The day began like any other for Steve McQueen.
He woke to the sound of his alarm at 5:30 AM, then went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth and took a warm shower with water running over his body — a shower well enjoyed.
He got himself ready for another day of work. He wore a black shirt with the clan guard's emblem.
Steve grabbed his phone and set off for the guard headquarters. He dialed a number; it rang for a few seconds and then someone answered.
— Everything is in order for the plan, but the little prince worries me a bit. Are you sure it will work? — Steve asked from the other end.
— Believe me. This whole coming-back-from-the-dead thing only happens if someone below level 4 commits the murder. In fact, the person only returns because someone below level 4 can't destroy the soul. My boss reached level 5 six years ago. If AHIA had time to relax it's because he needed to get used to the new level. We'll also have the assistance of a genuine level-6. So even if the little prince is level 8, he still doesn't have real power — only potential. You have no reason to worry — the person on the other end said in a calm tone.
— Understood. Don't forget what you promised — Steve said. Then he hung up.
He walked to the guard headquarters. It didn't take long, because the headquarters is very close to his home.
— Good morning, chief. Looks like today will be another busy day. I just hope it's not like a year ago — the prince's commotion caused panic throughout Canon — said the first deputy chief Fait, walking up to Steve with a smile on his face.
He had both a messy beard and hair. He wore casual clothes: orange shorts and a short-sleeved gray shirt. The clan emblem was on a turban with the symbol on the front.
— What's going on this time, Fait?! Don't tell me Lara and Helena started again — Steve said as he walked toward the building.
The building that served as the guard headquarters was very simple: two floors. The reception was on the first floor and the offices on the second, with two symbolic cells — because no one had ever actually been imprisoned in them. The headquarters has existed for 20 years, which makes it relatively new.
— You know how it is, chief. They keep insisting on trying to get into the castle to see the prince. I warned you last time it was a bad idea to transfer those crazy women to the central department — Fait said, taking a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it.
— As I told you a long time ago, that decision isn't mine. It's clan rules: each employee is rewarded for their work. Who would have thought those two lunatics would be so hardworking and not mess around when it comes to duty?
— I've told you many times not to smoke during working hours! — Steve said, stepping back a little because of the smell of the cigarette.
— It's 5:36 AM. Technically speaking, it's not working hours yet — Fait said, flashing an open-toothed smile.
Just as he was about to reach his office door, Steve's phone vibrated.
> "Your presence is requested by the prince this afternoon at 12:00 at the Hotel Loan, room number 30. Mandatory attendance.
Sincerely, Human Resources Department."
He read the message and became thoughtful. He had heard rumors about the little prince, but had never had any interaction with him.
— What is it, chief?! — Fait asked, noticing that after reading the message Steve seemed uneasy.
— The prince wants me at the Hotel Loan! — Steve replied.
— Be very careful, chief. No direct member of the clan is normal, so don't underestimate the prince. If you die, I don't know where I'll find another chief who lets me come without the uniform — Fait told Steve.
— I know that, but it's just this afternoon. Let's get to work — Steve said.
Regional headquarters of Canan of Órion Vê.
Georgina Samora didn't even have time for breakfast. It was about 5:40 AM when her assistant told her that the AHIA clan's prince had requested her presence at the Hotel Loan at 12:00 PM.
— Didn't they say what it's about? — Georgina asked her assistant Jordan.
— No, ma'am. The message only said that your attendance is mandatory. I think, even if you don't go, the AHIA clan wouldn't dare show dissatisfaction. They're just a small clan with no real influence on the planet. Even in Arfon their influence is limited to Cabon; they have no influence or allies outside of Cabon — Jordan told Georgina.
— Jordan, your father is the head of the main Órion Vê headquarters, which is located on the central continent. Do you know why, of all places, he sent you to Canan? — Georgina asked, pushing her coffee aside; she had already lost any desire to savor it.
— No, ma'am. When my father sent me to Arfon, he only told me to do a good job and make friends with the local clans to expand our influence — Jordan responded, confused by the question.
— Well. As is widely known, two hundred thousand years ago, the first cultivator, Caio of the Skies, wounded during a fight with his enemies, came to our planet to heal and taught the natives how to cultivate. Because of that, he is called the Ancestor of Cultivation.
— Fifty thousand years after his arrival the Battle of the Gods took place. The Ancestor's enemies discovered he was on this planet and came in hordes against him. It was a fierce battle that lasted 130,000 years.
— In that turbulent era, when heroes constantly rose, two twins appeared who belonged to a small family called AHIA: AHIA Fen and AHIA Sun. That was the first recorded appearance of that family on the planet. Everyone knows the Ancestor won the war after a hard battle that lasted 130,000 years, but what the books and the pages on Cosmicnet do not say is that the war ended because AHIA Fen and AHIA Sun died!
With the twins' deaths, Orion trembled. After that insignificant little clan, an older man came to collect the twins' bodies; his name was AHIA Lano. To this day it's unknown what his status is within the AHIA family. But what is known is that he, alone, annihilated almost all the gods — except the Ancestor and his brother, who were not involved in the war.
After that, Arfon was shattered; the cosmic energy degraded severely. But the AHIA never relocated. Therefore, the Ancestor of Cultivation gave the AHIA the territory that had always been theirs and declared that, in Cabon, AHIA is heaven and earth until its last breath.
Few people know this part of the story. I only know because my ancestor was one of the few who participated in the war and survived. The Ancestor ordered that what happened there should not be publicized. As you know, the Ancestor is still alive today and is the president of the Órion continent — Georgina explained.
— Tell me: should I go to the Hotel Loan or not? — Georgina asked Jordan.
— I think... I think you should attend and not make the little prince wait — Jordan said, sweat running down his face and an embarrassed smile. His body trembled with fear.
— Good. I see you learn quickly. Don't make the same mistake: for two hundred thousand years there has not been a family or individual who could afford to want something without having the strength to protect what they already have. I only tell you this because your father made great contributions to Orion — Georgina said.
— Very grateful for the princess's teachings! — Jordan said, bowing like a curtsy to Georgina.
— Here you only have your chief, not the princess. Leave — I need to rest! — Georgina said, looking at Jordan with irritation.
João da Silva was not at all surprised when his clan received a message from the AHIA clan requesting his mandatory presence at the Hotel Loan. He knew very well that certain families, driven by their ignorance, covet AHIA's throne. They think the only ancient clan of Arfon is as simple as it seems; what they want is power, to turn back time, or to kill that son of a bitch, his eldest son Alex da Silva.
His son Alex helped those ignorant families obtain resources and provided them with considerable financing. Not that João was frustrated by the resources or the astronomical amount of cosmic crystals used to finance those families; what frustrated and terrified him was that if he couldn't give a satisfactory explanation to the AHIA clan, his clan would be exterminated.
— I'll go to the Hotel Loan in your place while you take some talented youths and flee Arfon. Start organizing everything right now: you have 3 hours. By 9:00 I want you out of here with the young people. That way my clan will have a chance to rise again — Eduardo da Silva, the great elder of the da Silva clan, told João.
— You know very well it's useless, uncle. The AHIA clan has no enemies alive not just because it doesn't provoke others, but because it leaves no loose ends. If I go, there's still some chance of survival; but if we try to flee, you know very well how it will be — João told the great elder.
— Wish me luck, and make sure Alex doesn't disappear, uncle, because he's our only hope of surviving this — João said calmly; but his body betrayed him, trembling uncontrollably.
At age 3 I learned to read and write. I have a memory that never forgets anything. At 10 I created a cultivation technique that allows a level-1 person to easily evolve to level 5, and I was considered the smartest man on the planet. I've always liked intelligent people; I've always considered myself one.
Imagine my astonishment when my master told me that, for me to advance to level 6 with my level-1 talent, I needed to go to the continent with the lowest cosmic energy density — more specifically to Canan, in Cabon.
Curious, I arrived in Canan and stayed two years here, until recently being invited by one of the local families to take part in a coup d'état. They wanted to replace the current leading clan. Not that I was thinking of participating.
A hundred thousand years for one family to remain in power... I can't even imagine the terror of that. Because, as everyone knows, the capital of Órion is only 100,000 years old. How many clans on the planet are that ancient? If my memory doesn't fail me, which it never does, there are 12 — which happen to be the most powerful clans on the planet. Only a fool would get involved in that.
So I packed my bags and was about to say goodbye to Canan, the city that had hosted me for two years. I hadn't even finished packing when I saw a message on my phone:
> "Good morning, Mr. Jay. The AHIA clan requests your presence at the Hotel Loan at 12:00, without fail. Mandatory attendance. Thank you for your attention."
As soon as that message appeared, all I wanted was to kill that son of a bitch Steve.