"Think about it. These gangs don't hide the kidnapped or their aura crystals on Valos."
It was one of the things he learnt from the stolen data.
The gangs indeed had their headquarters in Valos, but they held their loots—people and resources in a secret realm some distance from Valos.
Essentially, all the important gangs had camps in the secret realm. And except for a select few, no one knew where the realm was.
"So?"
"We'll get to the secret realm and find the piles of aura crystals." Varian stretched his arms and yawned.
"They're going to buy 'something' in the blackmarket. So the aura crystals will be sent to the black market. We'll follow them and sneak into the blackmarket." He explained his plan.
"Awesome! Then I mark the secret realm and you inform the army? Wahaha! You'll destroy the Shadow Order of this cluster! You're awesome. That means, I am also aweso—" Boo floated higher and higher with each word. In the end, it was about to hit the ceiling.
"Wait, wait!" Varian stopped it in time.
"Didn't you hear them speaking? They're taking security measures against Dreamer. I'm guessing they're doing something to prevent you from marking them. They should also have a network within the secret realm that prevents any sort of location tracking."
So, even if they entered the black market, they wouldn't be able to know its co-ordinates.
"Wait, wait!" Boo stopped him this time. "Then what we are we even sneaking in for?"
"I am worried." Varian rubbed his forehead. "Just why are the Abyssals throwing this something into black market? Something that stir up all the gangs and drive them crazy?"
"Are you stupid, master? They are selling that whatever thing for aura crystals. Of course, they want aura crystals!" Boo replied smugly.
'Aura crystals' Varian's eyes narrowed. "For what?"
"Hueek?" Boo was dumbfounded. Do you still need a reason to hoard money? Did you never see rich people? Ai, I forgot. Master lived a poor life.
Varian felt that Boo was turning weird, as if it was full of pity. But he didn't care about it and raised two fingers.
"Rule 2: Never underestimate your enemies."
"Duh, whatever master. I just want to see some big fights coupled with explosions and probably a war to two."
'Just say that you want to watch the world burn.' Varian shook his head. "Boo, see if you can find anything useful in Cosa brotherhood and other gangs. I'm off to practice."
"Un."
The ghost ship wanders in the territories of Cosa brotherhood, Viper gang and others all night.
Meanwhile, Varian went into his 'training room' and sparred with the ex-assassins.
As the sun rays illuminated Valos, Varian walked out of the room. With each step he took, blood spilled on the floor.
By the time he reached the shower, the bleeding stopped.
'It's useless.' He sighed as the cold water washed away his blood and sweat.
[Body Path Level 6: 1500/4000 (+0)
Space Path Level 6: 1500/4000 (+0)
Lightning Path Level 6: 1500/4000 (+0)
Morpher Path L6: 500/2000 (+50)
Telepath Path L6: 800/2000 (+80)
Telekinetic Path L6: 600/2000 (+30)]
This was the result of his 2 week hard work.
After the Solar Trial, except for Body path, the rest of his divine paths were only at the peak of level 5.
His Enhanced Path, Space Path and Lightning Path—which were also the paths the assassins awakened in, had the fastest improvement.
He was already a mid level 6 in the three paths.
Then came the other paths. Without the aid of suitable opponents, their growth was far slower.
Varian also prioritized Telepath path over Morpher and Telekinetic. Of course, telepath path could be used in a good combination with almost any other path.
But the reason he chose it was because he wanted to regain his memory.
He was clearing the fog bit by bit. But if he continued at his current rate, it'd take a few years.
If he got to level 7 though…
'Haa! These guys are already useless. I should find someone else.' Varian sighed.
Kidnapping a bunch of level 6 gangsters sounded pretty good. The only problem was it might end up causing a big disturbance.
Level 6s weren't the strongest, but they were definitely the backbone of the gangs.
'I'll think about it later.'
*** *** ***
"Boo, did you get anything useful?" As the cadets assembled in the field, Varian asked.
They were supposed to visit 'the other side'—military side already, but for some reason, it was delayed.
"There was a fierce fight last night. By the time I reached there, it was already over."
"Who fought?"
"Gnuc gang and Soprana gang."
"Ah!" Varian recalled the two girls who fought the other day. He didn't remember their names, but he did remember their gangs were of equal strength.
"So, what's the resul—"
"Attention students!" He was cut off by the instructor.
"The gnuc family was destroyed last night. The gnuc family heiress is no more."
'The whole family? Weren't they of equal strengths?' Varian frowned and scanned the crowd.
The blue haired girl, the heiress of Soprana gang was smirking at the announcement.
No, not just a smirk. Her face was glowing with joy and more than joy, satisfaction.
From time to time, she covered her mouth and giggled.
'She saw her rival's death and she's satisfied.' Varian's thoughts spun and he immediately asked Boo to retrieve the information of the gangs from Grant's databse.
Thomas Grant's spy network Obsidian was the most comprehensive of Valos. So, his database was the best of the best. It made the man proud and filled him with ambition.
But he would've never thought that someone was using the very same database for purposes that would ultimately harm him.
"Hey, Edgar." As Varian waited for the information, a deep voice called out.
"Huh?" Varian turned around and saw a blonde youth staring at him with a serious gaze.
"Hm?" Following his Edgar persona at school, he simply gave an indifferent stare in response.
The less he spoke, the less he would slip up.
"Please stay away from Betty." Vinar said.
"I got no business with her." He said and stepped forward, but an arm obstructed him.
Vinar pushed his chest and said with a serious face. "Betty doesn't like you. Don't sit beside her. Change your places in the class."
"Or what?" Varian asked with a casual tone.
"Or," Vinar held Varian's shoulder and applied pressure. "I'll personally throw you out."
Varian stayed silent until Vinar's pressure reached level 5.
Then, he exhaled lightly.
Ka!
Vinar only a felt a blur before he heard a cracking sound soon followed by a horrible pain.
"Arghhh!"
The cadets turned their gazes towards the tragic scream.
They saw a blonde youth clutching his twisted hand as he curled and howled in pain.
Right before him was a silver haired youth with a cold face.
"Shouldn't have asked." Saying those words, Varian joined the line to enter the hover train.
But the cadets before him gulped in fear and gave way.
In their eyes, Edgar Blanc was a monster.
Vinar was second in the test! He was technically the second strongest!
Yet, Edgar injured Vinar in a flash.
No one even noticed they fought!
The instructor was also shocked, but he quickly recovered and announced. "Be quick!
The tour to Military side will begin in 8 minutes."
As Varian got seated and glanced out of the window, he felt a strong stare.
'Finally here.'
Turning to the side, he saw Edwina glaring at him.
"I came today to ask for leave. Until the competition, I won't be attending the academy."
"E-Edgar!" Her eyes were spitting fire.