What They Expected of Each Other-Ron's Dominance!

Become one of the Five Elders?

He had to admit, it was a tempting thought.

Ron's goal was to climb the ranks step by step, then seize the chance to replace the ruling class. Everyone got their turn at the top, and this time, he wanted it to be his.

If he became one of the Five Elders, he could leap straight to the top and gain a hand in the government's innermost workings. Pulling strings then would be far easier.

But two problems remained.

First, the Five Elders operated as a council.

The one with the biggest fist did not automatically get his way. Everything had to be decided by vote.

That was why there were five of them.

Imu undoubtedly trusted the Five Elders who had served him over the years. The only reason Ron could use this opportunity to bring one down was that a string of recent upheavals had finally made Imu's accumulated dissatisfaction boil over.

Once that opportunity was spent, it was gone.

Even a blow had to be followed by a sweetener. Without another major incident, the other four would be impossible to dislodge.

If Ron joined them, the position would look splendid, but he would hold only one-fifth of the votes.

In a group that voted on everything, an outsider with no roots would have precious little room to maneuver. It was hardly worth discussing.

Second, a member of the Five Elders was among Imu's closest confidants. He had to remain stationed in the Holy Land and could not leave except on important business.

After seeing the Holy Land's strength for himself, Ron knew he was not yet capable of challenging them head-on. He still had more than a few preparations to make.

Becoming one of the Five Elders now would mean giving