The Glorious Evolution

After some time... the unexpected meeting concluded.

Levi and the rest returned to the same rooftop, and this time, it was just them. Rayan, Jamal, and Sergio had no business with this discussion, as it was clear... the government wanted only the best talents in the region.

They were told that they could have built a team from already established powerful Wardens, since this was the peak rank allowed in the tournament... but they knew the past would repeat itself.

That team would have its ass kicked, wiping out sooner or later... they couldn't afford to lose more Daywalkers.

On the other hand, even though Levi, Arthur, Jojo, and Nurah were quite far from reaching the Warden rank, the government and the top three agencies were planning on putting all of their resources into their growth.

The best available evolutionary recipes, the rarest materials, and the best mentors... Lord Idriss, Madam Ysara, Lord Hicham, and even Feng Ling would teach them some stuff.

They wanted to build a super team with the face of Heliodor's region and its resources.

A team that would leave a mark, and maybe, just maybe... help their region obtain the Radian Blessings.

With eighteen months to qualify, they believed they had what was needed to make it happen.

"So... what do you guys think?" Shia asked, sitting with one hand above a knee like a delinquent again.

"I think we should do it," Arthur said. "High Chancellor is right... if we want to be the best, we have to compete against the best... always."

"I feel the same." Nurah nodded. "My mother might have been teaching me her ways, but she always told me that she wanted me to be more than just a paid assassin... me too, I want to be more."

"I am down as well." Shia uttered solemnly. "The world is big, and the universe is even bigger... and I want to explore them in my lifetime."

"This means you will have to stop being rebellious against your family and accept their fullest support." Nurah giggled. "To put you on the team, your dad must have given up some big promises."

Shia's eyelids twitched, but she knew Nurah was right... if a superteam were being built, there were other candidates much more fit to be part of the main squad than her.

Velmira, for example... although she was already a Warden and had limited room for improvement, her unique powers could offset it.

Also, her big brother... he might be away on a mission and at a Warden rank, but he would fit in with this team, akin to a jigsaw puzzle.

Yet, Shia was the recommended one from The Blood Hunters' Agency.

This made her understand that her father had put his own reputation on the line to back her talents.

She went astray for two years, delaying her growth, but with a perfect evolution to the Pathfinder rank... it changed everything about her potential.

She only needed to bring it to life, and only her parents were capable of doing so.

'It might not be so bad...'

Shia murmured inwardly, recalling the intimate moment with her mother before she passed out inside the mountain... she felt it... her mom's genuine feelings towards her were slipping through the cracks.

Although it wasn't nearly enough to offset her displeasure at their horrid parenting ways, still... she could see that they gave a damn about her through actions, not words.

For now... it was a start.

"What about you two?" Nurah turned to Jojo and Levi.

"I have no interest in joining a random raiding squad." Jojo shared. "If you're going for it, so am I."

Hearing this, everyone turned to Levi, who was still keeping his thoughts to himself.

"Oh, of course I am joining..."

Levi smiled in approval before diving deep into his thoughts again.

He had discussed the subject with Ash'Kral, knowing that he held the most knowledge about the event.

What he heard made him decide to join the team, too.

Besides the bestowed title, which awarded each Raider with amazing benefits from the Solar Aegis Sanctuary, and the platform... the qualified Raiders get to travel across the world with immunity bestowed upon them by their sponsor.

Once the event ended, the immunity expired... and the nightcrawlers could add them again to their menu.

This immunity extended to the nightcrawlers' nests participating in the tournament as well... putting them under the protection of Duskbound Order.

Unlike normal live-streamed raids, conquests, or saviors' battles... Platform events brought in crazy numbers of viewers since the battles didn't occur arbitrarily.

Hundreds of teams across the globe get to join, and only one winner shall emerge.

A story with a beginning and an end.

'If I were to join, I would have to include a condition that protects my evolution's privacy.' Levi murmured inwardly.

This was the only issue Levi had with this situation... although it was generous of the government to help them with finding the evolutionary formulas, Levi already had this part handled.

'Maybe I can add the rest of the team, helping them reach Warden rank through perfect evolutions... this will help me and Arthur hide our perfect evolution formulas. Plus, the stronger we are, the higher our chances of winning the whole thing.' Levi pondered. 'But how can I get this done without getting questioned about it?'

After Melissa died, rest her soul, Levi realized that being selfish with Ash'Kral's library of perfect evolutions might not be the best option.

He wanted to give himself some time until he built more trust with his friends, but now... he knew that the world didn't follow his whims.

His friends could die at any given moment, and if he liked having them around for long, he should assist them in getting stronger too... especially when he had no use for those formulas besides selling them.

Though Levi put selling them on hold until he gained access to Nocturn's Heart Main Hub... that's the best place to sell them while maintaining his anonymity.

Levi knew that a contract would do the trick, but this would still keep the mystery burning through the minds of High Chancellor and the others... for such beings, curiosity might make them do something foolish.

Levi needed a believable excuse to avoid any type of responsibility.

'I will think of something later. For now... we should create the team right away, so we can be somewhat ready before the registration starts.'

After the decision was made... Shia reported it to her father.

He told them to gather in a week at the Lightbearer Alliance Agency's Headquarters... they would meet their last member and sign the Rifter Contract. He told them they were given a week as a break from the major expedition... after a week, they shall begin the preparations for their first raid, which would be held right after their graduation... which meant in two weeks from now.

Just as Lord Idriss was about to hang up, Levi told Shia to ask him about when they would be getting their rewards from the major expedition.

Lord Idriss told them that the mountain's collapse had buried the treasury, which was already in a hidden place... only Grave'Maw and his trusted subordinates knew about it.

Without the treasury, they couldn't calculate each one's percentage based on their hard work in the expedition.

Of course, the Daywalkers deserting their posts would get nothing but punishment. Velmira might not have been cruel to let them die in that suicidal mission, but they would still get punished based on the contract terms.

"Once we retrieve what remains of the treasury, we will split it up." Lord Idriss shared calmly.

"Sir... is it possible if I want something else in place of my portion?" Levi inquired.

"Like what?"

"A Dimensional Wallet," Levi said, surprising his friends.

"... Levi, you know such wallets are sold only to Warden Daywalkers... it's the law." Lord Idriss said.

"I know that the law is in place since there is a limited number of wallets sold each year by the Solar Aegis Sanctuary... but, if we are about to become the face of Heliodor's region, don't you think it's a bit shameful to appear on live stream with bags?" Levi sighed. "What will other regions say about us? Too poor to afford dimensional wallets, yet daring to call ourselves a super team."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Arthur and his friends were left speechless for a moment before Levi gestured with his hand at them to speak up.

Immediately after, they clamored noisily, supporting his request.

"He is right, Dad... I ain't putting myself under the world's mockery."

"Uncle, I too feel the same... I need a lot of food to sustain my energy intake, and I can't be seen carrying dishes in my travels." Arthur nodded, his arms crossed... already gotten himself familiar with Lord Idriss.

"I am okay with either... but, I hope my friends can have their wishes fulfilled... Namaste." Jojo said, speaking respectfully... though everyone could tell she was full of it.

"Mom, I know you are still nearby... I want a dimensional wallet too." Nurah giggled, her voice echoing in the Council.

Lord Idriss and the rest were left speechless for a moment before shaking their heads in amusement.

"You're the High Chancellor... deal with it." Feng Ling swiftly took off, leaving behind him a mere breeze.

He made it seem like he didn't want to deal with their request, but in reality, he just took advantage of the opportunity to go on a smoke break.

He was truly addicted to nicotine... one of his few remaining simple pleasures in life.

Ignoring his escape, High Chancellor smiled wryly and said, "Fine... you can collect them at midnight."

Cheers resounded on the other side of the call before Lord Idriss hung up on them, fearing that they might request something else.

Meanwhile, Levi wasn't too surprised by how easily they agreed.

Besides what he mentioned had some sense, he knew that the Sunstrike Agency wipe-out had left many dimensional wallets unused.

They only needed to check the incantations in the Solar Aegis Sanctuary's system and register them under their names with new passwords.

So, the law wasn't truly broken outright... just bent a little.

'Midnight... good, it's best to own a dimensional wallet if I want to get as much as possible from the buried treasury.'

Levi thought inwardly, still planning on carrying out his original plan... A plan he had been working on ever since he obtained the Umbral Crown.

The Heist of The Treasury!