Chapter 245 — Valseer

Chapter 245: Chapter 245 — Valseer

Chapter 245 — Valseer

After an unknown amount of time, Victor finally opened his eyes.

For several seconds, he stared at the ceiling, trying to figure out where he was.

He had absolutely no idea.

Victor let out a quiet laugh.

I really need to stop waking up in random places after falling unconscious.

He slowly pushed himself upright and looked around.

The room was unfamiliar, and books were everywhere.

They filled the tall shelves lining the walls, covered several tables, and had even begun forming uneven stacks across the floor. Loose papers were scattered between them, many covered in dense handwriting and diagrams Victor couldn’t make out from where he sat.

Stranger objects were mixed into the clutter. Glass containers filled with dried herbs sat beside pieces of metal covered in faded formation markings. A cracked stone tablet had somehow become a stand for a half-empty cup of tea.

The entire place looked like the home of a hoarder who happened to love books.

Victor rubbed his forehead.

Where did they bring me?

Was he still somewhere inside the Order’s secret headquarters?

He couldn’t tell.

As he examined the room, his attention eventually settled on the couch opposite him.

Lyra was asleep on it, with Grace sitting beside her, equally unconscious. Grace’s head rested against the back of the couch, while Nala slept comfortably in Lyra’s lap.

Victor felt his shoulders relax.

At least they’re okay.

He initially thought the four of them were alone, but then he noticed a man sitting at a desk in the corner.

The man appeared to be around thirty years old, with a slightly unshaven face and dark circles beneath his solid green eyes. His hair was mostly brown, with natural streaks of blond running through it.

There was something almost knightly about his appearance. He was handsome, certainly, but looked as though he’d spent far too many nights sitting at that desk instead of sleeping.

What stood out most, however, was his presence.

Or rather, the complete lack of it.

Victor couldn’t sense his cultivation at all. There was no pressure or trace of Spiritual Energy coming from him. If Victor hadn’t been looking directly at the man, he might never have noticed him.

That alone told Victor just how enormous the difference between their strengths must be.

The man finally lifted his eyes from his book and smiled.

"You’re awake."

Victor nodded, still trying to figure out who he was.

"You must be wondering where you are," the man said, closing his book. "And probably who I am."

"Both, actually."

The man chuckled.

"Well, you’re currently on the Fourth Floor of the Tower."

Victor paused.

The Fourth Floor?

There was only one person he knew of who had access to that floor.

He looked at the man again, and his expression must have given away his thoughts because the man’s smile widened.

"It seems you’ve figured it out."

He stood from his desk.

"My name is Valseer, and as you’ve probably already guessed, I’m the current master of the Alchemy Tower."

Victor stared at him.

Things really had changed quickly.

Not long ago, he’d been a slave at the very bottom of the Tower. Back then, the Tower Master had been someone so far above him that even the possibility of meeting him had seemed ridiculous.

Yet here he was, sitting inside the man’s private residence while Valseer casually read a book.

The more he learned about Samal, the stranger everything became.

The Sanctuary, Liam’s sword, Rakasha, Nala, and now the Order. One event had led to another so consistently that Victor was beginning to question whether any of it had been a coincidence.

Sometimes, it almost felt as though Samal had left behind a path for him to follow, and Victor had unknowingly stepped onto it the moment he entered that forest.

He had no idea how something like that could be possible.

Victor returned his attention to Valseer.

"Well, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Tower Master Valseer."

Valseer laughed.

"I should be saying the same thing to you."

He walked away from his desk.

"It’s been thousands of years since we’ve had a victory this significant against the Evil God Organization, and you’re the one responsible for it."

Victor listened quietly.

"A lot of those old men who weren’t particularly fond of you before have completely changed their minds. Now they all can’t wait to meet you."

Victor wasn’t entirely sure that was something to look forward to.

Valseer seemed to notice his expression and chuckled before glancing toward one of the cluttered bookshelves.

"And who would’ve thought Rakasha was still alive?"

Victor looked at him with interest.

"I’ve only seen her once before," Valseer continued, his expression turning thoughtful. "Seven thousand years ago."

Victor raised an eyebrow.

"Seven thousand years?"

"She passed through the Tower briefly and disappeared soon after. Back then, I was nothing more than a simple acolyte. I wasn’t even a Tier One disciple yet."

Valseer chuckled.

Victor found himself studying the man with renewed interest.

Seven thousand years.

Valseer had been alive when events Victor considered ancient history were still recent memories.

"But that’s neither here nor there," Valseer said, waving a hand. "You probably don’t want to listen to an old man ramble about ancient history."

"Actually, I would," Victor replied with a slight smile. "But there are a few things I’d like to know first."

"Fair enough." Valseer returned to his seat. "What would you like to know?"

"Lyra’s parents, for starters. And the Graveborns. What’s happening with them?"

Valseer’s expression grew serious.

"Daniel Graveborn’s involvement is undeniable. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the rest of the family was involved with the Evil God Organization."

Victor nodded.

"That being said, the Graveborn family is currently under sanctions. We’re investigating everything they’ve done, including their transactions, relationships, expeditions, and any suspicious disappearances connected to them."

Valseer leaned back in his chair.

"We’re prepared to go back thousands of years if necessary. If Gravius or anyone else in that family has been involved, we’ll find out."

"And if Gravius is involved?"

"Then he’ll pay for it."

Victor studied him for a moment before nodding.

That was enough for now.

"And Lyra’s parents?"

Valseer’s expression relaxed.

"They’ve already been rescued. They’re currently on their way to the Fourth Floor."

Victor glanced toward the sleeping Lyra.

"Here?"

"Here," Valseer confirmed with a smile. "After everything that’s happened, I see no reason to make either of you wait any longer. They should be arriving fairly soon."

"Good."

Victor released a slow breath.

At least something had gone completely right.

Valseer studied him for a moment before speaking again.

"Now, I believe it’s my turn to ask a question."

Victor looked toward him.

"How exactly did a Rank Two Spirit Gathering cultivator manage to kill Daniel Graveborn?"

Victor remained silent.

"Daniel was Rank Eight Spirit Gathering under normal circumstances. With his forbidden technique active, his strength clearly reached Rank Ten. And judging by what was left of that room, he used one of his strongest techniques before he died."

Victor glanced toward Grace, who was still sleeping on the couch.

Valseer noticed and laughed.

"Don’t bother looking at her. Space Witch hasn’t told me anything."

Victor raised an eyebrow.

Valseer placed a hand dramatically against his forehead.

"My own disciple. She treats your secrets as though they’re more important than anything in the world now. Even more important than me."

He sighed like a heartbroken maiden.

Victor couldn’t help laughing.

This man was definitely strange.

Considering the image he’d built in his mind of the Tower Master, Valseer was almost nothing like what he’d expected.

He was eccentric, a little dramatic, and surprisingly easy to talk to.

Valseer lowered his hand with a smile, and Victor leaned back against the couch.

With Lyra safe, her parents rescued, and Daniel dead, he could finally relax a little. The Evil God base had fallen, and for the first time in what felt like days, he wasn’t fighting someone or trying to survive another dangerous situation.

It was a welcome change.

Valseer watched him quietly for a moment.

"Actually, Victor..."

Victor looked up.

The humor had faded from Valseer’s expression.

"I have a proposition for you."

He leaned forward slightly.

"If you’re open to it."