After hearing their discussions, Aile figured out their plan. It was to make smaller groups and go into the beast territory. This way, it would not create a commotion in there or attract too much attention.
Aile too agreed that smaller groups would be far more effective in invading and escaping efficiently if necessary.
They waited for a bit more, and a group of white cloth people arrived on the royal side's. From the discussion, they were part of reinforcement to them by the royal clan. They came and joined the royal's side with haughty attitudes and an indifferent look while looking at everyone. They only talked with Marquis Andrew and did not even acknowledge the respect and greetings of the others.
Soon after Duke White's second son arrived, he brought the assassin with him along with another much stronger cultivator. But Aile could not detect his actual level. As he was hiding it, and being much higher level then Aile in cultivation, Aile's technique could not find his cultivation stage.
As soon as Duke White son arrived, he took the lead. After looking around, he noticed Violet and Ellie and immediately put them on his team, claiming it will be safer for them, as he acted chivalrously.
"No, thank you, we already have our team," said Violet, flat out rejecting him.
Taking Ellie's hand, she left, not giving room for more negotiation.
Then Duke White's second son looked around, and no one maintained eye contact. Giving him the indirect agreement that they did not see anything. Soon enough, the conversation changed, and it was about which group would lead.
The leading position was a conflicting issue. If a group succeed in reaching the mountain, then they could get benefits and get the first pick of any materials and herbs. However, it also had the risk of meeting and fighting many wild beasts. While fighting the second team could overtake you making you lose your advantage.
Going into the Sacred Mountain, the fifth group on average had the most advantage of going unimpeded and still managing to get the most loot. However, that was close to the outskirt, this time, they would be going deeper into the beasts' territory. So no one knew the optimum position.
Thus everyone wanted their team to be at around the 10th position. As one of the older and more experienced people in the group suggested the 10th position as the safest and most advantageous position.
The discussions continued, however, Aile knew that this time the position was irrelevant and the first few might be advantageous for him. Hence, he volunteered to be the first group. Everyone snickered for the lack of clear thinking, and immediately they were put in the front. Aile chose this for a few reasons.
First, there is no way he could pick the ideal location from all these people. Since that was the case, he would go first and meet a beast early on and fight it and delay until enough groups go-ahead to clear the path ahead.
Then they would finish fighting the beast and follow the other groups at the perfect distance. Aile calculated this to be around the 15th position. Aile and One left back to their team once the order was picked. Almost everyone had a mocking smile on their face as they went back except Hunter.
Aile then heard the argument between Hazel, Marquis Andrew and one of the White robed men, as it kept getting louder after Aile arrived next to Two, Three and Four. He knew it was because they could not come up with their position, and no one wanted to go first and lose the chance to get the loot from Sacred Mountain Range then be left behind.
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Hunter also had problems with these, but Aile could not care, and once their position at the start was decided, he had left. Duke second son, Arnold was not helping either, forcing people and decreasing the moral by flaunting his powerful backer.
Aile, on the other hand, realized that Hazel was really fighting for the perfect position and he knew that it was due to her desire to get soul type herbs for herself and Sara.
Noticing the increasing tension, Aile went towards her Adventurers Union.
"Stop, What do you want?"
Aile replied, "I forgot to tell your boss an important piece of news from our boss. She should be waiting for it."
The curvy lady with a scar on her face was not simple, and she knew that no one would be pulling a joke at this time. If there really was something important that their boss needed, then she would be in trouble. But at the same time, they did not want to go to the furious Hazel as she was arguing about the position.
She asked, "Is it important?"
"Very."
"Ok, you wait here I will call her."
"Just tell her that the boss of Moon Merchant Hall has sent the information she needs."
Aile was confident that she will come because she knew that Aile was Shadow by now, and she also knew that both halls were his. Thus if he claims that he has news from the boss of the Moon Merchant Hall, she would know its from Aile, and she would come to him to hear it out.
As he predicted after angrily looking at the person that called her, she came towards Aile who was in disguise.
Aile extended his hand a greeting, and she simply said, "What is it?"
Aile just gestured to his hand.
She reluctantly did a handshake, however as soon as Aile touched her hand, he activated the technique he learned from Emily. He created a connection allowing for him to talk to her without anyone hearing.
"Hey, I guess you do not want to hear my plan. I wasted coming here."
"Wha-What are you doing here, Aile? It is dangerous here?" She almost spoke out loud from the surprise.
"How can I lose the opportunity to help you and Sara?"
Her face was covered, he could not see her blush, but he noticed her handshake soften.
"Anyways I do not have much time, so here it is..." Aile told her the plan; that they should take the first position and after about 15 groups passed them from their side and also from Aile's side. Then they should finish their fight, and that would be the ideal place to be at.
As stronger beasts would be up ahead and if they delay it, it would make the other teams face them, making it safer for them. Aile also told Hazel that she should not back down quickly from taking the lead and only do it after the promise of riches.
"Ok, I will, you be careful too... if you need anything, I will help."
"I do not want others to think that the two merchant halls are close, it will ruin the image that we created. I will be fine and do not worry, I will make sure to get any soul type herb for both of you."
She nodded.
Aile then said, "Now kick me away and say, ungrateful bastard, for everyone that has been looking at us?"
"Ok, and I am sorry."
Then, Aile was kicked away.
One, Two, Three and Four first gather around him and then stared daggers at Hazel.
Hazel then said, "Ungrateful bastards, tell your boss that this bit of information is not enough of a payment."
The two sides immediately became hostile.
The whole conversation took a few seconds, and thus no one suspected anything. The people of the White Clan and royals were happy. They thought that Hazel's group would receive help and increase its prowess. However, seeing them get another foe delighted them.
Hazel and One had increased the tension and were about to fight when the royal group and White clan interfered and proposed that they call it a truce until after the expedition.
They then carried on with sorting the rest of the positions.
Then after some discussions, Hazel got some gold and other compensation for taking the lead and possibly forgoing the immediate rewards from the mountain.
Aile also told his team the plan, that they should all act weak and fight with the first monster until about 15 teams pass them. To which, they all agreed. They have been with Aile for a long time now and knew him well enough not to doubt him. If he wanted to go after the 15th group, they would agree with him.
It took some more time until the order of everyone was determined, and the two groups that were affiliated with the merchant halls took the lead and started to move ahead. The other group followed them, Aile was at the left side followed by the White Clan's forces Hunter, Marcus and Arnold White.
On the right was Hazel's group followed by Marquis Andrew and the White robed people that was sent as support. The other adventures union divided up into two groups and followed both powers showing their support for both of them.