Chapter 1329: The Bigger Picture (3)

    ?

    "The Three Houses?" asked Valyr in return, briefly wondering to himself whether the name Dalton mentioned was an organization of some sort.

    Though, after thinking about it for a bit more, he felt that such a name befitted something else entirely. "Are you perhaps talking about the nobles of the city?"

    "That would be correct." The old man nodded, glad that Valyr easily caught on. "For context, the Three Houses are considered the ruling class of Astella City, with any of the three noble clans having a major part in the city''s various industries."

    "Who are the Three Houses, exactly?" asked the young man, only to follow it up with another question. "And how did you find out that they wanted to recruit me?"

    Hearing those questions, Dalton decided to answer back with a question of his own. "Remember the attendant that helped you out with the registration process?"@@@@

    Valyr nodded in response, unsure why the old man would bring up someone that didn''t seem to have anything to do with the tournament nor the nobles.

    However, that thought immediately changed the moment Dalton brought up a certain screen in front of him.

    Whoosh!

    Making use of a couple magic spells, the old man allowed Valyr to see what transpired after parting ways with her, with the latter noticing the attendant bring out a talisman before sending out a message of some sort.

    Although the screen did not have any capability to reproduce sound, the sight of the attendant''s actions alone caused the young man to frown, immediately understanding what was going on.

    "And that''s how I found out that there''s a spy for the nobility in my guild," said Dalton, closing the screen as he let out a faint sigh. "I may not know what kind of message the attendant sent to them exactly, but expect an invitation from them in advance."

    As Valyr nodded at his advice, he then answered the young man''s question, "As for the identity of the Three Houses, those would be none other than the Stelyra clan, the Fimbul clan, and the Ullvayne clan."

    ''Now then...''

    However, just as he had taken a few steps out of the Mage Guild, a middle-aged man in a dark suit appeared in front of him all of a sudden and gave him a respectful half-bow. ''Shall we take a look at what the nobles have to offer?''

    "Pardon the interruption," said the middle-aged man in a polite tone. "But might you be Sir Ataraxia?"

    "That''s my name, alright." Valyr nodded, feeling a slight urge to mimic the way the man was talking to him.

    Yet, in the end, he decided to restrain himself. "Is there something I can help you with?"

    "Well, Sir Ataraxia," replied the man. "I have been instructed by my family head to invite you to the Fimbul Plaza for a quick chat."

    "The ones inviting you would like to assure you that they do not mean any harm with the invite," he continued. "Nor do they plan on inviting you without giving you a few gifts in

    return."

    "Do you know who''s inviting me, exactly?" asked Valyr in response, to which the middle- aged man shook his head.

    "Unfortunately, I do not," replied the man in a slightly apologetic tone. "I am merely a messenger tasked with this duty."

    Not wanting to make it any more difficult for someone who''s just doing his task, the young man faintly nodded in response as he said the words that he felt the man was waiting to hear.

    "Alright."

    "Lead the way, then."