Chapter 473: Partnership

’Seven days. If I prepare properly, I should be able to refine a considerable amount of Mana before returning.’

His cultivation had reached the Early Emperor Realm, but he was far from satisfied.

He needed resources, time, and, above all, a better environment for cultivation.

The Upper Plane offered all three.

There was only one problem.

He needed to win the competition.

Not merely perform well or collect a respectable number of hunting marks, but secure first place and obtain the reward reserved for the top performers.

According to the instructor, the winning class would receive access to one of the academy’s restricted areas, while the highest-ranked individuals would receive additional privileges.

The details had been deliberately kept vague, but Gray already knew enough to understand the value of the opportunity.

The academy had accumulated resources from countless expeditions, old battles, and exchanges with other powerful institutions.

Its restricted areas were where the most valuable materials and records were kept, including things ordinary students would never be permitted to touch.

There was no way he was allowing such an opportunity to slip through his fingers.

’I’ll win this competition, obtain access to the restricted area, and use the entire seven days to refine my Mana. Everything else is secondary.’

He could probably manage the competition alone.

After all, most students at his cultivation level couldn’t match his combat experience, and even opponents several realms above him would have to be careful.

His rapier had reached the Peak Monarch grade, further increasing his sword skills, and his Nullification ability gave him options that few opponents would anticipate.

Still, relying entirely on himself would be inefficient.

The first-year and second-year students were competing for the same targets, and the Upper Plane’s academies were filled with talented individuals.

Some possessed rare bloodlines, special physiques, and techniques developed specifically to counter demons.

Others might have artifacts capable of revealing his concealed cultivation or interfering with his abilities.

Winning alone was possible.

Winning while conserving his energy, gathering as many hunting marks as possible, and taking full advantage of the Upper Plane’s Mana was a different matter.

Gray closed his eyes briefly.

’Then I’ll simply bring along two people who can make the whole process easier.’

His lips curled upward.

He already knew exactly whom to ask.

...

Three days later, Gray arranged a meeting with Scarlett and Elira in one of the private lounges reserved for the academy’s noble students.

Scarlett arrived first, dressed in her usual crimson attire, with her long hair falling over her shoulders.

She looked slightly annoyed when she discovered that Gray had summoned her without explaining the reason.

Elira arrived a few minutes later.

Unlike Scarlett, the silver-haired princess seemed delighted by the invitation.

She entered the room with a bright smile, immediately took the seat beside Gray, and began asking whether he had finally decided to accept another invitation to her family’s residence.

Gray politely ignored the question.

Instead, he placed a map of the Upper Plane’s designated hunting grounds on the table.

Both princesses immediately became more attentive.

The map showed several regions marked according to their difficulty, along with the locations of the temporary camps, extraction points, and areas where the participating academies were expected to gather.

The academy had provided the information to its students to help them prepare, but the map offered little insight into the actual strength of their opponents.

Gray had already spent part of the afternoon studying it.

He had marked several locations where groups of students were likely to gather, as well as areas where the terrain would favor ambushes.

He also noted the positions of several ruins and abandoned settlements within the designated region, since those were the sorts of places where rare materials and useful information tended to turn up.

The two princesses looked over the map before turning toward him.

"So," Scarlett began, resting one hand against her cheek, "you’ve invited us here to discuss the competition?"

"More or less."

Elira leaned closer to the map, her pale violet eyes moving between the marked locations.

"You’re planning to target the more difficult hunting grounds, aren’t you? Most students will probably avoid them at first, especially the areas close to the Upper World’s larger academies."

"Correct."

Gray tapped one of the marked regions.

"Those areas should contain students with higher hunting values. If we spend the entire week chasing ordinary opponents, we’ll waste too much time for relatively few rewards. I’d rather focus on the stronger participants, collect their hunting marks, and leave the weaker groups to anyone who happens to encounter them."

Scarlett studied the map.

"And what happens when we run into an entire group of Upper World students?"

"Then we defeat them."

He answered so casually that Elira burst into laughter.

Scarlett, however, continued examining the map.

"You make it sound simple. Some of those groups will have people at the Ruler Realm or above, and their cultivation systems might be different from ours. We won’t know their techniques until we fight them."

"Which is why I want you two to help me prepare."

Gray leaned back in his chair, looking from one princess to the other.

"I have a proposal."

Elira immediately straightened.

"Oh? This sounds interesting."

Scarlett gave Gray a suspicious look.

"Why do I have a feeling you’re about to ask for something unreasonable?"

"Because you know me so well, Princess."

"That’s precisely what concerns me."

Gray ignored her and continued.

"I want to win this competition. First place, not second or third. I intend to secure access to the academy’s restricted area, and I want to collect as many hunting marks as possible without wasting unnecessary time or resources."

He paused, allowing the two princesses to absorb his words.

"If you help me achieve that goal, I’ll grant each of you a favor."

Elira blinked.

Scarlett slowly raised her head.

"A favor?"

"Yes."

Gray smiled.

"Anything."

The word hung in the room.

For a moment, neither princess spoke.

Then Elira’s expression transformed. Her pale violet eyes brightened, and a mischievous smile spread across her face as she leaned toward Gray.

"Anything, you say?"

"Anything."

"You’re making quite a generous offer, Gray. Are you certain you understand what you’re promising? Because I can think of several things I’d like to ask you for, and some of them might take a considerable amount of effort."

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed.

"Elira, don’t get carried away. He’s offering a favor in exchange for help with a competition, not signing himself away to your family."

Elira glanced at her with an amused smile.

"How interesting. I don’t remember asking for your opinion, Scarlett."

"You don’t need to. I’ll give it to you anyway."

Gray watched their familiar rivalry begin to surface, then raised one hand before their argument could grow into something more troublesome.

"There’s no need to fight over it. I’ll honor my word to both of you, provided we achieve the result I want."

Scarlett turned back toward him.

"And what exactly do you expect from us? You already proved you can defeat opponents above your cultivation. Is this simply another opportunity for you to show off?"

"Not at all. I intend to win as efficiently as possible."

He pointed toward the map.

"Scarlett, your cultivation and bloodline make you well suited to dealing with the stronger opponents. Elira, your family has connections with the Upper Plane, and I’d rather not enter the hunting grounds without someone who understands their customs and knows what to look for."

Elira smiled approvingly.

"You’re giving me credit for my knowledge and connections? How thoughtful of you."

"Of course. I wouldn’t have asked you otherwise."

Her smile grew brighter.

Scarlett, however, was staring at him with a different expression.

"There’s something you’re not telling us."

Gray tilted his head.

"What makes you think that?"

"Because you’re willing to offer us anything in exchange for help with a competition you believe you can win alone. You’re either planning something considerably more complicated than you’re admitting, or there’s something in the restricted area you want badly enough to make this arrangement worthwhile."

Gray’s smile remained unchanged.

’As expected, she’s sharp.’

He had no intention of explaining his interest in pure Mana, nor did he wish to tell them about the particular treasures he hoped to find in the Upper Plane.

Revealing those details would only create unnecessary questions, especially if the two princesses began wondering why a demon like him needed mana instead of Demonic Energy.

Instead, he tapped the map again.

"The competition is an opportunity to collect resources, obtain access to the restricted area, and improve our positions within the academy. You both stand to gain something from it, and I’m offering an additional reward for your assistance. Does the reason behind my interest matter so much?"

Scarlett stared at him for several seconds.

Then she gave a small, dissatisfied pout.

"You’re avoiding the question again."

"I answered the part relevant to our arrangement."

"That’s not the same thing."

"No, but it’s close enough for tonight."

Elira laughed softly, clearly enjoying Scarlett’s frustration.

Unlike her rival, she seemed perfectly happy to accept the arrangement without learning every detail of Gray’s intentions.

The promise of a favor from someone as mysterious as Gray was already appealing enough, and his confidence suggested the competition would be far from boring.

She extended her hand across the table.

"Very well. I’ll help you win, Gray. I expect you to remember this promise when the time comes."

Gray shook her hand.

"Of course."

Scarlett watched the exchange with a faint frown before finally extending her own hand.

"Fine. I’ll help as well, but I’m warning you now, Gray. If this turns into one of your ridiculous schemes, I’ll make sure you regret involving me."

He shook her hand too.

"I wouldn’t dream of putting you through unnecessary trouble, Princess."

Scarlett gave him a flat look.

"That was the least convincing thing you’ve said all evening."

Nevertheless, the agreement was made.