EXTRA Secret work

	With Tiberius busy with his own work, I decided to test myself. I wanted to start creating rituals that pushed myself to the limit of what is possible with blood magic. Unfortunately, there was something baring my attempts to create these rituals: My activation crystal. It already had started to develop cracks from the strain activating rituals like regeneration caused, so anything more might shatter the fragile crystal. I wanted to start researching a way to improve my crystal, but my duty’s to the people came first. The Hell's harvest festival is coming up, so I would need to meet with the other Conglomeration members to give updates on my work. I have grown to detest the some of the work they do, but I still remain with them as there oldest member and as the last conglomeration founder still alive. Not that I had much choice when I joined, it was ether sit through somewhat dull meeting every year and earn some gold for not causing trouble over the last year or let them destroy each other in an all out war for the nether and its resources.  There are still days when I wish that I went for the latter option.

	The festival came quickly, and I did my part in the opening ceremony and watched as Tiberius lit the portal. Never understood why we go through the hassle of lighting the portal every year to then close it three days later. Regardless, we all entered the nether to see the others already at work. I wondered off to greet people and answer a few questions, leaving Tiberius to fend for himself. I glanced back at one point to see him with a face that could only be described as pure disgust. Apparently he feels the same way I do about what the nether has become. I still remember the early days when I first opened the nether portals, back when the pigmen roamed wild and death was around every corner. Those days seem like a dream now, after everything the conglomeration has done to industrialize the nether to max there profit margins. I later that day I decided to visit  to the small building I own here that I sleep at during these festivals. I found a note on my bed from Tiberius saying that he had some work he wanted to do, so he went home early. Can't blame him, I would leave now if I could.

	I went to this years meeting spot late in the evening, when few people still walked the paths cut into the netherrack. I attended the festival every year, so most people were use to seeing me here and I even got a few waves from passers by. I walked towards the huge building carved into the netherrack with “Thermal expansion: Powering the world!” inscribed on the front of an otherwise pure white tower. I walking in the clear glass doors, then started on my way to the elevator. A tall skinny man stood inside the metallic box, and said “Greetings sir, where would you like to go?” as I walked inside the elevator. I had never seen him before, so I already knew the normal procedure that happens now. “I need to go the the thirty fifth floor. I have a meeting to attend.” I recall saying to him. “I'm sorry sir, but I can't do that. Only V.I.P's are allowed on that floor.” I sighed as he was beginning to try my patients. “I know that, search for the name “Magus Arcana” in your little terminal over there.” At first he seemed reluctant to even check, but once he saw I wasn't leaving till he at least looked at the terminal he turned and quickly hit a few keys. After about five seconds of reading the data that came up he quickly spun back to face me, his face a few shades paler. “I'm so sorry sir, I didn't know that...” I quickly cut him off there “No need to worry, I'm use to this by now. If we can start heading up now I might even give you a tip.” After that he closed the doors to the elevator, pulled a key out of his pocket and stuck it into a small hole in the wall. A piece of the wall slid over and I saw the small scanner that was hidden behind it, and he brought his eye up to it, then asked be to do the same. Once it had scanned both our eyes to it give a small chime to let us know we did everything correctly, like it had the last time I was here.

	I gave the man three gold coins, a generous tip if I gave it to a king. He could feed himself for a few months off that alone, and he might need to after today. I still heard him thanking me after I entered the meeting hall, and everyone else was there. I knew almost everyone here, with only one new face at the seat of Gregtech galactic. There almost always was a new guy there each year, so I assumed the Gregtech company was as cutthroat and brutal as rumors say. “So everyone is now here, shale we get started?” Iza Lemming, daughter of thermal expansions founder asked once I entered. The new guy jumped up and started yelling once she said that “Wait, who's he? I don't recall ever seeing him before!” “Calm down, Frank. He is the guy we've been telling you about for the last half hour.” Iza said. I couldn't help but crack a smile as she held up her reputation for not having any time for idiots. “Wait... He is the guy who lit the first nether portals? He is one of the founders?” I could tell he was confused, and I couldn't blame him. The fact that it was me who lit that portal years ago is one of my best keep secrets, and the fact that I'm on this conglomeration's board is something only a handful of people outside this room know. “Yes, that is him. Now that you're up to speed will you take your seat so we can get started?” Iza said as I sat next to her. He took is seat again, but his gaze never left me.