"You're free to take my head if it doesn't," the man chuckled as he nonchalantly declared.

  "I'll take you up on your offer, then," Jennifer smiled.

  Contrary to what one might expect of a hot-headed, cruel leader of a faction, Jennifer really would have his head if the so-called discovery disappointed her.

  And let's just say that's exactly what our boi was counting on.

  Wait, that's exactly what one should expect of such a person.

  Anyway, whatever the expectations, the important thing was that she had agreed to the terms and signed the contract.

  That was the push most of those present here needed. They too pulled out their pens and quills and started signing the contracts.

  Well, not all of them, obviously.

  One of them, with rowdy black hairs and a scar across his face, stood up and tore the contract, "I have no intention of dancing on your palms."

  "Oh. Well, see you later, alligator," the man on the stage waved.

  "Not before you show me what you are hiding," he threw the torn pieces of paper to the ground.

  "And what if I don't?"

  "Then I'll have to force it out of you," the man crossed his arms.

  This man was actually the Guild Master of the Black Orcas (terrible naming sense, yes), the second most influential guild of this continent.

  He was the leader of the extremist faction; well, Extremist Player sub-faction, to be more precise.

  He was usually at odds with Jennifer because she had agreed to the cease fire in return for some reforms. He believed that the Players were granted their powers from the Gods, and thus should be the ones to rule this continent.

  Now, anyone with an IQ above room temperature knew that such an ideology was beyond dumb and thankfully, Jennifer was one of them.

  She had seen signs of his egotism early on and had predicted that he would create trouble. That's why she had crushed his power before he could rise. That's how she was able to become the leader of the Player faction.

  That man, Dmitri, however, wasn't any pushover either. He quickly recovered and raised enough power and authority to form his own sub-faction.

  Anyway, the point was that the one threatening the man on the stage was a capable egotistical fool.

  "I'm sorry, you'll do what?" The man asked.

  "You can either present the item to me right now, or you can face the consequences."

  "Hmm, yes, let's threaten the guy hired by the Royal Family, right on their turf. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"

  "Pfft!" Jennifer barely stopped herself from busting out laughing.

  "…" Dmitri frowned.

  "Um, no offense, but, if people like you are considered worthy to attend this Seminar, then I can't help but worry for this country's future," the man shook his head.

  "Watch what you speak," his tone turned cold.

  "I apologise, but I'm not capable of seeing something that can only be heard. You must be built different."

  "Pfft!" Jennifer again barely stopped herself.

  'I need popcorn,' she thought.

  Watching someone who was a constant thorn in her side being roasted like this was highly amusing.

  Especially when she knew how highly Dmitri valued his reputation.

  "You are going to pay for this," Dmitri growled.

  He clearly wasn't the brightest around.

  "Oh, am I, now?" The man nodded. "You know what? I actually value myself as the best… service provider around. So, it would be incredibly boorish of me to make you wait for something that I could give you right now."

  "…" Dmitri raised his eyebrow.

  "That's why, let's just get this over with," the man walked down the stage and approached Dmitri. "I doubt you want to take this humiliation home and then spend the effort to find out my identity and how I could best be hurt. We all like relaxed Sunday evenings, don't we?"

  "You want to settle this now?" Dmitri scoffed.

  "Of course," the man reached into his cape, took out a knife and pointed its handle to Dmitri, beckoning him to take it. "Go on."

  "…" Dmitri scowled as his gaze alternated between the knife and the man.

  "Ah, if you're worried about the consequences, then don't worry. You have my word that no one will try to punish you for your actions today; you have free reign. Well, my word holds little value because the Crown is law, but still. Take this, and make me pay."

  The man was right. His word- to be more precise, this particular promise of not having any repercussions held little value.

  Azell would step in and snap Dmitri's neck before he could even think of making a move.

  Voloha would skin his family alive right in front of his eyes and make him eat their flesh if he so much as put a finger on this man.

  And Jennifer would use this as an excuse and purge him and his faction once and for all.

  In other words, Dmitri would be hella fucked if he took that knife.

  That man, of course, wasn't aware of all of that and just wanted Dmitri to stab him 47 times.

  Now, Dmitri might be highly arrogant, but he was no idiot (well, he did just pull off this stunt so this statement is under scrutiny), so he knew that making a move right wouldn't be the most tactical decision.

  And so, Dmitri took the knife with a sadistic smile, "There are a lot of people waiting for your revelation with bated breaths. It would be boorish of me to ruin their evening, wouldn't you say?"

  "Fair enough."

  "I'll hold onto this for now," he played with the knife. "I'm sure it will come in handy later."

  "I hope so, Mr. Dmitri," the man nodded. "I assume you will be leaving."

  "Of course."

  "That's a shame. Well, look out for the public announcement."

  "I will," with that, Dmitri put the knife in his coat pocket (after coating it with a thin layer of Mana in order to not tear his coat, turned around and walked out.

  "Well, that was something," the man sighed and came back to the stage. "Are there any others who are of the same mind as Mr. Dmitri?"

  The hall remained quiet, save for the faint sound of snickering.

  "I'm glad you liked my play, Ms. Jennifer."

  "Oh, yes, hehe, it was lovely."

  "Perfect. Now," he clapped, "since none of you seems to have any problem, and all of you have signed your contacts, let's move on to the main event."

  The audience prepared themselves for the so-called discovery of the millennium.

  "Prepare yourself to be blown away. Metaphorically, of course."