Chapter 419 Percy's Stinginess
5 Ker Gems to be taken on an expedition to possibly get hints or clues about a core inheritance?
In many ways, it was a steal, which was the reason why almost all the Amateur Warriors flocked here.
Only, the problem was if this became too famous and alerted the higher-ups.
The truth was that this wasn't the first time that something like this had happened.
Many students had tried to scam out the resources from large groups of people, but their problem was that the group would end up ganging on them, making them cough back everything they had obtained.
Everyone knew this fact, so there was little inhibition in taking such an opportunity.
Besides, the person responsible for the operation himself was promising a refund, so it was unlikely that there would be a problem.
As for the matter with the higher-ups wanting to investigate as core inheritances were essential resources for any sect, they had tried before in secret when the first scams had come up.
However, seeing how things played out, they had started to ignore them, as if the expedition turned out to be a success, then they would be notified about it anyway.
So, all in all, this was a perfect plan, if the scammer wasn't being disingenuous.
All these thoughts passed through Percy's head, which made him walk up to the blonde kid who seemed to be in charge.
Of course, this was Daneel.
"Oh, it's you again. Sign me up, too."
This was the attitude that someone just a step away from being an Exalted Warrior had to have.
Only, after a pause during which the kid waited for payment but didn't see any gems, Percy could swear he saw an irritated and cunning expression on his face for a fraction of a second.
"What's the matter? You dare to ask me for payment?"
As someone who had clawed his way up from the bottom just like the Shameless sect, Percy's shamelessness was on a whole other level. He was stingy to the extreme, so he had no intention to pay.
This slightly angry statement made alarm appear on the kid's face, before he said fearfully, "Not in a million years, senior brother! It's just that…this inheritance is weird. All those above the level of an Amateur Warrior get adversely affected on trying to obtain it. I know this, because when I first found it, it was along with another disciple from one of the other Big 4 who seemed to have arrived coincidentally. He gloated about his strength and tried to make me leave, but he immediately left after trying to understand the inheritance while saying weird things. I had already been comprehending it without any problems, so I realized that this might be the case."
"Humph. You let me worry about that. I'm no ordinary Eminent Warrior. Just get me there, and maybe I'll help you and the others out with what I comprehend. Of course, if it turns out to be a scam, I'll be expecting additional payment from you."
"How generous of senior brother Percy!"
"Thank you so much, senior brother!"
"You are a real role model!"
As statements like these echoed from the Amateur Warriors nearby, Percy raised his head and stared into the distance as if he was some venerable sage who had descended to help others generously.
So, he missed the expression of absolute mischief that passed across the blonde kid's face.
After a few seconds, the kid replied, "Thank you, senior brother! We set off tomorrow at noon. Please meet me at the south exit 7 of the sect."
Nodding, Percy left while maintaining his attitude.
Seeing this sight, the fatty asked, "Travis, you're sure right? We will have to pay back everything with interest if you're not. Damn that 'senior brother'. He's just taking advantage of us."
This made Travis chuckle slightly before replying, "Let me worry about that. Let's see who takes advantage of whom tomorrow."
Leaving these cryptic words, Travis ordered the others to take down the banner as almost all the Amateur Warriors had already been tapped.
While leaving to the library, he had a sinister smile on his face.
Daneel was really looking forward to tomorrow.
….
Meanwhile, at the very top of the tower in the center of the Sect of Hedon.
To those inside the sect, it looked like this tower ended at a specific height in the sky.
Very few that this was an illusion. In reality, the tower penetrated the clouds, coming to a stop at a dizzying height of 15,000 meters.
At this altitude, only clouds could be seen all around, while the temperature also plummeted to such low levels that the real top was always coated by ice.
Staring out at this endless sea of clouds at the top of the tower was a man wearing a peculiar attire.
He had a small, globe-shaped earring on one ear, which was barely visible due to his long brown hair that fell to his shoulders.
His clean-shaven long face had a calm expression on it, while his thin lips were pressed together.
His black robes that had a gold trim in a few places such as the shoulders and the chest area glinted due to the light, and he seemed to be frozen in place, as if he wouldn't move no matter how many eons passed.
Feeling a communication trinket vibrate, he sighed and teleported, reappearing in a grand hall on the lower level of the same tower.
Around him were all the Champions of the Sect of Hedon, sitting in silence with respect.
As someone who had shown enough talent and power to become the youngest leader of the High Council, he was their pride.
However, all he felt was disgust when he saw them.
"This is the routine report on the sect, my Lord Ashahell."
As a Warrior-level scribe handed over a data trinket, Ashahell gave it a perfunctory glance before going through it idly.
Most of the information was normal, pertaining to the recent breakthroughs and the general situation in Angaria.
For some reason, when he saw the news about the King of Lanthanor's grand announcement to his people, he smiled, but that smile looked like it had no ill intentions.
Instead, it was almost like the man who was known for his cold countenance was happy.
Finally, he stopped on the news of the scam expedition that was going to set out the next day.
Indeed, although it seemed to everyone that the sect was frivolous in nature, in truth, they kept a close watch on all the activities.
News concerning an inheritance, even if it might be a scam and might not be a core one, had to be passed up all the way to the sect leader.
Lounging idly in the high throne made of stone that looked like it had been made for a giant to sit on, Ashahell recounted his days in the sect when he had similarly gone on a scam like this.
He had later been found out and reprimanded by his teachers who felt that it was a waste of time given his incredible talent, but it was one of the fondest memories of his life.
Handing it back, he said, "Everything looks fine. As you were."
Saying so, he teleported back to the top of the tower, leaving a host of Champions who all bowed reverentially.
While gazing out once again at the clouds, he only had one though: Angaria was…so beautiful.
Alas, what had to happen, had to happen.
Taking out a communication trinket, he said, "Is the delivery on schedule?"
"Yes, My Lord Ashahell. All will definitely go according to your plan."
Nodding to himself, he let silence regain its hold on the room.
If anyone saw this sight, they would remark on how lonely this individual looked.
It was as if he was a lone boat struggling along in the middle of a calm sea, with nothing but water in sight.
Waves of sadness and regret radiated from him, but there was an underlying sense of duty that could be detected.
As he continued watching, he once again became frozen in place.
…..
That night.
The Shameless sect had a lot of things to do to prepare for the excursion the next day. The 4 members were in charge of something…special inside the sect, while Daneel headed outside.
He had expected that the exits might have some of the Amateur Warriors making sure that the 5 wouldn't run away with the gems, but seeing that there was no such thing, he let out a relieved sigh.
Little did he know that the fate of someone who had tried that stunt the last time had ended in a desiccated corpse that couldn't even be recognized by his closest friend.
Sect members were allowed to leave for a short period of time, but if it crossed the threshold, they would be called back forcefully using the oaths they had sworn.
The threshold was one day, but Daneel only needed to be out for an hour.
The Sect of Hedon was surrounded by a rich forest, so Daneel didn't have to search long before finding an underground cavern with a waterfall.
Squatting in front of the surface of the small lake that had formed due to the waterfall, Daneel cast the spell he had prepared.
A mysterious series of lights appeared above the lake, swirling around in random patterns and at times passing through the surface of the water.
Checking 5 times to make sure that everything was all right and that he wasn't being spied on, Daneel smiled mischievously.
It was almost time to watch a great show.