Chapter 274: Top Priority.

Since Blaze had reached the End Stage of Rank-8, his prowess had increased significantly.

However, he didn't have the necessary control over his own strength now. Ozul told him that he wouldn't cultivate until he has familiarized himself with his own powers.

He knew that if he spars with Raven like this, she was bound to get hurt as Blaze wouldn't be able to hold back, and that was the reason why he stopped her from sparring with him unless he oversaw the battle himself.

As they waited for Haley, Raven suddenly looked at Ozul and asked with a soft voice that had a little concern mixed in, "Is it all for your questions?"

Blaze instinctively paused, but he noticed Raven's tone and the slight change in Ozul's expressions before he started acting oblivious to his surroundings.

Ozul sighed and took a while to answer, "It is..."

There was an odd look on his face when he said it, but all Raven could see was a tired man, struggling even after coming so far. Unlike her, Blaze wasn't as good at reading the mood, so he chose not to interrupt whatever was going on.

Being with Ozul for so long, Raven might have been the only person that would understand his worries and thoughts to a certain extent. Although Ozul never said anything clearly, she knew that he had questions and he would have left the continuous struggle and chosen to simply sleep all day long ago if not because he wanted answers.

Any normal person would have undoubtedly given up to search for some truth that they might never find, but Ozul wasn't a normal person and Raven understood it very clearly.

After mustering up her courage, she spoke, "I... will do my best to help you..."

Raven forgot how she was supposed to show that she held no feelings for him now. In the spur of the moment, she subconsciously tried to cheer him on.

What came as a surprise to Blaze was how Ozul didn't seem to care about it as he replied, "Hm. I am sure you will..."

But then he felt even more astonished because he definitely noticed how Ozul's tone had gotten unusually softer! Meanwhile, Raven smiled brightly in response, ignoring Blaze's confusion.

Ozul had never explained things to Raven, but she was bound to learn a thing or two about him from just his habits as they had lived together for so long.

For once, there was someone who understood him without him saying anything at all, so he actually felt a little better listening to her. He would have even stood up to pat her head if not for the fact that he always subconsciously felt the need to not get intimate with anyone.

'She was able to understand so much even without me saying anything... am I that easy to read?' Ozul questioned, but he quickly shook this ridiculous thought out of his mind.

Many of the times, even he himself questioned his feelings, so how would others find it easy to read him?

He concluded that Raven was just observant, and spending so much time with him naturally made her pick on a few of his thoughts.

Ozul had only mentioned a few things when they had first found Blaze.

However, even Blaze didn't know that everything Ozul had done until now was only for those purposes.

The organization that could now rival even the strongest factions on the continent was created for the sole purpose of making it easier for Ozul to find things.

Now that the Three-Eyed Strangers was finally entering its final stage and infiltrating all the major factions, he would have a much easier time when he looked for any clues.

All those core members would throw up a mouthful of blood if they knew the reason for the creation of their organization.

Saving Blaze from the awkward situation, Haley finally arrived after a few minutes. Irvin and Oliver were right behind her as well.

It seemed like Oliver had specially gone to call her when he realized that Ozul was waiting for her return.

"Young master," both Haley and Irvin showed their respects to Ozul before Haley asked,

"Did you need me, young master?"

Ozul didn't answer her question directly and stood up from the couch first. The group of five people quietly followed after him as he began to walk down the stairs and then to the floor down below.

They only stopped once Ozul was outside the tower near the entrance.

Just when he was about to say something to Haley, he suddenly paused because he felt a slight movement of Mana from his right.

"Ignore them," he seemingly spoke to the empty air. Immediately afterwards, the small disturbance of Mana calmed down while those around him looked at him with confusion.

Irvin and Blaze were the only two exceptions to this as they could guess a little of what had just transpired.

Not bothering to clear their confusion, Ozul resumed, "I will be leaving again."

"Ehh? But you just came back yesterday, young master..." Irvin expressed his concern while Oliver and Haley nodded their heads as they agreed with Irvin's sentiments.

"There is only a single year left before the test starts, and I want to explore those ruins. I will take the Rogue Crew with me; they will prove to be useful," Ozul continued to speak, not bothering to reply to Irvin who could only chuckle wryly.

What could he, an old butler, even do when his young master decided to completely ignore him.

"But young master... we will need you here when we move the headquarters..." Haley spoke nervously, inwardly praying that Ozul wouldn't decide to ignore her words just like Irvin's as well.

"Don't worry. There won't be any problems that can't be solved by Irvin when you move the tower. Even if you do, get help from the Ashin family," Ozul replied with a clear voice.

Meanwhile, Oliver teasingly chuckled at Irvin who started glaring daggers at him.

He didn't even know whether to laugh or cry noticing the difference of treatment between him and his wife.

Even though Haley had expressed her worries when they would move the headquarters, she wasn't so worried either.

All the factions were too busy securing their own new territories for them to bother with the Three-Eyed Strangers who had repeatedly claimed themselves to be a Neutral Faction.

"As for the location, move the headquarters right on the outer edge of the Barren Lands," Ozul added before he remembered about the expansion as well.

"Don't completely take over all those small groups. Only have enough of our members infiltrate that they unknowingly become our vessels while still thinking that they work independently," Ozul advised.

Haley readily nodded her head.

"One more thing..." Ozul paused to put emphasis on his next words, "Start collecting all and every information about 'squirming black runes' etched on a living body. It doesn't matter where you find it from. Infiltrate even more factions, but I want results when I come back."

"If you can't find anything, I would still need to see a detailed report about wherever you searched. Be it old ruin sites, or the libraries containing all kinds of books. This task will also be the priority," Ozul finished with a tone that didn't seem to hold any room for negotiations.

Time had finally come. He previously wanted to wait until they had completely infiltrated all the prominent factions, but the progress speed was too slow. It might even take another decade, and he didn't want to wait for so long.

Ozul felt really proud at this moment. He vividly remembered when he had first thought about making people do things for him as he was too lazy, and that dream was playing right in front of his eyes now.

Meanwhile, Haley, Irvin, and Oliver all had a single thought running inside their heads, 'Top priority?!'

Ozul had already once told them that whatever he declared as the top priority would, as it suggests, would be placed on top of the priority list.

They would have to slow down all of their ongoing stuff and shift their focus on this instead.

It wouldn't have been surprising for him to say that infiltrating all the organizations was put on top priority, but searching for any information on 'squirming black runes' being given such importance made them curious and confused at the same time.

"I will be off then," Ozul suddenly turned around before Haley could even ask any questions about these squirming black ruins.

He had purposely left without giving out more details as he might not be able to explain it clearly since he couldn't reveal everything, which might draw a wrong picture in Haley's head.

It was better if they just collected clues about anything even remotely related to this. He would then look through it all once he comes back.

"Keep up with me," Ozul abruptly started to fly as he left those words behind.

Although surprised at the sudden speed, Blaze and Raven followed immediately after him as well. The Rogue Crew hiding around them did the same.

Fortunately for them, Ozul flew at the speed bearable for even the Initial Stage Rank-8 Mages.

Only a few minutes later did Ozul stop in the middle of the air before carefully moving his eyes all around him.

When the duo caught up with the Rogue Crew in the shadows, they all looked at him with questioning faces.

"We had to lose a few eyes on us," Ozul said without bothering to go into details.

Only after he had confirmed that no one was listening in to them now did he tell them, "Stay here. I have to give the Ashin family a visit again."