John, her husband, Damon's brother, stood behind her like a defeated NPC who had long since lost the will to live. He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again… then just gave Damon a helpless look that screamed She has been yelling since we left.

Damon blinked at her. Georgina stood there waiting, tapping her foot, her expression demanding an answer and a full apology with interest.

Around them, everyone looked here and there uneasily. Everyone knew the kind of man Damon was and simply couldn't believe someone would actually have the guts to talk to him in this manner.

Thankfully, before Damon had to say anything personally, his mother did the job for him. "Georgina, shut up and show some manners. Get back here." Georgina froze mid-rant, her finger still pointed at Damon, her mouth half open.

Damon's mother marched up, grabbed Georgina by the wrist, and hauled her backward with the full authority of a woman who had raised two monsters and still had the energy to dominate the household.

"How many times have I told you," she scolded, "that you cannot shout at people without knowing what happened?"

Georgina was about to open her mouth again to argue, but she suddenly froze, unable to say anything. Erin's murderous gaze was on her, making chills run down her spine. Georgina quietly shut up without uttering another word.

Satisfied, Damon's mother let her go.

Damon sighed and finally addressed the gathered group. "Well, as my sister-in-law attempted to say," he began dryly, "I do want to apologize to everyone. You guys know what happened recently, and I think it's best if you all lay low for a while, at least until everything calms down again."

A hush settled over the group.

Damon continued, "There might or might not be, well, definitely might be a B rank after my ass. So I did not want to take any chances. It's just for a few days. When the light faction becomes busy with the abyss again, you guys can probably head back over to the mainland. Until then… how about a special training place?"

"My Lord…please forgive me for speaking up…" Kaelthorn spoke first. "If it's a B rank…" He shuddered, unable to even complete his sentence. "Then we might not be safe even if it is the crimson mountains."

Damon nodded. He knew that much. Everyone who had played Earth Online decently would know by now that there were only a handful of B ranks in this whole world. B rank was the highest order of power in this world, and the fragile peace was maintained by these powerhouses behind the scenes.

There was a B-rank ancestor deep within the Crimson Mountains too.

But that meant nothing. That ancient vampire owed Damon nothing. Had no obligation to protect him. Might not even acknowledge his existence. Damon's problems were exactly that, his problems.

"I know…" Damon said, smiling faintly. "Which is why I'm not counting on his help. I'm not counting on anyone's." He lifted a hand and pointed toward the distant, shadowy expanse beyond the mountains. "In fact, there's another reason I brought all of you here."

His gaze sharpened. "The wilderness." Everyone turned instinctively.

That place, vast, untouched, ancient, stretched endlessly across the dark faction continent. Forests devouring horizons. Mountain ranges crackling with mana storms. Valleys that swallowed entire armies. Places where sunlight looked afraid to land.

If there was one place even the B-ranks hesitated to enter… it was there.

Damon let the silence linger a moment before saying quietly. "The wilderness is the only place in this world where even a B-rank thinks twice."

"My lord… You don't mean to enter it, do you?"

Damon didn't look away from the distant expanse. "Not all of it. Not the deep zones. I'm not suicidal." Then he smirked. "Just the outskirts."

Riven sputtered. "T… The outskirts are full of C-rank beasts!"

"C-rank territories," someone else whispered.

"And anomalies…" Ellora added, brows furrowed.

"And opportunities," Damon finished. "Rare herbs. Ancient dungeon cracks. Wild mana pools. A lot of evolution stones. Things you can't grow strong without." He turned, facing them fully now.

"I know it's only been a matter of days since the game launched, but I have a feeling things are soon going to change. I am talking about the hidden families. Some of you perhaps know more than me in this aspect." Damon particularly looked at Phoenix and Blood Wraith.

"When that time comes… we need to be prepared for it. There is also the system event. How many of you received the invitation?"

Only a few looked confused, namely Kate and his own family members. Everyone else standing there was pretty much outstanding in their own way, and from the looks of it, had managed to get their hands on their own token to the system event.

Damon smiled. "Then what are we waiting for? Shall we do some training?" He smiled shamelessly and opened up a Blood Gate straight to the outskirts of the wilderness.

Aurora was once again the first. She beamed happily as if she had just been invited to some fancy party. "Yay! Adventure time with hubby! Finally!" She quickly walked over to the portal and then entered it, but not before blowing a kiss to Damon. "See you on the other side, my darling."

Damon smiled. "Stay close when we enter. The outskirts are manageable, but manageable doesn't mean safe. Mana storms, beast kings in hibernation, corrupted zones… need to stick together."

Then Damon turned and stepped through the Blood Gate. He had called them here, explained the situation. He did not intend to force anyone further. Everyone knew their own risk and their relation to him. They were grown adults capable of making their own decisions. So he let them.

Whoever wanted to follow him could follow him through the portal. If they had different plans, then that was fine with him too.

Especially someone like Arya, who only had a very small connection with him. He wouldn't really mind if the little alchemist chose to head back to the blood hall. She was not someone suited for combat, and she was probably knee deep in soul medicine research.

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