Dark Magus Returns

Forma would usually be surprised by such a decision being made by the leader. All members of the Crimson Crane followed her for different reasons, but just as mentioned before, all of them felt like they were family members, and in a way, Alba was the leader of the pack.

What she decided, they would follow, and they would help her toward whatever goal it was that she had in her mind.

"I'm happy that you said that," Raze said with a soft smile. "It makes things less difficult for me in the situation we are in. I'll get Fixteen to inform the Mayor that the town of Flendon will now be looked after by the Crimson Crane."

The infamous name of the Crimson Crane, he hoped would bring a sense of trust in the town and their commitment to such a place. It might even draw warriors toward them.

"Well, the others shouldn't be too saddened by this, we have traveled a lot for a long time, so I guess we can finally settle," Forma said. "But we won't be a typical clan right?"

"Right," Alba nodded. "Unlike other clans with a history and an aim to improve their standing and martial arts, we are a clan made up of wanderers that have kind of forced our position."

"It just means that it is unlikely we will get people wishing to come to us to learn our martial arts since what we can learn is all out there."

"It's not some type of Clan secret."

"That isn't inherently a bad thing," Raze added. "If people want to join the clan it will be for different reasons and besides, I would want to differentiate between those in the clan and the members of the town itself."

"I think your idea of keeping the clan members small and like a family, it should stay that way. The Crimson Crane can be an elite Clan different from the others, while others will just be guards of Flendon."

Judging from the large smile on Alba's face, she liked the proposal of this. The Clan wouldn't be changing much, other than the fact that they had a place to call home.

But calling a place home would mean they were no longer welcome in the Light and Dark Factions.

"Since this city belongs to you, its earnings will be split with the Crimson Crane as well. I would like to reward the Mayor as well," Raze suggested.

There was no need for him to bring Fixteen, because Fixteen was running his own group of Sellers with those he trusted and they were getting a big cut of the Qi pills that they were selling.

"Money from this city?" Forma asked. "When we walked through… the city looked half destroyed, what kind of money could you even get from this place? The most you could do is train people and force them to be some type of mercenary."

"I plan to change all of that, you don't have to worry, I have my ways," Raze said, lifting his hand.

Seeing the things Raze could do, Alba trusted him on that part, and it wasn't as if the Crimson Crane had to worry about finances.

They could easily just travel to the areas close by.

"I heard the town also has a Dimension, so we could always use that to earn some income by getting the crystals," Alba stated.

Hearing that, Raze thought of something else that he just might be able to do to increase the income of the town more.

But for now, he would leave things as they were because his plan could cause more issues than fix them and they still had the Behemoth Guild to look after.

"While you are here, it would be good if you could find anyone that is willing to fight to protect such a place. Test them, and if you think they can do well, then hand them one of those shields," Raze suggested.

Forma didn't like the fact that Raze was ordering Alba around. It felt so strange to her, but she was inclined to listen.

Because she didn't have a better plan, and the land,the area, it belonged to Raze and Rayna. It being part of the Crimson Crane as well, it felt like it was more so in name only.

"Before that I wanted to speak to you about something," Alba said. "We still haven't gotten in contact with Cronker, who was looking after your friends back in the Dark Faction."

"Honestly, I thought you wouldn't have stayed here long, but now you have this town to look after, what are you planning to do, how are you planning to go to the Dark Faction now?"

It had been a while since he had thought about the others. He would be lying if he said he wasn't worried about them.

He trusted them with Amir who was a member of the Bonum Society.

"Getting to the Dark Faction is not the issue, but dealing with those that we need to is. There's not an easy way to get them out in the Dark Faction where there are enemies all around us."

In response to this Alba let out a small hum, as if she wanted to say something. She didn't for a while, collecting her thoughts, and then finally spoke.

"There might be a way you can save them. A way for you to help them without even setting foot in the Dark Faction and bringing them back here to you," she said.

Raze lifted his eyebrow for a moment. He was about to get back to his work with the shields but this was intriguing him.

There was such a way, all of the ways he could think of required magic. Perhaps he wasn't thinking outside of the box enough.

"Look, we are now officially part of the Demonic Faction right?" Alba stated. "Which means, we can also take part in the Martial Arts Tournament."

The Martial Arts Tournament was something that was mentioned multiple times at the Pagna Academy, and was what allowed him to build up hatred towards the Dark Faction in the first place.

"But I'm not a member of the Demonic Academy," Raze replied.

"You are young enough to be a member of the academy, but there's no need for you to join, you just need to convince the Demonic Faction to send you as a participant.

"The event always takes place at the place where last year's winner was, and this time it was in the Light Faction.

"They won't be able to send a large force into the Light Faction because it's not their territory, so it's a perfect time for you to free those that you have been looking for."

"You might not get completely what you want, but at least you can know your allies are safe."

The Martial Arts Tournament, with Raze being a Middle-stage warrior, should be easy for him to win, but if he was going as part of the Demonic Faction,

It would also mean he would be up against his allies in the Dark Faction. Would it be something he could pull off? While all the factions were carefully watching them.