Chapter 92: Cliffton Empire of Vertum Continent
***ADVENTURERS GUILD BRANCH***
Both Arico and Eclipse went to the Adventurers Guild early in the morning to take some commissions as a form of exercise before they left this place and went to the capital city.
It\'s been several months had passed since they crossed over at the Vertum Continent and landed within the borders of Cliffton Empire.
They managed to pass by the inspections with Rheina\'s help as she forged some documents that they need to present at the area and also, Eclipse took out the token that Rheina gave him to and the world-hopper frowns as he noticed the changes within the atmosphere as he took out that token and presented to them.
\'What\'s with them? I could tell that this token held much importance since the way they looked at it and I won\'t be surprised if Rheina\'s origin household within this empire are from some high-ranking households.\'
As much as Eclipse didn\'t want to take out the token as he didn\'t want to stand out that much but it\'s much better for him to have a foothold within this empire and if ever those people back at the Stellarus Empire knew that he is still alive then, Rheina\'s token and her origin household could be set as a cover up for his identity.
The world-hopper didn\'t want to dwell that much as he brushed off those thoughts for now.
But what he couldn\'t understand was their expressions when they saw the token within his hands.
\'I only conclude that maybe Rheina\'s origin household within this empire are well-known but from the way I perceive those expressions…. They looked so shock that I couldn\'t tell if it\'s a good thing or not.\'
Since this is a completely different continent compared to where they came from, the world-hopper doesn\'t have a choice but to investigate on his own.
\'Just what kind of background that Rheina\'s origin household within this empire held at? It\'s different compared to the Cranus Continent if they heard about the Clandestine clan since they were well-known within the continent as the one who managed the Underworld Realm for generations.\'
After the inspection was completed, they didn\'t go to the Empire\'s Capital city of Krom where Rheina told him since Eclipse needs to know, at least, a bit of information about the Empire.
\'It\'s a shame that the system interface is still under maintenance, and I couldn\'t access the System Archive.\'
His job for gathering information would be easy if the System Archive was available since the world-hopper would just search about the Vertum Continent and would pull out that information from the Archive.
That\'s why both him and Arico ventured from village to village for months as they keep on gathering information about this Empire since there are some rural areas that has small libraries that could borrow some books and had a general information about the place.
CLIFFTON EMPIRE.
From what Eclipse had gathered, the Cliffton Empire is one of the four major powerhouse empires within the Vertum Continent, and it has the largest human population within the empire, unlike the other three empires out there.
He frowns as he remembers that information about this empire.
\'The largest human population within the empire? Doesn\'t mean that the other empires are non-humans?\'
So far, Eclipse only focuses on about the information of Cliffton Empire as the other three empires aren\'t on his bucket list to know but sooner or later, he would learn a thing or two about them.
In the history stated from one of the small libraries that scattered around within the rural area, the Cliffton Empire\'s establishment begins way back thousands of years ago, and the empire has the largest human population that could ever had, unlike from the other three empires.
\'It seems like the Cliffton Empire\'s establishment is much longer compared to Stellarus Empire\'s establishment.\'
Not only that, from the history, it is stated that the Vertum Continent was nothing more than a barren wasteland and the lands back there couldn\'t even call a land because of how the environment and the soils wasn\'t suitable for farming.
\'But look at it right now, this land has now four powerhouse empires and people could have live in.\'
"Hey! You\'re spacing out! What are you thinking about?"
Eclipse snapped from his thoughts when he heard Arico\'s voice, and the world-hopper just shook off his head and spoke.
"Nothing. So, what are we going to get this time? Also, just a reminder, after this mission, we should get going."
Arico frowned as he raised an eyebrow at him.
"Going where?"
The Slayer Agent questioned him, and Eclipse diverted his attention away from Arico as he looked at the commission board to pick up some work for them to do.
He didn\'t speak for a moment but afterwards, Eclipse took a step forward and then peeled off the pamphlet from the commission board and then presented it in front of Arico and the Slayer Agent saw the commission details on the pamphlet.
"How is it? Want some for a dangerous adventure this time?"
Eclipse said as he smirks, and the Slayer Agent knew that kind of grin and he also went along with it since he also liked the idea.
"Why not? Let\'s go."
....
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LOCATION: SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE BORDERS OF STELLARUS EMPIRE
****ARCANUM DE FLEUR HEADQUARTERS****
"My Lady, are you sure about this?"
Rheina looked at her trusted aide when she asked her that question and the Lotus Killer knew what she was pertaining to.
"Of course. This is the only thing that I could help him out. Even though he change his appearance but as we all know that within the Cranus Continent, the Stellarus Empire held much more power unlike the other empires and small kingdoms around here."
She explained as she take a sip from her drink and then she looked up and saw how her trusted aide had a conflicted expression written on her face and the Lotus Killer sighed as she understands it.
Because just like the others who were fond of Eclipse like a little brother to them, she is also worried for him like any older sister would have when she decided to give him [that token].
From where the Clandestine clan originates, they were not just typical household assassins. There is a reason why most of the generational Leaders of the Clandestine clan wield such different power compared to these continent\'s bloodline powers.
She shook off her head as she didn\'t want to think about it as she looked up from the window where the moonlight shines brightly as she closed her eyes and prayed.
Even though she isn\'t a believer of any God but for Eclipse\'s safety and protection, she would pray and would even offer her life if she needed.
\'I don\'t know why but I felt that this is the right way for me to serve him and not just because we are indebted to him for what he and his cousin had done for them to catch those b*stards and even purge those traitors, but I felt something like akin to a call and I just needed to response no matter what.\'
She remembered the first time when the changes happened and from that moment, she felt a sudden tug that called her, and she couldn\'t explain it that much.
It wasn\'t towards romantically but in a platonic feeling that she felt for Eclipse, like an older sibling caring for their younger ones.
"My Lady, we just hope that the Third—, I mean, Sir Eclipse would be okay once both him and his cousin reached the Cliffton Empire."
Rheina looked at her with a smile; "He reminds you of someone, am I right?"
When she heard what the Leader stated, she paused for a moment as memories flashed through her mind as she reminisce some old memories from her past.
A past that she wanted to forget but couldn\'t.
After that, she shook off her head to brushed off those memories as she looked up to her Leader and smiled; "I know that Sir Eclipse would be alright. Those fools didn\'t know what kind of treasure that they neglected and didn\'t cherish it."
When Rheina heard those words coming from her trusted aide, she nodded in agreement since now she knows that the Asterrix family aren\'t an ordinary household of merchants but rather, a hidden Magician bloodline household.
However, the Lotus Killer knew most of the Magician bloodline households that resides within this Empire but there is nothing about the Asterrix family.
\'What if…. Asterrix is just a fake last name? If that was the case then, who truly they are and where are they now?\'
Did the news reach them about Eclipse\'s [demise]?
What about Arico? Did he inform his family about this? Or did Arico just leave their household on his own?
Honestly, there are so many questions about Eclipse\'s biological mother\'s family because they are truly a complete mystery at all.
\'There is no trace about them no matter how much I investigated about them when I was still back at the Chevaliers.\'
However, as much as she is curious about Eclipse\'s mysterious background from his maternal side, she didn\'t pursue that matter and just trusted him.
Now that Eclipse became the holder of [that token], Rheina hoped for the better and for their safety.