About 50 meters above the ground, a pearl floated in the air.

Emitting a buzz sound, that pearl started to gobble up the fog around it. In a moment, that pearl became enshrouded in a dense fog.

Below that pearl, Jeff looked around. The view-obstructing fog quickly cleared up. Things looked clear and defined now. For a moment, Jeff felt a little unused to this.

Standing on this destroyed road, Jeff scanned the environment around him.

Before knowing it, it's been a couple of months already. The cold rain season was over. It's been mostly sunny nowadays. The days were getting longer and brighter as well.

The wind in May was gentle and fresh.

In these short months, a layer of moss had blanketed those piles of building debris. In the cracks and pits of this asphalt road, grass had spurted out.

To be honest, it'd be a nice day to relax. But looking at the dude in front of him, Jeff sighed.

As the fog cleared up, Jeff could see the dude's face more clearly now.

Well groomed. Well-built body. Wearing a high-class looking business suit. Also, a charismatic smile.

Daylor Anas.

Out of various reasons, Jeff didn't like this dude one bit.

The buzzing sound up there got louder. A layer of red glowing fabric expanded out of that pearl.

In a moment, a transparent dome made out of red light formed.

Outside the dome, Jeff's friends and acquaintances were there.

Magni. Liam. Some S-ranks of the sanctuary.

Oracle. Telepathy. Gardener. The three SS-ranks who'd fought by Jeff's side against Lord Trample.

Then, it's a group of strangers. All of them looked like successful elites in society. These were the members of the Anas family.

Yep. These guys came over for a conference.

For some strange reason, the Anas family was invited as well.

'Request for a friendly spar? ' Jeff crossed his arms. 'More like settling some beef first.'

Outside the dome, the other guests had lighthearted chatters. Looking at the two with playful gazes, these guys looked excited for the drama.

"So you want a round two huh..." Jeff sighed.

"If you give me my staff back, we won't need a round 2." Daylor brightly smiled.

"Hmmm..." Jeff squinted.

"May I have my staff back?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Alright. Fine. I don't want it back anymore." Daylor held up his hands.

"Good." Jeff nodded. "Cause I'm not giving it back to you."

"Alright." Daylor shrugged. "Even if you beg me to take it back, I'm not taking it back now."

"Why would I... do that?" Jeff looked at Daylor with a 'bro, are you alright' gaze.

"Yeah? Even if you kneel before me, and pleeeaad, for me to take it back, I'm not taking it back." Daylor proudly stood a bit taller.

"Even if you want it back, I'm not giving it back to you."

"But I don't want it back."

"Ok... Good." Jeff squinted at the dude.

"Because..." Jeff sighed. "Ok, this is really stupid. Is this all your business here?"

"Well. I'm just making myself clear. You can keep it, because I don't want it back anymore."

"Tssscchh..." Jeff was starting to feel a little ticked off.

"You can see it as a marriage gift." Daylor flicked his hand at Jeff, as if saying 'you are welcome.'

"Now you will marry one of my sisters, or one of my cousins." Daylor smiled at Jeff.

"What?" Jeff looked at the dude as if he's crazy. "That makes no sense."

Daylor squinted and tilted his head. Pointing a finger at Jeff, this dude stared at Jeff all confused, as if he wasn't sure if Jeff was serious or not. "Really? That makes perfect sense."

Jeff raised his brows and leaned back. He wasn't sure if this guy was trolling, or he's just an alien.

Jeff: ...

Daylor:...

Daylor: "so we are cool on this?"

"What? No!" Jeff leaned back with knitted brows.

"Ok. Alright. My bad. I thought you'd know, but clearly, as a wild mage, you don't know." Daylor pointed his palms at Jeff.

"You won my staff over me, fair and square, fine." Daylor slowly talked. "Now, we have acknowledged your strength, and you may have the honor to join the Anas family."

"And how do you join my family?" Daylor twirled his hand.

"Why would I want to join your family?" Jeff asked.

"Why wouldn't you- Right. Wild mage. Well, there are reasons why everybody wants to join the ancient and noble Anas family."

"A beautiful wife, or gorgeous wives. Unimaginable wealth. But that's before though. I doubt dollar bills means anything now. Uh. Pills and potions that makes you stronger, or makes you live longer, and look better, and so on."

"Ancestral tier artifacts." Daylor pointed up at the floating pearl. "A lavish style. High-class social stature."

"Oh right. Ever since mana revitalized, there's many more mages now."

"But wild mages like you have glass ceilings. And we, the protectors of humanity since the ancient days, have many methods to help you grow beyond those barriers."

"Join us, and you will see the truth of this world. How about it." Daylor brightly smiled. He looked confident about his offer.

"Huh... I don't know about me, but they seem interested." Jeff pointed out the dome.

Daylor looked at the viewers. Those guys were all staring at Daylor and the Anas family now.

Their gazes weren't exactly friendly: Calculative. Curious. Examination. A glint of greed. A flash of malicious intent.

"Tsch. You think we take in random small fries?" Daylor looked at the crowd with a smirk. "However, at SS-rank, as you people call it, I suppose they do have sufficient talent, so they do pass the bottom line."

The S-ranks glared at Daylor.

"Mere S-ranks." Daylor scoffed. "Every member in the Anas family can easily reach that level in given time."

"Cooool." Jeff nodded. "But I think I'm good."

Daylor looked at Jeff in disbelief. "You are turning down my offer?"

"Well. Yeah." Jeff nodded.

"Ok. I'll take one step back. You can marry your girlfriend as well."

Jeff: ...

"Hey. Nothing wrong with two wives."

"Uh huh... No. I'm not marrying a random woman, and I'm not cheating on Alice."

"It's not cheating if you are open about it." Daylor flicked his brows at Jeff.

Jeff: ...

"Enough." A mid-aged man walked through the red barrier.

"Yes father." Daylor stepped back.