Unsealing Emptiness

These months, Ozul had learned all the basics of the formations and how they worked.

The organization had grown to the point where the people working under it could already rival the small organizations on their own without the help from either Ozul, Irvin, or even Haley.

The members had already started to learn. Their task wasn’t so complicated anyway. They just had to keep an eye on stuff and not be found out, meanwhile, having enough strength to protect themselves.

With more members that knew what they were doing, it was easier for Irvin to add more as the older recruits helped the new as well.

Ozul knew that they were going in the right direction when even some young master of a Marquis household came to ask for help.

Because of his arrogant and rude conduct, Haley had denied him even when he offered a lot of money. Ozul had ordered them that they would not tolerate any disrespectful behavior even if it meant losing business.

.....

The fact that some random young master from a noble house was aware of their place was enough for them. The Ashin family had been constantly supplying the resources, so they did not lack anything.

Instead, Haley did not like the fact that they could not even start to use some of these things.

Irvin did not once come to ask for any help from Ozul which proved that he did not face anything that couldn’t be dealt with yet.

However, it was this day when the Three-Eyed Strangers received the unofficial notice that they had to stop their growth in the Capital city.

. . .

Ozul was doing his usual, enjoying the peace and the calm as he contemplated the weird circle diagram on the book of formations. Some black spheres of fist-size revolved around him, occasionally changing their direction.

It was his usual routine as he familiarized himself with the Ball of Purity and at the same time, tried to understand more about these formations.

His slow speed had sometimes caused him to think if it was even worth it, but his doubts were all washed away when he learned that there were weird engraving and symbols used in the formations as well.

Maybe if he learned everything about these formations and runes, he would be able to understand the life-like engravings on his body before?

Anyways, he was reading like his routine when Irvin knocked on his door.

“Come in,” he replied, without looking up from the book.

“Young Master,” Irvin bowed his head a little. After saying young master so many times, he did not think it was so awkward anymore.

“What is it?” Ozul asked as he looked up from the book. Irvin wouldn’t disturb him if it wasn’t anything important.

“Someone from the Palace came...” Irvin said, getting Ozul’s attention.

“Oh?” he indicated him to continue.

“He said that our merchants were causing trouble around the city, and we should keep them in check. Saying his part, he left without waiting for another moment,” Irvin explained the situation.

“Hmm... It was expected. The Emperor can’t tolerate it anymore,” Ozul muttered as Irvin nodded his head.

“I am just surprised that he did not take action any sooner,” Irvin added.

“Well, it is time then. Do you have any trusted men among these people?” Ozul asked.

“There are a few that I think are good enough, but their loyalty has yet to be tested,” Irvin replied. Currently, he could only say that none of these people had any ulterior motives or slacked off.

“It is good enough. Then you should start expanding to other cities. Set the first base in Azmar city; the Count there would be cooperative. Tell him my name,” Ozul ordered as Irvin listened to him solemnly.

‘That Oliver shouldn’t have forgotten about me...’ he thought inside his mind.

“Take it slow, and only tell important things to people who you absolutely trust,” Ozul said, and motioned him that he could leave.

Irvin nodded and bowed his head before taking his leave. He wasn’t irritated that they could not grow in the capital city anymore. Instead, he always wanted to expand their organization, so he was happy.

Unlike him, Ozul was glad because of Emperor Luthien’s approach on this matter.

‘I should’ve expected it; he wouldn’t cause any trouble if he took a safe stand from the start,’ Ozul hadn’t left only because of this simple reason.

If the Emperor had been rash about it because of his arrogance, then it would have been troublesome.

Not only would he have to waste more of his time here in dealing with it, but it could also probably cause some serious damage to the organization.

Now he could finally leave from here after it settled down without worrying that the Emperor flips out at any minute.

Another month passed when Irvin had finally set up another base in Azmar City.

It was a surprise for him when the Count had so openly decided to help them. He wasn’t much strong, but he knew people all around the city, so his help was very much appreciated.

Irvin came back to the Capital after giving one of the first few recruits the job to maintain everything. He was good at handling a big group, as was suggested by Haley.

Ozul waited a few more days before he decided that it was finally time for him to leave. He had waited a few more days only to see if the Emperor really was not planning anything.

He had even roamed the nights a few times to see if he found anything suspicious. Fortunately, whatever the Emperor was thinking right now, it was in favor of what Ozul wanted.

. . .

Irvin at this moment was in his office, taking care of the reports from Azmar city when Ozul entered.

“Young Master,” Irvin bowed his head and asked, “Is there something?”

“Yes, where is Haley?” Ozul asked as Irvin ran out of the room to look for her,

A moment later, Irvin and Haley came back into the room with the latter being confused about what was going on.

“I will be leaving today,” he said causing confusion to appear in the old couple’s eyes.

“Did something happen, Young Master? If it is not so important, you can send one of us wherever you are going?” Haley asked.

“No, I will be in the Old Whispering Woods. Don’t bother about it,” Ozul denied.

Although both Irvin and Haley had questions about why he wanted to go to the accursed jungle, they kept it to themselves.

“Meanwhile, here is what you will be doing while I am absent,” Ozul said before sitting on the couch.

Haley and Irvin focused their attention on him since it would be another task where they would have to prove themselves worthy of his trust.

“First of all, grow the organization. Keep recruiting more people, but set the hierarchy. Anyone should be able to join, but their task will depend on their abilities... The ordinary people will have almost no connection to the organization, but will be able to work for us only by roaming the streets.”

Ozul explained. This made Haley’s eyes lit up in excitement. She had some similar ideas, but his order gave her the ticket to implement them.

“Before I come back, I want this to be big enough that I would be able to know whose child was murdered in what city of the whole kingdom,” Ozul said in a firm tone.

The old couple shifted uncomfortably in their positions. Although they thought that they might be able to do it, the chance of failure made them fear the consequences.

“If you run into any trouble, I assume that the communication with the Order of Dusk has already been set up?” Ozul asked in a questioning tone. He had first thought that it would only be a matter of days, but it took an entire month because of the distance from here to the Neutral City.

Haley nodded her head in affirmation, so Ozul continued, “Very well, ask their help if there is anything you can’t deal with. Requesting the assistance of a Rank-8 duo would be possible as well.”

Ozul did not think that the duo would not help after getting the beating from him two times before.

Although Irvin was glad that they had a backup in case of emergency, he did not want to ask help from others. He was about to voice out his thoughts when Haley pinched his side, reminding him who they were in front of.

“Should the Emperor take any action himself, don’t resist. Just run away. Miserable people are still more useful than dead people,” Ozul said, making the couple nod their head in agreement.

They were not so hot-headed to resist a Rank-9 Mage either.

Saying that Ozul stood up and started walking out of the room.

“Young Master, do you want me to prepare anything?” Haley asked as the old couple followed behind him.

“No, I will be fine,” Ozul said before he jumped in the air and disappeared under the reverent eyes of Irvin.

. . .

Ozul had decided to go back to the Old Whispering Woods from the first time that he had got there.

He estimated that there should be at least some Rank-9 Beasts in the middle areas of the jungle that he could hunt down. Although a Rank-9 Beast would be stronger than a Rank-9 Mage, at least they could not use the formations.

Ozul wanted to go there since it was his only way to improve his strength fast.