Opportunity in the Game Becomes Reality Chapter 228
============================================================
Opportunity in the Game Becomes Reality Chapter 228
51. Opportunity Seeker (5)
Why are these people suddenly acting like this?
I narrowed my eyes at the suspicious sight of Blake and Brangish.
Just what on earth happened while I was resolving the Opportunity?
In the end, I had to look to Arcia.
"From the Bringham Empire, they tried to investigate Adrian-nim and Duke Olivia Riverdale, saying they were highly likely to be Opportunity Seekers. In that process, Bringham sent a forceful summons order, and many people helped out regarding that matter."
Arcia's answer was bewildering.
So the Bringham Empire found out that Lewis Fairmont was a fake.
It felt like we got caught faster than I expected, but at least we managed to resolve all the Opportunities safely, so I suppose I did my part.
I should look into the current situation in detail, but among the 'many people who helped,' I'd guess Blake and Brangish are included.
Though judging by their expressions, it seemed the results weren't great, or something unexpected had happened.
"Ahem, well, you see."
Eventually, under continued questioning, Blake and Brangish spoke up.
"At first, when we heard from Arcia about the Bringham Empire's outrageous behavior, we were furious. That friend Lucas's Opportunity you had rightfully obtained it, yet they were trying to seize it by force. So we went to the Bringham Empire to issue a warning."
"Me too."
"However... three problems arose in the process."
The three problems he mentioned were as follows.
First, the two of them couldn't see eye to eye, so they ended up kidnapping the entire investigation team captain and vice-captain alike.
Naturally, I had to look dumbfounded.
Kidnapping Duke Christopher, the Imperial Mage Tower's Tower Master, and Count Elfried, the Intelligence Chief, right in the middle of the Bringham Empire that didn't seem like a wise choice at all.
But on the other hand, coming from a dragon and a Lordmaster, it probably carried some weight.
If those two moved together, even the Emperor would struggle to keep his life.
But as one might guess by now, the real problems were the second and third ones.
Second, rather than cowering at the dragon and Lordmaster's threat, the Emperor flew into a rage and raised an army instead.
Third, the hidden military power of the Bringham Empire revealed in that process was absolutely terrifying.
Arcia manipulated her terminal and brought up a photo, and in it sat a massive crater.
"What is this?"
"Mount Yak."
"Mount Yak?"
Mount Yak was a strategic chokepoint that divided the Kingdom of Lucias and the northern part of the former Croysen Empire (now the Duchy of Lawrence).
The terrain was rugged and full of monsters, making it one of Rondel's Forbidden Lands, but...
Where did the mountain go? Only a crater remained.
"Mount Yak was annihilated by the Bringham Empire's tactical magic, Gungnir."
"Tactical magic, you say..."
I expressed puzzlement at a concept I'd never heard before.
Then Arcia played a video, which she said was distributed by the Bringham Empire.
-Ziiiiing!
In the video, Mount Yak's signature needle-sharp peak stood at the center, and soon a blue magic circle began to form above it.
Given the scale of Mount Yak, the magic circle covering it entirely was large enough to envelop a nation's capital and then some.
-BOOOOM!
-Rumble rumble rumble!
The explosion that followed, accompanied by pure white light, produced a powerful shockwave and blast wind, then formed a massive mushroom cloud.
A truly shocking video.
Watching it, I couldn't help but feel something familiar.
'That's literally a nuclear bomb, isn't it?'
Yes.
They call it tactical magic, but it might as well be a tactical nuke.
'Well, I suppose there's nothing surprising about it. Rondel, which built a civilization beyond Earth's, has finally produced a weapon with nuclear-level power.'
Moreover, since the attack uses magic, there's no radiation to worry about, and since physical force is a subcategory of supernatural power in Rondel, nukes wouldn't perform at full strength anyway so this could be considered a superior version.
"According to Brangish-nim, its power is comparable to a 9th-circle Meteor."
It's also significant in that they've gained an attack capability that can display 9th-circle-level power even without a dragon or a 9th-circle mage.
"So the Bringham Empire had been hiding a tremendous weapon."
If that thing were used in war right now, countless cities would vanish without even being able to defend themselves.
It was certainly worthy of the Bringham Empire keeping it under tight wraps.
After all, the moment they used it to commit a massacre, they'd become a target of the entire world, including the church.
But the Bringham Empire didn't use that attack against a nation.
They merely responded to the threats of the dragon and Dark Elf who had kidnapped key imperial figures using that as their Justification/Cause, they showed off the Bringham Empire's presence to the whole world.
"Now I get why the two of you are acting like this."
Brangish and Blake are panicking over the fact that they tried to handle things on their own and it only escalated.
But there's nothing to be done about it.
Who could have known the Bringham Empire possessed a weapon like that?
"You said they've mobilized their military too, right?"
"Yes, the Bringham imperial army is currently deployed along the borders of the Kingdom of Lucias and on the seas toward our Duchy of Lawrence."
Because of the strategic magic, Brangish and Blake can no longer act recklessly.
If the two of them showed themselves, it would be no different from giving the Bringham Empire a justification to use their strategic magic.
Since the two of them aren't members of human society, there was no helping it.
"Huh? What's that over there?"
"It's the Bringham Empire's new weapon."
As I was surveying the Bringham imperial army's deployment like that, I noticed a new type of marker on the map besides the Heaven-Piercing Fortress and the Vanguard, and I voiced my question.
At that, Arcia scratched her cheek and pulled out a new photograph once again.
It was a suit of armor with a form similar to a Vanguard.
However, the difference from a regular Vanguard was...
"A giant Vanguard?"
Unlike a regular Vanguard, it was a suit of armor that easily exceeded 5 meters in size.
Just like a robot...
"It's called a Titan. It's a type that a human boards and pilots. I hear it's equipped with five Force Engines."
"Ah."
Titan.
It's definitely something I have in my memory.
When the 10th floor of Manuel Lucas's Mage Tower was opened this time, I saw a proposal for a new weapon, and the weapon that appeared there was named Titan.
Whether Grand Duke Lucas's research from his lifetime leaked out or whether there was a unit that was being developed, it seemed certain to be the same weapon.
Truly, this is befitting a nation that has enjoyed glory as the world's top superpower for so long.
"Because we did something unnecessary..."
"I think I also underestimated the level of human society's magical engineering."
Did they think I would get angry?
As my gaze turned toward them, Blake and Brangish offered their apologies once more.
I smiled and shook my head.
"No, it's fine. You two stepped forward for my sake I can't scold you just because the outcome wasn't good."
Unlike before, now that I've become a 9th-circle mage, I stand on equal footing with them.
In other words, there's no need for me to squirm around saying I'm not worthy of their apologies.
Still, the reason I answered like this is because I judged that the current problem can be sufficiently resolved.
"In any case, if the situation gets serious, the two of you will have no choice but to step in, so the Bringham Empire can't move as it pleases no matter if they have tactical magic or not."
If a dragon and a Lordmaster actively harassed the Bringham Empire, they would suffer enormous damage even with tactical magic.
In other words, all of that is just a show of force to protect their pride.
"Is that so?"
Brangish questions back with "Is that so?" and Blake nods, finding it plausible.
I calmly shrugged my shoulders.
"The Emperor is probably racking his brains over this too."
I can easily imagine the Emperor's anguish in this situation.
The Bringham Empire is the world's largest and strongest nation.
Such a nation cannot bear the stigma of yielding to threats.
This is a matter of national honor.
That's why they revealed even the military power they had kept hidden all this time.
To show how impressive the Bringham Empire is.
In reality, many people were frightened by the Bringham Empire's tactical magic, but the party in question will have a headache because there's no clear solution for what comes next.
If they attack, they'd lose too much and it'd be too burdensome, and if they just stay in a standoff, it'll be revealed that it was all just a bluff.
To resolve this problem, I had no choice but to step forward to the front.
And that, as Grand Duke Lucas's successor.
"I think it's about time we announced that I was the one who received Grand Duke Lucas's opportunity."
"Are you sure that's wise?"
To reveal that I am Grand Duke Lucas's Opportunity Seeker, I need the power to repel the Bringham Empire's attack.
So I ran the numbers in my head.
Whether the current strength of me and those around me could suppress the Bringham Empire.
In the end, I reached the conclusion that it was entirely possible.
"I think now is the right time."
Since the Bringham Empire has already moved to investigate me, what's the point in delaying?
Rather, it's better to negotiate with the Emperor while backed by the two beings that have the Bringham Empire perplexed.
"However, before that, I believe it would make for a smoother conversation if we first impress upon them what kind of person Grand Duke Lucas's disciple is."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Ah, and could you hand over the people you kidnapped to me?"
At my words, the two tilted their heads in confusion, then nodded in agreement.
* * *
"Y-Your Majesty!"
The Foreign Minister burst into the Imperial great hall of the Bringham Empire without notice.
Already nursing a headache, the Emperor, displeased with the Foreign Minister's commotion, answered with a cold glare.
Frightened by that, the Foreign Minister collapsed to the floor, kneeling and bowing his head.
"Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty!"
The Emperor let out a deep sigh and gestured with his chin.
It was a sign to get to the point.
But his narrowed brows made it plain that he would not forgive trivial content.
The Foreign Minister swallowed dryly and replied.
"The Grand Duke Lawrence of the duchy has sent official notices to news agencies of every nation, stating he will hold a public press conference."
"Oh?"
At that, the Emperor's brow relaxed, showing interest.
A figure who had not appeared in public for days was now stepping forward.
Of course, that piqued his interest.
"What does he intend to say at this press conference? Will he admit he is not Grand Duke Lucas's disciple? Or will he, emboldened by his acquaintances, dare to bluff once more?"
No one in the Imperial great hall could answer the Emperor's question.
After all, this was a man who had pulled off so many outrageous stunts that no one could predict what he'd do next.
But one thing was certain.
The Bringham Empire's response would be decided by what Adrian said at the conference.
"If I think of the future, I can endure an immediate loss but if that loss reaches the point of giving up our status as the world's strongest nation, that's a different story. If it comes to that, we'd be the ones struggling to hold onto the opportunity."
The best option is to negotiate, offer some compensation, and get the opportunity back.
No matter that Adrian has a dragon and a Lordmaster behind him, if both sides fought with everything they had, they'd be the ones to fall first.
But in that case, the Bringham Empire would also suffer devastating damage and might lose its title as the world's strongest nation.
Then they'd fail to protect the opportunity they worked so hard to obtain.
Therefore, even if it wasn't to his liking, he judged that settling this through negotiation was the most rational course.
"When is the press conference scheduled?"
"In exactly one hour."
"Is that so?"
The Emperor stroked his chin and gave an order to Duke Raphael.
"Order all troops to retreat 50km from their designated positions."
"Understood."
This was the Emperor's final gesture of goodwill, hoping Adrian would make the right choice.
And so, following the Emperor's order, the Bringham Empire's forces temporarily withdrew, and the world's attention focused on the Bringham Empire and the Duchy of Lawrence.
One hour later.
When the scheduled press conference time arrived, something unexpected happened.
-Beep! Beep! Beep!
Not only the television the Emperor was watching, but every personal terminal worn by everyone in the Imperial great hall began operating on its own, all outputting the same image at once.
Even the Emperor's own terminal, which had the highest security clearance.
[Hello. My name is Adrian El Lawrence. Lord of the Duchy of Lawrence and...]
[I am the disciple of the great mage Manuel Lucas.]
To think he'd reveal his identity this simply...
Those who had been flustered by the terminals' malfunction fell silent, and the Emperor, clicking his tongue in unease, was nonetheless intrigued.
"Withdraw the forces stationed toward the Kingdom of Lucias."
Now that Adrian had revealed his identity on his own, there was no reason to clash with the Kingdom of Lucias.
It means Olivia Riverdale, the Duke of the Kingdom of Lucias, has nothing to do with Grand Duke Lucas.
As much as they side with Adrian, they are also potential hostile forces, but the justification for invading them first has disappeared.
"Your Majesty, it appears all communications are currently down."
However, the Emperor's orders could not be quickly relayed to the forces directed toward the Kingdom of Lucias' army.
All forms of communication based on the Hollywood System had gone dark.
No matter how high-level the security equipment, it only transmitted Adrian's press conference feed.
Only then could the Emperor understand what was happening.
"I see, so in the end, the Hollywood System was also developed by Grand Duke Lucas, wasn't it?"
In today's society, it's hard to find an online system that isn't connected to Hollywood.
The fact that the Hollywood System, which was believed to be flawless because it was Grand Duke Lucas' legacy, could be manipulated by a single person's will was a tremendous shock.
The Emperor could only twitch the corner of his mouth and silently watch Adrian's press conference.