Chapter 109: Next phase
Watt was still in a daze. When he understood how precious the silver meteorite sand is, he couldn't help but feel ecstatic. Never did he expect that Sam would give him something this valuable.
So, he couldn't help but feel that his decision was right when he made the decision to follow Sam back then.
At this time, Sam is walking towards the backdoor of the mansion to enter it and just as he was about to step in, he halted and said.
"You can go back now, the show's over."
When he said this, Philip came out from his hiding spot on a tree.
"Well, I never expected you to be this kind. Gifting away that much silver meteorite sand like that and that too when it is still grade 3. That really is quite a gift. I never thought you are that generous."
"I never thought you are this knowledgeable too." Philip was stunned for a second. Sam continued.
"Meteorite sands are one of the most difficult materials to grade and not even skilled artisans can get their hands on it and here a seventeen- year Novice has guessed it from a far away."
Philip really didn't know what to say. But before he could react, Sam asked one more time.
"You wanted to be an Artisan. Did you decide yet?"
After that, Sam went inside leaving two guys in their spots both pondering about different things.
After sometime, everyone gathered because, they already agreed to meet and go to Sam's restaurant to get a meal.
Sam notified this to Mackey earlier and reserved a Private room.
So, all of them went there and had a lavish meal. Came back to the mansion and had a comfortable sleep.
Next day at dawn, All the candidates gathered at the marquis mansion. Sam wore his regular Black coat and walked along. The ape and all his beasts were sent into his Divine dimensions. Watt is following him in his new Silver coloured coat.
His face was filled with newly found confidence and he have a new aura that is far superior than before. Everyone around him can notice this. Falck is flying near him.
When Zeke saw Sam and Watt, he felt his throat running dry and he broke out in cold sweat. His face was full of regret. Blue fire is also looking at Sam. But his face is expressionless. Nobody could guess what he was thinking.
After everyone was gathered, Marquis looked at all of them and started speaking.
"All thirty of you are the only ones remaining who are going to the next phase of the Special branch. Many of you wanted to quit, many of you didn't want to participate, but from now on this is not in your hands anymore. You guys have to continue with this whether you like it or not. Or you will face some serious consequences.
The next phase of this competition, you will be sent to various cities under my territory. You will have one year of maximum time and in this time, you have to clean the underground forces of all these places.
You will be given full authority in the operation and the local authorities will cooperate with you in however you want. Those who can clean their given region earlier can come to the marquis city and try their hand at clearing the underground forces here.
But clearing your assigned regions is a must. Whatever you get from those underground forces will be your reward.
And if you can't clear any type of faction, you have to provide a detailed report on why you aren't able to do this and clearly provide the details on what you will need to overcome and clear that faction along with the most feasible method, which will give you half the score.
Even if you clear all the factions, you have to provide a report on what factions there are in that city and what type of deals they make and all the other information related to it, including the costs you spent to clear the faction.
All these will be considered in giving you a score.
Remember my advice. If you guys are having any thoughts about performing badly on purpose to escape, I suggest you avoid those thoughts. Because, if you really did that, you won't be able to bear the consequences."
A lot of people had gloomy faces when they heard this.
"You are divided into three teams and your assigned regions and your special authority tokens will be given to you." After that he gestured to his attendant.
And the attendant immediately called out the names of the candidates in the order of their teams and surprisingly, Sam and his teammates including Jasmine are in the same team along with them were the two siblings Sam helped previously.
When he saw the team arrangements Sam felt a little doubtful. He felt like the marquis deliberately made the arrangements like this.
But he didn't care too much about it.
After the teams got divided another attendant passed a scroll to each team and inside that scroll, there are the list of the Count cities under the Marquis territory and which is in charge of it.
Even though, the three teams will be acting in the different areas, the scroll contained all three of their assignments.
"Why is Falcon Cliff city not in the list?" Hawk is the one who asked this question. There are ten counts under the marquis but there are only nine cities in the list.
"Recently, someone helped Count Falcon to clean up the Underground forces of the Falcon cliff city and that too, they eliminated the major organisation. So, the count already started tying up the loose ends and also clearing up the underground forces of the cities under his control.
So, if you guys interfere you might slow down the progress, so the Falcon Cliff city is taken off of the list."
When Marquis said this, Jack and Sam exchanged a look. They didn't know that the 'help' Sam did will impact them this much. The Marquis continued.
"From now on, all these regions are under you authority and that includes the cities under the authority of the count and the villages under the cities.
Do the cleaning to the best of your abilities. I already have reports on the underground forces investigated by a special team.
So, I will compare the results with these and don't even think of forging the reports by joining hands with the local authorities.
You can depart whenever you want and wherever you want. All I need is a report exactly after a year in the same place.
All the best."
After that the marquis left the spot.
Sam also got out of the Marquis mansion and went back to the city. After some thinking he said.
"Everyone, if you want to buy anything, that might not be available in the region we are going in, you can go and buy.
We will meet at the square of the Business zone at noon." Everyone nodded and went to do their own shopping and some went to have another hearty meal before leaving.
Now there are only three people there and they are Sam, Watt and Jack. Jasmine left with Kelly to buy something.
"So, what are we going to do about the reward from the Black water?" Jack asked directly even before Sam mentioned it.
Sam is also thinking about this. He clearly doesn't want to share the reward of the Black water with others. If it is only, the spirit stones and even the herbs and the common ores, he wouldn't feel that conflicted.
But the meteorite sand wouldn't be not an option at all.
After some thought, Sam said.
"We will leave the reward matter aside. We will divide the reward according to the contribution of the team at that moment. But I am not fine with sharing the meteorite sand no matter what."
"I have no problems with the arrangement and since most of the teammates aren't strangers they wouldn't mind if you took the most reward if you took the lead and achieve better scores." Jack replied.
"We will see about that after we leave the city."
After their discussion, Sam went to the Artisan tower to meet with Chaya.
"Do you know where I can get a beast pouch?" He asked Chaya who is enjoying the fruit juice across him.
She seemed to be thinking about something and gave an answer after a short silence.
"The beast pouch is a bit high-level item and it is only available in Capital cities of a Dukedom. If you really want one, you can try your luck in the Golden horse-trading company. They are on of the biggest trading companies in the dukedom and their branch leader here might have one on him."
Sam thanked her and went back to the Business zone. He ate something in his restaurant and went to the city square to wait for his teammates.
When everyone gathered, they went to the Golden-horse trading company on Sam's lead.
After they arrived at the reception of the company, Sam flashed his artisan badge to the receptionist and requested a meeting with the man in charge.
Fifteen minutes later, Sam was invited into a private meeting room where a middle-aged man was waiting for him.
After exchanging some hypocritical formal pleasantries, Sam came to the point.
"Manager, I need a beast pouch and a friend of mine said that I can find it here."
"Sir Sam is well informed. In a week there will be a carriage coming from the Dukedom Capital, I will communicate with them to buy you one. The cost is quite high. It is around 500,000. Do you want me to get it?" Manager replied with a smile.
"Is it possible to get one right now? I have something to do. I am willing to pay more and if you have any conditions you can say it."
"Well, since you put it that way, I do have one in my personal possession. But.."
"I will pay you double." Sam said before the other party even finished their words.
"I don't need you to pay me double. But can you pay me, in the form of a commodity." The manager asked probingly.
"Oh, what do you want in exchange?"
"Energy Cell." When Sam heard this he was surprised for a bit, but this is not completely out of his expectations, when he heard the manager wanted commodities. He put a hesitating expression and after a brief pause, he agreed.
"Sure." With wave of his hand, Sam placed ten fire type and ten wind type energy cells on the table. He still has quite a stock anyway, so he doesn't care much about this.
"Pleasure doing business with you Sir Sam." Both of them shook their hands.