Chapter 149: The Drink
"That, I have no information aside from their leaders being rank 9 Preparation Stage experts, or even stronger." Marcus knew that this was not really his fault. He didn't really have anyone on the inside of Octopi and he had no time to place someone inside to gather information as everything was moving way too fast.
"How sure are you that they have no Transformation Stage experts? For all we know all three of their leaders might even have reached that stage already." Dokoy's brows were scrunched. He had no chance of beating a Transformation Stage expert. How much more if the opponents have all three of their leaders at the Transformation Stage.
"I told you before, I am not sure about their ranks. We just have to prepare for the worst. We have the leviathan on our side. He should be able to take a few late Preparation Stage experts alone." Marcus has seen the prowess of leviathans before back in the heavenly realm. It was powerful, more powerful than the other creatures he has seen living in the heavenly realm.
He thought that if he could teach the leviathan who lives here a thing or two, they might be able to gain a certain advantage, a big one. He only has two or so days which was short, but he'll try his best to let the leviathan learn.
Soon, he's going to bring the leviathan back into the heavenly realm and let it fight against the Holy Empire. He had a few things planned for when he gets back up there. This was one of them.
"How do you know that our guardian can take care of it? You have never seen him fight. You have never even seen him at all." Peroy found it weird that the vermilion-haired teen in front of him spoke confidently about their guardian, the leviathan. The leviathan hardly shows its face to the people of the city, how much more to outsiders.
"I read the books in the library that you have. You also told me that he is the reason why this city is still standing. This just points that the leviathan is powerful, powerful enough to take on the leaders of either Octopi or Strongwald, of course, with the help of you three." Marcus took a sip of the drink that was in front of him.
The three leaders nodded and smiled as they listened. Their guardian being complimented like this is quite satisfying.
"You must be wondering where he is, right?" Synthei asked. She looked at Marcus who was still drinking. She couldn't believe that someone as young as the teen in front of him could plan something like this.
Marcus placed the cup down and swallowed the warm fruit juice in his mouth. He slightly breathed in and spoke. "Quite a bit, yes. I was hoping to see him and talk to him about all of these. Because I know that a lot of the decision pertaining to your moves will depend on him as he was and is the guardian of your people."
"He should be listening right now. He had just awoken from his slumber a few days ago because of an attack done by the humans." Synthei had a bit of anger in her voice. Although a lot of the ones who went to the surface were successfully rescued and are now with their families, there were still those who died, quite a few actually. Those deaths, although small, were still big enough to damage their troop population in the upcoming war.
Synthei took a deep breath as she thought about those who were recently killed and didn't make it back.
She then asked Marcus. "What is in this for you?"
"I beg your pardon?" Marcus thought he already answered this question before.
"I want to know what you get out of all of these. There must be something more if you are this motivated to actually destroy the Strongwald family of Estra. So, what is in this for you?" Synthei once again asked. The question was simple so she expected a quick answer.
Marcus sighed. "The Strongwald's need to be put in their place. One of their people tried to destroy my business recently. I am sure that they are all itching to kill me and they just need one good blow to do it. As a teenager, my rank and my skills in battle are not really on par with any of their skilled fighters. I am a lot weaker compared to them.
Don't get me wrong, I do train hard, but no matter how hard I train, I am still quite green compared to their fighters."
The leaders nodded. They were amazed at how a teenager could openly say his short comings.
Marcus continued. "So all I can do is make up a plan. A plan that could destroy them, permanently. Not just destroy a few of their troops, but all of them. I need to strike first or else they will be able to hurt not just me, but the ones I love."
Marcus continued to spout reasons why he was doing this. But, of course, he didn't bring up anything about the three races following him afterward. He thought that that would just spoil the mood that they have right now.
"Those are are not really the best reasons to start a war. A lot of people would just run away and never return to where they could be killed." Peroy slightly chuckled. He was amused by the teenager in front of him and the teenager's mindset was like he was no longer a child.
Synthei nodded. "What Peroy said is right. There is no shame in running away, especially since you are still a child."
"But fighting is also good, the glory and the taste of victory after the war feels great. Especially when you see your enemies laying on the ground." Dokoy's blood boiled as he thought about going to war, to avenge the death of his people.
Marcus smiled. "You are right that I have a choice to run away. But I would not want that. I want to face those bastards head on and destroy them permanently. I also have a business here that I wouldn't want to leave behind."
"Can I know more about your business?" Synthei asked. She was quite curious about what people on the surface do, and doing business is one of them.
"Selling drinks that could make you more powerful." Marcus proudly spoke. "All of which was made by my older sister."
"We also have those kinds of drinks here." Dokoy had a few of them which he saved for the upcoming geniuses.
"Yes, but what I have are special and more powerful. I'll let you all have a taste soon. I'll have all of those who are fighting to take in the drinks that were made by my company to boost their cultivation." Marcus knew that the drinks that Eva made would be helpful to power up the little army he had. He'd have to ask Eva to use the ones that are more potent so the ones here could easily breakthrough consecutively without many side effects.
The three leaders were then curious about the drink Marcus talked about. The drinks they saved up were in short supply. Well, not exactly short, but they could not afford to give it to every single member of the army they have. They thought that would be a waste and the drink they have should only be saved for geniuses who have a chance of reaching the Transformation Stage.
"Can we get a taste of these drinks you speak of?" Peroy asked. He wanted to see which one was better. The ones they have or the ones the vermilion-haired teen have.
"Yes, you can." Marcus nodded. "But it would not really affect you much. It might not even affect you at all as you are already a rank 9 Preparation Stage expert."
Marcus would never give the ones here better drinks. Not until they join him or he could also give it to them as a last resort. He wouldn't waste hundreds of liters of his drink on people who would not fight with him in the long run. That is, of course, what he thought right now.
"I see. So the drinks are still in the capital city of Estra?" Synthei asked.
I actually have one with me." Marcus decided to hand them a single bottle that was around 250ml. He knew that this was enough for them to share it with each other.
He placed his right hand close to the ring that's on his finger and soon a bottle with blue-colored liquid was in his hand. He then placed it on the table and waited for the leaders to take a sip.
"Ladies first," Dokoy spoke calmly. He was not in a rush to taste the drink that was handed by the "Asura". He had already tasted one a long time ago as he was considered one of the few geniuses that the siyokoy tribe had.