All his plans right now were being held by the pillar that the Fallen Family would give him an audience and allow him a request, for which he would trade entry into the best academy in this world.
If the Fallen Family refused to allow him to step into their doors, then Ryuk would be stranded, and for how long he could remain in Grade B with no help at all was a troubling question that worried him greatly.
He doubted any academy would take in a person with no cultivation at all, and that would end his dream of joining an academy and, potentially, his goal of ever killing the Knull.
Right now, Ryuk felt a different thirst.
A thirst to grow stronger.
One so strong that his fingers unconsciously dug into his palms as his eyes blankly stared at the table in front of him.
"Here," Duke Thalion suddenly called out as Ryuk felt something heavy slam onto the table in front of him.
"These are basic manuals on how Apex Energy works, as well as everything every individual in Grade B knows about the city."
"I never thought anyone would ever need this, but thankfully, I have a little fetish for carrying books I find useless to most people."
"You will have 12 hours to at least reach the first stage of cultivation. Most geniuses manage to pull it off in less than three hours. While you might be from the slums, I think you should at least manage it within the next 12 hours."
Duke Thalion leaned back in his seat, sipping the red wine.
"There are different rooms in the area; choose one on the west side of the ship. The cupboards have some clothes and a bathroom, so please wash yourself properly."
"Thousands of people request an audience with the Fallen Family every day, only to be rejected. If you appear before them, it would do you good not to look like a beggar."
The Duke's words were blunt but true, and Ryuk wasn't the least bit offended. He had seen how everyone else looked in the barracks and knew well enough that his attire stood out, and not in a good way.
"Thank you, Duke Thalion," he said, lifting his bag and taking the card placed on the table. Without another word, he disappeared into the distance.
"How interesting," Duke Thalion whispered, his grin widening as he opened his mouth.
His fangs extended, tearing through his gums and elongating until they reached his jaw. His crimson eyes glowed faintly, and his red hair fluttered as though gravity had ceased to exist around him.
"Even the most powerful geniuses of Endearth take at least three hours to break through to the first cultivation level. But that is only after nearly 12 years of receiving endless Apex treasures to temper their minds, bodies, and souls, under the intense nurturing of hundreds of family elders."
"And you expect this dumb kid, who most likely never had a single Apex treasure, to reach the first level of cultivation in less than 12 hours? And all with nothing but an elementary-grade Apex explanation book?"
"What are you planning, Thalion?"
The voice came from behind the Duke as a girl slowly walked forward, taking the seat opposite him.
She reached for the red wine mug on the table, downing half its contents in one gulp before slamming it back onto the surface.
Red wine trickled down the corner of Vilora's lips, but she made no move to wipe it off as her blank gaze met Duke Thalion's amused smirk.
"Haste is a good thing, Mistress Vilora. It spurs us to unleash latent power, even when we believe there is none."
"I am merely helping him along his path," Duke Thalion said, pouring himself another glass and taking a sip.
"Helping his path, my ass," Vilora said with a snort.
"The Fallen Family might be powerful, but our Vampiro Family isn't afraid of them."
"Let me guess: you have no plan to help that boy. All you want is that authority card of his."
"With it, the Vampiro Family will have the upper hand to issue a command to the Fallen Family—one they cannot refuse."
"The boy himself is useless; all you need is the card."
"So why haven't you killed him yet? Why allow him aboard the ship you're so proud of?" Vilora asked bluntly, her voice sharp as her crimson eyes bore into the Duke.
"As expected of the mistress of the Bloodborn Ones."
Thalion's devilish grin widened.
"My initial plan was to take the card and kill him off. But I guessed that bastard Captain would have already informed the higher-ups about a boy with the authority card to the Fallen Family. The Fallen Family and the Apex Soldiers are quite close afterall."
"If the Apex Soldiers, seeking the favour of the Fallen Family, were to inform them that the boy who left in our ship never arrived at their gates, it would create a problem.
If it became known that we killed him, the Fallen Family would grow irritated. That card authority would be nullified, and our efforts in killing him would be wasted.
No matter how we view it, killing the boy would only bring unnecessary trouble. While we might not fear the Fallen Family, it's best not to provoke them either.
For now, the boy is untouchable. If he proves to be talented, he will owe our Vampiro Family a favour, a pretty big one to mention.
If he turns out to be trash, the Fallen Family will see us in a good light for at least being honest and delivering him to their doorstep.
Either way, our family wins. Do you understand now, Mistress?"
Vilora huffed in annoyance.
"You're all cunning bastards, always scheming and using your brains. The truly strong use their claws to settle things," Vilora muttered in disdain before slumping into the seat, crossing her legs, and closing her eyes as though preparing for a nap.
Duke Thalion chuckled at her irritation, taking another sip of wine before reclining into his seat.
The room fell into silence, with only the faint hum of the ship's engines echoing in the background.