Chapter 191: Ations query (1/2)
”And that's the situation,” Layn said in a grim tone, turning his face towards his fellow aces of the camp. ”Not only are we against an overlord, different to the one we are trading with, we are also against the clock in the race of supporting a faction friendly to us in Slavians,” Tom said, painting the picture of the entire situation.
”We are all against that... for what actually?” Al asked, looking around him as if to point at the entirety of the camp. After all, indoors, there was hardly anything he could find interesting to look around at. ”A few run-down buildings that barely classify for that kind of name?” he asked, shaking his head. ”Wouldn't it be easier to just let the two of them duke it out together and then make allies with the winner?” the burly man suggested.
For a moment, everyone turned silent. Not even the slightest murmur came out of the mouth of those present.
Slap.
The sound of a hand hitting the front of a head filled the room when Ation expressed his exhaustion.
”Al, it doesn't work like that,” Ation said, putting an uneasy smile. ”Right now, we are the weakest of the three. With all due respect for the heavy work that you guys put in this place when compared to that kind of swarm? Or with force capable of picking up a fight with it?” Ation shook his head. ”They will just roll over us. If we decide to stand by the side, it's even likely that one of the sides will try to use the other to get rid of us. Not in a play against an equal opponent, but in an attempt to weaken the other major force,” Ation explained, proving that not all of Layn's ancestors represented the level that modern science often pictured General companions to be at.
'I guess the legends came to be just to praise Al. Keeping capable figures by his side would make it harder for the storytellers to flaunt his epicness,' Layn thought, noticing the disproportion between what he expected and what he got.
”If we are not playing on the same board as those two, they won't consider us a player,” Layn said, shaking his head. ”As such, we won't be able to get any backing for the faction potentially friendly to us,” he added, explaining this weirdly complex yet ultimately simple problem.
”Wait for a second,” Sitra finally dared to speak up. Given how she was surrounded by the people who proved to be way more than just capable on the battlefield, this normally haughty girl turned strangely silent. ”Did you say that you made a deal with another overlord?!” she exclaimed, standing up and smashing her hands at the desk.
Once more, the room turned silent. This time, however, it wasn't Al that everyone directed their eyes at, but Sitra instead.
”Is this a problem?” Layn asked, pretending to be confused. 'That's what I was waiting for,' he thought internally, forcing his lips not to let them form a smile. ”Well, that's the case, so let's move on,” Tom said. He was perfectly satisfied with Sitra's reaction and already had plans in his head how to use it later on... But for now, there were other topics they had to talk about.
”Moving on, my ass!” Sitra protested, once again slamming her hands against the table. ”Do you not realize how insanely impossible it is to strike any deal with an Overlord?!” she cried out. Her face turned weird when she was met with confused stares from everyone. ”Oh, right, you guys have no idea...” she muttered as she sat back in her seat, powerless.
”Either way,” Layn said, moving his eyes from Sitra back to Antion and Markus. ”I believe we can all agree on intervening in this situation, right?” Layn asked just to make sure everyone was on the same page.
”No objections here,” Markus said, speaking up for the first time since the meeting started.
”It's not a good idea... but the only one we can have for now,” Antion nodded his head, expressing the consent of the remaining part of their group.
In this small council, the range of everyone's influence was well established. Layn, as the slayer of the Overlord, had the ultimate right of decision. Ultimately, they were on his land and had to follow his rules. In terms of any conflict, he already proved to be well-versed in local ways of using powers, giving him the edge of ignorance over both Markus and Yelna.