“What’s that?” Hyrua asked between bites.

“This, dear brother, is information on all of the most promising competitors that we’re not related to.”

She cleared away some food that he immediately pulled over to his side. And rolled out the scroll to reveal over a dozen profiles with names, schools, styles, and crude portraits.

“I figured that this would be faster than trying to run around and interview people. This way we can narrow some options down before hand.”

“Ooh, I like this. Though they could have given us better portraits.” Kamadra noted.

“Let’s just be grateful that his calligraphy is good enough to read.”

“When did you become so proactive and resourceful, little sister?”

Hyrua had finished another plate of dumplings and was moving back to his half finished noodles.

“Don’t finish everything without us. And I’ve always used my informant. He’s a big help when Father sends me out on patrol with the guard.”

Hyrua raised an eyebrow. “What’s his name?”

“Wha- Who’s name?” She awkwardly laughed.

“You don’t know his name do you? She tries to act all noble and impressive but she never learned his name.”

He tried to recruit Kamadra to help him tease his sister. But, they were busy going over some of the names on the list.

“What about Dāo, they’re pretty impressive for coming from a smaller school.”

The other two leaned in and read the profile. They were a blade master from a school that cultivated through weapon mastery. The techniques in of themselves weren’t anything out of the ordinary. But Dāo had a style that none of them have ever seen before.

“What exactly is ‘Otherworlder godly technique’ supposed to mean?” Hyrua pointed out.

“I don’t know, but is sounds impressive.” Kamadra’s eye’s lit up while rereading the profile.

“It sound’s like they’re trying to show off by renaming an old technique. I don’t like them.”

They marked that one to go over again later and spent the next few minutes splitting the information into three categories. Most went to the immediate no category because someone pointed out a major flaw.

Sienna spotted Laau Kai’s profile before immediately moving onto the next competitor.

Her brother, however, carefully placed his hand down on the scroll and stopped everything while he read of the profile.

“Why don’t we just team up with him? Not only is he predicted to reach the top five, but he’s a promising successor candidate for his family. His martial record is quiet impressive as well.”

Kamadra looked like they were about to say something when Sienna took the scroll and folded it over, covering his profile.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Because he’s a frog who earns for the flesh of swans and we don’t like him.”

“I know he’s a bit full of himself, but I didn’t really get the feeling that he’s a bad guy. If anything I think he has a chip on his shoulder. I know what that could do for someone.”

He didn’t meet his sister’s gaze. Instead he opted to reach for another plate.

“That and this have nothing to do with one another.” She took his plate and took her first bite. “Until he can prove he deserves to team up with us, I don’t want him. End of discussion.”

The table’s air shifted and the other two hesitated to even lift their cups.

“Forget this, I’ve lost my appetite. We still have the rest of the week to find some reliable teammates. And if we don’t then it’s not like we will have a hard time with the secondary challenge.”

Sienna shoved the plate back over to him and was getting ready to leave when a stranger approached them. Aside from his spiked hair and well muscled body he didn’t stand out as anything special.

“Escuse me ‘olks, are you competing in the ‘estival?”

He had a heavy western accent, more than likely he was either an independent competitor or he was from a small school. Almost all of the bigger sects and schools on the continent have standardized their education.

“We are, we’re you looking to join our team?” She leaned back in her chair.

“Matter o’ ‘act, I was hoping ‘or just that. May I?” The man pointed to an empty seat.

“We’d love it if you would. We’d have to interview you before we decide if you’d be a good fit. But this could take some time. So by all means, sit. Would you like something to eat?”

Kamadra single handedly tried to change the mood of the table. They held out a plate with some simple dumplings to the stranger.

“That won’t be necessary.” Sienna held up her hand.

She eyed the man as she slowly rose from her seat. Fully upright she was half a head taller. Realizing this, the muscular man took half a step back.

“Brother?” She gave Hyrua a look.

With a deep sigh he asked. “Where did you train?”

“I trained under my master, he was an elder in my village who had reached the second stage a’ter ascending.”

While he answered, Sienna hovered around him. She prodded his muscles, noting their softness.

“Why are you competing?” Hyrua continued, not acknowledging his sister.

“I want to make a name ‘or my master’s techniques.”

She lightly hit the back of his knees with her own. The man crumpled slightly, but maintained his composure as he answered.

Hyrua sighed, knowing where this was going. “And what do you hope to gain by teaming up with us?”

Sienna returned to her chair, but she didn’t take a seat yet.

“I ‘eel that you would make a good team that won’t stab me in the back. O’ course, I am aware o’ how power’ul you all are. And I’d rather be on your good side.” He finished confidently.

“One last thing.” Sienna added. “Would you mind looking me in the eyes?”

“Um… okay.”

When he met her emerald eyes the world seemed to stop. His body grew heavy. And there was a pressure on his chest that made it hard to breath. Each labored breath felt like it took him hours to finish. The man fell to his knees in a cold sweat.

Sienna held out a hand for him. “I like you, and I think we could get along as a team. But, unfortunately we’ll be looking at other prospects.”

“I-I understand.”

He bowed and turned to leave, casually grabbing a ragged to cover his front before stepping back onto the street.

“You made your decision before using it didn’t you?”

She didn’t say anything as she sat back down. Her appetite obviously having returned.

“You didn’t have to do that you know. It was kind of cruel.” Kamadra spoke up.

“He has a righteous heart, it would have been crueler not to let him know the scale of what he was getting himself into.”

“I swear. You’re right though, more about us having time to figure out the rest of our team. But, right regardless.”

Hyrua picked up a chunk of meat that looked like it came from a bird twice his size and tore into it.

Two more days passed with the three of them spending as much time in public as possible. They had dozens of more attempted recruitments each day with more than half of them ending somewhat amicably.

In that time though, Kai had approached them at least once for every third meeting they had.

“You have to give him credit, at least he is tenacious.” Hyrua said.

“I don’t think he’s even considered other teams.” Kamadra added.

“Seriously you two. If it wasn’t for his skills, he’d be no better than that overly muscled foreigner and his lackey of a junior. What were their names again?” She rubbed her eyebrows.

“The Great Xenos.” He laughed.

“I don’t see what’s so great about him. The little one could have some potential if he got out from under his shadow though.” Kamadra mused.