While Princess Layla and her friends discussed in the private room, the banquet hall itself continued to buzz, with groups forming to discuss what just transpired.
Some still cannot believe that the Kandake will allow the Princess to challenge an Uncharted zone in the Spirit Realm and with just twenty people including herself even if it's just a level D uncharted zone. The least number of people to explore or challenge an uncharted zone is usually 100 man-party.
The Kandake reducing it to one fifth of it seem pushing the Princess ability too far, even her husband asked her the reason she did that when they were in their private space.
"I understand you want Layla to challenge herself and unleash every potential in her to saturation, but isn't this too much of a stretch?" Andre said.
"This kind of stretch is what she needs now. With her talent, do you think the hungry wolves will allow her to develop peacefully?" she replied her husband, "she needs to develop fast and be prepared for whatever comes her way, she needs to understand the harshness of this world she's born into because the Kingdom is not her's and she won't always be protected by it."
In the banquet hall some other people already understood the underlying reason for the Kandake's action and have also come to the same conclusion as she did and already relaying the necessary information to their respective back up while some are still clueless and others are not concerned. Some groups are even discussing the intelligence the Kandake used in order not to allow strong organization and families linked to them used the opportunity for their sake.
"The Kandake is as always, two steps ahead of these strong organization." A man with a blonde hair and brown eye said while swaying is wine gently.
"What have you discovered Iker?" another man standing beside him asked while the others in their group focus their attention on him.
"Stop acting smuggish and say what you know." A man with a lighter build compare to the other men in the group with red hair and red skin said.
"You are always impatient Randy and foolish." Iker said while still swaying his wine glass.
"Do you think I won't dare to pick a wine bottle and break in on your head at this moment?" Randy said looking furious.
"And boorish too, mere looking at your build no one would have ever believe that you are the most irrational among us." Iker continue to infuriate him with his words.
"Alright, that's enough Iker, you can as well say what's on your mind since everyone here are eager to hear it." Luis said.
"Okay." Iker said clearing is throat to speak.
"Tch." Randy turn his face away as if not interested in what Iker wanted to say but everyone know that's just his way of showing his disconsent against Iker whenever he gets under his skin.
Everyone in their group acknowledge Iker intelligence which is why no one fight with him with the role of strategist and information gathering because that's what he is very good at and he usually have a way of decoding meanings behind any complex and simple words or action.
"Everyone knows that the Cyrene Kingdom is associated with many other organization in the Spirit Realm and noble families that benefits from each other.
With the opportunity of Uncharted zone being open for conquering, no one will want to leave that piece of meat untouch. But with the Kandake reducing the participants of the team that can explore the uncharted zone with the Princess and allowing her to be the one to choose her team members, it cut off the opportunity for these organizations and noble families to use their connection to gain slot in the team."
"But won't there still be able to gain slot even within the 20 man-party?" Luis asked.
"I doubt it, if they are to gain slot, then they will be willing to shed some of their skin for it, because the Princess won't allow anyone that would cause her even the slightest variable of loss in her team not with her father who is going to get his nose into it anyways whether he is asked or not." Iker replied.
"So if these organizations and noble families want to have a slice of the cake, they will have to release only their strongest hands to the Princess's team which will increase the probability of conquering the realm, but there is the risk of losing their strong hand in the uncharted zone and worst of it all they might not even be able to conquer the zone." Luis said
"And we all know that they don't take risk, they only want profit with no risk involve for them to bear so the Kandake is literally cutting off their way of getting in without doing it directly." Randy said
"Exactly. I know you have some tiny little bit of common sense in that head of yours, I just usually wonder why you don't seem to always make use of it." Iker said taking the opportunity to incite Randy.
"But some of the Princess friends are also part of the noble family which still allow some of them easy access." Luis said.
"Not all of them are part of the noble at least, Jerome and Carl are not part of the noble family, even so who among them is not part of the Young Generation Battle Board (YGB for short) golden rank list? Remember of those monsters in the golden rank list is equivalent to 10 people of the Silver rank and 50 of the bronze rank so you can't use normal to measure their potential and what they hide." Iker said
"Thank your lucky stars that we are in the Cyrene Kingdom palace, If not I won't hesitate to break one of your legs right here and now." Randy said glowering at Iker.
"Just come out plain and say you don't want to be kicked out by the security personnel around for causing ruckus." Iker said feeling unconcern to the threat.
"Randy, let it rest, you will never win the battle of words with him." Luis said.
The other men around them laugh and they continue their discussion, talking about various things and different things both in the Spirit Realm and the Human world.
Back at the Private room, Layla and her friends are still discussing on the next step to take.
"With everyone in this room willing to participate, we have 6 already and we will be needing 14 participants more." Kiara said
"We have 3 months of preparation, I'm sure we will be able to gather everyone by that time." Klaus said.
"We will take it one step at a time, in the first month, I will be going to the Zion fortress to do my trial to determine my eligibility, after that, we will focus more on completing the party with the necessary competent members." Layla said.
"That's good enough for me." Gabriella
"If that's the case, Princess please excuse me I will be leaving to continue my training. Jerome the only one who have been quiet throughout the discussion finally talked.
"Oh, so you are still here, I thought you've gone off long ago." Kiara said trying to make him talk back at her with no avail as always.
"So frustrating." Kiara said while scrawling her face.
"Haha, you think the title Kiara nemesis is a joke. Out of everyone Black J is the only one that knows how to beat you at your game without even playing." Carl said.
"You are free to leave, just don't over do it." Layla said with a smile on her face.
"Not with you already at Tier 3, the gap will only get wider if I slow down." Jerome replied
"I'm not asking you to slow down, I'm just telling you not to put too much pressure on yourself." Layla said.
"I will put that at the back of my mind. Now if you will excuse me" Jerome said and left the private room as quietly as the night breeze.
"Damn assassin." Kiara said still feeling frustrated.
"And he is the best in the current generation." Layla replied her.
"And do I look like I care?" Kiara said still scrawling.
"It doesn't matter if you care or not, but you guys must show improvement if you still want to keep your spot in this 20 men-party for the uncharted zone. I won't hesitant to replace you if you show any complacency." Layla said with a stern face.
The room grow quietly as they feel the pressure on themselves. Though they all could be consider a talent, but compare to the Princess who is already at Tier 3 at the age of 16 and of a higher rank in the Platinum stage of the YGB they are still far behind even though they are consider a force to be reckon with in the Golden stage of YGB.
"Don't feel too smug, none of us will allow you to ride on your high horse for too long, the only person I pity here is Klaus, will he still be able to perform the role of Prince in the shining armor or he will be the one needing his ass to be saved soon." Kiara said, letting out her frustration on Klaus.
"Must it be me all the time." Klaus said with a twitched face wondering why Kiara always hit at him.
"Because you are the only one she can easily get at so bear with it, I will be rooting for you here as always so be strong." Carl said jokingly, laughing at Klaus misfortune.
"Get lost! You are no brother of mine." Klaus said kicking at Carl who easily blocked it.
"Is that all you got Klaus, I see that Kiara is not too off this time as you have gone soft, are you sure we all won't leave you behind?" Carl said inciting him.
"In your dreams." Klaus replied.
"How about we have a go at each other to be sure you've not gone rust." Carl said.
"Just say you are looking for a beating and I will generously give it to you without payment." Klaus said.
"Seem like the two of you are at it again, just use the training room and don't fight in the garden, I had a earful the last time you two had a go at it in the garden and destroy the flower arrangement in the process." Layla said cautioning them.
Edited by CiCi
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