"HOW COULD ANYONE BELIEVE THIS? Bunch of masters, and we can't get a single sheep running away from us! How laughable have we become! WE ARE A JOKE!"

Meeting with her friends, Marie exploded.

They couldn't believe it, but they got no lead. The only follow-up this group had was the trap their target set up.

"I DON'T CARE, MARIE! I only want to be paid. My doll was fully destroyed, and now you're acting like it doesn't matter? Juca, it was your call, don't hide! I'll pay a visit to your hometown. Let's see if you can laugh, then."

"Maybe you didn't use a good doll. We weren't expecting it to crumble so easily. I thought we would at best fix it up!"

"Crumble? Mathias, don't you dare! You're all reimbursing me, even if it's the last thing I do in life!"

"OH, SHUT UP!" Marie yelled. The Spirit in the air twisted around, materializing her emotional turmoil.

"We all should calm down and plan. We need to get this whole thing under control. Our actions have already begun creating a ripple!"

"Exactly as my headmaster said, let's get this thing under control. And then we have a target. Before, there was no lead, and we were all swimming in the dark. But now we have a pointer! We should control the ripples, take care of the fire, and get our payment. And then go back home and begin a long-term search. We're bound to find something."

---

"So, a very big hush up?" Ginn asked.

Today, the Dragons met, as they did periodically.

"Not only that, but the Empire informed us that an unconfirmed tip was sent their way around the same time the Ghost acted weirdly." Brian Highpeak added.

"And what about that group? Who was at that meeting?"

"Lucas, the Doll master. Mathias from the Dias Auction. Juca, the Prince of Biz. Maya, the protector from Celestial Academy. Liz, the current head of the Celestial Academy. Roo, the high elder from the Goldriver Sect."

"And those were the ones we could confirm." Anne Highpeak added.

"Yeah, and there was some weird movement from Latwel. But we couldn't confirm yet if the King is under maintenance limitation."

"You forgot to mention to the others what the tip was." Gin pointed out.

"Oh right. High-end harvest ritual, really dark stuff. It likely was interrupted, but some damage should've been inevitable. We're waiting on the details from Eclipse Sect because it was in their region. Yet, they've been the most silent."

"Don't you feel like they must be involved?" Matt suggested.

"It's good to consider, but there isn't much to conclude. We can only wait for now." Anne cleared out, separating speculations from their data.

"Do you think we can get our hands on some ritual pieces?" Dinna asked, her eyes glimmering.

Ginn only shook his head, doubting it. They weren't strong enough, so it wasn't their time to poke at such matters.

"Maria Ghost didn't respond to Volcano's request. They were very adamant about saying the Doctor couldn't move. I wonder if they'll take this lightly." Manu spoke.

The Head Doctor Manuella Track was sensitive to this legend moving due to the overly complicated exchanges when Eloise was ill.

"From what I heard from aunty, they'll pursue this matter. Back then, we weren't just asking if she could treat me. We were employing one of the oaths tokens we have left. However, it's not only the Ghost Doctor who will have to answer for that. Her clan is the one dealing with the tokens. Since those benefited them more than Marie herself."

"Since the Volcano Sect led that request, we'll leave this to them," Ginn added.

At this moment, Louis changed subjects.

"And there is still the Creak War coming along. They're so insistent that I'm going crazy."

"They're a bunch of assholes."

"But it was only a question of when. We all knew this was coming. Once you become an independent faction, greed always hits upfront."

"But they still seem way more daring than they're supposed to be."

"Yes, fair. However, we can only brace ourselves. And go and prove everyone is wrong on underestimating us."

The meeting, while unusually energetic, still went smoothly.

Nevertheless, a challenge involving one of their headquarters industries stressed this faction.

The Creak Sect wanted their main medicinal plantation field. A crucial piece of land neighboring this town. And they were going as far as calling for a Sect War.

And although those fields weren't Dragon's core business, they didn't want to build a premise. They believed they had to fight this to the end, even if it was painful, to avoid having their place in this world stolen little by little, one bite at a time.

---

Ben Higgs spent weeks traveling by foot, and he stayed hidden as much as he could.

He always took a temporary identity when going into cities and looking for information.

And after getting all the details he needed, he eventually found himself here, on the periphery of the Deadhillow City.

The Dragons chose this place to set up camp for a while.

'Quite the average city. Unimpressive.'

Ben had spent the last few days walking around the city and identifying Ginn's base and his subordinate's movements.

His lookout wasn't for anything specific. He merely wanted to have a good idea of their movements and test the destiny's whirlpool effect.

'It's not as big as I was expecting.'

Sitting on a bar, drinking wine, Ben slowly felt the movement of every energy surrounding him.

'It's also not as strong. Maybe it varies in strength depending on the circumstances. Perhaps it follows Ginn's needs or wants. Or maybe a bit of everything while also forcing them into a specific direction.'

Ben felt the Fortune Coin slightly vibrating on his chest. He had made this treasure into a small Array and assembled it into a necklace. He was now carrying it along with him at all times.

'I should finish what I came here for and move along. I can come back later and give the kids more advice. I also need to make my position clear to filter that influence. A process of elimination shouldn't be too difficult. It'll only take time. Well, that is, if Ginn is willing. If he's not, then this is a moot point.'

After finishing his evening drink, Ben slowly walked to the outskirt of the city.

Feeling the tiny change in the pressure, Ben sighed.

'No wonder it's so difficult to notice. It masks itself well as some mood swings. If you aren't looking for it, even if you're resistant to it, you'll not notice. Even the strongest people in the world would be blind to this. It's just so... The whole city is drowning, and they don't even know.'

After spending a few days calculating his limits, Ben finally contacted the Dragons.

"So you just want a place to stay for a few weeks?" Yukk asked.

"Yes, around the periphery on this side of the city. I need to prepare a few things before talking with Ginn. And I would also like to ask for support since I'll be providing your group with intel."

Ben put down a list in front of Yukk and added. "The materials are in groups. But if you can't get me everything in a batch, don't bother bringing a few. And if you can't do this much, don't expect some miracle."

"And the best you can do is tell us that it involves that poison?"

"Yes."

"Sir, Ben Higgs, is that what you call yourself now? You're making it frankly difficult for us. It's quite a short notice, and we're also under preparation for war."

"I heard the rumors. Not my issue. And I don't think Ginn is that worried either if he chose to accept."

Yukk sighed since the guy in front of him talked to them as if they were already a top faction. This level of authentic overestimation felt new to him.

"I'll see what I can do. No promises, though. But I can get you a house and have our people monitor your surroundings to ensure you can safely work in there."

"If you can do that, I'll write a good journal of intel while I'm in there."

"And the price?"

"Ginn can choose whatever payment he thinks the intel is worth after receiving it."

"Very loose terms."

"The Highpeak siblings should understand. I'm merely transferring some hot potatoes. Is it valuable? Yes. Do I think that's worth bargaining over? No. And I'm only doing this because of my connection to your leader and his immeasurable potential. If I didn't think you could deal with that, I wouldn't push you to the Death Valley."

"You seem to have had a change of heart. You hold high expectations now."

"You guys will push the whole world around. And I merely chose to ride the wave. Hopefully, I can survive it. If I don't, I'll have no regret. Since this is what I chose for myself."

"Alright. On another note, Eloise asked if you're fine with meeting her."

"If she's alone, it should be fine. But I hope she doesn't bring one of those assholes."

"They wouldn't want to come even if they were here. Anyway, I'll get you a place immediately."

"That would be great, and I hope you don't disappoint me with that list. It might sound like I'm asking more of the same, but it's just that things happened, and I'm quite poor and naked right now."

Yukk only felt hopeless since he saw no sign of the treasure ring they gave Leo Moon last time. However, he didn't ask for details as he didn't feel it was his place to question it.

Meanwhile, the entire house of the Dragons filled with exhilaration as they got the news that Eloise's Savior wanted to make deals with them. They all saw it first hand, the effect of the treatment. It was such a miraculous matter that Eloise had caught up in cultivation with most in the upper echelon by now, and that speed shocked everyone.