In the Temple District stood a magnificent building with a distinctly Ancient Greek style.
All eight Sword-Keepers had gathered there. Some soaked in the hot spring at the center of the room, some lay in chairs sunbathing, and others drank on the balcony while taking in the view.
Two Sword-Keepers on the balcony looked down into the courtyard, where their bodyguards were catching up with one another.
"Musta, why did you bring your granddaughter?" one Sword-Keeper asked.
There were twenty-four people in the courtyard below, an average of three bodyguards per Sword-Keeper. Of course, they could bring relatives or friends instead—or no bodyguards at all. Feis and Saxon never brought any.
"Arona brought his daughter too. That's Veronica, isn't it? Could you be thinking the same thing I am?" Musta smiled at Arona.
"Mm-hmm..." Arona soaked in the hot spring while a maid fed him grapes. The servants here could never leave Saint Qing Island. Many could not even read.
"Whatever you're thinking, I'm thinking it too," Arona said with a smile.
They were talking about marriage alliances, of course. Two formidable fighters had recently risen to prominence, and Amu had drawn the most attention.
Amu had always been a promising prospect. Then an alien took an interest in him, and he underwent some kind of extraordinary enhancement in one fell swoop, leaping straight to S4.
It was a three-in-one leap: superpowers, physical enhancement, and an extended lifespan.
Amu was still single, and the Illuminati had raised him since childhood. Naturally, they had to promote him to Sword-Bearer.
"You two can stop eyeing Amu. He belongs to the Onassis Family," Onassis said from his wheelchair.
He looked older than anyone else there. Though he was bundled up, anyone could see how frail he had become.
Onassis tried to sound vigorous,