The Devil mark allowed Hal to observe events through the men and that tense look he saw proved he had hit the mark.

The Plebeians no longer had any interest in receiving validation from the Great families and instead were now interested in overturning their rule. It explained why Corban had kept silent about his strength. He was playing the long game.

Salmon city had always had an Hierarchy, one that seemed impossible to topple. For some reason the Great families remained Great and the Plebeian families remained plebeians, but now someone was meddling with the status quo.

Hal saw this whole coup thing as idiocy. If they were successful in cutting out the Great families, they would once again simply begin to battle for the top spot.

There would never be true peace in a strength oriented world or else there was someone who sat at the top and guaranteed eternal subservience from them all.

They could cultivate if they wanted but coveting the highest spot on the ladder of power would never come to mind.

Of course, Hal believed that -someone- to be himself and today would be the day that Hal, watching through the eyes of his marked men would begin the journey of power that would forever change the multiverse situated in the Cosmic, mortal and nether realms.

"Ahhh This is the life my friend" said Dev ready to leave after dropping the bombshell as he tossed a gold coin on the table, Vil stood with him as well as they made to exit the tavern but would be blocked by men easily identified as Fidwud's men.

"We need you to come with us" The leader said and the previous drunken duo's eyes cleared up as a fine mist of dizzying substance was released from their bodies.

While Devil marks did not allow the administration of boons, it was quite formidable in it's uses as well. As the two drank, the mark absorbed the part of the drink that got them drunk and then amplified it for release.

The two newcomers released the mist as well and before anyone in the Tavern could react the mist made them dizzy and together they dropped like flies. They weren't dead of course they were simply unconscious for a while.

Instantly the rest of the marked men rushed into the tavern and stripped every piece of wealth they could before they retreated to the Mansion their master had prepared for them to shed their disguises.

The mansion was bought by Hal for the accommodation of his marked and contracted men. As Hal watched all that happened, he nodded with satisfaction. His men seemed to have the presence of mind to always take advantage.

The wealth stolen was sent to him through the Devil mark just as Marla fell unconscious (But not before he gave her an unranked Dual cultivation technique) and he sat cross legged to refine the essence he got from her and finally bring his strength to the mid stage of the Cosmic pearl realm.

...

Some where in Salmon City...

Bale and Tod were on their knees with their head bowed and touching the back of their hand which had been placed on the floor in a kowtow motion. They were addressing someone in the shadows whose eyes were a bright crimson color and surveyed them with barely veiled annoyance.

"We apologize. We should not have lost our temper" Bale said in a falsely calm tone that was betrayed by the way he shivered.

The fear they felt towards this master was way more than what they could feel for the throne. This was what they told themselves. They could not be blamed of course for they had never been in contact with a more authoritative power in this city other than it's Mayor.

"And you lost your temper, for what exactly" The voice was mild but the pressure that laced those words forced the duo harder into the ground with a couple of cracked bones but the voice continued evenly...

"For a friend's property. Idiots. You can't even lie in wait. You fail at everything. -sigh- But this is actually not a bad development, things were starting to grow stale anyway. Hahahahahahaha" the laughter would continue to boom loudly until it became slightly hysterical.

The duo did not see the laughter as a display of leniency if anything it scared them all the more.

...

Meanwhile in Melinda's mansion...

Hal finally brought his cultivation to the mid stage of the cosmic Pearl realm ensuring that among the young generation of Salmon city, he was invincible.

He retreated into his mind space and faced Grimiore after which he checked the holographic screen...

>Bloodline: ???? {? Means redacted) To speak of it would bring chaos and incur divine punishment

Bloodline abilities: Pheromones Manipulation || Essence King ||Fear!! ||Erogenous touch ||Regeneration ||Network of souls ||

Descriptions:

-Pheromones Manipulation

Effective against the opposite sex. Capable of inducing lust, and a calming effect. When used as a domain can be integrated with emotion and illusion type abilities

-Essence King

Capable of sharing and siphoning the essence of the opposite sex for the progressive strengthening of the bloodline and Flesh of the bearer.

-Fear!!

Subjecting the victim to the most primitive urges of all beings. FEAR!

-Erogenous Touch

Making every part of the bearer's body pleasure inducing.

-Regeneration

So far, can mend sliced up bones!

-Network of souls

You have a responsibility to those who are under your wing? Nonsense. use those fuckers!

————————–————————————

Network of souls was the reason Hal began to sign contracts with all of Melinda's workers. It was not just to bolster the strength of his collective forces but because, the submissive contracts he signed were subject to the {Network of souls} ability.

He could harness their soul power for a powerful strike. The stronger they were the more power the strike would contain.

Why did he not use it at the Holger estate? Simple. The ones he had signed contracts with at the time were mediocre at best, excluding Rita whose contract terms he had changed to a partnership making it more of a marriage than anything else.

A strike with such a mediocre (both in size and strength) force would only be effective if he used up all of their soul force which would result in their death.

So when Hal signed contracts with the forty new members of his force he was pleased with the amount of power he would be able to generate through the network of their souls.

"So what now?" Grimiore asked

"Is it not obvious? Get stronger in the most enjoyable way possible"

"Constant copulation?"

"Constant copulation" Hal agreed

As soon as Hal came out of his mind space, Marla was coming to and as soon as she did, she studied the technique in her mind and the way she refined the essence essentially differed from Melinda or Rita. Of course before she began to refine it, she signed a partnership contract with Hal.

Hal left her in the chamber and went to Melinda's room. She seemed to have something bothering her.

"You have some nerves asking me that" she said with her arms folded under her large breasts.

Hal narrowed his eyes while smiling

"What? you don't want me to ask, then I won't ask" He shrugged while lying halfway on her bed with his hands behind his head, the picture of ease.

Melinda glowered at him and then stomped away towards the door and locked it before she retreated to the bed to sit beside him pouting. But Hal's eyes were closed in obvious nonchalance. At least that what she thought, however every time she was not watching, he would peek at her and when she turned he would close it quickly. As soon as she caught on, she was instantly irate with her face flushing red.

At which time, Hal sprung up and Seized her lips in a kiss that made her face, if possible become even more red.

"I don't like it when you're sad or angry but your pouting face is too cute. You can't possibly blame me for wanting to see it often. Now Baby girl. Tell me what's bothering you" Hal soothed her while caressing her cheek

As good as it felt to have him touch her, Melinda stood up in a huff

"Everything is bothering me. You don't have time for me anymore. You are always spending more time with other girls. I have feelings too you know. Oh and you did not sign contract with me"

"Melinda, we were together just yesterday, as for other girls, sexually, until today there was only Rita. This is really about the contract isn't it" Hal could tell that the last one was what was really bothering her.

She nodded meekly and Hal smiled and stood up from the bed

"Okay we will sign one now. One drafted as a marriage contract. This is the first time I am drafting such a contract and I am doing it for you. Does that please you?" Hal asked as his hand snaked around her waist

"It does calm my turbulent and vain heart" Melinda smiled and the two locked lips.

When they finally separated and Hal began to draft the contract Rita informed him through their mind link that he had a visitor.