In the chain of command, unlike the Regional Lords, who each answered to a Star Lord, the Star Lords did not report directly to the Left and Right Assistant Marquises. They answered directly to the Heavenly King, the supreme ruler of Victory Spirit Continent. Although the two marquises ranked above the Star Lords, they had no direct jurisdiction over the regions. They were merely the Heavenly King's right- and left-hand aides.
Under normal circumstances, occasions that brought all Seven Star Lords together were rare.
Ordinarily, the Seven Star Lords would not have deigned to attend an event like this. They had come because they knew the Right Assistant Marquis would be here; staying away might have seemed like a slight to him.
This time, the Regional Lords did not sit wherever they pleased as they had before. They all stood obediently behind their respective Star Lords.
They waited and waited, but the Right Assistant Marquis still did not appear. Gradually, puzzled murmurs began to rise, wondering why he had yet to arrive.
After all, the Seven Star Lords had come together. Surely it was inappropriate for the Right Assistant Marquis to leave them waiting without so much as an explanation?
When sunlight slipped through the mountains surrounding the Tournament Grounds and fell upon the top of the enormous icebound stone pillar, its reflected brilliance dazzled the eyes, illuminating the vast haze of cold.
Just then, someone hurried over, circled around to stand before the seven Star Lords, and respectfully cupped his hands. "Star Lords, His Highness had business to attend to and summoned the Right Assistant Marquis. The marquis cannot come for the time being. He asks that you proceed as usual without him."
Everyone wondered what urgent business could have made the Right Assistant Marquis miss his appointment at