SCC Chapter 3 Indonesia(1)

A green leaf floated above a palm, its motion akin to gently being pushed upwards by a small wind draft. It was emerald in color, while it's veins were an even darker green. A pair of eyes curiously followed the leaf's gentle movements as if mesmerized, not even registering the commotion around him.

The little one had been crying. His mother had isolated the noise from affecting those nearby, but he couldn't calm down, leaving the poor woman in distress. Seeing her predicament, Reed had opted to create a distraction. And apparently, it had worked.

After a moment of staring, tiny hands started to reach out, wanting to touch the leaf. Making sure to seal any traces of radiation that might affect the child, Reed presented it to the child, who started playing with it.

"Thank you very much, sir." The woman spoke. She was tall, thin, and beautiful. There were plenty of women like her since problems that ailed mortals could be solved with cultivation. Yet, what stood out to Reed was her motherly smile as she gazed at her son, still playing with the leaf.

(Attention all passengers, the ship has reached the station.)

"That leaf. She can keep it. It will be beneficial for her in the long run." Reed said before floating out of the vessel.

The port, a construct of metal, one of the many on the tall cylindrical tower, was massive! The volume of people was surprising, considering the fact that in the grand scheme of things, the Indonesian state wasn't even among the top 10 most prosperous!

It was a relief that he had disguised himself, altering his aura and spiritual footprint. This crowd would have eaten him alive!

After taking in the view, his gaze fell upon an elevator in the distance.

When Reed arrived at the ground floor, he boarded an autonomous vehicle, one which was maneuvered by a simple AI. The destination was set, plus an additional directive of taking the scenic route. He had heard about the beauty of the Indonesian rice farms. They were a terraced marvel that was somewhat famous around the world.

A few minutes before reaching his destination, he ruminated upon the fact that he was about to meet someone. It would have been better if this task had been thrown to Latniss, but that would have been his laziness taking over.

His mind worked furiously, trying to come up with a way to start, and also keep the conversation going. Multiple scenarios were conjured up within his mind, but he knew... That there were infinite situations that could derail every single train on the track.

He pulled up the publicly available information about the woman. She was a competent and driven career woman. She had become skilled in both administrative and business fields.

Reed had been continously amazed by her profile. But he had also gleaned that she was a woman with a strong personality, someone who couldn't be easily bullied.

That meant that going into this meeting, the woman wouldn't be a vulnerable mess, but someone who wouldn't allow herself to become a cog in another's machine. Many cultivators were like that at the start, but the reality of life ultimately worn away that hardness. But she was different. She was a woman who had experienced power, yet not become beholden to it.

Bunga was the designated meeting place, a luxurious hotel that bordered on the 9 star. Even though he wanted to be low key, there was no need to degrade the matriarch of a clan. He hadn't thought of that. Instead, Latniss had been the one to suggest that. Reed didn't have the brain power to consider such small social niceties.

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The room was a golden brown, with the tables polished to a shiny finish. The wood was of a high enough age, coupled with the tree having been a spiritual plant, it alone contributed to the great aroma pervading the room.

Reed shifted within his seat to take on a more comfortable posture. The woman had arrived at the same time as him, down to the second. That alone had already checked off a lot of green ticks within his mind.

Her steely grey hair was short, only reaching the tips of her ears, which he found to be a pity, as long hair would have looked great on her. Her fingers were interlocked with each other as her hands rested upon the table. Her gaze was the one giving him trouble. It was digging into him, trying to invade into his deepest dark secrets. And she was even doing it blatantly!

"So... How are you these days, miss Toba?" Feeling that the silence had gone on long enough, Reed tried to start the conversation.

"You are under a disguise. Who are you, exactly? We won't speak unless you reveal your true self." She threw out that ultimatum, then leaned back, and crossed her arms just below her modest chest.

With a sigh, Reed deactivated his ability revealing his original face to her. Shock flickered through those beautiful pupils of hers for multiple seconds before her gaze became steely, while her chest heaved as she took in a deep breath.

"Mr. Mumaso Reed..." His name left her lips in a long breath. It seems that his reveal had done a number in her.

"Why-why would you be here? No. The true question is what do you want from me." She asked after having regained her composure.

"I am here to see what kind of person you are... Before any subsequent dealings are discussed."

"You are here to judge me?" A frown crossed her features at that.

"Judge is a strong word. I am only here to see whether you are someone worth saving." That was a lie, but it was better to start with that.

"Mr. Mumaso, you appear to be insulting my intelligence. I am far more important than what you are letting on. Which means, I don't have to do anything to prove myself to you."

"You are right about that, considering that I personally came here. Then... Tell me, Ms. Toba. Are you prepared to fight Zeus? Though you can't win, but there must be something that can be done..."

Reed released his energy, a tsunami of emerald wood attribute spiritual energy that pushed every single particle in existence between them, away from the both of them, only leaving behind his energy, plus her, a foreign entity. This was a trick that couldn't be performed on someone below Core Formation as they would drown.

"Zeus is an enemy of mine."

"So. Do you want me to infiltrate the state of Greece under the guise of accepting his offer? That is the one thing that's off the table."

"What?! No no no! I would never ask you to do that. But, there is still going to be some risk involved. And the magnitude of said risk is predicated upon why he needs you."

"Could it be that you have an idea, Mr. Mumaso?"

"Reed will be fine."

"We shouldn't get familiar on the first meeting. We should keep things professional."

Reed became helpless at that statement, but ultimately let it go.

"I won't ask about your past with the man, but what kind of risk are we talking about here?"

After that question, Reed signaled for the woman to become silent before withdrawing his emerald domain. Not even a second later, the door to the room slid to the side and an automated trolley entered inside, loaded with a variety of local dishes, whose tantalizing aroma enticed him.

"I thought we weren't going to take a lot of time." After bot had left, Lily spoke, interrupting Reed, whose fork was about to reach his mouth. She had most definitely done that intentionally. He surmised.

"I just arrived at your state. How could I not try some of the local cuisine?"

"Mr. Mumaso, I thought that we had been discussing important matters!"

"Yes... They are important, but so is life. Ms. Toba, do you enjoy life?"

"I... Do."

"Oh! What activities do you partake in to release all that stress?"

"That isn't what we came here for!"

With a sigh, Reed once again manifested the domain.

"The risk is as great as your very life. For now, we haven't yet managed to determine his interest in you, but he must need you for something."

"I had the same thoughts." spoke Lily even as Reed stuffed himself.

She wrinkled her face.

"What? Why aren't you eating? I must say, this food is good. From the chef to the ingredients, everything is... Mwah!"

"I thank you on behalf of all my brethren. Now, let's get to the main point of the conversation. What do you need from me? Plus, what can you provide me with in exchange?"

"I am going to have you take up a post as my secretary." Her jaw literally hit the floor with those words.

"You should be joking, right?"

"No... That's the truth."

"Me, a secretary. Are you out of your mind? Mr. Mumaso, it seems like you take yourself to be high and mighty, right?"

"High and mighty! Nah. It will be a temporary gig. I want to enrage that man such that he makes a decision that gives me enough reason to act against him."

"A mere secretary..."

"If I am to be honest with you Ms. Toba, your profile is impressive. Maybe if you follow me around, you could come to see some of the heights your ambition might take you in advance."

"I don't merely plan on stopping at your level, Mr. Mumaso. I am an insatiable beast." She said that with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. And that, elicited a chuckle out of him.

"I like you."

"I am not striving to be liked. It's the mere truth."

"Don't worry, you won't be doing any of the grueling work. Your task will mostly be akin to an aide. You will observe... Maybe even take on a few small tasks."

"You want to uproot me from my clan, even if temporarily, to follow you?"

"Don't worry. There will be compensation. Like giving you some seeds of rice at the fourth stage. Also, we will enter a partnership, allowing your stock to be available worldwide."

Her gaze flickered. Reed had just offered her a tantalizing deal.