Chapter 685: Blade [Ko-fi Donation Bonus Chapter]
The location looked much the same as it always did: a simple office that carried a hidden air of mature wealth and elegance.
The desk was made of a solid oak slab that would have cost hundreds of thousands, the white carpet that would sway like grass if there was a crosswind was made from a rare polar bear hide, and the pens that then stuck out from a carefully carved ornament easily cost thousands of dollars each.
Then there was the man himself, wearing the same things he always did, doing the same things he had always done.
Mortimer wore simple silk robes and held a cigar, puffing out tufts of smoke from time to time. His eyes looked much older than his countenance, carrying a deep wisdom, his face itself carrying a mostly black beard with strands of white and grey, his hair carrying a deliberate, slick style to it that gave him a modern touch.
He was the sort of handsome man getting on in his years that women might call a silver fox. He had a gaze that made a person feel at ease, and yet unwilling to question his authority at the same time.
And in that moment, if Sylas discounted Aki and Gralith, he felt that this was the most powerful man he had ever stood across from.
It wasn't a matter of Aether or even Level; it was a subtle Will that hung in the air, one that Sylas felt was actually beyond his own. This was an experience that even Aki hadn't been able to give him.
Though... unlike with Aki, Sylas was meeting this man truly face to face. By comparison, Aki's Will had been filtered through the platform and his distance away.
The two men stared at one another in silence, but Mortimer had a smile on his face while Sylas most definitely did not.
And it was Mortimer who spoke first.
"I guess by lineage, you can be considered my descendant. But I don't really have a title to go by, otherwise what you called me would take longer to say than whatever sentence you wanted me to address. You can just call me Mortimer."
Sylas' gaze flickered at the implication of the words. Was he trying to say that it wasn't worth listing out all the "greats" it would take to make their relationship accurate?
From what Sylas knew, his grandfather's father was already dead. Then who was this man? Obviously not his great-grandfather. But why was he implying that he was even older than that?
"Tell me. Why did you take the risk to come here?" Mortimer asked, his smile still not fading. "The situation regarding the headlines. What do you know about them?" Sylas asked directly. Mortimer's gaze narrowed. "You... are about as good as Astrid. Unexpected."
Sylas recognized the name. Astrid Grimblade, the only woman amongst the three Heirs, and though he hadn't checked, she was probably still either number one or number two on the Level Leaderboards.
Usually, she and Kael Darkmane would be constantly vying for that position. Sylas just didn't care enough to stay up to date on that, especially not after he understood that those Leaderboards were nothing more than a game to these hidden families.
"But it's interesting that she made such a mistake in not drafting you. Or maybe she did it on purpose. That little girl's mind is quite meticulous. I wouldn't be surprised if she allowed her cousin to take you in so you can accomplish precisely what you have."
Mortimer spoke as though he was just smoothing out his own thoughts, his gaze almost looking through Sylas before he focused once more.
"These aren't things that you should concern yourself with, normally... But since you've come here of your own volition, what do you say to doing something about it?"
"What would you like me to do?"
Mortimer chuckled; he had noticed that Sylas used a turn of phrase. Now it looked like it was Mortimer asking Sylas for a favor rather than the other way around.
"The relationship between our family and the governments is quite complicated and ultimately boils down to the differences in our origins. Our family came from rogue warriors of the last Summoning, while the governments are exactly that, remnants of those powers. "We have never seen eye to eye. Our family has a belief that the last Summoning ended so poorly because the governments tried to micro-manage and control everything, suffocating the growth of potential heroes of Earth. While they believe that we undermined their authority at every turn, stopping them from properly consolidating all of our power under one unified banner."
Mortimer stopped his speech, letting his words breathe.
"What do you think about what I've said?"
"I do not know." Sylas replied.
Mortimer's brows raised. He was used to questioning the three heir candidates for their thoughts and opinions, and they had always given him an answer in return. Or more accurately, they were always eager to try and impress him.
Sylas didn't seem to care to try and impress anyone. He moved to his own rhythm.
Mortimer felt that Astrid was similar, but... the difference was that Astrid at least knew how to pretend when it was necessary.
'No. He knows how to pretend as well, that's why he announced himself as a Grimblade... but after seeing me, he realizes I have no intention of dealing with him right now and
understands that even if he did want to pretend, it would be useless.
'Or maybe... I'm overthinking things. Maybe he truly means that he does not know...'
Mortimer's smile widened. He found the young man in front of him fascinating.
"In that case, I will skip the history lesson and get to the point. I have sympathy for the governments, but the reason our families could not work with them is precisely because they wanted to work on too large a scale. There are too many powers at play, too many variables in limbo... the larger the power, the more room there is for corruption and traitors."
Sylas nodded, agreeing with this statement.
Mortimer found himself feeling surprised again. Half of him believed that Sylas would never side with the Grimblades in any matter at all.
Truly interesting.
"Then here."
Mortimer waved a hand and a document appeared.
"This has a list of all the targets we've identified. If you are willing to be a blade of the Grimblades and kill them, I am willing to compensate you accordingly. I'm sure this information itself is also quite valuable to you."
Sylas took the files and opened things up to the very first page.
He was surprised to see that the target in question was actually someone he knew.
Professor Fembroise.