Salmon city

A city under the Kirsten Barony. While foreigners believed it insignificant, it's denizens understandably did not. The news that rocked their city today was the death of a member of a great Family and the involvement of the Mayor.

What really caused the most surprise was the killer.

"Since when did Rad Payne have a brother?"

"Where the hell has this 'brother' been?"

"It must have been an ambush"

This were some of the questions and statements on people's lips. Ever since Hal began to live in the Payne estate when he was a year old, no one knew he existed.

Of course they couldn't be blamed for the oversight as Hal would be kept in the estate all the time and as he aged he would judge the world the same way he judged his 'family' trying his possible best to stay out of the public eye.

Occasionally, as it was unavoidable, news would leak out but there would be no credibility to such news and they would be dismissed as rumors. After all No one in his right senses would try to hide the fact that they belonged to a Great family. That was a status that came with many advantages all aimed at comfort and wealth. However the truth was now too undeniable and the one they had once overlooked had stolen his fist victim and no one felt it would be his last.

Edgar Castle

One of the landmarks in salmon city, a testament to the wealth and power that the Edgar family have controlled for centuries.

Through all that time, their dominance remained unchallenged. Unfortunately their illustrious reign was heading to a close. The patriarch was nearing the end of his lifespan and while he had children and grandchildren and in some cases even great grandchildren, they were all mediocre and couldn't break through the shell to rise above their generation and be extraordinary.

With all visible hairs white and his skin wrinkled, Hector Edgar sat on a makeshift throne in a long hall that seemed to be a throne room and his cheek rested on his fist as he contemplated his family's future without him. Without the cushy support they always seemed to have.

Take Alexander for example, he was Hector's favorite grandchild and while he kind of lived up to expectations, it was not enough. He spent too much of his time with that Horst girl. A girl known as a genius because of how quickly she rose to the Cosmic pearl realm and catching the eye of a master in a sect.

Bah! This were of no consequence to Hector, he did not really have the ambition to leave a place where he was mighty for a place where he was just 'another one'. Alexander used to cultivate constantly to impress Amelia but would relent when he discovered that in this city he had no rival for her attention.

Idiot! That's what Hector called him because he had forgotten that he would soon become just another one of the many suitors Amelia Horst would have.

The reason for this was relatively simple. The Energy sensing realm was usually a breeze, Many broke through before they were in their thirties, the real doosie begins after that. Even with a Purple ranked technique (AN Highest cultivation technique grade, for reference see chap 5) it might still take most of their lifespan for an advancement in the Cosmic pearl realm in face of poor talent.

Just because there are four stages would give an illusion of speed but advancing realms was a fairly difficult process and each granted dominion over previous stage. So right now Alexander and those in Amelia's sect were mostly equal, the real difference would appear years from now as they progress across the cultivation realms.

And this was why Hector saw him as an idiot, women were for later, trying to start a family before the peak stage of the cosmic pearl realm is very uncommon and only done by those satisfied to live an ordinary life.

"Father. you seem distressed" the middle aged man before Hector said with a curious expression, he was Hector's eldest son and Alexander's father, Darryl.

Hector sighed "I am worried"

"About the family?" Darryl asked

Another sigh from Hector that he took as yes, his father always did this, worry about their family and neglecting that even after his death Darryl and his brothers would make sure to keep the family's power in the family, he tried to voice this out as he had done many-a-times but...

"I know what you want to say, but you are much too young to understand my plight" At 300 years old Darryl was really quite young compared to the 800 year old demon that was his father.

Unlike his late peers Hector had valued cultivation more than anything else and would refuse to start a family until he was 500 and as a result would even outlive his wife and those same peers holding his Mayoral title for 500 years after inheriting it from his father.

No one in the Edgar family had ever been this strong and from the looks of things, no one ever would.

"You are too care free. However I know you have tried your best, it just hasn't been enough, so I will do my best to assist you before I am gone" Hector continued in a steady voice that did not match his visage

"Is that why you got involved in the Payne family issue" Darryl asked with clenched fists. He always hated his inability to help

"Not entirely. The young man presented his case and I was intrigued, I wondered what he could accomplish if he was allowed to go the distance. Sigh. A shame I might never get to see his hopefully illustrious deeds. Heh heh" Hector chuckled

Darryl's fist loosened from surprise "you were not trying to attack the Payne family?"

"gods no. If I was, why would I announce the victor as the Family's heir and grant him immunity. No I simply wanted to give justice. That is the main duty of the mayor after all, is it not?"

If only Hal knew his plan did not really succeed on disputes but on a sense of 'Justice'. He might lose his mind from anger.

Hector was silent for a while before he said "if we are unable to enlist the services of the alchemist, I would prefer that noone in the Edgar family try to become Mayor. Leave it to the the other great families and anyone else interested in participating so you can bid your time"

Then he looked up and said in a melancholic voice "A storm is coming to the city. and I would much rather prefer it if none of you are caught in it"

....

Melinda's mansion

Hal walked out of the room in new clothes feeling healed and refreshed, he believed with a little perseverance, he would soon advance to the cosmic pearl realm. But of course that was all for later.

The sight he met in the lounge would surprise him for a while as Melinda and Rita were laughing to God knows what. A story had apparently just been told and the two were chuckling when he first arrived and would not notice him until he spoke

"Good to see you two getting along" he smiled

"Where are you off to?" Melinda asked looking up

"Master Swanson's shop, I won't be long" he said with a wave of his hand

"Master, can I come with you?" Rita asked

"Another time, Rita" he told her and she pouted at his back

"Do be careful" Melinda called after him

"When am I not?" He chuckled as he walked past castor who was delivering news or maybe he was just there to announce someone, and walked outside to come face to face with a man he could vaguely recognize from the slave auction.

"Lord Krast..."

The man's face would however hold a derisive sneer.