"Which brand of forces did you come from?" Kazzir asked with a squinted gaze.

Despite attempting to be discreet, their disguise was seen through easily.

It was flawless, the Tabaxi guard was sharp and became suspicious instantly.

Rex was quite surprised that a new mid-rank Supernatural race like them was this good.

Someone being lost or not knowing how to enter the Zahara Consortium was a daily activity that could not be avoided. Rex—and Iris not instantly going to the end of the queue was not that suspicious.

Of course, the big giveaway was the mutated black panther they were mounting on.

But even then, there should be one or two powerful figures that came here.

Being brought to meet with Kazzir who proclaimed to be the commander was a bit too much.

Fearing that this might offend—the Zahara Consortium, Iris quickly stepped forward, "We are travelers, we meant no harm and only came here to do trades. We were under the impression that we were brought to have our items inspected so followed along here"

Upon hearing this, Kazzir raised a brow, "What items are you going to trade? Show it to me"

Iris glanced over to Rex.

Deciding to follow along, he handed over the elixir he purchased from the System.

It's a Soul-Enhancing elixir that costs me 10,000 gold, he wouldn't know about it, right?

Rex had purchased that in order to help him endure more of Elder Tilrith's soul-strengthening process, this one is all that is left of the pile he bought. Purchasing it from the System, Kazzir shouldn't know much about it.

Or at least, that's what he assumed but he was wrong.

"A Soul-Enhancing elixir," Kazzir identified, slightly shocked. "a high quality one too..."

He was mesmerized, by the elixir, the elixir's purity was really high—that the liquid itself was glowing. Such an elixir would cost a fortune and also narrow down their backgrounds, "So, it seemed you both are affiliated with the Demons. Are you working with them?"

Iris was taken aback, 'How in the world did he deduce that from one elixir?'

'Races who could enhance the soul were a few but there are still more than ten,' She mused.

Just from an elixir Rex had on him, Kazzir could make an accurate guess.

Although they were a force of their own, it was true that they had worked with a Demoness.

As if he could hear what was inside Iris' mind Kazzir smirked as he put the elixir into his own pocket—instead of giving it back to Rex, "I only made a guess, and it seemed my guess was correct"

Rex frowned when he saw Kazzir pocketing his elixir.

But he was more interested in other things.

"Is there any particular reason you suspect us?" Rex intervened, curious of how Kazzir knew.

Or rather, he was curious as to how the Tabaxi guard knew to suspect him and Iris.

He was mainly checking if there was another reason other than the black panther.

"Everything has a price here," Kazzir announced, placing both plans flat on the table. "But as a gracious host, I will answer you this question charge-free. It's because both of you doesn't seem to be affected by the Gravitational Rift"

Upon hearing this, Rex's eyes slightly widened as he realized what had happened.

Pretty clever, I surely wouldn't be able to see through it the first time.

Earlier, the Tabaxi guard offered to escort him to have his elixirs appraised but that was only a fluke to pull Rex, and Iris to the main gate, near the abyssal cliff. Since both of them—were outside of the translucent path that was protecting the other traders—from the suppressing gravity—they should be weighed down when near the main gate.

Instead, Rex and Iris were still upright and barely bothered by the gravity.

Just that alone shows that they were very strong.

Someone who could sustain the gravity pull must have power at the eighth rank or above.

Regardless of who they are, it was always worth it to check them.

Having that kind of power shows that they were definitely a part of a strong force—and that was how the Tabaxi guard suspected them. Had they been planted to the ground, the guard would send them to the back of the queue as they should.

A filtering process for Kazzir to investigate.

"Did the Demons send you here? To find out about the Dark Angels perhaps?" Kazzir asked.

Rex remained stoic as he answered, "We'd like to know"

Upon hearing this, Kazzir crossed his arms and leaned back comfortably.

"I don't know about telling you two, you're suspicious" Kazzir added, shaking his head.

Having his patience tested, Rex frowned hard.

Since even the guard knew what the Angels were doing, they weren't keeping it a secret. So it was common knowledge, everyone knew about the Angels helping to clear the area of the threatening mutated animals and Order Beasts.

Clearly, the Zahara Consortium wasn't afraid of letting others know about this matter.

From the looks of it, they were boasting that they were working together with the Angels.

But what's the reason? And what would the Angels gain in return, other than a passageway?

Rex needed to know a lot of things to know where the Zahara Consortium stands.

And as the commander, Kazzir must know about the deal made.

Just as Rex was about to reveal his identity and force Kazzir to tell him about the deal, Iris reached out her hand, and stopped him. She leaned closer to him, and covered her mouth with a hand, "Don't be hasty, I think he's only asking you to bribe him"

"Hmm?" Rex frowned, he didn't believe that was the case. "No way, right...?"

Once he shot a look back at Kazzir, he immediately took back the words he uttered.

Kazzir's eyes shimmered, with an almost feverish gleam, like a predator catching the scent of prey. In this case—the predator was him, and Rex was the prey. Having such a quality elixir— a Soul-Enhancing elixir of the highest quality made Rex the prey in this situation.

If Rex handed his Soul-Enhancing elixir like that, what else could he have in his pocket?

Expectant for the answer, Kazzir rubbed his hands together in an unconscious rhythm.

A telltale sign of his barely contained anticipation.

Rex then checked Kazzir's desk—and found elemental stones of different sizes—scattered across it. Their allure mirrored Kazzir's ravenous expression. Just the sight alone made Rex realize that Iris was probably correct.

Well, I shouldn't be surprised by this.

Knowing that the Zahara Consortium worked on their markets, this is to be expected.

Naturally, people like Kazzir strived in this kind of environment. Read exclusive chapters at empire

A fanatic to the riches of the world.

"I happen to be in possession of this," Rex took out a piece of the Passue he killed—back on the great war against the Fifthborn. "It's a limb of a Passue, that guarded the most regal site of the Ancient Humans"

Upon hearing this, Kazzir's hands trembled—his eyes glowed like stars.

"How on earth do you get your hands on that...?" Kazir muttered in a whisper and doubted.

But even then, his hands naturally approached the limb—wanting to have it.

Rex pulled it away causing Kazzir to click his tongue, in displeasure, "Before I give you this and perhaps more things that don't lose out to this—tell me about the deal the Angels has made with your twin rulers"

Swayed instantly, as if he has no loyalty other than to riches—Kazzir told Rex everything.

From Kazzir, Rex and Iris learned of the deal that was made.

Based on him, Serevia was the one who made the deal with the Dark Angels.

Kazzir has a voice in Zahara Consortium so any decision made must also be informed to him, so he knew exactly, that the Angels asked for her to give them passageway through the only point to cross over the cliff, the Saltura Bridge.

Archangel Calignar and his companion came to discuss about this not too long ago.

And what they asked of Serevia was that they would open the bridge when the time came.

On top of that, they also asked for information regarding the Fifthborn's death.

In exchange, the Dark Angels would sweep the area clean of threatening mutated animals, as well as two Knights—nearby. One is a holy Knight-class Order Beast—while the other is a fire Knight-class Order Beast.

Second, she also asked for some wings from the Dark Angels.

Serevia also made them promise under the name of their Origin to not attack them.

Unlike the other forces—the Zahara Consortium is a grey kingdom that sided with nobody.

And surprisingly enough, Archangel Calignar complied and swore in the name of his Origin.

Rex listened attentively, this was good intel.

He had already more or less known what the Dark Angels wanted thanks to Eryndor and the other Angel rebels but he didn't know what the Zahara Consortium wanted in return. Now, it was blatantly clear where Zahara Consortium stands.

They were publicizing their cooperation with the Angels to draw in other forces.

Earlier, he was confused about why the Zahara Consortium kept it a secret.

But as it turns out, they wanted to make use of both sides.

Since the Dark Angels were invading the continent and the only way to gain the upper hand and attain strategic advantage over the strong forces in the continent was through the new Zahara Consortium, Serevia was aiming to make a deal, with the Dark Angels, as well as the strong forces around her to quicken the growth of her kingdom.

A dangerous game you're playing here, Mistress Serevia. A very dangerous game.

Making use of her kingdom's strategic location to extort from other forces would leave a bad taste in everyone. She might think she could play both sides, but that was only an ambitious, and reckless gambit.

Rex was speaking from experience.

As someone who had experienced being pressed by the high-rank Supernaturals, he knew.

Strength is everything. She's racing to make herself stronger before being confronted.

Eventually, Rex nodded his head—this was good intel.

He could now confront Serevia and Serevan.

If he played his cards right, he could coerce the twin rulers into his side.

Achieving that would give him a very sharp edge against the Dark Angels, Rex couldn't fail.

In the meantime, Kazzir was infatuated with the Passue limb in his hand.

Coming from the Ancient Era—he heard stories of the horror from those who encountered this monstrosity. Nobody came out alive not even those, who were deemed to be the very absolute geniuses of their races.

All of them fall.

Stories only came from the haunting screams and wails from the communication talisman.

Kazzir couldn't help but wonder how many strong beings the Passue whom this limb belongs to have killed when it was alive. Low-balling the guess—it should be thousands—but it was unlikely.

Hundreds of thousands would've been more likely.

Regardless, Kazzir was going to turn it into a decoration to brag to his friends.

Just then, as his infatuation decreased, a frown crept to his face.

'A Passue...? How did it end up in his hand?' Kazzir pondered, glancing at Rex who was still in deep contemplation—sitting across his desk. 'Is he a part of that new Clarentium Empire? It's been circulating around, their war against the Fifthborn that is. But I assumed taking the limb of a Passue is prohibited by the empire so he must have a great connection'

As he thought of that, Rex suddenly stood up.

He had arranged what he needed to say and was ready to meet with the twin rulers.

"I request an audience with Master Serevan and Mistress Serevia" Rex announced firmly.

Upon hearing this, Kazzir frowned, "You need influence, you couldn't just ask to meet them"

"He has influence," Iris stepped forward. "He's Rex Silverstar, the Emperor of the Clarentium Empire"

"Eh...?" Kazzir's face froze. "He's who now?"

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