It didn't take them long from where they were to arrive at the secret passage just below the throne room. It was a large open space with dozens of hatches leading to the surface, each previously concealed by dirt. Lily walked up to the only unopened one and cautiously unlatched it, pushing it up and climbing up to the grassy terrain of the king's abode.
As the party emerged one by one, they were surprised to find a heap of bodies, beaten unconscious but still alive, lying on the ground, and four figures sipping tea at the center.
"Ah, Lily, there you are," Silva said, waving them over. "Join us for some tea?"
"Seriously? You just declared war on the entire kingdom, and you're relaxing with a pot of tea?" Lily asked. "Are you insane? I rushed to get Cygnus and his allies over here only to find you relaxing as if nothing had happened."
"Come now, ease up," Lancelot said. "It's because of you that we knew their intentions in the first place. You should come take a moment to breathe with us. You too, Cygnus and his comrades. You must be tired after your journey."
"I'm gonna have to side with her on this one, we're hard-pressed for time," Cygnus said.
"No, we've got plenty," Lancelot said. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."
"We were chased," Cygnus said. "By the Blood Countess."
"Elizabeth's back in action?" Lancelot asked. His voice remained calm, but his eyes dilated and his hand became uneasy. "What the hell was she after?"
"I don't know, and I don't want to find out," Cygnus said. "Tell me, how are things in the North?"
"Still no word," Lancelot said. "I figure that's where you're heading next."
"No, the opposite, actually," Cygnus said. "I'm going to remain in this country for a while and bring together the academic Westlands. I'll need every researcher, scientist, scholar, and archivist we've got at our disposal for what I'm planning next. It'll be all hands on deck on my end."
"Oh, look at you, Cygnus! How you've grown," Silva said. "Look at you, taking charge like this."
"You're not that much older than me," Cygnus said, rolling his eyes. "But alas, the game has changed. A device to transport humanity to the other side of the world is possible, but not happening anytime soon."
"Cygnus, that's kind of the whole basis of our faction," Lancelot said. "Without it, our whole plan falls apart. We're already in disarray, kid. You'd better have something better, or I'm gonna have to kick your face in."
"I'll continue developing it, but I'm turning my main focus to something else," Cygnus said. "An object that can nullify magic and aid us in fighting the gods. Now that we know they're destructible, it doesn't matter if they have limitless magic energy. A device that can bring magic power to zero levels the playing field."
"The device Nikola conceived?" Lanacelot asked. "Where did you find out about it? All traces had been destroyed long ago."
"I'd always had my father's blueprints memorized, but it was a mechanism that required a foreign element that certainly didn't exist," Cygnus said. "Or rather, hadn't been created yet. With the magic-draining crystals compressed by the sheer pressure of Xinyu's battle with Sango, it suddenly became within our grasp! The final component of my father's work."
"I don't have a clue what you're talking about, but if Arthur's onboard, then I'll trust you as well, I guess," Lancelot said. He cracked his neck. "So what are you gonna do about the Northlands invasion? Surely don't expect my guild to do anything when we've got our hands full here."
"I've been thinking of a contingency for that, and after constantly running scenarios in my head, I could only come up with one thing," Cygnus said. "We're gonna send a team up there and confront the Northland king and Lionel."
"You plan to assassinate the king?" Silva asked, raising his brow.
"If that's what it takes, then possibly," Cygnus said. "At the very least, we're going to find out his intentions and conceive a way to stop him without an all-out war. It's borderline a suicide mission, I must admit, but our success is entirely reliant on the outcome."
"Who will be in this group?" Lancelot asked.
"I'll remain in the Westlands rallying my people to make a technological leap greater than humanity has ever accomplished before," Cygnus said. "As such, I must first ask: Ada, will you part with your brother and join me for this endeavor?"
"I will," Ada said, without hesitation.
"And Lily, I trust that I can rely on you as well?" Cygnus asked. "I'll need a powerful soldier watching our back. One who also has access to the underground's information."
"I would have followed you regardless," Lily said.
"Excellent. We'll make our rounds through Wunderdum, then head out immediately," Cygnus said. "During this time, I'll need Samson and Epsilon to gather up our scientific forces near the Southland borders. We're going to need a ton of hands to gather the materials necessary to make what I have planned possible, and then the greatest minds around to bring it to life. If I'm right, then we'll be able to produce a line of machines that'll save humanity."
"You can rely on us, sir," Epsilon said. "But I must ask, what kind of device are we talking about? If we're doing a 180, surely you've got confidence in it."
"We don't have time to get into specifics yet, but essentially, what my father was working on before he died was a spherical device that could create an invisible dome-shaped energy field that nullifies magic," Cygnus said. "That means anyone in the center is completely immune to any and all magic."
"Blimey!" Samson exclaimed. "If we had such technology, we'd be the most powerful beings in the world!"
"There are weaknesses," Cygnus said. "Firstly, it's a very limited space. Likely about 10 meters across, and it must be turned on by hand. Of course, the main issue is that magic cannot be cast from within, either."
"So it's not something that makes us unstoppable once we use it, huh?" Epsilon asked.
"Of course not," Cygnus said. "Furthermore, it only stops magic. What would happen if you went against someone like Princess Sako with that device? The rifle she uses is a one-of-a-kind weapon devised by my father, and while it primarily uses pellets made of her own energy, it's certainly capable of firing regular projectiles as well. Plus, even if you got close enough to her, she could still take you down with regular hand-to-hand combat. It's a far cry from an end-all, be-all solution."
"It seems so. Then what's the point of making it if it's so full of weaknesses?" Samson asked.
"There's always a point, my friend," Cygnus said. "The magic nullification sphere is merely step one! Alas, I won't reveal any other details yet, since there are ears everywhere."
"I see," Epsilon said. "Apologies for interrupting. You may continue."
"Finally, the important task of invading the Northlands will be up to the rest of you," Cygnus said. "Kofi, Brax, and Musique, you'll meet up with Sako in the North and deliver this letter. It explains everything she needs to know about our plan and has a specific order from Arthur, which supposedly will allow her to negotiate with Beowulf. I'm not sure what it is since I was ordered not to open the letter, but I have faith in him. It won't be an easy task, but you fellows have proven to be reliable, and I know you can handle it."
"Hey, are ya crazy?" Brax asked. "How the hell are the three of us gonna go against somethin' as scary as the Northlands? I read some horrifyin' stories about the giants called the Jotnar, plus ain't the king a scary guy himself?"
"And that's precisely why you'll give this letter to Sako," Cygnus said. "Arthur wrote it himself, so it's a guarantee that she'll follow through."
"Sako? Your princess? How is she supposed to sway the odds in our favor?" Musique asked.
"Trust me, I can assure your safety with Sako by your side," Cygnus said. "I was told that the letter has clear instructions to keep each one of you alive. You just have to get to her first."
"Even I am hesitant when it comes to this ridiculously reckless plan," Kofi said. "Just four individuals trying to infiltrate a country equipped for war?"
"Even if she has to take down an entire nation, Sako will protect you," Cygnus said. "Mark my words, you are safe with her. Please, my friends. I know it seems impossible, but I assure you I'd never cast my friends aside like that. You're invaluable assets to me. To the world. And even if it's impossible, then I'm confident you'll find a way to make it possible. Was that not her creed? To make the impossible possible?"
"Yer really trying to work Xinyu's name to death even after she's gone, eh?" Brax asked. "But I guess that's kinda what she wanted. Alright, fine. We'll give it a shot, but I ain't promising our return or anything. You can just be assumin' we're dead."
"I know you'll make it through," Cygnus laughed.
"Sounds interesting," Silva said. "I think I'll join your little expedition up North."
"Aren't you needed here?" Cygnus asked.
"Hardly," Silva said. "Lancelot'll hold down the fort while I'm gone. Plus, don't underestimate my two underlings here. They're pretty strong and are perfectly capable of keeping these ruffians in check."
"Eh? You're not taking us with you?" Teep asked.
"Are you surprised? This bum wants to hog all the coin we make for himself," Fleche said, the annoyance in his voice clear.
"Now, now. There will be plenty of coin to extort once this is over, but we need the kingdom to be intact for that," Silva said with a smug smile. The two looked at each other, but only grunted in disappointment.
"Perfect. With Silva tagging along, you'll make it to Sako without a problem," Cygnus said. "Ah, this is all so exciting!"
"Don't you mean horrifying?" Lily asked.
"And that's precisely what makes it exciting," Cygnus said. "Now then, loyal comrades, it is time we part ways! I know you've got some lofty tasks ahead of you, but nonetheless, I ask that you go forward with brilliance!"