After the meeting between the three peak individuals was done, Gunner left, and Nelsen was about when he was confronted by Lucy.
"Miss Manager, you are blocking my way so sneakily, people might have some misunderstanding if they saw us, and at my age, I don't want any rumors about us going around…" Nelsen righteously stated.
However, Lucy wasn't having the wily old fox's fake yapping and cut him short in a cold manner, "Cut the crap and tell me, was that Faceless Ancient?"
Lucy was really going mad about thinking how Jacob was able to escape her trap so quickly, but she couldn't be so sure since no one had managed to see that person's face because he was using some stealth spell or technology.
But if it was indeed him, and she was about 70% sure that it was him because of the Alchemy Guild's interference, then not only he appeared so close to the epic plains, he even had atomic explosives on him.
If she had known earlier that Jacob was this capable, she wouldn't take that bet even if someone threatened her life.
Nevertheless, the danger now seemed to be over since no one who had taken that kind of blast without any solid protection like the advanced-grade ships and multiple magic barriers would've survived it, even if it was a peak-rank epic.
Of course, even if there were a chance of survival for a peak-rank epic, the beasts within the ocean or mere suffocation would finish them off.
That's why the atomic weapons were treated so carefully by the epic plains, and the Guild was not very keen on giving away this technology to the epic plains right now.
The knowledge they had was all bought by the champion shop in the past, and Nelsen was the biggest winner since he was the only qualified person to use that knowledge. Just for this sole reason, Nelsen was dreaded existence by the likes of Lucy.
Yet, now someone other than Nelsen appeared to be in possession of the same technology, which could literally cause massive destruction and disrupt the entire alive plains' peace.
That was also why Gunner was on edge, and Lucy was no different. But she was even more worried about this mysterious person being the Faceless Ancient since if by any god-forbid change he'd survived, she won't be able to sleep with such an enemy walking around freely.
She was also sure Nelsen wouldn't give away that sort of weapon to Jacob so that he could win that bet because it was in the contract that Nelsen couldn't interfere in this entire bet, nor he can use anyone or anything.
So, this could only mean Jacob's rise from the common plains was not normal, and he might have stumbled upon some sort of legacy that also seemed to have the knowledge of atomic weapons.
Last but not least, if this person was really Jacob, then he was not only her problem but also Nelsen and Ellie's because he would hold as much grudge against them as he does with Nelsen and Ellie.
Although it looks like Nelsen doesn't care about anyone else but himself, Lucy knows it is not true at all, and the only weak spot he has is Ellie, his daughter, and he will do anything to make sure no harm will ever reach her even if there was only a remote chance of it.
Nelsen naturally knew better than anyone that the person was indeed Jacob, and despite not showing it on the surface, he was already fully alert by this Nobody's capability.
Even he had underestimated him, and if he knew Jacob held such knowledge or weapons, he would've made friends with him instead of treating him like a puppet. But alas, it was too late, and the chance was gone, and now it was time to become serious.
But Lucy was not included in the list of the people he cared about, so he won't reveal anything to her.
He smiled before he said meaningfully, "What Faceless Ancient? I'm not familiar with any person named Faceless Ancient. I'm just a retired old man who you people refuse to let go of. Sigh… my life is really full of misery, and I'll die one day for the greater good of all being… sigh…"
He sighed ruefully before he walked away without caring about Lucy's reaction, which was as dark a pit.
But she didn't stop him or say anything as she already got her answer. He was not going to reveal anything to her.
Nevertheless, this didn't mean she had run out of options, and it was still unclear if that guy was even alive or not. Although it looks like she had summoned back her people, it was just a half-truth!
---
On an unknown location of the Epic Plains.
S-0, behind her mask, was looking at the projection of a masked man who was wearing a dark cloak and hood.
"Why is the result of your investigation?" She asked impassively.
"Truth be told, my Lady, this entire event is too strange. The three hegemonies had never acknowledged us before and didn't bother even to call out our name. But now they have put all the blames for that explosion on us.
"I'm sure something is going on with the explosion, and it might be just the thing we need to have some influence on the Epic Plains. But the problem is even our top spies have no idea what is going on, and this seemed to be between the three leaders of the hegemonies!" The masked man replied respectfully.
S-0 squinted her eyes before she coldly asked, "Then what about the other matter I have assigned you?"
This time the masked man lowered his head and said meekly, "After our last attempt had been disrupted by someone, we haven't been able to find any traces of him. I'm afraid the gap caused by the unknown disruption was too big, and our target might have already left the Rare Plains!"