"It''s just a tale you have to spin to get them to believe you. You can say that you were fighting four Phantom League members and he hit you in the back. There''s no shame in that at all." I tried to get her to agree with putting her in a much better light.


    She scoffed, "no, I would still dodge it, or at least not get taken out of the fight so miserably."


    I could only smile wryly at her antics. Iris was giving off a very strong ''nah, I''d win'' vibe.


    "Alright, thene up with a more believable exnation if you want. Abudha, please also go back with her. You should alsoe up with a simr story. Ambition, you''re free to leave too, or you can stay in my home if you feel like it for as long as you want - though it''s still heavily under construction from what I can see." I stated thest part jokingly.


    "We''re working on it, Demigod Boss!!!" Ronan shouted from the back of the crowd, earning a chuckle from me and my girls.


    Naturally, I couldn''t trust Iris to y along with my wishes. For all intents and purposes, she was a woman I didn''t know well at all. More than 10 years had passed since her life''s simtion ended, and a lot of change could happen to her in that time. However, even if shepletely betrayed me, which was a real possibility, it would not be the end of the world. She had no clue where my stronghold was located at, all she could do was make me wanted by the Consortium too if they learned of the wealth and secrets I hide.


    That was the reason I sent Abudha with her. Through my newly acquired spell - Overlord''s Eyes - I could perfectly listen in on not only how Iris acted, but how the three disciples of ck Fang reacted to the news of us disappearing - that is if they survived the scuffle with the Phantom League.


    I didn''t feelfortable going back, honestly. Too much had happened in our battle, and it was possible that these existences could watch me from afar. It''s not too outrageous to expect someone like Orianna - the woman who teleported into the battle to fight Mordecai, the leader of the drug empire of the Phantom League, basically making him be ck Fang''s equivalent - to have a spying nt or something like that, or someone might''ve just straight-up been watching us all along.


    After all, I had no clue that Raika, the ck-haired disciple with the badass title of ''The Brutalizer'', was following us in silence. There could be more who never showed themselves.


    I believed that it was smart for me to act with the attitude that they already know too much about me, thus I nned to remain away from the Consortium until things became more clear, even if it meant giving up on the Trials and thus not bing Vesper Phenoms.


    That rank would make my life much easier with its numerous benefits, but it wasn''t worth taking such a risk for. After all, there were other opportunities to exploit all over the Iskaris continent.


    "… Understood." Abudha nodded. He was not very happy to be my ve, but evidently the many revtions I dropped on him forced him to think a bit more - or something like that. I didn''t expect him to like being my ve, not at all. He was a strongbatant, but that was it. He was the sacrificial pawn I was sending into the maw of the beast, so to say. I could just as easily send Blossom, Ayame, or Seraphiel, but they were too important for me to risk losing them.


    He was not.


    Once Selene and Cedric healed, I would send them back to the Consortium and thus have nted five Phenom candidates into the Consortium''s ranks. Selene, Cedric, and Abudha being mypletely obedient ves, and Ambition and Iris being my allies, though thetter girl might be a bit too much to im as a friend instead of a neutral force for now.


    With my three ves I nned to probe the Consortium to get a feel about my situation.


    "We would like to stay a bit." Ambition stated.


    I happily epted her answer, then I summoned a portal a good distance from the battle. Maybe someone was standing there, ready to step through. One could never be careful enough.


    "Head north, you will reach the battle site in a few miles." I informed them, and the duo departed.


    "Uhm, Master Quin - or what should I call Your Majesty? I would like to inquire as to what my future might have in store for me if I may be so bold." The pink haired tanker spoke up, clearly uncertain how to address me properly. I was not only her owner, but the literal leader of her race.


    "You can refer to me as master, or Quin if that''s morefortable. You will have the basic rights all of my ves enjoy, which are:


    1, You will be treated humanely, meaning not I, nor anyone else in my Ascendants faction will act demeaningly towards you. You might not have rights in the eye of the corrupt Vraven Kingdom''s book ofws, but in my faction you do. Just to be clear, what I consider demeaning is acting like you''re trash, lowlife, subhuman, etc. Me sending you into a fight where you might meet your maker is possible, but as abat ve that''s part of your job description, not me treating you as if you were trash.


    2, No one has the right to force themselves upon you. I abhor rape and sexual abuse, so if anyone tries such acts, you have my permission to fight back with all your strength.


    3, As part of your humane treatment, no one will beat you for ''fun''. The only way you can receive such punishment is if you deliberately act against our interests, though at that point a beating will be the least of your worries.


    4, Good work deserves rewards. There''s not a point system or anything borate like that in ce yet, but basically once I deem that you''ve done enough, you can ask for something reasonable. Time off, chance to visit your family or friends - of course, you will be strictly forbidden from revealing anything about us without my explicit permission. In your case as abat ve, your reward could also be expensive gear you believe will make yourbat prowess greater, but Soren refused to buy. Starting a family of your own in the future is also possible.


    I think that''s the gist of the basic ve rights in my employ. As for my ns regarding you in specific, Lyra, I need some time to debate, but what I can say for certain is that you will be a respectedbatant in the Ascendants faction with the ability to rise very high in our ranks. After all, the second inmand is also a ve of mine, and she''s not that high in the ranks because she is my lover. She deserved the position, thus she got it. As simple as that."


    With my long-winded exnation done, I could see that her soft features were beyond shocked. I just left this girl truly bbergasted.