Whalon was moving towards his base located in the outskirts. It was not long before he reached there. His base was located in an area where it was really arid. The base was spread over a large area of 500 sq km. It was wilderness over a large area around his base. Whalon sat in a large room with the smuggler he caught from Ben & Party. He was still unconscious, by the power of Whalon. After about 15 minutes the person opened his eyes. He looked around wondering where he was. But when he saw Whalon sitting opposite to him , he became irritated. It became a strange mix of defiance & irritation. Whalon had a look of melancholy. They looked at each other for a few seconds. Whalon started the conversation.
Whalon: "Why do you do this Argus? Just why do you want to go in this path? I understand you don't want anything to do with me. But even without me you can get a lot of things done. So why?"
Argus: "I cannot wait. You know what I want. If you are so willing give me his head.
Whalon: You know I cannot do that. He is my son.
Argus: She was your DAUGHTER!!!
Whalon: ------
Argus: I cannot rest. She did not do anything to him. She was not even in the picture of family business. So why? Why did he kill her? Because she was your illegitimate daughter? Because she was a threat to him? She was barely at the peak of knight realm when she was 35. No, he killed her just to prove a point. To prove to his rivals & other siblings that he would do anything to them. And what did I get. A bunch of ash of my mother. You better kill me. As long as I am alive, I will kill your son in the most vicious manner. Not just him, his entire family as well."
Whalon did not tell anything back. Because whatever he said was true. Argus' mother, his illegitimate daughter was killed by his first born. Argus' father was also killed under suspicious circumstances. All this made him a resentful towards Whalon & his family. He did not know what to do. Whalon could not kill his son. Nor could he kill this grandson of his.
Suddenly he sensed something. Whalon said "Angus, just stay put here. I will talk with you later." Angus was about to reject it & say something back. But a dark wave spread out & he was knocked out. Whalon then said to seemingly nowhere, "Come out Ruben. I can sense you." Then a person with a coat draped over him. He was more the 6ft tall & had a nicely decorated walking stick with him. Ruben looked at Whalon with a slight smile on his lips. His aura restrained yet straight & sharp like a sword.
Whalon: "So what brings you here? I heard your movements have been elusive for quite a while.
Ruben: Well, I am here to learn about that from you. To think that you were hiding all these. You are really good at it.
Whalon: What am I hiding? What do you mean?
Ruben: "You are really a good actor. Even when you understood what I mean. Now I doubt myself. Good indeed."
Whalon: "What about it? You know me. I don't care about what others think of me.
Ruben: Oh please, you know what I mean. What about your business. Your son's political career. Do you dare to gamble with those?
Whalon looked at Ruben intently. His gaze was calm. But inside him a Volcano was boiling. No, it was a star brewing. Something if unleashed will destroy an entire solar system.
Whalon said in a cold tone, "Do you think I won't do anything to you? Do you think you can escape unscathed." A darkness had already spread in the room. The martial entity's aura was selectively affecting its target: Ruben. He could feel a slight choking feeling. He wanted to experience the power of this elusive martial entity. The choking feeling was accompanied by slight nervousness. Ruben smiled. He was genuinely happy that another entity had taken another step further. Then Ruben unleashed his aura. It was not wild or unrestrained. No, it was deliberate & steady. It slowly overwhelmed Whalon's aura. Whalon's eyes widened. In Ruben's aura he could see countless swords. They were really small. In fact they were so small that even in only the vision of a probably 1mm or so. But in the entire aura released, there were billions if not trillions of these miniature swords.
Whalon said with a stunned expression, "You… you took the next step. How? There was no phenomenon or anything. Nowhere in Gyagar nation or allies, neither on any affiliated planets. So how?!"
Ruben chuckled & replied, "That is none of your business. But now what do you think. Will you be able to take me down? Do you want to try?"
Whalon sighed. He could not do anything with his power. Ruben had reached another realm. He simply sat down & looked at his grandson who was protected by a barrier. Then he looked at Ruben. After a brief moment of silence, he asked, "What do you want?"
Ruben replied, "What I am doing for you is a huge favor. So I expect almost that much in return!"
Whalon was not in a great mood. "Just tell me what you want & get this over with."
Ruben said, "Alright, for starters, let us talk about the happenings of today. I know you well. You are a crooked fellow & you will renegade your words if you can. So whatever reward you said will give that boy, you will give me here & now. Also I heard you acquired the origin level aether lupis corpse. You will give me that as well."
Whalon snapped hearing this. "What the hell do you mean? I might as well handover my whole family business to you." Ruben was composed still. He took out a holographic display & showed something to him. Seeing the data & scenes on the device, Whalon turned white. Ruben said, "Now do you have anything to say?" Whalon did not answer for a while. At last he looked up & said, "You are really going to pick me dry. Right, who is that boy for you to go to this extent?" Ruben said, "What is it for you? He is a boy in whom I am interested. Don't waste your breath. Do you agree or not. If I show these to your rivals, they will give you more than you." Whalon said, "I agree. But what about the martial arts techniques?"
Then Ruben said, "I will help with that don't worry about that part- Well then we have a deal!" Soon Ruben bid goodbye to Whalon. Whalon scowled at Ruben's jovial mood.