Chapter 98 : Chapter 98

Chapter 98

"I've selected only those whose faces haven't been exposed to the outside."

Looking at the six lined-up Mercuries, Leodimir explained.

The composition was three magicians, two knights, and one summoner.

All were personnel personally selected by Leodimir for this operation.

Their mission was to assist in Eddie's safe escape in this 'Kirhausen Escape Operation'.

They would wait outside Shainborough and, the moment Eddie sent a signal, they would enter to protect him.

The deployment of Mercuries this time was decided upon Leodimir's strong insistence.

He argued that Eddie couldn't head to Shainborough alone without any protection.

After Leodimir raised his voice at his master and they argued for hours, Eddie finally surrendered to his disciple.

He had no way of winning against his apprentice who, worrying for his safety, declared he would not back down this time.

Of course, there was also a rational reason for agreeing to Leodimir's words.

No matter how admirable his concern for him was, Eddie was not one to make decisions based solely on such emotional reasons.

The Mercury deployment operation that Leodimir proposed was objectively quite excellent.

The original plan was to go in alone and come out alone.

Eddie would enter Shainborough, confront Furas, and reveal that he had never been under the 'Well and Deer' spell.

Thus, the two would engage in a verbal battle with some of their cards revealed.

The reason Eddie was risking going to Shainborough was to let Marcel hear the entire conversation through a Tracker.

After that, the conclusion was to have a full-on showdown with Furas and escape without holding back.

However, with the addition of the Mercuries, the story becomes a little easier.

Unknown reinforcements.

That alone would make the Kirhausens hesitant to deal with Eddie on the spot.

Even if they could deal with Eddie, is there a guarantee that the one who sent the reinforcements would let it slide?

What if they had to fight another unknown enemy?

The Kirhausens already had many enemies, and adding more was dangerous.

At that point, Furas would lose the leisure to deal with Eddie.

He would have to let him go for the time being.

The fact that Leodimir had selected personnel whose faces had not been exposed was also good in this regard.

As a trump card to land a blow on the Kirhausens.

Thus, a new plan was established.

Eddie, having entered Shainborough, would buy time and draw a summoning circle to summon the Mercuries.

There would be various obstacles hindering his mana manipulation, but it was fine.

The summoning circle would be activated by the power of Macloren dwelling in the Clode.

As long as the process of drawing the summoning circle wasn't discovered, the rest would be smooth sailing.

Thus, Furas, in the moment of punishing a cheeky tail, would face an enemy whose face he didn't even know.

His calculations would be thrown off.

It would increase the chances of Eddie's safe escape and, at the same time, cause great confusion for the Kirhausens.

It was a good plan.

'Of course, that's only if everything goes according to plan.'

Eddie swallowed a sigh and looked at Leodimir.

Leodimir met his gaze, his blue eyes shining with determination.

It was a gaze that said he was confident in this plan.

Eddie, too, had no intention of revoking his decision.

But still, one thing.

The fact that Leodimir's disciples had to risk their lives for him bothered him.

Variables can arise anytime, anywhere.

Moreover, this operation was a direct confrontation with none other than Furas von Kirhausen.

Furas was cold and cunning, but like Ivan's son, he also had a passionate side.

And above all, in terms of magic, he was one of the most skilled in the empire.

Therefore, to deal with Furas, who was a variable and a risk in himself, the Mercuries who would be on the front lines would truly have to risk their lives.

And even if a life-or-death situation for the Mercuries did arise, Eddie couldn't readily step forward to protect them.

In such a dangerous situation, the top priority had to be his own safe escape, the primary objective.

It was cruel to the Mercuries and upsetting for Eddie, but it couldn't be helped.

That was what it meant to accept sacrifices for the greater good.

"Hoo..."

Eddie eventually let out a worried sigh.

The expressions of the six lined-up Mercuries were all resolute.

It meant they were already prepared to lay down their lives.

Even after hearing and knowing all the significance and risks of the operation.

"Don't worry, Master. They all have enough resolve and skill to make the operation a success."

At Leodimir's words, Eddie slowly nodded his head.

Of course they would.

Eddie already trusted the Mercuries as much as Leodimir did.

And because he trusted them, he knew well.

That if the worst-case scenario came, they would not hesitate to throw away their lives for him.

Therefore, this operation must be a complete success.

Because he couldn't bear to see anyone else die because of him.

With that thought, Eddie gave two of his secret arts to the Mercuries deployed in this operation.

Caliptus' Eye, and the Ademobir Summoning Manual.

The two secret arts were placed in the center of the table.

Eddie had brought them from the Pantheon just before the meeting began.

Eddie looked at the two secret arts and hardened his clouded expression.

Then, he took out the Clode from around his neck and began to speak about the operation in a heavy tone.

"The core of this operation is timing and power control."

Everyone in Corkis focused on his words.

"The Mercuries must appear in Shainborough at the right time, and no matter what clash occurs, the barrier surrounding Shainborough must not be broken. It is forbidden to engage in more force than necessary. Of course, the Kirhausens will be more sensitive about the barrier."

Everyone nodded as if they already knew.

It was a confirmed fact that the Kirhausens were preparing a powerful barrier.

According to the informant Mercury, a large number of barrier stones recently reinforced at the Pasquier Institute had been brought into Shainborough.

And the reinforced function of those barrier stones was 'concealment'.

There was only one reason why a concealment barrier would suddenly be placed over Shainborough.

To prevent anyone outside from noticing if a fierce clash with Eddie were to occur.

If Furas and Eddie's mana were to collide properly, it wouldn't end with just effects or noise.

At the very least, a mana shockwave on the level of a natural disaster would occur and spread in all directions.

Probably no mid-level or higher magician living in Grainsville would fail to feel that power.

Moreover, the entire empire's attention was currently focused on Eddie.

The moment Eddie entered Shainborough, reporters from all over the empire would be watching the main gate of Shainborough, waiting for the result of the negotiations between Eddie and the Kirhausens.

Therefore, from the Kirhausen's perspective, the concealment barrier was very important.

It was natural to install it, and it absolutely must not be broken.

This was the biggest reason why the battle in this operation could not be too large-scale.

"If the barrier breaks, the entire empire will know that I and the Kirhausens even engaged in battle."

"But the damage to the Kirhausens would be far greater than to you, Master. Their family's reputation would literally be covered in filth."

"Right. My image might be slightly tarnished, but they will suffer a loss of honor to the point where the foundation of their family is shaken. And a fatal suspicion will follow."

"The suspicion of 'why would they try to hold onto a tail who wants to betray them to the point of battle'," I presume.

"Exactly, Fred."

Eddie nodded at Fred.

He was right.

If the fact of the clash became known, Eddie would be labeled as 'the tail who betrayed his family to the point of battle', but it wouldn't be a big problem.

It was a problem that would be resolved once the interview with the Westin Post was released anyway.

On the other hand, the Kirhausens would be in danger of having their family's secret revealed.

No matter how great Eddie was, it was common sense that a great family called a magical noble house would not fight a battle to hold onto a tail.

Speculations would follow that there must be another reason why they couldn't let Eddie go.

And that would bring the public's eyes closer to the family's secret of 'Well and Deer'.

"So you might think that it's more advantageous for us if the barrier breaks. But..."

Eddie trailed off and looked at the six Mercuries.

Knowing what unspoken words he had swallowed, the Mercuries conveyed their gratitude with just their eyes.

'But if that happens, the Kirhausens will attack with all they've got, and the Mercuries could be annihilated.'

It was the unspoken words Eddie swallowed to prevent the strategy meeting from becoming emotional.

But his clouded expression already showed his sincere worry about such a situation.

If the barrier broke, it would truly be a life-or-death battle from then on.

The Kirhausens would be determined to capture Eddie, and they would ruthlessly try to kill the Mercuries who got in their way.

No matter how strong Eddie was, it would not be easy to protect the Mercuries and escape in that situation.

Of course, it might be possible if he unleashed all his power with the intention of annihilating the current Kirhausens.

But if that happened, all his future plans would become meaningless.

Because Eddie would become a murderer who had slaughtered a family.

So, if the barrier broke, Eddie had to escape first.

At the cost of the sacrifice of the Mercuries who would protect him with their lives.

"......."

The atmosphere briefly became solemn.

A silence as heavy as the weight of life.

What broke that silence was the sound of Eddie taking out his wand.

Everyone watched Eddie's movements in silence, and Eddie aimed his wand at the two secret arts placed in the center of the table.

Swoosh-

With a light swish, the two secret arts that had floated into the air slowly flew towards the Mercuries.

The secret arts each stopped in front of the ones standing at either end of the lined-up Mercuries.

Caliptus' Eye went to the magician and field leader, 'Daz'.

The Ademobir Summoning Manual was delivered to the summoner 'Rao', who played a key role in this operation.

The two Mercuries reached out and carefully received the secret arts Eddie had given them.

Rao, standing at the far right, in particular, could not hide his nervousness as he looked at Ademobir.

To actually touch this summoning manual that he had only heard of.

And to think that he himself would have to create the summoning circle within it to transport his comrades.

It was nerve-wracking, yet it felt like a dream.

Looking at Rao, Brenda sent him a look of encouragement.

The two, both summoner-turned-magicians, were good friends.

Although their paths had diverged as they worked in the shadows and in the light respectively, they knew each other well and sincerely supported each other because they shared the same roots in their abilities.

Originally, in this operation, Brenda was supposed to use the Ademobir Summoning Manual.

Since the role was to transport comrades from the outside with a summoning circle, it didn't matter if the summoner's face was known in this operation.

But Eddie, who had accepted the operation, opposed Brenda's deployment.

Not because he didn't trust her skills, but because of the risks after this operation.

Brenda was already identified by the Kirhausens as a member of Palamedes.

Moreover, because she held a position as an academy professor, her public name value was too great.

Therefore, if it became known that Brenda had suspicious movements at the time of Eddie's escape from the Kirhausens, it could turn into a rather disadvantageous situation.

Brenda immediately understood this situation and withdrew from the operation.

And Rao came in to take her place.

Rao met Brenda's gaze and expressed his gratitude.

Eddie glanced at the scene and then shifted his gaze to Daz.

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