Chapter 510: Rotten Rughsbourgh
For the next few days, Northern worked closely with Thalen to investigate and locate several other drifters that had made it to the Central Plains with them.
This was what gave him the privilege of access to certain information.
First of all was the current state of things, generally, and how the news of the return of the students had affected the continent at large.
And honestly, Northern was pretty disappointed. He had expected it to be more of a big deal than Thalen's sources discovered it to be.
There had been no word heard from Rughsbourgh; his assistants and guards had claimed that he had ventured into Solitary Training to break the limitations of being a Paragon and become a Luminary.
And it seemed it was the possibility of this news that had several sources silent, most especially the government.
Thalen had described the government as an intricate web of hidden agendas, where power shifts and allegiances were never straightforward.
They operated more like a vast council of influential figures than a single ruling body.
Each faction had its own interests to protect, and the return of the students had become just another factor in their constant political maneuvering.
"The government's silent because they're waiting,"
Thalen had told Northern as they sat in a golden illuminated library, his table filled with scattered maps and documents.
"They want to see if Rughsbourgh succeeds in breaking through to Luminary. If he does, they know his influence could reshape everything. If he fails... well, they'll be quick to act. Either way, they're hedging their bets."
It was quite sad that the beacon that was created as a medium of control and balance for the authority of monarchs had now succumbed to such authority and propaganda play, all in the name of seizing power.
'I wonder if power is a poison that insidiously infects its host regardless of how true of heart they may be.'
Northern was suddenly made to remember Night Terror and the kingdom of the red mine.
He leaned back in his chair, pondering.
From what he knew, he had always viewed the government as a necessary evil-an institution that managed the chaos of the continent.
But Thalen's description painted a picture of something far more manipulative, far more dangerous.
"Then why haven't the drifters been affected by this?" Northern asked, glancing over the scattered reports of drifters returning to the Central Plains. "Shouldn't they be targeted or, at the very least, watched?"
"They are," Thalen replied, folding his arms across his chest.
"But not in the way you'd expect. The government isn't interested in immediate action against them. They're observing, calculating-waiting for one of us to make a mistake." "By mistake, you mean?"
Thalen frowned as he explained further, "The set of organizations that the government is most wary of is the private Citadels. By making a mistake, they are hoping to find an opening or to see whether or not we will involve ourselves in these matters.
"Of course, the government knows, if a set of drifters who are merely students were able to make it out of a monster-infected continent, then they are most likely a different generation of drifters than we have ever seen.
"Which is why, even though they are allowing the news to circulate, they are still using propaganda and managing to control the smoke of this situation."
"I see, they are making it look like they are doing their job while using backdoor methods to kill the effects?"
Thalen looked at Northern, "Quite smart, aren't you?"
"I'd just say I have keen eyes."
Thalen leaned on the table with a slight frown on his face, "I do not wish to concern myself with the government and their nonsense. Right now, we've only managed to contact three out of the students. All three look like they've got potential..."
He looked at Northern, who at this point was grinning smugly.
"I will credit you five hundred Credis per head," Thalen exhaled tiredly.
"It was nice doing business with you."
Thalen looked down at the list on his table; in it was written three names with an inkstone and calligraphic handwriting.
Ellis Ruthsworn
Helena Reckson
Erikson Weatherby
These were the three people that in the past five days had managed to give them a positive response, out of all the people they had met.
Northern had felt a little bit reluctant about giving information on Helena's talent and talent abilities because the least he wanted was encountering her in any place.
But he had to make a decision between her and the money. And to be honest, she wasn't worth losing even a talies for.
Even though... seeing her name there still left a bad taste in his mouth.
He was silent for a while before opening his mouth to ask a question that bothered him.
"Do you think Rughsbourgh will become a Luminary?"
Thalen paused what he was doing, his eyes drifting forward into the distance beyond.
He exhaled and responded.
"To be honest, I think he will. That man is one hell of a cunning and strange man who is always up to something. I've met him once and I couldn't deny the fear of getting exposed if I kept hanging around him, so I made sure our paths don't cross.
"I have known him by information and rumors to be a very crafty and strong man. Moreover, the government are no fools or slouches. If the news of Rughsbourgh's entry into Solitary is affecting them this much, then they must be onto something, don't you think?"
He ended, looking into Northern's eyes with a warm smile.
Northern gave a fake smile in response, his mind quickly diving out of the scenery.
'If Rughsbourgh becomes a Luminary, all our hopes will be cut short. Everyone has been brooding with the passion to kill him. If he shows his face to the world as a Luminary, he will be the only Luminary in the world and thus be untouchable.'
Besides the fact that Rughsbourgh might become a continental asset, protected by all nations, citadels, and even the government, he'd gain new powers and reach much greater
heights.
Northern could understand the weight of this new rank because he had fought a Paragon.
The difference between some soul ranks is always like the sky and the earth.
Just like the tremendous boost in power the moment he became a Master, from a Nomad. Northern suspected an intense boost in power should one become a Luminary.
He had fought a Paragon and barely lived. Although if he was to fight again, Northern felt he had a fifty percent chance of success.
However, against a Luminary?
He shook his head in pity, 'Damn Rughsbourgh, did he carefully plan all of this?'