[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-divine-path-system":3,"chapter-divine-path-system-divine-path-system-chapter-360":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Divine Path System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1563687,2028,"Chapter 360 - Grant Family","divine-path-system-chapter-360",360,"\u003Cp>'Boo, keep an eye on him.' Varian instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boo had already hacked the comms of every cadet in their class. So far, it proved to be futile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a shred of useful information was found from the heaps of garbage texts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second years returned to the campus and an instructor gave a final announcement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We'll have a military base tour tomorrow. And also, inter-academy competition the next week. We'll select teams based on the performance. Now, disperse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Varian left the lecture hall and was about to take the elevator when he heard two familiar names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liluh, why the fuck are you trying to get close to Betty?\" The deep voice was full of rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I like that chick. You got a problem?\" An elegant voice answered frivolously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fuck you! She's my girl!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yours? She looks down on commoners like you the most.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-It's due to her trauma. You don't know her. I do! I know her since childhoo—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen up Vinar, the only reason you're able to talk to me is because I'm letting you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I know you're also a mid level 5, but so what? Do you really think we're equals? Don't make me laugh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I never thought we're equals. I have a level 8 tutor. Our backgrounds are equal. But I lived a normal life for 16, I was far behind you. Yet I caught up.\" Vinar said with a complacent and arrogant smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-You! Trash!\" Liluh's face distorted and he walked away from the blonde guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Varian quietly observed them with his keen senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vinar also left after cursing Liluh a few times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liluh is really living his role as a mid level 5, huh?\" Varian rubbed his chin. \"But the anger doesn't seem to be completely fake. He was genuinely mad that Vinar caught up with him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Varian was confused about his Liluh's true motivations, but he already had an important inference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting back to his temporary residence in the hotel, he entered a make do study room in ghost ship and wrote down two points on the white wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1. Betty will be kidnapped outside the campus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2. Liluh is getting closer to Betty and is a spy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he got to thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was the perfect place for kidnapping Betty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the information Edwina gave him, Betty frequents beauty saloons, high-end clubs and other areas—but she's always under protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'…I don't have any leads on this.' Varian shook his head and focused on the next point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it could give him more clues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liluh Grant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grant family was one of the illustrious families of Valos. Varian initially thought they were clean, but he realized he misunderstood this city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even Grant family did things like this, then perhaps all families in Valos were more or less connected to the underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This is just insane.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it made sense. In a city where underground forces reigned supreme, you couldn't rise to the top without doing some shady things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, all families wanted to maintain a virtuous demeanor. So, they kept their dark sides hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grant family was one of the foremost donators to the slums. He should've gotten the hint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boo, go to the Grant family.\" Varian said after taking a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*** *** ***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grant family's manor was located away from the rather populous and bustling districts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with a few more wealthy families, they bought out a whole district as their private estates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grant family wasn't the strongest family in Valos, but they sure were first-rate and would be in the top 20.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ran a fund and invested in local businesses. There was a local saying that 'If the grants pick your business, even you can't stop the money from flowing in.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was as far as what the public knew. What they didn't know was that Grant family's main business was intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grant family ran a notoriously hidden intelligence organization called Obsidian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They cultivated spies, stole secrets, sold the data and of course, used their loot to their own benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the era where information was everything, they exploited their advantage to the fullest and expanded rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While every power had spies, Obsidian was on an another level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew for certain how many 'normal' students, workers, employees belonged to Obsidian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what was certain was that every business they invested was used for Obsidian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man who controlled this vast network was Thomas Grant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the moment, he was tending to the fish in his backyard's pond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eat. Eat.\" He smiled as he sprinkled red meat across the pond. As the fish scrambled for the meat pieces and formed clusters, he smiled in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their intense fight to grab the meat only made him smile wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, pillars of water rose into the air due to their fighting. Thomas cursed the fish killed in the fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeding fish was his only normal hobby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But neither the pond nor the fish were normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put things perspective, the pond was something like a quarter of a football field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of the fish were three feet long and were capable of killing an unawakened adult human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the meat he fed them was from one of the geniuses that Obsidian killed a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a cheerful girl who had a loving family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They just needed her to spy on her teacher. They threatened her with her family and she agreed. But at the last minute, she spilled out everything to her teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things almost went out of control, but thankfully, their countermeasures were in place and quickly ended the lives of the girl and her family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dad, you're still at this feeding thing again?\" An elegant yet deep voice sounded from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas didn't turn but simply laughed. \"If you feed a genius to fish, will the fish become genius? I was curious since childhood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should I be freaked out at this?\" Liluh shrugged. He didn't feel the same emotions as others. For him, this wasn't something to fuss about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Thomas liked that in his son. \"Don't you have any such curiosities yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do have one curiosity.\" Liluh sat beside his father. \"Why did the Shadow Order, no, the Abyssals suddenly thrown that into the black market?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wrong question.\" Thomas slapped him on his head. \"It's beyond our reach and if we're found searching for it, the spy network I built over blood and sweat will be destroyed overnight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liluh nodded, but his face showed clear dissatisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas shook his head. \"Forget about Shadow Order and Chaos families. Be ambitious, but keep it to Valos city. We still need to grow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liluh, what problems do you think we'll face due to the current market?\" He wanted to teach his son the mindset needed to be Obsidian's leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In all the cities, kidnapping cases rose because of that thing in the black market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the federation must have noticed things are fishy and sent their agents. Athena agents would be after us…damn!\" Liluh jumped onto his feet realizing the danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas' face darkened. As an intelligence organization, they hated the biggest intelligence organization—Athena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're troublesome, but they're not here to stop kidnappings, they want to find out why they rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They must have already found out bout that thing and are fully busy finding Abyssal's motives. We aren't their targets. Take it easy.\" Thomas reassured him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liluh heaved a sigh of relief. Then his thoughts spun and he asked. \"Speaking of easy, our clients…are they sure to kidnap Betty? She has a space awakener as her bodyguard for fuck's sake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not something we need to worry about. Just follow the action plan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm. I'm in the phase of getting closer to her. She agreed to hang out with me later tonight.\" He smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Any obstacles?\" Thomas asked casually. There were few that could stand as Grant's equals and fewer above them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liluh had no big enemies in the academy. There should be no obstacles anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One.\" Liluh gave an unexpected answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\" Thomas smiled and waved his hand. \"Vinar or the newcomer Edgar?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vinar.\" Liluh said honestly. \"At first, I thought Edgar was a spy, but his identity…it makes him anything but a spy. Moreover, he doesn't talk to anybody and he already pissed off Betty. Vinar, though, he's trying to get close to Betty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Want my help?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vinar's master was one of the few level 8s in Valos and was only slightly weaker than Thomas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he really willed it, Thomas could kill Vinar's master. But the price would be sky high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he could always kill Vinar without much repercussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. Vinar loves Betty, but I know how to make her love me. I'll win her trust. It'll all be over in week anyway.\" Liluh stood up and walked off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he was about to exit, Thomas suddenly said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One advice, son.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm?\" Liluh turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch out for Shadow Guardians. Along with Athena agents, they've also penetrated the Uranus Cluster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chaos families issued a notice. Unlike Athena agents, they are trying to stop the kidnappings.\" Thomas said lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was't really worried, but after finding out how Shadow Guardians assassinated the son of Sovereign Julius, he started paying more attention to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, their range of activities were far away on Earth. Nothing to be panicked about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shadow Guardians?\" Liluh sneered. \"They think this is still Earth? Don't worry, dad. They don't even dare to stand in front of me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironically, a new recruit of Shadow Guardian was standing in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did I just crack my mission?\" Varian muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's just the third day!\u003C\u002Fp>",1608,"2026-06-06T07:58:11.289Z",1,"novelbin.me","4d12bc29ae3fa93337ee087abb5ff9b2ef0f7449e3cd7148161f45b9ed9f8154","divine-path-system-chapter-206","divine-path-system-chapter-359",1773,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdivine-path-system-cover.jpg"]