"I knew it!" Kadi became even more excited after hearing what Guzan said, his earlier disappointment gradually fading.
Igor was still reeling from the shock. These monsters all look different, he thought. Does that mean Guru Mountain is hiding many Alien Species? Are all the Alien Species of the Kayne Realm hidden here in Guru Mountain? He looked at Guzan again, recalling the Grand Master's status—a legendary figure in the Empire, and now the leader of the monsters on Guru Mountain... Could it be...?
The current situation forced Igor to speculate. The more he thought, the more puzzling, mysterious, incredible, and astonishing it all seemed. Remembering Grand Master Guzan's initial words, and that continental map so different from the Empire's official one, I feel like I've stumbled upon something extraordinary.
"We are just beginning to understand this world."
"Humanity's pursuit of power far outweighs the quest for understanding the world."
The Great Mentor's opening statement echoed again in Igor's mind. Isn't this linked to the present situation? It must be, and the connection is quite significant! Igor thought, feeling rather smug and completely oblivious to the silent standoff between Guzan and Kadi.
Grand Master Guzan, this legend of the Empire, must be executing a grand mission, Igor believed. Perhaps King Kayne himself assigned this task. Maybe no one else knows about it. At this thought, Igor couldn't help but smile inwardly. I'm so clever! I actually figured out such a closely guarded secret. I have to admire my own intelligence!
Igor continued his conjectures. Although Grand Master Guzan is a legendary figure in the Empire, there hasn't been much news of him in recent years. Most stories about him are from over a decade ago, and the gossip spread by the Crows is varied and inconsistent.
There were mainly two kinds of rumors. One was that Grand Master Guzan had gone to the Eternal Tranquility Realm, but the Alchemy Workshop, facing a shortage of talent, had not announced his passing to maintain stability. The other rumor, not much different, was that Grand Master Guzan had disappeared. He had supposedly left the Alchemy Workshop due to disagreements with the Empire, and the King, recognizing his past contributions, had not imprisoned him but exiled him instead. Regardless of which rumor it was, both indicated that Grand Master Guzan had withdrawn from the public eye and disappeared from view.
Igor had once scoffed at these stories, believing the Empire would never abandon a hero like Guzan. But now, he thought, the Crows' messages truly can't be trusted! Those rumors are outright lies! It's amazing anyone actually believed them. He sighed, a wave of elation washing over him. What he believed he had discovered not only debunked the rumors but also confirmed that Grand Master Guzan was an indispensable key figure in the Empire.
Only those most trusted by the King could be assigned such a secret mission, Igor mused. A vast network of connections was already forming in his mind. Considering the stories Grand Master Guzan had told him and the bits and pieces about the Kayne Empire and the six major classes, a vivid narrative had taken shape.
The Kayne Empire surely wouldn't abandon its efforts to expand, just as the Grand Master's stories suggested. They would reclaim what was rightfully theirs. The advancement of the six major classes was intrinsically linked to the Empire; they needed to develop further to help the Kayne Empire progress. Thus, they would continue to advance. However, with the Mantai Empire and Wensi Empire watching like tigers, they had to conceal their developmental pace. After all, any exposed discoveries could very well empower their enemies.
Though Igor knew little of distant affairs, he recalled some of the Empire's history taught by his instructors at Yonder Travel Academy. The six major classes are no longer exclusive to the Kayne Empire. Both the Mantai and Wensi Empires boast a large number of Adventurers with Class, and even the Dwarves of the Mantai Empire have their own Adventurers with Class.
The reason for this situation was obviously the sharing of information. Once a principle was revealed, most people could master it. Therefore, the one who discovered the principle was the most valuable resource. This was probably why Scholars were so respected.
Having mastered the six major classes, the Wensi and Mantai Empires were becoming increasingly powerful, clearly posing a renewed threat to the Kayne Empire.
More significantly, these two empires possessed something the Kayne Empire did not. While these things might not seem very useful, who could say for sure? Just like, who could have known that the Mantai People could achieve the Taming of Mountain Monsters, or that the Vero People could intimidate Tree Spirits?
Indeed, what these two empires neighboring the Kayne Realm possessed, which the Kayne Empire lacked, was Alien Species. These were an apparent internal threat that could also become a pillar of military strength. The Kayne Realm had never housed any Alien Species, which made it starkly different from the Ghost and Vero Realms.
Therefore, considering Grand Master Guzan's status in the Empire and the current situation, Igor had ample reason to believe that Guzan was currently on a secret mission. And this mission must be related to Alien Species—perhaps to find Alien Species hidden within the Kayne Realm.
Given the current situation—Grand Master Guzan had transformed into Guru Guru and become the leader of all these monsters on Guru Mountain—it was clear he had been executing this covert mission exceptionally well. Who would have thought Guru Mountain concealed Alien Species? That this supposedly barren land hid such a colossal secret!
Igor continued to speculate, believing his deductions were reasonable. He was now just waiting for Grand Master Guzan to confirm them. However, on second thought, he chided himself. I'm overthinking this. How could the Grand Master casually reveal such an important mission? I'm getting carried away.
Pulling his thoughts back to the present, Igor finally noticed the peculiar standoff between Kadi and Grand Master Guzan.
Kadi's eyes were wide open, and Grand Master Guzan was staring back at Kadi, unblinking.
"What are you two doing?"
Kadi and Guzan remained motionless.
"Why aren't you talking?"
Still, Kadi and Guzan didn't react.
Igor watched the strange scene, unsure what to do.
Finally, Grand Master Guzan broke the awkward silence.
"Your eyes are still as remarkable as ever. Every time we meet your gaze, it makes us feel utterly inadequate."
Guzan's words left Igor and Kadi looking at each other in confusion, as if the Grand Master had started speaking in riddles again.
"What's wrong with Kadi's eyes?" Igor asked, deciding to probe further.
"Heh heh," Guzan chuckled. "When the time is right, you will naturally experience it. What is meant to come will always come, though it often arrives late. What is meant to depart will always depart, though it always seems to do so impatiently."
Neither Igor nor Kadi understood these profound words. They just stared at each other, bewildered.
"You are different from us, Kadi," Guzan continued. "You seem to be a gift from the heavens. It is just deeply regrettable that we have dragged you into these conflicts."
The Great Mentor sighed and began to speak again, his voice calm and measured.