Genetic Ascension

Sylas and Cassarae walked out of the room together what must have been the next day.

Judging by their body language, it was hard to tell that anything of significance had happened at all.

Sylas had a focused gaze that seemed capable of boring through a wall. And Cassarae, having long since regained her footing, had likewise returned to her usual self.

If there was anything wrong at all… it was that they were cordial, too cordial.

However, by the time they made it downstairs, even that oddity was gone. Cassarae was already making snide remarks, and Sylas, though focused, had his own quippy retorts belied by his stone-cold face.

Well, as perfectly as they masked such things, the numerous sets of eyes that landed on them all at the same time when they finally did make their presences known were hard to ignore.

Isolde and Cedric sat beside Paul and Geraldene. The two middle-aged couples seemed lost in some idle chit-chat as was only natural for two close family friends, but that didn't stop them from perking up the instant there was a change. Enjoy new stories from empire

The four seemed to have brought the Twin Moon Healers into the fold, and maybe the greatest oddity of the lobby was that Olivia and Morgan were off in their own little corner, discussing something quite animatedly.

But it didn't matter which group it was, they all looked at the same time.

Olivia wore a sly grin on her face.

Geraldene wore a knowing smile.

Isolde seemed one part concerned, and another part prideful for some reason.

The two fathers had some of the most reserved reactions, and Cedric actually looked quite stern. Paul, on the other hand, looked more like he was pretending to be stern than anything else.

There was a great focused attention that swung onto all of them.

And yet Sylas and Cassarae might as well have not noticed at all given their reactions. Or, they would have seemed not to if Cassarae hadn't spoken a moment later.

"What are you all staring at?"

She crossed her arms over her chest.

Knowing her daughter well, Geraldene's grin only grew wider. This was precisely why she could never tell whether her daughter was experienced or not. That reaction right there.

She simply didn't embarrass easily.

Even when the group of them stood and waited outside the door for them just a few days ago, embarrassment wasn't at the forefront of Cassarae's emotions.

Instead, it was when she was teased by her mother for being a virgin that she had the biggest reaction.

"Rae, you need to take better care of yourself. Two days?"

Cassarae tilted her head to the side as though she had no idea what her mother was talking about.

"Two days? Yes, I've been very busy these last two days, discussing action plans and whatnot. You understand." Cassarae smiled a dangerous smile.

Geraldene only chuckled, putting her hands up in mock surrender.

Now that things were going the way she wanted, there was no need to meddle so much any longer.

That said, this didn't mean that she wasn't still making wiggly eyebrow eyes at her daughter nonetheless.

"Alright, we've got a ton of things to do—" Cassarae began.

"—Could have fooled me," Olivia chimed in.

"—Anyway, continuing, the situation has changed, and it seems like we've been accelerated to an… unwanted future. However, we have an advantage here that most won't: a city. It's just a matter of trying to take advantage of it.

"As far as we can tell, this city of gold isn't too special, and that in itself is a problem. Because there's no way that's the case. It's supposedly a Dynamic Field Dungeon, but there's yet to be any sort of danger.

"That's not normal."

The scale of the city of gold was far too large. It was most definitely the largest of any Dungeon of any type that they had seen, and that seemed to come with a reduction in the concentration of danger.

But that was nothing more than an assumption, one that very well might get them killed if they were too careless.

That was because there was also the possibility that danger had only yet to appear because the city of gold had yet to fully form.

"What we do know is a few things. First, it will take another week or so before the city of gold finishes expanding. Second, there seems to be a hidden rule that triggered here. Because my city was enveloped by a Dungeon, I have the right to leave and act within the confines of said Dungeon. I'll have far more freedom to move.

"Still, like I said… this feels like a trap. Our best stronghold and advantage here is definitely the city. Jumping at the chance to leave will be our undoing.

"Right now, we are a Grade 9 Common Village. Sylas and I have decided that the best chance we have is trying to upgrade to a Grade 1 Rudimentary Town before the growth of the city is complete, but for that, we'll need all hands on deck."

Sylas' gaze flashed as though he was going to say something, but Cassarae put a hand over his mouth before he could speak, so he chose to remain silent.

As for what he wanted to say… that much was obvious.

All hands on deck was unnecessary.

He could force the issue on his own.

But Cassarae's perspective made sense as well. This was clearly not something they could survive on their own, and there would certainly be a great deal of forces converging on this region.

Sylas was their best trump card. They had to use him sparingly and cleverly.

"Hush," Cassarae said. "The largest hurdle to upgrading a city is money, and we have that in spades. Or, rather, we'll have it very soon. The second largest are Territory Feats. This is where everyone will come in. Conquering a certain amount of land, clearing a certain number of City Quests, etcetera.

"As for you, Sylas. You only have one task until the city of gold is fully established.

"Get stronger."