Chapter 481 - Tanya Swears.
Hal straightened his sitting posture with furrowed brows as he said,
"So, let me get this straight, you want me to risk my life and quite possibly die just so you can further your plans and dreams of ruling the Haron continent?"
"Is it any different from the missions you've undertaken already?" Tanya asked.
"Touche"
She was right. He had indeed risked his life to further her plans thus far. Even going after the supplier in Black lagoon must have somehow played into her plans as well.
"Be that as it may, this mission, with all you've hyped it up to be seems to go much farther than simply difficult. You make it sound nearly impossible" Hal said.
Tanya smirked,
"What's wrong Hal, a lack of confidence in your charms?" She asked.
Hal pursed his lips but said nothing.
Tanya continued,
"If it truly is a lack of confidence in your charms, that's good. You are being realistic. Charm is far from enough to take on an entire set of purist women who have absolute power in their domain.
That said, if I want the next piece of the puzzle, I will need you to suck it up and push through. With my seal getting you in, you might actually have an easier time than you think.
Actually, I don't see any need for the Silver moon sect to hold on to whatever the piece is since even if they do understand what it is and what it can be used for, they are not Haron Blood. None of them are.
However, I can not be certain that they indeed have no use for it.
The Emperor makes sure they are satisfied but it could be that he has been remiss in certain areas or they might just be greedy for power..."
"Like you are?" Hal interrupted boldly with a smirk.
The eyes of the attendant, whose presence was quite easy to ignore, flashed and she frowned deeply but Tanya waved for her to calm down.
Then she addressed Hal,
"I want what is rightfully mine. Since my father has not seen fit to make Creten the Crown Prince, being the Oldest must no longer be enough. Why then can't I rule the continent?"
Her question took the tone of a challenge but Hal merely smiled lightly as he shrugged,
"I asked if you were greedy for power but I never said there was anything wrong with such greed" he said.
Tanya composed herself,
"That's enough. There is nothing that concerns you in regards to Imperial politics" she said.
Hal raised a brow,
"Oh really? This organization you say is against you wouldn't happen to have something to do with Imperial politics would it?"
Tanya frowned,
"Not really" she said.
Hal chuckled lightly,
"The multicolored-haired dude who came after the map in Kruger estate and almost caught me is an attendant to an Imperial prince. Does that not count as having something to do with Imperial politics?
Imperial politics indeed should not concern or involve me, after all, I am only a civilian but the fact is that you involved me with the missions you sent me out on." He said.
Tanya's frown deepened,
"But you got paid. For every risk you've taken thus far in the previous two missions, you were rewarded. You did not do it out of blind loyalty for me. You did it because you wanted to be paid." She retorted.
Hal nodded,
"Exactly. And that is why I can now tell you I am no longer interested. That Blue gems and measly merit points are no longer enough incentives for me to risk my neck.
We can part ways right now.
Put an and to this potentially life-threatening relationship built upon my love for wealth." He said.
"How about you stop fighting for materialistic gain. Stop selling your skills for nothing other than Blue gems. Join my cause and I assure you that when I rule the continent, you will have a seat in my court." Tanya countered with a steely gaze.
Hal chuckled in his mind,
'My goodness, is all I have said just falling on deaf ears, or is she simply interpreting it all the wrong way.'
In all honesty, Hal did not actually want to stop going on missions for Tanya.
Even this mission to the Sliver moon sect was one that intrigued him once he had come up with a simple enough plan that would aid him quite well. More on that later.
The reason he was still interested in going on missions for Tanya was none other than the convenience.
Many were working on their own plots with the aim to rule the continent and Hal was already mapping out ideas on how to use it all to his own advantage. And it would help him greatly if he could use Tanya's wide array of information gathering.
She had such an enviably deep network in the Haron continent and by going on these missions he could use them to further his aims.
He considered swearing loyalty to Tanya in pretense and use it to get even deeper into her network but ultimately decided that it was not yet time for such a scheme.
After all, it was clear from her reply to his tirade that Tanya still clung on to the hope that she could have his talent in her corner.
All he needed to do to strengthen that desire was to keep playing hard to get.
It was unlikely that the Princess would tire of him so soon.
So carrying himself with an air of dignity and nobility, he said,
"I won't be a tool with which you fight with your siblings all so you can rule the continent.
I won't do it just so you can have what is 'rightfully' yours. Cause quite frankly, I don't give a crap about that."
"What exactly is it that you want right now?" Tanya asked with a sigh.
"To not be used. Just because I am working to be paid does not mean I should be disrespected. If the 'Organization' is just code for your oppositions in the Imperial family, you can just tell me. Tell me and I will actually consider going to the Silver moon sect for you"
Silence...
Then Tanya took a deep breath before saying slowly,
"I... Don't know."
"What?" Hal asked in surprise.
"I don't know. I knew beforehand that Pietro works with the organization but I have been reluctant to believe Nozel, my brother who he attends to, has something to do with it." She said.
"What? Because he is slight?" Hal asked in disbelief.
Tanya could not possibly be shallow enough to think body size was justification enough for whatever goes in a Cultivation expert's mind.
Sure enough, Tanya looked outraged,
"Of course not. I say that because I have investigated and Nozel seems to have nothing to do with the Organization. That said, it is clear that Pietro is a part of the Organization but I have long given up trying to open Nozel's eyes.
I have my own agenda and I refuse to spend my time trying to convince a potential enemy that his attendant, who is part human and part dystopian is part of a secret organization."
Hal's eyes widened,
"Pietro is part Dystopian?"
Tanya nodded,
"Yes, he is. His mother was a demon beast that acquired human form at the Aurora best realm. She caught the eye of a human and they made a baby that was destined to be scorned and grow up as a slave to humans.
But Nozel doesn't see him as his slave. He sees him as an equal. It's why he refuses to hear anything against him. And why many would instantly tag him as aware and a part of the Organization.
But I don't see Nozel as a threat.
He's a weakling and a coward" Tanya said but did not seem ready to explain her words further.
Hal however, was more preoccupied with the fact that he had not noticed Pietro was part Dystopian.
Was it because he was so caught up in the moment?
Tanya continued,
"Anyway, the Organization is not a code word for my oppositions in the Imperial family. It is real and from what I have gathered, it could be made up of just about anyone.
In fact, I have been a tad bit skeptical as of late as to whether ruling the content is truly the Organization's main goal."
'I see' Hal thought.
Then he said,
"Okay then. I'll go to the Silver moon sect for you on one condition."
Tanya frowned at the mention of a condition but then she replied,
"What is it?"
"Swear that no matter what, you will not keep me in the dark in regards to the Organization and you at least explain to me why I do the things you ask me to do" he said.
"Fine" the princess said but Hal shook his head,
"Swear" he said.
Tanya rolled her eyes,
"Is that really necessary?" She asked.
"Swear" Hal insisted.
"I swear by the name of Zalser, the Primeval Asura and the Progenitor of my Haron bloodline that I will follow your conditions."
As she said it, there was a sense of finality to her words.
Whether it would be enough to hold her to her words or not is remaining to see.
After all, Primevals hardly pay attention to the invocation of their names.
They are usually much too busy with more important things. Right?
Chapter 482 - He Makes Me Feel 'Funny'.
In all honesty, it was not that Tanya's swearing was actually reassuring, Hal just felt it was better than nothing.
"Where exactly is the Silver Moon Sect" he asked.
Tanya smiled inwardly as this question told of Hal's decision to undertake on this mission,
"It's located at one of the four Duchys that surround the Imperial city; the Dreg Duchy. It will take two days to get there with a Teleportation circle and once at the Duchy capital, it is impossible to miss the Sect.
Let's not even talk about the glaring signs, just the fact that it is noticeably the largest and grandest territory in the Duchy will immediately let you zero in.
While the Duke indeed takes care of day-to-day activities, it is clear to everyone in the Duchy that true power over the Duchy belongs to the Silver moon sect head" Tanya explained.
"And the Duke is okay with that?" Hal asked with a raised brow and Tanya shrugged,
"Why choice does he have? The Emperor favors the sect's authority over his and his family's own.
In fact, not fighting it is actually how the Dreg family have been able to hold on to their title and pass it on over the years.
They accept their situation and let the Silver moon Sect do what they do which is usually divine and act superior while they (The Dregs) retain control over the masses as a family not only second only to the Silver moon sect but also a family that has the full backing of the Silver moon sect who believe them losing their position in the Duchy would 'upset' the balance.
It's all just politics to me.
The Silver moon sect could very well be getting something from the Dreg family to offer their support... But this is all, of course, just speculation."
Hal stroked his beardless jaw with a contemplating look before he nodded,
"Okay then, I'll go right away" he said.
Tanya nodded at his decision,
"That would be for the best. Who knows how long it could take to convince the Silver moon sect head to let go of the piece of the puzzle and you still have to return to the Imperial city for the Royal entrance exam in Less than two weeks" she said.
Hal who had stood to his feet, paused as he said,
"About the entrance exam, I'm considering skipping it"
Tanya furrowed her brows,
"If you do so, then you can consider our arrangement over. You will go on missions but I will always hide important information from you. Telling you only all you need to know to survive" she said with a frown.
Hal smiled lightly but Tanya was not yet done,
"In case you are not yet aware, there is already a list out. Two types of lists actually. The first is for public viewing which merely shows the names of the participants and the second type is only for the viewing of the select powerful individuals of the Haron continent.
It's a list that not only shows names, it also shows who recommended those participants. Before the list was prepared, you could have said no and I could have withdrawn my recommendation, however, right now, You not participating, with the list already out, will only bring me shame.
In fact, not only must you now participate, but you must also pass. At the very least, you must pass the first stage."
"Hmmm" was all Hal said to her words and as he made his way towards the room's door with a smile...
... Only to be blocked by Tanya's attendant who had a deep scowl on her face,
"The next time you touch the Princess, I'll cut off your hands."
Hal's eyes first darted to Tanya who was smiling lightly but ultimately said nothing.
The Blue-eyed Devil then leaned closer to the attendant,
"I never heard your Princess complaining. If you're really that jealous, you don't have to worry, next time..." This time he spoke into her ear. His tone was so mellifluous and mesmerizing that the stoic attendant actually froze in wonder at the sound,
"... I'll touch you too"
*Bang*
By the time the attendant recovered barely a second later, Hal was already out the door.
She turned to look at Hal,
"Princess, I don't like him."
"Really?" Tanya asked with slightly widened eyes and a light smile,
The attendant nodded,
"He makes me feel... Funny"
Tanya sighed and one hand went unconsciously to one of the arms Hal had touched and she rubbed it absentmindedly.
"It's not just you, Lena... It's not just you"
...
Meanwhile,
Hal needed no directions or guidance to navigate his way back to the lounge where Ehrlich was pacing back and forth.
Immediately the buff man saw Hal, his eyes widened and he paused as he waited for Hal to get closer to him.
"Alright then, lead me out of the Palace. I'm going to Dreg Duchy and I must leave right away" Hal said.
Ehrlich's eyes widened,
"You're going?"
Clearly, he knew going to Dreg Duchy meant Hal had decided to take on the mission but what was surprising was that Hal was deciding to go on the mission with a relaxed smile.
He felt Hal could not have possibly looked like that if Tanya had threatened or forced him to take on the mission.
Even if she had somehow managed to convince him, there should still be a bit of reluctance in his eyes.
The way he looked right now.
The manner in which he was smiling told of things having gone completely his way.
It almost looked... Perverted...
What the Devil had happened in the Princess's room?
A place Ehrlich had never heard of a man who was not part of the Princess' family ever being in.
In fact, only a few family members who were male could boast of such.
Hal noticed Ehrlich's expression and what it meant but still acted oblivious as he said,
"What are you still dawdling around for? I need to be on my way. The Princess will be paying for the trip, won't she? Both leaving and arriving?"
"What... What happened in there?" Ehrlich eventually asked.
Hal sneered,
"Nothing you should worry your perverted, creepy virgin self about" he said and walked past the buff lackey only to turn back when he was past him to say,
"Now stop wasting my time and tell me if the Princess will fund my expenses. If you are not ready to answer, I can always just go back in there and ask her directly"
Ehrlich frowned and then sighed,
"She will take care of your travel expenses. Come with me, I'll guide you out of the palace" he said.
Inwardly he thought,
'In all honesty, how is it really any of my business? The Princess can make her own decisions and she has never made a wrong one yet'
Ehrlich led Hal out of the palace even though the Devil could definitely make his way out without any help with his perfect recall of everywhere he had been and everything he had seen on the way in.
If anything, he could clearly pinpoint his way with memories of where he had met the peculiar consort and Pietro and the many places he had met the admiring maids.
His memory was infallible that way.
Anyway, they were soon out of the palace grounds at which point, they boarded a carriage that took them to a Teleportation Circle Building. Thus one was different from the one Hal had arrived in.
Ehrlich paid the traveling expenses and then Hal got on the circle before he was sucked into the void.
As usual, he was steered through the void and when his eyes opened to normalcy only a few moments later (to him), he was inside a different Teleportation Circle building, in a different Duchy, and Two days of normal time had passed.
Once again, Hal opted not to mention his name and instead only had his image taken as he walked out of the Teleportation circle into... What had to be the busiest Duchy capital street he had been at.
Carriages dashed about, somehow managing not to hit any of the many pedestrians walking on the roads as well.
Although, while it is fair to say that the pedestrian lane was quite different from the main roads for the Carriages to pass, with the speed of movement and the haphazard movement most of the time, it was dangerous fur pedestrians nonetheless.
But the pedestrians hardly seemed to notice.
They all seemed busy with their own matters.
Hal spread his perception as wide as he could and realized that everywhere his perception reached, he noticed the same level of busyness.
This situation seemed capital wide!
Luckily, with the sheer number of pedestrians, Hal had many to call to and ask why this was so.
The first person he caught hold of was actually quite open to explaining to him. In fact, he explained with a smile on his face,
"Welcome to Dreg Duchy capital, the busiest Duchy capital in the whole of the Haron continent Everyone has something they want to get done in a day and our streets always seem to be filled.
Of course, not everyone here is a Denizen of our busy city, many actually come here for a consultation with the Silver moon sect's Diviners or at least in the pretense of consultation but to actually look upon the beautiful faces of the Sect's maidens.
Regardless of true motives, there is always a long waiting list for a consultation..." The man eyed Hal with a smirk,
"If that's why you're here Mister, you had better get accustomed to Dreg Duchy capital because you are going to be here a long, long time"
Chapter 483 - The One To Seduce.
While this man's words meant the princess had neglected to mention certain things to him, such as the fact that this was the busiest location in the Haron continent or the fact that there was a waiting list, Hal still felt the reason she had not made mention of it was that she expected had her seal to get him in, no problem.
It was either this or she had not known of the situation in the Dreg Duchy capital but that was impossible given the research she must have done as well as the fact, that he was almost certainly sure she had been to all the Duchys on the Haron continent. Being an active member of the Imperial family as she was.
After all, she could not possibly sit in the palace and expect assistance to simply come to her. Occasionally she needed to step out and get that assistance by herself and for herself.
Anyway, since it was impossible she had not known, then she must have indeed thought her seal would be enough which Hal felt was... Stupid.
Those here for a consultation were from all over the continent and have taken any and all measures to aid them to get ahead of others. Some had even managed to procure Imperial seals.
Usually by using any form of relationship they had with the Imperial family no matter how distant.
So Tanya giving Hal her Imperial seal did not really do him much good when there were others of considerable numbers with Imperial seals to aid them as well.
Of course, he was not just tagging her with such an adjective since it was clear from the get-go that she could not help him to go that far. This mission was thoroughly dependent on how he decided to handle it himself.
This use of various seals or any advantages to get ahead of others on the long waiting list only applied to visitors. In other words, it only applied to those who were not actually from the Dreg Duchy.
If an ordinary denizen of Dreg Duchy was higher than a visitor on the list, it would not matter what seal the visitor possesses, as long as they are not the Emperor or any other high-ranking member of the Imperial family themselves, the Denizen would always take precedence.
It was one of the many reasons the Dreg Duchy always sing the radishes of the Silver moon sect. They were always looking after their people.
Anyway, Hal approached the Silver moon sect and there was no physical line to be seen in front of the premises.
The way the waiting list worked was to leave a contact info (Communication Talisman) with which someone would be contacted when it was nearing their turn to get a consultation.
As for those who did not have Communication Talismans because they could not afford them, they were given possible dates and would have to settle for coming to the Sect on those days and waiting in the waiting room for their turn.
"What's your name?" Asked the guard by the gate with a frown.
He looked Hal from head to toe and back again and his frown only grew deeper.
Not because Hal's clothes were poor as they were actually average and good enough to not deserve scorn, the guard frowned because he did not like the blue-eyed young man with a perfect face not from the Duchy and would 'definitely' be full of himself.
Luckily, he was far from being the only guard at the entrance and one of the others cautioned,
"No need to be so hostile" said the second guard to the first before he then addressed Hal,
"But you really have to tell us your name"
Hal smiled lightly,
"My name is Hal and as it should be obvious, I am here for a consultation"
The first guard rolled his eyes,
"You are clearly here to gawk at the ladies of the great Silver moon sect all in the pretense of a consultation" he scoffed.
The second guard sighed,
"Don't make such assumptions. Not everyone is of a perverted mind" he said but Hal's next words caused the guard's jaws to drop,
"Actually, he's right." Hal said.
"I am?" The first guard asked with narrowed eyes. He was of the opinion that Hal was mocking him and in part, he was right.
Hal nodded,
"Absolutely. I came here to gawk at the beautiful ladies of the Silver moon sect. Back at my Duchy, I heard tales but I refuse to believe that they were not just exaggerated rantings of horny men. I came here to see it for myself.
I came here to admire their beauty with my own eyes and from what I have heard, such wishes do not automatically disqualify me from a 'consultation'" He said and let that sink into the minds of the guards before he brought out Tanya's imperial seal,
"I have this seal to aid me and should bump me a tad bit higher on the waiting list" he said with a natural smile as though his confessions were nothing to be ashamed about or kept locked up in a perverted mind and never to be said out loud.
Then a new voice sounded. One that was undoubtedly female,
"Is that so?" The voice and Hal looked to the side to see a Lady in a silver gown of such incredible material, it seemed ethereal.
It seemed to shimmer and move. While always remaining opaque, it seemed to be shifting in states, going from solid to liquid and then gaseous and back to solid.
Of course, this was just a trick and Hal knew that should he get closer to her, the effects would lessen and he would better see the gown for what it was.
Then there was the lady herself, with her silver eyes to match the color of her gown as well as her beautiful black hair. She was beautiful. Very much so.
She looked to be Hal's age -nineteen going on twenty- but he knew she was much older.
Probably more in Melinda's age range.
Her breasts were moderate. Not too big but definitely not too small. Hal could not help but think of how perfectly they would fit in his hands.
She was facing him so he did not have a clear view of her ass, but her nice hips told him they were quite promising.
Since he was sure she had not been outside before now, Hal felt the lady must have come from inside the Silver moon sect, but exactly when she had come out, he had no idea even though he was right in front of the gate.
"Did you have a good enough look?" The lady asked with a sneer as the guards were quick to bow.
Hal who knew that despite taking a long look, he had kept his expression quite composed smiled lightly at her,
"Yes"
The guards gasped and the lady frowned at what she thought was a disrespectful response to a question that was clearly meant to be rhetorical but then Hal added,
"And by 'Yes', I am obviously referring to your first question in which you asked 'Is that so?' My answer is yes, it is so. I indeed have a seal that should get me a consultation much faster"
The lady composed herself and reached out for the seal and Hal gave it to her.
She inspected it and then looked up at Hal,
"What's your name again?" She asked.
"Hal" Hal told her and then she said,
"No last name to speak of? How exactly do you have an Imperial seal?"
Hal shrugged,
"A member of the imperial family gave it to me. So how ahead will it get me on the waiting list?" He asked.
After speaking to the man he had met outside of the Teleportation Circle building, Hal had researched the Silver moon sect by questioning denizens who were more than happy to speak of the pride of their Duchy.
So he knew before coming here that it was not the guards who handled the waiting list but members of the Silver moon sect and once this lady came out to meet him, he knew she must be the one...
The one he had to seduce to get himself so high up the waiting list that he might actually get to present his reasons for coming to the Silver moon sect before the day was over....
Chapter 484 - I Lied.
Okay, so let's get something out of the way;
The ladies of the Silver moon sect are not virtuous.
Remaining 'pure' is not a prerequisite for them to be able to divine.
Members of the sect were allowed to have sexual relations.
Many of the maidens in the sect already had partners to satisfy their occasional sexual urges and at some point, as was 'inevitable', they would reach the limit of progression in their cultivation.
A condition that would be made known by the speedy aging of said member and they would then 'graduate' which was just a kind way to say they would be kicked out.
They would be kicked out for aging.
For not being capable of eternal youth.
When they reached this milestone, the members would usually then settle down with their partners and finally begin a life. One in which they will be awarded prestige befitting of a once-upon-a-time member of the Silver moon sect.
But, for anyone who had ever been a member of the silver moon sect, this wasn't the start of a new life but the start of a mediocre one.
Once they left the sect, they would lose the ability to divine and also lose the advantage of being privy to the unique cultivation resources and techniques of the Silver moon sect.
None of them wished for such a life and would only accept it once they had no choice.
As such competition was fierce in the Silver moon sect.
After all, the more impressive you prove you are, the more resources you would be granted and cultivation was incredibly important to them.
It allowed them to retain the youth they so desperately needed to remain in the Sect and that was the only future that mattered.
Starting a family, to them, was overrated.
Their drive to cultivate and retain that youth is one of the reasons the Sect contained powerful experts and was not to be messed with.
To Hal, this was why gawking at the ladies of the Silver moon sect while not officially an accepted reason to meet them was not punishable either.
After all, being looked at and having their beauty admired was a sign that they were doing something right and they reveled in that attention.
Not to mention, their virginity was not one to be protected and they were allowed to be attracted to men just as men were allowed to be attracted to them.
So, despite the touch of hostility in the lady's tone, Hal knew she was not really upset.
He also noted from the manner in which the guards acted towards her that she might not just be an ordinary member of the sect.
Of course, this was a bit of a stretch since he had not seen how the guards acted towards other members of the sect and their behavior towards this lady might simply be how they were towards every lady in the sect.
"This is your first time at our sect" the last said.
It was not a question but a statement of fact she was only looking to Hal to confirm.
Hal nodded,
"Yes, it is"
"I will not be discussing any matters involving the sect out here and that includes the waiting list which means if you truly wish for a consultation, you will follow me into the sect" the lady said.
Hal nodded,
"Very well"
The lady turned away from him and walked towards the walls beside the sect gates and placed her hand on the wall she was facing. Just the touch of her hand on the wall seemed to have been enough to activate a Rune circle. Or at least that was what Hal thought it was even though he could not sense any Astral energy coming off of it at all.
That was when he noticed a rune circle was now underneath his feet. This one also not giving off energies that would alert him.
The circle activated and he sunk right into the ground and when next it spat him out, he was behind the sect gates and beholding the beauty of the Impressive structures of the impressive buildings with nothing obstructing his sights.
Then another Rune circle appeared beside him and out of it rose the lady who addressed him with a gesture of her head before she said,
"Follow me"
She walked ahead of him and as Hal followed behind her, he thought to the peculiarity of the Rune circles and how this sect was the first location he would ever tag to actually possess stealthy rune circles.
Yes, the energy of Rune circles could be hidden when dormant but once activated, he always thought he was bound to notice them, and the fact that he had not noticed these was unsettling.
Unless... the circles were not being activated by Astral energy.
The journey was short and they were still not yet inside the sect proper.
They hardly met anyone and the few they met, who were also wearing silver robes that while beautiful lacked the ethereal state-shifting properties of the gown worn by the lady Hal was following, all bowed in respect to the lady.
Reiterating further the assumption Hal already had that she had a high status in the sect.
They were now inside a small but and the lady turned to him,
"Why are you here?" She asked.
Hal smiled lightly,
"What, you don't believe I am here for a consultation?" He asked.
The Lady shook her head but her face was not as stoic as it had been outside the gates.
"No, I don't. I am sure you came here for something else. Since we have not been alerted to your presence before this little conversation of ours, then you must not have come here to rob or harm the sect. Which is why I haven't killed you yet" she told him with a smile as though telling him she could kill him if she wished was amusing to anyone but herself.
Hal raised a brow,
"And yet you don't trust me"
The lady shrugged,
"Why should I? I don't know you"
"Sure you do. I told you my name" Hal said a chuckle as though that was as familiar as they needed to be.
The lady's smile grew wider,
"You told me your name, not your last name. Last names are important. Very important... Especially if you are a Doxon"
That she said he was a Doxon did not come as a surprise to Hal. Not because she was a Diviner as he doubted she divined him personally. It did not surprise him because she was staring right at his sapphire blue eyes which were a sure giveaway to the family name he had no interest in having.
"My mother is a Doxon... But I am not" Hal told her in a low voice.
The lady was now seated in a comfortable position with her gown still looking as ethereal as ever and eyeing Hal who was now leaning against a pillar of the hut in a casual pose as she raised a brow,
"Family troubles... Interesting" said and looked deeper into his eyes as though searching for something.
The longer she looked, the more satisfied she was.
But her satisfaction was not just due to his incredible looks, it was also due to self-satisfaction in herself as though she could see right through him.
As though Hal was an open book she could read at leisure.
Hal noting this smiled to himself,
"I told you my name, why not tell me yours" he said.
"Leona. My name is Leona" the lady told him.
"Beautiful name" Hal said and Leona nodded,
"I like it too." She said.
"Good. Now that we know each other's names, why don't you tell me how high the seal will get me on the waiting list. You see, I am in a bit of a hurry" Hal told her.
He had no way of knowing how high Leona was in status.
For all he knew, she could simply be respected as a senior in the sect. He had no way to be certain she was the one to speak to with regards to what he was here for.
Leona shrugged and stood up from her seat to approach Hal at the pillar he was leaning against,
"YOU are in a hurry, but I'm not" she said with a smile and walked even closer to him,
"Thing is, when I told you I could not discuss the list outside the gates, I lied. Telling you when you could come back for a consultation would not take me more than a few seconds. I wouldn't even need to consult the actual list.
But I have to admit, you... Intrigue me.
You are not leaving here until you tell me exactly what you came here for."
Hal sighed in surrender,
"I wish to meet the Sect head. Or at least anyone who can access the Sect's Treasury and can authorize that I get what I came here for"
Leona was now only inches away from him and smiling with satisfaction.
Hal stretched his hand towards her as he asked,
"Can you help me?"
Before his hand could touch her, Leona grabbed his wrist and said with a sneer,
"Don't..."
She was unable to complete her words as at that time, a pleasurable sensation flowed right from where her hand was making contact with Hal's skin and the pleasure traveled all over her body.
And yet, Leona did not let go.
It was almost as though she couldn't let go and in a matter of seconds, her legs turned weak and she fell against Hal with her face buried in his chest while she breathed in the sweet scent coming off his body.
A scent that sunk her even deeper into the pleasured craving that {Erogenous Touch} had already tossed her into....
Chapter 485 - A Looming Darkness.
While Hal was getting familiar with Leona, the head of the Silver moon sect inside her shrine of an inner room.
The room was inside the grandest building in the Silver moon sect territory and was quite central to the structure as a whole.
The Sect head was dressed in a flowing white robe that covered up the silver inner of similar material as Leona's robes.
While her hair was let down, there was some of it held at the top of her head with a silver hairpin, the handle end of which was clearly meant to be a silver moon.
It could not be any more clear that she was the head of the sect.
She knelt before what looked like an altar with her eyes closed as she took deep breaths to clear her mind and most likely aid her in divining.
While she did this, the door to the shrine room opened, and in walked a lady in a robe that was identical to Leona's. In fact, the lady's face noted a resemblance to Leona's, and her hair was held in a bun at the top of her head with a hairpin similar to that of the Sect head.
The only notable difference was its smaller size which also served to make it look less grand and more like an accessory.
"You are developing quite the habit of interrupting me when it's clear that I'm busy" the Sect he'd said with her eyes still closed.
"You're not busy. You're thinking" the new arrival said.
The sect head took a deep breath,
"When I'm thinking, I'm busy" she said.
"Since when?" The new arrival asked.
"Since you've shown you don't have enough aptitude to relieve enough of my burden for me not to be worried" the Sect he'd said.
The new arrival rolled her eyes.
"I saw that" the Sect head said but the new arrival only rolled her eyes once again.
This time, the sect head sighed and opened her eyes to reveal silver orbs to match those of the new arrival and Leona's.
Then she shook her head.
"Inevitable" she said in a low voice.
The new arrival was suddenly kneeling at her side and there was an understanding in her eyes after the statements were made,
"Next step will be to tell the Emperor right?" She asked.
The sect head snorted,
"Tell him what? That a darkness will envelop the whole of the Haron continent and for some reason, not only am I, the chief Diviner of the Empire unable to see its source, I can also not see a way that it does not happen?" She turned to look at the lady who shared her Silver eyes,
"What good would that do, Corrina?" She asked.
Corrina took a deep breath,
"It could give him time to prepare. To prepare a countermeasure" she said.
The sect head shook her head.
This revelation had come to her two months ago when she was meditating before the Altar.
A month or so before that she actually fell into a trance where she had seen a glimpse of a seed that while she could not see clearly, she could feel it giving off nefarious energies before it was buried inside the ground.
Unfortunately, on which ground exactly, she had no idea.
The only thing she was sure abort with regards to the location was that it was somewhere on the Haron continent.
Anyways, the revelation two months ago saw the darkness spreading and she decided to look at the future of its spread and hopefully track where it had originated from but she was unable to divine anything.
So she instead divined the future of the Haron continent.
The results were far from promising.
First, for some reason, she could not see exactly at which time in the future this was going to happen, and second, no matter how she looked, one thing was always constant which was that at some point, the whole of the Haron continent would be enveloped in darkness.
While she could not see the origination of the darkness, one thing remained clear no matter how much she divined and it was that there was no way to stop the darkness.
It was inevitable.
To the sect head, the darkness meant a terrible future for the Haron continent. A future that could not be avoided and it made sense to her.
After all, over the hundreds of thousands of years, the Harons had ruled the continent, plots had begun to usurp their rule. She felt this vision was just a manifestation of the eventual blowout of all those plots.
She felt this vision was just showing the inevitable civil war the Haron continent was bound to go on as opposed to it being the work of a certain Devil planting his Devil seed in a small inconsequential city whose influence was already permeating the Barony it was situated in.
Even with her means, the Sect head could not possibly divine the whole of the Haron continent. She could not unravel all the plots.
She was not all-seeing and her foreseeing was usually more focused on dangers to the sect and eventual dangers to the Empire which she could warn the Emperor about beforehand.
But she was well aware that a lot of the plots were from the Emperor's own family. The Imperial family was already divided into factions that were going all out to rule the continent.
"There's no countermeasure for this, Corrina." The sect head said and then sighed,
"But Darkness always passes. Hopefully, when it does pass, the Empire will not be left in ruins."
Corrina was quiet to this not just because she saw sense in her mother's words, but also because there was something else she had come in here for and now wondered how to broach the topic.
Eventually, she took a deep breath and when she spoke, she opted for a more familiar moniker,
"Mother..." She said and the sect head whose eyes had been turned away swiveled her head to look into her daughter's face,
"Yes, child" she said with a slight smile as her silver-eyed took an all-knowing expression that said she knew what Corrina wished to speak about already.
"How much longer?" Corrina asked and there was such a change to the sect head's expression that it was clear that they were no longer talking about the impending enveloping darkness looming over the Haron continent.
This was a different matter.
A more personal matter to the mother and daughter.
The sect head took a deep breath,
"It's getting clearer. It won't be too long now" she said and then closed her eyes and assumed the same expression she had had before Corrina's arrival.
However, Corrina did not leave, instead, she closed her eyes and assumed a similar expression.
...
Meanwhile, while the mother and daughter meditated before the altar, Leona was no longer just leaning against Hal's chest as the blue-eyed devil pulled her closer and wound an arm around her slim waist.
His wrist which Leona had grabbed and had been the first part of this inevitable sink into pleasure, had now been released as the Silver moon sect disciple now had her two arms around Hal.
Using it to pull him closer to herself and breathe in his scent even more.
In all honesty, Hal's arm around her waist was not an act to pull her closer to himself but to help her remain upright.
If they were still in this position, it was all thanks to her impressive hold on him.
Chapter 486 - A Tad Bit Irritable.
Don't get him wrong, Hal was not averse to her touch.
He loved it.
That beautiful flowery scent coming off her body permeated his nose and got him wanting to breathe in even more of it. That warm soft feeling of her body.
His hand went lower towards her shapely ass which he gave a firm squeeze.
"Mmnghhh" Leona moaned and pressed even closer into his body before she gasped and asked,
"Why do I feel this good?"
Hal smiled lightly,
"Because you are with me" he said.
And then took his hand off her ass as though to give her space as a gentleman would,
"You should stop touching me... That is of course if you don't want to feel this way" he said.
Leona looked up at his face and after a short while, her pretty pink lips separated and her pupils dilated with pleasure,
"I... want to feel it" she said and Hal took her words as an invitation for him to take her lips in a hard and passionate kiss that saw to a further weakening of her legs just as she closed her eyes.
Her arm strength increased and she grabbed Hal even tighter than before and even as she felt her pussy lips moisten and begin to dampen her underwear, she only embraced the pleasurable feeling all the more.
"Mmnghh" Leona moaned into the kiss until eventually, Hal pulled away from her and held her away from himself with his hands on her shoulders.
Leona kept her eyes closed for a while longer as she adjusted to the loss of Hal's manly hold while also coming to terms with the craving her body had for his touch. A craving that did not go away even after Hal stopped touching her.
Hal slowly lifted his hands off her shoulders and was pleased to see Leona was stable enough to remain on her feet, unsupported.
When Leona opened her eyes, she took a deep breath and gazed upon the incomparably handsome face of the Blue-eyed young man whose very gaze was causing her to quiver.
"You've done that before" she said.
Not a question.
Hal chuckled,
"So have you" he said and Leona nodded in admittance.
"You are a womanizer" she said.
Also not a question.
"Yes, I am" Hal did not deny.
"And you want to seduce me" Leona said.
Still not a question.
"Yes" Hal answered. Now leaning against the pillar he had been leaning against before.
"So that I get you even higher on the list" she said.
Leona was definitely not one to ask questions and would rather prefer to make knowing statements.
Hal nodded,
"Absolutely" he said.
"If you're admitting all this, then you must believe your seduction was successful" Leona said with a confident and sarcastic smirk.
But how could Hal not see through such an obvious facade?
He shrugged,
"You tell me. Was it?" He asked and walked closer to Leona to would an arm around her waist and pull her closer to himself.
Then he pushed his face closer to hers as though to take her lips only to stop before actually making contact.
Leona pulled away from him but Hal did not pursue. Instead, he watched her with a smile.
Eventually, the silver-eyed lady said,
"From the moment you planned to come here, we have known. Mother... The Sect head won't tell me why you are here which is why I wanted to ask you directly as I was instructed to turn you away."
Hal raised a brow,
"Really now. Even with Princess Tanya's imperial seal?" He asked.
Leona took a deep breath,
"Especially because of Princess Tanya's seal. Whatever you are here for must involve Imperial palace politics. That is the only matter mother does not wish to pay heed to." She said and searched Hal's eyes as though to find confirmation.
Alas, Hal's expression remained the same as he took on a contemplative expression,
"Hmmm, so what, it's a no-go?" He asked with a light smile.
There was no way this was the end.
Had Leona not been curious enough to actually have a conversation with him, it might truly have been impossible and he would then contact Tanya with his communication Talisman to ask for another way to get what he came here for.
However, not to even mention the fact that he had been successful in his seduction, there was now something else he could maybe use to his advantage...
"When you say 'Mother', do you mean it as a term all disciples use in referring to the Sect head, or is she your actual mother?" He asked.
Leona closed her eyes as though to inwardly berate herself for letting it slip before she opened them and said,
"I mean she is actually my mother. Gave birth to me and all that."
Now Hal moved closer to her and brushed a lock of her black hair behind her ear,
"So then, surely you can facilitate a meeting. I wasn't lying when I said I need to speak with her. Your mother has... Something. Something the princess wants. Something I actually don't give a crap about other than the fact that getting it would earn me a lot of blue gems."
Leona bit her lower lip,
"But you're a Doxon... Surely you can't be in want for blue gems. Why work for someone else to get what your family has in abundance?" she asked.
Hal shrugged,
"Alas, when I told you that my mother is a Doxon but I am not, I was not being anything but truthful.
So how about it? Will you help me?" He asked her with a grin that had Leona's heart racing.
She sighed and turned away from Hal as she walked out of the hut,
"Of course. If that's what you really want, I'll get you a meeting with my mother. But I will tell you this, she has already made up her mind not to be cooperative and I believe it would be infinitely hard to change her mind.
Also, she is in a bit of a bad mood due to certain issues our sect will be facing soon so she might be a tad bit irritable.
In the case of my dear mother though, 'Irritable' means angry enough to kill you as soon as she feels like doing so" she said and led the way while Hal eagerly followed.
His smiling expression remained unchanged.
...
As was expected if a large sect such as this, they did not complete the trip on foot. However, while Leona, now very chatty, explained the use of short-distance Teleportation circles similar to the ones used in the Imperial palace being the main mode of transportation in the sect, she made use of a special circle.
The circle was the same as the one that had brought them from outside the gates into the Sect. And it was also not giving off Astral energy.
Anyway, Leona led him to the main building and then into a large and impressive hall with a throne-like chair clearly meant for the sect head.
Then Leona made to leave but before she could, a black hole appeared in the middle of the hall, and out of it walked a lady with a striking resemblance with Leona, including the silver eyes and same shade of black hair, albeit more mature.
She eyed Hal for a while and then looked to Leona,
"What is this?" She asked with a bit of annoyance in her tone.
"Calm down Corrina, he just wants to speak with mother." Leona said without a hint of worry dor her sister's obvious bad mood.
"Well, mother does not wish to speak to him. She has enough to think about with the impending arrival of... you-know-who" Corrina said.
Leona opened her mouth to respond when a voice announced another presence in the room.
All eyes turned towards the throne-like chair in the hall on which sat a comfortable looking Sect head who surveyed Hal with a smile and eyes that told of wicked intentions,
"Actually, with how far this young man has gone with you sister, Corrina, I might as well hear what he has to say...
.... Before I kill him"
Chapter 487 - A Want Interpreted As A Need.
'Alright hold up, multiple information in need of immediate digestion'
That was Hal's first thought when he saw the Silver moon sect head sitting in the throne-like chair.
And he was right.
First off, there was the arrival of Leona's sister, the very nature of which was eyebrow-raising.
The black hole she had come out of was giving off Ordinance vibes and that was because it had been made possible with the Ordinance of void.
The Ordinance of void which is an Elemental Ordinance is derivative of the Abstract Ordinance of space which could perform all the tricks void ordinance could and then some.
Anyway, while its uses would always be limited to the opening of portals for quick transportation through stretches of spaces no matter how strong or how high in comprehension the wielder got, void ordinance was definitely no slouch.
For one, Hal could now realize why the circles Leona had used thus far had not been powered by Astral energy which was that they were powered by her sister's void ordinance and could most likely only be used by members of their immediate family.
But such elaborate use, Hal wondered if simply comprehensive the Ordinance of void had granted her such advantages,
'Ordinance Hanessing' Grimoire piped.
'She has attained Ordinance harnessing and with a foundation with the drawing of Runes, it is highly possible that she achieves such feats. But she is still fairly young and harnessing is only enough for a small scale so her range of such use of her Ordinance can not surpass the Sect's territories'
Which meant her special teleportation circles were only active in the Silver moon sect
Hal agreed with Grimoire's assessments with a mental nod before he looked over at Corrina's form once again and noted that maturity that reminded him so much of Tanya.
They were most likely in the same age range.
With that information appropriately digested, Hal's eyes moved over to the main woman in the room.
The one who would determine whether his mission would be successful or be a failure.
The sect head was beautiful. Just like her daughters and she had that maturity that reminded Hal of Emily and could very well serve to rev up his perverted sexual engines all the more.
'Careful' Grimoire cautioned him slightly.
'With my thoughts?' Hal asked with skepticism. 'I thought you were protecting me' he said to the Artifact with a mentally raised brow.
When Tanya of the level of foresight protecting the Silver moon sect from getting caught off guard by a robbery attempt, Hal had been quick to think up a plan. Aided along by Grimoire, the ever surprisingly (especially when not expected to be) useful Artifact.
No human can see the future. So-called foreseeing is not actually possible even when 'blessed' by the gods.
The only one who can ever see the future and claim to be all-knowing (Even though they are actually not) would be someone who had achieved the Paragon level of comprehension in the Abstract Ordinance of destiny.
So unless the Sect head of the Silver moon sect was a goddess who had achieved paragon level of comprehension in the Abstract Ordinance of Destiny (which is impossible for any human), then there was no way she could see the future.
Not without help.
So somewhere in this sect, there was an Artifact similar to the flame crystal that Hal had which allowed not just the sect head but everyone in the silver moon sect to tap into its powers and 'foresee' the future of those who came in for a consultation.
Hal had joked that it would be ironic if it was a crystal ball but Grimoire had taken it seriously by saying,
'It could very well be'
Anyway, since it was an Artifact, Grimoire could shield Hal from its potent but passive abilities even with the sect head or anyone else in the sect channeling its abilities.
So focussing on him with her Silver and seemingly all-knowing eyes would not help the Silver moon sect head to 'foresee' his future.
As such as long as it did not involve her sect, whose future she could foresee, Hal could go about plotting anything he wished.
So he felt his perverted thoughts should be safe but Grimoire reminded him that he should be careful having any such thoughts in regards to the Sect head.
Unfortunately, Hal could barely help himself. While her voluminous robes had her completely covered up, he was still sure there would be a lot of mouthwatering deliciousness underneath them which he would be more than happy and ready to enjoy if he got the chance to do so.
"You've been busy" the sect head said and called Hal from his thoughts even though it had all taken barely a second.
He smiled lightly,
"May I ask, in what way?" He asked.
The sect head gestured to Leona whose cheeks were pink as she already knew what her mother was referring to,
"You haven't been here an hour and you've already kissed and groped my daughter."
Corrina's eyes widened and she looked from her mother to Leona and then to Hal who she glared at.
Hal sensing the glare merely chuckled,
"So what, that deserves the death penalty?" He asked obviously referring to the sect head's earlier 'Before I kill him' statement.
The sect head's eyes widened comically,
"Gods no. Why would I kill you when I don't hear my daughter complaining? I haven't ever interfered in their... Sex lives and I do not intend to start now"
"You afford them that much freedom, what a great mother you are" Hal said with a smile but he truly was impressed.
The sect head scoffed,
"Of course I afford them that much freedom. Just like I afford all members of my sect that much freedom. Affection is fleeting. It is bound to never last. Sexual pleasure is a want our body interprets as a need and once taken care of, only shame remains.
Our connection, however, the connection we all feel... The connection that preserves this sect. The connection that lasts for the rest of our lifetime."
"You mean the connection that keeps them tied to the sect. The connection that makes them want to be here rather than feel the true pleasures of intercourse only one man can truly proudly claim to be able to provide."
The sect head frowned as she felt Hal was being condescending to the cultures of their sect but that was not what he was doing. Quite the opposite in fact,
"I know of such a connection. I admire it actually" he said.
'Of course, I'd rather it be a connection with me at the center and absolute focus of your attention and devotion... but all in due time, I guess'
The Sect head sighed while Leona looked down.
She felt her mother was underestimating the pleasure Hal could provide. She had only felt his touch and she was already feeling indecision on which she would choose... Hal or the sect she had been born and raised in.
Corrina was still glaring at Hal.
"Why are you here?" The sect head asked but Hal furrowed his brown as he said,
"You know why"
The sect head rolled her eyes and it looked incredibly sexy to Hal as she said,
"Of course I do. But like I said before, I would like for you to present your case. You know, before I put an end to your existence"
Hal took a deep breath and then said,
"Alright then.
Apparently, there is something that helped the First Emperor rule the continent, and to keep it for a worthy Haron, he drew a map in the form of scattered clues. One of those clues, the next piece of the puzzle, is with you.
Most likely in your treasury.
And I will not leave Dreg Duchy until I have gotten my hands on it."
Chapter 488 - The Answer Is...
Leona's eyes widened at the news of why Hal was here.
Even Corrina's eyes were widened as she momentarily forgot to glare at Hal who was smiling slightly at the Silver moon sect head.
Neither of the two had known that was why he was here and now, while they were able to keep their curiosity tempered and not ask questions, for now, they were definitely intrigued.
Hal monitored their expressions with his astral sense and noted from it that whatever it was that he came here for, while they might have seen it, they had known what it was for.
The Sect head mirrored his smile,
"Oh you will stay here till you get it?" she inquired.
Hal nodded,
"So could you please give it to me?" He asked.
"That's it? You're just going to ask for it and not even offer up any compensation? Blue gems perhaps" the Sect head inquired.
Hal knew the sect head was mocking him. Even if he could offer her a mountain of blue gems, he doubted that could get her to give him what he came here for.
He hated the distance between them because as charming as he indeed was, he highly doubted he could work his charms over that distance and get her mind so muddled that she gave it to him.
So he opted for the best possible way... Compromise.
Hal shrugged,
"I have nothing to give. Neither was I authorized to give anything in exchange. Surely your sect is not in want for wealth."
The Sect head sighed,
"No, we are not. With the amount of consultation we offer, we are rich in blue gems. Wealth is the last thing that we desperately need. That said it would have been far more interesting to watch you offer all you have only for me to eventually still say no." She said.
"How about a service then?" Hal asked.
"Excuse me?" the sect head said with her perfect eyebrows raised.
"How about I offer you my services in exchange. You see I am a little strapped for gems at the moment. It's the whole point of my working for the Princess to even try to get this for her. For some reason, she thought I was the best for the job."
The sect head rearranged herself but she did so with a mocking smile on my face her lips,
"You want to offer me your services?" She asked and there was a sweetly dangerous edge to her tone that should have chilled Hal to the lines but he acted oblivious to it.
As well as the overall tension in the air not just from the Sect head but also from her daughter Corrina.
While Leona wondered if she should tell to Hal to not be stupid.
Hal nodded and raised his hands,
"Yes, I do. It's all that I have that is of value and I have been told the work of this hands of mine is absolutely priceless."
Leona blushed even harder when she thought she sensed a sexual innuendo in Hal's words.
"You want to offer me services with your hands?"
There was now no way Hal could ignore the dangerous edge in the Sect head's voice. Neither could he ignore the thick tension in the air.
His eyes widened suddenly,
"Oh come on, what the hell are you thinking about? Get your mind out of the gutter! My intentions are absolutely pure.
When I say the work of my hands, I actually mean it in the sense that maybe I can offer my assistance with certain menial labor you might have around the sect.
Maybe even take care of a few miscreants looking to cause trouble.
How could you even think I was that perverted?"
Of course, despite the indignation in his voice, the sect head did not believe a word of what he had just said.
He was that perverted and she felt his words should be interpreted as such.
There was a pause and then Hal added,
"Also, I could offer my services by assisting you with your coming troubles"
Three sets of eyes snapped towards his handsome face just as the Sect head said,
"Can you now?" There was every bit of skepticism on her face but Hal caught something else in her reply,
"You're not going to ask me how I know of those coming troubles."
The sect head shrugged,
"You would have to be an idiot not to figure it out after Corrina very clearly mentioned I already had enough to worry about.
What I really want to know is how you think you can help?
How you, a Cosmic Phenomenon realm expert, can help in an issue that worries a Saint like me?"
Hal shrugged,
"It's simple really. All you need is a boost. Any boost. Whether conventional or unconventional. I can offer you that... As long as you let me make contact with the source, I am absolutely sure I can offer you that well-needed boost" he said.
"Source?" The sect head asked with a raised brow.
Hal nodded,
"Yes, the source of your 'foreseeing' abilities. Let me make contact with it and I assure you that you will get through the coming troubles with superb ease." He said with a light smile.
If anyone else had said this, the sect head would have laughed and most likely killed them on the spot for such impudence but because it was Hal, she found herself unable to do so.
Sure he was handsome, incomparably so, and was the type to surely set her heartbeat racing back in her maiden years but that was not the reason she let him live... For now.
There was just such confidence in the way he spoke that was a healthy, delicious mix of (Did she just say delicious?) Confidence and charisma.
However, while it did stop her from killing him instantly, it did not stop her from bursting into laughter.
"Hahahahaha, my gods, you have to be kidding me. Did you actually expect that to work?
That I would believe you could actually have something to offer other than your glib tongue which I am quite tempted to cut out of your mouth right now?"
Hal shrugged,
"I was only presenting what I had to offer in exchange for what I want which by the way, you have absolutely no use for and would just sit in your treasury collecting dust" he said.
"Needing it is not the point. I am holding onto this to slow down this harmful struggle for power that is casting darkness over the Haron Empire" the sect head said.
Hal chuckled.
The sect head's eyes flashed,
"Is something funny?" She asked.
Hal nodded,
"Of course. The fact that you think holding on to this will actually slow anything down is a tad bit naive" he said.
Leona gasped.
Corrina took a step forward,
"How dare you?" She snarled.
"Stay back" the sect head ordered her daughter.
"Mother..." Corrina began but one look from her mother shut her up.
"Continue. How is it that I am naive?" the sect head asked Hal who eyed Corrina for a while before he continued,
"There are many others vying to rule the continent and a vast majority of them don't give a damn about whatever the First Emperor left behind. Even if you found whatever it was and destroyed it, that won't change anything.
There will always be conflict and I see no reason why you should bother yourself to stop them. Focus on your immediate environs.
Let those who wish to kill each other kill each other and vie for your own survival."
The sect head frowned,
"That's selfish"
Hal smirked,
"And what? You're selfless?" He asked.
"As the chief diviner of the Haron continent, I have to be" the sect head said but Hal shook his head,
"You don't have to be. You choose to be. Anyway, there is really no point in holding on to it. If you don't want my help in your coming troubles, that is fine, but you should know that there are others after whatever the First Emperor left behind.
Eventually, they could come after it.
I feel it would be best you just give it up before that happens."
Silence...
Then the Sect head smiled,
"Nice try but the answer is still no" she said.
"What?!" Hal was indignant.
The sect head rose to her feet,
"Maybe I am naive. Maybe I am selfless to a fault but I will do all I can to stop the Empire from falling to ruins. If things continue as they are, the future of this continent is... Dark.
You made a good case.. Albeit a selfish one and for that I will spare you but I will not give you what you came here for."
Chapter 489 - Simple Curiosity.
Hal's eyes widened in outrage,
"Now wait just a moment..." He began but when the sect head turned her eyes in his direction, he froze and found it impossible to speak.
"I am already sparing your life. Take the win and get the hell out of my sect" the silver moon sect head said and a blast of energy shot out of her firm heading towards Hal who knew even before he tried that he could not avoid or block that attack.
But he need not fear as the attack had been benign and only served to toss him backward and into the black hole Corrina had just opened up behind him.
*Whump*
Taking him right out of the Silver moon sect territory and outside the main gates where the guards were more than surprised at the ejection.
Hal groaned and rolled to his feet in annoyance.
'Well, I guess that's that' Grimoire piped.
Hal said nothing and instead turned away from the grinning face of the antagonistic guard he had met before Leona came out to take him into the sect.
After dusting his clothes, he took a walk.
Preferring that over boarding a carriage.
'So what now?' Grimoire asked.
When Hal still said nothing, the artifact continued,
'Do you contact the princess and tell her you failed?'
'I haven't failed.' Hal said.
'Well, you didn't get what you came here for so I would say that's failing...' Grimoire began but paused when a thought came to it, 'Unless you have a plan'
Hal smiled,
'Took you long enough to catch on... Of course, I have a plan' he told the Artifact.
'Alright then, let me hear it. Because if it involves going back into the sect, I would have to be honest and call you out on that stupid idea as a complete idiot' Grimoire said clearly not pulling any of its metaphoric punches today.
Hal was not bothered though,
"It actually does involve me going into the sect. In fact, I'm not just going into the sect, I'm going to rob it' he said
'Oh, so you're not just a complete idiot but a complete idiot with a death wish' Grimoire said with a maniacal cackle.
Hal rolled his eyes both mentally and physically,
'Will you stop trying to find ways to insult me for one second and think real hard on why I would have such a potentially suicidal thought?'
Grimoire paused and indeed when it was not just attempting to make fun of its host, it could see the merit of such a dangerous sounding plan,
'The troubles... The troubles the Silver moon sect is facing' it said in realization.
'Exactly' Hal said with a lazy smile.
'That is the window I need. I mean whatever this trouble is, it is so potent that it has a Cosmic saint worried... And it has not even actually happened yet. Just the thought of it is what has her worried.
Imagine how preoccupied she and everyone else in the silver moon sect will be when it actually starts. There's no way they would be keeping a lookout on something they don't need' he explained.
'But what if you're wrong. What if she's lying and actually does care about it enough to worry about it' Grimoire said.
Hal, having thought of this scenario already was quick to answer,
"If she still has it in her vault, then it would not matter as long as she is preoccupied. If she has it on a person which is very, very, very unlikely, then and only then will I admit failure... For the time being of course. Until I come up with another plan.'
'What about time? You have no idea when it's going to happen. What if it surpasses the less than two weeks limit you have?' Grimoire asked.
Hal shrugged
'I doubt it would take that long.'
...
Hal went into the first hotel he saw which was closest to the Silver moon sect and booked a room.
He wanted to make himself accessible in case of any visitors because all planning aside, he was sure he would be visited by a certain silver-eyed lady.
At nightfall, someone knocked on his door and when Hal scouted ahead with his Astral sense and then pulled the door open, he was surprised to 'see' it was not the silver-eyed lady he had been expecting...
"Corrina, what a pleasant surprise"
... It was her sister.
Corrina met Hal with a frown even though her glare had lessened a tad bit.
Now, for one thing, Hal knew he was incapable of defeating her in battle if that was indeed what she was after.
The mere fact that she had comprehended an Ordinance told of her having visited the monument of Ordinances five hundred years ago, except of course in case of unique circumstances which Hal was sure was not the case for her.
Anyway, since she had been able to enter the monument of Ordinances, then she must have been at the Cosmic Phenomenon realm at that time which meant that now, five hundred years later, she was already most likely a Semi-saint.
The hint of pressure she began to let out of her body as she passed by Hal into his hotel room confirmed his suspicions.
"To what do I owe this visit?" Hal asked with a charming smile even though he had his guard up in case of anything.
That he could not defeat the silver-eyed lady did not mean he wasn't ready to escape at a moment's notice.
That said, the fact that she actually knocked and allowed him to answer the door rather than bursting in might mean she was not here for a fight.
It could also very well mean she had good manners to knock on the door to her enemy's room before killing him.
To his inquiry, Corrina shrugged,
"To put it simply, Curiosity" she said.
Hal, acting as relaxed as he possibly could, went over to the bed in the room and sat on it while he observed Corrina whose eyes roamed all about the room as though to uncover all of Hal's tricks.
"What are you curious about?" Hal asked her.
There was a brief pause before Corrina began,
"I can't see you"
Hal furrowed his brows,
"I am right here" he said.
Corrina shook her head,
"Not in that sense. I mean I can't 'see' you. Even when I focus on you, I can't foresee what you will do. I have found it difficult to see people at times. Even those who are weaker than me in cultivation. For them, I only get flashes. Flashes of possibilities which is usually enough to satisfy them in term of a consultation.
But you... It's all just... blank"
Another brief pause before Hal shrugged,
"Who knows why that is?" He said in a bid to be dismissive.
"YOU do" Corrina said in an eerie tone.
"I do?" Hal asked with skepticism coating his words.
Corrina nodded,
"Yes, you do. You mentioned a 'source' of our foreseeing ability and mentioned wanting to get close to it. To make contact with it. Which has me thinking you are somehow consciously protecting yourself... I wonder what you have to hide"
Hal opened his mouth to speak but Corrina interrupted him,
"Don't speak. You will most probably tell me lies anyway. Mother would have figured things out even before I did and if she let you go safely, you are either no threat to us at all, or you are not worth the trouble. It could very well be both though." She said.
"Is there a point to all this?" Hal asked with a bit of impatience in his tone.
Corrina's eyes flashed,
"Of course there's a point. Mother might not be ready to consider the possibility but I am."
"Consider what possibility?" Hal asked.
Corrina sighed,
"The possibility that you can help with our problems. The possibility that you can help defeat my father"
Chapter 490 - Why Are You Here? R-18
"You want to defeat your father?" Hal inquired to be sure he had not heard wrong.
Corrina raised a brow,
"What? Is that too much for you to wrap your brain around?" She asked.
Hal shook his head,
"Not at all. I know all about dysfunctional relationships and the drive to k– I mean defeat a father." He said and after a brief pause he asked,
"So what's the story and why do you wish to defeat your father?"
Corrina sighed,
"I guess using the term 'father' for that man is unfair to all real fathers. I have lived a little over seven hundred years and I have never actually had a relationship with him. He doesn't want a relationship with us. All he wants is power.
He's coming to the sect. He and an Army.
And not only can my mother not 'see' where he is or where he will be so that we can lay an ambush and take the fight to him, but she also has no idea how strong he is at the moment.
Just that he is strong enough to evade her sights and his arrival is imminent.
And even then she has no precise time for his arrival"
Corrina took a deep breath,
"Mother is right. You are just a Cosmic Phenomenon realm expert, how could you possibly help?"
Hal shrugged,
"I can't tell you my methods but I can tell you that I truly can help you if you can allow me access to the source" he said and suddenly Corrina's fist grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him to his feet.
"Why should I believe getting you to the source is not just part of a plot concocted by you and the one who sent you here"
"Oh, Princess Tanya?" Hal said.
"So you say. But It could all be a lie. A trick" Corrina snarled and pushed her face close to Hal's so that they were only separated by inches.
Hal eyed her beautiful lips,
"Then don't believe me. You can walk out the door right now. You don't have to accept my help but I will remind you that you came here all on your own. Of your own volition.
Trust your instincts." He said.
Corrina let go of his shirt and scoffed.
"Well, my instincts say not to trust you. That you are lying. Withholding the whole truth. That you are being dishonest."
"Then why come here? Did your mother send you?" Hal asked.
Corrina shook her head,
"Of course not"
"Was it Leona?" Hal asked with a slight smile and Corrina's cheeks went red for a moment before they were back to normal.
"It was her, wasn't it?" Hal said and his slight smile grew wider, slowly turning into a grin.
"Wipe that look off your face. I told you it was curiosity that brought me here" Corrina said and turned away from Hal.
Still grinning, Hal said,
"Does curiosity translate to 'you came to see if your sister was right about my touch?'"
Corrina bit her bottom lip and then turned around to face Hal before taking deliberate steps towards him to once again grab the front of his shirt and pull him closer to herself except this time, she connected their lips in a passionate kiss.
However, all the bravado she had when walking towards him to 'forcefully' take that kiss melted away when she finally made contact. She shivered with pleasure and her legs became weak.
From then on, Hal took over with his arms wound about her waist as he pressed them even closer to each other until her breasts were cushioned hard against his chest.
Then she pulled away from him.
Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were puckered.
When she finally opened her eyes, they sparkled.
'What was that feeling?' She thought as she felt the craving she knew she could not resist.
She did not try to.
She let herself sink into the pleasure and let it pull her closer to Hal who welcomed her with open arms as their passionate kiss resumed.
But this time, Corrina had her hands between them, not to separate them but to let her feel the contours of his chest while she breathed in his scent.
As a Cosmic semi-saint, Corrina had a great deal of resistance to Hal's effects on women due to his lower cultivation base. Quite like how Tanya had been able to pull away from Hal and resist his sexual charismatic pull.
But the difference was that Tanya was not yet too interested. She could still muscle the bit of resistance Hal's touch had not yet broken away. However, even before she touched him, Corrina had wanted to be touched to be kissed.
To feel what her sister had felt herself and so once she actually made contact, it was impossible to muscle any resistance and she would only keep falling deeper and deeper into that sexual abyss of pleasure.
Especially with Hal aiding her along.
The blue-eyed Devil released his pheromones and it saturated the room. Further charging the already sexually charged room.
Their lips separated once again as Hal's hands went lower to grope her pliant ass through her robes.
"You know it would be a shame if your mother came in and interrupted us" Hal said with a light smile.
Corrina reciprocated with a smile of her own, quite eager to get back to touching and ditch the talking,
"She won't come. She doesn't watch my every move. She is only really alerted when I am in danger and even then she won't come immediately. After all, I can take care of myself" she said.
Hal chuckled to himself thinking that if he was someone who wished to kidnap or hurt Corrina, she had just told him why it would not be overly difficult.
Anyways, since there was no worry for an interfering sect head hanging over his head, Hal grabbed the fastener of Corrina's silver, Ethereal-looking robe, and loosened it to take the clothes off her.
And that presented him with a complete view of her beautiful, creamy skin and silver underwear.
He did away with the underwear quickly enough.
The moment he had stripped her of her clothes, Corrina did the same to his.
With the two now naked, Hal picked her up, cast a noise-canceling rune about the room before he pinned her against the wall and recaptured her lips.
Corrina groaned from the hard contact with the wall and tightened her legs around Hal's waist and her arms around his neck.
Then Hal pulled away from her lips only to dip his head and grab one of her nipples into his mouth and suck on it hard.
"Ngghhhh" Corrina groaned as that act subjected her to a minor orgasm that already surpassed any pleasure she had ever gotten from any of her previous sexual encounters.
A few more minutes of this when she was definitely down from her minor-orgasmic high, Hal transitioned to the bed where he lay her down and began peppering her body with kisses. Kisses all charged with {Erogenous touch} and few lust flames.
The results of which had Corrina squirming with pleasure and arching parts of her body towards him to gain better traction.
As Hal kissed his way down, taking his sweet time to admire every part of her body, his destination was clear and the anticipatory thought of him flaming up her already tingling and wet pussy with his delicious tongue had Corrina's toes curling.
She could barely wait to feel that pleasure, alas, she would definitely have to wait.
Because Hal was in no hurry and while he did stretch his hand down towards her sopping wet pussy to begin a slow tantalizing stroke of her plump pussy lips, Corrina felt it was far from enough.
She needed more.
She needed his tongue.
She needed his cock.