Chapter 114: Variable

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Variable

Thanks lockie_boy for the golden tickets. Please join the community, the link is in the snyposis or my profile. Everyone is invited.

....

The following morning, Tolu was led deeper into the Omimi manor.

The part of the estate where Jide’s father received guests was quieter than the main halls. The walls were decorated with old paintings and carefully preserved weapons, each one carrying the weight of generations of history.

Tolu walked beside Jide.

Kenny followed a short distance behind.

Neither spoke much.

Jide had only told him that his father wanted to meet him.

But from the way Jide had behaved the previous night, Tolu knew this was more than a simple conversation.

They eventually reached a large wooden door.

Jide knocked.

"Come in."

Jide opened the door.

Inside was an elderly man seated beside a wide window.

He had a straight posture despite his age, dark skin marked by years, and short grey hair. His clothing was but simpleand it was quite refined, carrying the insignia of the Omimi family.

His eyes immediately settled on Tolu.

For several seconds, he simply looked at him.

Then a smile appeared.

"So you’re Tolu."

Tolu bowed slightly.

"Yes, sir."

The old man gestured toward the seats.

"Sit."

Tolu sat.

Jide remained standing.

Kenny also stayed near the door.

The old man studied Tolu again.

"I watched your fights."

Tolu waited.

"You’ve fought five opponents."

"Yes."

"Each one different."

The old man leaned back.

"And you adapted to each of them."

His expression showed genuine interest.

"That is what impressed me."

Tolu didn’t respond immediately.

The old man smiled.

"You are not the strongest contestant remaining."

Tolu nodded.

"I know."

"But strength isn’t the only thing that matters."

He folded his hands.

"Many young cultivators your age have talent. Some have excellent affinities. Some possess better techniques, better weapons, better teachers, and better bloodlines."

His eyes remained on Tolu.

"But talent without judgment is easily wasted."

He paused.

"You don’t appear to have that problem."

Tolu wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so he simply said,

"Thank you."

The old man chuckled.

"You remind me of someone."

Tolu looked at him.

"Him?" Moving his gave to Jide.

The old man laughed.

"No."

Jide immediately frowned.

"Father."

His father waved him off.

"You were never this composed."

Kenny covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.

Jide looked offended.

The old man smiled before turning back to Tolu.

"My name is not important for this conversation."

Tolu raised an eyebrow.

The old man continued.

"But you may call me Father, as Jide does."

Tolu nodded.

"Father."

The old man’s expression softened slightly.

"I want to ask you something directly."

Tolu straightened.

"Are you considering joining the Omimi family?"

The room became quiet.

Tolu hadn’t expected the question to come so quickly.

Grandfather continued before he could answer.

"I am not asking you to become someone’s servant."

His voice was calm.

"And I am not asking you to surrender your independence."

He leaned back.

"The Omimi family is large. We have businesses, cultivation resources, connections, training grounds, artifact craftsmen, alchemists, merchants and information networks spread throughout the kingdom."

He gestured toward the room.

"Someone with your potential can benefit from those things."

Tolu listened carefully.

Grandfather continued.

"If you officially become affiliated with us, you would gain access to cultivation resources that ordinary cultivators would struggle to obtain."

"Special training grounds."

"Family techniques that are available to outsiders only at great cost."

"Discounts and priority access through our businesses."

"Connections to powerful cultivators."

"And protection."

His gaze became sharper.

"The last one matters more than the others."

Tolu understood immediately.

Power attracted trouble.

Money attracted even more.

Reputation attracted people who wanted to use both.

Grandfather continued.

"The Omimi family can provide you with an identity strong enough that many people will think twice before making you their enemy."

He paused.

"You would also be able to request assistance when you encounter problems beyond your current ability."

Tolu considered the words.

"What would the family expect from me?"

He smiled.

"That is the important question."

He leaned forward.

"We would expect you to uphold the family’s reputation."

"Nothing more complicated than that."

"You would not be required to abandon your own ambitions."

"You could establish businesses."

"Travel."

"Accept missions."

"Train wherever you wished."

"And eventually, if you become powerful enough, you could establish your own branch beneath the Omimi family."

Tolu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Grandfather noticed.

"We are not trying to cage you."

He smiled.

"We are offering you a place where your growth benefits both you and us."

Tolu glanced toward Jide.

Jide simply smiled.

He continued.

"And there are other advantages."

He began counting them calmly.

"If you require rare materials, the family can help locate them."

"If you require an artifact, we can connect you with our craftsmen."

"If you require medicinal resources, our stores can provide them."

"If you want to establish a business, our merchants can help you enter markets that would otherwise be closed to you."

"If you require information, our network can provide it."

He paused.

"And if you eventually become strong enough to operate independently across the kingdom, the family name will open doors for you."

Tolu remained quiet.

It was difficult not to see the appeal.

He had spent much of his life thinking about freedom.

About having his own home.

His own money.

His own future.

He didn’t want someone controlling every decision he made.

But this wasn’t what the man was offering.

At least, not yet.

It sounded more like a partnership.

Grandfather watched his expression.

"I am not asking for an answer today."

Tolu looked at him.

"You’re not?"

"No."

The old man shook his head.

"You have a semifinal to fight."

He smiled.

"Focus on that first."

Jide’s father stood.

"After the competition, if you are interested, we can have a proper discussion."

Tolu rose as well.

"Thank you for telling me."

He nodded.

"And Tolu?"

"Yes?"

The old man’s expression became serious.

"Whatever you decide, don’t choose because you feel indebted to anyone."

Tolu paused.

"Choose because it benefits your future."

For the first time, Tolu saw why Jide respected the old man.

There was no pressure in his words.

Only an offer.

Tolu bowed.

"I’ll think about it."

Grandfather smiled.

"That’s all I wanted."

As Tolu turned toward the door, the old man’s voice followed him.

"And one more thing."

Tolu looked back.

"I hope you win tomorrow."

A faint smile appeared on the old man’s face.

"I would very much like to see what someone like you becomes."

....

The capital was quieter than usual that night.

Not because there were fewer people.

There were more.

The competition had given everyone something to talk about.

In a secluded room somewhere within the capital, several figures sat around a large table.

No servants were present.

No guards stood inside.

The windows were closed.

The conversation had nothing to do with food, business, or ordinary matters.

It was about one person.

Tolu.

One of the figures leaned back in his chair.

"His performance was unexpected."

Another person nodded.

"Unexpected is putting it lightly."

A third voice spoke.

"Five fights. Five victories."

There was a pause.

"And the last two weren’t against weak opponents."

Someone placed a hand against the table.

"He defeated an Initial Advanced cultivator."

"After already fighting several Adepts."

"Yes."

Silence followed.

Nobody seemed particularly pleased with the development.

One of them finally spoke.

"The problem isn’t that he’s strong."

Another figure looked toward him.

"Then what is the problem?"

"The problem is that we don’t know why. Especially if he’s coming from that family. Any variable must be eliminated"

That answer made the room quiet again.

"We know his earth affinity."

"We know he uses a hammer."

"We know he’s young."

"And we know he has been hiding his cultivation."

A voice interrupted.

"Which means there is probably more."

"Exactly."

The person speaking leaned forward.

"Someone doesn’t conceal their cultivation for this long without a reason."

Another figure crossed his arms.

"Or perhaps he simply wanted to surprise his opponents."

"Perhaps."

The word was followed by a long silence.

"But would you gamble on perhaps?"

Nobody answered.

One of the people at the table picked up a cup but didn’t drink from it.

"Look at what happened today."

"He was pushed to the edge."

"He should have been exhausted."

"Yet he still had enough strength to defeat someone from Ologunri."

"And now he’s in the final four."

A quiet voice spoke from the other side of the table.

"Which means tomorrow he could reach the final."

"Yes."

"And if he wins?"

Nobody immediately answered.

The person continued.

"Then a cultivator nobody paid attention to a few days ago suddenly becomes one of the most talked-about young cultivators in the capital."

Another voice came.

"And every major force will want him."

That statement changed the atmosphere.

It wasn’t fear.

Not yet.

But there was uneasiness.

One person slowly tapped his fingers against the table.

"The Omimi family has already noticed him."

"Obviously."

"They gave him resources."

"How much?"

A pause.

"We don’t know but probably enough. It’s what any of us would do."

That answer drew several looks.

Another person finally said,

"If the Omimi family decides to invest heavily in him, this could become troublesome."

"For whom?"

The person didn’t answer immediately.

"Everyone."

Silence.

A different voice broke it.

"He could be nothing more than a talented young cultivator."

"Yes."

"Then why are we sitting here discussing him?"

Another pause.

"Because talented young cultivators are common."

The speaker looked around the room.

"Someone capable of reaching this stage is not."

"And someone capable of doing it while concealing his true cultivation is even less common."

One of the figures leaned back.

"So you think he’s a threat?"

"No."

The answer came immediately.

"I think he could become one. A variable"

That distinction settled over the room.

Someone finally spoke.

"What do you suggest?"

The figure at the head of the table remained silent for several seconds.

"Nothing."

Several people looked at him.

"Nothing?"

"Not yet."

He looked toward the closed window.

"Let him compete."

"And after?"

"We watch."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"If he loses tomorrow, perhaps this conversation becomes meaningless."

"And if he wins?"

The room became silent.

"Then we decide whether he is merely talented..."

He paused.

"...or whether something has entered the capital that none of us were prepared for."

No one spoke after that.