The otherworldlings had never been truly united. They even had a problem sitting together and talking to each other. Distrust and backstabbing were norms. They were just a loose alliance, and everyone just did things their way. Naturally, the meeting came to nothing at the end of the day. Hao Ren did not expect the meeting a productive one. He was there to sort out the overall picture of the event.
In the age where humankind was not yet civilized, and the "spirits" from the otherworlds ruled the planet, there was a dangerous force in the world called Shade of Chaos. Just like the mysterious, vengeful spirit, the Shade of Chaos brought great suffering to the world with its powerful and strange powers. They were almost indestructible and could cause the supernatural races to kill each other by affecting their minds. Later, the leaders of the otherworldlings of the ancient times--including Vivian--joined forces, captured and sealed these Shades of Chaos and placed it under the guard of several large families. Later, at the end of the Mythology era, the otherworldling families dwindled, and the Ancattero family became the only one guarding the Shades of Chaos. Since then, the record of the Shade of Chaos had become blurry over time. To many people, it was merely a legend today.
The Shade of Chaos had disappeared from the world for thousands of years, but when the Ancattero family, who was responsible for guarding the seals, suddenly lost contact with the outside world, and the shadow monsters reappeared. At present, all clues pointed to the demon hunter, as it seemed that the demon hunters had attacked the Ancattero family and accidentally damaged. As for the truth, according to Wayne, the investigators investigating the Ancattero incident were either dead or mad, and no one dared to go there again.
After finis.h.i.+ng the storytelling session, the meeting fell into a long debate and stalemate.
They reached a consensus on one thing though, that was, the Shade of Chaos was very harmful, it was necessary to immediately find out what happened to the Ancattero family and find a way to reseal the shadow, but they were split when it came to deciding who should do the job. No one was willing to do the dirty job, and they were even more reluctant to form a joint investigation team. The werewolves were not willing to work with the Blood Clan, the phantoms were suspicious of the wizards, and the descendants of the G.o.ds were lone rangers, not willing to work with anyone. They were suspicious of each other and wary backstabbing, sabotage, unfair loot distribution, collusion with the demon hunter, land grabbing and things like that.
What was worse was that their mutual suspicion was right; they were always plotting against each other.
This meeting was impossible to come to any result. Hao Ren had ball ache watching on. He could not help but whisper to Zeon Lucas, "Why are you still fighting among yourselves?"
"You think this is serious? It"s a lot better than what happened a few hundred years ago," said Zeon Lucas, who still maintained his gentleman"s demeanor, but when it was talking about the internal bickering among the otherworldlings, he sounded sarcastic and self-deprecating. "At least we can sit at the same table but not fighting. If not for the weakening "innate hostility" phenomenon, there would have been a bloodbath here."
Lily pouted. "Is that necessary?"
"Asking them to trust each other at the back of thousands of years of hostility is not possible." Vivian sighed softly. "Mostly because no one would believe the other would cooperate with them. The main worry here is the demon hunter. According to Hogwarf, there are hunters in the vicinity of the Ancattero family. If this incident is the demon hunter"s doing, then the Ancattero territory should have already fallen into the hands of the demon hunters, and whoever goes there now would be cannon fodder at best. It is not a Mythological era anymore, the modern otherworldling families barely survive and no longer have the strength to confront the demon hunters. Even the brave race like the werewolf had to hide seeing the demon hunter."
Y"lisabet arched her mouth. "Oh, so shameful of them. What"s so difficult? Papa used to unite the whole world--"
Her papa quickly pulled her back before she finished speaking. The great demon appeared a bit awkward. "Papa is an exception rather than the norm."
Hao Ren agreed with Y"zaks. For Vivian to achieve what Y"zaks had produced, she would have, but this would not happen on Earth. Hitler tried and was dead.
All the otherworldlings had their ax to grind and wanted to preserve their strength, but at the same time, they all wished someone else could step forward to solve the shadow problem. This negotiation was destined to fail. However, Hao Ren did not come here to listen to their nonsense. Before the old f.a.gs finished quarreling, he got to his feet. "Have you guys finished talking? Now it"s my turn to talk."
The old f.a.gs looked at him, bewildered, wondering what this "sorcerer," who popped out of nowhere, was going to say. In the eyes of the patriarchs, Hao Ren was a little-known junior with no experience, background, emerged like a rescuer called in my the monkey out of thin air, asides from being the leader of a small sanctuary in some part of Asia he had no t.i.tle and even if he had it was just an empty one. Despite all these, the staying of Vivian Ancestor stayed in his "sanctuary" had Hao Ren shrouded in a mysterious aura. The patriarchs were curious about the "sorcerer" now.
"I know that you are worried. The Ancattero territory is dangerous, and it"s normal to have hesitation," Hao Ren said as he pointed to several people around him. "It"s okay if you don"t want to go, we are going anyway, including Vivian."
Everyone was silent. Wayne looked at Vivian incredulously as if looking for her confirmation. When Vivian nodded, he was more surprised. "How many of you?"
"Just a few of us here." Hao Ren pointed to Vivian, Lily, Y"zaks, and Y"lisabet. "Of course, we will call for reinforcement if there is a need. Don"t worry about us."
When Hao Ren said "reinforcement," he was talking about the hundred-million tenants that he had, but he did not need to explain this to the strangers. Seeing Wayne"s stunned face, he quickly said, "We could take care of ourselves. You"re not willing to go doesn"t mean you have to stop us too. I have a request though; give us a few guides, at least we could enter into the Ancattero territory."
Vivian remained silent all this while. Her job was to nod her head as an endors.e.m.e.nt when Hao Ren spoke so that the old demons in the a.s.sembly hall would have no objection and agreed to let Wayne Walter"s family contribute a few more guides.
Wayne had lost some of the most elite blood sentinels in the family because of investigating the sinister Ancattero territory earlier. Though he was not prepared to send out more people, he was difficult to decline the request especially in front of Vivian, and also considering what Hao Ren needed were just a few guides, he relented. "Well, I will provide my guides, and bring you right to the entrance of the territory of Ancattero. Beyond that point, you all will be on your own."
Other patriarchs cheered and clapped their hands.
Hao Ren let out a sigh quietly, shaking his head at their selfishness. They were not willing to form a joint investigation team, nor did they had the ability to do it on their own. They were mutually suspicious "alliance." It was a wonder that the demon hunters had not annihilated them yet.
Vivian finally got to her feet. "We will try our best to find out the origin of the Shade of Chaos and how to seal it, but don"t put all your hope on us. You have to take care of the safety of your family members so that in the event we fail; you can save yourself."
After saying this, Vivian looked at every one of them with a stern expression. After a long while, she said again, "Don"t forget that this is not the Mythological era anymore. With all the people that are left now, you may not be able to defeat the Shade of Chaos."
As the meeting ended, Hao Ren and his entourage immediately set off for South America.