Born in Blood

Sitting opposite to a Rank 6 powerhouse, Liam actually felt quite comfortable.

The atmosphere was just perfect. 

The smell of fresh books, the lighting, the ambient silence. 

It was as though this setting was hand-made and designed just for Liam's sake.

Sir Cornelius' aura wasn't intimidating or overbearing, either. In a sense, it was warm, like the uncle Liam never had.

It helped that his appearance was so… docile and non-threatening. 

Compared to someone like the General, for example, Cornelius looked harmless. 

But there was no doubt about it.

Sir Cornelius Mehro III was indeed a spectacular host. 

"Wow… it's just like they say," Cornelius said. "It stings a tiny bit looking straight into your eyes." 

Liam smiled lightly. 

"I hope the journey wasn't too long?" Cornelius said with a wide smile, showcasing his pearly white teeth. 

"I've positioned my island a little closer to all the surrounding countries, but I had to maintain equality between them."

"Not at all," Liam reassured, smiling lightly. "I've got a fast ride myself."

Nodding, Cornelius then gave Liam's suit a good, scrutinizing look. 

"I've… never quite seen such attire before, Mister Royce," Cornelius said, adjusting his monocle. "It's… quaint. And stylish, if I do say so myself."

A pause.

"A talented tailor could get you far in life," Liam said, as if he knew what he was talking about. "You would know." 

Sir Cornelius nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly!" 

"Friends always tell me that I've hired too many tailors, but what can I say?" Cornelius added with a conversational voice. "Each suit grants me a new quality I didn't have before."

The two exchanged solemn nods of agreement.

"Oh!" Cornelius exclaimed suddenly, facepalming. "How rude of me. I haven't even offered you something to drink!" 

Liam raised a hand. "Please. Don't bother. I'm not one to drink in the first place."

The Mayor shook his head. 

"You misunderstand, Mister Liam," Cornelius said in a somewhat serious voice, leaning forward. 

"These are not alcoholic. They're made from mermaid tears and sun strawberries. And I'm afraid you cannot refuse."

Liam didn't know either of those ingredients. "If you insist."

A moment later—

WHOM!

—there was a flash of emerald ight.

Two champagne glasses appeared on the host's desk. They fizzed and bubbled, as though they were carbonated.

One side of the glass glowed, as though it was a piece of the sun, and the other gushed as though it was a patch of the ocean.

A strange duality.

"Please!" Cornelius said, grabbing one glass as Liam grabbed the other. "Cheers!" 

CLINK!

The two clinked their glasses together, then gulped down the drinks in one go.

As it flowed down Liam's throat, a myriad of flavors made his entire body shiver.

It was really, really good.

No doubt, the tastiest thing that ever graced his palate, warming his entire body. 

But it was very, very heavy.

It was as though he'd wolfed down a feast that his monstrous stomach couldn't digest in time.

Still, it made his muscles tingle in satisfaction, and if he was anyone else, he'd ask for another drink straight away. 

But he didn't.

It was just taste.

So what?

He wasn't a glutton.

Nor a drunk.

Cornelius let out a long sigh of refreshment.

Seeing Liam's mild reaction, Cornelius smiled lightly and nodded to himself.

"Now!" the Mayor exclaimed, then made a slightly serious face. "Would you mind if I ask you a few questions pertaining to your life?"

"Not at all," Liam responded. 

For the next few minutes, the Mayor continued asking Liam a series of questions, starting from his birth, up to his current situation.

Liam spoke the truth.

There was no reason to lie, really. The powerhouse could easily tell if he was. 

Liam told him most of the details and kept some to himself. 

Especially his side goal of finding the Ashuras, his revenge against the Royce family, and how he attained most of his powers. 

Unless the Mayor asked him those questions himself, Liam would answer.

He also kept his meeting with the Opposition a secret. 

That wasn't getting out, even if Liam was asked. 

Thirty minutes passed.

Liam explained everything with concise and clear terms.

His entire life story of 29 years was shortened to 30 minutes. 

At the same time, Liam snuck studying glances at Cornelius' Path.

Everyone's Path was unique to their abilities and strengths. For some individuals, it was clear as day what their Paths were. 

Case in point: the Empress of Fear.

Another case in point: the Emperor of Courage.

The former radiated a natural sense of primordial fear, while the latter emitted a feeling of protection and warmth to those that looked at him. 

And yet, Cornelius' Path was a little too vague for Liam to truly grasp and understand it.

Most of his aura was actually translucent, and his mental waves were invisible. 

At the end of Liam's story, Cornelius had a bewildered, amazed look on his fat face.

"Wow," he said under his breath, subconsciously twisting the end of his mustache. "Have you ever thought about writing a book?"

Liam made a snort that sounded like a chuckle. "Not yet. Maybe I will." 

"And… how are you not dead yet?" the Mayor muttered with an aghast voice. "How does everything you do go wrong in some way?" 

Liam shrugged with a smile.

"Sorry, that was rude of me," Cornelius said apologetically. "I've never heard of a story with so much torture involved." 

Silence.

"Can we exchange a demonstration of power now?" the Mayor said bluntly, a slight smile on his face. 

"I've never been one to beat around the bush, quite frankly."

Liam could agree with that.

Except, he had a strange question.

"Hasn't the party started already, though?" Liam asked. "It's well past 7. The mountain's being filled up with people."

Cornelius laughed.

"They're not expecting a grand speech, are they? As a host, I'll treat my guests like kings so long as they don't believe themselves to be one."

"Besides, I despise those kinds of talks. I'd rather meet my guests personally than address them like a common crowd."

Liam liked Sir Cornelius a little more because of what he said.

"I'll begin," the Mayor said. "I wouldn't want you to feel like you've been fleeced."

Liam reclined and listened intently. 

Exchanging demonstrations of power with a Rank 6 cultivator would no doubt give him insight on the intricacies of one's Path.