October 5, 1616 Central Calendar
MOASEC Naval System Development Facility, San Redentore District, Runepolis
That afternoon, Legiel appeared again at the Ancient Ministry’s San Redentore headquarters.
“Brother!”
Cyrus stopped in his tracks and turned to face the owner of the voice. Having spotted Cyrus walking at the tail end of a group of engineers on the way to take a break, the First Horseman called out to him while leaning out from a corner of a hallway for some reason, as if expecting a surprise ambush.
“Oh, hey, Cyrus, it’s your brother,” some of them helpfully pointed out.
“Why is he hiding like that?”
“He’s like a maiden!”
“………”
Legiel carried with him a large stack of lunchboxes wrapped neatly in cloth, while his face was alight with a broad smile.
“Lunch! …Want to eat together?”
Still silent, Cyrus glanced back at his colleagues. They first exchanged looks, then nodded at him. There was an unspoken agreement among them to let him spend the lunchtime with his younger brother.
…………
The two chose outdoors, where they now sat on a blanket laid out underneath the shade of a sprawling tree just outside the Naval Facility building. The scent of enticing meals began to waft around as Legiel unpacked the lunchboxes. A box held perfectly browned plump sausages resting atop a bed of sautéed vegetables with a hint of caraway. The next revealed soft pretzels accompanied by small containers of tangy mustard. Yet another box contained thick slices of rye bread, dark and dense, alongside a creamy spread that looked like a blend of cheese and herbs. There were also boiled potatoes dressed with fresh dill, and a rich stew with tender chunks of meat swimming in a deep, aromatic broth.
Legiel picked up one and ate slowly, savoring each bite with a contented smile on his face. He seemed more focused on watching his older brother than on his own meal, his eyes bright with a gentle joy, almost childlike.
Cyrus, on the other hand, had his focus entirely on the food before him, remaining silent as he devoured the meal. It was clear from the outset that the many lunchboxes were intended for him alone. Seeing him eat with such intensity only made Legiel happier. His smile grew wider as he offered up another box, this one containing a slice of dense, dark cake topped with a dusting of powdered sugar. The Third Horseman didn’t respond verbally, but he took the box and began to empty its contents without hesitation.
“I helped Mom and the maids with the cooking,” Legiel broke the silence in a light tone. “Speaking of which, I heard from a spilled tea that new designs are coming in from the Navy Department. You’re dealing with them right now, right, Brother?”
Placing the finished lunchbox onto the stack of empty boxes beside him and picking up another, Cyrus’ gaze finally shifted from the meal to Legiel, beckoning him to continue.
The younger brother chuckled, “Ah. You know, given the setting, this world has depressingly nonexistent signs of events resembling the canonical sequence and all the problems that came along with them. So I figured that if I cannot have the wars, at least I want to see the tech.”
“And you came to me,” Cyrus finally opened his mouth.
Legiel pouted.
“Sister War is cool, but she’s kind of a jerk, while Amatsu-Mikaboshi is a side character with a romantic plot tumor—”
“………”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll pay a visit to Sister and Amatsu-Mikaboshi later, but after all, you are always the kindest of us all, Brother Famine.”
“……For someone who actually detested the Audience, you seem all too eager to pander to their craving.”
“One does not need to like the other to conduct proper business with them. That’s what professionals do, isn’t it?”
“I can’t say the same for the relationships of gods and mortals.”
“Then they are just dramatic crybabies with a huge skill issue,” Legiel flippantly waved his hand.
Cyrus lowered his gaze. “I wonder… if the Eldest Brother is trying to show us a path…”
“Brother, we are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, personifications of the end times. The fact that nobody likes the notion that everything will end for them is in their nature.”
“Are you implying that the Eldest Brother is stupid, then?” the elder brother countered.
Legiel shook his head. “Oh, I’d never say that. Please do not get me wrong. Our philosophical disagreements don’t mean that we hate each other. I’m sure the Eldest Brother feels the same way.”
“I see. You’re existing in contentment.”
“Yes, that’s right. What more do I need when I have you, my siblings?”
At that moment, Famine searched for Pestilence’s eyes and saw within them that he held nothing but sincere love.
“……Wait at the usual place,” Cyrus said quietly, standing up and turning without another word. Walking towards the Naval Facility building, he left his younger brother alone with the picnic spread.
Legiel watched his brother’s retreating figure with a soft smile gracing his lips before proceeding with the task of cleaning up the lunch site. Cyrus had placed the empty lunchboxes in a neatly arranged stack, making Legiel only need to wrap them up. The grass around them was pristine, free from any crumbs or debris.
…………
As told by Cyrus, Legiel waited alone in the lounge the siblings and their White Lotus collaborators usually used to hold relevant talks, protected by the Vernda spell to drive away unwanted attention. Before long, his quiet older brother entered, carrying a backpack revealed to contain a Datapoint reader device and, naturally, the Datapoints themselves, which they connected to the projection table without further ado.
However, unlike the ones the Order of the Ancients salvaged from Ravernal ruins, the ones Cyrus brought were pristine, brand-new storages with a greenish tint, contrasting with the bluish hue of the oft-corrupted originals. That’s right, these were reverse-engineered and enhanced versions of Object 8 (Ravernal Datapoint), roughly similar to how a Blu-Ray compares to a DVD.
While Meteos was away on a mission to the Gynamo Kingdom, the Roguerider Foundation followed the guidance he left to work on the master “Datapoint 2” he had created, which was filled with design data for both the storage trinket and its reader device. Thanks to this measure, the Foundation can now use the Cauldron to produce the same technology over and over again without needing Meteos’ direct involvement, as long as the design data is available. Furthermore, the data can be modified when inserted into the reader device if necessary.
Speaking of which, since Meteos adamantly refused Legiel’s proposal to name the Datapoint reader device “PlayStation,” the Foundation settled with RF Vision 2, which is a rather boring name.
At the same time the White Lotus proceeded to establish a design database for the future and gather any blueprints and designs they could find to be recorded into data, the Foundation started producing limited quantities of Datapoint 2s and reader devices to supply the Order of the Ancients. Even though the Cauldron’s capabilities as a highly advanced production line had drastically reduced production costs to as low as possible—a feat that should have rendered these Datapoint 2s almost valueless—the Order was still more than willing to pay the Foundation a substantial sum for their assistance and technology sharing. By the time these technologies were ready for public release, the patent would automatically be granted to Meteos Roguerider, though given the circumstances, the boy honestly no longer gave it much thought.
“Alright, let’s talk ships!”
Receiving the stack of Datapoint 2s from Cyrus, Legiel beamed with eyes seemingly shining brighter than usual.
“The Navy Department’s design study mostly covers the basics. The Order got their hands on a copy and used it as a foundation to add their own elements. When it reaches us, it already includes all the iterations as you can see in the files.”
Legiel inserted the first Datapoint 2 into the RF Vision device. The holographic display above the projection table flickered, revealing an imposing vessel with angular lines and massive gun turrets that immediately identified it as a battleship. The title hovering above the projection read: Next-Gen Battleship Design Study (Phase 2).
“Battleship Pattern D-300. Of course, it has to be a battleship,” the younger brother remarked with a mixture of amusement and inevitability. His fingers danced over the projection, zooming in on the details of the ship’s hull, the arrangement of its weapons, the armor scheme, and the placement of its superstructure.
“…Would it make any difference if it were an aircraft carrier or a guided missile specialist ship?”
“Well, no matter what the naval doctrine is, it’s useless. So of course not!” Legiel chirped happily, “Canonically, that is. Anyway—”
The “D” in the design’s code denoted that it was a battleship with the fourth main gun configuration devised, consisting of nine main guns in three centerline three-gun turrets designated from front to rear: ‘Astra’ and ‘Byron’ forward, as well as ‘Chara’ aft. Two classes were using this configuration, Alastor in service and Callandor under construction, which was probably why the number after it was ‘300’ to signify the third design.
Tracing the lines on the display, Legiel’s lips curled into a lopsided grin. “Well, well,” he said, tilting his head as if scrutinizing the ship from a different angle. “It’s basically just an up-gunned version of your battleship designs, isn’t it? The one the Navy’s already using for those Callandors and Spardas.”
“What do you expect, then? The original intention is to complete the lineup that will replace the Tizons and Khazidheas in the main fleet. They know that the guided missile ships are there, but this objective cannot change.”
“Of course. It’s in the naval doctrine.”
When Cyrus raised an eyebrow, Legiel shrugged with a chuckle.
For years, the Holy Milishial Empire had been planning to replace their decades-old Tizon and Khazidhea pattern battleships from the operation with their main (numbered) fleets with new models. Cyrus’ next-generation warship design studies came along at the right time, resulting in the current state of new warship construction, including battleships. Three Alastor, five Callandor, and eight Sparda fast battleship classes make sixteen. The remaining five old ships were decided to be replaced by one or two new classes to complete the modernization plan.
The Holy Empire already conquered the known world with merchant ships, but exactly one reason caused them to intend building up warships with power enough for a fight equaling fighting the entire world.
“Hmh… This country is torn between being a sole dominant superpower surrounded by primitives that can’t even fight back but at the same time those in charge know that an even more advanced archnemesis is prophesied to return, of which they know very little still.”
Based on what information they can find about said archnemesis, it was theorized that the Holy Milishial Empire would be at a disadvantage in a 1:3 ratio when facing the Ravernal Empire in battle. Figuring out how to overcome this disadvantage has been a major concern for as long as anyone can remember. Not knowing what to expect beyond fragmentary information that the Ancient Sorcerous Empire used to rule the world and some reverse-engineered relics, they reflected and decided to use themselves but times three as their comparison to estimate how the enemy might fight. This led to the development of a battleship-centered doctrine, which is reflected in the D-300 design.
When airplanes, torpedoes, submarines, and then guided magic bullets entered the picture, the tactic was updated where the aforementioned weapons would be used to soften the enemy’s superior defenses while the artillery, hopefully stronger than the enemy based on their estimations, got within range to finish off the enemy. There are also those who propose the opposite approach: using artillery to weaken the target’s defenses while pummeling it with their new attack options. In the end, both are considered interchangeable depending on the situation.
However, war means fighting against an enemy—a numerically superior enemy whose entirety of the Holy Empire’s weapons were also inferior copies of. When this was pointed out, the strategists suffered from intense headaches once again. However, knowing that there will never be an option to surrender and plead for mercy, the Holy Milishial Empire’s—nay, mankind’s only option is to fight the Ancient Sorcerous Empire to death.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
It was a hopeless scenario where they had no other choice but to do their best.
As per the Civilization Annihilation Game’s rules, natives holding their ground on their own or even winning against the Ancient Sorcerous Empire without the existence of some entities conveniently stolen from another world and sent here to die is considered breaking the canon. Their destiny is to fail a colossal failure, but hope exists because Amatsu-Mikaboshi’s interference in this world already started to unravel this destiny. He and Meteos Roguerider—the Fate’s Rebel—are hellbent on making summoned countries obsolete.
On the other hand, some other countries who don’t share the same doomsday belief as the Holy Empire see the August Star of Heaven as at best incredibly stupid to waste resources on a fight against an enemy that may never even show up, or at worst accusing them of being hypocrites who use legends as justifications to amass military power that might be directed somewhere. However, either way, when they realize that if this stupid country needs some target practice, they can easily turn their massive military their way, they begin to sweat bullets and are compelled to act nice outside. They are willing to humor the Holy Empire’s claims of being the world’s guardian and the world order it created, so long it doesn’t lead to their own obliteration by provoking the Holy Empire in a way that displeases the Emperor. Even Mu isn’t exempt from this, as it seems that they could not finish the debate of whether ‘adding one more main gun turret on the next battleship class is considered unnecessarily provoking Milishial’ without someone ending up dead.
…That last part might be a hyperbole, but someone did die occasionally. It didn’t help that in this strange world, the Holy Empire was torn between their fanciful self-appointed duty and the more realistic ploy to secure national interests as seen in their foreign policies.
Legiel hummed and returned to the topic. “Okay, in your opinion, Brother. Considering this is their attempt without defaulting to ask the Rogueriders for guidance, how credible do you think is the Navy Department’s design?”
“As credible as one can get with limited knowledge of what is to come.”
“Oh. Okay, just want it to be clear to the Audience and all.”
“………”
There used to be a clear path of future events that Meteos Roguerider planned to take advantage of, but then Pestilence invaded the plot to set it right back to the Civilization Annihilation Game and made future events a fog of war again.
“…Oh well, I guess it can’t be helped,” Legiel smiled. “You might be right. They’re all good people. Do not wait until someone throws you a bone, fight for the bone YOURSELF! Right? …But as the one responsible for sending this world their archenemy, it’s still not enough. I’m sorry, Brother. At this rate, they’re all still going to die. The summoned entities, too. I’m just that comically evil.”
Because the summoned entities were already slated to die in this world anyway as part of the show no matter how powerful they were, Legiel’s declaration as the Civilization Annihilation Game’s Executive Producer himself was of no surprise to Cyrus.
“Hm,” he hummed quietly. There was a reason why Famine was the sibling that Pestilence liked the most.
Designed as the successor to the Callandor and Sparda patterns, the designers advanced their plans for new battleships to be individually superior to their estimated counterparts in the Ancient Sorcerous Empire. Each would be capable of engaging multiple enemy capital ships simultaneously to counter the numerical disadvantage. However, since the design came from someone in the Department of the Navy who wasn’t involved with the secretive elements of the Holy Empire, the resulting design seemed pretty pathetic magitech-wise despite having the firepower enough to level Leiforia. Heh.
…………
Proposed Battleship Pattern D-300
- Length 265 meters; Beam 35 meters.
- Standard displacement ~60.000 tons.
- Four sets of Naval Manadrive engines, 4 thrusters; Maximum speed 30 knots (55,56 km/h).
- Range 10.000 nautical miles (18.520 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h).
Armament
- 3 × triple 47 caliber 460 cm (18 in) Spirit Magic Cannons
- 10 × twin 54 caliber 127 mm (5 in) Dual-Purpose Spirit Magic Cannons
- 20 × quadruple 40 mm Antion II Magic Anti-Air Cannons
- 24 × twin 20 mm Ixion Magic Anti-Air Cannons
- Planned armor enhancement sequence 5s to 20%, it’s either gold or mithril.
Additional features to be included
- 1,7-ton superheavy shell for the main gun ammunition.
- Proximity fuse-equipped Aerial Intercept Bursting Shockwave Shells (AI-BMS) in main and DP guns to absolutely delete incoming swarms of wyverns, dragons, or flying machines in anti-air combat. You choose.
- Aerial Intercept Bursting Barrier Shells (AI-BBS) to be used in defending against incoming gunfire, missile, and torpedo surprisingly, or to make the enemy crash against the solid but fleeting barrier it created midair. Pretty interesting, but using it will sacrifice the guns when they are needed to target something. Artillery duel against the enemy, for example.
- Better radar-guided firing capabilities.
- Improved Combat Information Center from the ones installed in the Callandor and Sparda patterns.
- Maneuvering thrusters.
…………
It’s… the Grade Atlastar…
Or an Ars Goetian analogue of one, anyway.
This design was the very basic of the proposed D-300 and was thus quite conservative in its design. As these normal designers still considered battleships as the main attack weapon instead of the newer ‘damage absorber’ approach popularized by the White Lotus collaborators, it did not include missiles in its listed armaments; it seemed the designers intended for cruisers and small ships to handle such support weapons, similar to the approach with torpedoes. Additionally, it did not carry airopters (in case you forgot, those are helicopter analogues that hover using anti-gravity magic instead of rotary wings), as these were only introduced very recently.
This was what Legiel meant by ‘pretty pathetic.’
Cyrus commented. “As it turned out, the designers also considered one particular scenario when drafting. They recognized the possibility that their current assumptions might be incorrect.”
“You mean that they considered the possibility of their enemy having even stronger ships than they anticipated, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Neat,” Legiel remarked. He ejected the Datapoint 2 in operation to pick the relevant files from the stack. As he inserted them one after another for a quick review, a series of new designs began to materialize.
The next design is called Pattern C-300, a design using the main armament of twelve guns in four triple turrets (the second aft turret is called Psichi).
…………
Proposed Battleship Pattern C-300
- Length 280 meters; Beam 37 meters.
- Standard displacement around 68.000 to 70.000 tons.
- Four sets of Naval Manadrive engines, 4 thrusters; Maximum speed 30 knots (55,56 km/h).
- Range 10.000 nautical miles (18.520 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h).
Armament
- 4 × triple 47 caliber 460 cm (18 in) Spirit Magic Cannons
- 10 × twin 54 caliber 127 mm (5 in) Dual-Purpose Spirit Magic Cannons
- 20 × quadruple 40 mm Antion II Magic Anti-Air Cannons
- 24 × twin 20 mm Ixion Magic Anti-Air Cannons
- Planned armor enhancement sequence 5s to 20%, most likely mithril.
…………
As the most conservative alternative, it’s easier to think of it as a larger version of the Sparda-pattern under construction. Legiel decided to not dwell much on it after reviewing the basics and proceeded to the remaining two designs that the Navy Department created.
“Hee… super-large battleships… so they are even ready for a radical approach.”
The design viewed next started with the letter ‘E,’ a configuration never used before by the Holy Empire’s battleships as aptly shown by its number. The one after that is a ‘B,’ the configuration found in older Milishian battleships.
…………
Proposed Battleship Pattern E-100
- Length 272 meters; Beam 36 meters.
- Standard displacement ~70.000 tons.
- Four sets of Naval Manadrive engines, 4 thrusters; Maximum speed 28 knots (52 km/h).
- Range 7.200 nautical miles (13.300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h).
Armament
- 3 × twin 45 caliber 510 cm (20 in) Spirit Magic Cannons
- 10 × twin 54 caliber 127 mm (5 in) Dual-Purpose Spirit Magic Cannons
- 20 × quadruple 40 mm Antion II Magic Anti-Air Cannons
- 24 × twin 20 mm Ixion Magic Anti-Air Cannons
- Planned armor enhancement sequence 5s to 20%.
…………
Proposed Battleship Pattern B-300
- Length 290 meters; Beam 38 meters.
- Standard displacement ~75.000 tons.
- Four sets of Naval Manadrive engines, 4 thrusters; Maximum speed 28 knots (52 km/h).
- Range 7.200 nautical miles (13.300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h).
Armament
- 4 × twin 45 caliber 510 cm (20 in) Spirit Magic Cannons
- 10 × twin 54 caliber 127 mm (5 in) Dual-Purpose Spirit Magic Cannons
- 24 × quadruple 40 mm Antion II Magic Anti-Air Cannons
- 30 × twin 20 mm Ixion Magic Anti-Air Cannons
- Planned armor enhancement sequence 5s to 20%.
…………
Both designs’ main gun ammunitions were proposed to use superheavy shells weighing 1,9 to 2 tons.
After finishing looking at the Datapoint 2s, Legiel turned the projection table off and leaned back with a loud sigh. The advancement of magic technology in the Holy Milishial Empire is rapid nowadays, enough to make these design studies unfortunately obsolete before they could even be built. That is, if they will even be built.
“What a bunch of desperate low-technology designs. The Navy Department is grasping at every possible configuration in an attempt to find that one silver bullet. Alas, they’re fighting against shadows, and these designs are too obsolete to make the battleships effective tanks either,” Legiel mused with a voice tinged with a mixture of admiration and pity.
As recently theorized by some Milishian strategists in a scenario against a peer opponent or above, a ‘tank’ is supposed to draw the enemy’s attacks, absorb damage, and prevent others from being attacked while their side attempts to destroy the enemy. Magic battleship squadrons are expected to advance ahead of the mobile unit as the first line of defense, be the receiving end of the brunt of enemy attacks, and are expected to survive, if not defeat them. That’s why the designs call for fast battleships with heavy armament and armor.
However, a tank is not an effective tank if it dies too easily.
“The Order and the White Lotus each hold hidden cards that could render the concerns related to these designs invalid. If they truly wanted to, these designs could actually be made feasible.”
Legiel smiled. “Yeah, that’s what makes it funny enough. Something seemingly stupid ceases to be one when they work, just like what seems smart will be mocked if they don’t work,” he remarked as he nodded to himself. “Hindsight bias is incredibly annoying.”
If the Holy Empire’s dockyard can construct something as big as the Orphan Wolf Legend, then none of these designs were too large to be built. If they were somehow, then there’s this discovered Ancient ruin taking the form of a gigantic shipyard where the superweapon Pal Cowne was once built. Oh, they found another! Neat! And then you incorporate Cauldron technology into the process, and loads of hokum like “too expensive,” “too manpower-consuming,” “too resource-intensive,” or “requires impossible technology” will suddenly disappear completely.
“The next battleships won’t be laid down until the Callandor and Sparda patterns are completed in 1619. Within those three years, the first Configuration M Cauldrons will likely be already operational. Once they are, we can start producing ships on a capability that these current shipyards can only dream of.”
“Even if things shift, such as a change in priorities, the construction of the Cauldron is a given,” Legiel agreed with a mirthful tone in his voice. “There’s no use in mastering magick if we can’t use it for the betterment and convenience of mankind, no? That’s what Meteos will say. I wonder if he’s having fun right now down south…”
“Are you ready to proceed to the next design?”
“—Oh. Yes, yes, Brother. Sorry for going off tangent.”
Now that they’re finished seeing the “realistic” design study, it’s time to view what the White Lotus have devised in their “fantasy” proposal.
“Here goes the maximum fantasy of Ars Goetian battleship…” Legiel chuckled.
Judging from the name, this one was a part of the C-300 series, with the specifications as follows:
Proposed Battleship Pattern C-399
- Length 280 meters; Beam 37 meters.
- Standard displacement around 65.000 to 68.000 tons.
- Four sets of Hyper Cyclone Manadrive engines, 4 thrusters; Maximum speed 30 knots (59,26 km/h).
- Range 15.000 nautical miles (27.800 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h).
Armament
- 4 × triple 47 caliber 460 cm (18 in) Spirit Evo Magic Cannons
- 10 × twin 54 caliber 127 mm (5 in) Dual-Purpose Spirit Evo Magic Cannons
- 24 × twin 20 mm Megaflare Cannons
- 8 × quadruple Armored Box Launchers for cruise missiles
- 4 × quadruple anti-ship missile launchers
- 6 × Multi-Purpose Energy Projectors
- Planned armor enhancement sequence 5s to 40-50%, adamantite or better with charged pedanium armor in critical areas.
Additional features to be included
- 1,7-ton guided accelerating superheavy shell for the main gun ammunition. Mostly self-explanatory.
- Proximity fuse-equipped Aerial Intercept Bursting Shockwave Shells in main and DP guns.
- The best sensors, processing systems, jammers, and decoys available.
- In general, everything needed for a tank to not die against a superior enemy.
…………
“Megaflare. Now we’re talking!”
“Now, is it up to your standards?” Cyrus inquired after a while of letting Legiel fiddle with the projection.
“Heh, heh. We’ll see about that.”
Pestilence looked up, turning to gaze his older brother directly in the eyes.
“In the end, it all boils down to how the Fate’s Rebel find the solution to the Annonrial question.”
----------------------------------------
October 8, 1616 Central Calendar; Midnight
Zelmoda, Gynamo Kingdom
In front of Amon were the holographic projections of the four Magisters who were allied with the White Lotus and some of the collaborators.
“Magisters and friends of the White Lotus, I am speaking to you from the communications room of Zelmoda Royal Palace,” he spoke to the unmoving masks of the people on the other side. “The situation in Gynamo’s capital is under control. Annonrial spies have been identified, neutralized, and turned to our cause. Their eyes and ears now serve us.”
Some among the holographic conference participants nodded. Although the White Lotus Leader didn’t explicitly mention it, the very fact that he was accessing the communications room of a foreign royal palace—also serving as a command center in emergencies—indicated that the White Lotus had solidified its influence in the region by engaging with the country’s leadership. While he had previously shown the Temple of Heaven to key government officials when they visited Cartalpas, this was the first time Amon presented it to a monarch.
Magister Tephras the Guardian spoke up. “What of your plans with the Gynamo Kingdom?”
“Unfortunately, given this country’s low national power, the best and only option Gynamo has now to support is to wait, listen, and maintain the sense of normalcy, if that’s what you people call ‘pragmatic.’”
“Basically giving Annonrial a taste of its own medicine. Not that the Messiah will know about it,” Enepsigos quipped.
“Let’s hope so.”
“Very well, White Lotus Leader. In this case, your next step will be…” Sorath in the center of the assembly trailed off.
“Yes. To continue the operation by neutralizing more Annonrial spies in the remaining spots on the island as much as I can.”
Now that he had obtained the cooperation from the Kingdom’s ranks, Amon now has access to the capital’s wyverns. This would provide a swift means of traversing the island, bypassing the slow and underdeveloped infrastructure for overland travel.
Amon continued. “In addition, Annonrial has established a covert communications station on an uninhabited island south of the country. Seizing this site intact and repurposing it to intercept and monitor the other side’s communication, among others, is now a priority objective.”
“That’s true…”
“Given that I am primarily utilizing local resources and personnel, the risk of losses to the Holy Empire itself is minimal should the plan fail.”
One participant raised their hand. “Here’s a question, White Lotus Leader. Is your plan realistic?”
‘I hate that word,’ Amon thought. “Given that I happen to possess what’s necessary for the plan to succeed—Yes. It’s as realistic as it gets.”
“Then I believe you should proceed if that’s your intention, White Lotus Leader. I have no objections.”
Before Meteos Roguerider went to rest his tired body that night, he briefly glanced at the white revolver-shaped trinket that his brother Ace lent him.