Below the three airships.
Busy figures were shuttling between the airships and the ground inside a mansion reeking of nightmare, one of Creon’s holdings.
Furthermore, a few vehicles were daringly lingering in the nearby streets.
Chancellor Ferdirich, dressed in a well-fitted court suit, walked while accepting a document handed to him by the mayor, who was quickly giving a report.
“Any response from the World Ark? ” Stepping into this small office, the Chancellor immediately turned back to ask as soon as he approached the desk.
“Not yet, ” replied Creon’s new mayor, standing at attention, flustered. “But they are still vying over signal transmissions and control of the airship within the World Ark. “
The Chancellor rested his cheek on his hand, pressing the document under his palm, and began to read.
“I think the World Ark will recognize the goodwill we’ve expressed. It’s just that Chairman Yang Buchen is currently engaged in long-distance telephone communications with various nations, and this matter has a higher level of authority for the Fogfolk. That’s why the response regarding the ownership of the airships we’ve provided has been somewhat delayed. “
This document already contained the dialogue between Gormus and Yang Buchen. Prime Minister Studienfelt, growing more alarmed with each line he read, felt his hair stand on end.
Campfire. The trails of aircraft pulling another layer of flame across the sky. An operation reminiscent of the Hellfire Sect.
The nuclear explosion on the earth!
Damn it… Was it protection from the radiation? The protection from that originally lost energy wasn’t real after all.
He nearly believed that mankind’s ultimate weapons could threaten the demons. Damn it, damn it, damn it!
However, if it’s about temperature… why has it remained a safe zone for so long after the nuclear explosion, even though the city’s temperature has long since dropped?
The Prime Minister’s heart pumped rapidly. In a brief moment of chaotic thought, he immediately cast those ideas aside and focused his attention on the final key content of the report: the story of the Glass Lamp.
“Still regarding Miss Gormus… “
He had frequently watched that stage play at the opera house as a child. Could it actually be hiding some great secret?
Could this play be connected to the apocalypse? Or is it related to something else of great importance, perhaps the distribution of interests that overlaps with the current situation?
Otherwise, why would this information be relayed over the phone amidst such an urgent situation? Not even the threat to the ownership of the “World Ark Airship Fleet, ” on which Yang Buchen relies to maintain the influence and actions they value most, was addressed as a first priority.
Quickly scanning the document’s contents but failing to fully grasp it, the Prime Minister heard footsteps approaching. A guard, holding a new document, stepped forward and delivered it with a formal yet impassive lift of his head, stating:
“This concerns the latest route suggestions from Mr. Yang Buchen and his team for our military’s lines. It is a more detailed plan drafted by the four-member Fogfolk team based at the former Kruehn Air Force Command. “
“Hmm? ” Friedrich’s expression shifted subtly as he swiftly took the document and began reading.
Then, a glimmer lit up in his eyes, quickly followed by a hint of confusion.
“Have the planes land and stop between our cities, then take off again immediately to disperse to various destinations. “
Just as the Prime Minister sank into contemplation, he immediately noticed that the guard’s breathing was slightly rapid.
Under normal circumstances, soldiers admitted into this place should have no issue with stamina. Even if he had run across the old mansion compound, which was built over two hundred years ago, it shouldn’t have drained a warrior capable of serving as a parliamentary guard so much.
“Where did you come from? ” The Prime Minister, wearing crystal-rimmed glasses, turned his head and asked in an indifferent tone.
“Reporting, I came from the air command post outside the city, ” replied the young man, who appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old. “Because the streets along the way were destroyed by artillery shells, I walked here on foot. “
Upon hearing this, the new deputy mayor’s cheek twitched imperceptibly.
By “on foot, ” he means running, really. At this moment, there are still warriors willing to risk such great danger for a piece of information, knowing that demon vines have already appeared in some areas outside the city.
The new deputy mayor then sensed a shift in the atmosphere as he looked ahead at Prime Minister Friedrich, who was still standing by the table.
This man, who wasn’t particularly tall, stood frozen for a couple of breaths. Then, he abruptly turned his head to gaze out the window at the dark, lonely silhouette of the city.
The Prime Minister slowly turned back to look at the young warrior beside him.
“You are good. Convey my orders: find some livestock such as cattle or sheep. If none are available, drive the ones set aside as provisions by the food service department to the streets of Kruun. “
The warrior froze upon hearing the order before immediately replying, “Yes, sir! “
At the same time, the mayor beside him showed an anxious expression but could only helplessly watch as the warrior quickly left.
Never mind—perhaps the Prime Minister was also worried that the various livestock, which outnumbered the prepared slaughter supply by at least four or even seven times, might attract the subterranean demons due to their clustering. In the past two days, similar reports have come in: the demons in the central and northern wilderness have begun slaughtering clustered groups of wild animals that haven’t yet experienced massive loss of life.
The new mayor thought that at best, lunch rations would consist only of vegetables, and the Prime Minister’s order was, after all, a safer course of action.
“Report, ” another voice sounded at the door. “There is the latest phone message from Chairman Yang Buchen. However, the person on the other end has been replaced—either an impostor or an authorized delegate. “
“Bring it here. “
As this person entered, another guard wearing a steel helmet ran to the doorway.
“Report! The latest news from the World Ark: all key high-level personnel close to Yang Buchen on the Association’s core airship, String No. 028, have already been evacuated. Their whereabouts are unknown. “
The Prime Minister looked over.
This guard, wearing a steel helmet and caught to serve as a messenger, continued nervously under the Prime Minister’s gaze: “That airship has already been boarded by our personnel, but, well, they stated that there is no management available for negotiation. Only technicians and researchers remain. Uh, except for Hailikoni, the diplomatic officer from Haven Zeke. “
“A diplomatic officer from Haven Zeke. ” The Prime Minister recalled the image of that girl. Haven Zeke’s people had always been by Yang Zicang’s side. Could it be that this system gave no response precisely because it had already been promised to Haven Zeke?
“Notify our… ” The Prime Minister, who was about to immediately issue orders to contact some ancient families also harboring Mist Men, paused his words as he recalled his own predicament during the Kahn Destroyer disaster. “Immediately connect our Mayor to Hailikoni, the companion of the World Ark. Inquire about her delegation member, Yang Buchen, regarding the negotiations for borrowing the World Ark and our airship. “
The new mayor of Cruen, standing beside the Prime Minister, looked solemn. This was forcing Elvensiz to make an official statement regarding Cruen’s position. If she admitted that she had no interest in the airships and the signal relay system, then this system could be nominally “taken back. “
As a major nation, having already given the World Ark so many hours tonight was the last display of courtesy and compliance with the official recovery process.
At the same time, the new mayor felt a flicker of joy in her heart—this night finally offered a small chance for her to shine.
“Yes. ” The guard who had handed the thin paper file into the room ran away with a standard turning motion.
……
The study room had a wooden floor covered in a dark, eerie aura.
“False information has been found sent to Steffin regarding the Goldbeak Legacy, ” reported the messenger standing at the doorway, barely a silhouette visible in the dim light, wearing a soft leather hat with a rounded brim. He paused for two breaths, and when no response came from the gentleman inside, he added before stepping away:
“As of now, the World Ark has not responded to Cruen. “
“This is just a trivial matter. “
From deep within the room came the sound of leather shoes walking, then the rustling of removing an outer coat and changing into another garment.
“Yes. But Yang Buchen doesn’t seem to care about the World Ark at all—he’s still running around ordering those planes about. “
“Hah, what can he do? A newcomer, completely clueless, becoming cannon fodder to catch the fire of this generation. “
The leisurely voice continued, “As for the World Ark, how will he respond to Schteffen? Promising to aid the maritime signal station means following our goal of assisting the empire in building broadcast airships. Refusing allows the empire to use this as grounds to reclaim the airship fleet, also aligning with our subversion objectives. Ignoring us entirely? That would serve us just as well, for then the World Ark will be completely divided from the empire. “
A soft sigh of disdain.
“It is only a pity—that Chairman Yang, like us, uncovered the weakness of the ultimate evil. Yet he still acted too late. “
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