Chapter 229. Arrival

Aiden merely smiled politely.

"Alright." President Xander leaned forward. "That’s exactly why I invited you over. We won’t lie. Also, we won’t ask you for anything in return. The only thing we will ask for is that, when you eventually stand at the peak of Endra, you will still decide to be associated with us."

Aiden nodded. The old monsters were really old monsters. Compared to some young men and women who threw tantrums all the time, spent unnecessary time looking down on others, and had minor conflicts, they identified those who had the potential to stand at the top, supported them, and affiliated themselves with them. This way, they would never be irrelevant.

They understood that strength was not all about being powerful; strength was also about foresight.

"Alright," Aiden said. He preferred relationships built on mutual agreement rather than ones built on assumed expectations. "We have a deal."

Xander and Xandera stood up. Aiden also stood up and exchanged greetings with them.

"You can reveal yourselves."

The moment Xandera spoke, 100 expert Rank 2 warriors appeared suddenly in the room.

"This is the man you will be guarding, Professor Aiden Vhorn. You are all familiar with his feats, as everyone on Endra knows about him by now. So, there is no need to waste time on introductions," Xander said.

"Yes, sir," the group of covert ops said.

"We will do our best to guard you, sir," the leader, a short man with a lean build whose eyes radiated calm lethality, said.

"I’ll be looking forward to it," Aiden said. "However, I have a request. Some people who are very valuable and important to me are headed to Sauna City University. I would prefer it if some of you guard them from the shadows when they arrive. I will inform them of the current development when they arrive on campus."

Aiden understood that if his enemies still wanted to resort to assassinations and traps against him, even when he was currently the disciple of a legendary Rank 4 warrior, they’d do the same to his loved ones.

No matter how powerful their level of political immunity currently was because of Armstrong Lee and his disciples, it was not bad to be too careful.

He was intentional about his relationship with them. That meant that he intended to go all out to protect them. As for Wembley and Arica, Aiden had used his advanced vision to identify several people roaming around the trees at Wembley’s house. They were already being protected by their personal guards from the shadows.

The people he wanted this level of protection for were his friends, their parents, and Cosmo Adams.

As for Pamela Ashira, she was the daughter of Ashbourne Cane. So definitely, her father had people guarding her from the shadows. But still, he’d have her guarded too.

"Alright," the leader of the covert ops said. "We will see to that, sir."

"Thank you," Aiden replied.

The moment he said that, the group of covert ops blended quietly into the environment with their invisibility bracelets and disappeared.

"Thank you, sir, ma’am." Aiden stood up and greeted Xander and Xandera.

"It was a pleasure to have you over, Professor Vhorn."

"We look forward to your exploits."

Xander and Xandera said.

"Pleasure is mine as well," Aiden said politely.

After that, he saw himself out under the gazes of the twins.

As the door clicked and closed behind Aiden, the twins sighed.

"What a terrifying young man," Xandera said.

"He looks very ordinary in person. A far cry from his videos. One can notice he is the one in them, but because of the shift in demeanor once he unleashes his carnage, it’s difficult to relate him to the calm, polite, ordinary-looking, handsome young man we just had a conversation with," Xander said.

"I’m afraid some stupid people will keep making the mistake of not discovering who he is when he goes somewhere, even though he’s extremely popular now," Xandera said.

"I pity them," Xander said. "This young man is like a sheathed sword—always ready to strike. His politeness makes him more terrifying. People like that have absolute control over their decisions and impulses. They are clinical, pragmatic, and ruthless. Every decision is made because they deem it necessary and the best course of action to achieve their goals. Someone like Aiden Vhorn does not view things through the lens of right or wrong. He views things through the lens of efficiency."

"That means he can massacre thousands of innocents without having any sense of guilt if that is the best course of action to deal with a situation," Xandera said. "He won’t be concerned with whether it was right or wrong. He would only care about how efficient that method is to achieving his goals. How terrifying."

"Indeed. I feel like we have made the best decisions of our lives to ally ourselves with him," Xander said.

"I wonder what kind of first mission he plans on taking on. Most likely, he will go for a high-level difficulty professorship mission or a hell-difficulty level mission ," Xandera said.

***

Western Continent.

Iron Empire.

Waldhar State.

Sauna City.

Sauna International Airport.

The evening breeze wafted through the airport.

The place was busy as usual. People were clutching luggage, and loved ones were hugging each other after not seeing each other for a while.

Some people also held signboards with names of their loved ones on them.

Announcers made announcements over PR systems.

Several figures in masks stepped out of a private jet in the open at the airport.

"Did we really have to wear these masks?" Ashbourne Cane said.

"Old man, we really have to. Unless, of course, you want reporters to flood us throughout the night," Pamela said.

"Thank you, Pamela," Vandaport said.

"So this is the Western Continent?" Asmodeus, clad in an otaku mask that made him look very hideous, said.

"Where the hell did you get that mask from?" Seraphina said.

"Babe, how can you be so mean to me?" Asmodeus added as he clutched his mask weirdly. "This was specially signed by Bibo Kuto, the creator of Reach."

"I will never understand you nerds," Luke said.

"Says the guy who gambles a lot of money away every night." Candice kneed him softly in the flank.

"Ouch, babe, what was that for?" he said.

"You gamble a lot and she wants you to quit?" Desmonda chuckled.

"Give me a break; I only gambled for one night. And why is no one talking about Uncle Cosmo?" Luke said.

Everyone turned to look at Cosmo Adams.

"Really, dude? You went to the casino with this guy?" Chromium said.

"Well, he made it obviously clear that he could beat me in a poker game," Cosmo shrugged shamelessly. "Had to do something to humble the young man."

"Seriously, son, pick your battles very well," Genjis tapped Luke’s shoulders.

Everyone chuckled.

"Hey, why is everyone on my case? Aunt Brandy here joined us. She’s actually the one who showed us where the casino was," Luke said.

Everyone turned to look at Brandy.

"What?" she said. "Give me a break."

"Brandy won five million dollars in one game," Ronan said.

Everyone turned to look at Ronan.

"You went too?" the group said at the same time.

"Betrayal... absolute betrayal."

"I didn’t know making money was this easy."

"Anyway, let’s head to the university ASAP. I’m sure Aiden is itching to see you guys," Vandaport said.