Chapter 221 — An Invitation

Chapter 221: Chapter 221 — An Invitation

Chapter 221 — An Invitation

The conversation about the missing slaves eventually began to slow down.

Neither side had much more to add.

Victor had given Gravius the information he’d gathered, and Gravius had agreed to investigate it. Whether that investigation would actually lead anywhere was another question.

Then Gravius looked toward Daniel.

He gave him a small nod.

Daniel leaned forward with a smile.

"So, Victor. Now onto the next reason for our discussion."

Victor’s attention shifted toward him.

"This was honestly the main reason we invited you here today. Answering your questions and bringing you to the estate was only part of the invitation."

Victor glanced at Gravius before looking toward Zack.

Zack gave him nothing.

He seemed determined to stay completely out of the conversation.

Victor looked back at Daniel.

"Okay. What did you want to talk about?"

There was a slight defensiveness in his voice.

Daniel laughed.

"Come now, Victor. Do you really think everything we talk about has to be so serious? We already got the serious discussion out of the way."

Victor nodded.

"Okay."

Daniel settled back into the couch.

"We’ve been thinking about you."

That wasn’t exactly comforting.

"Everything we’ve learned so far tells us you’re probably going to become quite the powerhouse in the future."

Daniel grinned.

"As long as you don’t die first."

He laughed.

Victor winced slightly.

That wasn’t exactly the funniest joke when you were the person supposedly dying prematurely.

Still, somehow Daniel managed to say it in a way that didn’t bother Victor as much as it probably should have.

The man had a strange charisma about him.

Victor was starting to think Daniel could call someone stupid directly to their face and somehow leave them wondering whether they’d just been complimented.

"Your alchemy is exceptional," Daniel continued. "Your battle prowess is far beyond what we’d expect from someone your age."

Victor’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"So that spar earlier was a test?"

Daniel nodded without hesitation.

"In some ways, yes."

Then he smiled.

"Half of it was a test. The other half I just enjoyed."

Victor shook his head.

Daniel was a strange man.

"Then there’s your cultivation speed. Rank Two Spirit Gathering at fourteen years old is already commendable."

His eyes briefly moved toward Zack and Alex.

"Hell, you’ve already passed Zack and Alex. Two sons from two of the most prominent families in the Tower."

"That speaks leagues about you."

Daniel leaned forward.

"But I’m not saying all this just to fluff you up."

Victor waited.

Daniel smiled.

"What do you say?"

Victor raised an eyebrow.

"We’d like to invite you into the Graveborn family."

Victor became still.

So that was it.

Daniel continued before Victor could answer.

"If you joined us, you’d have access to countless materials, treasures, and potions to help your cultivation."

He took another pull from his cigar.

"And I’m sure you’ve learned by now that eventually, you’ll run into a problem."

"What problem?"

"When you attempt to reach Spirit Core."

Victor’s attention sharpened.

Daniel smiled.

"To reach the Spirit Core Realm through the path of alchemy, you need a specific potion. And that potion is controlled by the three prominent families."

Victor remained silent.

"I’m sure you noticed all the Rank Nine, Rank Ten, and peak Spirit Gathering cultivators working for our family when you entered the estate."

"I did."

"They’re here for a reason."

Daniel tapped his cigar lightly over the tray beside him.

"They know we’re one of the only places where they can eventually obtain that potion."

Victor thought back to the guards he’d seen throughout the estate.

Suddenly, their presence made a little more sense.

"Outside of alchemy, you’re forced to rely on the World Law," Daniel continued. "And I’m sure you’ve already learned that the World Law isn’t particularly kind to humans." ⅇ𝒃𝚗ℴ

Victor listened closely.

"What might take a beast a few years could take a human hundreds. Sometimes even thousands."

Victor’s expression changed slightly.

"And most humans simply don’t live long enough," Daniel finished. "They die before they ever reach the next realm."

Victor hadn’t known the difference was that extreme.

He’d heard pieces of information here and there about how unfair the World Law was toward humanity, but hearing Daniel state it so plainly still caught him off guard.

It also explained even more about the importance of alchemy.

Without it, humans could spend lifetimes trying to accomplish what beasts could achieve naturally.

Fortunately, Victor had something they didn’t know about.

The Library.

Ancient formulas.

Ancient methods.

His own path forward.

He didn’t need the Graveborn family to reach Spirit Core.

But they couldn’t know that.

Victor remained quiet for a moment before speaking.

"I really appreciate the offer."

Daniel waited.

"But Elder Benton has already taken me under his wing."

Victor gestured toward the token he carried.

"As you can see, I’ve been carrying his token of authority. He wouldn’t give something like that to just anyone."

Daniel’s smile faded slightly.

"He plans on taking me as a personal disciple," Victor continued. "I’ve already accepted his help. I wouldn’t want to turn around and rub him the wrong way."

Daniel shook his head.

"Victor, Elder Benton is influential. Very influential."

He paused.

"But even he can’t compare to one of the main families."

"I understand."

Victor looked around the den.

"I can see that."

He’d seen the estate.

The guards.

The resources.

The sheer amount of wealth and power concentrated in one place.

There was no point pretending otherwise.

But now Victor understood the real purpose behind today’s invitation.

All of it had been leading here.

And strangely enough, Victor had probably brought more information to Gravius than he’d received from him.

Victor shook his head.

"The main family isn’t for me."

Daniel watched him.

"But I really do appreciate the offer. If there’s ever a chance for us to work together in the future, I’d be more than happy to."

Victor smiled politely.

"But for now, I like where I’m at."

Daniel studied him for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"I understand."

He didn’t push.

"But please keep it in mind."

Victor nodded.

Daniel leaned back.

"Our family has plans to hopefully become the rulers of this Tower one day."

Victor’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The statement was made casually.

The ambition behind it wasn’t.

"And the other families have their own ambitions as well," Daniel continued.

He smiled.

"Hopefully, when the time comes, you end up on the right side."

Victor didn’t respond immediately.

He glanced toward Gravius.

The patriarch hadn’t said a word.

He didn’t need to.

Daniel wouldn’t be saying any of this in front of him if Gravius disagreed.

"I understand. Thank you."

Another piece of the Tower had just revealed itself.

And Victor wasn’t sure he liked what he saw.

After another moment, he stood.

"Do you guys mind showing me where the restroom is?"

The timing wasn’t entirely accidental.

Victor wanted out of the room for a few minutes.

Gravius looked toward Daniel.

Daniel seemed to understand immediately.

There was no point continuing to push Victor.

"Down the hall," Daniel said. "Take a left, then it’ll be the third door on your right."

Victor nodded.

"Thank you."

He gave Gravius a respectful bow before leaving the den.

The moment Victor entered the hallway, his mind started moving.

He’d learned far more today than he’d expected.

Not necessarily about the disappearances.

About the Tower itself.

There was clearly far more political conflict between the three prominent families than Victor had realized.

Each wanted more influence.

And from Daniel’s words, the Graveborn family eventually wanted control of the entire Tower.

Victor couldn’t help thinking about the Tower Master.

He’d heard plenty about the man.

But he’d never actually seen him.

Who is he?

More importantly—

Where is he?

If the three prominent families were openly competing for control, what was the Tower Master doing?

Did he simply allow it?

Victor shook his head.

Too many questions.

Even the way the Graveborn family had tried to recruit him bothered him slightly.

Maybe their offer was genuine.

Maybe they truly saw potential in him and wanted to bring him into the family before someone else did.

That explanation made sense.

But Victor had too many secrets.

And joining a family like this would only put those secrets under a magnifying glass.

He’d rather keep his distance.

As for Elder Benton...

Victor knew he’d stretched the truth.

Benton had never officially offered to make him a personal disciple.

But Victor doubted the elder would care that he’d used his name to avoid joining the Graveborn family.

Victor continued down the hallway toward the restroom.

His head was already filled with more questions than when he’d arrived.