Harvey Moore ignored Campbell as he asked Sophia with an amiable smile: "Miss Crowe, I wonder about this reward you spoke of. Can I understand it as being able to make a request of your family later on?" and he was answered by Sophia Crowe instantaneously: "Of course!"

She didn't think twice before giving out such an answer. As to whether she could back those words up? Honestly, she wasn't but her Mother would likely deal with the aftermath anyways. She only had to leave this place and fetch her. Then everything will be settled.

Harvey Moore chuckled as he stared straight at Campbell and told him: "Your head is now worth a ticket to a higher realm, old friend. Please, don't take it personally"

Campbell yelled at him: "Not take it personally?! It's my head you're talking about! Do you have no shame?! After all these years of business, you dare betray me?!"

Moore laughed as he told him: "Business is business but here is my opportunity to go higher, entering the rank of experts!"

Campbell retorted: "You don't seriously believe this girl to have the power to give this kind of thing to you, do you, you old fool?!"

Moore gazed at the group as he said with a grin: "I don't. But her Mother does and with so many of us being a witness, even she wouldn't find a shameless way out of it"

Campbell laughed in derision: "You old fool, you don't know her. She won't give you shit"

Moore stopped laughing and took a stance: "Take it as me trying my chance, old friend"

They both glared at each other as they got ready to fight. It was at that moment that people began to move and pick their camps. Some believed in Campbell and their ties with his organization. Mostly those from evil organization themselves and criminals or those in need of specific items that were not quite legal. On the other side, you could find all those who hoped for the promised reward or a way to get closer to the Crowe. Not Sophia Crowe of course, but her Mother.

Regardless of which camp they belonged to, no one expected anything from Sophia. She was only either a thorn or a tool to them. But no one would dare attack her. As for her Mother, no one was expecting her to make a move. But many knew what having a friend like her meant. This kind of backing was worth a lot. And so, both sides were having a fierce staring contest.

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As they had been there the whole time, Jin and Min-Su were also going to be stuck into the crossfire. Neither of them had expected things to turn out so badly. They were way out of their leagues here. With the weaker men being at least of the middle levels, which were the 30-50 stages. The early stages went from 10 to 30 then came the middle ones followed by the top stages between 50 and 59. Everything after that was considered the expert stages.

And of course, Jin and Min-Su were in the early stages, not even having reached the tenth stage. Asking them to pick a side here and take part in such a battle...It was the same as telling them to go die. Min-Su turned towards Jin and asked him: "What should we do now?"

Jin answered him without hesitation: "We flee stealthily" and they began to retreat further away from both sides. There was no point in fighting to the death here for a battle that wouldn't bring anything but their deaths. Loving to fight didn't mean searching a way to die. It was better to flee and live to fight another day.

Not everyone thought so, of course. With the exception of Min-Su and Jin, everyone picked a side. And they soon began a fierce battle that turned everything upside down. Yet they refrained from going all-out as if the battle broke out inside the city, it would alert everyone. And at that time, maybe even the tower owner would join in... It would be a disaster.

Which is why they fought but only half-heartedly. They were drawing out the battle trying to minimize the damages. Except Sophia Crowe who went all out without a care. She knew no one would dare kill her but she dared.

The fight heated further and further and little by little, the place was trashed. Treasures were sent flying everywhere. And the ceiling began to crack. Then, a hole was made. Sophia saw it and, as she never forgot her first goal, flew away through it.

Campbell screamed at the top of his lungs: "Don't let her get to the tower! We need to keep her here!" and he flew after her, followed by Moore who hurried to scream back: "Everyone, let us assist Sophia's escape!"

If she successfully managed to get to the tower, it would be as good as claiming they had won the battle. After all, once she got there, reinforcements would come here and it wouldn't be that simple for Campbell. He wasn't in a location from which he would ever get more allies.

If the battle became public, he was fucked because the public would definitely not fight on his side. Which is why he grit his teeth and began to use his entire power. To hell with trying to minimize the damage, it was now a life or death struggle.

And as he began to let go of his limits, the others began to do so as well. The battle began to be brought out into broad daylight and the entire city began to erupt with the flames of battle. Random bystanders ended up caught in the fray and more and more people joined in.

Except for the first participants, most cultivators didn't pick a side but simply retaliated against those who sent some techniques their ways. The entire city became a battleground in mere minutes and was getting ravaged.