Afterward, Jacob called Zoe, and like Sofie, she sounded quite shocked and also relieved that Jacob was fine and alive. Jacob felt annoyed for some reason, but he didn't know why, and he subtly explained why he hadn't been available all these years, just like he did with Sofie.
Only then did Zoe get to the main point, "Please, if you ever decide to hide again, at least inform me or Sofie. Although I know you don't expect much from us, we are not as incompetent as you think of us. Still, I'm glad that you still remember us.
"Anyhow, about the information you want to know, I know you only want to hear about events on your level, and I had a feeling that you might contact me to know about them if you ever decided to come back."
She sounded somewhat sarcastic, making Jacob grimace, but he remained silent and let her continue.
"The first thing you know is about the Dark Duke. After you abruptly left the Unique Plains Dark City, the Dark Duke came to find me and inquired about your whereabouts, which I had no idea about myself. Even my uncle seemed quite flustered about your disappearance. I don't know why they were both so interested in you, but knowing my grandfather, I can assume his interest in you wasn't anything but good.
"However, since I don't know anything, he had to give up, but I never expected that he would make me sign an oath contract just to confirm if I'm telling the truth or not, and he even made me contact you forcibly…" Her tone was icy cold at this moment since she was clearly quite displeased and no longer trusted her clan.
"But just as I said, I had no idea about your actions, so he got nothing. But his expression wasn't good when you didn't pick up my call, and even after leaving, he assigned some people to keep an eye on me and Sofie.
"After that, something happened around nine years after you leave, and this was quite a shocking event; the Three Absolute Factions suddenly announced their alliance, and this caused quite a ruck, especially because of the alliance between life and dead factions.
"But this was just the start because soon after that, they all started a mass search all over the Unique Plains. As for the target of their search, I couldn't find out even to this day. But anyone with the slightest suspicion was taken away by the three factions and never heard from again. You can even find the results of this mass search to this day.
"Furthermore, from what I found out from my connections, you were also the target of that search, and the person who gave your name was also the Dark Duke. Moreover, that search scale wasn't just limited to the Conflict Plains; even the territories under the three factions were searched thoroughly.
"This search stopped suddenly around five years ago, and no one knows the reason for it. However, something even more shocking happened afterward. I don't know about other factions, but the Dark Kingdom suddenly sent out its top force somewhere, and that includes the Dark Duke and many other high-ups of the Dark Kingdom.
"But if I'm not wrong, it wasn't just the Dark Kingdom that suddenly sent their top force somewhere; the other facts might've done the same. However, I can tell you for sure that they are never seen in the Unique Plains; it's as if they had vanished into thin air.
"Even to this day, the Dark Duke and those higher-ups have yet to return, and the current person who oversees the Dark Kingdom is none other than my father. These are the only noteworthy events that I could think of that you might be interested in," Zoe stated solemnly.
Jacob's eyes narrowed dangerously when he heard the Dark Duke was targeting him. Although he already knew about Fulwood's tricks he tried to use on him back in the Dark City, he still found it a hassle to eliminate him.
But now that he thinks about it, it seems the Dark Duke was involved with Fulwood from the start. He didn't mind collecting some 'new blood,' and he still hadn't forgotten about the spirit tree nectar. However, Jacob's attention was more on the three factions' strange movements, and he could only think of one that could possibly bring them together.
'Were they searching for the Legendary Key? But what could they be doing now?' Jacob mused, finding all this very suspicious. He wasn't as reckless as before after encountering those two hourglass bearers.
He knew there were too many hidden powers, and they were far more dangerous than the ones in light. Anything could happen if he weren't careful.
'Well, if that bug bitch reacted the same way as I'm expecting her to, then I can wait and watch how those factions would react to it. I might find something unexpected with Autarch's assistance.
'And having Zoe in the Dark City has proven to be quite beneficial for me now. Once I entered the middle galaxies, I needed more pawns like her since I had to be even more careful there. I have to change some of my habits…'
"Thank you for this information, Miss Zoe; I really appreciate it. You have also suffered quite a lot because of my sudden disappearance. Tell me, what are you required to become a Dark Duke? I see what I can do to help you. Since the Dark Duke is absent, this might be a good chance for you to rise to become a Dark Duke and take over the Dark Kingdom." Jacob stated impassively.
Zoe didn't reply for a few moments, as if startled by his words or just contemplating her next words.
She finally spoke in a grave tone, "If you can really help me, then I won't hide it from you. I have already reached the required merit for becoming Dark Duke no longer ago. However, what I hadn't expected was that there was another secret requirement that only came to light after I completed the merit requirement.
"The requirement is to become an expert in the Inception Legend Rank. From what I gathered, there seemed to be three more ranks above the Unique Rank, and they are known as the Three Steps of Legend. I wonder if Mr. Jack had heard about them."
Jacob was startled when he heard those words and couldn't help but wince his brows because he knew just how difficult this requirement was to clear!