“So this is Dvalinn Federation’s Headquarters,” Cristopher muttered. “One of the places in the world that no ordinary people can casually visit.”
“Who would even want to visit this place?” Colbert looked at his friend like he had heard something weird. “This artificial island isn’t meant to be a tourist attraction. It’s a place where they train everyone who wishes to reclaim the Rigel Continent, blindly hoping that a powerful Wanderer would emerge among them.”
“Are you talking about creating another Throne or Monarch?” Pietro asked.
Colbert shook his head. “No. They are hoping that someone like the Young Master will appear. If Monarchs and Thrones were enough to reclaim the Rigel Continent, we would have reclaimed it long ago.
“There was a time when an Elite Raiding Team composed of forty-thousand people, accompanied by the Five Monarchs, the Ten Thrones, and the Powerhouses of the Central Government, tried their hand to reclaim the Rigel Continent.
“Even with that line-up, all of their efforts failed since they were up against ten Rank 9 Sovereigns with millions of Higher-Ranked Monsters guarding them. In the end, after losing more than a third of their expedition forces, they were forced to retreat.
“Since then, no expedition force of that same magnitude has tried to recover the Rigel Continent. Only the Elrod Clan, the Rhodes, Riggs, and Nightshade Families decided to continue fighting.”
What Colbert didn’t know was that it was also this incident that made Arthur Leventis, who wanted to use that opportunity to become a Monarch, bring all the elites of the Leventis Family.
Unfortunately, they suffered countless losses in that great battle.
It was also then that Lady Callista contracted the poison that plagued her body. The poison not only made her rank degrade, but it also nearly ended her life as the poison seeped into all of her bone and muscle tissues.
“We will restock here for three days before we head to the Rigel Continent,” Michael said as he fixed the glasses on his face. “I’ve received word that a party will be held for your arrival tomorrow night, Zion. Make sure to behave yourself.”
“Uncle, why do all of you tell me to behave myself?” Thirteen blinked innocently. “I’m very well-behaved, you know?”
Michael didn’t answer as he fixed his glasses for the umpteenth time.
He had known his nephew long enough to know that behaving was something that didn’t exist in Zion’s dictionary.
“I advise you to tell your soldiers to remain on the ship, and not wander around,” Benedict, who was standing beside Thirteen, stated. “We don’t get guests very often, so there’s a possibility that some of our brats will get excited and try to mess with your people.”
Thirteen nodded because he agreed with the Old Man’s advice.
“The six of you, make sure to pass my orders to everyone,” Thirteen said as he glanced at his six officers, who managed their own platoons. “Tell them to not leave the ship and to not wander around Dvalinn unless I order them to do so. Do I make myself clear?”
“””Sir, Yes Sir!”””
The six captains called out to their subordinates and passed Thirteen’s message to them.
“Tonight, the two of you will be invited to have dinners with the Patriarchs of the Prestigious Families,” Benedict stated. “The Number Two of the Elrod Clan will also be there.”
“How about the Number One?” Thirteen inquired.
“He will meet you tomorrow.” Benedict smirked. “I want to see if you can remain composed after you see him.”
“I doubt he’ll be as ugly as Arundel,” Thirteen replied. “I guess I’ll take your word to heart, Uncle, and see if I won’t be able to stay composed after seeing Wendell Elrod, the Monarch who governs the Elrod Clan.”
Thirteen knew that it was only a matter of time before he met one of the Monarchs.
But he didn’t expect that he would meet one on this occasion.
“My son already told you, right?” Benedict whispered in Thirteen’s ears. “You are no ordinary Wanderer. Even someone of his stature would like to meet you in the flesh instead of looking at your image through a projection.”
After saying those words, Benedict bid goodbye and went to inform the other Patriarchs about the answers he got from interrogating Thirteen.
He had used a recording artifact, which saved him the trouble of narrating his conversation with the boy word per word.
A few hours later, just before sunset, Michael and Zion left the Aircraft Carrier to have dinner with the Patriarchs of the Prestigious Families.
Colbert, who was inside his room, sat on his bed while holding a crystal orb in his hand.
Suddenly, the orb glowed faintly, which made Colbert slowly put it on top of the bed.
A flash of light shot out from the crystal orb and revealed a projection on the screen.
A handsome man with long blue hair looked at Colbert with a smile.
“Congratulations, Colbert Riggs,” the man stated. “You have been chosen to contribute to the Dvalinn Federation. As long as you provide us with important information, I am willing to reward you generously.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Colbert bowed respectfully to the man, who was the strongest Wanderer in the Dvalinn Federation. “I am happy to be of service to you and the Dvalinn Federation.”
“Good.” The blue-haired man nodded. “I’m sure that the Riggs Family will be very happy to see you contributing to their greater good.”
Wendell Elrod, one of the Monarchs hailed as one of the six strongest people in the world, smiled faintly.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of information it is,” Wendell stated. “It could be as trivial as what he ate for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Make sure to report anything that you find interesting, not leaving a stone left unturned.
“Do this, and your efforts will be recognized and rewarded without fail. You are one of Zion Leventis’ most trusted confidants, so I’m sure that you will be able to give us fast and reliable information compared to the other spies that have infiltrated the 69th Battalion.
“Are you willing to accept this task, Colbert Riggs?”
“Yes, Your Excellency,” Colbert nodded his head respectfully. “Your will is my Command.”
Wendell nodded. “As it should be. I am looking forward to your contribution, Colbert. Do not let us down.”
After saying those parting words, the light of the crystal orb dimmed.
“It looks like the Young Master is right,” Colbert said as he picked up the unresponsive orb from the bed. “But to think that instead of a big fish, a whale had taken the bait. I guess it’s time for me to have a side hustle.”
Colbert chuckled as he placed the Crystal Orb in a wooden box.
Thirteen had asked him to become a double agent because the teenage boy already had a plan in mind.
He didn’t mind if his left-hand man took on a side hustle in order to gain benefits.
In fact, he even asked Colbert to squeeze them dry.
The dozens of Spies from the other Families, who managed to join Zion’s Battalion, were also under the same orders.
All of them were tasked to report the teenage boy’s every movement.
This exchange of information allowed them to gain many benefits from the families who wished to spy on Thirteen’s movements.
What they didn’t know was that Thirteen was already aware of the silly little plans of these powerful families.
Thirteen knew that Humans were greedy by nature, so he would use their greed in order to gain what he needed from the pockets of the very people who were greatly underestimating his scamming abilities, which he learned from a certain old bandit thousands of years ago.