In a grand auditorium in the core area of the Shadow Mercenary Guild, all living souls within the premises the guild had assembled and it included novices and all other high rank members of the guild.
Everyone was waiting for the patron of the guild to make an appearance.
"Greetings! Patron!"
In one accord, everybody saluted and greeted the patron who followed by 5 General, 10 Vice Generals and 20 Warrant Officers of the guild.
The patron made his way to the podium with only his 5 Generals following him.
He looked at the assembled squad who were arranged in batches according to the ranks. The novices could be found at the last end of the hall. Followed by the Adepts, Elite Adepts, the Corporals and the Elite Corporals. As for the Sergeants, Adept Sergeants, Warrant Officers and the Vice Generals, they occupied the front row.
It was only the Patron and his Generals who were on the podium.
"Squad! I called this meeting to discuss something that's very important with you. I believe that you all are wondering why for the passed few days your training has been intensified."
Everyone present nodded to what the Patron said.
"To tell you the truth, we are preparing for the unknown. According to our Special Astronomy Force along with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been receiving signals from outer space and through their joint studies and researches they got to know that those signals or frequencies was actually a message. After days of hard work, this is what they were able to decode and translate."
[Mortals! Prepare for our coming!]
The whole place became quiet like a cemetery.
"We don't know when they will come but I'm show that they would come and for that, we need to prepare. From this moment onwards, we will train like hell. Everyone single of you would be equipped with weapons, armors and gadgets developed by are expert weaponeers in collaboration with Tesla and other tech companies in this world to prepare for whatever that was coming." The Patron's words banged the ear drums of all those present.
Most of them especially the novices felt their hearts tightening or lets say a string was being pulled around their chests.
"Until we are clear of what we are going to face, no soul is stepping out of this place. I don't know if there is gonna be Alien invasion on earth but one thing is for sure, we would be ready to defend this land.
Before this month ends, I want every single one of you to advance to the next level of your Body Cultivation. All novices should become level 2 Body Refiners and so it goes to every single one of us.
Am I clear?"
"Sir-yes-sir!!" They all responded in one accord.
After that, he left with his 5 Generals.
----
"Have you heard anything about them?"
Asked the Patron who sat in his office with the 5 Generals.
"There is still no update on where they are. Its like they vanished into thin air. Their last seen was around the blue stream where the Oak trees are." One of the generals answered.
"What about the other kid?
How is his stay here?"
"He living like a king among the novices currently so there's nothing to worry about.
"Hmm. Okay. You may leave."
The five Generals left the Patron alone in his office.
"Hope these kids would be found before the Annual Meeting Of The Five Grand Martial Families." He said
"Patron!! They are back!"
----
In the camp area of the novices of the Shadow Mercenary Guild, a young handsome man with a beautiful princess were surrounded by hundreds of people who looked at them in awe.
"Well, well, well. Look who as decided to show up now after going on a vacation with his chick." A feminine like male voice came out from the crowd who had gathered around the two young couples.
All the novices made way for the owner of the voice to pass.
"What are you doing here?" Bradley who was the handsome young man that caught all the beating hearts of the ladies around asked the guy who was the owner of the voice that mocked them just now.
"How dare you talk to him like that?
Do you know who he is?"
"He's young master of the Lane Empire. Paul Wright Lane."
"You better watch you mouth when you speak to him".
The lackeys of Paul burst out of fury when they saw Bradley disrespecting their boss.
Bradley ignored the bull shit Paul's followers just said and continued to look at his stepbrother.
"Ah! Its such a pity that you are not fun anymore? How I missed the time we used to play together like real brothers. Now, look, I can see that you've killed me several times in your head just now."
Paul said something that shocked all those present.
"Since you know that you are already dead in my head, why don't you stop your nonsense and tell me the reason why you are here before I make what happened in my head become a reality."
Bradley emitted a latent killing intent that made all those present with the exception of Elaine sweat scabrously.
"Okay since I can't play with you again like a little brother would play with their big brother, I would go straight to the point. Father sent me here to find you and bring you back home." He said with a lovely smile.
"Okay now you can leave. I will go back my self." Bradley said indifferently.
"No problem brother. If that's what you want. By the way, won't you introduce me to this beautiful alluring diva beside you as your little brother?"
Paul with a lustful gaze admired the beauty and the perfect body shape of Elaine. That lustful gaze of his made Elaine felt like she had been stained.
Bradley vanished from where he stood with Elaine and appeared in front of his brother.
He held his neck and raised him up with no effort.
This action of his shocked everyone present including Paul himself.
"W-hat are y-you tryin to d-o?" He forced those words out of his choked throat.
"Try looking at her again with that filthy eyes of yours I promise you there wouldn't be a next for you." After saying that, he dropped the frightened fellow and left with Elaine.
"Hmph! You think you've won?
I would always get the celebration at the end of all your victories, brother!" He shouted at the disappearing figures of Bradley and Elaine.
'Brother?'
'Brothers from the same father?'
'The brother of Paul Wright Lane who's called Bradley?'
'Doesn't that make him the Legendary Bradley Wright Lane the Heir to the Lane Empire?'
'God! He the Legendary Bradley Wright Lane.'
That was the thoughts of all the onlookers present.
'The Legendary Bradley Wright Lane'