Kiran and Markan went back to the Marsh village and handed over the mercenaries who were knocked unconscious and had their cultivation sealed to the village head.
They exchanged them for a ton of spring water and they came back.
Back in the camp, Sam, Arkiv and Akhil are sitting around a small fire as they ate some meat and drank wine while making small talk.
They are having a normal friendly exchange.
The rest of the team is also nearby.
"You really have quite the team. It is no wonder you are having an easier time."
"Easier time? I wish. I would like to think it is just going faster. I had a large organization to manage and I have to take care of them. The buffer time I buy is being spent on the organization directly. My research too is taking too much time."
"Of course, you are the one that is swallowing that much. You cannot complain."
"I think you are the one doing that." Arkiv said from the side.
Akhil just glared at him and said.
"So, how is your alliance going?"
"Why? You want to sow some discord?" Arkiv once again remarked snidely.
Sam looked at both of them and asked.
"What is the matter with both of you?"
"Nothing" Both of them replied in unison. Sam just shook his head with a smile and said.
"I don't care. Let us get down to business." He paused and looked at Akhil.
"So, what is the plan? You successfully dragged the two organizations into a war, taking advantage of their location and you are trying your best escalating it? Did you and the rest of the players agree on some terms?"
"Of course we did. In fact, we were supposed to escalate this war faster. But that bastard Dayus arrived in the middle, messing it all up. He somehow delayed our plans and here we are. He even convinced that it would take a long time for you to deal with the Puppet organization and babbled on something about some high level organization coming after you and hindering your work.
He fooled us into getting on with an even more elaborate plan. At first we wanted to trigger a war by destroying some resource points and businesses, but Dayus took over the planning somehow and delayed it saying that it would be more effective and we went after the young master. But the escalation didn't happen.
Who knew that the rivalry between these organizations is so cold? Even the initial reaction is not as much as expected. So, we tried to drag on and on and just recently the events started warming. We don't know why everything is so cold.
If it was any other organizations that we dealt with, they would have been on each other's throats by now."
Akhil explained with a dejected expression.
"Okay, what are the terms?"
"Currently, we are on same cultivation level, except you. So, we decided that we would escalate the war and destroy the organizations first and finally select the winner with some duels. But now that you came, it seems like our plans are in vain."
Sam thought for a moment and said.
"How about I play with you guys?"
Akhil sneered and said.
"Fuck off, you are already a pain in the ass when you are our equal, much less when you are superior in cultivation. And now you have an elite team that could do all your bidding.
There is no way we are playing with you. It will just waste our time."
"Just arrange a meeting with rest of the players, you guys hear me first and we can discuss. After all, you guys are pissed at me already, I don't want to piss you off more."
"Since when did you become so conscious of others?"
"It is not like I am conscious of your feelings. I am just afraid that we might need each other's help in the future. I don't want us to be bitter enemies by then. Anyway, since you already worked so hard, it wouldn't be good, if I just swooped in and robbed you of your hard work. We are all on the same boat here."
Akhil thought for a moment and said.
"Okay then, we rest for the night and we go there tomorrow. Promise me, that you wouldn't go ballistic at us."
"I won't. It is not like you guys cannot escape."
"We can't say for sure if it is you we are going against."
With that, their discussion ended and the next morning they moved. Luckily, the meeting spot is within this planet. It turned out that currently, the rest of the players are all working in this planet only. So, they travelled at full speed and reached the place by evening on the beasts.
The meeting is in a deep valley that looked like an entrance to an abyss from the top.
When Akhil landed there with Sam and Arkiv, the rest of the players are shocked. And Dayus in particular had an extremely funny expression.
"Hello, guys. I expected a bit more enthusiastic welcome. How come you are all cold and silent?" Sam said with a chuckle.
Then only they recovered and looked at Dayus with angry expressions.
The group is sitting around a fire. The area is extremely dark and they lit up torches here and there for light. Sam sat on one side and spoke.
"I am sorry guys, I wanted to come early. But I was held up with the puppet organization. Now that I have cleared, I hope I am not too late."
All the players looked at Sam and no one spoke. Sam looked at Dayus and said with a smile.
"How is your arm?"
Dayus involuntarily held his hand with another one.
He is extremely angry, but he knew better than showing it out directly. Who knows, he might lose that arm once again.
"So, I heard you guys are playing a game. I thought I should also join in. After all, we are fellow players."
"No way, not possible." Dayus is the first one to react. Everyone looked at him weirdly. They obviously didn't know about the altercation between Dayus and Sam completely. They knew Sam kicked his ass, but they don't know how far and hard did he do that.
But from the looks of it, it seems like Sam did a pretty good job.
Dayus didn't care about these weird looks, he strongly opposed to Sam.
"Your cultivation level is way higher than us. We cannot allow you to join in this and you have that stupid team of yours. In fact, it is better for you to get out of this place. Or you would be making all of us your enemy because of ruining our plan. After all, all of us left the puppet organization for you, after we learned that you made a plan."
Sam raised an eyebrow at this and looked at the rest of the players.
"Is this all your stance?"
"Hell No."
"No way." All of the answers came in unison. Even Donner didn't agree with Dayus' opinion.
Sam looked at Dayus and shrugged before saying.
"Guys, I really do have the best team and trust me, I can escalate this war way faster than all of you combined if I use them all. But I don't want to make all your preparations go to waste.
As for the puppet organization, I think you guys understand what really happened and why you guys left. They made it personal and you know that it is impossible for me to not deal with them."
They thought for a moment and Noah said.
"It is true. But the fact is you are still higher than us in terms of cultivation level and you also have the team and a lot of other resources. We cannot compete with you."
"That is why I am here. To make it fair for all of us."
"Then, how do you propose we do that."
"First, I wouldn't let my team participate this time. They wouldn't participate in any case. Of course, unless I am in a situation where there is a possibility of my death.
I would also seal and suppress my cultivation to your level.
I would not use my liquid energy cells. The surveillance equipment is still fair game. I am sure, Noah also has her own surveillance tricks.
Me and Arkiv will play along with your rules. We will participate in escalation of the war and we will destroy the two organizations together. We can also decide who gets what according to your rules."
"What if we don't agree?"
Dayus yelled from the side.
Sam looked at him and activated his wrist screen. He looked at Arkiv who shrugged and took out his wrist screen too. The players looked at both of them in disbelief.
"You are not doing that." Noah said as she glared at Dayus.
If Arkiv and Sam really selected the two organization directly, there is no way they could still continue with this. Particularly since one of the organizations is linked to Hel, she would definitely place all the blame on Sam and the war will go cold once again. All their hardwork will be gone.
