Chapter 14: The Hidden Will
Ansh remained silent for a moment longer, refining his thoughts.
Then he spoke again.
"We will not recall all members."
The old man looked up slightly, but did not interrupt.
"Some of them are already embedded within major organizations," Ansh continued. "Pulling them out now would only ruin what has already been built."
A faint pause.
"There's no need to take that risk."
The old man nodded.
"That is correct, Young Master."
Ansh shifted his gaze slightly.
"But…" he added, "we will still need some personnel."
The old man waited.
"The ones placed in minor organizations," Ansh said, "recall them."
"As you command."
Ansh then asked,
"How many of our members are inside the major organizations?"
"Seven," the old man replied without hesitation.
Ansh nodded slowly.
Seven.
He fell into thought again.
After a few seconds, he spoke once more.
"Then we adjust our structure."
The old man's attention sharpened.
"This nation has eleven states," Ansh said. "I want two people assigned to each state."
"A distributed network…" the old man murmured.
"Yes."
"Each pair will observe their assigned state. They are not to interfere unnecessarily."
His tone remained calm, but precise.
"They will monitor changes—power shifts, unusual activity, and any signs of instability."
The old man nodded.
"And if a state begins to rise?" he asked.
Ansh's gaze hardened slightly.
"If there is an emerging force," he said, "they will support it."
A brief pause followed before he added—
"Not to strengthen it blindly… but to understand it from within."
The old man's eyes narrowed slightly in understanding.
"Infiltration," he said.
Ansh gave a faint nod.
"They integrate themselves carefully," he continued. "Earn trust. Gain position."
"From there, they observe its structure, leadership, and intentions."
Another pause.
"We need to know which forces are worth aligning with… and which could become threats."
The old man inclined his head.
"And if there is no such force?" he asked.
"Then they do nothing," Ansh replied. "They observe… and wait."
"And if the situation becomes unfavorable?"
"They withdraw," Ansh said simply. "No unnecessary risks."
Silence followed.
Ansh turned slightly, his expression thoughtful.
The System's descent would not affect all places equally.
Some regions would fall into chaos.
Others would stabilize… or begin to rise.
And when something rises—
It draws attention.
After a moment, Ansh spoke again, his tone more serious.
"This needs to be done immediately."
"Before the ascension?" the old man asked.
"Yes."
Ansh's gaze darkened slightly.
"Once the world changes… communication may not remain stable."
A brief silence followed.
"The networks we rely on now may fail," he continued. "Signals, systems… even coordination could break down."
The old man's expression turned grave.
"I understand."
"That's why this must be done now," Ansh said. "Before anything changes."
A slow nod followed.
"I will arrange it immediately, Young Master."
Ansh gave a final nod.
Everything was now set in motion—
Not through force.
Not through dominance.
But through quiet positioning… and careful observation.
Because when new powers began to rise—
They would already be inside them.
Ansh gave a final nod, as if confirming his own thoughts.
But he wasn't finished yet.
"There's more," he said.
The old man straightened slightly, attentive.
"The seven inside the major organizations…" Ansh continued, his tone calm but precise, "…instruct them to advance their positions."
The old man's eyes sharpened.
"During the calamity, there will be confusion," Ansh added. "Chains of command will weaken. Decisions will be delayed."
A brief pause.
"That will be their opportunity."
The old man understood immediately.
"They are to increase their authority," Ansh said. "Step by step. Nothing reckless—but no hesitation either."
"Yes, Young Master."
Ansh continued without slowing.
"And inform all fifty members about the System."
This time, the old man looked slightly surprised.
"All of them?" he asked.
"Yes."
"There's no point hiding it anymore," Ansh said. "Once the world ascends, everyone will know."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"They need time to prepare."
The old man nodded.
"It will be done."
Ansh took a step forward, his thoughts aligning one after another.
"Also," he said, "every one of them—those seven and the remaining twenty-two assigned across the states…"
"…they are to continue pushing themselves in the Eight Body Diagram."
The old man listened carefully.
"No one slows down," Ansh continued. "I want all of them to improve as much as possible before the ascension."
A brief pause.
"Every step forward now will matter later."
"Yes, Young Master."
The room grew quiet for a moment.
Then Ansh gave his final instruction.
"The rest," he said, "call them back."
The old man looked up.
"All of them?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Have them assemble here by tomorrow."
A faint pause followed.
"I have plans for them," Ansh added.
He didn't elaborate further.
But the weight behind his words was enough.
The old man bowed his head slightly.
"As you command, Young Master."
Ansh turned his gaze forward, his expression calm—but focused.
The pieces were moving now.
Not loudly.
Not recklessly.
But with purpose.
Because when the world finally changed—
They wouldn't be scrambling to react.
They would already be ready.
After finalizing his decisions, Ansh fell silent for a moment.
Then—
Something surfaced in his memory.
His ancestor's words.
Two treasures…
He had mentioned them, but never revealed their location.
Ansh's eyes narrowed slightly as he turned toward the old man.
"There's something else," he said calmly. "My ancestor spoke of two treasures left behind for the family. Do you know anything about them?"
The old man paused.
For a moment, confusion appeared on his face.
Then he slowly shook his head.
"I do not know about any treasures, Young Master…"
But just as he finished speaking, his expression changed.
As if recalling something long buried in memory.
"…However… there is one thing."
Ansh's gaze sharpened.
The old man continued,
"Master Alok once entrusted me with a safe. He specifically ordered me to protect it… and never open it."
Ansh remained silent, listening.
"He said…" the old man hesitated slightly, "only when the pendant crumbles… should I hand the key to his descendant."
A brief silence filled the room.
Then—
The old man bowed his head slightly.
"It seems… that time has come."
Moments later—
They stood inside Ansh's room.
The old man walked toward a concealed section of the wall and revealed a hidden compartment.
Inside—
A safe.
Simple in appearance.
Yet carrying a weight far beyond its form.
The old man took out a key and respectfully handed it to Ansh.
"I have fulfilled my duty," he said quietly.
Then, without waiting further, he turned and walked out.
Before leaving, he stopped at the door.
"Master Alok had also instructed me… not to see what lies inside."
And with that—
He left.
Now alone—
Ansh stepped forward.
The room felt unusually quiet.
He looked at the safe for a few seconds… then inserted the key.
Click.
The lock opened.
Slowly—
He opened it.
Inside—
Three items.
His gaze immediately focused.
Out of the three—
Two were familiar.
The first—
A cultivation technique.
Not ordinary.
This was something engraved within his very bloodline.
Something meant only for him.
The second—
A small object resembling a compass.
But unlike any normal one.
Its surface was faintly glowing.
He recognized it instantly.
Talent Hunter.
A treasure capable of detecting individuals with extraordinary potential.
His eyes lingered on it for a moment… before shifting to the third item.
A diary.
Plain.
Unassuming.
Yet—
For some reason, it felt heavier than the rest.
Ansh picked it up and sat down.
Then—
He opened it.
The diary read:
If you are reading this… then it means you are already aware of our bloodline.
And by now, you must also know—this world is about to ascend.
Our ancestor likely told you only fragments. His spirit was incomplete… he could not pass on everything.
So I leave this diary… to guide you further.
In this world, potential is everything.
And potential… is decided by talent.
When I first arrived here, I was already injured.
My life was nearing its end.
Yet even then… my strength was enough to build a foundation in this world.
And so I did.
But power alone is never enough.
A foundation needs someone to protect it… after you are gone.
I searched for such a person.
Not just anyone—
but someone with extraordinary talent.
That is when I used the treasure—Talent Hunter.
It led me… to a boy.
He was covered in mud.
Wearing tattered clothes.
Searching for food in a dumpster.
That boy… became the one you now know.
I took him in.
Fed him.
Trained him.
Gave him a place to call home.
And after testing his loyalty—
I entrusted him with our secrets.
You can trust him.
Not just until the world ascends—
but even beyond it.
His talent is exceptional.
Enough to stand among the apex.
Even if he cannot walk that path fully…
his future generations will.
There is a high chance…
that his bloodline will continue to produce talents equal to—
or even greater than him.
That is why… I was content.
The rest of this diary contains knowledge about the System,
cultivation,
and the power you possess.
Use it wisely.
Ansh slowly closed the diary.
His expression didn't change—
But something in his eyes had.
Now—
Things made sense.
The old man…
Was never just a servant.