God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 484: Valerian Kingdom’s Royalty

Of course, White Phantom turned out to be Gabriel too, with a straightforward explanation for adopting that persona.

No elaborate motive drove the choice.

He merely sought greater freedom to operate.

The reputation of Broken Heaven had grown excessively prominent across countless areas by now. Additionally, New Dawn was just beginning to stabilize following its recent overhaul. Showing up publicly as the faction's leader would invite precisely the sort of unwanted notice he aimed to avoid. White Phantom, though renowned in his own right, afforded him far more flexibility to maneuver without excessive scrutiny.

Or so he believed.

Approaching nearer, he observed XMan in silence.

The fellow matched his mental image almost perfectly. Somewhat slender. Shoddy equipment. Awkward stance. His features even resembled the forum profile picture, albeit wearier up close. An air of anxiety clung to him, marking him as someone accustomed to constant bullying.

He halted a brief distance away.

"XMan?"

XMan nodded promptly, the gesture rigid.

"Yes."

He eyed him a moment longer. The response exceeded expectations in intensity, yet he recalled his current role. White Phantom had stirred up unintended chaos. From the Monkey Paradise fiasco to the whispers circulating in the Valerian Kingdom, this alias no longer offered the low profile he had envisioned.

Thus, XMan's astonishment was understandable.

"I came because of your Soul Key theory," he stated. "To be specific, I want to know how to find the other two."

This snapped XMan back to the meeting's true purpose. He gulped once and compelled himself to concentrate.

"I don’t know where the others are exactly. If I did, I would have posted less and searched more."

His gaze sharpened just a touch.

Noticing that, XMan hastened to add, "But I have a lead."

"What kind of lead?" he inquired.

XMan adjusted his stance slightly, speaking with greater caution as the initial jolt from encountering White Phantom began to fade.

"The old texts I found didn’t give clear locations. Not directly. Most were broken, and some only had half lines left. But the pieces pointed in the same direction more than once."

He remained quiet, allowing him to continue.

"It has something to do with the Valerian Kingdom," XMan revealed. "More specifically, the people at the top."

"The nobles?"

XMan paused only briefly before replying.

"Not just nobles. The royal family."

This froze him utterly.

Several mental fragments linked up in an instant.

His thoughts raced back to XMan's earlier forum post. One key linked to nobles or prominent narrative characters. Henry had seemed a solid match back then. Yet if the next clue aimed at the Valerian royal family, the stakes loomed far larger than anticipated.

Calmly, he posed the follow-up.

"You mean the Valerian Kingdom royalty?"

XMan nodded.

"Yes."

Confidence grew in him now that the talk delved into his true expertise.

"I don’t know which member exactly," he pressed on. "But several of the fragments kept connecting the key to the royal family."

Silence lingered from him for several seconds, though inner conflict churned within.

He had deliberately steered clear of the Valerian royal family until now. No compelling cause existed to challenge them prematurely, and early entanglement risked needless entanglements before preparation. Yet with a Soul Key bound to them, avoidance was impossible. Like it or not, interaction loomed inevitable.

Given current trends, that interaction might swiftly turn hostile.

"I know it sounds vague," XMan interjected abruptly. "That’s because it is. Most of the clues are broken. I had to put them together from different places. But I’m sure about the direction."

"How sure?"

XMan drew a breath. "Sure enough that if I had the strength, I would have gone digging into the Valerian Kingdom castle."

He inclined his head subtly, scrutinizing the man before him with renewed focus. Low tier. Poor equipment. Anxious demeanor. Likely scorned by nearly all. Still, the investigation held real weight. That quality rendered XMan valuable.

Thus, he decided without delay.

"I have a proposal for you," he declared.

XMan blinked. "A proposal?"

"Yes."

His voice remained steady. "You accompany me in finding the keys. In return, I pay you well."

XMan gaped at him. Briefly, doubt flickered as if questioning his ears.

"You mean work for you?"

"Yes."

He crossed his arms.

"You clearly know how to notice things other people miss. That matters more than raw strength in this case. I do not need you to fight. I need you to think, research, remember, and point out what others would ignore."

XMan’s mouth parted faintly, then shut once more.

Such chances rarely came his way.

Others viewed him merely as fodder. A throwaway spotter. Weakling fit for commands yet unworthy of regard. Yet here stood White Phantom, serenely affirming the worth of his unique skills.

"You will be paid properly," he appended. "Better than what low level parties throw at you. And if your information proves useful, that pay will increase."

XMan’s respiration shifted subtly. This held genuine potential.

White Phantom transcended ordinary players. His fame blanketed forums everywhere. Videos, tales, theory posts, alliance chats. Many already foresaw him rising as a game-defining powerhouse soon. Aligning with such a force promised total transformation.

For once in ages, XMan sensed this might transcend a disguised rip-off.

This could mark his long-awaited breakthrough.

Perhaps, supported by the ideal ally, he could escape the role of exploited weakling scout. Perhaps voices would heed his words at last. Perhaps his accumulated obscure lore would finally shine.

He observed the inner turmoil on XMan's features, granting space without pressure. Deep down, he suspected rejection unlikely.

Moments later, XMan broke the quiet.

"If I agree, then what exactly do you want me to do first?"

"I fight and you be the brain," he replied without pause.

XMan nodded deliberately.

That role suited him.

Excellently, in truth.

He continued, "You will also stop throwing yourself into useless dungeon parties just to lose levels for scraps."

Surprise flashed across XMan's face.

"You know about that?"

"I can tell the type of life you’ve been living just by looking at you."

"Fair enough."

XMan exhaled faintly, nearly a chuckle.

Quiet enveloped the surrounding road. Gentle evening breeze rustled the nearby grass. XMan glanced downward briefly, then up at the masked white figure opposite.

Fear lingered in his eyes.

Disbelief persisted as well.

Yet underneath surged a burgeoning emotion.

It was hope.

Finally, he drew himself straighter and delivered his verdict.

"I accept."