Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1349 Invitation from Heron Family
Previously on Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100...
Upon stepping into the underground zone once again, Max distinctly perceived the alteration in how the other ascenders regarded him. The offhand peeks of the past had evolved into stares brimming with admiration and deference, as if they now viewed him not as an equal beginner but as a figure towering far beyond their reach.
Simultaneously, he picked up on subtle hints of envy and concealed animosity woven into those expressions, sentiments harbored by a handful of people who struggled to reconcile with the sudden chasm that had formed between Max and themselves.
Max disregarded it all entirely and pressed on with steady strides, his face remaining impassive as he made directly for his quarters.
Right as Max approached his room's entrance, he spotted a figure already lingering there, poised in silence like he'd been anticipating his arrival for quite a while. The individual sported a sharply fitted suit and shaded lenses, his demeanor excessively polished and opulent for the stark underground lodgings, which instantly set him apart in Max's perception.
"What can I do for you?" Max inquired courteously, his voice even as he examined the stranger before him.
"May we have a private talk?" the man requested with equal civility while offering a card to Max. Max took it and peered at it briefly, only to tense up a bit upon detecting the subtle but undeniable presence of the Black Dragon Chaotic Bloodline radiating from the item. He lifted his gaze to the man with a touch of astonishment before giving a nod.
"Come in," Max invited as he swung the door open and ushered the man inside. The interior was plain and sparse, boasting just a lone bed and little else, so after a short hesitation, they both settled onto it, positioned opposite one another in a strangely relaxed setup.
"Have you heard of the Seven Main Families of the Black Dragon Palace?" the man inquired, his tone inquisitive but measured.
"I have heard some rumors about them," Max answered with a gradual nod.
"Then that makes things easier," the man remarked with a grin. "I am an agent of the Heron Family. The Heron Family is one of the seven major families of the Black Dragon Palace, and this Divine Colosseum is also under the ownership of the Heron Family."
He halted for a second before going on. "I am here to invite you to become a member of the Heron Family."
Max let out an internal sigh the instant those words hit him, since the exact complication he'd wished to sidestep had shown up regardless. He was already bound by a pact with the Grims Family, mainly via Instructor Virelia, a key figure in that lineage, and taking up this proposal would spell outright opposition to them.
Besides, Instructor Virelia had poured substantial resources into him during their time in Obsidian Dragon City, and he couldn't fathom betraying her faith. Through their brief encounters, Max had gained a firm impression that she was a person whose commitments deserved unwavering loyalty, come what may.
Noticing Max deep in thought, the agent kept talking, seemingly steering his considerations along a particular path.
"The Divine Colosseum is merely a tool used by the Heron Family to recruit geniuses from the mortal realms," he elaborated serenely. "Otherwise, why do you think we operate such a place in the first place? Do you believe it exists purely for entertainment? Its true purpose is to filter out outstanding talents like you from countless mortal worlds and bring them into the Heron Family."
"I am sorry, but I have to decline your offer," Max stated courteously, his voice firm and composed as he met the agent's eyes without a trace of doubt.
"What?" The agent dropped his poise in a flash and rose to his feet, his action sudden and jarring as incredulity crossed his features.
"I will not be joining the Heron Family," Max repeated, his manner steady. "In fact, I have no plans to join any force right now."
"Are you kidding me?" the agent burst out, fixing Max with a stare like he'd just absorbed utter nonsense. "You are refusing to become a member of one of the Seven Main Families of the Black Dragon Palace, the family that controls the entire Verdant Sky Realm?" His pitch climbed without warning, barely masking the astonishment and outrage building inside him.
Max merely inclined his head. "I have no plans to join any force, so you can leave now."
The agent's face gradually transformed, the shock giving way to overt scorn as his look at Max grew icy and belittling. "You mortals truly do not understand what you are being offered," he uttered with a derisive curl of his lip. "To have the audacity to refuse the Heron Family means your future in the Divine Realm will not be a pleasant one."
"Is that a threat?" Max questioned, his brows knitting faintly as his gaze sharpened.
"A threat?" the agent jeered with sarcasm. "You pathetic mortal do not need me or the Heron Family to threaten you. You are not even worth that, understand?" He shook his head while striding to the exit, his bearing dripping with scorn. "Just remember this. Rejecting the offer made by the Heron Family may very well be the most regrettable decision you will ever make in your life."
With that parting shot, the agent pulled the door open and departed, shutting it after him and leaving Max solitary in the hushed chamber. Max lingered there briefly before emitting a soft laugh, shaking his head at the bizarre humor in the whole interaction.
"Damn, his attitude really took a sharp turn the moment I rejected him," Max murmured to himself, a subtle grin playing on his mouth. Only seconds earlier, the agent had acted courteous and deferential, but the second the invitation got turned down, he treated Max like a mere bug unworthy of regard.
This only reinforced Max's relief at turning down the Heron Family. With his arrangement alongside Instructor Virelia in place, he intended to honor it through thick and thin.