Zhong Shenxiu had no intention of hiding anything from the others, so he explained the "Convergence of the Five Fiends." Upon hearing his words, everyone immediately grew solemn, their expressions betraying undisguised worry!
Knowing they were concerned for their respective families, as soon as Zhong Shenxiu returned to the "Darkness Syndicate," he presented them with solutions.
The world was growing increasingly unsafe; one could not accurately predict where the Demon Bugs might emerge. To alleviate the worries of Xia Luo and the others, there were two options:
The first was for them to temporarily relocate their families to the grand hall they had previously used for their secluded cultivation. Its defenses were unquestionably the best in this entire realm; once inside, no matter how many powerful Demon Bugs appeared, they would be utterly safe!
The second option was similar: have their families move into Zhong Shenxiu's "Medium Bag," much like the Elven race before them.
After some discussion, Xia Luo and the others decided to have their families temporarily seek refuge in that hall. They all trusted that Zhong Shenxiu would devise a definitive solution, and once this period passed, everything would return to normal!
Thus, that morning, Xia Luo and the others began acting immediately to move their relatives to the hall. During this time, Zhong Shenxiu would remain at the "Darkness Syndicate," using the interval to conduct intensive research!
In fact, Zhong Shenxiu already had some theories, but they required further clinical trials. The factor he focused on most was the effect of "wavebands" on the Demon Bugs. Previously, he had discovered a strange waveband that could attract nearby Demon Bugs; the question now was, could a waveband exist that repelled them?
Setting aside Zhong Shenxiu and his group for a moment, let us turn to "Golden Harvest City." Thanks to the royal decree, more and more people were learning that the Demon Bug crisis had been resolved. Simultaneously, attention on the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" intensified. The royal announcement clearly stated that the ones who solved this crisis were none other than the "Ethereal Mercenary Group"!
To resolve an issue that the royal army could not handle with just one small team immediately elevated the image of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" in the public eye! Now, it was not only mercenaries discussing them; even ordinary citizens were gradually joining the conversation.
As the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" was spoken of with increasing reverence, its profile soared higher and higher. A peculiar phenomenon had emerged in "Golden Harvest City": if you possessed some little-known secret about the "Ethereal Mercenary Group," you would instantly become an object of widespread respect!
Word, inevitably, traveled. No one knew who started it, but rumors began circulating that the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" shared a significant connection with the "Darkness Syndicate." Some even claimed to have seen members of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" entering and exiting the "Darkness Syndicate" on multiple occasions, noting that the Syndicate's employees treated them with extraordinary deference!
Several versions of speculation were already circulating outside. Some believed the "Ethereal Mercenary Group’s" immense power stemmed from the backing of the "Darkness Syndicate!" Others theorized that the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" was a specialized branch operating under the Syndicate's umbrella.
Regardless of the theory, each claim draped the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" in an even deeper cloak of mystery, spurring more people to uncover the truth!
Consequently, many inquisitive individuals began focusing their gazes on the "Darkness Syndicate"—partly to catch a glimpse of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group," and partly to scout for any telltale signs!
What was somewhat amusing was that a segment of these observers belonged to the Royal family. It seemed the Emperor of the "Autumn Cloud Empire" had also realized the significance of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group"! If not for the Syndicate's established influence, some might have already charged in to demand an audience!
However, they were likely to be disappointed during this period, as the vast majority of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" had departed "Golden Harvest City." And Zhong Shenxiu, consumed by his research, had no time to venture out. Although Kaine and Robin remained, they were occupied assisting Zhong Shenxiu, and if they appeared at all, it would only be late at night.
It could be said that this phase would be the quietest period for the "Ethereal Mercenary Group"!
※
Meanwhile, Bennett, the patriarch of the "Tillarri Family," finally managed to procure an illustrated profile of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" after much maneuvering. He was now staring, utterly astonished, at the images of three individuals!
These three were Zhong Shenxiu, Robin, and Tiya. Bennett had stood there stunned for a long time. He could never have imagined that Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, who had once visited their estate, were actually members of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group." Along with his shock, he felt a surge of relief—thankfully, he hadn't angered those two back then, or the consequences...
Bennett now harbored another question: why were there two portraits of the same young woman, each bearing a different name? Was it an error, or was there another reason?
"I am growing old; it seems this truly is the era of the young," Bennett murmured after an unknown span of time.
After examining the profiles twice more, Bennett urgently summoned a retainer and instructed him to make several copies of the portraits. The goal was for every family disciple to memorize the faces of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group's" members. Firstly, to prevent any inexperienced youth from foolishly provoking them; secondly, to have the disciples keep an eye out for the group. Any sighting of their whereabouts was to be reported immediately!
Bennett was an astute man. He understood that forging a bond with an entity as formidable as the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" was necessary, as no one could guarantee the Demon Bugs wouldn't reappear! The "Tillarri Family" was highly efficient. The portraits of Zhong Shenxiu and the others were quickly circulated among the disciples. To avoid provoking dissatisfaction from the "Ethereal Mercenary Group," these images were kept under the strict custody of designated personnel, with a limited quantity, strictly forbidden from external circulation—violation meant family penalties!
On the afternoon of this directive, someone reported knowing the whereabouts of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group." This person was none other than young Oporto, the same young master who had nearly been disciplined by Robin!
"Greetings, Great-Grandfather!" Oporto bowed before Bennett.
"Oporto, you claim to know the exact location of the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group'?" Bennett pressed, eager with impatience.
"Yes, I do!" Oporto's expression was earnest, showing no hint of jest. Urged by his great-grandfather, he quickly recounted the day he encountered Tiya.
"So, twins?" Bennett muttered to himself, finally understanding why there were two identical portraits.
However, he was even more alarmed to confirm that the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" was indeed within the "Darkness Syndicate." It seemed the outside rumors were not entirely baseless! The only remaining uncertainty was the nature of the relationship between the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" and the "Darkness Syndicate"—why had these two formidable powers converged?
"Oporto, you haven't told anyone else about this, have you?" Bennett asked with severe gravity.
"No," Oporto replied cautiously. He understood the importance of this matter; he had paused for a long moment after seeing the portraits before recovering.
"Excellent. You must keep this strictly confidential, even from your father," Bennett instructed.
"Yes, Great-Grandfather!"
Bennett paused in contemplation before adding, "Now, you and I will pay a visit to the 'Darkness Syndicate,' just the two of us."
Oporto naturally had no objections and assented. Then, as if recalling something else, Bennett added, "Right, you mentioned that young lady Tiya likes small magical beasts, didn't you? Let's stop by the Magical Beast shop first."
※
By the time Bennett and Oporto reached the entrance of the "Darkness Syndicate," dusk had settled. The two had deliberately chosen this hour to minimize drawing attention, planning to enter the Syndicate under the guise of shoppers!
"Are you the one looking for me?" Tiya emerged from within, asking Oporto.
Oporto nodded. He dared not call for Robin, instead choosing the more approachable Tiya. However, his gaze constantly flickered toward Bennett, who was pretending to examine merchandise nearby.
To be honest, when Oporto didn't know Tiya's identity, he hadn't felt anything unusual. But now, standing before her again, he experienced an inexplicable tension!
As Oporto stood awkwardly, Bennett stepped forward, bracing himself. He politely introduced himself to Tiya, then stated he had urgent matters to discuss and requested a more private conversation.
Tiya found the situation rather amusing. It was the first time someone wanted to discuss serious matters with her. What could it be? Full of curiosity, Tiya led the pair into the Syndicate's "Reception Room."
"Alright, now you can tell me what this is about?" Tiya asked, her smile bright, like a happy angel.
Before getting to the main topic, Bennett shot a meaningful glance at Oporto. Following the cue, Oporto brought out the adorable small magical beasts they had painstakingly selected that day.
"Oh! How cute!" Tiya gasped, her attention completely captured by the beasts.
"Miss Tiya, these are all gifts for you, a small token of our respect. We hope you will accept them." Bennett watched Tiya happily playing with the beasts and felt a renewed surge of confidence about their visit.
However, just then, Tiya stopped her play, turned, and stared intently at Bennett with a serious expression, then posed a question that caused Bennett to break out in a cold sweat:
"Excuse me, are you trying to bribe me? Sister Kaine told me that excessive enthusiasm without cause—"
"is either treachery or villainy! Is that right?"