After the guard from Grey Shadow Hall delivered his ssage, the night inside the Osborn clan compound remained peaceful. The stone walkways were softly lit by the lanterns along the courtyard walls, which flickered softly in the evening breeze. A few younger disciples were still sitting quietly in ditation by the courtyard's edge, while several clan mbers had already completed their training and gone back to their hos.
John Osborn and Robert remained standing where the guard had spoken to them.
The ssage itself had been short and formal. Grey Shadow Hall had requested that both the clan head and Robert visit the hall the next morning. No explanation had been given.
For a few monts, neither of them spoke.
Grey Shadow Hall was not an organisation that issued summons without purpose. Their influence reached far beyond Magical City, and most clans preferred to maintain good relations with them whenever possible.
John Osborn finally broke the silence. His voice remained calm. They wish to speak with us. We will go. Robert nodded.
There was little reason to refuse. If Grey Shadow Hall wanted a eting, avoiding it would only create unnecessary suspicion.
The rest of the evening passed quietly. John returned to his study to review the remaining reports from the clan's information network, while Robert walked once more through the courtyard before returning to his own residence.
The compound itself had grown quieter by the ti the night deepened.
Across the courtyard, the new information building stood partially constructed beneath the lantern light. Workers had already completed the stone foundation and lower structure, and the upper wooden beams were stacked nearby waiting to be raised in the coming days.
The building would soon beco the centre of the clan's intelligence work.
For now, however, the clan's attention remained focused on training and steady cultivation.
Inside the Osborn compound, morning arrived with the customary rhythm of activity.
Before sunrise, the training yard had already filled with disciples practising weapon forms. Wooden swords struck against each other with controlled force while several cultivators sat nearby, circulating spiritual energy through ditation.
John Osborn stepped into the courtyard shortly after dawn. Robert was already waiting near the gate. Father and son exchanged a glance before leaving the compound together.
When they got near Grey Shadow Hall, Magical City's streets were already awake.
A number of caravans carrying goods from the surrounding areas entered through the city gates as rchants set up shop along the market road. With weapons fastened to their backs, groups of cultivators made their way toward the forest paths in anticipation of another hunting day.
To anyone watching, the city appeared normal.
However, both understood that recent changes had begun to attract attention from forces beyond the region.
They walked through the streets without drawing attention and eventually reached the district where Grey Shadow Hall stood.
The building looked the sa as it had the night before. Its structure remained simple compared to the grand rchant halls surrounding it, but its quiet presence carried an influence that few organisations in the city could match.
A staff mber waiting near the entrance greeted them respectfully and guided them inside without delay.
They were led through the main hall and down a quieter corridor toward the inner section of the building.
Finally, the attendant stopped before a closed wooden door. After a brief knock, the door opened. They stepped inside.
The room was spacious but furnished. A large wooden table occupied the centre, illuminated by two lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Several chairs had been placed around the table, and the air inside the room felt noticeably still.
Three people were already present. Elder Delvin Lee stood near the side of the room, his expression calm as always.
Seated across from him was an older man dressed in dark robes. Even without releasing his spiritual pressure, the presence of the man felt heavy.
Robert recognised him imdiately. Elder Varis Valen. The cultivator he had seen fighting the Ironback Ravagers deep inside the Forbidden Forest.
Beside the elder sat a young girl dressed in deep green robes embroidered with golden patterns. Her posture remained relaxed as she observed the newcors with quiet interest. Aria Valen.
Her appearance matched exactly what Robert had seen earlier in the forest.
For a brief mont, the room remained silent. John Osborn and Robert greeted the three people respectfully before taking the seats offered to them.
The atmosphere in the room felt calm but tense. Although neither Elder Varis Valen nor Aria Valen displayed open hostility, their cultivation levels were far beyond anything normally seen in Magical City. Even without releasing spiritual pressure, their presence alone created an invisible weight within the room.
Elder Varis Valen remained silent, his expression steady as he studied the two visitors.
Aria Valen also watched them quietly. Her gaze lingered on Robert for a mont longer than expected before she looked away again.
Elder Delvin Lee stepped forward slightly and finally spoke. His voice remained calm. You may be wondering why you were asked to co here today.
John Osborn nodded slightly but did not interrupt. Delvin Lee continued speaking slowly.
Recent developnts around Magical City have drawn attention from grey shadow hall headquarter. The growing activity inside the Forbidden Forest, combined with the rapid growth of the city itself, has created a situation that requires closer observation.
His gaze briefly shifted toward Elder Varis Valen and Aria Valen before returning to Robert and John Osborn. Because of this, the two individuals at the Grey Shadow headquarters need to better understand what is happening.
The explanation stopped there for a mont. The room grew quiet again.
The elder had obviously not yet disclosed the true reason for the gathering.
The lantern light flickered slightly above the table as everyone remained seated.
The calm atmosphere inside the room carried an unspoken tension.
Whatever reason Grey Shadow Hall had for calling them here had not yet been explained.
And the real discussion had only just begun.
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