Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Liam looked at the silver orb, not expecting such a small thing to be so valuable. But he also realized the value of the artifact.

'To stop even Spirit Earth Spirit Masters, it must be classified as something of the Third Class, right?' He looked at Robert when he saw the man's smiling expression. "This is precious, Senior..."

"Don't be so quick to reject it. You need it and I need people like you." Robert signaled with his hands for Liam not to refuse as he walked away from the young man and took a seat behind his desk.

"And the Guardian Sphere doesn't belong to you. I'm just loaning it to you while you settle in. By the end of your first month in the sect, I hope you won't need it anymore."

As he stared thoughtfully at the ground, Liam couldn't help but think about his situation and accept that he should use the metal sphere in his hands to protect himself.

He held it in his spatial ring and made a gesture of thanks, bringing his hands together at face level as he lowered his body slightly.

"Thank you for the opportunity."

"You should go now. Come back in the morning. Someone will give you your position as a faction guard. As for hunting the Silver-Winged Leopard, don't worry about it for now. Concentrate on improving your strength. It will be a few months before it appears again, so there's no need to hurry," Robert signaled, and Liam understood the exchange between them.

Liam had sought refuge with the faction, relying on the protection it could offer him. In return, the faction required men who could handle its day-to-day operations and undertake crucial missions.

Despite his lack of understanding regarding the nature of the Silver-Winged Leopard and Robert's expectations, Liam departed with a sense of relief, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

'With the Guardian Sphere, I'll have some assurance of my safety for a while. Being part of the Leopards will also deter certain enemies... but I still need to remain cautious. The initial days within the sect will still pose a threat.' He tightened his fist as he encountered Abel outside the chamber, then proceeded to accompany him towards the coliseum's exit.

As Liam departed, Robert found himself not alone in his workplace. A sober and slender figure emerged from behind one of the many curtains in the room. This mysterious individual had purple eyes, a pale face, and barely audible breathing.

"A good seed," said the man, his voice hoarse with age. "He will be important in the hunt for the Silver-Winged Leopard on the Night of the Beasts."

"Are you sure of that, Officer?" Robert asked, frowning, worried about the hunt for his third Spirit, the Silver-Winged Leopard.

The man shrouded in shadow laughed softly. "Do not worry, this boy is different. His talent is not what the Awakening Stars test said."

"The Awakening Stars Formation has never been incorrect..."

"It can only measure ordinary people. It can't predict the future of a burning flame like him. Monitor him while I'm out hunting. In the meantime, take care of my hall."

The man disappeared from Robert's sight as if he had disintegrated, leaving the leader, among the outer members of the Leopard faction, alone.

"I'll do my best..." Robert muttered as he looked towards his office door, thinking of Liam.

'Burning flame, eh? Let's see what you can do.'

...

On the way back to the Infirmary, Liam planned his next steps.

The factions in City Thirteen wouldn't find out about his position with the Leopards right away. It would take about two or three days for them to find out, and he would have to be extra careful during that time, as it was also the deadline for the Guardian Sphere to activate.

Fortunately, he would have some guards outside his dormitory for some days before he was on his own again. However, that didn't mean that nothing would happen before or after those days.

'Fortunately, the men from the Law Enforcement Hall gave me the name of my enemy... Initiate Phila Bradshaw, a member of the Abyss Matriarchs. I can't do anything about this women's faction right now, but I'll keep an eye out. It's likely that this matter won't die with Initiate Phila Bradshaw, and I need more compensation than her belongings.'

Liam glanced sideways at the row of stairs he was climbing, his eyes narrowed in determination for revenge. But even though he was angry about what had happened the night before, how Mary had been hurt, and how insecure he felt now, he would not rush into anything.

'Abyss Matriarchs has 44 members. Six of them are Spirit Earth Spirit Masters and at least 13 are Spirit Lords as strong or stronger than me. I can't do anything against them. Leopards wouldn't give me the men to take revenge. At least not for an attack that happened before I joined the group...'

He spotted the Infirmary building, sweat dripping down his back and chest, his clothes slightly stained.

He paused for a moment, feeling the breeze that always blew through City Thirteen as the day began. It was going to be a long day for Liam.

'For now, I must postpone my revenge and prepare for reprisals. They won't accept the death of Initiate Phila Bradshaw easily... But in the future, this will not go unanswered.'

He went on to encounter Mary, determined to seek his own justice.

Demon Gate would do nothing against the Abyss Matriarchs. Liam knew that Phila's actions would not jeopardize that group unless there was blatant evidence that members of that faction were involved.

Even though he hadn't been an evil person in his life on Earth, he had already adapted enough to Twin Land and his situation in Demon Gate.

People had already tried to kill him three times in this world. He didn't want to see a fourth attempt, and he was resolved to show that those who tried would not end well!

'Since I won't be respected, I must be feared! Only then will I have the peace I need!'

He made his way to the area where Mary was, arriving just as the Law Enforcement Hall Officers were leaving.

When they came upon Liam, the three men from earlier waved to him. One of them said, "Your friend just woke up. She confirmed what you told us earlier."

"Oh? I'm glad things worked out in the end," Liam expressed, extending his gratitude to the men for their service.

They left without further ado, while Liam couldn't help but wonder what he could get in the Records Hall from the inheritance that Initiate Phila Bradshaw had left him.

Liam walked through the curtain that separated Mary's bed from the others in the ward, his expression changing as he pushed his thoughts aside.

He stopped beside Mary's bed and looked deep into her eyes, ignoring his companion's subtle smile.

"How are you?" he asked, his tone grave, his heart more troubled than he could have predicted.

"I'm surprisingly okay considering I've been stabbed," she said with a touch of humor, hiding her pain. "But don't worry, I'll be fine. By the way, the Officers filled me in on what happened after I gave my statement. Are you alright? That woman definitely didn't choose to target you randomly..."

Hearing Mary's suggestive comment, Liam nodded positively and said only what was necessary, "Yes, I'm fine. It'll probably happen again. So it might be interesting for you to stay in your room for a few days. We'll limit our meetings and sleep apart by the hour."

"That sounds necessary." She sighed, but didn't want to make the situation more difficult.

She didn't want to get caught in enemy fire just because she was close to Liam. She wouldn't give up on him just because of that, but it wouldn't be good for either of them if she risked being close to him when it wasn't necessary.

"I'm going to go a few days without being able to... Hmm... Exercise. It's best if we see each other in three days. What do you think?" She suggested, hoping he wouldn't take it the wrong way.

"Three days is perfect. We'll meet at your place in the early evenings from then on. We have to be careful as long as we don't have to deal with the enemies."

Gazing at him silently, she couldn't help but feel a sense of concern, despite her burning desire for revenge, which matched his own.

In contrast to the Earthling, who was gradually adjusting to the harsh reality of Twin Land while still holding onto his morals, Mary was an entirely vengeful individual.

"Be careful when going after what you want. Her group is far from being weak."

"I know. I won't act until I'm sure."