While Shelby was on the move, Jasmine and Layla were doing something similar, and the Viscount was trying to make the best of his situation. Meanwhile, the whole town was talking about the topic of the moment.

Cesar Mazzanti's triumphant return from his journey in The Rocky Gorge!

Cesar's return to Millfall alongside a 3rd-stage basilisk had elevated his status in the minds of many of the locals, from an 'ordinary' man to an expert on the level of the local leaders.

Some had feared him before and now believed the city was lost with a mercenary gaining so much power. But some others, especially those protected by the Mazzanti family, celebrated.

As Vicente's power and influence grew, his territory would become safer and safer!

Combined with the news of the Scarlet Syndicate's leadership change, the Mazzanti family's territory looked the best in Millfall, while the rest of the city was in danger.

...

"Damn it! The fucking Cesar is immortal, he must be! He beats everyone in his path!" Dax Peters said to his younger brother as they drank in Zander and River's tavern, both upset by the news circulating locally.

He had been Cesar Mazzanti's first victim in this city. But even though he had made a deal with Vicente, paying the young mercenary weekly fees, Dax wasn't happy.

He secretly prayed for Cesar's demise!

But as much as Cesar's problems worsened as time passed, he always seemed to find a way around everything that got in his way.

For Dax, this was annoying!

River heard the customer's comment and laughed. "Hahaha, it looks like young Cesar is causing much trouble around here!"

"Let him. He knows what he's doing. We're doing very well because of him!" Zander commented with a smile, dressed much better than when he first met Vicente, having made significant profits in recent weeks due to the peace in his tavern.

...

Meanwhile, at the former headquarters of the Defiant Tyranny, now occupied by another group of local underworld associates, the people there were even more agitated than the ordinary people of Millfall.

"What are we going to do, boss? We're doing well after the fall of Defiant Tyranny. But what will happen now? The Mazzanti family will support the Scarlet Syndicate. With the two of them acting together, they'll keep all their businesses and expand against us." A level 3 man asked his leader, a level 5 Acolyte.

When one faction of the underworld moved against another, there were only two possible outcomes. The first, the weaker side would flee to another city to escape annihilation. The second, a war for supremacy would break out, and the weaker side would eventually be wiped out.

These men, who had taken advantage of the power vacuum left by the fall of the Defiant Tyranny, knew that they had no chance against a group that possessed even a 3rd-stage beast.

The leader of this newly formed faction was pale, but he didn't hold back when faced with a critical question from one of his men. "We're leaving Millfall! There's no room for us in this town!"

Until that day, there had been plenty of room in Millfall for a group like theirs. But now that Vicente had returned with new support for his family, House Mazzanti, and the Scarlet Syndicate would grow with no one to stop them from taking up all the space in Millfall.

It would only be a matter of days before trouble knocked on the doors of such groups!

Everyone there felt strange about having to do this so soon after arriving in the city. But the danger ahead justified their leader's fear.

...

Meanwhile, at one of the entrances to Millfall, a blond man had just arrived in town when he heard the local rumors about Cesar, someone he was there to meet.

'Did Cesar get a 3rd-stage mount?' This blond man, Kohen, narrowed his eyes, finding such information strange.

He had come to this city earlier to investigate Cesar. After discovering several things, he returned to Ironcrest to update his partners at the local Awakening Temple.

But when he had finally returned to Millfall to deal with Cesar, something like this had happened.

'If this is true, our plan won't work.' He thought with an ugly expression on his face.

Still, he was willing to try!

'I'll see what I can do. If I have to improvise, so be it!' He decided and made his way through the streets in front of him.

...

At the same time, a few dozen kilometers from Millfall, a group of 8 people, 6 level 5 Acolytes, and 2 Low-level Mages were camped in a well-wooded area next to a small stream.

There, a young man Jasmine and Layla knew well, stood beside the companions he had managed to gather over the past few weeks.

After many conversations, promises, and risks, Mark had managed to put together a group he thought would be strong enough to deal with Cesar!

Knowing they would be in Millfall in less than a day, he stopped the group in this area to discuss their plans again before putting them into action.

"... So I urge you to be as careful as possible. Jasmine's life will be in danger if you show yourselves. But if something happens to her, I'm afraid even we will be hunted down by her terrible father." Mark finished speaking and reminded some of the men who were more difficult for him to control who Jasmine's father was and how they could end up very badly if her life were lost.

"Don't worry, Mark. We know Jasmine's value." A bald man with closed eyes and a strange smile said as his fellow faction members smiled at Mark.

"We'll take care of everything, Mark. Don't worry." An old acquaintance of Mark's stood and said this to his friend while touching one of the man's shoulders.

"I hope so. But don't underestimate that damned Cesar. I don't know where he gets his powers from, but he's a monster. Be as careful as possible with him." He pointed that out again.

"Let's see what that young man can do." A man with a completely tattooed face and no hair on his head commented.

"But it doesn't matter how strong he is. Will he be able to withstand the power of a faction with Mages? Don't worry, Mark, your rival is already finished. He just doesn't know it yet. We'll save your little friend from him.

I just hope you can keep your promises."

"Of course."