The Dreamer's POV

Chapter 82: Hidden Intel

[00 Months: 04 Days: 17 Hours]

I sat across from the hooded figure, my eyes fixated on their concealed face.

The room was shrouded in an air of secrecy, the atmosphere tinged with anticipation.

The official of the Information Guild leaned back in their chair, their voice low and steady as they addressed my question.

"The Lyma Family delegate left the Lyma Estate early today," they began, their words measured.

"They are expected to arrive in Terance tomorrow evening. Their visit is in relation to the exploration of the Wild Lands. It seems they are seeking to recruit a significant number of adventurers for this task."

A sense of satisfaction washed over me as I absorbed the information.

The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, and I could see the threads of intrigue woven into the fabric of the Lyma Family's intentions.

'This Wild Lands exploration... looks like it's real, after all.'

And it was very soon, from the sounds of it.

The official observed my reaction, their hooded gaze steady. "Is there anything else you would like to know?"

I paused for a moment, contemplating my next inquiry.

Apparently, the cost of the private session was tallied every ten minutes, giving me a small window of opportunity to gather more crucial information.

'Its barely been a minute, so I suppose I have a lot more time.'

"Yes," I replied, my voice steady.

"Have there been any peculiar appearances of individuals within the city? People asking unusual or obvious questions about Mage'Earth or the city of Terance?"

The hooded figure nodded, confirming my suspicions.

"Indeed, there have been such occurrences. Some individuals have approached the Information Guild seeking knowledge about the outside world, inquiring about the surrounding nations and the details of Mage'Earth."

A glimmer of intrigue sparked within me.

'Perfect! So they have that information too!'

The information Tatia wasn't able to give me back when I asked her in the Outpost.

This was an opportunity to glean insights into the nations that existed beyond my current scope of knowledge.

The official's words offered a glimpse into a world waiting to be explored.

"In that case," I continued, leaning forward with renewed curiosity, "tell me about the four major nations."

In Mage'Earth, there were four major nations of humans.

The Western Republic, The Eastern Theocracy, The Southern Kingdom, and The Northern Empire.

"What can you share about their current state, their rulers, and their relations with one another?" I further asked.

The hooded figure pondered for a moment, as if sifting through a vast repository of hidden knowledge.

Finally, they began to speak, each word carrying a weight of importance.

"The Western Republic is known for its democratic system, governed by elected officials. Their current ruler is President Amelia Ashcroft, a charismatic leader with a strong emphasis on technological advancement.

The Republic maintains diplomatic relations with the other nations, though they often prioritize their own interests."

'Oh? That sounds a lot like how our modern world operates...' My thoughts echoed.

I would very much like to stay in that pace, considering how very familiar it would be.

I could only imagine how comfortable the Survivors who got transported there were feeling.

"The Eastern Theocracy," they continued, "is a theocratic state led by High Priestess Seraphina.

Religion plays a central role in their society, and the High Priestess holds significant influence over matters of faith and governance.

They have a strong alliance with the Southern Kingdom, sharing cultural and religious ties."

'Interesting...' I smiled.

The Information Guild official continued, telling me about how the faith in this world centered around the 10 Great Kings.

The Theocracy worshipped someone known as Iysa, the Great King of Light.

There were apparently some fringe believers who worshipped Kollungr, who was the Great King of Darkness.

Worship of Kollungr was outlawed in the Theocracy, however, so only Iysa was recognized there.

The Southern Kingdom, which was where I was situated, also recognized Iysa as the deity they worshipped, though the denizens here recognized the authority and power of the other Great Kings.

'Religion is so weird...' I thought to myself in a sigh, paying rapt attention to the.words of the official who kept speaking.

"As for the Southern Kingdom, it's is a monarchy ruled by King Alphonse Wilhestein. The kingdom is renowned for its military prowess and vast lands.

They maintain a delicate balance of power with the other nations, often engaging in political maneuvering to secure their interests."

Apparently the Southern Kingdom had the most lands and natural resources, plus it's position made it most vulnerable if the other nations chose to ally themselves against them.

Fortunately, the Theocracy was on the side of the Southern Kingdom—not only for Theocratic and Economic reasons, but for another major similarity between the two.

Their distaste for any race besides humans.

'In this world, there are many races that exist. Some are intelligent, and others are not. But... they lump all of them as monsters and are indiscriminate about their prejudice against them.'

Apparently they used people of other races as slaves, or even killed them on sight—depending on how dangerous they were.

'That's... a bit sad.'

"The Northern Empire," they concluded, "is an expansive realm ruled by Emperor Victorius Draven.

Known for its strict hierarchical structure, the Empire holds absolute authority over its territories. Their relations with the other nations are often tense, marked by border disputes and territorial claims."

The Northern Empire seemed like the most menacing of them all.

Due to their stubborn disposition, not even the Information Guild had plenty information about them.

Apparently, they had immense military might, and while their continent was the smallest, they had been making artificial islands and slowly expanding their power.

Frankly speaking, the Northern Empire seemed like the most dangerous place to live, based on everything I heard.

'This has been useful...'

I absorbed the information, my mind racing with new insights and possibilities.

The knowledge I had gained would prove invaluable in navigating the intricate web of alliances and power struggles that defined Mage'Earth.

"Thank you," I expressed my gratitude, rising from my seat. "Your assistance has been most enlightening."

The hooded figure nodded, acknowledging my appreciation.

"You still have a few minutes left. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

"Tell me more about the Ten Great Kings." I asked.

That was the final question on my mind.

These beings were strong enough to be considered gods—supreme in their dominance over Mage'Earth.

I had to know more about them.

"Only two of the Great Kings are really known by humans—The Darkness Monarch: Kollungr, and The Monarch of Light: Iysa." The official began.

"The other seven are obscured from information, and the only information we have about them are from myths and legends... which, as you know, isn't accurate."

'That's true.' My mind trailed.

Inaccurate information was sometimes more dangerous than ignorance.

"Word is that the other Races serve and worship the other serve as deities, so every knowledge or attempt at knowing more about them was banned in the human nations—at least, for the most part." The official continued.

"Over the years, we now have nothing but hearsay and legends."

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