(AN: I gave an update on Discord, but as there are ppl who have missed it, I will repeat it here.

After the tragedy that struck my house, I am now in the process of getting everything back in order. Some stuff will obviously take much more time to replace/repair, but hopefully, after this upcoming weekend, everything should be back in order.

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Please, excuse me for my tardiness in the next few days. I will try to get everything back in order from next week. Till then, please bear with me.)

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Number 3 turned her sight on Aiden, her lips curving upwards crookedly as she sighed and added.

"You see, violence is just rooted in our society, it is built upon that!"

She raised her hands, seeing how Aiden was about to voice a question again.

"I know what you want to ask, and I also want the same. It is for that very reason, we need to play by these rules… hopefully one last time, and push ourselves to the top. Only then, could be slowly, gradually make a change!"

---

Her words caused the atmosphere to turn slightly awkward around the table.

To ease the mood, and guide the flow of the conversation where they diverged from it, she coughed a couple of times lightly, to grab the attention of everyone once again, before raising her still full glass and gave it a light hit with the spoon.

The beautiful high-pitched sound of metal hitting crystal glass, reverberated in the room, easing up the tenseness in the air with its frivolous melody.

"Anyway… We have diverged from the main course, the reason for our gathering." She spoke, giving a light smile towards the still frowning boy, as she continued. "Before the event that is scheduled to begin at noon today, I would like you all to meet with the rest of the corps and get to know each other."

Raising her glass to the air, she exclaimed.

"Before any of that, however, allow me to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for everything you are doing to make this feeble dream of mine a reality! I promise you all, that I will not squander the gift you earn with your blood, sweat, and tears!"

As everyone joined in with Aiden being the last to do so, they gave a toast and drank the contents of their glasses before turning their attention to the veritable swarm of maids that once again entered the room through the service doors bringing trays upon trays of feasts and dishes of a wide variety of meals. Simpler-looking meals, vegetables, fruits, large juicy steaks… Everyone could find something for themselves.

Taking her seat, the Mistress waved her hand across the table, exclaiming with a proud, elated tone of voice.

"Enjoy this feast I have prepared for you all without holding anything back! I hope we have managed to bring forth something that would be pleasing to each and every one of you!"

—

The rest of the breakfast held no more interruptions, the Mistress made sure that everyone had something that fit their tastes; a grand show of the power of her information network.

Everyone had a dish served that had all the peculiarities that would fit his or her peculiar tastes… Even a platter full of slices of various monster meat, cooked only rare, specially prepared to match Aiden. This thought caused him to raise an eyebrow, in the end, he decided to inquire about how did she actually come to know his specific taste and choices.

Thinking that maybe she probably had more contact with her sister than the two let on, he didn't bother too much about it and filled his reserves full with the grand courses.

Eventually, the meal came to its conclusion, everyone filled their bellies, and showed a range of filled contented looks in their eyes as they leaned back against the back of their chairs.

Aiden, on the other hand, was still frowning, his mind was racing about the contents of the Mistress' speech from earlier. Though it wasn't anything new, as he mostly learned about the ills, the crimes of corruption that plagued humanity from the very beginning, it was still not something he could easily take.

The images, they were shown, were way too similar to the scenes he was gifted with during his trial back at the Altar. A grand massacre of an entire species, without remorse, no quarter given even for the weak, the elderly, or the children.

The soldiers, akin to vile demons, slaughtered everything that was put in front of them, gobbling up the land greedily in the process. Was this truly the path humanity has taken? Were they truly beyond reason, beyond hope? Can't they be shown the light? Can they be saved? Could his people forgive their millenniums of crimes?

Aiden could only sigh, and just hope that like his Master, there were others out there, that were yet held onto the sparkling, kindling light…

—

As the meal eventually came to a conclusion and no one reached for any of the continuously replaced dishes anymore, the Mistress snapped her fingers abruptly breaking the ensuing silence.

Upon her gesture, the door to the dining hall opened up allowing the elderly butler, Sebas to enter. Taking only a step into the room, he stopped, gave a deep, respectful bow as he greeted the youngsters once again.

"Follow Sebas, and meet the rest of the team that you will be working with for the next month or so." She spoke, nodding at the elderly butler at the end.

Taking the offered opportunity, Sebas turned towards the door, whilst keeping the subservient posture.

"Greetings to the Young Masters and Misses! If you have already, I would hope all please be so kind as to allow me to escort you to the barracks." He spoke with eloquent mannerism, gesturing towards the door.

As the group began to leave their seats and converge towards the exit, the Mistress' raised her right hand in the air, speaking up once more and adding one final note to the youngsters.

"Though they are undoubtedly a rowdy band of misfits, your teammates are good souls. Please try to bear with their antics…" With that, she turned around and swiftly left the room through the service door in the back leaving the puzzled youngsters with the elderly Sebas.

—

Leaving the dining hall, Aiden and the group were then escorted towards the back, leaving the mansion and leaving towards the large, simple-looking square-shaped white stone building situated at the back area of the Mansion Grounds.

As they neared the building, they could already hear the loud chitter matching that of the nightly scenes of the pubs and taverns of the city.

With a frown, Aiden raised his eyebrows as he gave a light scan of the structure, the calm that just returned to his expression vanished once again, replaced by a stern, serious look as he gazed towards the large, metal, painted red door.

From the outside, the building was more of a storage room, than a facility housing people. One tiny, barred window placed high on each side, there was barely any natural light that could have made its way providing lighting to those stationed inside.

As they got to the door, Sebas halted the group, turned to face the group of youngsters once again as he spoke. Just like before, his tone was eloquent, respectful.

"Young Misses and Masters…" He began. "As my Mistress has hinted at, your teammates that you will meet shortly, are not the average… band of adventurers you would find at Mistress Sara's workplace." He stepped to the side, gesturing for the group to take the initiative and step inside.

This by itself was strange, as the elder made sure to follow the etiquette every time he guided them, opening the doors himself, and stepping inside as he guided them. Yet, now he merely stepped to the side, gesturing to the team only.

Though this could also be explained that he merely completed the task, or that he wasn't allowed to step into these quarters, Aiden, sensing those behind the walls, wasn't sure if that were to be the case.

Taking the lead of the group, without hesitation he took the lead and reached for the door.

However, just as he took a step inside, suddenly the metallic shine of a long, curved blade flashed against the morning sun, sailing from the side horizontally, aimed towards Aiden's neck!

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AN: Hey there Readers!

Just a friendly reminder, that from wherever you are reading (although I wholeheartedly thank you if you are reading and enjoying the story through Webnovel), you can reach out to me using any of the below methods!

For you, sailors of the seventh sea (non-WN readers), be a bro/gal and throw me a cup of joe, show your appreciation!

I would also advise you to not be afraid and join my Discord server. It's the EASIEST way to reach out to me. :)

Links:

http://discord.link/TheLastPrimal

Ko-Fi:

https://ko-fi.com/shaele