Chapter 243. Uproar in the state

The Waldhar State of the Iron Empire was currently in an uproar.

A piece of news was spreading across Warriors universities, Artifact Engineers Association branches, Warriors Association branches, Alchemist Association branches, large guilds, and corporations.

A large energy core vein had been discovered in a ruined city north of York City.

No one knew who posted the news.

But there was even a picture of the energy core vein attached to the message.

Naturally, there were people who were skeptical about the news because it came from an anonymous source. Due to this, they could not judge the credibility of the information.

After all, why would someone discover an energy core vein and leak the information about its existence to the general public, instead of keeping it for themselves? It could even be possible that the picture was photoshopped.

Others also found the information worth following to see for themselves.

Whatever motives the mysterious netizen who leaked the news had for leaking it didn’t matter to them.

An energy core vein could boost the economy of an organization to tremendous heights because of its industrial purposes. A larger economy meant a larger ability to secure connections, influence, power, and resources.

They were not willing to let this opportunity slip by.

What was the worst that could happen if they decided to check the place out and see if the rumors were true?

If the information was false, they would not have anything to lose.

Others also decided to observe the situation further and allow other powers to visit the place and confirm the rumors before they took action.

In their opinion, if the rumor was true, then the person who leaked the information must have had an ulterior motive for leaking it. They didn’t know why. But they were not willing to sacrifice themselves to find out. They would assess the situation first and see the outcome before they made any decisions.

Currently, Rank 3 powerhouses from various organizations across the state who had decided to take the risk and check out the place were headed to the ruined city to confirm the rumors.

****

Iron Empire.

Waldhar State.

Sauna City University.

Professorship Residential District.

President’s Villa.

The evening moonlight peered through the windows, casting shifting shadows in the well-lit room.

Dean Wembley and President Xander were currently seated across from each other on a couch.

"So this was the message he sent you?" Xander said.

"Yeah. He said we shouldn’t send anyone to the energy core vein," Wembley said.

"I see. Did he send any other message?" Xander asked.

"No, that was all," Wembley said.

"Your junior brother is something else," Xander said. "One can never know what the young man is thinking. I’ve been a war veteran for several years before I became an academician and I still can’t figure him out."

"We all can’t figure him out," Wembley said. "But one thing is certain. He is the one who leaked the information about the energy core vein."

Xander raised an eyebrow with an amused expression. He took a sip of his coffee and placed it back on the table.

"He told you?" he asked Wembley.

"No. But it’s obvious." Wembley chuckled and shook his head. "And I’m sure you’ve also figured that out."

"I have," Xander replied. "Tell him that if he’s able to secure the energy core mine for the university, his loved ones will enjoy a 70 percent discount for their cultivation."

Wembley shook his head.

"He told me that if you said something along these lines, I should tell you that they will enjoy a 100 percent discount for all university purchases of resources, and that an energy core mine can boost the economy of the university to higher heights. The only fair price is a hundred percent discount for him and the cultivation purchases of his loved ones."

A glint of calm surprise flashed through Xander’s eyes.

"He actually anticipated I would say this?" Xander said. "How can a young man be so good at reading people?"

"Beats me." Wembley shrugged.

Xander sighed.

For a second there he had forgotten that Aiden Vhorn was a monster on every level.

He had a track record in the past of using some shady methods to manipulate and cripple the economies of industries of some people who wanted him dead in Derulo City of the Eldorath Empire of the southern continent.

He even understood business warfare and games.

"I have to admit, he’s right. Tell him I agree. What I don’t get is why he leaked the information about the energy core vein," Xander said.

"I will let him know," Wembley replied.

"Aiden is indeed something else." Wembley shook his head. "I honestly don’t know why he leaked the information. Maybe he wants to lure people there to clear the zone?"

"I doubt that is the case," Xander said. "From what he told you, it’s obvious he has no personal interest in the energy core vein. I think he wants to lure an enemy of his there and let the environment kill them."

"That is more plausible," Wembley said. "Well, whatever his personal reasons are, that’s his business. What matters is that he was smart enough to make the message anonymous. If he hadn’t done that, it would have painted some targets on his back, depending on the outcome of the situation when people venture there and find out the place is dangerous and they lost some of their men."

"That’s true," Xander said. "But he took a mission there and there are records of him collaborating with York City University’s staff members. The clues will lead back to him. If something happens to the powerhouses who venture to the place, the people backing them will know he is the one behind the leak. But they will assume he did it to use their men as cannon fodder to clear the chaotic beasts from the place and claim the energy core mine."

"Mmmm," Wembley said. "Don’t worry about that. None of them can act openly against him without any obvious proof. Also, he’s the disciple of the third strongest person on the planet. No one will try anything stupid openly. They can only resort to attempted assassinations against him. As long as there isn’t any concrete proof that he leaked the news, even if the whole world finds out about it soon, it won’t get anywhere. As for Aiden, I’m sure he has considered all these possibilities and he is certain that even though the men you delegated to protect him are dead, he has a method of protecting himself from these assassinations."

"You are right," Xander said. "That kid is always five steps ahead. Should I even call him a kid at this point?"

"You shouldn’t," Wembley chuckled.

They were right. Aiden had indeed considered all things from all angles and he had made adequate preparations.