*Double Length Chapter*

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As Tyr and Arin made their way into the giant city of the Immortal Peak, Tyr was immediately impressed by how smoothly everything seemed to function.

This place was not just a faction institution but rather like a town filled with people calling the Ten High Peak Faction their home.

There were shops and stores lined across all the streets—armories and smithies, workshops and accessory stores.

From bakeries to alchemy stations, there was almost everything you could imagine.

From what Arin explained as they walked through the streets of the city, Tyr understood that the people living in this city were all part of the Ten High Peak Faction.

Everyone inside the faction apparently had different jobs. Many acted as guards, others as informants and social workers.

Most were students of the faction, learning continuously and gaining power as they completed quests and helped the faction with its needs.

However, this didn’t explain why there were seemingly tens of thousands of people in this city.

“It works like this,” Arin went on to explain happily. “Most of the people in this city have retired from being Hunters of the faction. Hunters are special forces like you and me, who are soldiers that work for the faction, completing missions and growing stronger using its institutions. These people, despite not following that path any longer, have chosen to continue living in this faction, as that is all they know. They are provided with everything they need, are self-sustainable, and are also a big asset to the faction itself as they create a good flow of a balanced economy.”

Tyr looked around at every civilian as he heard this information from Arin.

Most looked like normal people going about their day—hardworking citizens of a normal country.

Arin continued, “But don’t be fooled by their first appearance. There’s a reason why there are no homeless people in the cities of the Ten High Peak Faction. Everyone was once a Hunter of the faction, who now have decided to live a normal life.” Stay connected via мѵʟ

Tyr nodded. “So how many Hunters are there currently in the Upper Echelon Branch then? The Immortal Peak?”

Arin didn’t hesitate to answer, “Including everyone, there are probably just over 300 now. There are three Sections in the Immortal Peak: A, B, and C. Each section houses about 100 Hunters and resides in different halls. However, when being taught, all three halls gather together. That is something unique about the Immortal Peak, since we have the least Hunters compared to the other branches.”

“Hmm… because this branch is the most elite, right?” Tyr asked.

Arin paused. “Well… not exactly. Although it holds that title due to its past, as it is now, the Immortal Peak is…” Arin paused again, fixing a slightly sour expression. “A cesspool for spoiled brats.”

Tyr raised an eyebrow. “Huh? What do you mean?”

Arin chuckled slightly. “There aren’t really any rules here.”

Tyr was confused by this statement. “How could there not be rules? Is Huevas not the Branch Captain?”

“You say his name so easily…” Arin mumbled under her breath before saying more loudly: “But even he has no time to look over this branch. He is currently taking the seat of Grand Sovereign, since our current Faction Grand Sovereign is in isolation training.”

Tyr paused, narrowing his eyes. “Hmm… what is he preparing for?”

Arin’s face dimmed slightly. “War…” she said in a low tone.

Tyr moved on, not wanting to go down that route of conversation. “Listen, even if there aren’t many rules here, it’s at least strong, right? We do have the most materials and ways to become more powerful here, right? Leverages that the other peaks don’t have?”

“Well… yes, and no. Due to the fact that we have better resources than the other branches, we barely sneak above them in terms of power. While that is true, we suck when it comes to actual tournaments. We have no synergy and all hate each other. On top of that, no one trains as much as the others, because, like I said, we are a bunch of spoiled brats.”

Tyr was surprised by this. “Then, what about the tournament that happens every three months between all the branches? To establish the power hierarchy between all of them?”

Arin showed a slightly awkward smile. “About that… we haven’t won one of those in forever. In fact, we are currently rated the lowest, weakest branch of all.”

Tyr felt his shoulders droop as he heard this. “What the hell… has Huevas made me join?” he said, amazed with disappointment.

He sighed. “Well… I’ll have to make do with what I have at least, I guess. That bastard chose this place for me, after all. I’m sure he knew what he was doing.”

Tyr looked to Arin at that moment and was slightly surprised to see the look on her face.

Her mouth was slightly open, her eyes wide with a frozen expression.

“What?” Tyr grunted.

“O-oh… nothing. I just have never heard even a spoiled Immortal Peak guy say something as ballsy as that. You are talking about the Vice-Grandmaster of this faction… the Branch Captain of your peak… and also the standing Grand Sovereign as it is now.”

Tyr paused for a second before brushing it off. “Pfft… who gives a shit. It’s not like he will kick me out.”

He moved on quickly.

Arin was stunned, stopping in place for a moment before laughing with amusement and catching back up to the young man.

“So… what now?” Tyr asked.

“Gosh. There are so many places I could show you. From the punishment halls to the mission hall, to the martial training hall and the cultivation grounds. The library pavilion and more… I don’t know where to begin!”

Tyr shook his head, “Ehh… leave all that for now. I only care about places that either help me gain power much faster, or that I need to know.”

The two continued walking for a moment when they heard some commotion going on in front of them.

A small crowd had gathered in the center of the street.

The crowd was thin, easy to walk through without really bumping into anyone.

Since it was in their path, the two made their way through the crowd and observed what was going on inside.

“Hey! That’s mine!” a young man yelled, attempting to push himself off of the ground. He was sitting on his bum, a grim look on his face.

Tyr immediately noted something about the young man.

‘He’s one of the new ones… just like me.’

Standing above the young man were three other faction members who also looked to be Hunters.

Out of the three, one had his foot on the newbie’s stomach—pushing him into the ground while holding a ring in his hand.

He had bright orange hair and a fierce-looking face that was contorted into a mocking expression.

“Che!” the redhead spat on the ground. “The bitch barely has an Aura Stone. Get him up.”

As he said this, he stepped back as his two accomplices picked the young new Hunter off of the ground.

The orange-haired Hunter grabbed the newbie by the collar. “It’s hunting season. We are the Hunters, and you are the prey, newbie. Don’t ever forget that.”

The new Hunter’s eyes became red with moisture, quickly beginning to tear up as his entire body was quivering.

“Please…” he whispered under his breath.

The orange-haired bully suddenly looked down at a band around his wrist.

It looked identical to the one that Lao Heshang used to communicate through back in the Mauyin Temple.

His face turned slightly irritable as he said, “I’m going to give you some luck for now.” He let go of the new Hunter’s collar. “I like playing with my food a little. You better pray that a soft little cupcake like you doesn’t end up in my section. I’ll make you forget the concept of what dignity even is.” He growled in the newbie’s face before thrusting him toward the ground.

The orange-haired bully gestured to his friends to leave the area. Whilst chuckling to themselves, they walked forward toward the crowd.

It just so happened to be that Tyr was standing directly in the bully’s direction about 10 feet away.

Every other civilian made space for the bully, quickly stepping to the side.

Even Arin had disappeared out of sight completely, which Tyr felt was a bit odd. She didn’t seem like the type to be scared of bullies.

‘Hmm…’ Tyr said as a reaction to the entire situation that unfolded in front of him.

He didn’t make much of it except for:

‘It looks like, since there aren’t many rules enforced here, the weak are preyed upon by the strong. It’s the same as in the wilderness. Without rules, that’s the natural way of life.’

He moved on from the situation, walking forward. He wasn’t going to stall there for any more time. And he sure as hell wasn’t going to move out of the way for anyone.

Tyr didn’t slow down as he approached the orange-haired Hunter.

‘Who the hell is this guy?’ the redhead thought to himself, raising a brow. ‘I haven’t seen him before… is he a new scout or something?’ He scanned Tyr from head to toe.

‘Motherfucker is tall… and he doesn’t look too weak either.’

The two came mere inches from each other.

‘Is he trying to talk to me?’ the redhead mused, stopping for a moment as the two crossed paths.

Tyr aggressively brushed past him, not halting for even a second and not even batting an eye.

The orange-haired Hunter’s brows curled inward as he clenched his jaw, turning his head past his shoulders. “Oi… you’re new, aren’t you?”

On hearing this, Tyr immediately responded, “Yep,” he said, continuing to walk forward without much care for the bully.

The orange-haired Hunter grinned. “You are going to regret touching me,” he said as Tyr had already left the crowd and moved.

For a few seconds, the Hunter continued to stand there and smile. But as he realized Tyr wasn’t coming back, his smile turned into a furious frown.

“He thinks he’s some bigshot, huh? It’s okay… they all think that before learning the truth.” He turned, “Come on… sir is waiting for us.”

The three moved on.

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