Chapter 252 (1/2)

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Chapter 252 – Meeting Adjourned

「That was surprisingly fast.」Hikaru said matter-of-factly.

Behind the mask, however, he was frowning. So far the enemy had acted according to Hikaru's expectations, but they moved too early.

「I want details, now!」Patricia exclaimed, and the messenger started explaining.

Wars.h.i.+ps had entered into Ville Zentra seas, about thirty kilometers away, and closing in. These vessels were no doubt the ones that surrounded the island of Dew Roke. Equipped with cannons, the fleet one-sidedly destroyed Vireocean's navy.

As Patricia gave orders, Kaglai turned his attention to Hikaru.

「What do you think, Silver Face?」

「And by that, you mean?」

「You knew they were coming, right?」

「Yeah.」

Hikaru mulled over how much he should divulge. Not wanting a war to break out between them and the invaders from the Ruined Continent either, he decided to explain as much as he could.

「A spy would employ some kind of means to send information to his commanding officer. In other words, they're communicating using a method we don't know about.」

「Something like a Linga's Quill Pen perhaps?」

Kaglai was referring to the magic item used by the Adventurers Guild capable of sending messages over long distances. But that thing used the mana flowing underground to work; it could only be used on land.

Since the enemy had optical camouflage and pencils, Hikaru thought they might be using some sort of a long-range radio communication, although most likely not satellite phones.

There's a high chance that an actual engineer was transported to this world from Earth, and they're recreating the technology there in this world. Maybe it's what enabled them to repel the gigantic sea monsters.

He had no way of knowing if this person was still alive or not, however.

「So when the spy failed to make contact with them, they realized he got captured.」Kaglai said.

「Yeah. That's probably why they made a move quickly.」

「Wait a minute.」Patricia cut in..「So you're saying they're coming to save their friend? Mobilizing their troops just for that is absolute nonsense.」

「Not at all. They're in a tight spot too.」

「How? Please explain.」

Hikaru pointed out that there might be a division between the enemy's forces. If one faction sent a spy without orders from their commander, the spy's capture—although a consequence of their own actions—would surely put them in trouble. The opposing faction could use it as the perfect excuse to criticize them.

Gigy's superiors would take some sort of action which the commander would oppose. He'd rather not have chaos in his troops. So in the end, they decided to make their move under the pretext of saving Gigy from the enemy. That was Hikaru's guess.

He just didn't expect them to make their move so soon. That was the reason for the scowl on his face. The commander took immediate action to unify his forces, going as far as using the fact that Gigy was captured, and he made the decision in just a day.

「b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You made contact with the spy without permission?!」

Hikaru told them everything, including the fact that he talked to Gigy. Patricia's close aides were fuming. Even the officials and guards from the other nations watched him with hateful eyes.

I expected this reaction anyway. But shouldn't they be focusing on something else?

They criticized Hikaru for talking to the spy without permission, even blaming him for the lack of progress on the questioning. They probably just felt disgraced that he caught the spy first; all the more so when he acquired information that the interrogators couldn't.

However, some remained calm—the leaders, Selyse, and the people from the Church. Patricia maintained an air of nonchalance, perhaps to let the others vent out their frustration, which was of course unfair to Hikaru.

「All right. Let's get back on track.」Kudyastoria said calmly.

Some of them still wanted to voice their displeasure, but Patricia raised her hand, silencing them.「This is not the time for that. I'll talk to Silver Face later. You're fine with that, yes?」

Uh, no? We don't have anything to talk about, Hikaru thought. The people around him nodded reluctantly, a few of them still scowling at him.

「So now the question is: Will they attack or not?」Patricia asked.

「I don't think they will.」Hikaru said.

「Why do you think so?」

「They should ask for the spy to be released first. That will be a chance to negotiate.」

「So we'll have the opportunity to find out what they want.」Kudyastoria said, reading Hikaru's mind.

Some of the civil officials present seemed to a.s.sume that war is what the invaders were after. It showed just how wise Kudyastoria was. She already realized that the enemy were trying to obtain something that would benefit them.

「Very well. We'll just confirm things during the negotiation.」Patricia said.

a.s.suming that a messenger would come, the Supreme Leader then started giving orders—strengthening surveillance and how to deal with the messenger if one arrived.