For the next months, Sam only practiced the body cultivation. He didn't further bother about the speed of Mia's cultivation as he wanted to cultivate his body to the same level as his current cultivation and then he would break through to the Great realm in both methods at the same time.
But the only problem is that the body cultivation takes more time than normal cultivation and he cannot cultivate it in the tower. So, he could only cultivate in the residence that was built for him behind the park.
Anyway, he has a lot of time until the business phase ends, so he doesn't have to worry.
He wanted to share the cultivation method with Watt, but latter didn't want to cultivate for the time being. He is enjoying his cat and mouse game with Zeke.
And speaking of Zeke, he is in the worst stage of his life. Every night before he sleeps, and every morning after he woke up and even in his dreams, his only thought was 'I shouldn't have provoked that guy'.
The rest of the day as Watt beat him to the heart's content, his only thought was, 'I had an opportunity to end the suffering by taking a step back, but I had to throw it away'.
After all, Sam concentrated less and less on him since he came to the southern star city, but after he felt that his grandfather has his back, he forgot the suffering and plotted against Watt.
He couldn't help but scold himself for his stupidity.
Every day at a point of time, he would have thoughts of quitting and escaping back to the Blue flame city. But he vaguely felt that he shouldn't go, his instincts are telling him not to leave or he would regret it.
His grandfather also told him to endure. Even he didn't dare to make any moves on Sam and Watt. He already had enough setbacks due to Sam.
He is already a bit nervous about what Sam would do after he gained power.
But Sam didn't know all this. He didn't even want to deal with Zeke by himself. All that guy has is relying on the status and power of his father and grandfather and he already taught him some serious lesson for ambushing him. So, he left the remaining matters for Watt to deal with.
Now, everyday the citizens are always anticipating a show and are even guessing where the guy dressed in silver clothes would beat up the poor guy.
The city guards also started ignoring it as if they didn't see that at all.
After two months for the Park opening though, an unexpected visitor came to Sam. That person is a Nascent and third strongest person in the southern star city.
General Mercury, the general in charge of the city guard command.
Sam didn't expect him to come looking for him.
Sam welcomed him into the house and both of them sat in the living room.
After exchanging some pleasantries, the general came to the point.
"Artisan Sam, as you are a busy person let me just get straight to the point. I recently made a visit to your Park and I have to say that it is a fascinating experience. Even though, I didn't get to experience it myself, I visited the place with my sons and they both participated in lot of challenges, unfortunately they could only spend one day and both of them had to go back to the military service. But what impressed me even more is the security measures of your park."
As he spoke to this point, Sam understood what he wants, but he just stayed silent and looked at him.
"As you know, even though there are a lot of city guards the city is too big for them to watch all of it. I believe even your teammates suffered due to this problem. So, if you could sell the capturing devices to the city guard command that would solve the problem to the great extent and we could even install them on the city wall so as to guard against some stray beasts and sneaking intruders in case of a crisis."
Sam stayed silent for a brief while before saying.
"General, first of all I should thank you for appreciation. But there is one thing I should clarify and I believe you know too that my teammates didn't suffer just because the city guards were unable to cover the whole place.
As for selling you the capturing cannons, I don't have many objections but I don't want my creations to land in the hands of a system who has corrupt people who will easily do other's bidding ignoring the rules.
So, if you can clear the whole chain of command who involved in the 'suffering' of my friends, I will consider it."
General was dumbstruck as he heard Sam's words.
It was not because that he didn't understand, in fact he knew clearly what he meant. He does know that some city guard company took some orders from the General Spark's subordinates and made trouble for some candidates.
But he didn't really care much as three Novices without any notable background are not worth his attention.
So, he ignored it.
After seeing the arrangements and the cannons in the park, he looked into Sam and his team and came to know that he they were the ones who got targeted by the city guards, so he just wanted to mention the situation and down play it before Sam could use that as a reason. He just wanted to bury the hatchet directly as the damage is not severe.
Of course, the damage is not severe for the General but for Sam it is no different from ruffling his feathers.
As the General stayed silent Sam said.
"Just because I didn't do anything yet, that didn't mean that I wouldn't do anything. General Mercury, I have a good impression of you compared to the general Spark who is so self-centred. At least I could see from how your city guards are working.
That is my only request. If you could agree to weed them out, I don't have any objections at all. If you are thinking of what reason you want give, you can even use my name there, I don't have any objections.
It is not like they would have gall to come and seek an explanation from me."
Sam said in a relaxed manner. After some pondering the General agreed.
"Sure."
"Okay then, let us discuss business now."
General was surprised by this response.
"Are you not worried that I would go back on my word after I get my hands on the cannons?"
"I am the one who created them and destroying them is even easier than that. Anyway, I already have a list, so you can even abandon any thoughts of using some scapegoats."
General was speechless again, Sam proved to be even more troublesome than what he had heard.
After they discussed the deal, the general let the estate and within that day two news started traveling throughout the city.
First one, a number of city guard officials are dismissed and kicked out of their positions at the same time, they were charged for the crime of corruption.
Second one, the introduction of new weapons for city guard and those are the same weapons which are used to deal with the trouble makers in the Sam's Park.
Duke was dealt another blow after this news.
Apart from that there wasn't anything noteworthy happened for the next few months.
By the end of the business phase Sam was still in the peak stage Novice but he was a Peak stage novice in body cultivation too.
By this time, all his peers broke through Great realm. In fact, almost all the two hundred candidates except a twenty or so people broke through. And he is the part of those twenty.
But he wasn't depressed. Mia also slowed down her growth after he started body cultivation and started digesting the energy from hydra blood slowly.
Now, she is also at the peak of level 3 and now the panther twins are afraid of her turning the situation around.
He can breakthrough any time he wants, so he decided to do so after this business phase evaluation is over judging by the next phase of competition. There is still a week for the deadline of eighteen months so after that they could set forth for the imperial capital.
Tomorrow will be the final evaluation of the two phases. Sam is the only one who didn't care at all. The rest of the teams are on tenterhooks. There are some conflicts about the sharing of the points even before the evaluation is completed.
The next day, Sam, Hawk and Drew went to the evaluation spot leisurely. It is the same estate where all the teams assembled at the start of the competition. By the time they reached almost all the candidates already reached the place and they are waiting for the Duke to come.
