Chapter 101: I owe you nothing now

"What did you say?"

Kaelen didn’t know when he sat back down.

"Your mother’s whereabouts... I think they found it."

"Who did, and where is it?"

"I’m not sure of the details, but there’s been suspicious activity going on in Stronghold 8." Hunter said with a serious expression.

"Stronghold 8?" Kaelen was surprised.

Of all the strongholds, he never imagined he’d have anything to do in Stronghold 8, the stronghold’s last line of defense after Stronghold 9 was taken by a beast wave.

"My sources said their informants at Stronghold 8 have noticed strange movements with a mercenary team who were supposed to transport a famous singer back to Stronghold 4 after her performance. But each time they left, they always returned with their gear damaged and their men either injured or missing. My sources suspect they’re after something in the wasteland, but are using the singer as a disguise." Hunter revealed.

"What does any of that have to do with my mother?" Kaelen asked in confusion.

"Kaelen, you might not know this, but the night your mother escaped into the wasteland from Stronghold 5 ten years ago, she erected several node points aligned with a unique constellation that serves as a map to a suspected ancient ruin. A lost civilization that once inhabited Earth. These mercenaries must have credible sources that this ruin exists to be willing to risk their lives for it.

"Kaelen, I have a reason to believe that’s where your mother took refuge after several days or moving across the wastland, and though I don’t know what happened after, if you really want to find your mother, there’s no better place to start looking than the ruins of Akkad."

"Wait... did you just say Akkad? Like, Akkadian?" Kaelen immediately asked as the faces of two women flashed across his mind.

"I think that’s what they’re called. You seem to have done a bit of research," Hunter commented.

"Something like that," Kaelen said dismissively. "Do you know anything about them?"

"Not really. But I’d suggest not dwelling on it. There couldn’t have possibly been an intelligent civilization before mankind that somehow went extinct. The ruins sure exist, but it might be a code name to hide something much more valuable." Hunter speculated.

"You’re right." Kaelen replied, but what he just heard confirmed Kaelen’s suspicion.

The two strange women from the wasteland were real. They weren’t humans, but the dominant race that existed on Earth long ago... and humanity came to wage war and steal their planet.

At least that’s what one of the women had claimed.

That was also in line with what Governor Grey had admitted about conquering planets.

And while the world thought their existence was a myth, these people were already moving across the wasteland, making their moves.

If they were alive, and his mother had taken refuge at their ruins, the chances of her running into these people were high. And the fact that they attacked Kaelen unprovoked, the chances of sparing his mother were incredibly low.

Kaelen’s expression turned cold.

He didn’t care how strong or ancient these people were, but if Kaelen were to arrive there and discover that they’d hurt his mother... he was going to wipe them out—for good this time.

"So tell me, what do I need to do?" He turned to ask Hunter.

"I’m afraid this isn’t a situation where your strength can be of much help, unless you can find the ruins yourself before they do."

"What are you suggesting?"

Hunter leaned forward on his desk. "My sources also told me the reason they’d been facing casualties every trip is because they either didn’t have a guide, or had a useless one who either fled in the face of danger or died on the journey from mysterious causes or carelessness. These people are desperate for a guide who knows the wasteland like the back of their hand, like a Hunter—not the Hunters that clear gates—but you get what I mean," Hunter nudged him.

"You’re saying I should become their guide?"

"Exactly. Last I heard from my sources, the mercenary team is taking a break to recuperate before they venture back into the wasteland. Take that time to lay low in Stronghold 8 and map out the wasteland across the canyon. Then use that to infiltrate the mercenary team, and they’ll lead you straight to the ruins of Akkad, where you might get insight into your mother’s whereabouts."

Kaelen remained silent to think about it for a moment. It wasn’t a bad idea, and as it would be a long journey by road, Kaelen could also enter Evolution Online while the team was resting.

It didn’t cost him anything, and if anything were to go wrong, he could always sort himself out and find some way to advance alone.

The idea wasn’t perfect, but it was a solid plan.

If Kaelen could find his mother from this, she could answer all his questions about Evolution Online and what truly happened ten years ago.

"Alright. Thanks for your help. I’ll be taking my leave now," Kaelen said as he stood up.

"Kaelen," Hunter suddenly called out to him. "I’m certain this information has reached various assassin organizations, so the odds of you not being the only imposter amongst the team can’t be zero."

"I’ll keep that in mind." Kaelen said and turned around.

"O-One more thing. Remember you still owe me a favor, and I said I’d use it when I needed it? I think now’s the time."

Kaelen paused for a moment. "What do you need?"

"When you go after Black Rose and the capital secrets, can you promise me one thing?"

Kaelen fell silent the next moment. "Is that what you want?" He asked as if he could read Hunter’s mind.

"Yes. If you’ll spare Black Rose’s life, then I’ll be forever grateful to you."

Kaelen didn’t say a word for a long moment, before he slowly turned to face the man, the expression on his face sending chills down Hunter’s spine.

"Then let me make this clear to you. If I were to ever clash with Black Rose without proving her guilty, then I’ll spare her life—once. But in the case where I’ve figured out she’s become a pawn to those responsible for the assassination attempt on my parents and the Stronghold 2 massacre, then I wouldn’t hesitate to kill her and everyone involved in it. And if you or anyone else tried to stop me or protect her when that day comes, then I shall kill you and everyone who stands in my way." Kaelen said and began walking away without waiting for the man’s reply.

"See you around, Hunter. And try not to get arrested by your niece a second time. Because then... I won’t be there to save you."

"I owe you nothing now."