"You're alive? You've been gone for so long that I thought soone left you in a ditch sowhere."
The first words Atlas heard once he was back in the overworld stung, but he was used to it. Who would Scarlet Fox be if she spoke kindly?
"I'm alive. You know what kind of business I had to take care of."
"I do, which is why I'm a little surprised you're back. Did you do it?"
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"Not yet. I'm here for the last steps."
Their conversation was as succinct as it always was.
"I'm sure you contacted because you need sothing. For now, co to Minora. The main headquarters is still in the sa location."
"Understood. I'll be there shortly."
Atlas put his communication talisman away and rubbed his chin curiously.
'Ah, a mask…'
He didn't realize it since he'd been a soul body for so ti already, but his mask had been destroyed in his fight with the Hell Guardian. He'd been walking the Underworld with his face on display to the Gods who were curious, and now that he'd returned to the world, he was standing atop this mountain openly displaying himself to anyone else who was curious.
In the first place, he didn't recognize the fact that it was missing on his own.
[Great Sage, Heaven's Equal spits out his water and asks why you've been hiding such a face.]
[Huntress of the Night tells you to put your mask back on before you see Artemia again.]
[Prince of Darkness wonders why you use a mask when you don't appear to be anyone special.]
[Heaven's Forge says you look too soft to be born for the fla.]
[Keeper of Light wonders why the Prince of Darkness is interested in you.]
[Treacherous Phoenix watches you silently.]
The list of Gods who were watching Atlas had expanded by several tis. He was only able to glance at so of the ssages from epithets he recognized.
If there was one thing to be glad about, it was the fact that nobody recognized him. He could be sowhat certain that he didn't share many features with the Heavenly Emperor of the past.
Of course, Atlas had manifested a part of his previous self when he fought the Kitsune and even later in Purgatory, but…
For so reason, those mories didn't exist in his mind? The visage that cast a shadow over his true appearance was nothing more than a blur in his recollection.
'This one should do.'
Once again, Atlas didn't spend too much ti shopping for masks. The Tower Shop was convenient in that it followed one's cultivation and suggested items that matched it. Atlas was easily able to find a new mask that matched his current, soon-to-increase cultivation.
'Even if I am not recognizable, I have new reasons to wear the mask.'
He had new enemies, after all. They knew his na, but that was irrelevant unless they created a miracle to enter the Mortal Realm. If they knew his face, if they spread his face throughout the Tower, a whole new wave of problems would follow him.
Rather than entertaining the possibility, he preferred to crush it before it could beco anything.
Atlas kept his mind as empty as possible as he traveled to Minora. Well, perhaps that was the wrong wording.
When Atlas went to find the Celestial Ladder, he realized that he was already in Minora. Hades dropped him into the 30th Floor Neutral Zone as if he expected him to have priorities there.
It was strange arriving in the first city he saw and learning from the locals that he didn't need to use the Celestial Ladder at all. Still, he was able to buy a map from them for an extrely cheap price.
The city of Revine where Scarlet Fox was located wasn't too far. Atlas spent the day traveling several thousand kiloters to the northeast and arrived before daybreak on the next. He approached the Market District as he had the last ti he ca to visit, but…
'This is…'
His eyes widened slightly.
This was a very different atmosphere than the district he'd seen before. Naturally, it was still bustling and filled with vitality, but weren't the people here much more powerful?
'The demographic of this city has changed. Rather than ordinary people, everyone here is a powerful cultivator.'
Their auras were filled with a lingering fighting spirit. They were not cultivators who lived in this peaceful world, but active Ascenders who were taking a break from the Tower for various reasons.
'And the reason for this change…'
What was once a small and rickety building had been transford into an emporium.
Atlas arrived in front of the building and was forced to look up at what was sixteen floors at the very least. Tall and proud marble columns held up the roof, and the steps leading up to the building itself were taller than the first floors of so of the surrounding structures.
'Wasn't the plan to stay secretive?'
Undoubtedly, Scarlet Fox told him that the location hadn't changed, but that couldn't be true, could it?
The top half of the building underneath the roof was made of glass, showing off the glitteringly ornate interior. The bottom half was a more traditional stone construction, but even it was built with pristine care and attention to detail.
Despite his doubts, Atlas walked up to the doors and opened them. He stepped into the building to be greeted by what he expected to find.
It was truly a bustling market. On one side, Atlas could see countless vendors selling artifacts and weapons for cultivators. Against another wall were pill sellers and against another were those selling a variety of other treasures.
The entire first floor was a market made specifically for cultivators. Though Atlas couldn't see the second floor, he didn't doubt that it was the sa.
"Welco to the Starfire rchant Guild! Are you looking for anything specific today?"
The words ca from an attendant who'd approached while Atlas was distracted. He looked over, glancing up and down the man's body before responding.
"I am here for a eting with soone."
'His clothes hide it, but he is heavily trained. The ring on his finger seems to be an aura suppression artifact.'
Atlas wouldn't miss the signs of a warrior if he saw them. There was a subtle difference between those who lacked aura and those who were concealing themselves.
Even the ordinary stewards were experts hiding their cultivation…?
As Atlas wondered once again if this was truly the right location, his answer ca down the staircase that led to the upper floors.
She looked too different for it to have been only a few months since their last eting, but there wasn't another person who could imitate her unique aura.
It seed like every ti he saw Scarlet Fox, Atlas was bound to be surprised by her growth.
She walked over and stood before him. She only flicked her eyes to the steward for a mont before he bowed slightly and backed away.
Judging by the fact that nobody else reacted to her presence, her existence was still relatively unknown.
"This…"
Atlas couldn't help but smile wryly.
"Isn't this a bit too extravagant for a facade?"
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