Hero of Darkness

After they won the match and all three of them officially qualified for the next round, the three peak grandmasters left the battle ring. 

"Let's not meet each other again." said Kahn as he bid farewell to the brothers. 

Kahn was certain that both of them had a very powerful background as they were also peak grandmasters despite being under 30 years old. 

Definitely one of the top 15 strongest combatants in this competition if his estimations were right. And hence, getting mixed up with them wasn't a situation he hoped for. 

Apart from this coincidence, he didn't wish to form any friendship or enmity with the brothers either. 

Even though they also used low-rank skills to fight just like Kahn.. He could sense that both the brothers had a lot of experience in real-life battle since they could come up with a viable strategy on the spot and fight accordingly while hiding their true rank, skills and combat prowess. 

Getting mixed with them would entail him being targeted by someone he didn't even know of. So cutting ties this early was a better idea than regretting later. 

Now, Kahn only had to fight and win the sixth round to qualify for the quarter-finals. Another step towards his final goal. 

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The subordinates reported back after 3 days while Kahn had been carrying on his daily routine as the next round was on the way. 

He knew that just because he was a semi-saint, didn't mean that he was allowed to slack off. Even those with the same rank as him would be training hard day and night and unlike them, he had no teacher or any form of guidance. 

His blessings helped him master skills and combat techniques at a faster pace and all the knowledge he was getting about combat skills and techniques came from the books and records he found the archives that were left in the training facility by the previous owner of his mansion. 

So being ignorant would spell his imminent defeat while facing these individuals as the protagonist halo or plot armor didn't always help in a real world like this. 

If he wanted to win.. He had to work for it like a real warrior. 

At the night when Kahn held their usual meetings… 

This time, there was a whole cache full of high-grade space rings. 

"Are the numbers same as I expected?" asked Kahn. 

The five subordinates Omega, Ronin, Jugram, Oliver and Ceril nodded in response. 

"Our total earnings are 24 Trillion after the last match." reported Omega. 

The odds for their battle were 75:25 and Kahn had told them to bet all their fortune after seeing the odds. 

Given the 3:1 ratio, their earnings were tripled from 8 trillion to 24 trillion after his people had bet on him in the previous round. 

At this point, it was so much money that his people have been running out of high-grade space rings to collect all that wealth. And the medium-sized cache they brought was filled with more than a thousand of such space rings. 

"Master… our current wealth is more than enough to establish ourselves in 7 more districts in the capital and rule the business worlds there no matter which field we choose. 

And if we were to factor the underworld organizations there.. We can easily control these districts since there are no saints involved in the play." spoke Ronin. 

Kahn gave it a thought and spoke after a minute.. 

"Even though money is no longer an issue.. We still lack manpower, connections and most importantly.. Strength. 

So unless I become a saint myself; we really shouldn't be ignorant and bite more than what we can chew." spoke Kahn with a serious countenance. 

"Besides… If things go the way I have planned, we might need all of the money in the future after this competition is over." he explained. 

Step! Step! 

A set of footsteps resounded in the room and a man donned in white and green robes walked inside. In his hands, was a big and intrinsically designed book. 

Thud! 

Armin, the pathfinder class subordinate placed this book on the table. 

"Master, I finally found it! Here are all the records about the places chosen as fiefdoms by the previous winners of the Emperor's Chosen competition. 

And I also looked for the places that met the conditions you stated yesterday. I think I have found a perfect match." spoke Armin. 

Kahn nodded at the subordinate and opened the book and a particular page Armin had already bookmarked. 

"Just as I thought… the government was indeed hiding this fact from the public since a century now. 

This definitely has something to do with one of the previous Heroes of some God." said Kahn as he read the contents of the page. 

Kahn had already told the subordinates about being a chosen Hero of God of Darkness. So aside from his previous life, they knew about everything else. 

"Master.. There are two more places but I don't think they have anything to do with the Heroes of the past or your predecessor, the 8th Hero of Darkness.

I have already marked them." said Armin after taking a seat. 

Kahn spent half an hour reading the noted pages and finally reached a decision. 

"Although they are immensely useful in terms of monetary gain.. I don't want to die after the competition. 

It would be too careless of anyone who isn't backed by one of the three factions to choose these two areas. Even if I were a bonafide saint.. I still wouldn't dare to be this ambitious. 

And most importantly.. We have different needs." said Kahn and informed all the subordinates including Rudra and Blackwall who were hidden in his shadow about his future plans. 

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4 DAYS LATER 

Kahn traveled to a district named Edo, the 9th most successful district in the capital, where his matche was to be held in a city named Otose. 

For this round, it was going to be 3 vs 3 battles. But this time, the team that defeats all the members of the opposition first would be declared as the winner. 

After reaching the battle arena in a city in this district, Kahn was introduced to his new allies. 

He was suddenly elated after looking at his new teammates and subconsciously let out a content smile as he spoke in a joyous tone... 

"Omoshiroi.."