Zayden did not answer Rick’s question and instead looked at Rick for a moment before he opened his lips.
"To think that I met with the branch leader of the Spider Net Pavilion in this city. This is quite unexpected."
Rick smiled.
"Well, I’m also having the same thought as you when I just came back from my trip outside of the empire and saw you. To think that I found something interesting. It’s truly a coincidence that I could meet you, someone who has a dragon’s aura."
Despite what Rick said, he was still pondering Zayden’s identity inside.
’This guy seems to know much about our organization. He did not show any signs of being here for the first time. He even managed to guess that I’m the branch leader.’
He became even more intrigued.
Unfortunately for him, he would never know that Zayden had visited the Spider Net Pavilion in this city twice in the past.
But Zayden had never met the branch leader of this city during those two visits.
In truth, Zayden himself was also quite surprised that he had met the branch leader personally this time.
What kind of ’luck’ did he have for the branch leader of the Spider Net Pavilion to meet him at the border?
But even if he had met this branch leader in the past, it wasn’t guaranteed that he could recognize the branch leader now.
That was because the members of the Spider Net Pavilion liked to use disguises to hide their real faces.
The current branch leader’s face was also a disguise, and Zayden could sense it.
His master had already told him about it.
"Then, let’s cut to the chase. First, I want to know the current situation of the continent. It’s regarding the great war and the things that happened which are worthy of gaining attention in the past five years," Zayden said.
Hearing the question, Rick’s mind began working fast again.
’This question... he sounds like he has been living in the dark all this time regarding the condition of the continent, which is impossible. With so many things happening in the past few years, even those who live in the most secluded places should know, or at least have heard, about what happened.’
’This guy is more and more like he just came from outside of the continent, or maybe even from the Eastern World. But why a five-year time frame?’
Rick did not show that he was pondering. His expression only showed understanding toward Zayden’s question.
"I see. It looks like you are from a place where even the slightest bit of news cannot reach you, since you don’t know about the situation on the continent for the past five years," he said.
By saying that, he also wanted to deduce the origin of the man in front of him.
He wanted to see any reaction or hints that could help him guess Zayden’s origin.
But seeing that Zayden did not show any reaction, he simply continued.
"Well, regarding the current situation of the continent, the Vermion Empire is already on the brink of becoming the victor of this great war. Most, if not all, people agree with that. The only one that is still standing against the Vermion Empire is the Relguis Empire faction."
Zayden did not seem surprised by this information at all, as he had already predicted it along his journey here.
"Three other factions have already been subdued, with two big powers being subdued by force, while the other faction decided to align themselves with the Vermion Empire. The one that decided to change sides is the Heavenly Sword Valley."
Zayden frowned.
"Heavenly Sword Valley aligned themselves with the Vermion Empire?"
He did not expect to hear that.
The Heavenly Sword Valley and all of their allied were located in the neighboring territory of the Vermion Empire’s faction in the north.
Zayden had thought that the four factions would create an alliance to face the Vermion Empire because the Heavenly Sword had already fallen into the hands of the Vermion Empire.
"But Heavenly Sword Valley decided to align themselves with the Vermion Empire?"
"Well, thanks to the Heavenly Sword already falling into the imperial family’s hands, it looks like the Heavenly Sword Valley chose to voluntarily ’surrender.’ We don’t know the real play behind the scenes, but I heard a rumor about their Sect Master fighting directly with His Majesty. And His Majesty used the Heavenly Sword."
Rick replied.
"Although we never heard the result of the battle, judging from Heavenly Sword Valley’s sudden decision to align themselves with our empire, it’s obvious who the winner was."
Zayden’s face became solemn as he pondered.
’Are those people from Heavenly Sword Valley really that easy? Is there some agreement behind the scenes that even the Spider Net Pavilion doesn’t know about?’
’And the emperor... obviously, that man must have personally made a move to win this great war.’
Zayden knew that the emperor of the Vermion Empire, Daryl Ervengaden, the person he had served in the past, was a powerful cultivator.
In fact, it could be said that he was the strongest cultivator in the empire.
As the strongest person and the one who sat in the highest position, he had not involved himself in the great war unless it was truly necessary.
Now that the emperor had obtained the Heavenly Sword, Zayden couldn’t imagine just how powerful the emperor had become.
Zayden couldn’t help but regret that he had stupidly given the Heavenly Sword to them.
"The Heavenly Sword really played a big part in this great war. His Majesty even let some of his trusted subordinates, like General Ansfil, wield the Heavenly Sword on the front lines to win many battles. The Heavenly Sword is truly a cheat with overwhelming power."
Rick continued.
"The sword is so powerful that even until this moment, there has been no battle that the Vermion Empire has lost wherever that sword made an appearance on the battlefield. Fortunately, the sword fell into our hands. If not, we would be the ones falling to our knees."
Rick then sighed. There was a regretful expression on his face.
"I really don’t understand why someone as brilliant as that man betrayed us," he couldn’t help but murmur.
But that murmur could obviously be heard by Zayden.
He tried to control his emotions before asking again.
"What do you mean? Who are you referring to? What betrayal?"
His heart already felt tight, as his feelings were telling him where this conversation was going.
"Oh, this caused a great uproar in this empire five years ago. Even to this day, sometimes people still talk about it in whispers," Rick replied.
"Do you know Zayden Dravenhart?"
Zayden nodded.
"I know. He is one of the greatest geniuses of this empire, right? The one who became the youngest battalion commander of one of the imperial army’s battalions. What about him?"
Zayden then frowned.
"Don’t tell me he was the one you mentioned?"
Zayden felt weird and quite embarrassed inwardly when he had to praise himself in front of another person.
He felt like he was bragging about his own achievements as if he were some kind of arrogant young master.
Something that was so unlike him.
Not his character at all.
He truly felt ridiculous.
But he couldn’t help but act this way to make himself appear more natural in front of Rick.
Rick nodded.
"Yes. Well, although there are many things that even we are still not certain about, the imperial family declared that Zayden had betrayed us by trying to bring the Heavenly Sword to the Relguis Empire."
"As the person who could pull out the Heavenly Sword, it was said that he had actually already been working behind the scenes with the Relguis Empire and intended to give the Heavenly Sword to them."
"However, His Highness, the Second Prince, Devron Ervengaden, was able to stop Zayden before he could give the sword to the Relguis Empire. Zayden, who had already prepared himself to be caught, managed to escape, but the sword fell into Prince Devron’s hands."
Zayden slightly clenched his fist.
"But that wasn’t without paying some price, as many people died trying to stop Zayden while he wielded the Heavenly Sword. Now, it is said that Zayden is in his last hiding place somewhere in the Relguis Empire. At least, that’s what we know from the imperial family’s sources."
Rick sighed again.
"Since then, most of the people who idolized him have come to hate him. They demonized him and everyone who had a close connection to him, especially his family. Well, it’s understandable because they felt betrayed by Zayden."
"But there are also some who still don’t believe it and think that there might have been a misunderstanding. So, there are two opinions among the populace of the empire."
Hearing that, Zayden clenched his fist even tighter.
Although he still did not know whether this was the plan of Devron personally, the emperor, or someone else within the imperial family, he was truly furious at the entire imperial family.
’You fuckers really did it. You are really cruel to me, smearing my name like that.’
Zayden thought furiously.
The dragon within the spear observed Zayden and couldn’t help but feel pity for him.
But this was something he had to face.
This was his challenge.
"Then what do you think, or rather, what does the Spider Net Pavilion think regarding Zayden’s betrayal?" Zayden asked.
Rick couldn’t help but feel strange hearing this question.
’Why does he ask what we think regarding the betrayal? Why does he want to know?’
But still, Rick answered.
"Well, most of us feel that something is amiss with all of this betrayal. However, until this moment, we still haven’t found any solid proof to support our suspicions. So, for now, we just consider Zayden’s betrayal as a fact."
Zayden nodded in understanding.
At least there was still some doubt within the Spider Net Pavilion, which he could use in the future.
He took a deep breath to calm himself.
His eyes became much calmer, but his hands were slightly trembling.
"Then what is the fate of Zayden’s family? What happened to the Dravenhart family?"
Rick remained silent for a moment as he observed Zayden’s reaction.
He could, of course, notice the subtle changes in Zayden’s body, which made him even more curious.
Only after a few seconds did he finally reply.
"The entire Dravenhart family was executed by the imperial family. They were executed in the capital as the family of a traitor."