After Byron calmed down from his initial excitement, Kyran gave him a rough overview of his current status.
Kyran explained that he was the disciple of the Blacksmith Order’s Chairman, but because of his magic, they had altered most of his information. Byron’s excitement turned up a notch, thinking that the Conclave was protecting ‘their Master’, thus making them ‘allies’. Kyran did not deny nor acknowledge this claim and instead told Byron that he could not tell him much about him until he settled his matter. Apart from this, Byron must not tell his employer about him as well.
This fact did not bother Byron. He swore not to ask why until Kyran was ready to tell him. Still, this information actually hinted at how strong Kyran’s connection had with the Conclave. If the Conclave was willing to provide a fake identity for him and even let him roam around without a ‘chaperone’, his relationship with them must be deep.
Before Kyran told Byron about his fake identity, he had second thoughts. However, he decided not to be overly sensitive in implicating the Conclave. The Bue Lotus had been doing their illegal business behind the army and the Royal Family’s back all these years, so they had the capability of concealing information. Besides, even if something happened and Byron, the right-hand man of the Blue Lotus’s leader, was investigated, they would not trace him to Kyran unless he talked. It was how the Regis’s Sigil worked.
How Byron reacted after hearing about his fake identity also assured Kyran. His unquestionable loyalty to the Void Master made Kyran wonder what kind of ‘information’ they unearthed about the Void Master to merit such unwavering trust.
After telling Byron all these, Kyran finally discussed what he wanted Byron to do.
“As I said, I have some things to do so I will let you go back to your people. But, in a week’s time, I will find you. Before then, I will give you a mission.”
“Please tell me, Master. And I will fulfill it even if I die!”
Black lines appeared on Kyran’s head as he looked at Byron’s enthusiasm. He said, “No please don’t die. If you die then the mission will be meaningless.”
“Then I shall fulfill it no matter what happens!”
“Okay…” Kyran could only sigh in his heart.
“First tell me about the Blue Lotus’s-,” Kyran paused dramatically to look at Byron’s reaction, “-illegal business.”
As he expected, Byron reacted when he mentioned this. His eyes contracted while his expression froze. Instead of answering right away, he asked, “Master. Can I ask how you know?”
Kyran smiled faintly. Byron’s reaction was a little unexpected. At least, he did not act as if he did knot know what Kyran was talking about, which was a good sign. If Byron acted like this, Kyran might have to abandon his idea of using him.
“The Conclave,” Kyran replied matter-of-factly.
Squinting his eyes, Byron fell silent for a moment with a thoughtful look. They did not mean to underestimate the Conclave, but his employer was confident that they concealed this side of their business very well. To think that they still managed to find the truth. The Conclave’s intelligence gathering was really something.
However, if Kyran was asking about information, this meant the information the Conclave had was either incomplete or superficial.
Kyran observed Byron in silence. He did not demand Byron provide the information because there was a good chance he might be ‘bound’ by something.
Finally, after a long silence, Byron looked at Kyran and said, “Can I ask why you want to know, Master?”
Kyran shrugged and answered casually, “Because I want to get in.”
If Byron was drinking right now, he might have choked. But he immediately recovered from the shock and looked at Kyran in concern.
He said, “Getting in will be tricky. Most of the people involved in the business has close relationship with my employer. This is the reason why my employer is confident that there is no leakage in information. However, an outsider can still get in only after completing several tasks my employer sets. Aside from this their background will be thoroughly checked. Even if with my recommendation, I will not be able to help conceal your background.”
“I am not going to join as a ‘full-time’ but as a ‘layman’,” Kyran replied meaningfully.
Byron took a sharp intake of breath.
“Master, you-!” He abruptly stopped because he was unsure how to proceed.
It was true that getting in as a ‘layman’ was easy because the information available to them was superficial and would not be traced back to the Blue Lotus. But a layman’s job description was…
Kyran leaned back. He had a rough idea of what Byron was about to say but was afraid he might be stepping out of line.
After a short pause, Byron said with a stern expression, “Joining as a layman will be dangerous.”
“I know. But only by becoming a layman will I be able to move around in the dark.”
Byron’s eyes narrowed.
That was right.
A layman’s job had similarities to a mercenary, but it was also a little different. Because when a mercenary took on a job, his movement would be monitored by the Conclave’s rivals. And that also includes the Royal Army. However, because the ones who issued the job to the layman did not exist, their movements would be hidden.
“But what about the Conclave-.”
“The Conclave has no hold on me. I am my own man.”
Hearing Kyran’s words, Byron could not help but feel more in awe.
The Void Master had really returned!
Kyran’s face turned slightly sour seeing the sparkling look on Byron’s eyes.
“And let me get this straight, I am not your Void Master. I am his successor. Successor. Got that?”
Byron only nodded with a stupid grin on his face that made Kyran wonder if he really understood what he just said.
“Now tell me.” Kyran said, veering back to the topic.
“Alright. However, if I tell you this information, you will not only be a mere ‘layman’ if something happens, then…”
“I won’t get caught.”
Byron took a sharp intake of breath, and he shivered. Not because he was frightened but because his Master’s confidence was just too cool.
“I understand, Master!”
“Did I not tell you not to shout?”
“Okay. Okay.” Byron nodded stupidly.
“Then, I will now explain. If you already know about the term ‘layman’ then you already have an idea what the Blue Lotus deals in this business.”
“I do.”
“Then, I will explain how we receive job requests.”
Kyran did not reply and only let Byron explain.
“Our job requests are issued by the full-timers. They normally get it by ‘investigating’ and ‘mingling’ with higher ups.” Byron started.
“This is to make sure that the information will be contained within the organization.”
Kyran had a thoughtful expression.
‘So the targets are issued by their own men,’ he pondered. ‘No wonder they don’t get any profit.’
“You might wonder how we profit from this if we don’t receive outside requests. Don’t worry, we do get profits, by ‘taking’ what the ‘job request’ had.” Byron explained with a sneer.
Kyran raised his brows in realization. “So you guys made it look like a burglary case.”
Byron nodded.
“Of course, it is not always the case. There are times where we get donations from the ‘job request’s’ victims.”
‘Donations?’ Kyran wondered but did not ask. He was not concerned about the Blue Lotus’s profit.
“The job requests, are there any available that has not been completed yet?”
Byron nodded with a sigh. “Yes. Quite a lot, actually. Because getting in contact with them are close to nil given our laymen’s abilities. Don’t get us wrong, Master. Its just they are not as skillful and powerful as you. Besides, we also have to be careful in executing any plans because it will definitely become a high-profile story once we do complete the job request.”
Kyran sneered. “That’s alright with me. As long as you can provide the information and set up the stage I can do the rest.”
Byron looked at him with wide eyes, “Master… Don’t tell me you wanted to be a layman to complete these job requests?”
“Depends, if the job request is also on my list of target.”
Hearing the undisguised contempt in Kyran’s voice, Byron could not help but wonder what happened to him. Aside from this, wasn’t he already in the Conclave? Wouldn’t it be faster to get information on his target from them?
Suddenly, Byron realized something, and he frowned slightly.
“List of target?” He repeated.
Kyran only nodded and did not elaborate.
Byron was itching to ask what he meant but reminded himself that he must never question his Master.
“What else?” Kyran asked.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Byron nodded and continued.
“The organization also deals with intercepting any possible ‘income’ the army can have.”
“Just like the ruins in Valley of Morte.”
Byron nodded, “Yes. Since the ruin had a large piles of spirit stones, if we collected all of it, then it will lessen the army’s funds.”
Kyran shook his head, “The army already found that ruins. Yet they did not touch the stones. There’s a possibility it was left there for a reason. Or maybe there are far more stones inside the grove that those outside was just a little change for them.”
“That’s…”
This realization made Byron speechless.
He was right.
“Master….”
Byron’s eyes sparkled in admiration once more as he looked at Kyran.
“Stop that. I get it. Continue explaining,” Kyran told him with an oversized sweat on his head.
“Anyway, we also needed those stones.” Byron continued his expression, turning solemn.
“You may not know this Master but everyone in the Blue Lotus has deep-seated hatred for the Royal Family and the Royal Army. Aside from how they wrongfully accused you of being the-.”
“I am not-,” Kyran heaved a deep sigh,”- the Void Master. I am his successor.”
“-oh, right. Right. I’m sorry, Master.” Byron apologized, but his stupid grin was plastered on his face. “Um… as I was saying. Aside from their hateful accusation, they also imprisoned a lot of innocent people. Saying that they are practicing forbidden magic when they are not! Just because they tried to speak out against the Royal Family…”
Byron’s expression turned sour as he thought of all the awful and hateful deeds of the Royal Family and the Royal Army. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, trying to contain his anger.
“And the stones are needed to make magic weapons?” Kyran asked.
Byron snapped back to reality and looked at Kyran in amazement. “Master, you really are good at guessing.”
Kyran’s brow twitched. But he refrained from reacting and just said, “Is your employer planning a rebellion?”
“Yes, Master.” Byron answered straightforwardly.
Right now, he had nothing to fear. Because the Void Master was on their side. Of course, he could not reveal it yet. But Byron could not wait to see the expression on his employer and everyone else once they found out that the Void Master had returned.
Kyran nodded.
The Blue Lotus was still small, but they had no ‘neutral’ status to protect, unlike the Conclave.
Byron did not know yet, but Kyran’s purpose in getting into the Blue Lotus’s illegal business was not only so he could move in the dark and complete their ‘job requests’. His primary purpose was to accumulate the whole organization.
Once he succeeded, they would become his first military force.