"Before I begin to introduce the agenda for the day, we should first take care of a number of household affairs." Eliza Mo Ragadan spoke to her superior.
She transmitted an invisible signal that caused familiar-looking soldiers to enter the main office!
Ves sat up straighter on his scat as he recognized the distinctive appearance of the armored soldiers of the Apocalypse Wardens.
A whopping 12 of them entered the office! If not for the fact that the chief councilor received a lot of privileges, the room would have turned a lot more cramped at this ti! Each soldier made a powerful impression, especially now that Ves ca closer to them than before. Every Apocalypse Warden was a double fire cultivator who radiated a nacing degree of heat and fla to those perceptive enough.
Ves had only theorized that a qi cultivator could gain a much stronger grasp over an attribute if his companion spirit doubled down on a specialization. He was glad to see that his suspicion turned out to be correct.
As Ves examined the cultivation soldiers a little closer, he noted that their markings looked a little different.
"These are 12 soldiers of the 2nd Apocalypse Battalion, which is only slightly less capable than the 1st." Eliza introduced the faceless and fully armored troopers to her superior. "The Red Collective has assigned them to you as a permanent security detail. They will shadow you and fight on your behalf whenever it is necessary. We have already completed a discussion with Admiral Tensen to lodge your new bodyguards and a support team assigned to service and repair their equipnt. Do not underestimate them. Whenever they are not on duty, they will spend their ti on advancing their personal cultivation, so they will continue to grow stronger over ti."
The Apocalypse Wardens remained at attention. Ves could sense the steel and fiery determination radiating from their spiritualities.
He nodded in approval. "I can always use more protection. These are fine soldiers, and I look forward to seeing how much stronger they beco after a few years of cultivation."
It was questionable whether he actually needed to rely on these Apocalypse Wardens for protection. He could squash most threats by unfolding his true body.
The story might be different if he had 100 or 1000 Apocalypse Wardens at his disposal, As long as the quantity grew large enough, it was not impossible for their combined strength to shake the defenses of a lesser phase lord!
Ves almost questioned whether he could pair the Apocalypse Wardens up with his own Carmine chs, but he changed his mind.
It was better to leave ch piloting to the professionals. The Bluejay Fleet had limited capacity for chs, so every slot was precious.
It was best to let this troop of Apocalypse Wardens handle smaller threats, drive away crowds of deluded fans and handle various chores.
The 12 Apocalypse Wardens did not co alone. They brought three secure lockboxes that were covered with a shiny jade-like material and decorated with silver filigree.
Whatever the case, Ves actually discovered that the shiny green material was actually able to block his spiritual perception. This made it difficult to guess their contents.
He could only surmise that the value of the goods inside the containers must be exceedingly precious in value.
Three pairs of soldiers carefully lifted the lockboxes and slowly placed them on the surface of Ves' large desk.
"What's inside?" Ves impatiently asked.
"Gifts, sir. The Red Collective along with several cooperative partners have pooled together their resources to produce a set of equipnt that a chief councilor of the Upper Council is expected to carry. Now that your status has risen to a much higher level than before, the current standard of equipnt at your disposal is not sufficient anymore. We have taken the liberty of preparing superior alternatives to ensure that you do not fall behind in this area."
Eliza Mo Radagan began to unlock the beautiful containers one by one. Ves had to take action as well as all of the lockboxes were keyed to his own identity.
The chief of staff proceeded to retrieve the first gadget resting on a velvet red pillow and presented it to Ves with both of her hands.
"It's... a signal jamr, and not an ordinary one at that." Ves spoke with a little awe as he imdiately recognized a lot of remarkable traits.
The materials were of an extrely high quality. Ves did not recognize it, but he had a feeling that it could resist a surprising amount of damage!
What also stood out was that it was a genuine masterwork product, and not a ager one at that. The masterwork style was substantially different from his own, but whoever made the signal jamr was so comprehensively superior that it was a lot closer to becoming a grand work than any of Ves' prior masterwork chs!
Not anyone could make a gadget as expensive and exquisite as this. He imdiately guessed what kind of individual had made this powerful object.
"This is a super-class masterwork transphasic hyper signal jamr." Eliza Mo Ragadan proudly introduced. "I am not as well-versed in technical matters as you, so I will let you study the included specification sheet and instruction manual in your own ti. I am told that it is highly effective even when expanded to greater ranges. It possesses a generously large energy reserve and can be recharged. It is also extrely durable, but if
it is ever damaged, you can ship it back to the Astral Octagon where we will arrange for repairs. Make sure to keep it in your possession, as it is a remarkably powerful device that only a small number of leaders are privileged to obtain. We will not be able to provide you with a free replacent if lost or destroyed."
Ves listened to his chief of staff even as he eagerly held the signal jamr in his hands and turned it around. His insights on design and fabrication grew by a small asure as he eagerly studied the remarkable strengths of a masterwork created by an incredibly capable maker that possessed a different approach towards quality!
"Who made it?" He asked. "Do you happen to know the identity of the creator?"
"The super-class signal jamr is reportedly handmade by Charles Mardion, the Energy Warder."
The ntion of the Star Designer caused Ves to freeze.
The Energy Warder was an ancient 500 year old geezer that wielded a great amount of influence in the Red Association!
As the head of the RA Expansionist Faction, he not only possessed an inestimably high reputation, but also led a clique that encompassed 2 other Star Designers!
Charles was effectively the head of one of the most powerful dynasties in the Red Ocean. His son, Chester Mardion, was better known as the Dinsional Architect these days. The wife of Chester was Tiffany MacArthur-Mardion, and beca known as the Limitless Provider.
Each Star Designer was already influential in his or her own right, but when the three beca so close that they rged their interests together, they ford a solid power bloc that could not be ignored!
Ves did not think he was worthy to receive a product that one of the oldest and most knowledgeable Star Designer crafted in his own ti.
That did not an he rejected the gift. His finger already wrapped tightly around it as if
he was afraid that others might take it away!
"I hope it isn't bugged."
Eliza actually looked offended. "You can rest assured that the Red Collective has insisted on assurances that it will never leak any information. As an upper councilor, you are expected to beco exposed to nurous cases of exceedingly high sensitivity. If there is any problem related to your signal jamr, then that will reflect badly on you and us. There is no need for excessive concern. Commissions such as these are fairly routine at your current level. Our Star Designers are accustod to fulfilling them, and they will not tarnish their reputation and dishonor themselves by deviating from our exacting
requirents."
Ves would make sure to check that later, though he doubted that he would truly be able
to figure out all of the secrets of a gadget made by a Star Designer.
Once his assistant and advisor opened the second container, she carefully presented Ves
with a larger gadget.
"We are also happy to gift you a super-class masterwork personal azure shield generator. It is much stronger than the shield generator that is currently on your person. It can withstand most forms of warship-grade attacks, but only once. It can handle ch-grade attacks much better, and the radius of its protective barrier can also be expanded to encompass up to 24 tightly packed individuals. Its energy reserves are large, and they can also be recharged. Just as with your new signal jamr, your new personal shield generator is also made by the Energy Warder."
Ves truly needed a new personal shield generator. The one he made use of was a gift from Jovy and the Red Association, but his status was much lower at the ti, so its
value was not too high.
As a phase lord, Ves could rely on his own physical defenses and spatial barrier to
withstand a lot of attacks.
However, it was still a lot more comfortable to use an extrely powerful personal shield
generator because it did not drain any of his personal strength. The fact that it was a masterwork was an additional bonus!
"Can I use it while I am fighting as a phase lord?"
"Unfortunately not, sir. The personal shield generator possesses limited range. You can only make use of larger shield generators."
Ves briefly grew disappointed, but the answer did not stray from his expectations.
"I see. I am grateful to the Energy Warder for producing not one, but two gifts for myself. Please convey my sincere gratitude to him for improving my personal security."
Eliza smiled and retrieved the third and final gadget from the last container. "This is a super-class masterwork ergency multi-use personal teleporter. It works similar to your current teleporter, but its range has drastically increased. It can teleport you up to 3 light-seconds away from your current position under normal circumstances. It can be activated 2 tis in a row before it has expended its charges. Its energy reserves can be recharged as well, so the masterwork device is not single-use." Ves held the personal teleporter with a different kind of appreciation. He could imdiately tell that it was made by a different masterwork with a very different
personal touch and philosophy.
"Who made this device?"
"The Dinsional Architect."
That explained why many of the touches of the personal teleporter looked familiar.
Father and son did not completely share the sa philosophies and ideas, but they still maintained enough similarities to recognize the family connection.
After Ves continued to examine and play around with the three masterwork gadgets, he finally put them down.
"I have a feeling that the Mardions do not need to put so much effort into preparing
gifts for us. Why did they devote their personal ti on this project? Are they trying to earn my favor?"
Eliza Mo Ragadan revealed a coy smile. "You can regard it as such. The Energy Warder
and his dynasty are effectively in control of the Expansionist Faction. It may have lost much of its aning during this turbulent period, but the Mardions are still keen to maintain their own power base. Your recent contributions combined with your rise to higher office has raised your stature to the point where it makes sense to court you in the eyes of Star Designers. You do not have to reciprocate this favor imdiately. Just enjoy your new gifts. Opportunities shall arrive in the future where you can make a
gesture in return."
Regardless of the hidden anings behind these gifts, Ves appreciated them so much that he readily accepted the invisible baggage.
It was actually not a bad idea to be in debt to the Mardions. Establishing this connection ant that Ves had an excuse to approach them in person in the future.
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