"As for why those people want these candidates, even I don't know about that, that level of info is not accessible to my level. I think only the emperor knows about."

When Marquis finished explaining this, Sam started thinking of the possible reasons that the behind the scenes ruler might have to collect all the high potential candidates in a same place. Some of the thoughts are,

Devouring talent.

Crippling the nation's future elites.

Sending them to a mission only the younger people are allowed.

Cannon fodder.

Anyway, to put it simply, Sam's first chain of thoughts are absolute worst.

But he didn't think much as Marquis asked a question.

"Can you tell me the name of that organisation?"

Sam shook his head and said. "Absolutely not. By any chance, if you leak that info to your superiors and spill the beans that I am the one who gave you the tip, I would be hunted down by that organisation.

Even if I am not afraid of them, I am not so free to play a game of chase with them.

But if you want, we can make a deal, I will give you the info on the Blue flame city branch, while you supply the man-power for battle. We can run a joint operation on this, but the same rules as the mission apply, the loot will be mine."

Marquis immediately became angry. "Can you be any more black- hearted? from what you said, their income is more than taxes and you want to devour all of that?"

"Of course, I want to. Do you really have investigation methods to get the info? You will be blocked right after catching some small fries. I am doing a favour by helping you clean the trash which you can't see let alone clean it.

So, obviously whatever comes with the trash is mine."

"Not a chance. Fifty-fifty."

"I want at least ninety percent."

"That is impossible. If not for the fact that I don't know the scale of the loot, I wouldn't have let you swallow all the loot from the Count cities. Now, you even want to get your claws on this? Dream on." Marquis almost shouted on top of his lungs.

Sam just chuckled and replied.

"Okay then, that's your bad. Do you really think that I don't have ways to take down this organisation?

I just don't want to waste my time too much. But on second thoughts, since I have eight months till the mission time, I will make use of it and deal with it. Just wait for my report then.

I will just take my sweet time and take all the loot. Giving you guys ten percent for doing your job is already me being generous."

With that statement Sam stood up and was ready to leave.

"Sixty percent. You get sixty and me forty." Sam didn't bother to turn around and just kept walking towards the door.

"Seventy." Still no reaction.

"Eighty. Not a single percent more." Sam finally stopped and said with a smile.

"Okay, then. I agree. I will give you the first batch of the info after a week. Till then don't contact me." He went back to the table and took the formation disc.

Then only Marquis realized that Sam is not even thinking of leaving, he just wanted to get the bigger share. He felt anger rushing to his head due to the embarrassment.

He quickly recovered and said to Sam.

"Technically, your mission is over. So, I will tell you about the next phase."

Sam's expression changed immediately. He really is not a fan of these missions and stuff.

There is one time when Sam even thought that emperor who isn't even popular in a Marquis city is making use of these competitions and letting the candidates do his bidding. After all, what is it with the mission of clearing the underground forces?

Seeing Sam's serious expression, marquis chuckled and said.

"It is not what you think? All you have to do is learn and cultivate. You will be given access to a tower library and they have insights on various things. So, all you have to do is read them.

But this mission is not compulsory. You are not going to be forced to read them. That is entirely your choice. But the catch is only twenty members are going to be selected into the next phase. Ten members will be eliminated from the current thirty.

And your team got lucky, since you all finished this early and also did more work than expected, no one will be eliminated. But since, we made a deal, Jasmine will be withdrawn."

After confirming the details, Sam left the place. He still has lot of things to do and one of them is to make a move against the Black water branch in this city.

Since, this city's branch is the superior for all the Count city branches under Blue flame city, there is a high chance, that the destruction of three branches and Sam's presence at those branches will make Sam a prime suspect.

Even if they don't know about the first two cities, they will definitely think of ways to mess with Sam due to him taking the things from the Cougar family which is also the Black water branch in the Cougar city.

But Sam didn't worry too much, because from the scale of operations and influence of the Black water, even if they don't know the internal details, they could clearly guess the significance of this competition and fact that Sam is not touchable for now.

So, Sam has some breathing space and he can plot against them. He cannot possibly let them pass the info to their superiors and have them suspect him too.

That is the reason he made a deal with Marquis. Even though, he said he has time, in fact he doesn't. In a few months the year will end and according to rules of this Black water, the yearly meetings will be held.

So, the Blue flame city branch leader will also have to report to their superior which Sam doesn't want them do.

After he came back to the Mansion, Sam sent Watt to slums to enquire about some small-time gangs and leave the shadow mice to track their operations.

The is actually the best way to proceed. Only the members of the underground will know about the other gangs operating and the best way to get the info is to corner one of them and show them there is no other way to be free other than giving away the info.

Sam gave the necessary instructions and immediately went to his room where he entered the divine dimension.

He has something important to do now and that is to examine the poison pool and the hydra skeleton. At the same time, he needs to unseal the egg, so that child could come out.

Sam walked towards the large pool of poisonous fluid and stood at the edge. He actually wore that breathing mask to make sure that he isn't infected by the air around the pool.

In the centre of the pool, there is a large skeleton and a huge egg with runes.

Sam was focussed on how to get the skeleton when he is under the sea, that he didn't get the chance to observe the skeleton.

He stood on the Harbinger and floated towards the as he watched the humongous structure.

The hydra has nine snake heads. The vertebrae of those neck are a combination of thousands of small joints, Sam couldn't help but admire the bone structure of the legendary beast.

The heads even though resembled snakes, they are a lot fiercer.

Sam took a small dagger and scratched the surface, but the dagger's tip was chipped.

He already expected this but he tried to do so to check if there are any auxiliary effects but the weapons aren't strong enough to check that.

After admiring the bones, claws and fangs, Sam finally moved towards the pool.

Sam took out the Katana which is named executioner and unsheathed it.

He slowly dipped it inside the pool.

Sam has a hunch that the pool is mostly formed due to the blood of the hydra and got diluted with the sea water.

If it is really blood, then it there is definitely going to be blood essence.

When Sam placed the blade inside the pool, the poison started corroding the blade, but before the effect took place, the blade glowed a little as it started absorbing the blood essence.

Sam couldn't help but smile.

Now, he got another card up his sleeves. If he let the Executioner absorb the blood essence of the whole pool, then there might be some interesting abilities added to the blade.

He can use the reaper to collect the blood of his enemies outside and let the executioners develop by collecting the essence of the pool.

Sam floated towards the center of the pool and placed it vertically with the skeleton as support.

No matter, how slow it might be, it is still absorbing the blood essence.

Now, the final task, unsealing the egg.

Sam walked out of the formation with the egg in tow and went to an open area in the water zone.

The water zone in the dimension is half earth and half water.

The water is like a large lake, but it is only useful for beasts and Sam can't use it to his liking.

Sam took out a large number of formation flags and placed them. He needs a lot of water type spiritual energy.

And Sam has a lot of water spirit stone from the loot of the three coastal cities.

He placed the whole lot within the formation.

After that, Sam pierced his finger with a dagger and drew out some blood. He placed the egg in the center of the formation as he started creating runes over the egg.

Now, the final step is let the formation activate and let the egg unseal. The process until the egg hatches will be completely dependent on the formation and the runes he drew.

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