Chapter 70 - Preparation

Roger went to Kaspher and then sat on the couch in his room. He gave Kaspher a deep look that made him nervous for a moment. 

Kaspher awkwardly smiled and then asked, "What's the matter, Boss?" Then Kaspher continued asking, as Roger still hadn't answered. "Did I do something wrong?"

Roger shook his head and then sighed. He returned the folder containing the report about the investigators and then gave him an order.

"Could you please investigate them? Just make sure that you use cameras and other tools. They have some ability to sense some presence."

Kaspher nodded.

"What do you have in mind? What should you do if you will watch them closely?" Roger asked.

Kaspher sat across from Roger and explained what was on his mind about the matter.

"Well, to have the safest surveillance, I would change the people watching them from time to time. For example, I would put someone who would jog around their area. Then, I must do it with people shifting their positions."

Roger raised an eyebrow and asked, "I already said that they have some ability to sense a presence."

"I didn't mention that they would have some wiretaps, right? When that happens, they could just drop it consistently to get more network."

Roger shook his head, not convinced by the concept.

"I don't think that would be good. I think it would be better if you put some cameras inside their house."

Kaspher smiled and then shook his head.

"If they already know you discovered them before they discover your identity, they should be thinking that we are still keeping a close eye on them."

"And, what do you suggest with your idea? How would that be a good idea?"

"Well, if you make something out of people's league and perform an intelligent method of surveilling them, they would not expect you to perform a simple and easy method of surveilling. In short, you won't expect an intelligent person to be mediocre."

Roger became silent as he realized what was in Kaspher's mind. But, he wasn't fully convinced.

"If that's what's on your mind, do it. I trust you, but if you fail, I will do it myself, Kaspher."

Kaspher gulped then asked humbly about it.

"What do you mean, Boss?"

"Well, let us just say that your method didn't convince me fully. But, I get what you were thinking. Do it."

After making the decision to have Kaspher's network watch the three investigators, he then visited the Cold Frost Guild. 

He went inside Nikolas's office even without an appointment. As his reputation was known, people would tend to respect him, but some were still looking down on him as they suspected that Roger was only spoonfed for some reason.

But, Roger didn't care about any of it. He didn't need people's validation, which would not even benefit him.

Just as he entered, Nikolas already noticed him and gave him a seat on the couch.

"So, what is the purpose of your visit?" Nikolas asked.

"Were the men to secure the city prepared? I was asking about that." Roger asked.

Nikolas exhaled, then went to approach him. He then sat across from him and crossed his legs. His blue, cold eyes were fixed on Roger. He looked at him with a discerning look, as always, and answered his question.

"Yes, it was already ready. But, I am concerned about your absence in the city. Will that be okay? I heard that there were some visitors from the District Overdrive."

Roger paused as he heard what Nikolas said. He then realized that Nikolas's network might be as good as others. So, he just became transparent to him.

"Honestly speaking, they were a pain in my ass but still manageable. I closed a deal with them with an unexpected payment of a million."

"Million? That's a huge amount of money."

Roger exhaled and then smiled bitterly.

"Yeah, it was a huge amount. But I could still gather that money from the money that the previous gangs left. I will just look for a financial manager. But, it is not a problem right now." Roger stated.

"So, will you be absent from the city for about a month?" Nikolas asked.

"Might be, but it will change if I get some idea along the way to return. But the security of your guild was just insurance. As far as I can remember, I don't have any enemies."

"What about the visitors?"

"They are not enemies. They could be my partners in the future, but they are still assessing me like crazy. I will give them time."

Nikolas smiled and then gave Roger a list of good martial arts instructors.

"That's the list of instructors that worked under me in the past. You can contact them for interviews; just state my name."

Roger nodded and thanked him for it.

After that, they talked for a short time, then Roger left the Cold Frost Guild and contacted Kaspher.

"Right, I forgot to tell you to find a finance manager. We would be needing it."

But Roger went straight to the mayor after that talk with Nikolas. He was also using the help of the mayor since he trusted him that his decisions would be for the greater good of the city.

Even though it was like that, his suspecting traits weren't still off. He would sometimes suspect people around him, but he knew they could not do something. Even if they do something, like reporting him to the District Overdrive for hiding his awakened rank, there is no evidence that Roger is above the mediocre rank of Awakens in the District Wish.

"Mr. Mayor, thank you for accepting my request for an audience," Roger said as soon as he entered the office of the mayor.

The mayor just smiled and shook his head humbly. "No need for formalities. You are the supporter of the city, so formalities aren't required between us."

"I would be rude if I did that. You are a government official and I am just the boss of some gang. But anyway, I have a favor to ask."

The guards behind just ridiculed Roger in their heads. 'The duality.'

But they couldn't do anything as it was outside of their power and responsibility to handle something like that.

"What favor?" The mayor asked.

"Can you look for a finance manager who would be willing to work under me? I was short of people that had some intelligence. If you don't mind."

The mayor smiled and dismissed Roger's notion.

"You don't have to worry about anything. I will look for it. But what is your preference? Would you like a female or a grown man?"

Roge scoffed as he noticed the mayor's intention. He then shook his head and said, "Just a smart person is enough. You don't need to worry about their bodies."

The mayor snickered, then agreed with Roger. 

"Okay, I will order my secretary."

***

In front of his people, Roger stood straight and posed his presence in front of them. They were at the open lot in the Blue Neighborhood as a ceremony of their relationship since they had started here.

"This is out of nowhere, but I am announcing that the gang will undergo a month of training in the mountains."

Roger pointed to the mountain on the right side of the neighborhood. And as everyone looked at it, questions slowly popped into their heads.

"What kind of training would we be going for, Boss?" Mark asked.

"I am pursuing toning your external arts, which means you will be starting to form your muscles, skins, bones, etc."

"Does that mean we will go for training that a normal person would do?"

"Yup. You may think it is useless, but it is necessary since martial arts without the proper physique are useless. I will just tell you that since you are not a normal Awakens. You focus on the martial arts, which falls into the Warrior category of an Awaken."

"Understood Boss."

Roger had not prepared what he would give them, so he just left them with an idea of what they could possibly do.

"I didn't create a training plan for you since I was hoping to learn each of your specialties. This means that the method that I would be using is to hone your survival instincts."

It wasn't the best method to train people on Earth, but it was the best way to bring out the Murim traits in Kluma. Hence, since he didn't know any possible method that he could use or anything that would benefit those who practice cultivation, he would just use his own way of traditional training.

"Understood Boss."

This is also an advantage for him since his people didn't doubt his methods. They had already experienced a change in their lives because of Roger's help, and doubting him would stop that change.

"Okay, I will give you a day to prepare and say your goodbyes to your family. And after that, do not bring anything and go straight to the mountains in a separate direction. Anyone who would resort to teaming up will be punished."

"What?!"