Chapter 930 |
Chapter 930
After blinking several times, the man suddenly let out a hollow laugh.
"...Me?"
"Yes."
"This seems to have several meanings."
"..."
"Anyway, I understand. I'm incredibly curious now. After finishing this task, I must come back and hear the details."
“Your Highness.”
Nathan Zuckerman called out to Kishiar once more. It was an implicit signal that there should be no further delay.
Suddenly, Yuder remembered the sensation of the white gloves he saw in his dream, answering that he came to that place whenever a significant crack opened.
'Up until now, I always went there after a significant crack occurred and things got out of hand... But this time, did I go before it happened?'
If asked which was better, obviously this time was better. Knowing in advance allowed for some mental preparation.
"Alright. Let's go and see how well-prepared we are."
Kishiar's eyes changed. He opened the door with a relaxed smile, followed by Yuder, who lifted his head a step behind. Nathan Zuckerman, standing behind the door, greeted them in formal military attire, which he seldom wore.
"I anticipated a large gathering today and decided it would be better to use the larger space downstairs than the cramped office. I will guide you there."
Despite Nathan Zuckerman's unchanged expression, Yuder glanced at the sofa in the office just before leaving. It wasn't broken, but the cushion was half-collapsed. It was definitely better to go somewhere else than to hold a meeting in front of that sofa.
'...Next time, it's probably better to avoid using the office.'
It was the first time he had such thoughts before a serious situation. Kishiar, noticing where Yuder's gaze had fallen, slightly narrowed his eyes. It wasn't a mistake to feel, even for a brief moment, that his gaze had returned to that of the man who could only think of embracing Yuder.
Perhaps the jokes and forced laughter people make in serious situations are due to emotions similar to what this brief exchange of glances brought. Such a thought came to him for no reason.
The office door closed, holding a secret known only to the two of them.
—
"Good day, Commander."
Inside the conference room, already many had arrived.
For the first time since leaving the capital, the three Deputy Commanders of the Cavalry had gathered in one place.
Central members in charge of the southern, western, and northern branches, including a few members Yuder had personally assigned tasks to, and some who had been dispatched to nearby branches, like Mclara, had also returned.
Of course, collaborators outside the Cavalry were also present. The Empire's Special Forces Captain Sunz and Emon, General Gino's closest adjutant, Meghna Kurlieva, and Lady Myra El Herne, the First Princess of the Herne Duchy, who had been resolving the region's turmoil, were there, accompanied by a few knights.
Yuder carefully observed each person, sharing nods in a strange mood.
'This selection is more than enough to oversee the entire south from here.'
Normally, gathering such a diverse group at once would be incredibly difficult. People from different organizations and professions had all come here, trusting in the Cavalry alone, as soon as something unusual happened.
Even though discussions had taken place beforehand, the situation was made possible due to mutual trust and the judgment not to take the situation lightly.
This was a spectacle akin to a miracle, something that had never occurred in a previous life.
All this was because Kishiar La Orr and the Cavalry he led had taken Yuder's words seriously, not overlooking the early signs that had arisen. If they had dismissed the minor anomalies and omens, not exaggerating them to prepare for the impending chaos under the guise of preparation, today's event would have been impossible.
While Yuder was silently swallowing emotions unknown to others, Lady Myra was the first to speak.
"As you might have already heard, just before dawn today, unusual waves and tremors were detected off the coast of Charloin. Since the day of the hailstorm, the Charloin security forces and the Herne family's private soldiers have been continuously monitoring, allowing us to receive the news immediately."
Lady Myra had received the news alongside the acting administrator temporarily replacing Charloin's former lord, whom she had accused of negligence and embezzlement, and the knight commander leading the security. These individuals, soon to be under the new Duke of Herne, possessed enough judgment not to dismiss her due to her young age.
"As soon as we received the news, we remembered what the Cavalry Commander had advised earlier and began evacuating the citizens near the port, as we had previously planned. The evacuation is still underway, but it will be completed soon. Currently, knights and soldiers are standing by near the breakwater, continuously monitoring the situation."
Though the report came in the dead of night, when everyone was asleep, that was irrelevant. Lady Myra had always received reports regardless of whether she was sleeping or eating and had always dealt with them immediately. Thanks to her efforts, she could rush over so quickly today.
Yuder quietly observed Lady Myra, veiled in black. Though not clearly visible, she looked thinner and more worn than before, her voice roughened by accumulated fatigue, losing half of its original clarity. Yet, Yuder judged that her condition was not as bad as he had thought.
'Her eyes seem much deeper than before. Considering what she's been through, it's understandable.'
She had lost most of her family on the day of the hailstorm and was left alone. Despite experiencing such a tragic event that warranted sympathy, her focus on her duties without being consumed by sorrow was remarkable.
"Your swift response and decisive action are commendable, Lady Myra. The Cavalry will immediately deploy the personnel we've prepared."
At Kishiar's nod, Kanna caught his glance and quickly signaled the Cavalry members waiting behind. It was the signal to deploy the personnel ready to head to Charloin's coast at any moment.
Next to speak was Ever.
"This morning, we received reports of unusual distortions observed in the regions of Mclara, Tuban, Sluban, and Alsara. As you know, these areas have been under joint security support from the Cavalry, Charloin's security forces, and the imperial army since the day of the hailstorm."
These four regions had experienced short-lived cracks since the hailstorm, appearing and disappearing. However, this morning, almost simultaneously, cracks appeared in all four areas and hadn't dissipated yet.
Fortunately, those dispatched for security support acted promptly and evacuated the residents calmly, so like Charloin, these areas also had no casualties so far.
"Currently, the dispatched members are on standby with support personnel, operating under the assumption that monsters could suddenly appear, just like on the day of the hailstorm."
"Good. What's next?"
Receiving Kishiar's gaze, it was Meghna Kurlieva from the imperial army who stepped forward.
"General Gino successfully captured last night those who had been masquerading as the southern army for a long time. They were apprehended while trying to head to the southern coastal cities. Some escaped, and we are currently tracking them. I've come to share this information for coordinated efforts."
Yuder recalled his conversation with General Gino. Back then, the seasoned general had left, determined to root out the rotten elements within the southern army, unaware of their existence.
'He caught them much faster than expected.'
Yuder noticed the faint scar on Meghna's neck. There had been an attempt on her life from within, and it seemed to be a remnant of that time.
Yet, Meghna had survived and was here now.
Most of those present were people who would not have been here before.
After everyone's reports had concluded, Kishiar, with an unruffled expression, stood up from his seat. The man, standing proudly like a war god in the eyes of those present, turned away from the window and spoke.
"Everyone here has heard from me, after the day of the hailstorm, something that might have seemed absurd. I said that the hailstorm was not a one-day event and that a second, stronger hailstorm might soon come, urging preparedness. And yet, none of you dismissed my claims as madness, for which I am grateful."
"..."
After throwing such a seemingly playful comment, Kishiar's previously gentle smile faded.
"Honestly, I hoped most that my words then would not come true, but it seems that day has indeed arrived."
Thunder rumbled. As his words ended, a somber sound echoed from somewhere in the overcast sky.
Yet, Yuder did not feel the room darken at all. Such was the bright presence of the man standing before him, radiating light.
"Starting now, we will disperse all personnel to the seas of the four regions, including Charloin, as we had prepared earlier. Do not overlook even the slightest anomaly."
"..."
"The previous enemy came from the sky, but this time, I believe the enemy will come from the sea."