Chapter 1133 (1/2)

Randidly lifted his chin at the tone in Ileot’s voice when he said ‘business’ but he didn’t comment. He was too busy struggling with the rising tide of excitement that had surged forward as Ileot so readily stated that he would tell the story of Vualla. To have Ileot put that on the table himself so quickly… it certainly made Randidly’s job easier.

Yet, perhaps because hearing this was exactly what Randidly wanted, all of that excitement quickly turned sluggish and then froze in his veins. Randidly scanned Ileot’s face. Ileot had said it himself; he wanted Randidly to think of him as an ally. With that statement, at the very least, Randidly believed that Ileot had been completely honest.

All of this was designed to turn Randidly’s opinion toward Ileot around. Yet again, Randidly was faced with the question of why. Despite the Grim Chimera’s innate suspicion toward this figure whom Randidly had watched put Vualla through absolute hell, it was Yggdrasil’s even patience that won out for control of Randidly’s emotions.

One thing at a time, Randidly chided himself. First… let’s hear the story of Vualla.

It was clear from Ileot’s rather superior looking expression and crinkled eyes that he was waiting for Randidly to prod him forward. Perhaps for that reason, Randidly hung back and just sifted his way through the information that Ileot had fed him thus far. After all, this was shaping up to be a glorified sales pitch and should be treated as such. Randidly should take everything with a grain of salt, if he should even believe it at all.

Upon reflection, Randidly could make some shrewd guesses as to why perhaps the information provided in Ileot's initial two statements was less valuable to him than Ileot would have Randidly believe.

First of all, there was no guarantee that the Xyrt Brigade would be upset at Ileot for using its name. For all that Ileot Swacc was relatively unknown to Randidly and everyone here on the battlefield, it was clear that the being was an old and influential individual. Trying to play the Xyrt Brigade card as a threat could be an elegantly laid trap. A trap designed to test his dedication to whatever deal Ileot wanted.

Perhaps even more dangerous was the possibility that Ileot was in fact a member of the Xyrt Brigade and any attempts by Randidly to report him would lead to him being marked as an enemy of the Brigade. Again, Randidly had no real trustworthy lines of information on who was a member of the Brigade, but everyone agreed that these individuals were the real deal in terms of power; Randidly wouldn’t offend them lightly.

Besides, for all that this information might very well be valuable, there was the actual logistics of such an avenue to consider. Although Randidly had been able to glimpse that there was a large amount of respect for the Xyrt Brigade, obviously none of their members were here. Even if Randidly wanted to make good on the threat, he had no idea how to go about it. The best he could do was to talk to Lady Iellaya, but even she seemed rather awed and mystified when Ileot had claimed to be a member.

Basically, there was no real way for Randidly to verify that information. Which left him with very little useful.

But there was also a story coming. THE story. Randidly's eyes sharpened as Ileot took a breath and looked contemplatively up toward the sky. Although Ileot seemed to be considering his words carefully, it still was so obviously forced that Randidly gritted his teeth. ”Vualla... she is not just any warrior. She is perhaps the most influential warrior in all of the history of the Nexus...”

Rolling his eyes inwardly, Randidly kept his face composed as he listened to Ileot begin by complimenting Vualla. Now that Randidly had started listening to his suspicion, it was tough to tell which of Ileot's words were true and which were designed solely to try and cajole Randidly to look at him in a more sympathetic light.

But then Ileot's next question gave Randidly pause.

”Do you know this history of this place? This location?”

Randidly shook his head as he looked around at the broken stone of the battlefield.

Leaning forward, Ileot continued with an almost fond reminiscence in his eyes. ”This place... it was one of the first locations that we conquered of the Nether. Our Aether arrays were much less established and uniform in those days, so it was difficult to create any lasting footholds to raid Nether territory. But this was our first big victory. Finally, we had an avenue that would allow the Xyrt Brigade to conduct some deep raids into the Nether. And Vualla was one of the first footsoldiers sent here to hold the location.”

Randidly slowly blinked. ”This was... originally a place ruled by Nether?”