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Chapter 445: Infiltrated!!!
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Is it really just for the purpose of sowing the seeds of chaos amongst the entire Terran Society?
“Urgh… the more I dig, the more I put myself deep in this matter, and the more I learn I am connected to all of this, the more I become confused as to the reason why... why are the demons so fixated with, no, why are they in a rush to conquer Terroa?”
[Sir, based on my analysis of the past posts of the players regarding missions that included Demons, the strings of Missions started around two months ago. According to the posts, 2 months ago, the Demon activities began increasing. It is also around that time that the conflict between the Sylphiadora Guild and Titan Goliath Guild started to worsen.][1]
([1]: guys, in this chapter, starting here, I will be referring to the time frame of the real world)
Siva felt shocked by this news.
The “War of Two Powers” was another matter that was connected to him.
Siva had a bad feeling. Still, to prove whether he was wrong or not, he asked Cortana, “Check some reports about Demon Commanders being sighted on important Terran Landmarks from beginning of the game to the current time frame.”
It didn’t take long for Cortana to finish the task.
[Research complete… from the start of the game until around nine months ago, reports about the LAGRAM Alliance’s Demon Armada were always in mere sightings and no major battles occurred. Only around nine months ago, the Demon Commanders began appearing on Terran-controlled territories and for a Demon Commander attack… there is one report pertaining to a Demon Commander attacking a fortified base in Espada with his fleet.]
“What is that base’s purpose?”
[According to the Intel we got here in Vajra’s Vault, it was a base to protect Xargoal-05.]
“The Light Stone Mines!”
Light Stones are necessary resource for producing Anti-Plasma Tech equipment necessary for the war against the Demon Armada.
Before the War of Two Braves, the Xargoal Mining Towns weren’t an important landmark for Terrans.
It was only during that war that the Xargoal Mining Towns who processed that important resource had become high-priority areas.
There are only 11 Light Stone Mines in Terroa and to protect these important places, forts and bases were built for them.
During the War of Two Powers, Mefisto destroyed Xargoal-6 and Siva was there when it happened.
It was their first contact and Siva could still recall how things started to change around him after that short meeting.
—now that I think about it, he doesn’t remember me and I didn’t remember him as well… but there was a sense of danger on that meeting.
Connecting it to the Intel… the time when it all first happened, and then to his life…… this thin thread of suspicion Siva had about his connection to all of it had begun to solidify; and no matter how thin this strand of suspicion was, he felt that it was really his only link into solving the mystery as to why the Demon Armada was in a rush to conquer Terroa.
“It’s definitely not about their purpose. I feel it. If the Terrans can’t mine Light Stones, the defenses of the cities will weaken and the equipment will be useless against the Demons. Destroying the mines is a high-priority target for the Demons. If not, then why would Mefisto go himself to destroy one?”
[Boss, you’re looking at it only in that angle.]
Siva’s eyes went wide and he blinked in surprise.
He asked curiously, “What are you talking about?”
The girl, stroking her cat, stated in a matter-of-fact manner: [Boss, you are imprinting the notion that it only has one angle to look into.]
—imprinting the notion…?
——imprinting… ah!
Realization struck him like a cold water.
“Cortana, check all Intel we have and also online for posts about the Terrans’ stance on the matter of protecting Xargoal Mining Cities. Check it all, no matter how trivial it is, as long as everything about this matter was mentioned, include the content of the investigation to analysis… check… check if the Terrans’ stance about the matter is Top Priority. ”
Since it was long ago, there were millions of posts, comments, and messages about this matter and so it took around five minutes before Cortana finished analyzing the data she gathered.
[Sir, you are right. According to analysis, after the attack of the Demon Commander in Xargoal-05, it was made public in Terran Cities that increasing all defenses in Xargoal Cities are Top Priority. After the destruction of Xargoal-06, there were current deployment orders for maximum mobilization of the Terran Armies to protect the Xargoal Mining Cities on their territories.]
“I see. That’s it. It’s all a diversion!”
The realization struck him hard.
“Mefisto manipulated the War of Two Powers so that it would be easier to destroy Xargoal-6 that is heavily protected. By destroying a Mining City by himself, all attention will be put on him and so all of the other activities of the Demon Armada will get lesser attention from the Terrans.”
—it’s actually hitting two birds with one stone!
——not only he crippled one of the only 11 Light Stone Mines, he also accomplished his goal.
[Sir… there is a Xargoal Mining Town close to the City of Warjillis in the North. According to a post by a member of the Hydra Society, it was a city that’s protected by Knight NPCs of the Order of the Red Dragon Flag from Walled City of Paneme. Rentaw had once requested to join the protection effort to gain additional revenue for Warjillis but the General in the Xargoal-10 Fort declined all approaches. So it was then that perhaps there was a specific quest to trigger the participation in mining in Xargoal-10.]
“I can only see why. Light Stone is strictly an NPC-controlled resource and no other players were in a partnership dealing in trading this resource or else, there would be war for its monopoly.”
(AN: pls don’t get confused. I’ve always mentioned it in Volume 5 and 6 that the Order of Red Dragon Flag is a knight order from Paneme in The North, and that it’s made up of players and NPCs that’s why only Players appeared in Jeremiah in Vol.6)
—a diversion… so that tiny group of that Demon Commander back then were actually scouts, just as I’ve expected.
Eight months ago, the Demons’ activities began to increase in Terroa…
Eight months ago, his life changed…
—there’s a connection there but I’m not sure what.
——why are they in a rush to get Terroa?
———what’s in Middle Earth... in Yvalice?
————there’s something there that they wanted!
Siva was full suspicions but he lacked the means to find clarifications for all of them. He could only bid his pace to go steadier, one slow step at a time.
—I can start with laying the foundations for a plan to a counterattack.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Cortana, can you search for any members of the Titan-Sylph Alliance and establish contact? Send a message for me. Tell them I’m willing to listen to their alliance proposal.”
(AN: the War of Two Powers was Titan Goliath Guild against Sylphiadora Guild in Volume 2. At the end of the volume, Siva sneaked away and ignored the request of the two Powers to hunt down Mefisto)
[Message sent.]
“I need to go see that female cow.”
Siva didn’t want to waste time but just after he left a Mini Realm in the room just before he was about to teleport back to the Asgard, he froze.
“Damn it.”
[Oops.]
Cortana, who was dependent to his mental input, made a funny “oopsie” face: covering her lips with a hand… with an expression of schadenfreude.
Siva could only curse, grit his teeth, and clench his fists. He wanted to teleport away from here to warn Gaia but he remembered Gabriel.
What if Gabriel thought that he’d escaped if he was to appear in Asgard this suddenly?
Given their relationship, there was no saying that Gabriel wouldn’t erupt in an anger-fit and ultimately take back the Inventory Plus Ultra away from him and just dismiss any word he was going to say.
After all, Siva did indeed burned half of Alexandria.
Did he know that this is going to happen? Or did Janus leave him something that will ultimately lead to this situation? Janus didn’t know that the [Cage] is his ultimate failure. Because if he does, none of this would have happened and he would have put more contingency plans in place and not rely only on the support of those supposedly sleeping Gods and Immortals.
“Uuuurrrrgghhh….. for the love of—GAH!!”
Siva felt the headache coming back to haunt him.
The mission was for stopping the attack in Maria but as far as the perpetrator of the planned attack is concerned, it was already resolved… only… the underlying matters concerned him and his personal sense of guilt and even though he can openly say that he succeeded in his Mission he knew that the overall problem has not been solved. In fact, it was only beginning.
The real problem has just been unearthed.
And that’s the reason why he felt a headache was coming since only one problem is solved but Siva realized that a bigger problem was underneath it.
The Blood Dragon God’s Church was connected to his curse and solving his sense of guilt involved a direct contact to this enemy —which is connected to his overall issue regarding the threats to Baron and the Asgard.
Lady Fate really is an ugly bitch.
“And I was this close to Dakar right now. Urgh…!!”
The Blood Dragon God’s Church... I feel that it has everything to do with them, including the events in the past 2 years here in Terroa… and my life!!
Recalling this connection, he could only connect it all to the NLEX Road Accident that shocked the world around 8 months ago.
The death of the Kingsley Doctors… it was a shock to the scientific community and to all the fans of the hit Virtual Reality game RPG: Terroa.
Siva sat down and massaged his eyes and nose bridge, trying to calm his nerves.
“Cortana, send a message to Amanda about the instructions I can’t do myself.”
[Message sent, sir.]
This email to Amanda was about some instructions for Pistareen to tell Gaia in the possibility of there being moles in the Terran Alliance on the two sides of the planet.
He trusts that Gaia would have a way to deal with it since she’s an Elf... and a High Seat in the Alliance.
—one step at a time… one step…… at a time…….
——everything is so fucking connected it’s really irritating! Am I some MC of some sadistic author’s novel? Come-the-fucking-on!!!
Venting his frustrations to the Heavenly Laws of this Universe, Siva began to breathe normally. He knew that having a fit right now wouldn’t help him one bit.
“Okay. Since I’ve already sent a message, let’s just focus on the problem in Horbe.”
[…]
Picking out his items, he went out of his room and met with Mohindra while Cortana remained silent, archiving all of his violent mental thoughts.
*****
Siva went on to read the rest of the reports and Intels in the past. After that he also read the latest and newest reports that came from the Seven Dagon Clans regarding the latest state of affairs in and out of the Inner Continents.
He already expected it but it’s still a mess.
And then he read the reports from the scouts of the Vajra Tribe as well as the reports from all the Wall Guards and Internal Security of the city.
Siva already decided and leaned back to massage his nose bridge and brows.
“I should do at least this much…” he said.
Hearing him whisper, Electra, who’s been waiting for him —with all her revenge and thoughts about killing Siva having all vanished— and the Matriarch Mohindra who’s been attentively paying attention to his expressions, perked up.
“Have you found what you were looking for, Your Excellency?” Mohindra asked as it was Siva’s idea to go look and check —or scan— the reports that had been piled on them regarding their enemies.
Mohindra didn’t want to push Siva but it was Siva who insisted on being punished or making it up to their clan somehow and so, she could only push at a nigh-impossible task for him to give up.
Siva had decided to drive the Blood Dragon God Church off of their island country.
Mohindra thought he would give up on this nigh-impossible task but contrary to her expectations, a resolved look was in his eyes when he looked back at her.
“Do you have a way to contact the Terrans?”
Electra’s eyes went wide but she remained silent. It was her mother who exclaimed instead.
“It’s not easy... but I do have a way to contact them if you must insist on doing so. But I must warn you, Your Excellency, that the other side may not be so welcoming.”
Siva nodded at her, taking out a Liberty Drone, and then handing it to her, “Use this when you send a contingent. Tell your agent to deploy this at least an hour away from the Terran Alliance’s walls. It is my way of being welcomed on their doorsteps.”
The smile on his face didn’t vanish but it was scary.
With Siva’s ‘complexion’, even if his smile was very sincere, it would always have a different effect.
“Do not lose this item.” Siva said gravely. After all, in this Liberty Drone was a mini realm he can pass through safely. It can move on its own but it was at a speed only slightly faster than 150kph. “Tell the Terrans that you received Intelligence regarding a possibility that there are still moles of the Bloody Church amongst their ranks.”
“Alright.”
With a reassurance, Mohindra didn’t dally as she began to move and prepare to contact the Terrans of the Inner Continents.
Siva remained in the office room. Normally, this is where Mohindra stays at during her ‘shift’ as the Matriarch of the entire Lightning Dragon Tribe so of all the places in the city, this was a place where she could clearly watch over what was happening on the outside.
He stood up and went to the window of the room and looked outside, seeing the city full of Dragons and Terrans living together in harmony.
There were all types of Dragons and Terrans there and one could immediately see that in their faces, not one bit of the bitterness of war could be seen.
“It is a wonderful place.”
“My Mother worked hard to realize my father’s life’s work… she only succeeded only recently…”
“When?” Siva became curious.
“Around two decade ago. Before, there were only our people in here, but later on, refugees started coming. The citizens of the Inner Continents who didn’t like war began to seek shelter in Horbe.”
Siva didn’t reply and only watched. Covertly, Siva deployed a Liberty Drone to serve as connection as well as eyes and ears to monitor what was in the dark alleys of this seemingly lively city.
A little while later, his expression shifted and he focused his hearing on the words broadcasted to him by Cortana.
*****
{When will it be done?}
{Four days. Tops.}
{Finish it in two. The supplies will be delivered to us tonight. We’ve been planning for this for years now and failing it after all this preparations will be detrimental to the overall plan.}
{Ah… I wish to be baptized already…}
{You think you’re not the only one who wanted to be baptized? I pretended to be a mere refugee, eating crappy soup for five years now just so we could accomplish the Elder’s plans for the Church!}
{Sigh~ the brothers are also at their limits. If we don’t sacrifice this city to our God, I won’t be satisfied after all this hardship.}
{Ohhhh… let’s pray to the God…}
{Let’s pray…}
*****
The conversation startled Siva and looking at the bright red beacon light only he could see, far in the horizons with a 4km label, he couldn’t help but to turn around at the puzzled Electra.
“I think this city is already in danger.” He told her.
“How so?” Electra was puzzled by the words.
“The Church had infiltrated your city. Based on what I’ve heard just now, they’ve been in here for five years now, possibly longer, pretending to be refugees.”
Electra’s face flushed red from rage and electricity crackled on her body as she stared at the city.
“Please, tell me where! I will exterminate them! I will never let my mother’s hard work ruined by the bastards of that Bloody Church! Please, I beg you, Your Excellency, send me! Let me punish them!”
Siva thought for a moment seeing the tears of rage on her beautiful face. This was a girl who had lost her youthful years in the fires of anger and was forced to accept the bitterness of the world at the earliest stages of her life.
He had robbed her of her “childhood”.
The Divine Dragon Beast Race wasn’t really [Gods] in origins, but their bloodline and power are on that general strength level.
Add in that they have very long life spans, and with Siva’s experience with Vasuki’s company, he knew that the Dragons’ so called “younger years” were in the range from 0 to 100 years.
Their bodies and their appearance may be mature when compared to Terrans after 21 years of age, but their lifespans are long, even longer than the most conservative Elves.
—and Siva killed her father in front of her when she was still under a decade old. Even Humans of the real world would feel pain for her.
Siva, he… couldn’t bear the thought of it because he felt afraid that the same thing would happen to Baron and so it became the origin of his guilt.
But he shook his head, “Wait for my signal. I just heard them speaking of a transaction tonight. It is better not to alert the rest of them this early. We should round them up on one go and leave them no chance to survive and be wary.”
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Horbe is in danger… or is it?
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Next Chapter: On the way to Sweetzerland…
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