Still, despite what he had said, the old man was very pleased with how the two had performed.
The selection was meant to find better Black Robes.
Someone like Shanhai was worth ten others, even a hundred.
Rather than a free-for-all among people of roughly equal strength, the old man preferred to see someone truly exceptional emerge.
Aaron was Egart's son and would undoubtedly serve his father's faction. But Shanhai had only joined recently and had no family among the Black Robes, which left far more room to maneuver.
The old man sighed, then seemed to remember something. "Are the results of the investigation into Shanhai in yet?"
"They are. I'll send you a copy."
The younger-sounding voice answered, and a file appeared on the old man's communication terminal.
The old man grunted acknowledgment and silently read through it.
There was not much information. He finished quickly.
"Well?"
"There are some suspicious points, but nothing conclusive," the old man said, closing the file.
"There's no record of him from before he came into contact with us."
"Did you check with the Tracking Instrument?"
"We did. It found nothing."
"No past, no family, no partner."
"So, old man, dare you take him? If not, we will."
A teasing laugh colored the younger voice.
The old man glared.
"Why wouldn't I? Is there anyone I wouldn't dare take?"
"If we can't find anything, so be it. Bring him over, and I'll investigate him myself!"
"Heh. You'd better be careful. I can't see through Shanhai's strength..."
The younger voice turned grave.
He could not gauge Shanhai's strength, and the Tracking Instrument could find nothing of his past. It made him suspicious and reluctant to draw Shanhai into his own faction.
"If you don't have the nerve to take him, just say so! Why