Chapter 241 - Change of Plans

"Routine meetings with champions don't commonly take so much thought or time, do they, Jarrit?"

"No. Oliver's a special case."

Claud scoffed and glanced at the well-built youth, "Interesting… Then I hope it something important worth making us wait…"

"It is. That we can guarantee," Jarrit replied with a chuckle. "Right, Oliver?"

"Mhmm…"

Unsure of what was actually going on, Oli slowly paced around the room as his mind wandered. 'What do you think happened?'

'I'm not sure, but something changed his mind. Though I don't know what it was or what Rhyner's thoughts and intentions will be when we reenter the room, at least something will have changed. Hopefully for the better.'

'What if we ran?'

'It wouldn't work out well.' Vloz explained, 'With Jarrit's space affinity, escaping here would be nigh impossible. And his cultivation is higher than mine, which only complicates things further. That's not including what would happen should Rhyner join the chase. I'm not sure what his cultivation is but it's at least on par with Jarrit to have noticed me hiding.'

'Great…'

Sighing, Oli smiled at Hurman and whispered, "Sorry for all this…"

"I accepted this treatment when I accepted your offer," Hurman replied in whispers. "I took the chance and I'm not backing down yet."

"Well said…" Patting Hurman on the back, Oli added, "We'll remember that."

Every time someone thought the door was about to open, their thoughts were dashed. No one was able to understand what was taking so long or even why Rhyner had ejected them in the first place. And now, they were all forced to endure their own lingering thoughts.

"Hurman…" Lizbeth soon approached her long-time friend and used a ring to create a silenced area around them.

"Lizbeth, right now--"

"Can we just talk? Also, Liz is fine…"

"... I suppose chatting wouldn't mean the end of the world." Hurman shrugged and sat down with her while Oli stepped back to give them some space. "First, know that I may not answer every question you have."

"Can you at least try?" asked Liz, getting a nod in response. "Are you serious about leaving the territory?"

"I am."

"Why? What more can you find outside of Trighton?"

"More freedom to do what I want and what my family wants."

"That's it?"

"It also gives my family an immediate foothold as a noble family, as well as the opportunity to better blend our essence natures."

"That's it?"

"What else do you think I would leave for?"

"... Isn't the city important to you?" Liz asked tenderly.

"Of course."

"Then why consider leaving?"

"Have you never thought of leaving your father's domain?" questioned Hurman, catching Liz off guard. "I remember all the times you rambled about leaving the territory and finding your place in this world. What happened to that? That's exactly what I want for my family, and I think the old you would understand that."

"Well… So does the new me…"

"Then why ask me about it? You know me well enough to figure this out, don't you?"

"It doesn't mean I wouldn't ask you anyway."

"Well… I'll answer what I can but it doesn't mean you can change my mind. You know me--"

"Once you're committed, you're committed to the end," stated Liz, finishing Hurman's statement for him.

As those two began to delve deeper into their conversation, everyone noticed one of the study doors begin to open. They watched closely as Rhyner took one step outside of the study and looked directly at Oli without regarding anyone else's existence. "Come in."

"Okay…" Taking a deep breath, Oli came forward and entered through the open door. But he was surprised to see Rhyner close the door before anyone could enter.

Vloz wasted no time coming out the moment the door shut. He looked back at Rhyner and could tell that he was visibly rattled and unsettled.

"Don't mind him. You two handled our first meeting far worse than he did."

That familiar yet jarring laughter caused both Vloz and Oli to tense up. They both turned their heads and instantly recognized the man still sitting on the couch, or at least recognize him according to the little they knew about him.

"You again…" Vloz mumbled.

"No need to cower or play around. I need to get going for now, but I've made sure to inform our new colleague about what to do next."

"New colleague?" Oli couldn't help but laugh pitifully, immediately understanding why Rhyner had acted out so strangely and unexpectedly. "Then--"

"Don't mind me. Just act as if I'm not here…" Following his own cue, the man's very existence faded away.

Swallowing some of the stagnant salivae in his throat, Rhyner turned to Vloz and Oli. "Sorry about earlier…"

"Don't worry about it. All of us were acting according to our needs and now we're all wrapped up in his schemes," replied Oli.

"So you don't know him?"

"No… The guy almost got me killed twice, only to bring me away from my home and force me to learn things I hadn't prepared for."

"I see… So he dragged you to my territory…" Feeling a bit better, Rhyner asked, "So we're supposed to work together now. Is that alright with you?"

"Do we have any choice in the matter?" laughed Vloz, trying to lighten the mood of the room. "Does this mean you'll be allowing us to leave?"

"Yes, but things have gotten complicated… Take a seat. We need to talk before I call in the others."

Oli took one couch and Vloz laid across another, leaving Rhyner in the middle in his cozy chair. They all let a moment of silence pass as they sank into their thoughts. Anything involving that man always took every morsel of brainpower they could muster, and the evidence of that was the stress riddling Rhyner's face.

"First off, I know about Oli being a gorilla and that you've been inducted into his Iron-body Gorilla Clan. Also, I now know with a surety that your Iron Territory is legitimate and sits on the prefectural border. I'm so certain that it exists that I'm sending Jarrit to travel with you."