Chapter 260: Ignition (2)
Chapter 260: Ignition (2)
Translation: Godtl
Frondier stood amidst the gathering of the Empire's most powerful individuals.
Among them were some familiar faces, but most were strangers.
Just having so many formidable figures casting suspicious glances his way made his chest tingle with unease.
Clank.
Yet Frondier didn't hesitate. He manipulated his bracer to release Black Heaven.
There was no time now to persuade each of them individually. Nor did he have any intention to do so.
He would simply show them.
Show them that the person they needed most right now was none other than himself.
"What you're seeing now is a 3D map."
Frondier brought out the same three-dimensional map he'd once displayed at Phenomenon headquarters.
Of course, this was an entirely different map from before—this one depicted the entire Empire.
"Her Majesty the Empress can vouch for the reliability of this map."
"I vouch for it."
Philly responded immediately, as though there was no need for deliberation.
At this, Frondier enlarged the map further so everyone could see.
"Oho, this is..."
"I'd heard about it from a pro at Phenomenon. Seeing it in person is astonishing."
A three-dimensional map that could instantly adjust scale and viewing angles without needing to piece together papers or match scales.
Currently, Frondier was the only one who could create these using Black Heaven, but he'd heard the magical artifact company Hitchcock was also working on the concept.
If they could produce 3D blueprints, it likely wouldn't take them long either.
"As you all know, Manggot survives outside the Empire. Until now, no one knew their exact location. The prevailing theory was that they must inhabit extremely harsh, inhospitable terrain. To survive without the Wall's protection, they'd need an environment even the monsters of the Outside would avoid."
That's why the 'Red Land', where Renzo was currently stationed, had been one of the prime candidate locations for Manggot's base.
One of the noble family heads listening spoke up.
"You're speaking in the past tense rather oddly."
"Yes. Because we now know where they're located."
Murmurs spread through the crowd at this. Discovering Manggot's location had been considered the greatest challenge—had it already been solved?
"Osprey witnessed it."
Frondier extended his hand as if welcoming someone, and Osprey stepped forward accordingly.
"Good to see you all."
Osprey glanced around at everyone before speaking.
"How does it feel to have forgotten about me for a while?"
Osprey's joke was particularly hard to laugh at. The crowd wore awkward expressions before suddenly realizing.
"That's right! When you went outside the world!"
Osprey nodded at their deduction.
"I saw the killing intent directed at me then. Observing from outside the world, I discerned Manggot's location. Not the precise coordinates, but I could determine the general direction and region."
Oooh—cheers erupted from the crowd. Even that much information would allow this many people to locate them quickly if they searched.
Frondier quietly observed the excited crowd for a moment.
Truthfully, Frondier already knew. Where Manggot was located. It was one of his prerequisite pieces of knowledge.
And he also knew full well that simply knowing this wouldn't make things any easier.
Frondier spoke:
"Everyone, the reason Manggot is making their move now is because Osprey discovered their hideout."
Of course there were other reasons too, but Osprey's sighting had undoubtedly been the trigger.
"In other words, they already know their base's location has been compromised. Yet they're still choosing to wage war."
At this, others nodded in understanding.
"So they've made thorough preparations as well."
"Moreover, to reach Manggot, we'd first have to get past the Outside monsters. That's the first major obstacle."
Frondier nodded in agreement with their points.
"And no matter what method we use, we cannot attack them first. At least not in the initial battle."
"......?"
This time, everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
"What do you mean by that, right now?"
It was Ludwig who spoke up.
"We know their location, and you've been running around day and night gathering people and making preparations, haven't you? It's not like those bastards are currently banging on the Empire's walls right now, so what's stopping us from attacking first? It's not like we lack the will to do so."
"Let me explain."
Frondier waved his hand.
Black Heaven gathered between Manggot's location and the Empire's, emphasizing their positions, and the terrain became vividly clear, revealing distinct movement paths.
"First, there's something I must tell you all."
As Frondier spoke, Black Heaven piled up above both Manggot and the Empire.
"Though this is purely my own estimation, this is roughly the scale of power both sides possess if Manggot and the Empire were to engage in all-out war."
The height of the Black Heaven towers representing Manggot and the Empire.
Manggot, led by Devils and Gods, nurtured assassins and combatants in its harsh environment.
While no one could accurately predict their full strength, Frondier's estimation of Manggot's power was...
"......Huh?"
"Eh?"
Clearly lower than the Empire's.
At the very least, the Black Heaven tower representing Manggot was undeniably shorter than the Empire's.
Everyone in the Imperial Palace fell silent for a moment as they observed the two towers. They struggled to react. The atmosphere had suggested some grave revelation was coming, yet the Empire was stronger?
"Your thoughts are correct. Manggot is weaker than the Empire."
"......Well, I mean, that makes sense, but......"
Ludwig's voice trailed off weakly.
Seeing this, Frondier continued.
"If the difference in power is this significant, then in a direct confrontation, the stronger side's victory is all but guaranteed, and their losses would be minimal. The Karma Fire that Manggot desires wouldn't even have a chance to spread—it would be crushed immediately."
The so-called Lanchester's laws. Of course, no one here would recognize that name, so Frondier explained it plainly.
"Yet Manggot still intends to attack. I am certain they will set the Empire ablaze. So what method could they possibly use?"
At Frondier's words, everyone briefly studied the map.
The eyes of Sanders, the leader of the Shroud Knights, twitched.
"......Chaotic warfare?"
"First correct answer."
Frondier nodded.
"Chaotic warfare? How?"
"Manggot possesses a unique movement technique called 'Shadow Transfer.' It's a skill that allows them to instantly reach a designated target's vicinity. Excessively long distances are impossible, but they can appear right beside someone in an instant."
As he spoke, Frondier scanned the room.
"Someone among those present here may already be connected to Manggot's shadows."
"W-what?"
"Who is it?!"
The attendees instinctively checked behind themselves or examined their own shadows, but no one noticed anything unusual.
"There's no way to detect it."
Even Frondier couldn't predict Selena's transfers in advance—despite employing his Sixth Sense.
Selena likely severed her own shadow connection for that very reason. If she had remained linked to Frondier's shadow, others from Manggot could have used it to target him.
"However, they don't know the current state or location of their transfer targets. If I were Manggot, I wouldn't recklessly jump into such a dangerous situation. One wrong move, and all those linked by the shadows could perish. But that's not the real issue."
Frondier raised a single finger.
"Just one."
He was smiling, but there was no mirth in it.
"If even a single member of Manggot crosses the Empire's Barrier, that one person could multiply into a hundred in an instant."
"...So that's when the chaos begins."
"Correct."
The Empire's Barrier was built to repel monsters, not with humans in mind.
While it excels against sheer numbers, it's inherently vulnerable to the magic, techniques, or stealth-based infiltration methods humans employ. It wasn't designed to counter those.
"Frondier."
The voice that rang out then belonged to the Emperor.
"Tell me the second one. My patience wears thin."
"......"
Frondier had earlier referred to Sanders' answer as the "first correct answer." Meaning there was a second.
In that brief pause, Frondier studied the Emperor's face.
'...He's back.'
His complexion was healthy, devoid of any lethargy.
Bartello sat upon the throne, every inch the perfect Emperor.
Deeply reassured by this, Frondier spoke.
"The second answer is equally simple. It's a tactic the weak often employ against the strong—one as common as chaos itself."
"As common as chaos?"
"An alliance."
At Frondier's reply, question marks seemed to float even more prominently in the conference hall.
Yet among the many present—
"...Ah."
Philly let out a sound.
Her face paled instantly as she looked at Frondier. His brief glance confirmed her suspicion was correct.
At the same time, Osprey closed his eyes, his expression sinking into deep thought. These two had accurately grasped Frondier's meaning.
"What nonsense is this? Where would Manggot find allies?"
Ludwig voiced the question on everyone's mind.
Frondier turned to him.
"Lord Urfa, you already know where the alliance lies."
"What?"
"We fought alongside them last summer."
Even after hearing Frondier's words, Ludwig furrowed his brow as if struggling to comprehend.
"...You—right now—you can't possibly mean—"
His face twisted into an expression befitting sheer horror as he stammered.
As if to illustrate that very thought, Frondier waved his hand again, and the map shifted.
The map, which had shown only the Empire and Manggot, now expanded to display the entire continent beyond the Empire's Barrier.
"Manggot survives without the protection of the walls. No matter how deeply they hide in areas devoid of Outside monsters, they must venture into resource-rich regions to sustain themselves. Which means—they must go where the Outside monsters dwell."
Where the Outside monsters avoid, humans, too, struggle to survive.
To endure in such places, they ultimately have to move from barren lands to where sustenance exists.
"They understand the Outside monsters better than anyone. Their habits, their aggression toward humans, their differences from the monsters within the Barrier—even the Abyssal Monsters that must never be approached."
Frondier's Black Heaven scattered beyond the continental Barrier. Just as it had layered over Manggot and the Empire, it now spread in all directions.
"They know when the Outside monsters will attack the Empire. And to some extent, they can control the timing."
That was it.
The reason Frondier regarded Manggot with such wariness, the reason he incessantly stressed the need for the Empire's full military might—
It wasn't fear of some immeasurable force like Devils or Gods.
The truth was simple.
"The Outside monsters will swarm the Empire from all sides. Those who once struck the Barrier sequentially, periodically—they will now converge from every direction, east, west, north, south, without distinction, hurling themselves to shatter the Barrier."
No one uttered a word in response to Frondier. Not even a breath was heard.
The once-raucous conference hall was now deathly silent.
"We cannot strike them first."
They merely listened, like condemned prisoners awaiting sentencing, dumbstruck by Frondier's words.
"Because they outnumber us."