The situation unfolded just like Sam predicted.
Within a few minutes one of them folded. An elder opened up and said.
"I might not be able to give you the inheritance as a whole in exchange for my son. But I will give you sothing of equal value. Sothing my family wasn’t able to make use of, but still valuable nonetheless.
Will you let him go?"
It was a weak elder. He didn’t have much influence to begin with, in his academy. He very well might be the weakest elder of the academy realm and he is definitely a bit worse than so of the instructors.
The only good thing going for his legacy was his son who joined the academy as an instructor and his future looked promising.
Now, because his son was captured by Sam, he is desperate.
He didn’t know if the other elders and Deans can actually work this stuff out. But he didn’t dare risk it and just folded.
"I will talk to him. But there shouldn’t be any problem."
The elder nodded and imdiately left the ground.
One elder fell and that’s the push the rest needed.
They all started negotiating. They all spread out and entered different rooms, discussing the ransom exchange.
The Deans were really confused. Because they clearly knew that so of them had talked to Ling Tian about giving so ransom to let the captives go. But Ling Tian denied that such a possibility exists.
So, now Sam is giving them away for Ransom? Sothing felt fishy.
But at the sa ti, they couldn’t help but draw a conclusion as well. Maybe Sam was scared that so many people ganged up on him? Or maybe Joker must have convinced him since the Hub was at stake now?
Or maybe, just maybe, this was the plan all along?
If Sam agreed for a ransom exchange earlier, there is no way people would have agreed to give up all the inheritance.
So, was it all about the money? To increase the value that he can get?
It confused a lot of people.
But there was one guy who was more scared than confused.
Ling Tian.
He sat in his office and he was just short of pulling his own hair out.
He was visibly frustrated and even his attendant could feel t.
"What the hell is he planning now?" He muttered repeatedly. The attendant didn’t understand what’s the big deal is.
"Sir, isn’t it a good thing that Sam decided to give those people back?"
"No, its not. Do you think he did it all just to increase the ransom? Even though that might be the most plausible theory and it gives him a lot of credit... that’s not it. That’s definitely not it.
There is sothing odd about this."
"What do you think he might be planning?"
"Whatever it is, its going to be sothing big. After the mbers of the Gambler academy that were under him, got captured, isolate them.
Don’t let them work in any key roles. Send them sowhere remote if you have to. And conduct every test possible on their bodies and souls.
Even if you don’t find anything, keep them separate. In fact, don’t even keep them together. Everyone should be quarantined.
If their families make any noise, tell them to take these guys back to their families for a while.
I don’t want them to be back in their usual duties."
"Okay Sir."
...
Ransom contracts were signed and it was ti for Sam to send the captives back.
With a wave of his hand, he made them all exit the chessboard and they appeared in hub. The managers looked at them with vigilance. That was dozens of people with a bunch of them at Consummate level. So even higher level than the managers.
They didn’t want to take the risk.
"Don’t worry about it. They are fine." Sam reassured them and walked to the nearest elder, who stood there like a mannequin.
He appeared completely normal. But there was a certain dimness to his eyes and when Sam got close to him, he instinctually took a step back.
Sam smirked at that response.
"Get out. Get back to your lives and do what you are supposed to do."
They obediently left.
The managers were confused about Sam’s goal. It took a lot of effort for them to bring all these people in. And Sam even gave up so much technology to capture them. In their opinion, all the inheritance combined couldn’t bring such great technology to light.
They are very sure of it.
But they didn’t voice out their opinions.
They stayed silent for the next few days.
anwhile, Sam just relaxed. He didn’t do anything. He didn’t monitor the people that he sent out. He didn’t take any asures for the possible attacks from the enemies. He also didn’t cook up the next plan.
At least, that’s how it appeared for them. All they could see was Sam tinkering with all kinds of devices within the hub. In all the branches. He was whistling, humming enjoying it in the leisure, for three days.
On the fourth day, he was finally done and he held a eting with the managers.
"We are leaving.
If you guys have anything that you need to do in this place, you have until the end of the day. Because I don’t know when we will be back."
The managers were stunned.
"What do you an? Are we making a move?" Ivar as usual being the most impatient asked.
"We already made the move. sending them back... that was the move. And it’s a big one. In a couple of days, the results of that move will be out.
Trust ... you don’t want to be here to see them."
"Where are we going?"
It was Miko this ti. She was the most nonchalant of the bunch at the mont.
Sam waved his hand and a planet appeared.
"One of the worlds that’s open for conquest. Planet Darkhan. From what I know, the most resourceful planet in all of the conquest."
All managers froze in shock.
"Sam, tell you are kidding."
"And why would I do that, when I am obviously serious."
"But this is beyond our grasp. This is a Dean level world. Only Deans and Grand elders go there to play. If you end up at the wrong spot... you are at the risk of dying in just a second."
"Its not up for discussion guys. You have ten hours. Finish what you have and prepare one of the disguise serums. We are hitting big with this one."
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