Sylvia's brother and the three men picked all paused, they didn't know what was happening. They came here to check on Grey, how come he's suddenly picking them to go with him on an expedition with the Giants. What was worse was that, the young lady who was the strongest amongst everyone present wasn't even picked by Grey.
"Wait, what's going on?" The young lady was the one who asked the question.
"They're going with me on an expedition, of course, it's their choice if they want to or not. If not, I'll just call my friends over. Although, it will take a while, they wouldn't mind." Grey replied in a nonchalant manner.
"You know the reason I'm asking this question." The young lady said, staring straight at Grey's face.
Grey didn't flinch, he took a glance at her and said, "I don't know you, neither do I trust you. I can't let you watch over my back."
"You don't know them either." The young lady pointed at the trio he picked, as well as the Giants. She knew Grey was familiar with Sylvia's brother, so she didn't add him.
"What are your names?" Grey asked the trio, in which they replied to his question, "You see, I know them now."
"And I'm very okay with doing business with the Giants, this is not my first time with them."
The young lady was stunned. She didn't understand why Grey didn't pick her to join the expedition group. Of everyone present, if Grey wanted to pick someone, then she was the first person he was supposed to pick, yet he was completely neglecting her. Only her Teacher has treated her in such a manner, she was a top student of one of the most powerful individual in the entire Aurora Continent, yet Grey was treating her like she was an everyday young lady.
Sylvia's brother, sensing the tension walked over to Grey to whisper a few words to him. He didn't want the duo to get on each others had sides.
"You don't get it, I don't trust her. She has a certain dark aura. I've only sensed it with a certain group of people." Grey didn't hide his words, staring straight at the young lady.
There was no certainty she was marked by a necromancer, so it only meant one thing, she was one herself.
Grey didn't have any plans of exposing her, but he also didn't want to travel with her.
The eyes of the young lady widened when she heard this, she wanted to speak but couldn't. For some reason, she could understand the meaning behind Grey's words.
'How did he sense it?' She was stunned, her eyes suddenly turned hostile.
Only a necromancer or Gnomes could sense the mark on her. Grey is most definitely a necromancer, hence the reason he was able to sense it. And he must have mastered the technique to the peak, if not, how could he sense something her Teacher used a secret technique to cloak?
Grey saw the change in her eyes and felt he was right in his speculation, she was definitely a necromancer.
He didn't know how the Burchard Family were not able to sense the dark aura on the young lady, nor did he care. As long as she didn't cross paths with him, then he wouldn't bother with her.
"You're a necromancer." The young lady pointed her finger at Grey.
Everyone on the side of the humans gasped in shock, while Grey on the other hand burst into laughter.
"A necromancer will kill off so many Gnomes? Do you only have water in your head?" Grey's question brought everyone back to reality.
Yes, they all knew how much necromancers revered Gnomes, it would be impossible for anyone who is a necromancer to think of even killing Gnomes, much less doing it to such a level that a large bounty was placed on his head by the Gnome race.
"Are you people coming with me or not? I can't stand here arguing with her, I have things to do." Grey asked Sylvia's brother and the other three.
If they didn't show any interest in going, then he would just call his friends over. With Klaus and the bunny leader, he was sure he would be able to keep everyone alive, at least.
Being ignored by Grey infuriated the young lady even further.
With her teeth clenched, she walked closer to Grey.
"Then how did you sense it?"
She set up a barrier, blocking everyone else from listening to what she was asking Grey.
On the side of the Giants, they didn't interfere with what was happening. At first, they thought Grey was the one who called them over, but after seeing their dispute, they were sure Grey didn't have any thoughts of calling them over.
Grey was even on the verge of chasing them away when he thought about bringing them with him.
"What should we do?" One of the Giants at the Peak asked the leader.
"We watch. Whatever differences the humans have, they can settle it themselves. It has nothing to do with us." The leader replied calmly.
He didn't expect to see something like this, but he wasn't too worried. From how the young lady acts, it was easy for him to see that she had a very high status. Grey not putting her in his eyes showed that his status was at least on the same level as the young lady.
What he didn't understand was how come Grey, who was still in the Ninth stage could scare the entire Gnome race in the secret realm, while this young lady who gave off an aura of a top powerhouse couldn't?
When he probed the young lady, his senses were shattered the second it came close. This showed just how powerful her senses are. He wasn't confident in being able to defeat the young lady in a battle.
In the barrier.
Grey feigned ignorance and said, "Give it up, I don't like necromancers. I will not say anything about it to others, just don't bother me."
"I'm not a necromancer, and from the looks of it, you're not one either." The young lady said.
Grey saw the seriousness in her expression and asked, "You're not?"
The young lady shook her head.
"Then the aura of necromancy I sensed on your body?"
"I was marked."
"Oh… haha, that explains it all." Grey gave his forehead a slight smack as he laughed awkwardly, "How did you hide it?"
He couldn't hide his curiosity and asked.
"How did you sense it?" The young lady didn't answer his question, rather, she asked a question of her own.
Grey didn't think too much about it and replied, "I've been marked before."
The young lady noticed Grey's wording and couldn't help but wear a confused look. From Grey's words, he was marked, but the mark was no longer there.
"How could this be possible? It's impossible to remove the mark!" She couldn't believe her ears.
"It's for you people. I'm different." Grey said and then waved his hand, destroying the barrier.
He didn't want to extend the conversation any further. If the young lady continued asking questions, she would want Grey to help out with removing the mark. This was something he wasn't interested in doing.
First off, he needed life-force to deal with it, and there were no Gnomes in sight. Besides, he didn't really like the young lady, so even if he could help, there was no reason for him to.
Her mark was well hidden that even a few Gnomes would find it difficult to sense it.
Seeing Grey destroy the barrier, the young lady bit her lower lip and stomped on the ground.
"You're not going, I'll go with them." She pointed at one of the men, the one with a long mustache.
The man couldn't help but take a look at Grey who gave a 'I don't care what you guys decide' look. He could only sigh and walk back.
He knew this was a missed opportunity. The probability of death didn't scare him, they all knew that opportunity came with the dangers. Only the lucky ones comes out of these events on top. He had been on a few expeditions, but he didn't think there would be anyone on the same level as this one.
Grey turned to the leader of the Giants, "When are we leaving? I already have my group."
"I'll make a few preparation and we can leave tomorrow morning." The leader of the Gaints said, and then he added, "Those going are more than welcome to come reside inside before we depart."
Grey smiled, he knew what the leader of the Giants was doing. He was subtly chasing the other humans away. Although they wanted to collaborate for an expedition, it didn't mean they and the humans were on the same side, they were only allying due to aligned benefits.
Grey didn't stand on ceremony and walked into the Giants camp, alongside the five going with him.