After the strange phenomenon caused by Lilia becoming the top of the food chain in volcanic areas after beating the monkey, finally ended, some people different to the simply curious side onlookers from earlier, arrived in time to see the spirit beasts return to their respective living areas.
"It seems like they had already left...", mumbled a red-haired girl with red eyes, that was Iris who rushed from wherever she was going, back to the sect when she got a message from her cousin, saying that a certain someone had casually cured Nina who was in the most critical state out of the three sisters.
"I told you it would be useless to rush all the way here at full speed, we'll be able to see that strange "friend" of yours tomorrow and those two aren't in that bad of a state, so why didn't you listen to your older sister for a change?", said another red-haired girl with green eyes, who was floating next to her, that was Layla, who Aster met earlier.
Iris eyes glowed with a complicated light for a second, she clearly wanted to attend the little gathering to which Aster invited her, but there seemed to be something weighing in her mind, which made Layla sigh.
"Forget about those old bastards for now, it has been quite some time since we sisters spent some time together, not to mention we were "honored" with being invited by the rising star who killed a prospect being scouted by one of the representatives of the Stall family, let's have some fun instead~", said the green-eyed red head as she patted Iris's head, disarranging her hair very much to Iris's displease.
"S-Sis, my you are going to ruin my hair... fine, let's collect the "material" you mentioned and then leave to prepare for tomorrow", exclaimed Iris to then fiercely glare at the magma golems that were rising out of the lava of sea, in part Iris rushed here to thank and meet Aster but she also wanted to obtain some cores from the magma golems, since according to Layla that's what Aster used to cure Nina's abnormal state.
She still couldn't understand how Aster did that, considering that the cores of the magma golems were in no way soft natured fire and earth materials, but she has seen the result and she trusted Aster, so she didn't hesitate to return from her ongoing travel around the vicinity of the sect, looking for materials to cure those three, to obtain said cores.
Leaving that little episode aside, within the dimensional tunnel towards the sect, Aster advanced at high speed with Lilia, her good mood was obvious as she kept clinging to Aster whole rubbing her face against his chest while letting out cute sounds from time to time.
"I'm glad that you are happy, it would have been troublesome if three refills of physical energy weren't enough to satisfy a certain someone in the short term at least", jokingly said Aster as he patted Lilia's head, earning a few soft growls from her.
"Grrr~", Lilia then jumped on Aster's back, resting her breasts on top of his head and using her arms as pillows for her chin, which made Aster chuckle, she already knew to where did this dimensional tunnel led to, which was to the sect and unlike earlier she took an interesting stance about it.
It was something along the lines of "Those females can approach you this time, but I'll be here watching everything", which was both amusing and surprising, Aster couldn't detect the bloodlust from back then on her, she wasn't exactly happy about it either but it was a big step ahead of when compared to a few hours ago, showing how she now had a better control over herself.
With Lilia showing no sign of letting go from him, Aster arrived at the exit of the dimensional tunnel and could already see what waited for him, they left the tunnel and appeared at the entrance of the Central Capital.
"Look, that's senior brother Aster"
"Senior brother, congratulations!"
"Thanks for the merit points!".
A plethora of different exclamations from the nearby girls who noticed his appearance, rained down on Aster, girls from the Black Sword, Green Lotus and even Yellow Anvil factions rushed towards him in every direction.
That being said, they still gave him some space so that he could move, these girls were coming from the direction of the Mission Hall which was Aster's destination, so Aster took the chance solve his doubt.
"Thanks, you all, is there a reason for you to be in the Central Capital right now?", he asked, it was getting late and at this time most of the junior disciples of the Black Sword faction would be at East Sky city to enjoy a dinner with their friends but they were here instead.
"We needed to go to the Mission Hall to claim the bonus merit points... and we also wanted to meet senior brother to thank him~", mumbled one of the young girls which made Aster bitterly smile, still that didn't explain the abnormal influx of junior disciples from the other factions and peaks as well, but that was solved by a girl from the Green Lotus faction.
"Not to mention we juniors, as well as inner disciples received a message telling us to go to one of the Mission Halls as soon as possible to sign for a special event the sect will prepare for us", said that girl.
Aster nodded, he didn't receive that message and he was sure none of the girls in his family received it either, since they are all Core disciples, high ranked ones on top of that, so he didn't need to worry about that.
"I'll take my leave then, good luck with your mission", said Aster as he walked towards the Mission Hall, making one of the junior disciples of the Yellow Anvil warn him.
"Be careful senior brother, the line is quite long and those guys have been causing trouble for quite some time", she said, referring to the members of the Blue Anvil faction.
"Thanks", Aster smiled at her and then took his leave, leaving behind a bunch of energetic girls who started discussing among themselves about who got to be gazed at by Aster more or who talked more to him and the like.
Aster walked through the streets while observing the slightly chaotic situation in the Central Capital, not like it affected him, but he was a bit worried that Lilia would find the ruckus annoying and casually decided to blast everything in sight away.
Luckily that clingy dragon girl remained calm while riding on his back, she simply leaned on his head and observed here and there when something caught her interest.
Aster inwardly let out a sigh of relief, since the girls who idolized him opened way for him wherever he went and the ones from the factions that were in bad terms with him, didn't dare to directly block his path, he soon arrived at the Mission Hall.
His arrival naturally drew the attention of the nearby people, there was of around a hundred meters that came all the way from the Mission Hall, formed by junior and inner disciples from all factions and peaks and more than half of that turned around to see Aster at the same time.
Aster paid no mind and simply walked past them, entering the Mission Hall with a calm demeanor, even if there were a lot of people in the building, the place was massive so it didn't look crowded, the ruckus originated due to the complains that could be heard coming from some parts of the waiting line.
"Hey, can't you fighting maniacs get that damn reward and then piss off, you can sign up for the mission at the Mission Hall of your exclusive city later anyway!", exclaimed a girl with a Brown Anvil badge on her right arm.
"Humph, why should we make two travels if we can finish everything with a single one, besides you all have no reason to come to the Mission Hall on the Central Capital, it's not like you need to claim a bonus reward like us~", retorted an inner disciple from the Black Sword faction.
"I bet you crazies just wanted to take a peek at that psycho...", a guy from the Blue Anvil was cut midway by a girl from the Green Lotus faction.
"You guys seem to forget that a lot of us work at the Central Capital so it's normal that we came to this branch of the Mission Hall instead of going all the way back to our base city, but it is also true that we would have gone out of our ways to meet senior brother".
Which is why other conditions are often added by the disciple, like information gathering and the like, luckily since there are really few outstanding male disciples, the "services" asked from the receptionist aren't of that nature, especially since Aster killed the sole unofficial male holy son which was Victor.
And Angela knew that he wasn't going to ask something like that from her, what was making her doubt was her reputation among the receptionists.
"It's not that but while I got a spot in the branch of the Central Capital, outside of the sect I am considered...".
"A manipulative, calculating person who entered through the backdoor, was it?", said Aster, which made Angela gaze at him, hoping to not see the expression she expected, just to feel chest tighten at the disappointment in Aster's eyes.
"Mm, that, it would be better for you not to relate with me as a receptionist too much, still I hope we can continue getting along like usual... ouch", the little tears forming at the corners of her eyes disappeared with a soft flick that hit her forehead.
Angela raised her head to look at Aster, her eyes glowed as she reconstructed what happened earlier, he didn't move so that flick was done using telekinesis, what amazed her is that it felt as if Aster directly did it, but right now wasn't the time for that.
"I think you are underestimating me a bit too much; do you think I didn't make a full background check on someone I am planning to trust with handling the private matters of my family, I had read each and every of the 4867 complains issued about you and I can safe and confidently say that all of them are stupid, jealous based rambling", said Aster.
"I do have a condition for you though...", he added, making Angela's heart which had come all the way from hell to heaven, drop once again, at least until he finished his sentence.
"I want you to come to my valley tomorrow to meet my family", with those words Aster confirmed the process and a ring which contained his reward came out from the formation on the table, before Aster stood up to leave not without saying.
"Being well informed and prepared isn't being manipulative, as a matter of fact I think you are still too "innocent", considering you didn't expect me to go as far as needed to learn the truth behind the accusations done towards someone, I consider a friend, but we can work on that, now that you are my "personal" receptionist".
"The reunion is scheduled for noon and onwards, but feel free to arrive earlier".
With those words Aster left through the door, leaving behind a frozen Angela who only reacted a whole five minutes later after they left, her reaction was a sweet smile and a soft laugh.
"To think that being bested at information processing wouldn't be unpleasant like I thought~", she mumbled, before she got up, as she had to finish all her work today to take the day off tomorrow, regardless of how much would those friends of hers would beg her not to.
'Mm, I need to finish early and go buy... clothes, ugh what can I bring as a present', while countless thoughts flooded Angela's mind, Aster and Lilia found themselves out of the Mission Hall.
Lilia gazed at Aster as if she was asking "What was that?", she probably wondered why he left like that, despite she being against other women approaching him, just like normal Lilia, she also seemed to notice the good qualities on a person like Lilia.
The fact that Angela chose to bring the subject instead of letting a "misunderstanding" earning her a nice commission, even if that meant opening the path for Aster to learn of her troubled past, was worthy of respect, of course this feeling came from the normal Lilia who was watching the whole thing and shared her feelings and thoughts with Dragon Lilia in real time.
"We'll leave it at that for now, I left all the "personal" stuff out of the report I asked uncle Julian to gather for me after listening to those rumors, she'll tell me about it when she feels like it".
The origin of this whole subject, were the rumors that reached Aster's ears through the girls that worked on his stores, or more accurately thanks to the little girl and Dahlia who were told said rumors and then mentioned them to Aster, countless girls from different factions and peaks went to his store after all, it as a perfectly good information gathering spot.
"Grrr!", Lilia's soft growl returned Aster to the real world, or more accurately the direction at which she was growling at, where two people were blocking their way.
Aster looked at the tall woman with black hair tied in a ponytail as well as metal armor, it was the Core elder of the White Sword faction, Mikaela and she was accompanied by her personal assistant.
"What is the Core elder of the White Sword, doing in such a place?" jokingly said Aster, to which Mikaela sighed.
"Well, I had to come since a certain someone caused a ruckus in the Central Capital and that bastard of William isn't here", she said while she rubbed her temples.
"Sorry about that, I remember you wanted to visit my valley, as an apology why don't you come tomorrow to my valley?", said Aster, making Mikaela's eyes sparkle in response.
"I'll take that as a yes, see you tomorrow miss Mikaela", said Aster as he opened a portal and jumped into it in a hurry.
"Young miss, I don't want to ruin it to you, but you have a lot of pending work to tend to, the announcement from Lady Valentina and the others should arrive tomorrow as well so...".
"So, you'll be taking my place tomorrow from midday onwards, it's already tiring to work with that crazy woman and she suddenly left, I need a rest", said Mikaela before she spread her aura, ending the conflicts that had risen in the Central Capital all at once.
...
Unlike the travel earlier, going from the Central Capital to the Twin Sword Valley was instant and didn't require a dimensional tunnel, so a second later they appeared in the middle of the living room of the castle, very much to the surprise of let alone the girls who were resting there, but even Lilia.
'Hey darling, I was...', Lilia who talked directly to Aster's mind was interrupted by Aster who had a playful smile on his face.
'Do you think I wouldn't learn a new trick as well, my eyes can now see when you two "change", so I brought us back before you did it~', he said.
'But why?', asked Lilia to which Aster chuckled.
"It's my gift for my first date with her, I want her to interact with the others", concluded Aster.
"Huh?", the reaction from Lilia and the others girls who were in the living room was the same, for different reasons though.