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Chapter 86: Thoughts of the Matter (3)

"Eh...? Again with the Altric thing?" Frey tilted her head in question.

"For Altric to be mentioned here again... It really must be important, huh?" Raina asked.

"...just what are you implying with that?" Ethaniel frowned.

The room grew eerie as everyone turned their attention to Shinto, waiting for his response.

"..." Shinto took a deep breath as he then said in a serious tone. "...before we get further into the topic. I'd like to ask you all one thing; can I trust you?"

"Huh?" Frey blinked at the query. "Why all of a sudden...?"

"Tch... and if we say no?" Ethaniel raised his brow.

"...if you say no, then the question from earlier then becomes: 'Can I trust you to keep this to yourself?'" Shinto asked.

"So, this information that you're going to give... it's quite secretive huh?" Raina thought to herself. "I'm unsure of whether I should be trusted with such information or not..."

"Secret? Could it be that...?" Frey mumbled.

"...well, this information will either make or break this whole fiasco. But... I'm sure we are all curious as to why Lavida was so persistent on getting usespecially, Ethaniel and I..." Shinto folded his arm. "That's why I ask this. Whether I can trust you or not. Because it involves something major."

"Tsk..." Ethaniel clicked his tongue as he reluctantly turned his head away from Shinto. "Just go on already."

Closing his eyes, Shinto began to speak, "...the reason why Lavida was so persistent on getting us..." he took a deep breath. "It was because we know information on Altric."

Upon ending his statement, a moment of pause protruded out within the room as the group processed the information.

"You do?!" Frey shouted out in shock. "What? When? Huh?!"

"Ah... so that's why..." Raina nodded her head in understanding. "So was this their goal all along when they were after you guys?"

"...well, in a way yes," Shinto calmly replied. "Though... I do not know how or when did they find out such information... but I do know this; we will end up being targets of Lavida in the long run as enemies."

"That is 'if' we don't accept whatever compensation offer bullshit they're giving out, right?" Ethaniel asked. "So tedious..."

"Yes," he nodded his head. "The most likely scenario that's going to happen is that we'll end up as enemies."

"Hmm... then, what's the other possibility?" Raina inquired.

"The other scenario would be that... I have this completely misunderstood," Shinto said. "Which is why I need Greld's confirmation on all this." He turned to look at Greld. "Just what is the real reason that Lavida is after you?"

Upon hearing his question, Greld shook his head helplessly. "...sigh. I am sorry for keeping this from you initially," he said. "The real reason why Lavida was after me... was just as you said. It was due to my knowledge on Altric. But... please don't misunderstand. I only know so much."

"...right, so that confirms it then," Shinto nodded his head. "So it seems that this was all regarding Altric."

"So... let me get this straight. All this because you three know information on Altric??" she raised her brow. "Argh! I don't get this. Just why is Altric so important? Just what is it that it's being the talk of the town?"

"Well, with what I know of so far with my time in this game... Altric seems to hold a core foundation in this world apparently?" Raina tilted her head. "The fact that it's a lost civilization and that it's related to stories of legend interests me..."

"So lost civilization and stories of legend right? What's so special about them?" she continued asking.

"...the special fact about them is that in many stories, 'truth' is mentioned. And... in the legends of Altric, it was said that they have made many artefacts relating to this," Shinto explained. "For what 'truth' is... no one knows."

"So... Lavida wants to go after the artefacts?" she asked.

"That is what I like to think," he said. "Though I can't help but feel as if there is a deeper meaning behind all this. But with what little I know, this is as far as it can go."

"Right, right... I think I can understand just a little bit now!" Frey nodded her head. "If that's how it is.. then, what do we do now?"

"For now, I'd like for us to discuss our options since we have a few..." Shinto said. "But before that... I seem to have gone on for quite a while," he coughed. "The food's getting cold, so we should probably dig in first."

"Ah, right the food!" Frey's eyes turned towards the food as she quickly dug in.

"Well then, thank you for the food," Raina smiled as she began to eat.

"Tch... I can't believe you all were so caught up that you forgot to eat..." Ethaniel scoffed with an annoyed look as ate the last few sausages and eggs on his plate. Finishing up, he quickly stood up. "Anyways, I'm heading out. I want to go to the forest and level up."

"Eh...? At a time like this?" Raina asked. "Is it really alright for you to go out now under such circumstance?"

"It doesn't matter. I just want some time for myself," he shrugged off Raina's question as he made his way out of the tavern. "Shinto, I'll be back with an answer later."

"..." Looking at Ethaniel leaving, Shinto let out a sigh.

"What's up with him?" Frey glared at Ethaniel's back whilst stuffing food into her mouth. "For all the complaining I heard from him yesterday about this situation, I don't hear anything from his side after what you said, master..."

"...hm, yeah. It seems quite weird that he didn't say anything and just agreed with Shinto..." Raina said calmly. "But, we shouldn't pester too much. I'm sure Ethaniel knows what his doing."

"...will that guy be alright though?" Frey said in a worrying tone.

"I think it'll be fine, I don't think Lavida will be doing anything for the time being with all the things that happened yesterday," Shinto said as he ate the food on his plate. "So it's safe to go about in this town for now."

"I see... alright!" Frey swallowed the food in her mouth as she turned to Shinto. "Now you and Greld got some explaining to do!"

"W-What?" Shinto looked at Frey confusingly.

"...huh?" Greld stared blankly.

"How and why do you know about Altric?!"