Chapter 405: Million chances
Timmons blinked and shifted uncomfortably on his seat. "I don't know what you are talking about, My Lord."
Vale waved him off sharply. "Enough. Although you might not have a stable, direct way to the High Clans. You must have a way to draw their attention to something. Find a way to make sure they get the news of Vale Athrimir, especially how I beat and sent Oskar back in disgrace."
Timmons face went pale. "You want to spread news about yourself? I'm not sure that's a good thing...."
"Good. You don't have to know, just do as you're told."
Timmons pressed his lips together tightly but he finally nodded. "Of course, I will discuss this matter with the higher ups. But, My Lord, about the issue of collaboration about our organization and..."
"We will naturally discuss that when you're done with the task. I too, want to see the potential of the Gem Organization."
Timmons could only watch speechless, and didn't know how to reply. He had thought that with all the information he already gave, he would have easy access with Vale but it seems the young man is even more stingy than he thought.
He stood up and bowed his head. "Then allow me to take my leave, Lord Athrimir."
Vale waved him off and Timmons already turned, reaching for the door when his voice stopped him. "And, I'll send my officials to come back one of these days. We have the matters of tax to talk about, you organization is quite impressive."
Timmons swallowed, he hurried to say that he won't dare not corporate then quickly opened the door to make his escape, but even then, Vale's voice still reached him.
"Right. There are still some rudimentary information that we need about Matsumoto. Valtor will go with you to collect all of them."
Timmons didn't look happy about that but there truly was nothing he could do but to swallow and nod fast.
After he was gone did Vale said to Valtor. "We need to know of any information about any remaining secret powers in the city, if there's any at all. Also get detailed information about the Companies."
Valtor bowed and followed, leaving Vale alone with Tiber. The silence between them was conformable but the air around them was filled with subtle pressure that's coming from Vale.
At last, Vale took a deep breath then he said with a slight smile. "Welcome to the family."
Tiber snorted. "We already have our suspicious, this is only a confirmation. But with this we can finally put a lot of things into perspective and connect some dots."
Vale nodded. "Can you see that the Tachibana Clan's growth isn't adding up to the time my father started misbehaving. It appears that the Akakawa have been sponsoring them in secret far more than what they're now showing."
Tiber's eyes instantly lit up as he understood his unspoken words. "You mean, Akakawa have been planning this for a longer time and they choose the Tachibana. But all the High Clans chose us or at least, some of them were sponsoring we Athrimir before."
Vale nodded. "It's just a speculation but there might be a line there. Father and the Elders are gone, we don't know if we have any secret dealings with any of the High Clans apart from the usual barrier beaker thing."
Tiber pointed out. "By bringing your performance to the sight of the High Clans, we'll see if there's any that has secret dealings with us before and want to reestablish the connection. Or even new ones."
Vale said. "Yes. If the Tachibana has the support of an High Clan, we absolutely must have one as well to have an even ground.
"This whole situation, there's no way others won't want to be observed. We should note a critical thing, Tiber. The High Clans haven't gone to war yet, they are only in a state of tension. The Akakawa Clan is using the Tachibana to mop up the Hinterlands....but what will the other High Clans do? What would you do?"
Tiber blinked. "I'll back another Clan from the Hinterlands and stop them the Tachibana, hereby stopping the Akakawa from archiving their goals. I just need to stop the Akakawa was directly Interface!"
"Yes. The first war of the High Clans might happen here in Hinterlands. Besides, whatever the High Clans are searching for all this while they might have already grasp a clue. Maybe that's what all of this is all about." And for some reasons, Vale felt uneasiness about that fact as if he could feel an impending danger in there.
Tiber shared some of it. "The Tachibana are even more dangerous than we thought. They have a quasi Grandmaster. That is a gap we cannot fill. My Lord, we need to get you to the Master rank. I think, you might be able to match a quasi Grandmaster then. Or at least, we won't be casually destroyed."
There was reasoning in his speculations. Already in the Errant rank and Vale already matches the powers of two Master Knights. Then what will happen when he reach the Master rank that's already a profound and significant rank?
Even Vale had thought of it and was looking forward to it. He was even thinking about more than that, of what he reached the Grandmaster rank. The Crimson Lantern, already merged with his core, then what will happen when he Melt it?
"After I'm done with the business here, I'll start actively cultivating again. With my current self, it won't be a problem to cross over to the Master rank." Vale felt very confident. Not only because of the Crimson Lantern but because when he was an ordinary knight, he used a Rift Lord to advance to Errant Knight, something that no ordinary Knight would have a chance to, not in a million chances.
In a way, Vale is comparable, even more so to the highest elite in the world.