Death... and me

After coming out of the cage, Rean and Roan immediately began to discuss what they heard.

"Calina obviously wasn't the rebel. That only leaves Suten and Malize. Tissan seems to know Suten, so Malize was probably the one. Of course, that's not considering the ones that Tissan doesn't know about.

Roan shook his head.

"That doesn't matter. Our plans don't rely on a rebellion anyway. I was more afraid that the rebellion might have worked. That would definitely screw up everything."

Rean shrugged his shoulders as he said.

"That shows why the Emperor hasn't lost his throne yet. There is no doubt that he went through his own struggles when he ascended to the throne. Even though he might be dying, he isn't that easy to take down. Besides, his cultivation is still there."

Roan nodded.

"True. However, that's also just a possibility. We don't know anything about what is happening inside, and Tissan didn't help much. I wouldn't be surprised to later discover that the rebellion succeeded and the Emperor isn't the one calling the shots anymore."

Rean looked at the cage inside the Concealment Formation.

"Whatever. I need to go back to Droman before he starts to suspect anything. Are you going to the Black Market?"

Roan confirmed.

"That's the plan. I already got Tissan's identification plate anyway. If I'm not wrong, the news about Tissan's disappearance probably reached that old geezer's ears. I'm going there to take my reward."

Rean then warned him.

"I know that I'm probably saying the obvious, but there's a chance that they will try to get rid of you as well. After all, they think you were the one who killed Tissan. The best way to keep a secret is to be dead, after all."

Roan snorted in response.

"Indeed, you only said the obvious. Don't worry, if they want to get rid of me, they will need to make preparations first. Be it the world of cultivation or not, a few rules never change when preparing a trap for someone. That being said, I will immediately enter the Dimensional Realm if I notice those clues."

Rean shrugged his shoulders and then left the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm. As long as Roan understood, then so be it.

Roan also took a last peek at the jail in the Dimensional Realm before leaving as well.

It was already the morning of the next day when the twins emerged from their room. As far as everyone was concerned, the two were just cultivating all night long.

Rean didn't take long to arrive back in the Formations Master Guild Main Branch now that he knew the right teleport formations. There, he got to talk with Milo and a few of the other future participants before entering the repository with them.

Rean wanted to test his skills against them a few times. However, none of them accepted competing with them. First, they didn't want to show their own cards. Second, they didn't want to shake their own confidence if they lost. Not to mention that Droman and their masters wouldn't let them compete against each other either. Rean would only be able to test his skills a month later. Well, at least he could discuss formations with everyone.

Nonetheless, that didn't impede Rean to befriend them. Rean wasn't going to let Roan do everything alone. While the Ice Block would be trying to get information in the Black Market, Rean also set his target inside the Formations Guild.

Rean and Droman spent another day practicing. Well, it was basically Droman trying to push everything possible into Rean's head. Droman only gave Rean a break after he said that he needed some time to digest everything. Well, in fact, Rean had chosen a specific time to say that.

Droman stayed in the repository, though. While Rean rested, he would use every second to read his own share of material.

Outside the repository, Rean finally found the person he wanted to talk to.

"Hey, Qia. Just like Milo said, you like to take a pause around this time to revise everything you have seen so far."

Qia was drinking some hot tea in a tea shop inside the Guild. The Formations Master Guild was enormous, so they obviously had a good environment for Formation Masters. In fact, all the other Main Side Occupation Guilds had small conveniences like these.

Qia then looked in Rean's direction before smiling.

"If you came here to pry into my techniques for the competition a month from now, I think you will get disappointed."

Rean laughed, not minding too much.

"Of course not! However, if you want to give me a few pointers, I more than welcome it. As someone from outside the Capital, I feel like I'm far behind everyone in my Formations' Techniques except for the Communication System."

Qia shook her head.

"Since you got access to the repository, there is no doubt that you will improve a lot until your time allowed inside is over. Of course, you will need to put effort to make this time worthwhile. For example, not spending your time talking with the first lady you see drinking tea but practice more."

Rean couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head. Seeing Rean's expression, Qia giggled. In fact, she found Rean quite funny due to his full snow-white hair. It wasn't the same as old people that were more like silver.

"Anyway, you didn't come here just because you wanted to have some fun time with me, right?"

Rean nodded as he showed a somewhat awkward expression.

"Yes. In fact, I came to talk with you because of something I noticed the first day we met."

"The first day we met? Did you fall in love with me at first sight?"

Rean laughed.

"Would the princess be happy if I admitted that?"

Qia was taken aback for a moment before laughing.

"Aren't you too straightforward?"

Rean shrugged his shoulders as he said.

"This is the only place in the world where I can act this lovey-dovey with a real princess, so why not?"

Finally, Rean was able to bring out a little redness from Qia's face.

"Stop it already, will you?"

Rean laughed before deciding to use Spiritual Sense messages as he said.

'Lady Qia, I can get rid of those scars for you.'