The Next day Arc was allowed to come back to his nation without any mishap.

But he was furious when he heard that Arman was made the temporary overseer of the network. He has doubts about Arman from the start and he also met Nicholas when he was in the Thunder god temple and learned a thing or two about him.

Whatever there is between Sam and Arman, it is definitely not friendship.

He still didn't tell them about Sam and his friends being back, he went to meet them completely cursing the stupidity of the officials to appoint Arman this illogically.

But he felt that Arman seemed to have some serious glib tongue to gain this favour from various factions.

He was thinking on how this guy visited each and every faction and might have even used all kinds of cards, including his 'friendship' with Sam, his authority in the thunder god temple and so on, to fool the executives.

Later when Arc inquired, it turned out that Arman played an extremely emotional card at one of the most vulnerable factions saying that he would use all the authority of his in the thunder god temple to take revenge if something happens to the Network on behalf of Sam.

He doesn't know how he managed to fool the rest of them, but he felt like it is still a bit far-fetched.

Anyway, the first thing he did after coming here is get Arman out of the network.

After sending him off to do whatever he wanted to do for the thunder god temple, Arc inquired everything and learned that in these past two days, Arman tried to learn as much about the internal workings of the network as possible.

But to his dismay, the workers are extremely loyal and tightknit, they didn't spill any beans.

Later, Arc started making arrangements for Sam and his friends to get back to their place.

He didn't use any beast but rather used the Train service. He blocked a whole compartment and didn't let anyone board that and made an announcement that they are for the soldiers who are dealing with church. They made it to the Sam's city in a week.

He used that Special compartment to let them get to the Sam's city as discreetly as possible.

Meanwhile, the war is going on full swing. After his disguise and the trick with the hallucinogen was exposed, Old One, seemed to have dropped cordiality and is not using intricate strategies.

He has been sending attacks all over the Minor powers and some occasional attacks on the Major powers' Islands.

Meanwhile, the six major powers are still trying to find the number of secret Space gates Old One arranged within their territories.

And in this one week, they even researched on what kind of hallucinogen that was used by the Old one within their experts and they got the news.

They found in the records, that is called the Devil guided Incense. One of the greatest Hallucinogens which was discovered from the ancient times.

It is actually a lost formula, and they didn't know that Old one was able to recover it.

The Devil Guided Incense, is a spirit induced hallucinogen. When inhaling this incense in right amount, the spirit which was summoned by the Incense enters the spirts of the inhalers and guides them in a specific way the creator wants them to be.

This is actually a very dangerous Hallucinogen and the creator needs to have an extremely level of control and technique which almost defies logic.

They even need the blood of the creator to make it and it takes toll on the body and spirit of the creator.

They felt like Old One has gone crazy for power, when they read this.

The most surprising thing about him is that there are almost no people within the Pharmaceutical tower that are involved.

Almost half of the association was even killed in his very hands. He seems to have gained the whole idea from his sense of superiority in the field of medicine.

Meanwhile, in the Western Continent, two days after Sam and his friends are secretly departed to the Sam's city, there is an announcement made subtly within the employees of the city, that Sam returned and he is alive, but a little bit injured.

It is still a little over a month- and-an-half for him to get back up.

When the news spread throughout the city, soon it reached the mouths of normal people after crossing the employees. Two people in the public has two sorts of contradictory reactions.

Arman is scared shitless, while Sirona is a bit excited.

She has been waiting to ask a question to Sam since she escaped and that is how does he know what her family is thinking, but she wasn't able to find him.

That day, she wanted to meet him, but she doesn't know Sam's current stay. They said, he is still recovering in a secret location.

Watt, Philip and Jack immediately took over and started looking into all the things related to network.

They heard from Arc that the situation was pretty bad when the rumours about Sam's missing situation has been spread.

But to their relief there are not many complications, except for some troubles caused by these factions.

Although, Sam didn't make an appearance, the trio's presence is enough to have them on their best behaviour.

In their minds, four of them are inseparable and if Sam is really dead, there is no way they would be here without thinking of getting revenge and such.

At least, the network is pretty stable. One thing that bothered them is the interference of Arman.

They didn't expect that Arman who is a complete outsider is able to take on the role of overseer.

Even though, it is only for a very small period, it is still vexing.

When they asked the officials and investigated, all they got is a hesitant 'I thought that was best idea.'

Philip is trying to make sense of situation as he roamed around the whole city. He went to Mackey's restaurant to get something to eat.

As he was having his delicious meal in a long time, he noticed that there is someone other than him who sat on the same table.

This surprised him, because he sat on the Special table reserved for Sam.

He looked over and saw a girl ordering something to the waiter in a stern voice.

The food was served pretty fast and she started eating without caring for any grace and elegance everyone expects from a lady.

Soon, the young lady seemed to have noticed that someone is looking at her and threw Philip a glare as he dragged the plate a bit closer to herself.

Philip felt like laughing and nostalgic for some reason. He felt like that cold glare is similar to what Sam has given him and his friends in Lava Rock village a few years ago.

He shook his thoughts off of his head and started eating. The girl only felt relieved after Philip took her gaze off.

But after a few seconds, he felt that something is familiar with this girl, this time he just gave a curious glance towards her face and thought deeply.

Within five minutes he got the idea and his eyes widened in surprise and disbelief with a hint on happiness in them.

"Sirona?" He asked cautiously, without showing any emotions.

Sirona looked at him with a frown and felt guarded immediately. She is extremely vigilant about whoever visits her, because there is a possibility that they are from the Usaine sect.

Seeing her vigilant expression, Philip smiled and said.

"It is me Philip. Little Stick."

Sirona suddenly threw her caution to the wind as her eyes widened in disbelief. She has used those words, Little Stick in her childhood, that is the only part of her memory, she has without anyone influencing it.

And she liked it extremely.

There is a faint trace of sadness hidden within her deep icy eyes.

"Little Stick?" She asked hesitatingly as she looked at him up and down.

"You are big now?" She asked in a daze, she couldn't find the words grown up and this came out.

"PFFT." Philip couldn't help but laugh at these words and thus started their conversation.

But it is extremely short lived.

Philip and Sirona happened to be cousins and he knew of her when he stayed in the Usaine Sect. That is where the nickname came from.

They have very small memories, like playing together when they are infants and some classes which they took together when they are undergoing training.

They only spent time together for a few short years as Sirona was soon transferred to some special place to get special training due to special traits.

From then until now, Philip and Sirona never got to meet each other.

When Sam asked about her, he didn't mention about the fact that they actually met. He only saw her image when they are at thunder god temple. He saw her first time on the wanted notice. Apart from that, he never felt like they would meet in such a scenario.