CHAPTER 190: CANDIDATE

The dinner ended, and the group began discussing the other matters. As the organization Elian and Bianca created was family-oriented, it was a bit informal.

"And so, during the course of the month, a total of 482 suspected Crows were submitted. Upon investigation, only around 300 were actual Crows, the rest were scammers trying to make everyone believe they were crows for various reasons."

Elian couldn’t help but chuckle at Katri’s report.

Rather than finding the bastards, the world turned on them for profit. Over 300 died just like that. For all the people who suffered because of these bastards. Each Crow submission was a corpse, so assumed deaths did not count.

What interested Elian more was that he was certain that the Crows sought protection from the Big Three. Whether the ones that died were only Crows low on the totem pole remained unseen. But it was ridiculous to be caught up in this as a fake.

The faction’s inner circle were all seated around a lavish living room. As the only two people who left, they were all giving their updates on the matters that concerned the Weapons of Valestra.

"We have a surge in Breakers who wish to join our faction. Most have serviceable work experience and have issues with one of the Big Three guilds. We also have a bunch of Civilians who have decided to become Breakers due to your stream," Katri continued.

Charlotte giggled while interjecting, "A stream that has gotten us a lot of money, by the way. The streaming platforms have all approached us asking for collaborations and advertisements. Bianca might consider it loose change, but it is still a sizable amount."

Elian’s eyes widened; for the money to be sizable to a businesswoman like Charlotte, the funds would have been blinding to the common man. He gripped Bianca’s hand and was about to ask for permission when she smiled radiantly.

"Do as you will, my love. If that amount is not enough, just tell me what you wish. I will spare no expense."

Filled with appreciation for her trust and support, Elian gave his fiancée a soft kiss. The room was divided between those who felt the display of affection was sweet and those that wanted the pair to explode.

"Thank you," Elian turned to Charlotte and Katri and expressed his will, "Use the money from the streams to rebuild the four cities, use it to compensate those affected, and help them get back up. I also want to sponsor a Breaker Training program."

The two women looked at each other in disbelief. "I get the compensation part, but why the Breaker Training program? Wouldn’t the humans be far weaker than actual Weapons? Why bother with them? Once we fill a standard army, we don’t need more."

"That is true. But once the dungeons on Earth close, the Breakers will need a means to make money. I intend to have Human Breakers join the Weapons as mercenaries and relief personnel. So that they can grow and protect what matters to them."

Ned stomped his foot into the ground in excitement, "Now that’s what I’m talking about! Good on you, brother! The Church had a lot of manpower just from taking care of orphans. Karma is a thing; you help the little man, it will come back to you."

"Yeah, I won the jackpot by having Bianca. I have a huge debt to the world I must repay," Elian said in agreement.

Naturally, his lover blushed scarlet in embarrassment at the comment, but he wasn’t done. "Aren’t you the same brother?"

"HELL, YEAH, I AM! I need to save at least a million to pay the world back for Lottie. Millions more if I am to have her kids," Ned cheered with a grin.

His girlfriend, Charlotte, covered her face with a folder as she murmured, "Bianca, please do something about your lover. He’s making mine weird."

"What do you expect me to do? It’s how they are. And turning to a tomato isn’t helping your case," the witch snapped back.

Katri and Fluffy both clenched their jaws and fists in envy. The former unconsciously crumpled the Whiteline documents in her hand, while the latter grabbed Burny and began to pluck his feathers off.

The guild master gave the two men a few moments before she cleared her throat.

"Ehem, I understand your instructions, Tyrant. As for your assignment to Charlotte and me, I will have Lady Sunny explain the details about the cities as she knows them better than I do. My other outstanding item is the rewards for the Crow hunt. We are backlogged."

Fluffy got up and suddenly brought out a breastplate coated in Living Metal.

"Right, regarding those, I tried copying the suit of armor you made; frankly, it’s crap. Too many commands. I can make it better with just a fourth, but Mom said the average human would die as a result, so we just slapped paint on these and called it a day."

Elian nodded; he knew that fact from the guards he saw manning the walls. Although a bit annoyed at Fluffy’s harsh critique, in terms of engineering, Fluffy was better than him. But there were people who Elian believed were far more suited.

"I see." He turned to the Reptilian harpy floating by the doorway and called, "Epsilon, can you and the Naga adapt to a human body and create gear for them. Tools, weapons and armor?"

"You wish to entrust this to us? Isn’t Lady Fluffy and the Beowolves better suited?"

Elian looked at Fluffy to gauge her reaction. From what he knew of the wild Beowolf, she wouldn’t mind and perhaps even prefer it. And Fluffy didn’t disappoint.

The wolf girl waved both hands in front of her and made two thumbs up to Epsilon. "Hell no we aren’t. It’s boring as hell; humans are too brittle, and we suck at trying to stop them from dying. If Elian believes you can do it, be my guest, lil’ sis."

Epsilon carefully scanned the room and noticed that everyone gave their blessings. Overwhelmed, she saluted and shouted earnestly.

"I understand! The Slinky Corps and I will ensure that we complete this assignment!"

Everyone gave her a round of applause, which caused her to lower her head in embarrassment.

Sunny opened her fan and covered her face as she took the floor. "Then it is my turn. I worked with Silent, Bastion, and Silas; Crestfall City was attacked a total of 134 times in the past month. The other cities under my children’s command were similarly besieged."

Elian grimaced. Bianca clenched his hand as she asked in a cold voice, "Were there any fatalities, Aunt Sunny? How did it go?"

The Flame Phoenix turned to the Bastion and Silent and shrugged.

"You, of all people, should know what would happen upon releasing the Beowolves on them: zero casualties and no survivors."

She then closed her fan and pointed it at Fluffy. "This brat even turned the leaders for the attacks into barbaric ’human flags.’ It did not stop them, but the attacks grew less frequent."

Nostalgic at the term, he made eye contact with Silent as he probed, "Anything worthwhile, Mother-in-law?"

"No. I broke most of them, even Breakers from the Ascendancy; they knew nothing. I even asked Yearns to read their minds. Same result."

Feeling that avenue was a dead end, the Tyrant changed the topic: "And the people in the cities? How are they faring, Aunt-in-law? Did your children find restructuring difficult?"

"No, they performed admirably. Within a month, using their own abilities and a few Weapons from Virexar, they took command of the four cities. The cities already have 60-70% of their facilities back in operation. Be at ease. The humans are doing better than before."

"That is great!" Elian praised, "What would be a fitting reward for them?"

"I don’t know; they told me it was fun to solve a problem. The task seems to be the best reward itself," Sunny said wryly.

"I see."

It was amazing to think that the bare-bones group he left had made such progress in a month. Given their immense capability, who knows what they could achieve in a year?

Looking at the table in front of him, he moved on to the next topic: "Before we discuss who goes on the invasion, I need your opinion about another matter. Does anyone have any good candidates for the Psychomancers?"

Woody raised his hand and gestured to his daughter, "I recommend my child, She Who Blooms in the Summer. She has a mana pool greater than any human and is loyal to the cause."

Blooms stood up and lowered his head to Elian, "My Tyrant, if you truly wish to end the Crucible, please let me help you. Karnathi has suffered much because of this hellish game. I volunteer to be a Psychomancer and am prepared to face come what may."

Elian and Bianca looked at each other and agreed, "Very well. Anyone else?"

Hands immediately followed. With each stating their reason for doing so.

"My Tyrant, I, Yearns for the light of night, also volunteer for the same reason."

"Sir Elian, Burny, formerly Rise of Ashes, also wish to join."

Yearns and Burny were excellent candidates as they were from races that had a lot of mana. But then two women raised their hands. Two people no one expected.

"Katri? Char? Are you crazy? You two wish to be Psychomancers?" Bianca shouted in surprise.

Elian rested his fist on his hand as he let his mind guess at what tonight’s discussions would bring to the world.

"This is going to be interesting."