Chapter 511: The Lead
Rughsbourgh was very crafty and definitely knew what he was doing from the first day he sent them to the heart of that disaster.
Northern didn't want to believe he didn't actually expect them to return.
So was becoming a Luminary his fail-safe?
No. It couldn't be; it was too magnanimous to be a fail-safe. It had to have been
Rughsbourgh's goal all along.
Becoming a Luminary.
That would explain to a degree why he had found a way to artificially force open rifts. If he wanted to have access to stronger monsters, he'd have definitely done that.
However, wasn't it dangerous? Why the need for so much power?
Northern's mind automatically generated the answer following the question it posed.
'The more you get, the more you want?'
Until one got to the pinnacle, as far as they had resolve, they wouldn't stop striving to become stronger.
He could relate and understand to a certain degree. Despite the emptiness that was growing in him because of the Void, he still wanted to grow and become even stronger.
It is a natural law for humans to become greedy and corrupted in the pursuit of power, such that they abandon morality and become consumed by darkness.
Northern himself could feel the danger of such a path.
A shaky breath broke out of him subtly as he tried to re-rein himself.
"Oh, right."
Thalen's thick voice distracted him from his thoughts, causing Northern to shift his eyes to him, deadpan at first.
"A word came in; indeed, there have been sightings that could be linked to the followers of Vitan."
Northern frowned darkly for a moment. Hope trickled into his heart at the thought that he would be opportune to save his mother, making the grimness of his expression simmer down a little.
With a light raise of his brow, Northern asked.
"If these followers of Vitan are from the underworld, won't they be trying to go back there?"
"Of course they would. Which is why we need to move fast, whatever the case may be. Since I don't want to be busted, I will assign a team with you. Is that okay?"
Northern shook his head in defiance, "I don't want any team. Us three is enough."
Thalen stopped inspecting the map he was leaning on and straightened up to stare into Northern's eyes.
"I warned you not to underestimate these people. Moreover, it hasn't even been confirmed if they are with your mother. At the very least, we know to suspect something since traces of them were found in Arcadia."
This time, Northern could not suppress the grim expression.
"Arcadia of all places?"
"Yes, Arcadia of all places," Thalen repeated with a concentrated gaze at Northern before averting his eyes to return to what he was doing.
If one was to speak of a place where the government was more prominent, then the first city that would come to their mind was Arcadia.
Several others existed, but Arcadia held the significance of the largest democratic religion.
The authority and presence of the government is quite evident in these places, with one of the important seats of the governing council overruling this place as its Mayor.
'Except he is not in power anymore... it's been a while since I read the news after all.'
Either way, whoever was there was bound to be a loyal dog of the government.
Causing trouble in a place like that will definitely not work to his advantage if he wanted to keep a low profile.
'Or fuck low profile?'
...
No.
As much as Northern didn't want to give a damn and just burst everything, he was now more than ever, more wary because now there are evidences of beings beyond mortal existence behind the events surrounding him.
The one thing he doesn't want to do is let things haphazardly happen and fall beyond his control.
As much as he wanted to save his mother, he wanted to also believe these followers of Vitan and particularly, Vitan itself, held a semblance of significance to whatever it is fate is trying to get him to do this time.
And being vigilant is being able to control every single event.
'Who says I have to be the one doing it anyway?'
It was an incredible thing he had servants!
Eyes sparkling with renewed hope, he looked at Thalen and said:
"When do we depart for Arcadia?"
Thalen raised a brow, "What are you saying? I thought you just understood the significance of this place. You can't afford to be lousy..."
"Don't worry, I won't. All I'm just doing is investigating this cult and the disappearance of my
mother."
Skepticism wallowed across Thalen's face for a moment. Eventually, he succumbed.
"Fine, but I will attach a scout to you."
"As long as such a person is able to save themselves, I have no issue with it."
"That's quite cold of you to say?"
Northern did not respond and just walked out of the library, his steps barely making any
sound.
After Northern had stepped outside, Thalen bent over the table, glanced back, and shook his
head.
"I don't know if he is a child or an adult in the body of a child. Sometimes, talking to him feels like a different kind of hassle."
He brought back his focus to the map he was looking at and continued to intensively study
them.
Northern, after the first day, did not use the dark hall to go to the headmaster's library.
'Now that I think about it, wasn't that so dramatic? I've not even seen them since then.'
As their name implied, the Ghostwalkers have gone back to being ghosts as they should be.
There was an elevation mechanism that transported him from the underground where the library existed to the top floor of the citadel.
As he stepped out of the elevator, he met Shin in the bright hallway, who was walking down.
"Father!"
Northern quickly called out, running towards Shin.
Immediately he heard, Shin turned back. Compared to his beaten and battered look while they
were at the border, his eyes seemed to have gained a little life.
He smiled as Northern came towards him; he was holding a pile of paper.
Northern looked at the paper and curiously inquired, "What are you carrying?"
Shin let out a soft smile as he responded, his face almost shining.
"Since they were kind enough to accept us temporarily and even help and provide for us, I
think it is only polite that I help the Secretaries in any possible way I can."
Northern watched his father respond, his face frozen with dark disgust.
He shook his head vigorously almost a second later, rebuking.
"You are not my father. Who are you?"
Shin stood there, a light smile etched on his lips, eyes closed.
Northern sighed and broke the main news.
"Anyway, I have found a lead on mother."