MMORPG: Rise of the Primordial Godsmith

Chapter 1209  An Impromptu Meeting (4)

"Wait… really?"

Unsurprisingly, Sullivan looked at Valyr in disbelief after hearing those words.

After all, if that were truly the case, then didn't that mean the young man was living right under the Zeihardt clan's noses this entire time?

Getting the feeling that there was a hint of falsehood in Valyr's response, the man soon turned to look at Braum, asking him if he could verify the young man's words as a renowned information broker.

In response, Braum briefly glanced at Valyr for his permission, only to nod back after obtaining the young man's go ahead.

Taking in a deep breath after that, the man then gave Sullivan a slightly lengthy explanation of the places Valyr had stayed in up to the point before they held their meeting, causing the latter to slightly frown at how long-winded the explanation was.

Nevertheless, after going over what Braum told him for some time, the man eventually came to the conclusion that the answer the young man was without any falsehood, prompting him to look at Valyr with slight shock.

Knowing what was going on in Sullivan's mind at that moment, the young man let out a bit of laughter. "I'm sure the Nicholas clan has already told you this, but…"

"You do know I have that ability, right?"

Whoosh!

Deciding to show a bit more of his trust to the man in front of him, Valyr went ahead and changed his appearance through [Thousand Polymorph], taking on an identity that even Sullivan had come to recognize thanks to the Rise to Prominence tournament.

"Ylvar?" asked the man in slight uncertainty, causing both Braum and Valyr to let out a bit of laughter in response to his shock. "Are you telling me… you're Ylvar?"

"Don't you think the name already gives it away?" said Valyr in response, deactivating [Thousand Polymorph] after that. "In any case, I suppose that answers some of the other questions you had in mind."

"How… many people know about this connection?" asked Sullivan, taking a bit of time to recover from the shock he felt.

"There are a few who've heard or seen it from me directly," replied Valyr, bitterly smiling after that. "However, the Nicholas clan has only speculated the connection between the two as far as I know."

"Any other questions?"

"I think… I've gotten all of the answers I needed." Sullivan slowly shook his head, only for him to come up with another question not long after. "Though, I do think I have one more question to ask."

"Go ahead." Valyr nodded.

"Why did you arrange a meeting with me?" asked the man, only now realizing that this question should've been the question he started with. "After all, you haven't interacted with any other person from the Zeihardt clan all this time, so… why now?"

"Hmm… if I were to tell you that I wanted to return to the Zeihardt clan, what would you say?" Valyr asked a question of his own in response, which unsurprisingly made Sullivan look at him in excitement.

"Are you truly planning to return to the Zeihardt clan?!"

"I'm thinking about it," clarified Valyr. "Which is why I asked you what your thoughts were on my return."

"If possible, you could also give me an idea of what the rebel faction would think if I were to return."

"Well, it goes without saying that our faction would be more than glad to welcome you back to the clan with open arms," replied Sullivan after a bit of thought, the smile on his face betraying the seriousness he was trying to show.

"After all, as a Herald, you would be treated well even if you were in the main clan."

"I wouldn't be surprised if the head of our Zeihardt Royal Clan branch decides to step down from his position and give it to you if you return, especially with the might you possess as Ylvar."

Valyr faintly nodded at those words. "And how do you think the rebel faction would react if I were to return?"

"After you've informed me of their actions back at the north defensive line, I guess the rebel faction would respond to your return with violence," said Sullivan, expounding on his thoughts after that.

"I'm pretty sure you already know about this, but the rebel faction wants to be the first to get their hands on you between the two factions."

"The reason behind this is because they want to use your power and authority as a Herald to achieve the goals that they have in mind, pretty much turning you into a figurehead of their faction."

"And your faction's goal?" asked Valyr, briefly recalling the conversation he had with Aster Stelyra back at Clossbay City.

"Similar, but of a different approach," replied Sullivan with a faint smile. "Unlike the rebel faction, we merely aim to give you suggestions on things to do as the future head of the clan."

"Of course, we shall respect your power and authority as a Herald, so you're free to decline our suggestions at any time."

"So, it's a case of your faction just being the lesser evil, huh," replied Valyr after pondering over his words for a bit, causing the smile on Sullivan to turn slightly bitter.

"I wouldn't say it like that," the man told Valyr. "It would be better to phrase it as a fairer approach to the problem. It's similar to how a council of elders or advisers would give suggestions to the main head of a clan."

"But would I really be free to decline your suggestions at any time?" asked Valyr in return. "I know you just said that, but your faction would be losing out if I don't agree to any of your terms, no?"

At those words, Sullivan continued to look at Valyr with a bitter smile, his expression telling the young man all he needed to know.

"Alright, I think I've gotten all of the answers I was looking for." Faintly letting out a sigh at the answers he got, Valyr decided to end the meeting between them then and there. "Now that I think about it, the two factions only exist within our branch of the clan, right?"

"Yes," replied Sullivan with a nod, knowing that it wasn't worth persuading the young man any longer. "The main clan has no inkling of this happening."

"Then again, many of the smaller branch clans have sided themselves with either of the two factions."

"And the other Royal Clan branches?" asked Valyr with a raised eyebrow.

"They know of it, but they've decided to stay neutral."

"I see." Nodding in response, Valyr allowed Sullivan to leave after that, prompting the latter to thank him for the time he spent before doing so.

Though, before the man could even step foot out of the young man's shop, the latter stopped him one last time.

Only to make a request that made Sullivan frown.

"Say, before you go…"

"Mind if you swear a mana oath for me?"