"Mmhm... Toodes.. There is none!.."
"What are you doing, Nodes?"
"AH!?"
"How could... He know about my existence!?... Has he already noticed my strange behavior since the previous incident?.." She muttered in her heart.
"W-What do you mean.. Commander?.."
Her voice came out stuttering when she realized that he had appeared right in front of her. She quickly hid the book behind her body.
"What are you doing?."
"N-Nothing!" She tried to smile, while her left hand put the book back on the lower part of the shelf.
"What are you doing?.." This time, the question was thrown with a heavy tone.
When the book she had been reading was already back in place, she started walking toward him.
*Tap. Tap. Tap. With the flirtatious steps she usually used on everyone to attract attention.
"What does that have to do with you, Commander?. Are we going on a date if I tell you about my worries?."
Her eyes glanced at the man reluctantly as he slowly approached.
"Do not act too far, Woman. You are indeed Nodes who eliminated 'Desire'. But that does not mean you should be filled with the desire of 'Curiosity'. No.. Not like Cyrn who has already gone too far."
"Oh my. You're so stiff." She passed by him as if nothing had happened.
But the man kept talking while glancing at her with a sharp gaze. "You bear the name of a respected family, 'B'Gonestay', do not disgrace it. Throw away that curiosity of yours, Gaia B'Gonestay."
"Yeah, yeah!" The woman waved her right hand, walking away gracefully.
But in her heart, she kept thinking.
"Even in my family library, there is no name Toodes at all... Even though all my ancestors have the same ability as me.. Tsk...! What did Cyrn mean back then?!... Is he focusing this only on me!?. Even if I tell my parents, it's useless because they have never mentioned Toodes to me.."
"Hey."
The call from the man was not heard by her at all.
*Swiiish. "AH!!! Don't suddenly appear like that!"
"You look like you have a lot on your mind. What's wrong?"
"Nothing!. I'm just feeling annoyed and lacking in ability when Cyrn managed to escape back then!"
Seeing Gaia, who always looked cheerful and flirtatious, now feeling gloomy and under pressure, the man in front of her smiled faintly.
"That's not all, right?."
"Eh!?"
"I don't know what you're going through, because I'm not Gyu who can see the past or the future. But know this.." His tone sounded gentle. "If it's about Cyrn, we will stop his rebellion.. And with that, your grudge will be repaid, right?. Gather at the field in 20 minutes. The soldiers have already assembled."
"Yes. Sorry for my absence at the previous meeting. But anyway, has the location of Geaz city been found?"
"It has. Gyu used Eyture to see what happens in the future, and where the battle will take place."
"So where is it?"
"Agrey Forest."
"Agrey Forest?" The woman showed a slightly annoyed face. "Isn't that very far from here? And besides, there are disgusting creatures like those savage dragons."
"Cyrn must be using that to massively reduce the number of our soldiers, but it seems useless." The man smiled faintly, "Dragons are just weak creatures. Only 1 to 1 compared to ordinary soldiers."
"That's exactly why I said they're disgusting. Whatever," The woman immediately walked past the man in front of her, "I'm going to get my equipment first."
"Yeah."
From that conversation, 20 minutes had passed.
Where everyone had gathered in the field of the imperial palace.
The field had a diameter of about 5 km. That is, half of the entire city of Geaz.
And in the middle of the field, there were 100,000 soldiers with full armor, weapons, shields, and flowing cloaks clearly displaying the emblem of the Sezavield Rateil empire.
Without any sound, all the soldiers stood still with their gaze straight ahead.
The view slowly shifted, highlighting a pair of metal-clad feet walking in an open corridor.
*Klak. Klak. Klak.
The soldiers' gazes remained straight ahead.
*Klak.
The steps stopped in the middle of a grand podium. Behind him, there were 10 people standing in line with their respective combat equipment.
The soldiers still did not react.
"Fozi eus ga." Said the man standing on the podium. His eyes swept across the vast field, looking from end to end at every neatly lined soldier.
*KRAKKK!.
The soldiers responded with a simultaneous stomp of their right foot.
The stomp shook the entire field.
*Clip. Clap. The birds perched around the area immediately flew away.
Followed by,
"DAE GA EUS!" The simultaneous reply that came out of the mouths of the 100,000 soldiers.
That spirited voice even created sound waves that filled the entire field.
*GRRRT. GRRRRT. GRRRRRT.
The friction of iron helmets was heard when the loud shout ended.
*KRT.
"As you all know, or maybe some of you don't. And straight to the point,"
The man standing in the middle of the podium began his speech.
"You were all gathered for only one purpose.. To fight Cyrn Ofdhis. Your former superior."
There was no reaction at all on the soldiers' faces.
"Anyone object?"
"NO!"
*GRT.
"Yeah. That's it. We will go to Agrey Forest. Right now. ZUGH AELI!"
"WE LIFE JUST FOR THE EMPEROR! LIFE EMPEROR NOT FOR WE! ZUGH AELI!"
The weapons held in their right hands were raised upward. Creating one sound, *GRAKKK!.
When the soldiers' cheers stopped, the commander spoke softly.
"Nozer, use your ability to steal their body aura."
"Yes." Basion, or known as Codename Nozer, immediately stepped forward a few steps.
*Tap. Tap.
When right beside the man who had spoken earlier, he raised both his hands. "Steal."
Instantly, in the view of ordinary people, the bodies of the 100,000 fully equipped soldiers disappeared in an instant.
"Done. They will not be seen if they walk together on the road."
For ordinary people, the soldiers would not be seen at all.
There was no physical appearance.
No sound.
And no aura of presence.
"Alright. Move." Said the man giving the final command.
However, for high-class individuals, Nozer's ability had no effect at all.
*KRAAAK!
And those people could feel everything, see, and hear.
The man looked up at the towering sky when the 100,000 soldiers had turned their backs on the people on the podium.
"To Agrey Forest.. Mmmhm... About 2 weeks." The man muttered softly.
×•× The story slowly shifts, to a place where Guiver using Reigh's body is walking down a corridor toward somewhere ו×
••• POV Reigh Asteion •••
"This negotiation went smoothly too, huh."
*Huum. "That's how it is."
"By the way, Cyrn's Space ability is really impressive. Can you master that?"
"I don't know. If I were taught by him, maybe I could. But if that happens, wouldn't he feel useless?."
"That's true. Moreover, his Space ability has a different time flow from the real world. Thanks to that, that gemstone polishing machine could be finished in just one day in real-world time."
"You mean my work is slow?"
"Not like that. Well... It's natural that it took you more than 3 weeks inside Cyrn's room to finish that polishing machine because you had to adjust due to the lack of electricity."
"That's the hardest part... And Cyrn also doesn't know anything about machines powered by 'Mana'. So yeah, it took time."
"Are you grateful he's on our side?"
"Honestly, yes... But we also have to prepare ourselves for when the time comes."
"When the time comes?."
"His betrayal."
Instantly, I fell silent at those words. It's true that Cyrn is very suspicious in every way. But in fact, hasn't he helped a lot?. So, what does Guiver mean by 'betrayal'?.
Whatever it is, we will continue our next step. That is polishing the remaining stones Previously, we had negotiated with Cyrn about materials related to food such as Salt, Sugar, and Spices. And the content of the negotiation was only one, Guiver asked to be shown the location he wanted, the rest he would handle himself such as processing or whatever. So, Cyrn also benefits from it because their side will also get a share of what is produced.
Regarding city development, they said they still need time to recruit candidates that Guiver wants. Actually, the Grey Lurk side could just kidnap them by force, but Guiver himself asked that there be no coercion from the desired parties.
I'm actually confused by Guiver's thinking. At first, he intended to modernize the entire city of Geaz or now known as Yaresi Rateil in just 9 weeks. But why is he being so relaxed like this?. If time is not enough, isn't that dangerous considering previously the higher-ups of Quiet Guardian had already marked us.
It might be better if I just ask.
"Hey, Guiver."
"?"
"Why did you reject Cyrn's proposal to just kidnap those candidates?."
"You're curious?"
"Of course. Besides, you said we don't have much time, right?."
He is smiling now?. "If you had the mindset of a high-class person, kid. You would understand immediately."
"Hah?!"
"Listen. Recruiting workers must not be done by force. But with openness, honesty, and mutual trust."
"Why is that?."
"Just imagine you were suddenly forced, would you do a job seriously?"
"No."
*Tap. Tap.
"And vice versa, if we give them a choice, give them everything they need, they will have their own enthusiasm to work hard. No matter how tight the time is, they will try on their own."
"But what if they feel too comfortable because everything is provided, then their performance drops?. Won't the work pile up?"
*Tap.
"That's what the initial contract is for."
*Khuhuhu...
His gaze was straight ahead, I could even feel him spreading his arms in this wide corridor while walking.
"People from the Outer Slums who have suffered all their lives... Will refuse to build something that will oppose Inner Dominion.. Sezavield Rateil.. Quiet Guardian.. Even someone without a brain would immediately agree."
"You're really sly." I could only mutter softly hearing that.
"Ugh..." *Kretek. "HAAAH!. While waiting for Nine and the others to bring the candidates I want, I will spend one more day in this room."
*Kreeet. The door of the workspace opened.
"Alright. I'll start!"
Guiver would spend a full day in real life and not in Cyrn's room to polish the remaining stones.
Even though there were still many stones left unpolished, around 500 more, Guiver had no intention of slacking off at all.
At first, during the first polishing, he didn't know how to polish properly. But somehow, during the second polishing it was much better. I don't know, his level of adaptation to new things is truly impressive.
"Activate." *Clak.
The whole room was filled again with the sound of machines after the machine was activated.
*NGEEENGGG. NYIIITTT .
×•× The story shifts again, to a familiar all-white room, and someone who is also familiar ו×
"It's rare for you to invite me, Miss... Or maybe.. Queen?"
Said a man. That voice was none other than Cyrn. The question was directed at a woman who looked very beautiful even though her eye area was covered with a golden cloth.
"Don't call me that, child. I am neither a Miss nor a Queen like you said. I prefer the title 'Mother'."
Her voice sounded full of gentleness. The woman's hands were smooth.
Her skin was flawless as if it had never been touched by the outside world.
Even with her eyes covered by golden cloth… her beauty was still felt. And in fact, what made her reject that title?.
"Hahaha. Is it towards 'Good Mother'?"
"Of course it's different."
"Alright then. So, what's the matter this time?."
"We'll discuss that later." A faint smile began to form on the woman's face. "It seems your relationship with Tizia is going in the wrong direction, huh?."
"That's how it is. Even though I treat her as I should, her view of me is probably towards 'Opposite Gender'."
"Are you grateful for that?. Her memory might still be gradually recovering, or maybe it won't recover unless there is a 'Trigger'."
"No. But maybe yes too. I want her to remember our life, but I also don't want her to remember my pathetic past."
Cyrn's eyes looked dim when he said that.
"I see. Your way is indeed wrong... You should have followed what I said about her always being by your side. But instead you made her a 'Subordinate'. That way she will look at you with admiration."
"That also applies so she doesn't remember my pathetic past, you know?."
"That's true." Her hand reached for something already on the table. "I'll move this." Moving the Rock from A-7 to A-4.
"Don't use your ability to read my moves." Cyrn blocked it by moving Bishop F-6 to D-4.
"My eyes are covered like this, if I don't use my ability, what do I use to see?." The woman moved
Pawn E-2 forward one step.
Cyrn moved Knight G-5 to take Pawn E-3.
"You sacrificed a Knight just to take one pawn?." The woman asked while moving another piece to take the Knight.
"That's how it is. Honestly, this is a game I hate, you know?." Moving the King one step diagonally back.
"Why is that?." The pawn that took the Knight was used again to take the Bishop.
"You know?. In this game, the King can't do anything when cornered and at most can only move one step." Moving the King one step diagonally back again away from the Pawn. "Then, why are so many pieces willing to die?."
"A great King is not about how strong he is in battle." The Rock was moved forward again to pressure the King. "But how big his influence is in governance. The annual move is over, huh..." Her tone sounded bored.
"Even without having anything?." Now, Cyrn's Knight took that Pawn. "In terms of 'Influence' and 'Self Ability'?. I can't wait to see what move you'll make next year on this board." Putting the board game back into Cyrn's space.
"So, you prefer a leader who has all aspects?" The woman asked while resting her face on her right hand. Her smile began to form again. "Like 'Toodes'?"
Cyrn did not answer immediately. Instead, he lowered his head slightly,
"Not really. And besides, I'm doing this because everything is indeed based on our cooperation." Taking out a teapot that looked expensive along with white cups. "Please drink." Cyrn stood up to pour tea for the woman.
"Thank you." The woman accepted his offer. *Surp.
Cyrn sat back in his chair. "Since the death of the 'Target' you mentioned, I really don't know which body he will be reborn into. You know?, I prepared 1000 corpses of young men but 'That Soul' did not awaken in any of them."
"1000 corpses? You're too reckless with what was planned."
"It still follows the plan, you know?. All those corpses had Berserker skills whose activation triggers had not yet appeared, they all died because they were created by cruel fate and carried deep resentment. And instead, it appeared in the body of a young man who is still alive with a Berserker skill."
"I already said," The woman sighed, *Haaa. "Even if it's 1000 youths or maybe 1,000,000 youths, if they are already dead it will be useless. Because in essence," Her voice lowered, "Toodes is 'Two Souls',... 'Two Desires',... 'Two Purposes', itself. So the activation trigger will appear in a living person."
Cyrn immediately fell silent when he realized that everything the woman said and planned had proven true one by one.
"Yeah, yeah." Cyrn felt guilty for not following her plan.
"Then, how did you find out that Toodes had appeared?" The woman asked again while sipping her tea. *Surp.
"Well... Tizia has the ability to see souls, and because she's the only one I told about 'Toodes', she immediately concluded that it was 'Toodes'."
"I haven't met 'Toodes' at all. What is he like?"
"How should I say... You could say, he's hard to predict. Makes sense, his past life was a 'Scientist'." Cyrn saw the woman in front of him nodding slowly.
"I see." The woman replied briefly.
"By the way, what about the Adventurer Guild?. They've moved, right?." Now it was Cyrn's turn to ask.
"They have.. Mobilizing all resources without a logical reason is impossible, but if there is a reason, it can become something absolute."
"Heee?. In that case," Cyrn lifted his still full teacup, offering it toward the woman. "Let's toast, Mother."
The woman smiled faintly, also offering her teacup that was almost empty. "Of course, Good Boy".
*Tink.