Strings Of Domination

The interior of the Crimson Tavern was silent for a long while, neither Nash, Amy, Miles, Flake, and Bane talking. As a fact, right now, the atmosphere around the table was so heavy that one would think a battle will break out at any given moment!

Amy and Miles sat next to Nash with a calm posture but if one would be able to see their faces behind their masks, one would find it with great surprise that their complexion was rather stiff and nervous while their hand below the table were clenched into tight fists!

The same thing went for Bane at the other side of the table next to Flake, the only difference was that his facial expression was more of solemnity than nervousness while his eyes flashed with different emotions, showing he was currently thinking about many things.

The only ones that didn't look either nervous or solemn were Nash and Flake as the former just sat in one place with a casual and relaxed manner while the latter was looking straight into the former's eyes with an indifferent gaze.

Naturally, Flake's complexion was serious this time, but it was not as serious as Bane's on his left.

After five full minutes, Flake finally moved and raised both hands before his face, and locking his fingers together gently he asked, "So let me get this straight. You wish to join my family but only if we can give you the freedom to go wherever you wish whenever you want, privacy that won't question any of your abilities, skills, powers, and origin which also includes your identity, right?"

"In short, yes." Nash nodded calmly.

From his point of view, Nash thought all these requirements were essential for both him and his friends as like this they not only would be able to find his uncle together with the rest but he would also be given the chance to travel into different dimensions to collect Aruer's Soul Fragments whenever he wished.

Furthermore, with the backing of the Slayer Family, especially with the Sargon Family which he uncovered was the strongest royal family among the Slayer Race, he won't need to fear getting offended or found out that easily while he can proceed with his plan without almost any worry!

Also, this was a good chance for them to get stronger behind the protection of solid walls and gain possible allies from different races that through time will trust him enough to make them his puppets too! But of course, for that to happen there was an extremely long and difficult road before him, which will only start if Flake accepts his requests, thus he won't get cocky as karma would immediately punish him for his arrogance.

Flake looked at Nash for another minute without talking, but soon he shifted his gaze at Bane and asked, "Thoughts?"

Bane, who was all this time silently listening and watching the body language of the three in front of him gave a small glace at his younger brother and said, "Well, if we think about it, they do have strength, talent, and potential that not even those at the Middle Layer has, and even a few possess in the Inner Layer. Maybe, and maybe if I need to exaggerate things a little bit, they have the potential to become beings that could rival those living in the Core Layer."

"Um... I apologize for interrupting, but what is this Middle, Inner, and Core Layer you have mentioned?" suddenly, just as Bane wished to continue after taking a deep breath, Miles raised his hand like a student to ask his questions.

Flake and Bane glanced at Miles with raised brows as they thought he was just testing them or even trying to make fun of them, but as they saw how he tilted his head in puzzlement awe flashed through their eyes.

'So they are really not from the Ancient Dimension?' such a thought appeared in Bane's mind and spoke, "Well, as you may or may have not known this, but the Ancient Dimension is separated into different regions, known as Layers. There are a total of five Layers that are the Outer, Middle, Inner, Core, and Isolated Layer. Also, there is a sixth Layer known as the Dark Layer where the known Horizon resides."

Upon hearing the word Horizon, Nash's ears perked up while Amy and Miles subconsciously looked at him as they too knew what kind of weight did the word Horizon carried.

However, it seemed their reaction was completely misunderstood as Flake and Bane looked extremely flabbergasted. It seemed their guess about the three in front of them was right, and the three were never in the Ancient Dimension ever before.

Naturally, this didn't mean they so far only lived in the Human Dimension as there were many ways for one to get from one dimension to another without using the Ancient Path directly, but those were either extremely dangerous or extremely expensive ways thus only a few were using those methods.

"I see, and what are the differences between each Layer?" Miles decided to ask once he got his answer.

"Well, there are quite a few differences such as the Ancient Particle density which becomes denser toward the Isolated Layer, the number of races which becomes less the deeper one goes to the Ancient Dimension, or the evergrowing threat each beast possess toward the center. Naturally, there are many other differences, but these are the most noticeable ones." Bane explained calmly with Flake nodding continuously on his side.

"I see, thank you for explaining."

Bane nodded before he glanced at Nash and said, "Anyways, back to our main topic, as I and even you have said this once, you three possess both potential, talent, and strength that is extremely hard to find even in the Inner Layer. Hell, you three even killed a Mutated Diamond Beast while you alone literally crippled a creature at the peak Warmaster Rank despite you only being at the Warrior Rank."

And after Bane reached that point in his speech, he glanced at Flake and said, "If you ask me, in exchange for their strength which can benefit both of us and our family, what they ask for is absolutely expected and acceptable."

"So you are fine with it?" Flake asked calmly.

"Yeah, totally. But only if you think the same." Flake nodded and leaned back in almost the same manner as Nash did about a few moments ago, showing that he had nothing else to say about this matter.

"I see." Flake shifted his gaze back at Nash and said, "Then I think we have nothing else to talk about."

"Then, does this mean..." Miles asked quietly.

"This means, welcome to the family guys! You have officially become a part of the Sargon Family!" Flake showed a handsome smile.

And exactly as he did, from the side Sue together with many other individuals appeared, each of them holding plates in their hands that contained various dishes, ones that immidieatly filled the whole Crimson Tavern with the almost irresistible aroma!

"Look at that, what perfect timing! Let's celebrate by filling our stomachs to the brim then, shall we?" Flake clapped his hands with delight, immediately grabbing silverware from the side and starting to eat the soup in front of him.

Bane did the same and grabbed a huge piece of pork from his right and a huge chunk of steak from his left and with a quick and massive bite shoved them down his throat almost like a beast!

Miles and Amy began to eat with enthusiasm too as their masks were designed in a way where eating in it won't hinder the wearer while Nash simply used his essence to change his Protean Jewel's shape in a way where his mask still hid his face but the same time allowed him to eat without any problem!

"Oh? What kind of treasure is that? Looks pretty useful." bitting into a huge heart that emitted a rather spicy aroma and swallowing it down, Bane asked as his eyes looked at the emerald mask on Nash's face.

Nash glanced at Bane and for a while, he didn't know if Bane either had short memory or simply didn't mean what he meant under the words of privacy.

'Well, this is not a part of my abilities thus I don't think it is a huge secret. Though, I will still lie about it.' Nash thought in his heart after gulping down the food called Frozen Rose which made his whole body refreshed, he said, "This is a treasure I have obtained by taking the life of a creature in the past that wished to kill me. It allows me to change its shape to an extent."

"Amazing. I wonder if I can get my hands on one too in the future." Bane mumbled in a low voice.

"Well, if you are lucky maybe you can find something similar back in the Mystic Hall of Mastery," Flake said with a calm smile as he slowly raised the spoon in his hand and put it into his mouth; his graceful movement was truly like a royal's, that was without a question.

"Yeah, great idea.. Once we get back to City Neo, I will ask that old geezer if he has anything similar to that." Bane nodded and with a more elevated mood stuffed more food into his mouth, looking almost like someone who almost starved to death and now wished to eat as much as he can!