15 The Phantom Organization

At night, Maximus booked the biggest room at Oakheaven Hotel.

*Knock*

*Knock*

While he was eating, a knock echoed.

"Come in," Maximus called.

"Hello sir, the products you purchased are being delivered," said the manager of the Westle Caravan.

"Hmm," Maximus nodded as he saw 31 men entering one by one.

"This is the payment," Maximus said, throwing a storage bag.

"Nice doing business with you, sir." the man smiled, handing Maximus their contracts.

Maximus didn't say anything as he turned his gaze to the 31 men who had entered.

"Then I'll excuse myself," the man said and left.

Maximus nodded and continued eating.

The 31 people watched silently, without voicing any complaints.

After a while, Maximus finished eating.

"Sign this contract," Maximus said, taking out a soul-bound contract from the system.

Although a normal contract is also binding, it's not secure enough.

Although they were puzzled, they still signed the contract on the table.

"Hmm, now that you're done, let's talk about your task."

"It's here," They thought.

"I bought you mainly because I need to form an intelligence organization," 

Seeing them remain silent, he continued.

"Your mission is to gather all information in the Faerie Kingdom and, if possible, the entire Sunburnt Plateau."

"Can you do it?"

"Uh, we can do it," the leading man, a Tier 3 Earth Knight, said.

"Hmm, that's good."

"Can you tell me your name?" Maximus asked, even though he had already scanned them.

"I have no name, master."

"After I belong to you, everything is in the past," the Tier 3 knight bowed.

"Oh, how decisive," Maximus nodded in satisfaction.

It was indeed the man he had hand-picked.

All the men he had chosen had characteristics of loyalty and intelligence.

"Then you will be called Phantom from now on."

"You will be the leader of the Phantom organization."

"Here's a million gold to develop the organization."

"Also, this is a higher training manual suited for assassin-type knights." Maximus handed them the storage bag.

Assassin knight is a branch profession of knights.

Knights are mainly those who have trained their bodies.

Mages, on the other hand, are those who have trained their souls.

This distinction isn't mentioned because the Sunburnt Plateau lacks these kinds of inheritances.

"This—" they were shocked to receive a million gold so easily.

But considering the contract they just signed, they understood.

"But how do we contact you?"

"Oh, right, I forgot," Maximus said, patting his head.

"Here, this is a Jade of Contact."

"Each one is connected to the others."

"There are 100 of them, which should be enough for a while."

"Do you need anything more?" Maximus asked.

"That... can we also have weapons?" Phantom asked.

"Hmm, that should be possible," Maximus nodded.

After all, he had earned over five million from the earlier business deal.

Buying some weapons wouldn't be a problem.

After a while, Maximus picked out one Tier 3 set outfit and 30 Tier 2 set outfits.

In total, the cost for people and materials was about a million.

He still had 4 million left.

Maximus could only sigh at the cheapness of the items the system produced.

"Thank you, master," Phantom bowed.

"Thank you, master," the other 30 followed suit.

"Hmm, at ease."

"I am Maximus Shadowcrest, the Lord of Moonshadow City," Maximus finally introduced, taking out the alchemy mask.

"Meet the master!"

"I hope when I see you again after you can grasp all the information in the Faerie Kingdom."

...

A day later, Maximus returned to Moonshadow City.

With the money, training manual, and weapons.

The Phantom Organization should be able to quickly master all the information in the Faerie Kingdom.

"You're back, husband," Hazel said while taking care of Lily.

"Hmm, I came back," Maximus smiled and kissed them.

"Where are the others?"

"Oh, they are in the garden."

"They were too noisy, so Lily became uncomfortable, and I came here," Hazel explained.

"Baby Lily is very sensitive," Maximus said softly as he took Lily in his arms.

"Did Lily behave badly while I was away?"

"Ba... Ba..." Lily playfully smacked his face and then giggled.

"Oh, very bad. Daddy is going to cry..." Maximus pretended to cry.

Seeing that he was about to cry, Lily panicked and gave him a kiss.

"Oh, Daddy is healed. Come, give me another kiss."

Lily, seeing that he was alright, giggled and gave him more kisses.

"Hmm, I really missed the little girl of the family."

Seeing Maximus and Lily playing with each other, Hazel smiled widely.

"Come, let's go see the others."

Soon, they came to the back garden and saw Erica and the party arranging flowers.

"It's you, husband! You came back!" Erica shouted and approached him.

"Hmm."

"What are you doing?"

"We are competing to see who can arrange the most beautiful flowers."

"Then I'll be the judge to see."

"What about the reward, husband?"

"Hehe, I will give it to you tonight," Maximus winked.

"Hmph, the scumbag is being naughty again," Luna, who overheard, couldn't help but blush and think wildly.

"Hey, how do you know?"

"It's already written on your face. How can we not know?" Luna retorted.

"Really?" Maximus asked, pinching his face.

Lily followed suit and also pinched his face.

"Is it because when you saw this handsome face, you thought of naughty things?" Maximus teased.

"Hmph!" Luna didn't bother to reply.

"What about you, Livia?"

"I-I-I think you look h-handsome," Livia said, stuttering in embarrassment.

"See? Hahaha," Maximus laughed with satisfaction.

"Whatever," Luna just rolled her eyes.

"Go on, the winner can ask me anything," Maximus promised as he sat next to Liam, who was sitting on the grass.

"This is what you said," Luna stated, thinking of something.

"Good luck to all of you," Maximus cheered.

Looking at Liam busy trying to stand up, Maximus couldn't help but smile.

"Hey there, little guy."

"Ba... ba..." Liam crawled toward him, asking his father to help him stand up.

"Ba... ba..." Lily seemed to notice Liam coming and patted his face, telling him to keep Liam away.

"Oh, what did your brother do?"

"Ba... ba..." Lily didn't know what to say, but she continued to pat him.

"Hahaha, it's because Lily pushed Liam earlier when he was trying to stand up."

"Lily must be scared of Liam's revenge," Hazel explained as she didn't join the competition.

"Lily is a bad girl," Maximus said, pinching Lily's cheeks.

"Ba... ba..." Lily seemed to understand and swatted his hand, indicating that she was not a bad girl.

"Hmm, you are Daddy's bad girl." Maximus couldn't help but hug Lily due to her cuteness.

"Ba... ba..." Liam finally reached him and patted his thigh.

"What is it, little guy?"

Liam didn't answer; he used Maximus as support to stand up.

Unfortunately for Liam, Lily seemed possessive and pushed him down.

Lily giggled as she saw Liam fall.

Liam was not willing to give up; he stood up again.

But this time, seeing that Lily was about to push him away, he grabbed Lily's little arm, using her as his support.

*Giggle*

Liam giggled as if he had finally won.

While they were playing, the three women finally finished arranging their flowers.

"We're done!" the three smiled happily at their creations.

"Come, let me see," Maximus said, holding the two children.

"This is mine, husband," Erica hurriedly presented her arrangement.

"Hmm, beautiful, with good orientation and balance."

"Originally it's only 82 points, but since you're my loving wife, I'll give you 92 points," Maximus nodded, appreciating Erica's flower arrangement.

"That's not fair," Luna hurriedly protested.

"Hey, who told her to be my wife?" Maximus sighed, looking at them as if saying, You can also be my wife.

"Hmph, here, look at mine." Luna didn't bother any longer as she presented hers.

"Oh, what intricacy and precision. It looks like it was arranged by nature."

"I give you 85 points."

"Hmph, it's not fair," Luna sulked as if she had been bullied.

"Hey, I can add ten points if you call me husband," Maximus teased.

"No way!" Luna exclaimed, turning her face away while blushing.

"Hey, it's up to you," Maximus smiled.

"Next."

"Here is mine," Livia said shyly.

"Oh, the design is lovely, with a hint of purity. Nice one."

"I gave you 83 points."

"That—can I also add points?" Livia said, looking at him shyly.

"Sure!"

"H-Husband..." Livia was very shy, but she mustered her courage.

"Wife..." Maximus responded, which made Livia's face even redder.

"Now, the winner of the competition is—"

"Wait!" Luna interrupted.

"What?"

"I-I'm not finished yet..." Luna said.

"Oh, what's not finished?"

"T-That... H-Husband..." Luna was too shy that she ran out.

"Oh, your sister is too embarrassed," Maximus looked at Livia, who was still blushing.

"Hmm." Livia just nodded.

"Sigh, how can I reward her now if she's not here."

"You should reward Livia first, as Luna forfeited before you could announce her score."

"As for Luna, you can reward her later," Erica suggested with an evil idea.

Erica already knew what was on her husband's mind, so why not help him a little?

As for the reward or something, their husband is already theirs so they could ask him for anything.

"Hmm, that's reasonable."

"What about it? Have you already thought of your wish?"

"Um, can I think this through?"

"Sure, you can tell me anytime."

*Gumble*

Maximus's stomach growled due to hunger.

"Should we eat first?" Maximus said, embarrassed.

After all, he had been traveling nonstop for a day.

"Then let's eat first!"