Chapter 1229 Inner Conflict

"Is everyone alright?" the Leader of Team Wooly Sheep asked.

She got positive answers from everyone before looking at Kyle with furrowed brows. The amount of Energy Blue had used during their escape was suspiciously high. It wasn't as high as the amount of Energy an Adept Immortal had, but it was more than a Beginner Immortal should have. Additionally, she was still concerned about Red's sudden disappearance.

"Mind explaining your actions to the team?" she asked Blue.

"I've dealt with the attacker," Kyle transmitted.

"So, the cave-in was caused by an attacker?" Spring of Joy asked with concern.

"Yes," Kyle answered. "It was just one attacker. That's also how I noticed the cave-in. I sensed a change in my Karmic Luck. I dug towards the direction of the attack, hoping that I would find the attacker. I found them, and I identified them as the attacker by looking at the Karmic Line. I've dealt with them."

"You took an unnecessary risk," the Leader of Team Wooly Sheep answered. "This could have been a trap to lure us out."

"Only one Karmic Line changed," Kyle replied. "If there were an entire team, I wouldn't have gone there by myself."

"How do you know?" one of the members of Team Wooly Sheep asked. "It's already hard to believe that you've sensed such a subtle change in Karmic Luck. Are you claiming that you would have also sensed the presence of marginally involved members?"

"I'm a Karmic Senser," Kyle answered. "I know a lot about Karmic Luck."

"Who was the attacker?" Abyssal Depths asked.

"Unknown," Kyle answered. "She had no Communicator or valuables. The only things in her Soul Space were a couple of basic materials for Formation Arrays that aren't even worth five Grade Nine Energy Stones. She was a blank slate."

"Was it Extended Family?" Abyssal Depths transmitted only to Kyle.

"Maybe, but I can't be sure. Could have been a rogue assassin," Kyle replied.

"How did you deal with the attacker?" the Leader asked. "They must have been an Adept or Minor Immortal."

"With enough preparation, I can jump a level," Kyle answered.

"How could you have prepared while chasing an enemy?" the Leader asked.

"I have my ways," Kyle answered as his brows furrowed a bit. "Your questions are getting a bit too personal. I'm also not asking you about the details of your abilities."

The Leader took a deep breath. "I apologize. The important thing is that we are still alive. Kyle, if you hadn't sensed the attacker, half of us would have lost an Avatar. We are alive thanks to you, and I shouldn't repay your help by questioning you."

"It's fine," Kyle answered. At that moment, Red also broke through the walls and returned to the team.

Sadly, Kyle hadn't lied about the attacker's belongings. She had truly been poor. Hidden agents were supposed to go on their missions with nothing of value. A great number of valuables could be traced back to an identity by investigating the market. Normal teams didn't have the privileges or power to investigate the market in such a way, but there were parties who had the resources and influence to do just that. If the hidden agent were linked to Extended Family, they wouldn't be a hidden agent anymore.

"What's the plan?" Spring of Joy asked. "Do we continue excavating?"

Everyone looked at Kyle.

"Yes," Kyle answered.

"We've been at very dangerous depths," the Leader transmitted. "We've been lucky so far, but that won't continue. Are you certain you want to keep going?"

"We need the resources," Kyle answered. "Lost Spark and I are not Adept Immortals, and we don't have the resources to advance."

"I understand, but you're taking unnecessary risks," the Leader answered. "You're trying to earn enough to advance a level within a single Excursion. That's not how Excursions usually go. You also have to keep in mind that you not only need the Energy Stones to advance but also the Energy Stones for your increased insurance fee for your next Excursion. That means both of you need a collective 1,500 Grade Nine Energy Stones. Usually, Adept Immortals are satisfied if they get 200 Grade Nine Energy Stones within a single Excursion."

"Is it correct just because everyone else is doing it?" Kyle replied. "None of us have reached our level without taking some major risks. None of you have a perfected Momentum yet. You need to take some risks anyway to perfect your Momentum. What's the difference between taking them now and taking them later?"

"The difference," the Leader answered with furrowed brows, "is that we will perfect our Momentum when we do not have a choice. Danger comes for us all, and when we have no choice but to face the danger, we will fight, and our Momentum will improve. Right now, we have a choice. Taking a risk now is unnecessary."

"You have it backward," Kyle countered. "We are taking risks right now so that our chances of survival are higher when we encounter unavoidable dangers. You want to learn only if there is an upcoming exam. I want to learn so that I'm prepared for any exam."

The Leader narrowed her eyes. She still didn't agree with Kyle. "According to the alliance agreement, we are supposed to work together and maximize our earnings. I do not support your choice, but we also won't break our agreement. If you want us to keep digging, we will do just that."

The others frowned, but they still agreed with their Leader.

Abyssal Depths remained silent. She could understand both sides.

"Good," Kyle answered. "Then, let's start digging a new hole!"

The team complied without any complaints. They just hoped that there would be no more attacks from third parties. While the dangers inside the Planet were scary, the truly fearsome thing was an attack from another Immortal. They were in a vulnerable position.

The team created another funnel, but this one was even wider.

No one interrupted them during the first couple of decades of digging.

After about 50 years, they reached their old depth again, but this time, the funnel was much wider and gave them more security.

Sadly, Kyle was once more running low on materials. In response, he reduced the number of Stabilizing Formation Arrays. This time, the other Formation Array Master said that he also didn't have many materials left.

'I'm not sure I believe him,' Kyle thought. 'The last time, he gave me a ton of materials and acted like it wasn't a big deal. Additionally, the other team didn't seem worried when we agreed to an alliance for a thousand years. If they lacked materials, they would have said something.'

"Fine, I have to waste some money, then," Kyle said as he took out a Grade Nine Energy Stone. In the next moment, he transformed the Energy Stone into several materials.

Using Energy Stones to create materials was considered wasteful. The Cult could afford to do that since they had a significant number of members who could create Energy Stones ten times faster than normal. However, for normal Immortals, it was better to buy the materials. One needed to use five Energy Stones to create materials with the worth of one Energy Stone.

The other team looked at Kyle with some annoyance.

This guy was really stubborn.

'I know you guys aren't the biggest fan of this, but we've had an agreement. I conceded about a thousand Grade Nine Energy Stones, hoping to establish a good relationship and that the trade might be worth it. I can't just fucking leave like this. Also, I really need a believable origin of the pile of money I've gotten. Finally, I feel like we should focus on our progress. Sebastian and I need to advance.'

'Sorry, but we're digging!'

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