Chapter 116: A Question of How (1/2)

”Doesn't that mean the seven families are fighting against each other?” Arthur asked.

”Well, yes. Just because they're called the seven families, it doesn't mean they're united or on good terms with each other. Why would wars happen, in your opinion? Each family wishes to get stronger than the others.” Sier said in a helpless tone.

”However, there's also a balance of power. That's why there hasn't been a family who was exterminated completely. They're like cockroaches, spread everywhere.” Ivy snorted but Arthur disagreed on the inside.

Even though Jizo hasn't told him the details, he knew that there were nine guardians, not seven. He suspected that the seven families were either the descendants or the followers of the seven guardians who had either betrayed the people or remained neutral.

'What happened to Jizo's and the other guardian's followers and family?' Arthur wondered to himself. 'Were they killed or are they hiding?'

”Anyway, let's resume planning.” Si changed the subject. ”You'll join the awakeners army and find a chance to get close to the calamity spider. You'll need to find a way to get inside and stop the traitor prince,” A flash of sorrow flashed in Si's eyes. ”And kill him if necessary. However, the difficult part is to get into the fortress.”

”Do we need to do it ourselves? Why can't we just rely on the army?” Reece asked while eating a cookie.

”I doubt they'll be able to do anything. The awakeners' army is tasked with hindering the Calamity Spider until the attack from Ilios Empire is defended. That's where the high-ranking awakeners are. For the Blacksilk fortress, where you'll be defending, it'll be mostly Rei and Vetus-ranker.”

Arthur was slightly awed in his mind. To put it into perspective, Neo-rankers were those who had just awakened. After that comes Rei-rank, Vetus-rank, Deme-rank, Astra-rank, and the terrifying Empyrean-rank in sequence. Each rank was worlds apart from each other. The might that could be shown in the higher rank was something that could only be imagined by the common people and witnessed by the lucky ones.

Now, he was merely a neo-ranker that is trying to breakthrough. He'd join rei and Vetus-rankers in disguise to stop a possible calamity. Still in thought, he missed that Si has turned to face him.

”Do you think you can do it, Arthur?” Si asked, hopeful and not without reason since Arthur has shown he had a way yesterday.

And he did.

The fortress was made of runes moving the gears. If Arthur, the inheritor of the scholar guardian and master or runes, couldn't get inside then it would be unrealistic. That's why it wasn't a question of whether he could do it or not, but a question of how.

As for how… Arthur had a couple of plans on his own. However, it would be the first time he would confidently declare something he wasn't certain of.

”I can,” Arthur nodded. ”If everyone is willing to trust me, then I promise that even if we didn't succeed, no one would get hurt.” The room fell silent at his bold declaration. However, Arthur wasn't confident for no reason. After all, he could always do what he did before.

***

They left ten hours before the Calamity Spider was expected to reach the Blacksilk fortress or the border in general. The army would advance from Blacksilk toward Driedlands, an expanse of low ground that was thought to be a sea that evaporated by a dragon.

”Want to drive?” Ivy, under disguise, asked Arthur as she played with the keys. However, Arthur shrugged and told her he never bothered to get a driver's license. They headed toward the Union's headquarters where every awakener was registered. There was also the Temple, who handled criminal awakeners matters.

The ride was rather light-hearted despite no one saying anything. It seems that all of them realize that this mission was rather dangerous, so they tried to meditate beforehand. The silence was there but not as bothering.

The Union's headquarters was just like Arthur expected it to be, simply grand. It was like a miniature city with a skyscraper in the middle and different facilities lying around it. There was even housing for the staff with a hospital, school, and parks for their children. It was a district on its own, Arthur noted.

The group flashed their fake IDs and gained access immediately. They joined a giant crowd of awakeners who were far disorganized to be called an army. A platform was erected in the middle that Arthur noticed when a middle-aged man stood upon it.