The one-month period for the competition was up.

The surviving participants had been ejected from the island, returning back to Everdawn City.

The winner was decided. Kailen Darkhaven from the Dawnseer Guild—a backwater guild from a backwater city in the Southern Continent—had won the Southern Continent competition through tactical acumen and would be advancing to the intercontinental competitions on behalf of the Southern Continent. That is, if he did not die.

He was now being referred to as the Engineer because of his notorious display of tactical and psychological acumen.

Several surviving participants, too, had been recruited into top guilds and organisations across Everdawn City at the moment. Even if they could not advance to the intercontinental level of the competition, they had displayed their abilities and showed their potential. These organisations saw their abilities and decided to sponsor them.

As for the Dawnseer Guild of Richtchard City, it had become famous overnight. To be able to have two geniuses that took the first and second place in the Southern Continent NGU competition was not a small feat. This guild was just underestimated. Also, no one dared to look down on Richtchard City anymore.

The Mayor, Dexter Hemsworth, was very satisfied with the outcome.

At this moment, none of these happenings was part of Kailen’s concerns.

He, alongside Julian, were currently seated in a conference room with three powerful Rank 5 novice-stage transcendents in a large skyscraper. He had received a message right after leaving the island that the Lotus Assassin Syndicate HQ in the Southern Continent, located here, wanted to have a meeting with him.

Naturally, Kailen knew them. One of their branches—the one in Richtchard City—had been contracted by the Crimson Fang Guild to kill him in the past. He initially had plans of getting rid of them when he was powerful, but the circumstances at the moment did not permit that.

Turns out the geniuses from the guilds he had killed on the island were very valuable to their guilds. And their guilds were very petty. Kailen had gleaned from intelligence channels that they wanted him dead. Also, the Insidious Assassin Syndicate wanted him dead.

He initially had plans of allying himself with one of the powerful guilds in the city and seeking their backing to get rid of the Insidious Assassin Syndicate, but to think all the guilds would now be targeting him. Just when he and Julian were thinking of a solution, these fellows reached out to him.

So, here they were.

The person seated at the head of the table was Lotus, a powerful woman and the head of the Lotus Assassin Syndicate.

"Mr. Darkhaven, as I’ve already stated during our online conversation, we do not require you to become our member, nor would we require you to perform any duties like other members. You are not bound by any obligations. We only require your affiliation," Lotus said. "Becoming a guest elder of our syndicate will be enough for us. You will have indefinite access to our very beneficial artificial secret realm and our principle fragment tower."

Kailen listened quietly. He knew she was not done.

She continued, "Also, we plan to honor one request of yours. We may not be tyrannical like the Insidious Assassin Syndicate, but we are more powerful than them in the Southern Continent. How about this: we will mobilise all our Rank 5 novice-stage transcendents to eliminate their headquarters here, and destroy all their branches across the Southern Continent."

A glint flashed through her eyes.

"Will you join us?"

Kailen asked, "It’s a one-time thing, right? I don’t believe you will do the same if I offend another power, even if I become a guest elder. After all, mobilizing Rank 5 experts is a big risk. No one would be willing to do that again."

"You are right." She didn’t hide anything, replying.

Kailen nodded. He turned to Julian. Julian nodded. They had to take the offer.

Kailen agreed with him. He had been using Emotional Resonance on this woman all this while. All of her words were true. She meant it when she said they were more powerful than the Insidious Assassin Syndicate.

Kailen also understood that if they showed overwhelming force and destroyed the Insidious Assassin Syndicate for him, the guilds that wanted him dead would have to bury the hatchet. None of the big guilds in the Southern Continent would want to antagonise an organisation that could destroy the Insidious Assassin Syndicate overnight. After all, targeting Kailen would mean targeting their guest elder.

Also, these people won’t have to know that what they did for him with regards to the Insidious Assassin Syndicate was just a one-time thing. They would psychologically think if they destroyed an organization for targeting him, they would destroy another one for the same reasons.

Kailen was also aware that the Lotus Assassin Syndicate wanted to ride on his coattails. They wanted to bet on his rise. This was the reason for the guest elder position they wanted to offer him. If a guest elder of their organization became the champion of the NGU competition, won’t their organization become famous?

Also, he would not be bound to the organisation’s rules and membership regulations if he became a guest elder. That meant that during times the Lotus Assassin Syndicate needed its members in a life-and-death situation, he could decide not to show up.

Kailen didn’t see anything wrong with this arrangement. It was not like he had anything to lose.

Kailen and Julian went through the contract on the holographic screen before them. After reading through it and finding everything alright, Kailen decided to sign it.

Lotus beamed with a smile. She was very glad that Kailen Darkhaven had agreed. She had no doubts that this man would shake the empire very soon. Being on good terms with him was the best course of action.

Also, she was aware in the past that one of her branches had offended him. She didn’t want a situation in the future where he became powerful enough to come for revenge. It was good that he had become an ally now, and any past grudge had been dissolved.

Kailen naturally knew what she was thinking.

"This woman is very smart and adaptable. To think she would manage to resolve my grudge with them in the end too," Kailen thought. He was impressed at her abilities.

"Mr. Darkhaven, thank you for your cooperation." She greeted Kailen.

She turned to Julian. "Mr. Seir, don’t worry. Even though you are not a guest elder, since you are an acquaintance of Mr. Darkhaven, for the next three months before the intercontinental competition, you will also have access to our principle fragment tower and artificial secret realm should you choose any of them."

Julian nodded. "Many thanks."

"You’re welcome," Lotus said, as she stood up with the two men with her. "Let’s begin the extermination as soon as possible. Gather everyone. Also, announce Mr. Darkhaven becoming our guest elder through intelligence channels in the city."

On receiving her orders, the two men nodded and disappeared.

"Mr. Darkhaven, would you like to see the end of the Insidious Assassin Syndicate for yourself, or will you just wait for results?"

Kailen turned to Julian. Julian gave Kailen a knowing look.

Kailen sighed. This commotion-loving fellow. Sigh...

"We would accompany you."

"Alright. We begin by sundown," Lotus said.

"Alright," Kailen and Julian said.

"Let me lead you to your arranged residence."

"Sure."