Chapter 419: I will support you
"Only because of you, Uncle. With your rank as Grandmaster, who dares to bully me?"
Cedric Akakawa has the Akakawa family from his father's side, but on his mother's side, his uncle is a Grandmaster. This made him one of the Young Masters that can't be looked down on in the Clan. Besides, his mother's family, the Frostine family, is very strong, being one of the pillars of the Clan with territories of their own that span a vast area.
But even with all of this, Cedric's position as a Young Master isn't special. His father, the Akakawa Clan Leader, intentionally marries into all the strong families in the Clan, connecting everyone together in one way or another.
Almost all of the Young Masters have some special family backgrounds. Some are even connected to secret organizations.
Grandmaster Litos smiled. "Cedric, family is also a tool to be used, and you must use it well. Although your father has a long life, like all powerful Knights such as us always do, he will still step away from that seat of power one day. He might even die."
Cedric stiffened.
Grandmaster Litos laughed. "Why that expression? I have no children of my own and have no interest in all that kind of power. I believe in personal strength but... it is also a tool, that kind of power. Do you know why I'm saying all of this, Cedric?"
Cedric's heart began to beat fast. His uncle was indeed always acting uninterested in all the talks about politics, so much so that he had no official faction of his own even though he's a Grandmaster. He's not the official head of the Frostine family. His lack of interest in politics was so great that he was sent to the Hinterlands as an observing Elder!
But... could he have been pretending?
So... what can someone like that want? Cedric thought quickly. He forced a little smile onto his face. "Uncle, you are one who's firmly on the path of climbing the Knight path. You are focused on your path, and that made you reach this height.
"It's only natural that you want to climb to the next stage of advancement!"
Grandmaster Litos laughed again. "Good, good! You read me so well, and if even you can, I wonder how well my enemies read me? No matter.
"Yes. I want to reach the stage after Grandmaster. But I can't do that with my own strength."
Cedric blinked slowly, as if he couldn't fully understand. "Uncle Litos?"
The man suddenly looked solemn. "The Knight Assembly is strong, but they are not strong here in this continent cluster. In the Mainworld, where their strength is prominent, most nobility are part of the Assembly. They are the sword against the monsters."
Cedric appeared truly confused at that moment. "Uncle?"
"Ahhh... I digress. What I'm saying is that only the Akakawa Clan, no, the families that lead the different High Clans, the organizations at their level, or the Knight Assembly have the secret of advancing beyond the Grandmaster rank."
Cedric stiffened even more. These were secrets he did not know.
"The secret organizations are even more stingy with their secrets. The High Clans would only give them to their families, and the Knight Assembly already made a deal with the High Clans not to share any secrets with anyone without their permission."
Cedric's eyes widened. "So what you said about the Knight Assembly..."
"Yes, they won't help. And the secret organizations might, but only if you are chained to them. It seems my only path lies with the High Clans. The High Clan, Akakawa.
"Cedric of Akakawa. And also of Frostine, you must become the Clan Leader and give me this secret. I will give you my full support."
Shock ran through Cedric. Although he's from the Frostine family and his uncle is a Grandmaster, he couldn't say he had the support of the Grandmaster in question, not directly like what his uncle was now saying!
He was so worried and happy at the same time. "Uncle..."
But Grandmaster Litos spoke over him. "I'm sure that all the other Grandmasters are also interested in this secret, and they have, one way or another, found ways to either bargain with secret organizations or sponsor an heir for the Clan Leader seat as well."
Cedric took a deep breath. "This is most likely true... but do you really think I have a chance at the Clan Leader seat?"
Grandmaster Litos laughed. "Of course not! Not as you are, at least. Aren't three of your father's children Grandmasters already? And they lead three separate armies of their own. What do you, a puny Master Knight, think you can do against that?
"But you have my full support now."
Cedric's eyes flashed. He knew he was going to be used as a tool by his uncle, but he wasn't angry or worried. He wanted to be used. After all, he would also reap the benefits. And most importantly, wouldn't he become the Clan Leader of Akakawa?
"Uncle. What's the next step?"
Grandmaster Litos looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Next step? The next step, Cedric, is to start building your faction. Your followers. But most importantly, you need fresh followers, not those who have already been sent as double spies on you.
"And here in the Hinterlands, you shall find what you are looking for."
Cedric blinked slowly, and he couldn't hide the arrogant surprise on his face. "Here? Here in the Hinterlands?"
The Hinterlands, that's backward? With so little natural essence that the Rifts that appear are nothing more than trash? With natural resources so shallow that they're not even worth speaking about?
Grandmaster Litos shook his head as he scolded, "You are too narrow-minded and arrogant. Indeed, this place is low in essence and is trash, considering that our continent is already trash. But this continent, this Hinterlands, holds a secret history that's not known to all.
"Not even I know it all. Secret organizations, High Clans, and even some Great Clans cast their eyes here now and then.
"Boy. Rifts are naturally occurring, and sometimes they can be triggered. Those artifacts can be naturally occurring, and sometimes they are manifestations of things that have perished and enriched the space where the Rift appeared.
"This place has a history that could be traced back to the Emperor!"