Maybe because Seth had experienced an interstellar teleportation, or maybe because of his affinity to time and space,
He didn’t feel any form of disorientation this time as his vision swam with light before settling...
Space still undulating from the recent activity, Seth stared at the sight before him. He ignored the rows of figures seemingly awaiting his arrival and focused on the polished buildings around him.
"So this is the Settlement Lord residence... neat."
Compared to the rest of the dystopian settlement, this place did bear some semblance of luxury, with a tall castle cast from obsidian rocks hiding behind several hundred-foot-tall walls.
Admiring the sight for a minute, he then glanced below the platform. Before him, five figures silently stood, clearly awaiting his presence.
Seth’s eyes flashed as his gaze lingered on a thin and extremely pale-skinned figure... a Dai race member.
Back when he had just arrived at the settlement, the Rangols had given him a brief orientation about these folks.
They had mentioned that the Dai were one of the prominent powers within the settlement — the ones in charge of the transportation business, and of exiting and entering the Savage Oasis.
Glancing at the others, he guessed these had to be the leaders of various powers in the settlement.
He found it interesting. To him, both the Greenfold settlement and the Savage Oasis were merely a starting point for his journey, but to these guys it was their all.
He understood even more clearly now why the Treants called this a backwater region...
For these to be the apex of this settlement... it truly was a backwater region.
Alighting from the hub, the Rangols didn’t dare linger. Not even bothering to bid him goodbye, the platform flashed, whisking their figures away.
Meanwhile, a figure centering the five walked forward calmly.
Bowing before Seth, the others behind him followed suit. "Welcome, great lord. I am the Settlement Lord of the Greenfold settlement. I go by the name Grandol Val Rouvard." His raspy voice rang rich with a flattering air.
Hearing the foreign race figure introduce himself, Seth examined him more closely — a gaunt humanoid frame with a singular erect horn peeking out of his forehead.
The Settlement Lord carried a faint mild blue complexion, with eyes bearing horizontal-lined pupils similar to a goat’s.
"A Jacaur race member..." Seth identified. The book that Reva had given him did come in handy. Though he had yet to read through it completely, he had memorized the features of the prominent races of the settlement.
The five straightened their backs right after. Glancing at Seth, the City Lord hesitated but still asked, "Esteemed lord, it seems you came alone?" He asked tactically.
Seth nodded coldly. The others couldn’t access the Origin Realm this soon, even if he had gone back home, so he had come on his own with the initial intention to just keep an eye on the newly ascended evolvers and provide assistance for them if necessary.
The City Lord smiled, not daring to push his inquiry any further. He invited, "We have prepared a banquet for you, esteemed lord, if you may?" He gestured to the castle gates that began parting that very instant.
Seth didn’t hesitate and complied. He could see through the reason for all this, and honestly, he wouldn’t have bothered with the invite if not for the sake of the other human race evolvers.
He simply saw this as a chance to set up a foundation of sorts to give his people an edge, and that was what he did.
After being led to the dining hall, despite how enticing and aromatic the banquet meal smelled, Seth fought off every urge and went straight to the point of business.
"My people will be arriving any time soon..." he started suddenly, his voice echoing through the hall, causing everyone in the hall to go tense.
"No need to worry. We aren’t here to cause trouble. We will merely be using here as a starting point. I’m merely informing you of this..." Seth continued, staring at the Settlement Lord, who quickly shifted his gaze down submissively.
"As for what you do with this information, it’s up to you." Seth finalized.
All five figures’ hearts dropped, grimacing from fear. It seemed Seth was even harder to deal with than the Treants.
At least those bunch came here with a purpose. If they had reached their goals, they would have immediately left... that’s the kind of transaction the Settlement Lord and the other four preferred.
They wanted to be left in peace. Yes, this was a backwater region with scarce resources, but they still loved their authority, lording over this region as it was.
As the saying goes, a skinny camel is still better than a horse.
They could clearly feel Seth’s might. Though they weren’t clear on where the rest of his race would stand, that didn’t matter. As long as Seth existed, his race would dominate them.
And the power they so dearly loved wouldn’t be theirs anymore.
The City Lord couldn’t sit and just watch that happen. "L-lord... you have to understand the Savage Oasis is an extremely poor, infertile region unbefitting of your—"
In the end, he couldn’t finish his line, swallowing his words mid-speech as Seth’s gaze turned cold.
"My matters are none of your business. Whatever I decide is not for you to contest..." Seth berated coldly. Getting to his feet, he walked out, leaving the five in stunned, fearful silence.
Stopping at the doorway, Seth warned over his shoulder, "It would be in your best interest to keep whatever information you source about my people to your graves."
Letting his threatening words sink cold in the air, Seth walked out of sight.
Leaving the five to glance among one another in resigned defeat.
In the Origin Realm, grade was everything, strength was law. If they wanted to progress in peace, they couldn’t antagonize Seth and his crew... well, at least until they left.
As they say, a pond could never satisfy a dragon. It would still need to venture into the sea...
....
Walking out, Seth headed back straight to the teleportation hub.
With this, at least the human evolvers he brought to this region would have a smooth start. Though it was inevitable that with their talent they would venture to richer regions to explore,
They would still have a steady start. For a new race that just integrated with the Origin, this was a vital commodity they needed for steady progression.
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{A/N:} Buckle up, everyone — the calm before the storm is officially over. From here on out, the pace will explode, and with the very next Chapters the war ignites!🔥