[3rd Person POV]
The presidential suite was in silence even though multiple people were standing in it. Only one individual was seated, Nathan Duskvane.
He had long brown hair with his cunning and sharp brown eyes; he seems to be in thinking mode. So other people occupying the room didn't want to disturb their Young Master.
"No matter how much I think about it. I can't seem to figure it out. I need more information about Aiden to deduce how he was able to get himself up so easily within a month of his expulsion," he broke the silence.
"Give it time, young master. You will get news related to him, sooner or later. Until then we should just keep an eye on him," Miya, the Sage Rank cultivator, spoke in a sweet voice.
"I am not worried about that. At present, two things that don't sit well with his expected current situation." Nathan stated.
"First, he was just expelled from the Arclight Clan without even a coin. His second brother may have lent him some chump change, but that's not enough for him to travel in Beastiark for long distances or visit Astryx Bank, famous for the wealthy only."
"Second, being an F-rank, he should still be at Initiate Rank, but then there's news of him defeating the scornful Zale in one punch, who is at Awakened Rank."
"From where and how is he getting money, and how did he break through from Initiate to Awakened even after having an F-rank Origin Heart? I need to find answers to these two questions," Nathan spoke his thoughts aloud.
"Maybe he had some fruitful encounter or something," Miya shared her doubts.
"Possible, but we can't be sure. Did we get the information from the gate about the names they used to enter?" He asked.
"Timor should be coming anytime now, Young Master. But what about that lady who was with him?" she replied.
"Currently, I have nothing on her. That's why I need her name, even a false one, to find out about her. She wasn't a little bit afraid and standing her ground in front of Black and Monroe," he answered.
"You are once at it again, huh, Aiden? Even after being branded as nobody, you are still a nuisance." Nathan spoke as if reminiscing about something.
"Again, Young master?" Miya questioned.
"In the starting days of the academy, I had played a little game with Aiden. I thought after suffering and being isolated, he would fail in his studies or may even get beat up by somebody like Zale."
"But that never happened; that bastard still topped in both aspects of our class. He was hailed as a prodigy of the century." He clenched his fist as he spoke about the past.
Knock! Knock!
The interruption at the door stopped their conversation; Miya opened the door and brought the person inside.
"Greetings, Young Master," Timor spoke with obedience.
"Did you get the names Timor?" Nathan asked.
"Yes, Young Master," Timor handed over a piece of paper.
"Seraphine Vaelron and…Aiden Origin, huh? Just what are you thinking, Aiden?" Nathan muttered, holding the paper in his hand.
"Do a deep dive search on this name; I want everyone who is named Seraphine or has Vaelron as a surname."
"Don't miss anything; if you can't find it on this continent, contact other information sources from other continents. I want whole Aetherionis searched and find where she came from." Nathan ordered.
Timor bowed slightly and left immediately to carry out the order.
"Now that I have got hold of you, I won't let you live easy life Aiden," he muttered as a dangerous glint passed in his eyes.
"I am sorry for intruding, young master, but why are you focused on him? He is a nobody now even if he somehow ranked up," questioned Miya.
"He is the one that I never succeeded against. Even after playing him like a fiddle, I still came second. My whole three years, I had to listen from Father; I wasn't doing enough." He gritted his teeth as he spoke.
"I was called a prodigy before the academy years, but since the academy, that title escaped my grasp just because of that unyielding bastard." The ugly image of Nathan threatened to slip past his carefully curated visage.
He controlled himself as he took a deep breath. "Send their info to Arclights that their exiled heir is making a trip to Kronesthion and push a rumor in the channels that an Arclight is traveling alone to the demon continent via sea," he ordered in a strict tone.
"It will be done, young master." Miya said obediently and left the room.
"I will never let you complete your pathetic dream Aiden," Nathan vowed to himself as a cruel glint passed in his eyes.
– – –
[Aiden's POV]
After getting all the info I generously paid for with 4 B-rank stones. We quickly left the inn and made our way to the Echo Post.
Seraphine, following me, Thane spoke first as I shared our destination, "What's this Echo post, Boss? Do we need to get some permission to get to the demon continent?"
"No, it's a place that delivers your letter," I answered.
"Didn't you say you had no friends or something like that?" Thane spoke bluntly.
"Mind your tone, Bones. Master Aiden is forgiving, but that doesn't mean I am," she threatened him over his remark. I ignored his bluntness for now.
"I am not sending letter to a friend, I am lodging a complaint. I have to give Ryuk some present for dragging me into this organization bullshit," I explained.
"How will writing a letter help us master Aiden?" Seraphine asked this time.
"Well, there's a reason Astryx Bank is the number one bank in the world. Although our first experience was ruined too much."
"However, the bank takes its customers seriously; if I file a complaint, I am pretty sure Ryuk is not going to live an easy life as he is doing now." I answered.
"I am just thinking of a way to get him caught without mentioning the organization. There is no overt evidence of our fight, and I don't want to leave breadcrumbs myself." I added.
Soon we reached the Echo Post; it wasn't much grand but a functional building with different counters for multiple needs. I bought a pen and paper for some coins and wrote down the complaint without giving much about the actual situation.
After submitting the letter, we made our way to the port. It was time to check the Aeon Tidebreaker; I had seen ships and flying vehicles but never two mixed in one.
If people knew about this I am sure first to come banging at my door will be Terrakins. I shook my thoughts as we found a bit of a secluded spot to take out the ship.
Before I could summon the ship, Thane curiously asked, "Why aren't we flying, boss? That reward of yours had a flying option too, isn't it?"
"Well, that's because of Celestial Storm," I answered to his never-ending curiosity.
"What's that, and why does a storm matter this much?" He further added.
Taking a deep breath, I answered, "It's because those that fly never reach the other end…"