Chapter 398: The Alliance in the clouds
In the blink of an eye, the days went by, and Alex had passed through one hundred and fifty thresholds before he noticed. He became much stronger by conquering new dungeons with his beloveds by his side.
Even though his level rose, it was obviously not enough to stomp freely in his winged girls’ lands. In fact, Alex already had an encounter with Auberon’s second wife’s children, and their meeting had gone exactly like everyone in his family thought.
It was a show of superiority that could only be stopped by no one else other than Madame Danielle.
Although Alex felt bitter, for the other side didn’t even want to have a normal talk with him, and they all carried the same blood as Stella and Meiya, that encounter taught him that enemies were indeed everywhere.
Alex soon would learn that this lesson was more than he thought.
“You made here, Tomo,” Alex waved at his good buddy, who had first overcome the mountains’ challenge with his wind mage friend. Alex took a glance at that man—and already had a meeting with him before—he smiled, greeting the man as well, “Good job, Wind Sheep.”
It was Tom’s friend’s nickname—Wind Sheep.
His real name was private, just like everyone else’s from the Mastermind Guild, and that was even though they all lived in the same hotel. That was for security and other things to keep players’ lives secure.
Of course, good friends had already told each other’s their real names; Tomo and Wind Sheep weren’t an exception.
“Thanks,” Wind Sheep replied briefly and quietly, maintaining brief eye contact with Alex before looking around the clouds. It was his first time looking at clouds from such a close range, so even twenty years old man had formed a bright expression with his eyes going around, twinkling and looking like a kid.
Tomo was the same.
And as Alex was not alone, he didn’t mind them having their own time. His fiance accompanied him to the grand doors, for she had an important task here.
He held Stella’s hand, who would soon invite these two players to her household and give them quests to increase their holy and wind magic. In this way, Tomo Homie and others would soon become associated with Flayott Household.
Still, as many families of the same status dwelled in the clouds, both Danielle and Tomo Homie predicted the imminent argument between them and others.
For that reason, the Alliance planned to not stop players and residents from entering other households should they receive the invitation. They wouldn’t irk the other households and also would be able to plant some spies here.
Danielle was on a board with such a plan just for that reason alone.
Of course, there was always a chance that someone would turn their back on the Alliance, so even some loyal players from Mastermind would enter other houses, too.
Alex wanted Tomo and his buddy to be under Stella’s family wing for the fastest progress, of course.
“Others should catch up soon enough,” Tomo Homie slid his glasses on his nose, his eyes shining behind them. He obviously wanted to enter the capital, see the cloud islands, and more, but also, he wanted other families to approach their people.
Because of that, Stella couldn’t be here. And so, the four of them quickly crossed the grand doors, greeting Meiya’s childhood friend before heading to the vast island.
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And as the calendar pages’ flipped, more players and residents swarmed the clouds, receiving guidance from many families. Alex’s in-laws had the most newcomers, showering them with quests to clean the mansion and streets, and do groceries.
Their levels weren’t high enough to deal with monsters and get more demanding quests.
It didn’t mean that everyone became a maid to get some income. They received contribution points that they could change into skills and other treasures. And every household also had low-level items so their children could get the hang of magic and mana.
Of course, it was much harder for newborns to practice, for their levels were halted at level one until they grew up.
Still, those treasures were of the highest demand for players and residents.
Those limitations were for wind mages, though. For healers, especially players, it was much better. They could heal anyone and anything, including flowers.
Madam Danielle’s favorite cloud bamboos snapped into pieces across the vast island, only to either be mended by the island or the alliance. If that was the former, the players and residents wailed.
If latter, they jumped from ecstasy and happiness, hugging each other like the best buddies they were—for the mountains’ challenge surely turned them into ones.
Players could also freely leave the islands and go to the cursed areas to heal minor wounds of the winged people. Their lives weren’t in danger because they simply could respawn.
Amidst all those challenges, training, and sightseeing, Alex found his freedom, and he decided that he would finally go on a date with Stella and Meiya.
He wanted to casually sightsee the capital for so long that Alex put the wig on his girls’ heads, wrapped them in the local clothes, and did the same to himself, later on, becoming much closer to the winged people.
He didn’t really like the white robes, for he felt those were too loose—but that wouldn’t stop him from enjoying the realm.
“If disguise worked, we would have done it already,” Meiya squinted her beautiful golden eyes at Alexander, unsure of his idea. Even though her bold side would gladly enjoy some thrill and danger, the method could’ve been used at the beginning of Alex’s stay in the clouds.
Because they hadn’t gone for it, Meiya’s other self rejected the idea mostly due to her pride.
Stella was on the board with her fiance, fixing her wig and preparing to step outside the house.
Alex grinned, pinching Meiya’s cheek, “There are much more players and residents now, so people won’t get suspicious if they find someone not looking like Winged People. There’s chaos here, so we can enjoy at least an hour, right?
It’s been a while since I was on a date, too!” Alex was in a pretty hyped mood, his excitement shedding some of his mature looks as he grinned like a kid.
At last, the three of them left their mansion.
And that step was the first step to a significant change in their lives.