Anyi’s gaze swept over the group, his tone calm but weighty. "From my perspective, we can't win against our opponents at this stage. So, what are y’all's thoughts?"

He glanced at each of them, his mind already calculating. If he were alone, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to take on the three Goblin Centurions. Troublesome, yes, but he estimated a 95% chance of success. However, slaughtering thousands of low-class goblins by himself? That would take far too long.

But what he thought wasn’t the point. They weren’t in this fight alone—what his companions believed mattered more.

Layton, for once, had a serious expression. "I think... we should wait." His voice held a rare gravity.

"We can’t ignore the disaster looming over this area," he continued, "but like you said, Anyi, we can’t handle this right now. We should hold off. Let the followers summon other Heroes. When we have enough people, we can launch an attack on the Goblins."

Layton’s resolve was clear, but his hesitation showed. His special ability, while powerful, had already been used, and he wasn't certain it would be enough to protect everyone if they rushed into battle now. They needed backup. The more Heroes they had, the more unique abilities they could rely on to turn the tide.

"Mr. Layton’s idea is sound, but I’m thinking…" Ariana spoke up, her golden eyes sharp with thought. "The Goblins aren’t showing any signs of attacking the city yet."

She folded her hands, her tone measured. "Before we go after the Goblin Centurions, we should leave for now. Go to nearby areas, level up, get stronger. Then, when we come back, we’ll have a better chance of success—and we’ll be safer."

Unlike Layton, who wanted to wait for reinforcements, Ariana leaned toward retreating to grow stronger. It wasn’t the first time she’d mentioned this strategy to Anyi, especially back in the slime forest.

But Layton wasn’t convinced. "And what if they attack while we’re off in another area? There won’t be anyone left to protect this place. Besides, with so many Goblins, we’d be able to get stronger faster by fighting them head-on, wouldn’t we?"

Ariana, unfazed, met his gaze. "We know there are three Goblin Centurions in the jungle. We can warn the townspeople, get them to evacuate."

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Layton’s frustration flared. "And how soon is 'soon'? When exactly do you plan to warn them? Do you know when the Goblins will attack? Tomorrow? This afternoon? Tonight?" He shot the questions rapid-fire, his anger barely contained. "Do you realize how long it takes to evacuate a town? If we leave now and they haven’t evacuated yet, what happens if the Goblins strike while we’re gone?"

"Mr. Layton," Ariana’s voice cut through the tension like a blade, her golden eyes gleaming with determination, "have you forgotten the endless battle we faced in the slime forest? Even if we grow stronger, the exhaustion from constant battle never fades. If we level up first, we can confront the Goblin army with greater strength."

Layton clenched his fists, frustration evident, but Ariana pressed on. "Yes, organizing refugees is difficult. We don’t know exactly when the Goblins will strike, but even if they attack tonight, I’ll ensure the residents have time to flee. We can’t afford to sit idle, waiting for Heroes who may never come. Time is precious—we need to use it."

She wasn't willing to back down, her resolve solid as stone. Ariana hated the idea of waiting for an uncertain future. To her, preparing endlessly for a battle that may never come felt like wasting the little time they had. If Goblins attacked, they’d evacuate, regroup, and strengthen themselves elsewhere. Simple. Clean.

Miruku, sitting silently on the side, was overwhelmed by the heated exchange. She hugged her knees, her wide eyes filled with fear. Thoughts of Class 3 monsters had already terrified her; the idea of facing Class 4 monsters felt like a death sentence.

She knew both Layton and Ariana had their points, but both plans had flaws. Layton’s idea of summoning more Heroes was solid in theory, but how could he be sure they’d arrive in time—or that they could even handle three Goblin Centurions? His reluctance to notify the town came from a place of wanting to avoid panic, but he was in denial about the urgency of the situation.

Ariana’s approach was simpler—evacuate now, train, then return to finish the job. But she seemed to overlook the sheer disruption that evacuating a town could cause. What if the Goblins didn’t attack immediately? What if, during the evacuation, the Goblins seized the empty town? Worse yet, what if they attacked once the townspeople returned, believing the danger had passed?

Miruku, trapped between the two conflicting plans, finally whispered, “Why do we even assume the Goblins will attack at any moment?”

Ariana turned to her with a gentle smile. "What was that, Miruku?"

Layton, however, was less patient. "Of course, we have to assume that! You must always be alert to the enemy!" His voice, tight with agitation, sent a shiver down Miruku's spine. She shrank back, regretting speaking up at all.

Anyi, watching quietly, sighed inwardly. Poor Miruku.

"Actually," Anyi said, his voice calm as always, "Miss Miruku has a point. We don’t need to treat this as a crisis. There’s no need to act like time is running out." His expression remained impassive, but his words were like a lifeline to Miruku, who blinked through her tears, grateful for someone finally understanding her.

Layton’s reaction was swift. "Why?! I don’t understand!" His frustration boiled over, fists clenched as he demanded an explanation.