"Lord!" The guards around the ring all got down to their knees and gave their greetings and respect!

The chief Carter bowed with Cross as well!

The City Lord was man who looked around thirty something, but that was not his real age! He did not use cosmetics or any other method for his looks to seem young! The realm He reached, increased Life span. He was actually 70 years old yet looked 30! He had white hair and wore an official's robe. He seemed elegant and this robe was only something that City Lords and above had! His elegance hid a deep sense of terror! One can imagine his strength.

" haha! My Lord , this is my nephew, Cross, he came from a village, and as your lordship has seen! I believe it to be too much of a waste for him to be a captain!" introduced Carter

"Indeed, a young man , a sentient warrior with a rare ability and innate supernatural strength is a genius hard to come by!" The City lord nodded appraisingly.

"My lord, I believe you'll understand what I mean when you see this!" said Carter as he passed cross'sidentification.

Dylan, The City Lord , gasped when he saw Cross's age! He indeed apperciated talent . At first he thought Cross was a young man in his early 20s but after seeing 14! he was pleasantly surprised! if he managed to raise this young man and made him loyal to himself, He would both a right hand man and a trump card!

He already started planning on how to gain this young man as his subordinate and grasp his loyalty!

" Come let's enter the mansion!" ordered Dylan

" yes! city lord!" Carter said as he followed but Cross stayed looking confused.

" what are you doing?" turned dylan and asked Cross.

" me too?" asked Cross as he pointed to himself! playing dumb!

" of course! Follow me!" Dylan laughed and said. This was indeed in his favor, this young man who came from the village and has not seen the world will be easier to control.

Carter on the other hand saw his foolish look and reminded himself to teach this nephew who just came out to the world common sense and where dangers lay so that he won't be conned or put in dangers! Conmen and swindlers were all over the city!

They entered the mansion headed towards a lobby. IT WAS HUGE! Cross felt that he can fit his whole village just inside this lobby! It was filled with sculptures of beasts! more like mythical beasts! It seemed he was a fan of sculpting!

" awesome!" commented Cross

Dylan smiled, pleased with Cross's expression, he had put a lot of effort into gathering these sculptures he even created some himself!

" which one do you like the most?"

" emm ... the winged serpent one!" replied Cross

" oh why is that?" Dylan asked with a smile.

" well the texture seems smooth! it must have been hard with all those curves! and those patterns insripted as well are a lot more defined than others , the one who did this is indeed a master especially with how small this one is compared to other statues!"

" hahahahahaah! Good eyes! Good eyes! This is indeed a precious sculpture made from crystallic stones! very hard to come by! very few would use it as materials for sculptures! and the one who made it is me!" Dylan was pleased and found Cross more and more to his liking!

" City Lord is indeed a master " said Cross

Carter made a thumbs up gesture for his nephew saying in his mind : "Good one boy!"

" drop the formalities! just call me Old man Dylan! you now will Join The special regiment! It is a force that cannot be made to the public and has the highest authority! since you came from a village it would have taken time for you to get tested before joining but since carter is your uncle and vouches for you and he is also a member of second rank , I'll make an exception and make you join! you'll star as a third rank member! but I'll give you the ressources of a second rank member but your badge and authority still remains at third rank." explaind Old man Dylan with a smile.

" Then i shall be impolite! may i inquire about the ranks?"asked Cross

Dylan looked at Carter , the other understood and took the lead to explain.

" a third rank member gets 10 silver as monthly payement, a normal quality 1 star weapon and 3 force increasing medecine! a second rank gets double that and a higher quality 1 star weapon while a first rank gets 5 times and a top quality 1 star weapon."

"Holy shit!" said cross

" watch your mouth!" shouted Carter

" haha sorry , I lost control there for a second!"

" hahaha no worries " dylan waved, he found it funny that someone cursed in front of him and even made him further like this boy .

" what are the ranks for weapons! and what's force increasing medecine?" asked Cross puzzled

Carter and dylan looked at each other. Dylan burst out laughing while carter tried holding it in!

" Here take this badge! it gives you access to the first story of the library, do not go to the second , it's good that you are still young you have much to learn. If you have any doubts you can come directly with that badge and consult with me!" Said Dylan as he passed a badge with two characters in it! meaning special access!

Dylan did this For Cross to start relying on him , and in return for his help and this special treatement Cross would be moved and become more loyal to him!

" Thank you! City Lord! Cross hurry and thank the City Lord! you do not know how many begged for this chance and still got rejected!" urged Carter and thanked Dylan himself!

" Thank you Old man Dylan ! .. ehm ehm" Cross wanted to say something after thanking him but seemed reluctant.

Dylan of course noticed this and Said :

" Say what's on your mind"

" Old man Dylan , did your son go with some guards to explore some ruins?" asked Cross

" Yes! but how did you know about that? It was a secret mission!" Dylan stood up and squinted his eyes!

" well, on the way here, some guards with the ones leading them called Aaron and Ronnie tried to rob me, I beat them black and blew and got information from them about the city! under my threatening for their lives, they spilled all the beans! and they said! they said.."

" What Did They say?" asked Dylan in a Deep tone

" They said your son died!"

Carter and Dylan had their brain blank! It was practically impossible, his son was protected by 2 chiefs! and 3 first rank special regiment members with one being a lieutenant. He knew what that kind of power meant! If they were enemies capables of killing the others how could a mere captain survive! This meant either they were in on it or betrayed him in the fight in exchange for their lives!

He tightened His Fist and Roared! All The city head that roar! and Started wondering what happened that made the City Lord rage this much!

The noble families and gang leaders immediatly sent people to investigate!

"Old man Dylan! let me finish! I wanted to bring them here so you could question them but then I heard a voice inside my head telling me to go to sleep! when i woke they were gone!" Said Cross

"Soul power!" Carter shouted

"Spiritual beings!" Dylan gritted his teeth and shouted " Shadow regiment!"

instantaneously, 10 shadows appeared in the room. "Investigate!"

the shadows nodded and disappeared as they came!

" Carter take him to lodge in the special area!" Dylan Said and he disppeared as if he never was here in the first place!

" You got lucky brat!" Carter said

" what do you mean?" asked Cross

" The mission was supposed to last for another year and a half and since you brought this news now the city lord can investigate much earlier and find out who killed his son and who's messing with his plans! The weight of these news is not something you can imagine now!"

" The special area is a place that speeds up the practice of inner force, and only the elite of the elites and trusted get to stay there!"

" Oh damn nice! and who were those? " commented Cross

"You mean the shadows? a faction of the special regiment and most mysterious, Go and Stay in the first floor of the library and don't come out unless you finish half those books! and listen don't trust anyone here! it's not as safe as you think inside the mansion and don't get too chummy with people now, they will only want to use you!"Carter warned his nephew!

" will do" Cross nodded and took this to heart he understood that Carter warned him for his own good because of his actions earlier of playing dumb!