Why don't you all come in, we'll handle the matter of challenges after a sumptuous dinner."
A short old man with a magnificent mustache defuses the tension entirely by chance.
[Or not by chance. Who knows with mysterious old men.]
…
…
We're nearly done with dinner, having learned several tidbits of information in the process. The old man is Mochizuki Ken, and his granddaughter is Mochizuki Chihaya. The Japanese defenders are led by the advisor of Japan's Training Hall: Fujikata Tegami.
"I must apologize for my granddaughter's rash actions outside the West Tower a few hours ago. Please forgive her."
I dismiss his concerns with a wave. "Her blustering isn't worth the energy it takes to become angry. There's nothing to forgive."
Ai Jiangtu, unlike me, is displeased with the impolite aura exuding from all but the old man, and proposes the challenge format. "Why don't we have 5 solo duels? First to 3 wins. We'll send Guan Yu, Jiang Shaoxu, and Yang Jianyu."
Guan Yu and Jiang Shaoxu are at odds with a spiky-haired man and a short girl; evidently, our captain picked up on this and allowed them to vent.
Mochizuki Ken appears puzzled. "What about the other two?"
"No point in choosing, since we won't be needing them." Ai Jiangtu's arrogant response draws smirks from my teammates.
"But-" "Grandfather, it's fine. Treat it as teaching them a lesson on brashness and overconfidence."
Pressured by the gunpowder-filled air, the duels hastily commence in a huge training room with a raised platform for battle. Guan Yu chooses the spiky-haired man as his opponent; the two are both assassin-type Wind Magicians, but Guan Yu's speed coupled with his claw gauntlet overwhelms his adversary. Surprisingly, as he corners the Japanese guy, an explosion of Wind Discs nearly breaks all his bones, and it's with excellent reaction speed that he avoids the brunt of the impact to stab his opponent deep in the stomach.
He set up the Wind Disc traps, preserved the rumbling wind, and allowed it to trigger when Guan Yu's body disturbed nearby airflow. However, it wasn't enough to take him out.
He slowly walks over to us, cradling his broken arm, but he's grinning. "Taught that little shit a lesson."
Jiang Shaoxu's battle is boring. A stream of Psychic Impacts prevent the Japanese girl from aligning a single star, and a particularly strong one renders her unconscious.
While the Japanese onlookers exhibit discomfort from having lost twice in a row, Jiang Shaoxu whispers in my ear. "Beat up that bitch."
"Your wish is my command."
I point at Mochizuki Chihaya as my opponent, and strangely, she prevents her grandfather from speaking, a sinister smile growing on her face. The other Japanese defenders are also grinning savagely.
Shrugging, I proceed to the circular platform. It's 100 meters wide, and we start 50 meters away from each other. The rules for victory: unconscious, severe injury, verbal surrender, or being forced off the platform.
Fujikata Tegami yells, "Begin!"
Mochizuki Chihaya stomps her foot, and dense thorny vines, bushes, and trees approach me, filling the entire platform. The foliage reaches me 30 meters away from her position, so I summon the dazzling obsidian swords. I start twirling even as I run towards her, ensuring I don't miss any creeping vines as I hack apart anything that closes in on me. A glowing Impervious Juggernaut already encases my skin, dulling the attempts of the odd thorny plant to injure me.
I slash out of the overgrowth, alarming her. As I unsummon my swords, she's already constructing a Water Star Constellation, Flower Sky: Heaven's Water Curtain, summoning a curtain of water as wide as the platform and thick enough to cover a quarter of it. However, passing through it merely causes my golden armor to dim slightly: it's primarily a defensive spell and the water isn't crashing down with much force, unlike the 2nd or 3rd tier Advanced Water spells.
In the upcoming fights, winning with as much strength reserved as possible is vital. Revealing Elements and Magic Equipment allows other nations to prepare accordingly and counter you perfectly. Fire Mages' destructive output will be negated by a mere Water Curtain. Lightning Mages' spells can't conduct through Earth.
Thus, I don't cast any more spells, nor do I keep my swords out. I decided that my bow would be my only source of offense prior to the fight, and I plan to keep it that way for any future battle unless my hand is forced.
I quickly fire 5 arrows at her, 2 shattering the Water Defenses she's hurriedly casting, and 2 more whiffing air where I thought she might dodge. However, the fifth finds its mark on her leg, and she screams in agony, falling to the ground.
Or rather, that's what would have happened if she hadn't summoned a Magic Armor that covered her entire body, and even with the Chaotic Piercer's triple speed effect, the arrow can't pierce through the armor.
[No matter, it won't last forever.]
After failing to trap me a few more times via the swathes of thorny plants covering the platform, she reveals her third Element: Earth.
Basic Light spells won't blind her because of her Advanced Mage physique, and my arrows can't harm her, so I'm unable to interrupt her construction of an Earth Star Constellation. I'm in close combat distance, but fists have just clanked off her armor.
[Fuck this. It'll just be for a moment.]
I abruptly call the obsidian swords into my hands, and swing at her neck. I draw blood from her neck as the razor-sharp edge cuts through the armor like butter, and I stride away after unsummoning the swords.
Mixed expressions of fury and disbelief stain the faces of members of Japan's defensive team, and I even see traces of it on the stern old lady, Fujikata Tegami. Mochizuki Ken displays concern for his granddaughter, ensuring a healer erases the wound.
Ai Jiangtu approaches Fujikata Tegami, and she begrudgingly stamps next to Japan on his list.
"Thank you. We did not appreciate your hospitality, so we'll be taking our leave."
"Wait," Mochizuki Ken stops him. "Please, allow us to make amends. Why don't you stay here overnight, and leave after breakfast with us tomorrow? I am dissatisfied at my countrymen's lack of courtesy, and I'll dissipate any misgivings they may bear about you. International relations should be cooperative, not full of discord."
We glance at each other, surprised that an elder with such status is humbling himself to apologize.
[His temper and positive demeanor are admirable.]
Ai Jiangtu nods at us, turns to Mochizuki Ken, and replies in the affirmative. "We'll be in your care, then."
…
…
The afternoon turns into night, then day. I wash my face, brush my teeth, and shrug on a white long-sleeve shirt and black sweatpants.
I'm the first of my team to join the dining table in the breakfast room, and apparently the first out of any student aside from Mochizuki Chihaya. She, her grandfather, and Fujikata Tegami are the only ones sitting down.
The young woman wears a cowed expression as she stands up and bows. "I'm sorry for grouping you with the Chinese people that are a drag on the West Tower; assuming you were one and the same was a grave mistake. I hope you can forgive me."
[How did the old man turn the raging xenophobe into a meek girl? Miraculous.]
"I continue to insist that there's nothing to forgive. But you have my forgiveness, if you want it."
Relieved, she sits back down. "Thank you!"
An inquisitive glance flashes across Mochizuki Ken's eyes. "That matter aside, it seems China has obtained quite the gem, having you as one of its representatives. You just defeated the teacher who guides the defensive team without even consuming an Advanced spell's worth of energy; I doubt there's more than a handful of star students across all the nations capable of winning against her, much less so easily."
"I was lucky that the cooldown on those swords was finished, or she would have worn me out while being impervious to any damage. Plus, I'm not really a representative, just a substitute."
"That outcome is unlikely, considering your enviable reaction speed and your bow skills. Wait, you're a substitute? I cannot fathom why. China's team shouldn't be so overwhelming that someone like you is sidelined."
"I don't have offensive Elements, and I didn't join the team the standard way because I missed the competition to determine the team's lineup due to personal matters. I believe some high authority forced the advisors to add me as a third substitute afterwards, since we're supposed to only have 2 substitutes. The consequence is that the advisors think I'm some rich kid who doesn't deserve the spot, and as of right now, there hasn't really been an opportunity to show them what I'm capable of."
"That's… quite the conundrum."
"It'll be alright, my teammates are understanding my formidability. I'll let them humble the advisors on my behalf."
"I certainly hope they do. Ah, it looks like everyone's trickling in. I've another matter I want your assistance with; may I bother you to pay Chihaya's room a visit before you leave?"
…
…
Slightly bewildered, I knock on her door. She opens it and ushers me to a chair opposite her grandfather.
"Welcome, Yang Jianyu. If this doesn't go well, I'll ask Ai Jiangtu and maybe a few other level-headed people on your team for help."
"What exactly is the issue?"
He pulls out a…. palm-sized sphere covered in silver cloth? And he pulls off the material to reveal a red orb. A familiar shade of red.
My heart pulses violently, and the orb struggles under Mochizuki Ken's grip as he watches it, befuddled. I exert iron will over my Spiritual World, and prevent the orb's stray energies from demonizing me. The old man's expression grows brighter as time passes, and covers the demonic item with the silver cloth once more, halting the turbulence of negative mental influence aimed at me.
"You're truly unaffected by it! Chihaya and I are resistant, but we'd be demonified after prolonged exposure. All the people I tested in the tower fell victim to its urges, and I was forced to wipe their memories of the encounter."
[Wipe their memories? That means… an incredibly powerful Psychic Mage is sitting in front of me. Should I leave?]
No, if he wished harm upon me, he'd have acted at opportune moments before now. I'll play along.
"What is this orb? What are its origins and why is my resistance of any value?"
A solemn expression settles onto his face. "The Red Demon Orb. The first materialized from overwhelmingly negative emotions stemming from the East Tower, a prison for the worst of Japan's powerful criminals. It influenced me, a couple of others, and Kazuaki. Well, not him. Like you, he did not succumb to its enticing, and tried to prevent us from getting addicted to its power. Eventually, we attempted to kill him and secure it by force, but luckily he was onto us and escaped with the orb. It took years before we began returning to our original personalities.
"Now, a second one has been engendered in the same prison, despite us taking precautions to prevent it. I suspect Kazuaki's mind was eroded away over the decades, and he is currently roaming the world creating others like him. I'm fortunate I noticed its telltale signs of existence, and I brought it here wrapped in this cloth, which dampens its influence. I can't risk relying entirely on the cloth; what if I've misjudged and it's merely waiting for the appropriate time to cause chaos? I need you to escort it to Old Bao, a friend of mine in the Clearsky Hunter Agency. I'll give you his-"
"Hold on. I already know Old Bao, I'm a Hunter in his private agency. But I'm currently with the national team. Why should I leave?"
"This matter is of utmost priority: it concerns a threat that could grow to destroy a country. Besides, you won't obtain any resources from the nation if you're a substitute. All you stand to gain is experience by traveling with them, and I've a hunch you're not lacking it."
"What if I'm staying because I want to humiliate opponents from other countries?"
"Then you may still accomplish your goals. I'm sure that within a year, the advisors will fly you back to China at least once, and you can hand it to Old Bao then. Kazuaki left after years of us pressuring him, and he hadn't turned. One year with you shouldn't be outrageous, but I'm having Chihaya escort you. In case you do lose control, she'll call me."
"… Fine, it sounds like it'll save lives without heavily endangering my own."
"Grandfather! What about the dignity of the Mochizuki Clan, if I'm looking after a foreign man only a few years younger than me?"
He squints at her severely. "What dignity? Does dignity compare to millions of lives hung in the balance? The original Red Demon, Kazuaki, could grow to become an Emperor after absorbing the matured seeds he's planting everywhere. An Emperor! Forbidden Mages have their hands full just fending off the current Emperors, and this is one of the seeds that might engender another one. And you're worried about DIGNITY?!!" His voice trembles with fury with his final remark.
She flushes in anger and embarrassment, but listens to her grandfather's rebukes.
"Uh, old man Mochizuki, you can't be serious. I refuse; people will misunderstand if a young woman follows me everywhere. If you're so worried, why don't you just take it yourself?"
He grimaces. "I must personally inspect everyone in the East Tower and ensure the orb's influence did not sway anyone. This might take months, if not more than a year. I cannot force you against your will, so I'm begging you: please oblige my request!"
Shocked, I prevent him from bowing his head. "Stop! I'll do it."
"You have my utmost gratitude. Forgive this shameless old man."
…
…
We're headed for Tokyo's maritime battlefields in another train, and…
"How did you bag such a beautiful, arrogant foreign girl?! I've been with dozens of beauties in China, but none of them compare to her, nor Mu Ningxue. Speaking of her, I wonder how she feels about getting shoved aside for this girl with huge assets. I mean, she's better equipped in both pertinent locations…"
"One more word, and damn the consequences of ripping that tongue out of your skull."
Zhao Manyan is sitting on my left, with Mochizuki Chihaya on my right. Mu Ningxue, thankfully, is on the far side of the train cabin, away from this golden-haired sex offender's nonsense. However, the Japanese girl in question is trembling in fury and restraint, an angry red marring her pale cheeks.
The other males on the team occasionally direct withering gazes of jealousy at me, while Mu Ningxue feels colder than normal: she hasn't glanced at me once.
[I regret everything.]
…
…
The East Maritime Fortress, in the shape of a crescent hugging the city, lies between the ocean and Tokyo, protecting the latter from the former's wrath, both in the form of tides and sea monsters. Within the crescent is a bustling area of streets, marketplaces, residential structures, tall buildings, and shops. Not a single sea creature is in sight, alive or dead. Crowds of mostly Magicians flood the region, bargaining with vendors, selling sea monsters' body parts, and buying Magic Equipment.
"This East Maritime Fortress looks rather new," Jiang Yu notices.
"Still, apart from the materials used for construction, it doesn't look very different from the other cities," Jiang Shaoxu adds.
Mu Tingying eagerly paints it in a negative light. "This is one of the four biggest maritime fortresses in the world, but it doesn't look like there's anything special about it. It's just very close to the ocean."
I've got to correct her xenophobia-inspired comment. "That's where you're wrong. When ocean demon beasts invade, the crescent closer to the ocean allows them in, while the taller part of the crescent near Tokyo prevents them from flooding the city. Effectively, this contains any invasions inside the fortress, and tremendous profits are generated from the sea monsters, who are relatively easy targets without a huge body of water nearby. The buildings and structures are broken down in ensuing battles, but rebuilt easily by Earth and Plant Mages; the structures' secondary purpose is providing Mages who aren't agile in water with stable platforms, above any enhanced tides that aid the sea creatures' invasion."
"No one asked for your opinion, substitute."
"Sorry, unsolicited clarification is a bad habit that flares when morons are yapping next to me."
"You little-"
Our spat is interrupted by a pillar from a nearby structure flying at us. An orange-haired man who had been stalking us screams, "Look out!"
He flings himself at the nearest person, Mu Ningxue. Before he can reach her, a regular arrow pierces through his shirt above his shoulder, sending him flying away. I didn't use the Chaotic Piercer's arrows, but a creep like him should keep his distance from us. Ai Jiangtu uses Telekinesis: Void Claw to hold the pillar, throwing it away with an invisible hand.
The source of the huge projectile is two ugly demonic beasts, 10 meters tall with blue scales covering their bodies, standing on the street around a hundred meters away.
"What kind of a shitty fortress is this? The sea monsters are able to break into the place just like that!" Zhao Manyan curses.
"It's almost as if that's the intended purpose of the East Maritime Fortress's structure," I sarcastically quip.
An announcement in English echoes through the air at this moment. "All personnel, sea monsters have appeared in the nineteenth zone. Those who are non-combatants should leave or hide in the shelters at once! All personnel, sea monsters have appeared in the nineteenth zone. It has been confirmed that the sea monsters are two Commander-level Blue Valley Ferocious Beasts. Combatants are advised to eliminate them as soon as possible!"
I exchange glances with Ai Jiangtu. "I'll kill one, you handle the other with the rest of the team, giving them experience."
He nods. "Those of you who aren't cowards, come with me. We're defeating one of them, and Yang Jianyu will eliminate the other."
Mu Tingying sniffs in disdain. "I'll admit he's not bad with formations, but how can you trust a mere substitute to take on a Commander-level beast?"
[Enough is enough. This is interfering with the cohesion of the team, and perhaps even its safety.]
I warp through the shadows to arrive in front of her, and my hand rockets to her throat, lifting her up in a choke hold.
"I can reveal how many Commanders I've already killed. Is that information of interest to you? It must be, considering you believe the number is zero. Unfortunately, you're dead wrong. It's somewhere around 10, one of them being the Scarlet Rending Demon that was conspicuously missing from the pack we eradicated. Weren't any of you suspicious that its leader didn't show up?"
All she can manage are gagging sounds, so I continue my tirade. "You're nothing but an ant, one that possesses abnormal courage and arrogance due to the ant colony supporting it. I wouldn't act like a spoiled brat if I were you, since your position in the Mu Clan is shaky at best. The Mu Clan abandoned Mu Ningxue at the drop of a hat; it'll toss you aside like so much lint if you don't tread carefully for the rest of your life. Your ridicule of me is something I don't lose sleep over, but at critical moments like these, sowing seeds of doubt regarding my capabilities in the others' minds is absurdly counterproductive. Do better."
I loosen my grip slightly, and words leak out of her mouth. "Go… to… hell."
[Did I really expect any other outcome?]
I set her down, and she starts retching and coughing. Deserved. Now to face these blue monstrosities approaching us.
As planned, I charge at the left Blue Valley Ferocious Beast. Two arrows find their marks on its single eye before it realizes my bow poses any danger, and it begins blindly writhing in agony. Several of its thrashing limbs blur towards me, and my Impervious Juggernaut only tanks a single hit before dispersing. Another shatters the Bull Xenon, accumulated light shield, and 2 Water Defense: Resists before hitting my bow; the reduced momentum still punts me back a few dozen meters and bruises the bones in my arms. I employ the increase in speed from the Bull Zenon (no longer as drastic since reaching the Advanced level) to close in, ducking, jumping, sidestepping, parrying with my bow, until I'm next to one of its legs. Summoning Blood Tabi, I rocket off the ground onto its shoulder, and even as it shakes violently to throw me off, I'm already in the air, lunging at its head. An onyx sword penetrates its skull and its brain in one stab, and I lazily lean to my left to avoid the geyser of blue blood. I leap off before it crashes to the ground, dead as can be.
[That wasn't an easy opponent, one of the stronger Lesser Commanders out there.]
Out of nowhere, my instincts flare. I cast Descending Light: Sacred Wall and Flower Sky: Heaven's Water Curtain to protect the other group with two Advanced defensive spells. Unfortunately, the beast's legs are dyed a crimson red, and it raises them to swipe the air horizontally. Once. Twice. The first red flicker of light dissipates upon breaking through the defensive spells, and the second…
Ai Jiangtu reacts quickly, shielding the entire group with Telekinesis: Void Wall, and I suspect he consumed the majority of the mana in his Space Galaxy, since his face is red and he's breathing heavily. Unfortunately, the 'entire group' is incorrect. Nanrong Ni's and Jiang Shaoxu's eyes are wide open, and they're outside the range of the Void Wall, without a single piece of Magic Equipment protecting them because they're frozen in fear.
I melt through the shadows to appear in front of them, clothing myself in the Black Snake Armor. Even as the light flashes towards us, I manage to materialize one Water Defense: Resist before it crashes into my back. Two ribs snap from the impact, but as anticipated, the armor's toughness prevents penetration. We're sent flying, and the girls collapse in a heap atop me.
Their body weight irritates the tissues surrounding the fractured bones, so I uncharitably push them off me, recalling the Black Snake Armor.
I don't wince as I stand up; I've suffered far worse. I pull Jiang Shaoxu and Nanrong Ni upright, scolding them in the process: "I understand, fight, flight, and freeze. But try to not choose the latter next time."
Jiang Shaoxu snaps out of her funk and beams at me, wrapping herself around my arm. "Thank you for rescuing me."
I narrow my eyes and lightly extricate my arm from her grasp. "Watch the ribs, they're broken."
Her face falls. "I'm sorry, I didn't know… how was I supposed to? You didn't even flinch…"
"It's alright. Just remember, engaging Commanders isn't monkey business."
She winces in empathetic pain as I snap the two ribs back together; they'll heal in a few days. Possessing the Demon Element enhanced my vitality and recovery in addition to Nyx's passive regeneration boost; I'm around twice as durable and heal twice as fast with the otherwise useless Element.
[Wait, our team has a Healer.]
I shift my attention to Nanrong Ni. "Please fix me up; I've got 2 broken ribs, bruises, and possibly a vertebrae out of place."
She nods, constructing a light lime Star Pattern that produces 2 shimmering, ethereal butterflies of an identical color. 3rd tier Intermediate Healing spell, Healing Spirit: Twin Butterflies! They fly to my back, consuming the energy in her Nebula to repair the damaged tissues. A familiar warmth ensues as I feel my spine realigning, my ribs fusing together once more, and all the aches from bruises disappearing.
I gaze at the fiend responsible for my injuries, and it's dead because those ultimates sapped too much of its energy, decreasing its agility and reaction speed. Mu Ningxue slowed it to a crawl with her Ice, allowing Zu Jiming to slowly rot its scales using Poison. Li Kaifeng blasted its defenseless body with a few Fiery Fists, and after the whole team ganged up on it, pummeling the beast with offensive spells, it succumbed to its wounds.
Everyone but Jiang Shaoxu high fives each other, exuberant from the victory. She paces away from us, wearing a downcast expression. I jog to catch up, walking beside her. Her typical coquettish demeanor is absent.
"Don't beat yourself up. You're just an Intermediate Mage, and that thing was a variant of a Blue Valley Ferocious Beast, one that possessed a deadly skill that might have one-shotted a Lesser Commander. I apologize, my chiding was too harsh."
"No, you're right. I'm just dissatisfied with my strength. My Spiritual Attainment only just reached the low intermediate realm: tier 4. If I became an Advanced Mage and improved my Will to the 5th level, maybe I wouldn't be defenseless against Commanders. Maybe you wouldn't have to-"
"Stop. Each Mage possesses a designated function. Water Mages contribute to both defense and control. Light Mages furnish defense and utility. Fire and Lightning Mages are offensive powerhouses. Wind Mages excel as adept scouts. The fact that you aren't a dominant Psychic Mage, capable of confronting Commanders on your own, doesn't mean you're unable to play a vital role in the team. During skirmishes with Mages, your presence is of paramount importance. Actually, you've already demonstrated your significance: when you scrutinized Zhao Manyan's soul."
After a pregnant pause, I continue. "... Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt if you achieved those advancements you mentioned, but all I'm saying is that you're not a detriment to the team. Quite the opposite."
She swivels her body to face me, her hands held behind her back. An alluring smile reappears on her face as she dispenses of her sullen movements, replacing them with her usual amorous mannerisms.
Her eyes approach mine as she tiptoes, her lips adjacent to my right ear. Her rosy fragrance lingers in the air.
"I'd prefer to follow you as the leader rather than that blockhead from the military."
…
…
The remainder of the time spent in the East Maritime Fortress armed the team with much-needed experience fighting Commanders and groups of strong Warriors. Mochizuki Chihaya made herself scarce to the team, though I often noticed her a ways down the street, keeping an eye on me.
I split off from the group on the last day, when we're walking back to our hotel rooms, to stop by a marketplace.
[I've got to fix this.]
…
…
Mochizuki Chihaya eyes me warily as I knock on a door.
I hiss, "Go back to your room for 5 minutes; assume the worst if I don't come out after that."
She grudgingly complies. Excellent timing, as an exquisite face enclosed with brilliant silver hair peeks outside.
And my fingers get caught as Mu Ningxue shuts the door immediately, a move I anticipated.
"Wait! Offer me 5 minutes of your time. Please."
She hesitates, reopening the door after several moments. A frigid expression persists on her face as she sits on her bed, gesturing at a chair next to it. I oblige, lowering myself into it.
"First, I can only hazard a guess why you've been so distant the past few days. Trust me, there's nothing between me and Mochiz… Stop! Don't throw that icicle, I'm serious! Her grandfather ordered her to observe me, because I'm escorting an extremely dangerous item he insisted I take to Old Bao in the Clearsky Hunter Agency. You should know better than to pay any attention to Zhao Manyan's nonsense."
Finally, her icy demeanor eases up a bit. I continue.
"Second, I'm well aware it isn't really my fault that the Mu Clan sidelined you, but I felt like my interrogation of Mu He implicated you in the matter. I want to make amends, as a friend. Here."
Her mouth falls open in shock, though she quickly shuts it, and encloses my fingers around the object held in my palm: a shimmering Galaxy Vein. I purchased 2 of these at the bustling market; the undead I massacred while not demonized dropped Soul Essences that I sold for over 300 million yuan, but my account directly dropped to 100 million after the Galaxy Vein transactions.
Her eyes are shining with appreciation, and her lips are lifted in a smile brighter than any I've ever seen on her face, but she rejects my outstretched hand. "I can't accept something so valuable. Trust me, I don't blame you at all for what befell me."
"Even so, I don't want to see you get kicked out and replaced just because you haven't reached the Advanced level. If you feel uncomfortable at receiving such a gift, just treat it as a loan and give me the equivalent of 100 million yuan when you amass enough wealth."
"Me getting replaced will happen eventually anyway, even if I take your Galaxy Vein and repay you in the future. You're underestimating how fast the factions supporting the others will give resources to them, especially as the World College Tournament approaches. I'll fall behind and be eliminated. Also, I both need and want to rely on myself to catch up. I can't thank you enough for the kind gesture, and I'm happy that someone's so sincere to me, but I won't accept it."
[... Wow.]
I'm moved by her determination, though I think her analysis is completely wrong. Nevertheless, I acquiesce by nodding my head, placing the Galaxy Vein back in my pocket, and exiting her room. Her eyes watch my back as I leave, warmer than I've ever felt them to be.
[Is she not exaggerating? With her combat prowess, how could she possibly remain facing the other's backs once she's an Advanced Mage? Or was that all a bit secondary, her primary reasoning being that she doesn't want to be indebted to anyone?]
Puzzled, I briefly venture into Mochizuki Chihaya's room, informing her that I'll be heading to Zhao Manyan's room for a few minutes before walking back to mine.
His door is unlocked, so I unceremoniously barge in, startling him out of his meditation. Wait a second…
"Are you… an Advanced Mage?"
"Yeah, I just broke through. Here, take this. I lied to my dad and the elders in the Zhao Clan, saying I used 3 Galaxy Veins to break the barrier surrounding my Light Nebula, and they gave me another. Use it to appease Mu Ningxue; it's a waste for such a goddess to remain aloof when you pursue other women."
I reject his outstretched hand, albeit in awe of his considerate display of friendship, and pull out one of my own. "She didn't accept mine, but don't worry, I eased her anger already."
His eyes widen. "How on Earth did you afford that so fast as a grassroots Mage, with no background?"
"Leave that aside for the time being. Mu Ningxue mentioned that even with the Galaxy Vein, she'd be left in the dust after the others start receiving resources in bulk. How strong or wealthy are the organizations supporting them?"
He barks a derisive laugh. "Unimaginably so. I'll lay it all out for you.
"Ai Jiangtu and Nan Yu. Representatives of the military headquarters in the east and west, respectively. If it wasn't for the rule that only two military academy students can be on a team, the ones from the north and south would have easily taken another two slots with their strength and background.
"Jiang Yu. He's the disciple of Pang Lai, the chief of the Royal Guards of China and one of the top five Super Mages in the country!"
[Woah.]
The capital's Royal Guards is one of the most symbolic organizations in China, the highest authority of the Enforcement Union. Most Councilmen of the country are its members, including Zhu Meng, and Councilmen are generally the highest authorities in any random city. The Imperial Magicians in the Ancient Capital are merely a branch under the Royal Guards' command.
"Li Kaifeng of the Education Union. If he is somehow disqualified from the team for no reason, all Magic High Schools south of the Yangtze River will stop operating, and I mean all of them! All supplies of Magic Tools to the magic schools to the south of Yangtze River are handled by two or three elder generations before Li Kaifeng. His family basically has pupils everywhere, regarded as a living Bodhisattva that the country can't afford to offend. His family is the benefactor for many reputable Magicians who were once grassroots Magicians!
"Mu Tingying and formerly Mu Ningxue. The Mu Clan boasts some of China's most powerful Magicians, but its business empire is equally striking. Its people own half of the properties in almost every minor city near Beijing, and have sizable grips over many in major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, etc.
"Me! The Zhao Clan isn't as powerful in terms of combat. However, not even the Mu Clan can hold a candle to us in terms of wealth. We're worldwide, extending our hands into businesses across countries.
"Nanrong Ni, Guan Yu, Zu Jiming, Zhou Xu. The Nanrong, Guan, Zu, and Zhou Families aren't on the same level as my Zhao Clan or Mu Clan, but they're all formidable in China, with Councilmen, elders in various high positions, etc."
"What about Jiang Shaoxu?"
"I'm not sure, but that alone is frightening: the son of the Zhao Clan's head can't discern who backs her. Allow me to reiterate something: our reach is beyond that of renowned families like Nanrong, Guan, Zu, or Zhou. They're strong in China, but renowned clans like the Zhao or Mu Clan exert international influence. Yet I still can't find out Jiang Shaoxu's background.
"The point is, Mu Ningxue is right. They'll buy top-tier Soul-grade Elemental Spirits, full sets of Magic Equipment, Galaxy Veins, all like trash from the streets. You managed to cut through that Chihaya girl's Magic Armor with those swords, but they won't always be off cooldown. And once they are, anyone with sufficiently strong Magic Armor is your worst nightmare."
[Although that sword remark is inherently flawed, I get what he's trying to say.]
"You've done well to achieve your combat prowess with no financial support from those backing you. They've saved on lots of money by allowing you to remain a grassroots Mage."
[Wait, what?]
"What do you mean, those backing me? I get that there's someone who facilitated my entry onto the team, but-"
"Are you fucking kidding me?! A team that's supposed to have only 2 substitutes now has a third, just to accommodate your presence. The people behind you must have shut up the advisors and their superiors like meek children, even though all those other powerful factions still had to contribute immensely just for their representatives to obtain a spot! The guy backing you must be able to cover half the sky with his hand!" Zhao Manyan all but screams.
[He's right. I hadn't analyzed my situation fully.]
"Well, whoever it is hasn't revealed himself to me. No one I know bears such an authoritative position."
I leave, heading back to my room in a contemplative mood.