INSIDE THE DIM, old warehouse, all eyes were fixed on the Keen Observer. A tense atmosphere filled the air, punctuated by the whisper of the night wind sneaking through the cracks in the wood.
Leon nodded slowly. "Go ahead, Keen Observer. You're the one with the valuable information. Please, speak first. We're listening."
The Keen Observer nodded slowly. He stood up, and as all attention focused on him, his hands trembled slightly. "Before we continue... you must know who I truly am. So we can trust each other."
He took a deep breath, and suddenly, white smoke enveloped his entire body. In an instant, the man they had seen transformed into a woman with shoulder-length black hair and sharp green eyes.
Kazan, who had been on guard, immediately reached for his sword's hilt. "Who are you, really?!"
Sylphine gasped, while Leon remained silent, his eyes scrutinizing.
"My real name is Veylin," she said, her voice now softer yet full of authority.
"I am a former member of the Hrafnagildr assassination squad from the Kingdom of Gigantora."
She then sat back down, as if giving the others time to digest the information. "We were a team of seven," she said calmly.
"We were formed with the purpose of eliminating anyone who opposed the rules of the gods. More than that, we were also the successful children of Domus Dauða's magic experiments, trained from childhood in the arts of assassination and espionage."
"The Sacred Race I served was the race of giants from the Kingdom of Gigantora, a magnificent and powerful kingdom led by nine legendary giant kings who were brothers, known as The Nine Roots of Yggdrasil."
"Who are they?" asked Sylphine curiously.
Veylin took a deep breath before continuing. "The first and oldest king is King Ásgarðr, who resides at the pinnacle of the kingdom, guarding the throne of power. Then there is King Vanaheimr, who guards the eastern gate, and King Álfheimr, who guards the western gate."
"However, before reaching Kings Vanaheimr and Álfheimr, one must pass King Jötunheimr, who guards the western border, and King Niðavellir, who guards the eastern border. There is also a central path guarded by King Miðgarðr, who is also the second most powerful king and allows direct access to Ásgarðr."
Veylin went on. "Furthermore, there is King Svartálfheimr, who guards the kingdom's treasures and important items. Similarly, there is King Múspellsheimr, who guards the prisons and ensures the kingdom's security. And before entering the kingdom, everyone must pass the watch of the two twin kings, King Niflheimr and King Helheimr, who guard the main gate of the kingdom."
"What made you leave that squad? And why are you willing to tell us all this?" asked Kazan, still suspicious.
"Because I began to question everything," Veylin answered, her voice faint.
"Was what we were doing truly for the truth according to the gods? I felt it was all wrong." She paused for a moment.
"The specific reason is, one of my comrades in the squad, Hroaldr, who had the ability to see the future, told me before we escaped. He said there was someone in this city who could help us escape pursuit, with characteristics exactly like... Zero." Her gaze fixed on Leon.
"Hroaldr? Where is he now?" asked Leon.
Veylin looked down, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He... was captured. He sacrificed himself so I could escape."
Sylphine, hearing the sorrow in Veylin's voice, without a second thought immediately approached and hugged her tightly. "There, there... calm down," whispered Sylphine, comforting her.
Leon looked at Veylin seriously. "So, you're sure I am the person Eirny saw in her vision?"
Veylin nodded, her eyes glistening. "Yes. The description matched you exactly."
After Veylin had calmed down a little, Leon turned to Kazan. "What now? This changes a lot of things."
Kazan sighed. "We already have our own mission here. Now with her presence, everything becomes more complicated."
After a brief discussion, they reached a conclusion. Leon approached Veylin.
"Veylin, how would you like to join our organization? It's called Veravium. Our goal is to oppose the gods and the Sacred Races. You can help us, and we will help you save your friend."
Veylin was surprised, but then a small smile appeared on her lips. "I accept. I will join Veravium."
Leon extended his hand. "Welcome to Veravium."
Veylin shook Leon's hand firmly, a feeling of relief evident on her face. "I will not let you down."
Veylin then asked, curious. "Actually, what is your purpose in Nocturne's End City? This isn't Sacred Race territory."
"We are going to free someone from inside the Nexus," Leon answered directly.
"And we intend to recruit them."
Veylin frowned. "Someone inside the Nexus? Are you serious? That place is heavily guarded! Its gate is locked with a magic circle that's nearly impossible to break, and it's guarded by their strongest people!"
"We know," Leon replied, determination burning in his eyes.
"That's why, from this moment on, we must find a weakness. Gather information from every corner of the city, observe the guards' movements, and wait for the right moment."
Veylin nodded. "I will help you. But we must be careful—Zenless, Marcus, and the 3 leaders there are not enemies to be taken lightly."
Leon nodded, satisfied. "Let's adjourn this meeting. Disperse, and return to your respective places. Stay vigilant, and don't draw attention."
They parted ways, disappearing one by one into the darkness of Nocturne's End City, each carrying the weight of secrets and a new, nearly impossible mission.
Leon was the last to leave. He gazed at the star-filled night sky, pondering the heavy task that awaited.
But what he didn't realize was that from within the shadows, a pair of eyes was watching him—
=== CHAPTER 32 END ===