Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

In order to give Team Wolf Pack plenty of time to rest and focus on their training, the House of Miracles officially closed its doors between the hours of 8 PM and 6 AM. During this time, Vahn would venture outside to treat the Regulars with less severe injuries.Though it took a considerable amount of focus to restore lost limbs, treat diseases, and remove sequelae, most injuries could be treated without any special attention from Vahn. All he needed to do was place his hand atop someone's head, and, after a bit of theatrics with light-infused Shinsu, they would be fully healed.As could be expected, Vahn's reputation among the common Regulars had increased drastically in a relatively short period of time. He had even regained his title of 'Godhand' thanks to the efforts of Khun, Gandr, Shibisu, and Nare.Khun had coordinated with other businesses to spread his good name throughout the entirety of Paradise Bay. As for Gandr and Shibisu, the former enjoyed quite a bit of popularity, so much so that there were certain groups of Regulars who would take everything he said as an intrinsic truth. Shibisu was significantly less popular but this allowed him to easily infiltrate other people's social circles, gathering information and spreading rumors with remarkable ease. As for Nare, she had an easier time than the rest due to the fact she spent most of her time manning the front counter and working as 'mascot' for Vahn's clinic.Taking advantage of her disarming and relatively cute appearance, Nare was able to gather and disseminate all kinds of information during the brief few minutes when she was cross-referencing a Regular's data with the information they had on file. By simply referring to Vahn as the Godhand to the people with more serious injuries, they would naturally spread the rumor to others.At this point, most of the members of Team Wolf Pack had earned nicknames for themselves, Nare's being the 'Golden Cherub'. As for the others, they had earned provisional sobriquets such as 'Black Wolf Prince', 'Smiling Blue Demon', and 'Goddess of the Forge'. These obviously belonged to Gandr, Khun, and Phae, but there were also titles such as 'Gentle Giant', 'Violent Lizard', and 'Ghost-Pepper Princess' circulating around in regards to Aleksai, Anak, and, much to her chagrin, Endorsi...---While Vahn was busy strengthening his public image, effectively increasing his reserves of power, night had fallen within the Little Garden. This was the most relaxing part of the day for the majority of Team Wolf Pack, and, though it had lost a bit of its novelty after the first couple of nights, there were still a number of people who gathered beneath the canopy of the World Tree each evening.Though reason would dictate that the World Tree's canopy would block out the view of the stars, the truth of the matter was that boughs of the massive crystalline tree would become transparent under the cover of night. This allowed the starlight to not only pass through them but, thanks to the crystalline structure of the branches and leaves, the stars seemed to multiply in number. This created the illusion that the night sky was alive, gently swaying in a natural rhythm as the canopy danced under the direction of the wind...Despite rarely mentioning Rachel over the last two months, Baam couldn't help but think about her every time he looked up at the night sky. He wondered if she was happy being able to witness such a scene each night, but, at the same time, his heart was filled with doubt whenever he remembered that she had betrayed him 'just' to see the stars.Baam couldn't deny that the stars were exceptionally beautiful, but he didn't think they were worth betraying others just to witness. When he learned they were just giant balls of burning gas floating around in empty space, not something that could simply be 'obtained', Baam felt even less certain about her actions. He couldn't understand why she felt compelled to throw away everything just to witness something that had no real impact on her life. It just didn't make any sense...Turning his head to the side, Khun noticed the usual conflict in Baam's eyes, a tired sigh escaping his lips as he looked toward the heavens above and said, "If people could understand each other so easily, there wouldn't be any conflict in the world. We all do illogical things at times, so stop letting Rachel's decisions affect you. Even she probably doesn't understand why she was so obsessed with the stars...if I had to guess, she just wanted to be free...that's something most of us can understand, even if our views are fundamentally different from each other's..."As the desire for freedom was something even he could understand, Baam nodded his head in response to Khun's words. Then, after a long period of silence, he asked, "Do you think it's possible to create a world where everyone is free...?"Without even needing to think about it, Khun shook his head, disappointing Baam slightly as he answered, "There is no such thing as a perfect world, Baam. Rather, even if there were, most rational people wouldn't want to live in it...I certainly wouldn't. After all, it is our differences that allow us to move forward, grow as people, and have fun. If everyone was exactly the same, the world would be a very lonely and mundane place to live..."Imagining a world filled with nothing but himself, Baam couldn't help but furrow his brows as an uneasy feeling welled up inside his chest. Such a world would be no different than living alone in a cave; so, while he still wanted to create a world where everyone could be happy, Baam was able to understand a bit of what Khun was trying to convey.Seeing the slightly incredulous look on his naive companion's face, Khun couldn't help but chuckle as he placed his hands behind his head, smiling as he added, "Don't worry. So long as we continue trying our best to make the world a better place, it will gradually become one. We don't need to fix everything, Baam. We just need to become strong enough to prevent corrupt and malicious people from doing whatever they want...if we work together, I'm certain we can create a better system than the one that currently exists..."Though he was having trouble understanding Khun's words, a glimmer of resolution could be seen within Baam's eyes the moment he heard the former mention 'working together'. This phrase was always very effective against him, and, though it made him feel a little manipulative at times, Khun didn't hesitate to throw it out whenever he was trying to allay Baam's concerns...Feeling a little less uncertain about the future, Baam extended his hand towards the stars above, fingers spread as he lightly muttered, "You're right, Mr. Khun...so long as we work together, there isn't anything we can't do..." before clenching his hand into a fist. This caused the blue-haired man at his side to respond with a wry smile, but, rather than refute his own words, he simply extended his hand in much the same manner as Baam, muttering, "Together..." in a light tone...---Seeing Khun and Baam hold their hands up while lying next to each other, a sly smile spread across Endorsi's face as she mused, "Those two are totally gonna do it one of these days. I don't care what anyone else says. They're totally gay for each other."Since he had already heard about Khun's plan to exploit the 'advantages' of being a woman, even Gandr couldn't really refute Endorsi's words. Instead, he just chose to ignore them, rolling his eyes before kicking back and enjoying the evening breeze. He knew this was probably a mistake but he just didn't feel like talking about the 'bromance' between Khun and Baam like they were some kind of exotic animal pairing.Never one to take being ignored lightly, Endorsi squinted her eyes slightly, glaring at Gandr from the periphery of her vision. She was trying to give him a chance to make a move on her by taking the initiative to invite him out stargazing, but, rather than attend her, he was literally just staring up at the sky like an idiot. This wouldn't have bothered her as much if he was actually dense, but Gandr was easily the most perceptive person in their entire group...After giving him a full minute to reconsider his decision, Endorsi exhaled audibly through her nose before walking over to where he was lying down. They were currently located on the second-floor balcony so he was relaxing in a chaise lounge that was designed for sunbathing. It wasn't a piece of furniture that was meant to accommodate two people but this didn't stop Endorsi from taking a seat in his lap, her eyes glowing with a subtle yellow light as she placed her left hand on his chest and said, "You know I hate it when you ignore me..."Before Endorsi could take things any further, Gandr promptly grabbed her wrist, a warning look in his eyes as he asked, "Have you made your resolve? I understand you feel pressured by the fact that Serra and Jung are joining the team, but I already told you I don't have any feelings for them...don't push yourself..."Though she was annoyed by his opening statement, Endorsi's irritation waned a bit when she heard the concern in his final few words. She knew that Gandr was genuinely worried about her, and, after catching a glimpse of the little monster he kept sealed beneath his undergarments, she was equally as concerned for herself...Shaking her head free of lascivious thoughts, Endorsi adopted a serious expression as she stated, "I want you to become my boyfriend. I know you don't want to start a relationship, but you're too big a prize for women to just ignore you. If we make things official, I can at least keep the other girls in our party at bay...come on...I know you like me...you said it yourself back then..."Realizing there was actually a fair amount of truth within Endorsi's words, Gandr didn't immediately refute them. Instead, he adopted a contemplative expression, releasing his hold on her wrist before ultimately releasing a sigh and saying, "Fine...I'll become your boyfriend..." in a somewhat defeated tone.Though she would have preferred him to be more excited about it, Endorsi still smiled radiantly in response to Gandr's words. Then, before he could change his mind, a 'dangerous' glimmer flashed across her eyes as she said, "Let me touch your tail." in a tone that made her enthusiasm apparent. She had only ever been allowed to proactively touch his ears in the past; so, while she had snuck a few touches in the past, the thought of being able to stroke and caress Gandr's tail freely made her more than a little excited.Since he already expected her to make such a demand, Gandr just smiled wryly in response to his new girlfriend's request. Before he could answer her, however, she seemed to misunderstand the look on his face, a not-so-subtle blush developing across her's as she turned her eyes up at him and added, "You can also touch me...just be careful not to scratch me with your nails..."Though her words were somewhat ambiguous, Endorsi's actions made it very clear what she was allowing him to touch by pulling up the front of her skirt. At the same time, a wave of abnormally powerful pheromones spread through the area, tickling Gandr's senses with a robust fragrance of fruit and the characteristic musk of a beautiful woman. He also felt a sudden rush of heat flow into his body, so, if Endorsi hadn't already awoken her [Champion of Lust], it was very obvious she was about to...Rather than wait for Gandr to take the lead, an alluring smile spread across Endorsi's face as she adjusted her position, reaching between his legs to grab his tail. This also caused her to caress a certain part of his body, but, other than smiling even more alluringly, she made no comment on it. Instead, she began to rub his tail up and down, eyes glowing like moonlight against the backdrop of stars as she mused, "You look very cute right now..." in a sultry and seductive tone.(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Violent Lizard xD...','I'm surprised they didn't start holding hands...','Gandr is about to get Ara Ara'd!? Where is Fenrir (O ^ O)!?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Since Endorsi had been pestering Gandr for several months at this point, none of Team Wolf Pack was particularly surprised to find her hugging the boy first thing in the morning. What did surprise them was the fact that she was sitting behind him, effectively straddling his tail while nestling her face in between his ears. There were also several maroon blemishes dotting Gandr's neck; bruises caused by love bites, and excessive suckling of the skin.As one of the first to arrive for morning training, Hatsu said absolutely nothing when he first saw the duo idling in their usual gathering area. Despite this, Endorsi still went out of her way to say, "Hatsu~! Gandr and I have officially become a couple~." in a happy tone.Feeling as though he had been put on the spot, Hatsu offered a wry smile in response before cupping his hands in a polite gesture and saying, "Congratulations...I pray the two of you are able to find happiness in each others' company..."Seemingly pleased with Hatsu's choice of words, Endorsi tightened her hold on Gandr as a girlish giggle escaped her throat. As for the latter, he had a tired yet relaxed smile on his face, his golden eyes reflecting the placidity of a lake as he willfully ignored the heat and subtle moisture against his tail. He actually didn't dislike being doted upon and cuddled, so, while her behavior was somewhat troubling, Gandr didn't particularly mind so long as she didn't go overboard.Seeing Hatsu's relatively normal reaction, Gandr was able to confirm that the unique pheromones produced by Endorsi's [Champion of Lust] only affected him. This wasn't too unexpected, but it was still a considerable relief. If her pheromones had affected everyone equally, things would have been extremely troublesome following her awakening...---With 5 AM steadily approaching, the rest of Team Wolf Pack began to gradually file into the central courtyard. Endorsi took the opportunity to announce their relationship to each of the new arrivals, surprising virtually no one except the ever-innocent Baam. As for Anak, she just frowned slightly at the revelation before taking her usual seat near Gandr's right.Endorsi was a little annoyed that Anak chose to sit right next to Gandr, but, having discussed things the previous night, she was ultimately able to remain calm. Gandr assured her that he didn't have a romantic interest in Anak, and, unless something drastic happened, he intended to continue acting like an older brother to her. If she couldn't accept that, their relationship would simply never work...Fortunately, Endorsi cared about Anak quite a bit, so, while she wanted to keep him to herself for as long as possible, she was already prepared to share Gandr with others. This was actually something she herself had proposed more than a month ago, back when she had first pushed Gandr down and stolen his lips. His massage had left a 'very' deep impression on her, and, though she didn't want to admit it, Endorsi couldn't deny that she was a little anxious about trying to tackle the boy's not-so-little monster on her own...---With 5 AM finally rolling around, several flashes of light appeared nearby the usual gathering spot of Team Wolf Pack. Immediately after that, Fenrir, Yoruichi, Phae, Morgiana, and Madara appeared in a loose circle. The first three were still responsible for their original students. As for the latter two, Morgiana had taken over Hinata's position, teaching Endorsi and Anak how to fight using powerful kicks, while Madara had taken over the Wave Controller's class in lieu of Vahn.Morgiana had exceptionally strong legs, and, though she had yet to receive a True Name, she had been created willfully after the upgrade to Vahn's [Universal Mind]. As for Madara, her power had increased exponentially following the naming of Hinata. Even before that, however, she had been teaching Baam various martial arts while having Laure practice converting his Shinsu into blades of wind and powerful gales. The latter had also learned to become a lot more attentive, as, compared to Vahn, Madara was considerably less 'tolerant'...Before anyone could offer so much as a greeting, Fenrir's eyes immediately shifted to where Gandr, Endorsi, and Anak were seated. This caused the hairs on Gandr's and Anak's bodies to stand on end while Endoris, the focus of Fenrir's frosty gaze, began to sweat nervously as the latter asked, "What are you doing with my little brother...?"Though she had been happily flaunting her relationship just moments prior, Endorsi instinctually released her hold on Gandr's waist, averting her eyes as she found herself at a loss for words. This caused the atmosphere to become even icier, but, before things could become too uncomfortable, Gandr was the one to step in, saying, "Endorsi and I have started dating...don't bully her too much, Aneue..."Shifting her gaze from Endorsi, Fenrir squinted her eyes as she met Gandr's gaze. She had originally been given the task of protecting him from any females that might covet him. Though this objective had changed ever since he received his True Name, his identity as both a Vanargandr and her little brother gave her a strong compulsion to protect him. He was also a member of her 'pack', so, while she wanted to respect his decision, she couldn't accept a 'bad girl' like Endorsi.Unwilling to see her little brother get taken advantage of, Fenrir shifted her gaze to Aleksai and Rak, declaring, "Your training will be overseen by Mira and Morgiana for the time being." Then, in a tone that left no room for discussion, she squinted back at Endorsi and Anak, adding "The two of you will be training with me from now on..."Before Fenrir could lose her cool and attempt to forcibly convert Endorsi and Anak into 'good girls', Phae decided to intervene, superseding the Vanargandr's tyranny by suggesting, "Allow me to take over the girls' training. Khun has been pushing himself quite a bit lately so he could benefit from a momentary reprieve. I'll have him observe everyone else's training so he has a better grasp of their individual abilities. You should continue your lessons with Rak and Aleksai. Leave the Princesses to me."Though she scrunched up her nose slightly, ears twitching in frustration, Fenrir didn't try to argue against Phae's suggestion. The latter had been placed in charge when their Master wasn't around so she didn't really have a platform to stand on. Thus, after staring at Endorsi for several seconds, Fenrir ultimately nodded her head in acquiescence before saying, "I'll leave it to you..." in a slightly sullen tone.Finding Fenrir's overprotective nature rather adorable, Phae couldn't help but giggle in amusement before lightly clapping her hands and exclaiming, "Okay, then! Let's all do our best today as well~!"---Unaware of what was taking place inside the Little Garden, Vahn was preparing to step back inside the House of Miracles when he sensed what could only be described as an 'abnormality' within his perception. It was similar to the impression he got whenever he tried to sense a Pocket or an Arms Inventory that had been placed into 'Invisible' mode. It was a very strange feeling because he could tell there was 'something' nearby, but, even with his domain, he couldn't actually sense it...Maintaining a calm and unflustered appearance, Vahn opened the door to the House of Miracles before casually closing it behind him and musing, "Even if you can conceal your presence, I can still sense you through your intent. Tell me, what business do you have in the House of Miracles...?"Though he appeared to be speaking to an empty room, the genial chuckle of an old man could be heard echoing in response to Vahn's words. Moments later, an old man attired in pure white robes appeared out of thin air, smiling as he stroked his long grey beard. His garb resembled something that a scientist or a doctor might wear, and, though he gave off an exceptionally dangerous feeling, his aura was extremely vibrant and calm.Despite feeling as though the man before him was even more dangerous than Yuri, Vahn managed to appear completely unphased. All the people he wanted to protect were currently safe within the Little Garden, so, even if Jahad and the Ten Great Family Leaders appeared before him, he wouldn't show even a marginal amount of fear. Instead, his smile radiated absolute confidence as he looked into the elderly man's silver eyes and said, "I am Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit...?"Impressed by Vahn's composure, the elderly man returned an approving nod before replying, "My name is Graham Bell, the Rank 37 Teacher of the Workshop. You may refer to me as Graham. As for the purpose of my visit, there are two reasons. First and foremost, I wanted to inspect the workshop and items produced by Ms. Ha Phae Stios. Secondly, I wished to discuss the possibility of having the person in question become a Disciple within the Workshop..."Noticing no noteworthy changes in Vahn's expression, a curious glimmer flashed across Graham's eyes as he began to suspect that his visit wasn't unexpected. The former actually seemed to relax upon hearing his introduction, something even High Rankers struggled with. After all, even Jahad and the Ten Great Families respected, and, to a lesser extent, feared the Workshop. Were this not the case, the former would have attacked and attempted to consume the latter long ago.Meeting Graham's expectations, Vahn pulled two chairs out of his Inventory before manifesting a fresh pot of black tea and answering, "I planned to have Phae join the Workshop once we reached the 20th Floor. Though I can arrange a meeting between the two of you, know that it is impossible to convince her to abandon her duties. You would have an easier time convincing an inert stone to turn into a planetoid."Raising his left brow slightly, Graham poured a cup of tea for himself, savoring the fragrant aroma as he mused, "It seems Ms. Phae is not the only exceptional person among your group. Your aura reminds me of the Great Warriors, back when they had first started their journey up the Tower...how very interesting..."Understanding that Graham was calling attention to the fact that he was an Irregular, Vahn returned an amused smile of his own as he muttered, "I cannot deny there are parallels between us...but I am so much more than Jahad and his Great Warriors could aspire to be. As a Teacher of the Workshop, you should be aware of it...the existence of beings that transcend the Gods..."Though it didn't show on his face, Graham's mind was operating like a supercomputer as he tried to determine the veracity of Vahn's words. If he was telling the truth, it meant there was another entity on the level of Phantaminum within the Tower. The latter was a monster that even Jahad and Enryu could never hope to oppose; so, if it turned out that Vahn was also an Axis User, there was virtually nothing anyone could do to hinder his plans...The Workshop existed both inside and outside the Tower, so, while others might not be aware of their existence, most high-ranking Teachers were aware of the existence of Axis Users. They were the most powerful existences within their respective domains. The only thing that could contend against an Axis User was another Axis User, as, within their field of control, the very laws of reality and fate could be rewritten. This led to them being known as 'Authors of Fate', incomprehensible entities that were responsible for controlling the structure and direction of various 'stories' within the infinite macrocosm.Since there was no sense in asking Vahn to prove he was an Axis, Graham decided to get straight to the point, asking, "Why have you come here? What is the purpose behind having Ms. Phae join the Workshop? Your kind has never taken an interest in the Workshop before..."Though he was pretty sure that Graham had misunderstood something, Vahn managed an amused smile in response to the man's words before answering, "I am simply passing through..."(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Anak be like, "Did you get punched in the neck?"','Fenrir has little tolerance for 'bad girls' xD...','*Loudly Sips Tea*')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Just as Khun had predicted, not that it was any surprise, several members of the Lo Po Bia Faction, including Hakua, invariably showed up outside the House of Miracles. Unfortunately for them, they had yet to set aside their pride; so, after a failed attempt to make the hundreds of Regulars present clear a path, a very one-sided conflict broke out.Though the descendants of the Ten Great Families were certainly more powerful than the average Regular, their strength was not at a level where they could simply 'ignore' hundreds of extremely disgruntled Regulars who had been patiently waiting their turn. As a result, they ended up suffering a group lynching, and, if not for the timely intervention of Vahn, there was a very real chance they would have been killed as a result of the resentment their past actions had seeded.Fortunately for Hakua's group, Vahn currently enjoyed a reputation very similar to a God. His aura also had a suppressive yet calming effect, pacifying the crowd by merely emerging from the House of Miracles. This normally wouldn't be enough to calm such a large crowd, but, thanks to the signs that were posted all throughout the district, they quickly produced the beaten and bloodied bodies of the Lo Po Bia Faction without a fuss. After all, even if their resentment were far greater, none of the Regulars waiting outside wanted to sacrifice their chances of receiving treatment just to beat an already broken man.To reward the crowd for their 'cooperation', Vahn had the second-floor shut down a little earlier than usual so that Phae, Endorsi, Hatsu, Aleksai, and Shibisu could hand out goodie bags to the people waiting outside. He also had Khun contact the surrounding businesses to encourage them to conduct 'flash sales'. This made the tense atmosphere outside immediately become more festive, drastically decreasing the crowd's resentment while concurrently strengthening Team Wolf Pack's reputation as a group representing the common Regulars...---With Hakua's group slumped together within his treatment room, Vahn had a relaxed smile on his face as he pulled out an ornated winged-staff known as the [Sophic Cane]. It was far more powerful than the traditional [Heal] staff that was commonly used by Phae. The only restriction was that you needed a 'Pure Light Elemental Affinity' in order to use it, a limitation that, fortunately, didn't really apply to Vahn and his Templates...-------------------------------------[Sophic Cane]Rank: C (A/N: This would have been A-Rank in a T5 Record.)Slots: 0P.Atk: 90M.Atk: 1400Abilities: Asylum(B), Lucid Dreaming(C), Rescue (D)'A magical staff said to have been blessed by a Goddess of Light. Though the blessing has faded with the passage of time, it still carries her hope that only the purest of heart will be able to make use of its power.'Restriction: Pure-Light Elemental Affinity-------------------------------------Activating the [Sophic Cane]'s 'Asylum' Ability, a crystalline dome of concentrated Light Elemental Energy formed around Hakua and his group. This caused the majority of their wounds to heal in a very short period of time, and, had Vahn not stopped it short, even Hakua's shoulder would have been mended by the sacred light of the crystal.With most of their wounds healed, Vahn manipulated the Shinsu in the surroundings to create an icy flow, rousing the unconscious scion and his grunts rather unceremoniously. Then, before they could do something foolish like causing a scene within his clinic, Vahn manifested [Enkidu] to bind them together, squeezing them tightly against one another. At the same time, the density of Shinsu within the region began to decrease rapidly, effectively emulating a lack of oxygen.Shinsu was the most important building block for life within the Tower. Without it, even the most powerful High Rankers and Shinheuh would quickly meet their end, suffocating despite plenty of oxygen being present in the environment. This effect became even more prominent as you moved further up the Tower thanks to your body adapting to higher concentrations of Shinsu so it wasn't long before Hakua, someone born above the 100th Floor, began breathing laboriously, eyes turning bloodshot.Returning a casual smile in response to the group's glaring, Vahn continued to condense the Shinsu from his surroundings into a single concentrated Baang as he explained, "We have been monitoring your group for the past three weeks. In exchange for letting you walk away freely, you will be forced to hand over 70% of your Faction's accumulated Points. If you refuse...well, it is safe to say that your journey up the Tower will end here. So, unless you want to abandon your rights as a member of the Ten Great Families, you will pay the price for your crimes...I trust you understand my words...?"Though he was clenching his teeth hard enough to make his gums bleed, Hakua ultimately nodded his head in response to Vahn's threat. He knew that his family would not hesitate to disown, exile, or outright kill him if he failed to become a Ranker. After all, the 'dignity' of the Ten Great Families was far more important than any individual within the family. If you became a blemish to their pride, the best end you could hope for was being made into a servant or slave, the type responsible for latrine duty and waste disposal...While resolving himself to get revenge on the higher Floors, Hakua pulled out his Pocket alongside the rest of his cronies. They each transferred over the majority of their Points, approximating a sum total greater than two-million. This brought the total funds of Team Wolf Pack to around ten-million Points, enough to purchase more than a hundred B-Class Citizens. They could also use these Points to acquire 2~3 D-Rank items from the Workshop, but, considering Phae already had the capacity to produce A-Rank items, that would be a complete waste.With Points in hand, Vahn quickly healed the injuries of Lo Po Bia Hakua's group. He even treated the chronic illness of one of their members, surprising the young man quite a bit since there were no known treatments for the disease. Then, with a friendly smile on his face, he saw the group off so that they wouldn't be mobbed by the thousands of Regulars who had gathered for the festival outside. He was hoping they would learn from this example, seeing how they were able to gather so many people just by treating them kindly, but, unfortunately, the look in Hakua's eyes revealed that he was the type to hold a grudge...---Seeing the massive crowd of Regulars gathered in what was now known as the Black Wolf District, a well-dressed man with an unusually wrinkled face could be seen smiling from within the comfort of an invisible Suspend Ship known as a Spectre Class Corvette. At his side, lowering her head despite her position as a Senior Administrator, Analize replied to the elderly man's earlier remark about the success of Team Wolf Pack, explaining, "They are unlike any team I have ever seen. That man, Vahn Aldrnari Mason, possesses a healing ability that could humble the most skilled Light Bearers. As for his companion, Ha Phae Stios, she is able to produce items of an even higher quality than some of the articles released through the Workshop's auction..."Nodding his head in affirmation, the old man adopted a smile that accentuated the lines of his face as he said, "Indeed. Though her work might not compare to the true masterpieces produced by the Workshop, her talent cannot be denied. With proper guidance, it should only take a few decades for her to reach the Rank of Teacher...truly remarkable..."Though she knew Phae was extremely skilled, hearing the man say she had the potential to become a 'Teacher' was quite the surprise to Analize. Even the lowest-ranking Disciples within the Workshop enjoyed benefits similar to Rankers. As for Teachers, they had even greater authority than the vast majority of Rulers, a position that allowed a High Ranker full authority over a Floor's Shinsu. If Phae truly had the potential to become a Teacher, even saying she was 'truly remarkable' was a bit of an understatement...While Analize was thinking about how monstrous the members of Team Wolf Pack were, the elderly man, Graham, one of the Workshops 93 Teachers, continued to scrutinize the glove in his hand with an appreciative smile. It's effects might not be all that impressive, but the craftsmanship required to produce such an item was already beyond the level of most Disciples. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that the item was flawless, a true masterpiece despite the fact it was only around the pinnacle of D-Rank.Nodding in approval of his own thoughts, Graham placed the ivory-white glove into his personal storage before folding his hands behind his back and saying, "Since it appears they have no interest in the auction, I will meet with the members of Team Wolf Pack directly. Please make the necessary arrangements before they depart the 5th Floor. It would break my heart to miss the opportunity to recruit such a remarkable talent..."Though it would normally cause a stir for someone of Graham's status to enter an area intended for Regulars, the Workshop was exempt from most of the restrictions imposed upon Rankers. They had a unique contract with the Guardians that allowed them to observe, and, at times, modify the rules of certain Tests. After all, they were responsible for most of the facilities used to Test Regulars so it was only natural that they had access to most regions within the Tower.Bowing low in response to Graham's words, Analize maintained a respectful tone as she said, "I will need to submit a request to the Test Director, but there shouldn't be any problems. I can have them appear before you at your earliest convenience tomorrow morning..."Shaking his head, Graham began to comb through his chest-length beard as he mused, "Feel free to file your report but do not pester those children. I will meet with them personally. If I'm to have any chance of taking that woman as my Disciple, a bit of sincerity wouldn't hurt..."Since it was pretty rare for talents to slip through the cracks without their notice, it was apparent to Graham that the woman known as Phae didn't have any particular interest in joining the Workshop. The reports also indicated that she was very loyal to the man known as Vahn, so, if he was to have any hope of recruiting her, appealing to her directly was the least he could do.Hearing Graham's words, the corner of Analize's mouth began to twitch as she found it very difficult to maintain her usual smile. A Teacher descending to meet with a group of Regulars was a very big deal, so much so that she had never heard of a similar incident occurring in the six-hundred years she had been alive. If word of this incident were to spread, Phae's fame and status within the Tower was bound to increase exponentially. The Ten Great Families would spare no effort to acquire such a talent for themselves, and, in the most extreme case, they might kidnap her the moment she leaves the area reserved for Regulars in the Middle Tower...Unfortunately, even if she empathized with the woman, Analize wasn't in a position to try and help others when she already had enough trouble trying to avoid forceful recruitment herself. The life of an unaffiliated Ranker, much like the lives of Regulars within Paradise Bay, was filled with numerous hardships. She had already spent more than five hundred years trying to overcome the system and establish her own Special Family, so, even if she felt a little sorry for Phae, Analize wasn't going to sacrifice her dreams for a Regular, even one with monstrous talent. Thus, in response to Graham's words, she kept her head low, answering, "Understood..." in a dull monotone...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'You don't fuck with the White Mage','Who knew weeding out corruption could be so profitable~?','Who knows, Phae might even become a Princess of Jahad~')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1791: Stargazing