Mathew watched everyone leave. He assumed everyone paid the 300 UC tax, as nobody left without a hand. That, or they snuck away successfully.

The entire time he didn’t move from his position. Already he had unsummoned Agnox. There was no way he was going to give out his secrets. Not to him.

Once everyone was gone, Mathew was being looked at by the remaining group. The woman, Bethany, looked up at Mathew with squinted eyes. It took her several moments before realization came across her face.

“Uncle Matty! Holy shit, you are alive!” She ran up to him and grabbed him in a large hug. Mathew let her, but barely returned the hug.

She was squeezing him a bit too tightly. More than likely she had a high strength stat.

“Beth. What are you doing? Can you at least pretend you were raised with proper manners?” The swordsman said disappointingly.

Beth glanced back and fixed herself. She coughed softly. “Sorry Father. Umm. It’s good to see you again Matty.” She gave him a subtle playful wink before returning back to her group.

Mathew didn’t recognize anybody in the group. So either his brother and niece were here alone, or the rest of their group was elsewhere. “Please tell me Johnathan isn’t here. Luke or Adam I can handle. Him I rather not see.”

“Well Mathew. Don’t act like a stranger. You are here, and the odds of that are practically zero.” The swordsman said to Mathew. “I’m not going to let old feuds get in between us. I’m glad to see you alive.”

“Mark, do you think I believe that?”

Mark shrugged and thumbed at his sheathed swords. “Up to you. I would like to invite you to our base. We’ve been on this floor since day three. I would like to know what you’ve been up to these past few months. Don’t think I didn’t notice your last minute rise to Apprentice rank. I didn’t think you would make it before the World Quest.”

Mathew mentally collected himself. He could walk away from this easily. His family did not like him, one or two might still want him dead. Yet, they were his family. Plus, Bethany was there. Mark wouldn’t do anything when she was around.

“That’s fine. I would be thankful for your offer.” Mathew said, subtly slinking back to old manners taught by teachers who used rulers as their favorite correction tools. “I should warn you, I have a friend with me. So, please don’t attack him. I wouldn’t want him to kill anyone in retaliation.” His wording was on purpose. There was a subtle promise and threat sprinkled there.

Mathew motioned at Jeffery, and he walked out into the cave. The sight of a large red wolf didn’t seem to phase Mark. Bethany looked at it like she was eight years old and got a pony again. Yes, again.

“Oh you have an animal companion. I thought you had an actual person with you. So long as it behaves, it’s fine.” Mark turned and started to lead the group back the way they came.

Mathew followed at the rear. Bethany glanced back, but stayed up by her father. Mathew was mentally preparing himself for what was to come. Questions. Accusations. Threats. Promises. So many things could go wrong. Some will.

He subtly started to drain mana from his ring. He had no clue what skill sets people had. Mathew was on full alert. He was taking no risks.

After nearly an hour of traveling, the winding tunnel soon opened up to a tent city. Floating magical lights filled the area. People were going about duties. There was a theme in the wearings of certain people.

Most people wore armbands. Some Green, some red, others were blue. Mathew realized they were all roles. Guards, Medics, and what Mathew could only guess would be some sort of chore workers all were around. Mathew noted a few members in the group he was following wore matching yellow bands around their arms.

“Probably scouts, or a group similar to our Adventurer's Guild. Neither Mark nor Bethany are wearing any identification bands. Yet, that’s probably because everyone knows who they are.”

Mark turned to his group. “Ed. You write the report and send it to Jonathan. I’m going to take our guest here to the large tent. Everyone has the rest of the day off.”

That seemed to give everyone a smile. Mathew watched the group scurry off.

“Come on Mathew. We can talk in my office. Beth, can you do me a favor and tell your mother I’ll be late? Don’t tell her why, I’ll explain it to her.”

Bethany nodded and walked off. Mark gestured for Mathew to follow him. He led him to a yurt. The large half tent, half cabin like structure made Mathew roll his eyes. “Still living in luxury. I can’t blame him, I would do the same.”

Mark walked over to a portable stove and put a pot of water on it. Mathew just stood there for a moment looking at the bare office. It was an office. There was a singular desk with several papers strone about.

He was turning slowly, looking at the walls when two large arms wrapped around him. Mathew’ eyes went wide, and he was about to struggle back. That’s when he realized Mark was hugging him.

“I missed you little man. Fucks sake, where have you been!” Mark didn’t have tears in his eyes, but his voice was slightly cracking.

Mathew was stunned. Shocked at the emotional reaction from his brother. He was expecting Mark to yell at him. To be attacked. Damn, he was ready for everything but a positive reaction.

“Sit, please. I’ll brew us some tea. We can catch up, and by your expression I can tell you didn’t expect this. It’s fine. Jonathan can shove a stick up his ass, we need to have all the McGonalds reunite in this time. Shit is far worse than anyone realizes.”

Slowly, Mathew sat down. “I- Uh.” Mathew cleared his throat, recollecting himself once again. “I guess that makes sense. I expected you to still be mad at me.”

Mark sighed and looked down at his hands. “I am still...kinda.” Mark looked Mathew in his eyes. “I would rather have you both alive and here with me. However, I have just you. I know we have been distant but that’s Mom’s fault.”

“She wouldn’t let me talk to you.” Mark had a guilty look on his face, “She had dirt on Beth and I. Beth didn’t get into college through legal means. Her SAT scores were not the best. So, I bribed some people, and I couldn’t let that bitch of our mother ruin my daughter's future for her own petty reasons once she found out.”

Mathew blinked. “No fucking way. Mom did that to you? You were her favorite. Why the hell did she do that to Beth?”

Mark sat down, “The long story is, mom hated us all equally. She hated you the least at first, but after a while realized you were not the perfect prodigy she expected. You know this. She’s dead. Dad’s dead. We five are the only ones left alive.”

Mathew scrunched his eyebrows together. “Five? There are six of us left. Unless you are not counting me again…”

Mark’s face grew heavy. “Fuck, I thought you knew? You didn’t check the ranking board before you came into the World Dungeon?”

“No…why would I?” He was technically in a trance the last few days before he came into the World Dungeon. Instantly he opened up the ranking system. He could still access it. Scrolling he continued. Glancing at names. He saw Mark, himself, Jonathan, and Adam all above Level 25.

After scrolling, he noted that Luke was sitting at Level 19. Mathew didn’t go further than that. “Benji’s dead?”

“Yes. He died two days before the World Dungeon opened up. We hadn’t been able to get in contact with him ever since this whole fiasco started three months ago. Every day I checked on him, Luke, and you. When I saw his name was gone, the reason was obvious.”

Mathew just sat there, staring at nothing. “He was still in Europe wasn’t he? Studying human psychology with his team right?”

Mark nodded. “Benjamin never considered home his home. Just like none of us did. He lived there long enough that either himself or The System sent him to his bed or better yet, his office chair.” Mark slightly jokes. A smile showed up only for a moment.

“Mathew, it means a lot to me that you are here and alive. I want you to know this, and I mean it. I know at first I was angry at you for what you did to David. Yet, I can’t change the past, nor can you. I can’t say anything about Jonathan, but Adam will be ecstatic to see you again.”

“I suppose.” Mathew still didn’t know how to handle this. The pot started to whistle and Mark went and made two cups. He served Mathew first, “It’s the earthly kind still. We are working on making higher quality versions.”

Mathew sipped it, and wrinkled up his nose. He was too used to the tea lady back at Blue Oaks. This tea was bland. Yet he still drank it. If nothing for the old habit.

Silence filled the tent for several moments before Mark spoke again. “So, Apprentice rank. What class are you?”

Mathew looked up from his cup. “A mage technically. As for my profession, it’s surprisingly related to my old job as a Lawyer.”

“What rarity is your class?”

Mathew didn’t miss a beat. “Uncommon.” He lied.

Mark shrugged, “You can always get better ones over time. I imagine you’ve been struggling to survive, but then again, you made it to Level 25. You aren’t weak. I would push you with my Axiom to test you, but I feel like that would be rude.”

“Ahh there’s the Mark I know. Subtly proving he is better in every aspect. Even with him being twenty years older than me, he just has to ensure we all knew growing up.”

“It’s amazing what happens when one is forced to their limits.” Mathew simply said. “As for your Axiom, I appreciate you not testing me. It would be a waste of your efforts.”

“Oh? You have one as well?”

Mathew nodded, and took a sip at his tea.

“Splendid. Jonathan and Adam have two each. I have three. Beth also has three, but all of her’s are still at Novice rank. Tell me, where have you been this time? I sent people to the bunker you told me you went to, along with your home, office, and so many other places. Last I heard, your city was overrun by undead.”

Mathew chose to tell most of the truth. “A security company I knew took me to the nearby Air Force base. There I worked to help defend against nearby enemies. I was one of the first to reach Level 10, acquire a class, and progress. There were a few close encounters with death, but I’m alive now.” Mathew turned his hands to show the scarring on them. Including the missing tip of one of them.

Mark didn’t visibly react. “Seems like you’ve been through a lot. It wasn’t Blue Oaks that you were at was it?”

Mathew knew where this questioning was gone. “Payne isn’t there anymore. I suppose Jonathan told you about him?”

“What do you mean anymore?” Mark asked, with some push.

“He was forced to leave.” Mathew said with a shrug. “The new leader is better suited for all of Blue Oaks. He’s been setting things up quite nicely for us all.”

“Do you work for him? Is that how you are so high in level? Wait, who is he? There are less than one hundred people who are Apprentice rank world wide. The highest being Level 31, damn that Zachary Mann person leveled up again!”

Mathew couldn’t help but smirk as he waited. Mark had all the clues he needed to figure out who the leader was. All he needed to do was look at Blue Oaks and who was the-”

“Mathew. Why does it have your name as the leader for Blue Oaks when I sent an invite to ally to that zone?”

“Oh I don’t know Mark. Maybe because I am the leader?” Mathew couldn’t help himself. Years of being looked down upon by his family just festered in him. Allowing him to have a final laugh for once.

“You should give your zone over to me. We can unite and share core power. We have twelve cores so far. Three of which are Beginner tier. With that, we can help power any of your base upgrades. The distance will be annoying, but that can be solved in time. Once we save up for teleportation pads that is.”

Mathew blinked. “Right…”

“I’m serious. Both Adam and Jonathan have their own zones. We combined and with the Dungeon cores and other Hearth Crystal zones we’ve absorbed, we are well on our way to being the top clan in the world.”

“The Chinese are cheating. Their culture is deep in that nature anyways. I doubt they are as strong as we are right now through actual means. There are two other large groups. One in Russia, the other in Brazil surprisingly. The McGonald Clan is number five in terms of landmass. That’s the only way we can really compare. The New American government is cheating as well, so I don’t count them. I’d give it a few months before that attempt collapses.”

Mathew just sat there, listening to Mark. “Mark. I’m not joining you.”

“What? Of course you are. You can still run Blue Oaks however you want. But the benefits outweigh the negatives. Don’t get me mixed up with Mom. What’s yours is yours.”

“That’s the thing Mark. It won’t be mine. Your name will be on it.”

Mark closed his menus and looked squarely at Mathew. “What are you talking about? Why do you care about that? You will have a safe position here. You’ve done well using others to help you out. We’ve done the same. Countless lives died to get us those Dungeon Cores. But that’s part of it. Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft on us.”

Mathew readjusted himself in his chair. “I have my place, you have yours. We can be allies, but I am not giving what I’ve earned to you. You forget something Mark. I didn’t get to where I was by using the efforts of others freely. Sure, I’ve used people, but not the same way you all have.”

Mathew opened up his robes to show his heavily scarred body. “Does this look like the body of someone who sat back and did nothing but let others get power for him? Or does this look like the body of someone strong enough to take care of threats that are so far beneath him, that nobody has to die?”

“Maty, fucks sakes. What happened to you?” Mark was looking at the heavy scars. He looked like a soldier who survived a horrendous war.

“A lot. Now, you can take your offer and shove it where you buried Dad and Mom. Because I’m not giving you my hard earned work.”

Mark sat back into his chair with a sigh. “I hate to hear you say it, but I respect it. You’ve grown a lot these past few years. It’s good to see you have some confidence about you. You are still a McGonald, Mat.”