CHAPTER 672: THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY?

"Of course, Your Excellency. I will answer it as best as I can," City Lord Zuke said.

Aldrian nodded. "Alright, then do you know who is really in control of the Information Center that spreads across the Martal Empire? I’m not talking about the head of the Information Center, but the one who truly supports this organization," he asked.

"I know that someone with great power is behind the Information Center, and I want to know who it is," he added.

This was something he had already learned in the Doria Empire in the past. An organization like the Information Guild would not last without strong backing, not with the nature of their work. They are an organization that holds many secrets, and many would see them as a threat.

Without someone with immense power backing them, they would have collapsed long ago because of the secrets they hold. The fact that they are still standing and even flourishing is a sign that someone with much greater power and influence is behind them.

Hearing Aldrian’s question, the city lord understood that he could not lie. Aldrian seemed to know a thing or two about this matter, so he decided to answer him.

"This information is not known to the general populace, but it’s already an open secret among the nobles. The Information Center or the Information Guild, is actually one of the tools used by the imperial family and spread across the empire. They are the ones who truly control it."

Aldrian was not surprised if the Information Guild was part of the imperial family. Even so, he still wondered whether the imperial family had any direct connection with the Barevisk family. Did they share the same intent as the Barevisk family? Or were they simply publishing whatever the Barevisk family passed on to them?

He still did not understand their true relationship, so he couldn’t be certain.

"I see. Then, Sir Zuke, I believe you’re already aware of the new information regarding the Barisan Continent. What do you think? Did you find it interesting?" Aldrian asked with a smile.

"Would you like to visit it once you’ve learned about it?"

His question made City Lord Zuke feel a chill in his chest. He knew this was no simple question. It was the kind of question that could determine how this young man would see him—or even decide his life or death.

He gulped. "To be honest, I was truly tempted to enter the Barisan Continent without waiting for your approval after learning about the information. I don’t really know the source, but the Information Center would never release anything that hasn’t been confirmed by their most trusted sources."

"But make no mistake, Your Excellency. Though I was tempted to go there as soon as possible, I had no harmful intent. I was simply curious about that place."

"Still, I chose not to give in to the temptation of the Barisan Continent’s mystery. I still respect you. What you did at that time truly saved many lives. If not for your esteemed self, the world might have truly come to an end."

"To this day, I’m still waiting for your permission to enter the continent."

City Lord Zuke then fell silent, watching Aldrian, who was gazing at him calmly. He couldn’t help but grow nervous under that look, as if he were awaiting judgment. Aldrian’s eyes felt as though they could see everything, even his deepest secrets, which unsettled him.

After a few seconds of tense silence, Aldrian suddenly smiled and spoke.

"Relax, Sir Zuke. I know you’re not lying. There’s no need to be so tense. I just wanted to know what you thought about the information."

Hearing that, City Lord Zuke sighed in relief. But then Aldrian continued, and his next words sent a chill through him.

"However, I would have acted differently if you were lying or if you had any ill intent toward me or the Barisan Continent."

Though Aldrian said it casually, the meaning behind his words was clear. Sweat rolled down Zuke’s forehead. In that moment, he truly thanked his parents a thousand times for raising him not to be a greedy man. He sighed in relief once again.

"Do you know the Barevisk family of the Akares Star?" Aldrian suddenly asked, causing City Lord Zuke to raise his eyebrows slightly. Why was this young man bringing up that family?

"Of course I know, Your Excellency. The Barevisk family is one of the strongest families on the Akares Star, and they have ties with the Martal Empire, as it is the most powerful empire on the Orian Continent," City Lord Zuke replied.

Aldrian nodded. "Then, what kind of relationship do they share with the imperial family? What sort of dynamic do they have? Are they supporting each other, or something else?"

"As far as I know, there’s nothing particularly special about their relationship. It’s just a normal connection between two powerful forces. The Martal Empire, being the strongest in the Orian Continent, naturally has many ties with other powers from different stars, and the Barevisk family is only one of them. I don’t think there’s anything special about their relationship," the city lord answered.

"That is, at least, to the extent of my knowledge, Your Excellency. If they do have some kind of special relationship, then the imperial family has done a very good job of hiding it from the other nobles."

Aldrian touched his chin in thought. It seemed he would not learn anything useful here about the relationship between the imperial family and the Barevisk family.

"Your Excellency, if I may ask, why are you inquiring about the Barevisk family? Did something happen between you and them?" City Lord Zuke asked. He knew Aldrian wouldn’t bring up the Barevisk family without a reason. Does he have some kind of history with them?

Aldrian looked at City Lord Zuke and decided it was fine to reveal the source of the information. He then explained that the information about the Barisan Continent, which came from the Information Center, matched what had been obtained through infiltrators from the Barevisk family.

Naturally, Aldrian also explained the details of the Barevisk family’s infiltration efforts.

When City Lord Zuke heard this, he was astonished. Now he understood why Aldrian had mentioned the Barevisk family. They actually dared to infiltrate the continent and defy someone who could easily wipe them out!

But the truly terrifying part was that this young man had enslaved the infiltrators without anyone knowing. The Barevisk family had no idea they were practically throwing their doors wide open for him, allowing him to learn everything about their movements.

They wouldn’t realize it until it was too late!

"Did he mean to say that he would’ve enslaved me if I’d answered differently earlier?" Zuke wondered, shuddering inwardly.

Even if he hadn’t been killed, he was certain he would have been enslaved, turned into this young man’s eyes and ears within the empire.

But then, a new concern surfaced in his heart. He realized what kind of trouble the imperial family might face now that the information about the Barisan Continent had also come from the Information Center.

There was no way the imperial family hadn’t known about it, yet they still allowed that kind of information to be released. They had to understand that releasing that kind of information about the Barisan Continent could invite danger not only to the Barisan continent itself, but to them as well.

By doing so, they had essentially made themselves one of this young man’s targets.

"No wonder he asked about the relationship between the imperial family and the Barevisk family..." Zuke thought, finally understanding. "For the imperial family to approve the release of that information, just what did the Barevisk family offer them in return?"

This still didn’t make any sense. The imperial family was much larger and more powerful than the Barevisk family, and as far as he knew, there was no special relationship between them. So why did the imperial family possess information that only the Barevisk family should have known, and then go on to spread it?

It felt as if the imperial family was either inviting trouble or helping the Barevisk family carry out whatever they intended.

This didn’t align with the emperor he knew.

"There’s no way the Barevisk family could have convinced the imperial family to do this... unless—"

His thoughts stopped at one possibility.

"So, what do you think after hearing all this, Sir Zuke? Do you have any new opinion about the situation?" Aldrian asked with a smile.

City Lord Zuke looked at Aldrian and sighed. It was better to share his thoughts, perhaps his guess would help this young man decide what to do about the imperial family. To be honest, he didn’t want any trouble to fall upon the empire, but offering Aldrian a possible connection or clue might help uncover the truth behind the situation.

"The imperial family I know, especially His Majesty the Emperor would never make a move that would put them at risk like this. But with the information coming from the Information Center, there’s no doubt they’re involved in some way," City Lord Zuke said.

"And as far as I know, there’s no special relationship between the imperial family and the Barevisk family that would justify all of this. But I do have one possibility in mind, it might be right, or it might not."

"The Barevisk family is close to the Valroy family. The Valroy family is the most powerful force on the Akares Star, their strength could rival even the imperial family."

Aldrian kept listening, curious about what this Valroy family had to do with the current situation.

"Back to the Barevisk family, their connection to the Valroy family is strong. In fact, it’s said that the Barevisk family is one of the Valroy family’s vassals. So, Your Excellency can already imagine how close their relationship is."

"Now, why did I bring up the Valroy family in this conversation? Because the one that has a special relationship with the imperial family isn’t the Barevisk family, but the Valroy family."

Hearing that, Aldrian raised his eyebrows. He now understood what kind of guess the city lord had in mind, and he couldn’t help but smile.

"Oh? Tell me more about their relationship, Sir Zuke," he said.