Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Chapter 231: Runemasters Empire



For the first time since entering the inner wing of the sect, Liam came across a call from Elder Neill in the late afternoon of another day of his activity in City Two.

Towards the end of today's shift, Toby saw the rest of the staff in Liam's office at the Law Enforcement Hall leave and approached his boss, telling him about the call from the Elder. Soon after, the two set off towards City Two.

"Toby, what is the relationship between you and my master?" Liam asked on the way between the cities, curious about this point.

"When I became a First Officer, the first one I served under was Elder Neill. So we've known each other for a few years now and now and then I'm under the command of one of his disciples," said the balding man, seeing no need to hide the truth.

"Is it possible to change command like that? I can tell from what you say that I wasn't the second of your leaders."

Toby nodded as they started down the steps of City Two's central staircase. "You were my fourth chief after I became First Officer... It's possible for someone in my position to change groups. But that depends on the approval of both my superior at the time and an Elder of the General Records Hall.

In my case, Elder Neill was the one who put all the mechanisms in place to make it possible for me to have the opportunity to learn from so many leaders."

For most members of the sect, being commanded wasn't just about serving, it was about learning. Although this wasn't so clear in Toby's and Liam's relationship now, most of the time the leaders of the one in Toby's position were much stronger and more experienced, cultivators capable of teaching a lot.

"He wants you to become a complete Commander..." Liam guessed correctly, seeing that this was, in a way, training for Toby.

Toby nodded positively, seeing that Liam hadn't ignored how Elder Neill had said that he would soon become a Commander.

"I just don't understand my role in this and what he expects of me," Liam finished his words.

"Although I've guided you this far, Chief, as I said when we first met, this is temporary. As soon as I become a Commander, I'll be working outside the sect and you'll be able to sort out a lot of matters relating to my missions. And in the future you will become an Elder and I will continue to work for you in some way."

"Hmm, if everything works out," Liam murmured.

"It certainly will." Toby didn't understand exactly what Liam meant by his words.

"Anyway, how long will it take you to become a Commander?" Liam got straight to the point.

'It will be important for me to combine my escape with this moment. You're competent and connected to my current master, Toby. It will be better for me if you are away during my escape.'

Liam pondered as he listened to the man answer.

"A few months at most. I already have the cultivation and knowledge of the sect's external relations. I'm just going to finish my time at your side and settle a few minor matters. Then I'll get my promotion soon."

"Good luck with that. Maybe this will make you my contact outside the sect," Liam said, aware that Commanders had freedom of action that made many things possible. For most members of the sect, being friends with a Commander meant trade, especially unofficial trade.

Toby understood that Liam probably wanted to acquire or dispose of things that would be difficult to sell within the sect, and saw no problem with that.

"Certainly, Chief."

A minute after this brief conversation, they arrived at Neill's residence, where another Elder was leaving the place next to Neill just at that moment.

Seeing the two, Liam and Toby stopped and led the way out of their way, receiving glances from the owner of the residence and the visitor. But neither of them stopped to speak to the young men, until Liam's master saw his colleague leave and turned to them, smiling satisfactorily.

"I heard from Cecily about your good performance in City Five." He looked at Liam. "You did very well. Keep trying like that and I'll give you some wonderful opportunities soon."

"Certainly, master. I'll do my best."

Neill showed with one of his hands for only Liam to follow him, dismissing Toby for the day. Then he went inside his estate in silence, leading Liam to a small private library.

In that quiet place, at least three times the size and capacity of Liam's individual library, Neill sat down in an armchair and looked at Liam. "I also heard about the mysterious box you picked up in the Treasure Hall."

Liam stood up, seeing that Neill wanted to touch on the same point he wanted to question.

"It seems I guessed correctly. It was the master who left that box in the hall, right?" Liam smiled as he asked.

Neill shook his head positively. "You're right. Besides that box, I created almost half of the experiments on the Eternal Doom Island, where you awakened your powers... You must have noticed that by now, right?"

"The thought has crossed my mind." Liam didn't deny it.

Neill hadn't pushed him during his first few days in the inner area to give him time to learn these things for himself and draw his own conclusions. Liam knew that eventually his master would go deeper into tough conversations with him. Discover hidden tales at empire

"Besides me, another Elder created several of the traps on that island, helped populate the place and create opportunities. In fact, Elder Seri created most of what you may have seen there. But since his death a few years ago, I've been in control of the island.

Anyway, not everything you saw there was because of me, but some opportunities that helped you were. In particular, I believe you got your affinity with the Runemaster profession because of me."

Liam's eyes opened wider, while his heart beat harder. 'Was I wrong?' He reconsidered the possibility that the Elder was the one behind the blue star in his soul space.

"Some opportunities I left on that island were supposed to inscribe special runes in the depths of the soul of those who took advantage of them. You have two of these runes on your body, slowly breaking up."

'Breaking up?' Liam's gaze remained impressed, but his thoughts changed direction.

Neill continued, "About 20 years ago, I could take up a position outside the sect, in a state far from our current location. I was the sect's representative in the area and now and then I would scour ruined areas, hunt, or even carry out missions for the sect outside the city.

During this period, I had the chance to visit the ruins of the ancient nation of Runemasters, which ruled over much of the continent tens of thousands of years ago. In this place, I found many resources, items, and information from our continent that helped me grow stronger and reach my current position.

Among the items I got, there were those from the mysterious box you found, but also the technique of inscribing special runes on low-level living beings. Through this, I, even though I'm not a Runemaster, left these runes in opportunities on the Eternal Doom Island, runes that could strengthen the talent of individuals predestined to awaken more quickly and easily.

You were my first successful object of study and now you've gone one step further with your recent action in the Treasure Hall."

Liam understood Neill wasn't talking about the blue star, but somehow, things were connected to that essence. Neill might not have known this, or he might have been playing ignorant. But his words led Liam to this idea.

Liam noticed Neill was silent and said, "I didn't expect to hear something like that... So there was a country of Runemasters in the past?"

The Elder laughed. "Not just a country. It was an empire, a true continental sovereign!

Unfortunately, that state fell to an internal problem, losing almost all the power it had had for hundreds of thousands of years. Today it's reduced to 1% of its size, and yet it's one of the richest areas on the continent."

"Hmm? So, this place still exists?" Liam asked.

"More or less. The current state I'm referring to is like the heir to the legacy of that ancient colossus. It died with the fall of the empire, but part of its legacy survives through this nation."

Liam found the story impressive, but also the way Neill skillfully avoided mentioning names.

Even though he was already a Division Chief, there was a lot of information that he still didn't have access to.

He could sort this out if he had the patience within the sect, but for the hurried Liam, this was a major problem that would prevent him from learning more before his escape.

Neill then scratched his throat and changed the conversation a little. "The reason I'm telling you this isn't to say that you're my guinea pig or that I need to monitor you. I want you to help me with it, Liam.

This ancient empire of Runemasters had dominated a large part of the continent, something that no other force in history has managed. Do you understand what I mean?"

"That empire probably had methods, techniques, or weapons, maybe even special Spirits that made them different from the others." Liam pondered, using common sense and the information he had. "Those methods must have been lost with the fall of the empire... And the master would surely like to have at least something. Is that it?"

"You really are a clever boy." Neill smiled as he gestured to Liam. "But it's not that simple. Runemasters' inheritance can only be accessed by a Runemaster. But only 1 in 30 Spirit Masters has an affinity with runes and only 1 in 100 Runemasters has the talent needed to pass the Third Class. However, unraveling this empire's heritage would require something much higher—at least Fifth Class.

With that heritage in mind, Liam, I've left the opportunities that helped you grow on the Eternal Doom Island and placed those items from the mysterious box you picked up in the Treasure Hall. With them, I hope you can grow stronger and help me access this ancient heritage!"

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