One month went by fast.
That one month included travel time, but with Damien's speed, it only took around three days to reach the Yunix Principality.
Afterwards, accomplishing the mission was easy.
He spent most of the time relaxing and enjoying the sights of the principality's main cities. As for the work he had to do, with Absolute Perception backing him, what did he have to worry about?
By the time a month passed, he had more than enough information to report back, and when he gave it to Sebastian, he learned that he actually did more than what was expected from him.
He didn't care, though. He was here to work, so he would work properly.
That mentality allowed him to do mission after mission without rest.
After the first information-gathering mission, where he found out the plots and schemes within the Yunix Principality, the second task he was given was to suppress those very forces stirring up trouble.
He fought and killed, solved the conflict, and came back within three months.
The next year was spent doing similar things all around the Eastern Region.
He solved conflict after conflict and brought peace to the common people. He didn't realize it until around 6 months after his first few missions, but there was a central organization driving most of the plots he'd stopped.
By the time he was halfway through his second year as a mercenary, he was fighting them with all his power. He went through Demigod after Demigod, killing and stealing the core of their existences to strengthen his own power.
Until finally, he found their leader and took his head.
He was a high-rank Demigod. The organization itself was only mildly influential in the large scheme of things, which was why Damien was dispatched to deal with them rather than Gods from the Veritas Clan, but it was sufficient practice for him.
He also ended up with a reputation in the Eastern Region.
The name Damien Grey was never mentioned, because he didn't give it out easily. The only ones who knew it were influences loyal to the Veritas Clan, who made sure they wouldn't spill his information carelessly.
As for his title, there wasn't one specific thing they called him.
He came and went like a passing breeze, he solved things with great power and force like a great mountain, and he was righteous like a spirit of nature.
He held the mantle of a hero in the eyes of the people.
But for mercenaries and people more involved in the world of practitioners?
He was more like a demon.
The people didn't see the scenes he left in his wake.
The utter destruction was menacing, to say the least.
His enemies were either mutilated or killed so cleanly that it felt like nonsense.
The environment was always in tatters, to the point where one had to wonder if a natural disaster passed through the area.
But for some reason, the destroyed environment maintained its vitality and would always heal back to normal within a few days or weeks.
Nobody had seen his methods and lived, but just the speculations one could make from what he left behind made him someone nobody could mess with.
His status among those who worked for the Veritas Clan was the highest it could be already, and the missions he got assigned became increasingly complex.
From small matters like before, Damien got involved in more important conflicts.
He was sent to spy on the Kyushu Federation a few times, and he was even sent to facilitate relations with the Vega Clan to the north.
The connections he could make for personal gain weren't many, but the ones he made were ones that would help him immensely in the future.
His reputation and status were already what he wanted them to be by the third year.
But he encountered another problem.
It was within himself.
Existence was a law that wasn't a law. It was only classified as a law because there was really nothing else to call it.
Damien could control Existence to an extent. He could do things like perceive the world or touch the ethereal aspects of life that other people couldn't see.
However, he couldn't actively move Existence to his will.
He couldn't control a mana that represented the concept.
Why?
The more he encountered the problem, the more he thought about it.
Why hadn't he made any progress in his Authorities since he got to the Heavenly World?
Why hadn't he been able to do anything as he wanted to no matter how hard he tried?
'There's a method.'
He knew there was.
'There's definitely a mana that represents Existence. It's similar to Void Energy, but only one side of it. It exists, but I can't find it.'
He didn't know how to find it or how to control it.
He needed to find that method.
So he searched, and searched, and searched.
He went through the Eastern Region specifically with this thought in mind. His missions became a secondary priority, because if he couldn't get stronger, nothing else mattered.
He even tried the opposite and calmed down, taking a break from it all.
Damien went to the Sanctuary every few months and spent time with his wives and family. He helped them in their endeavors and guided them as they made their way towards Divinity.
Elvira was also someone he met often. Whether for comfort or for business, she was someone he could always turn to.
This problem, however, couldn't be solved with rest or effort.
He needed an opportunity.
And thus, the fourth year arrived.
After he worked in the shadows for so long, he was finally given a mission in the light.
"The younger generation of the Veritas Clan will be entering a secret realm soon. It will be attended by the future experts of the Kyushu Federation, Vega Clan, and Straea Clan as well. Your job is to go with them and make sure they don't die."
The one who spoke was Sebastian. Damien was still taking missions in The Den, but the atmosphere was a bit different than before.
It was subtle, but everyone avoided him. He was the only one sitting at the bar, and nobody dared to approach him.
"Is it that easy?" Damien asked.
"Ease is relative. The Straea Clan will definitely aim for their lives, and nobody can predict the movements of the Kyushu Federation."
Damien nodded. He'd done enough reconnaissance in the Southeastern Region to understand how convoluted the interests of that place were.
"On top of that, the secret realm itself is incredibly dangerous. It's the most important training location in our Eastern Region, so you can imagine the kinds of risks and rewards that are present there."
Damien nodded again. If three other great clans were coming to a secret realm in the Eastern Region, it meant the Veritas Clan was forced to share in order to protect their assets.
Such a big pie couldn't be eaten alone, after all.
"When is it?"
"They'll leave in ten days."
"Understood. So should I head straight to the Veritas Clan?"
"That would be ideal."
"Hmm…"
Damien stood up and turned around.
'It's almost over.'
There was just one year left until he could go to Void Palace.
'And this will probably be the most important factor in securing the Veritas Clan's support.'
If he could properly protect their younger generation, they'd owe him a favor beyond what his mercenary position begot.
'Good.'
Damien left The Den and made his way to the Veritas Clan.
'Come to think of it, this is my first visit.'
'Let's see what a great clan of the Heavenly World really looks like.'
