Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 367: Imminent Investigation

“This time, I’ve come to warn you all.”

“...”

The room stood still. Zelsh and Bradok calmed any thoughts of drinking more. Vloz, Ania, and Puula waited with bated breath. Dewlia, Donovan, and Jeminine looked around the room but remained stiff in anticipation. Jarrit was the same as before, expectant of the warning and merely waiting for his next orders.

“Now, some things have taken an unexpected turn... Our adversary has begun to make moves.”

“... Who?” Bradok asked.

Shaking his head, the man answered, “Someone worse than what you’re imagining. This will not only involve your Iron Territory, but also Rhyner’s Trighton Region, Your Rot Region, Jeminine’s Psyche Region, and more...”

“Rhyner’s Trighton Region?” Zelsh glanced at Jarrit, who chuckled and nodded. “I see... So he’s a key to your plans as well...”

.....

“Yes. But right now, focus on what I have to say,” declared the man. “At the moment, I’m not entirely sure what our foe will be doing. There’s no guarantee that he’ll wait until the tournament for his own plans either, a new development that may change everything... But it’s still likely that the bulk of their plans will occur after the tournament, which is what we’d prefer.

“Um, who’s our-”

Cutting Jeminine off, the man replied, “Someone you can’t deal with in any way without me. Someone willing to destroy the hierarchy to achieve their goals. However, they can’t do that on a whim. They’ve been doing it gradually over time... waiting for the right moment to change their position in the world.

“I won’t say everything I know, and I ask that those that I’ve already spoken with not share any information I’ve shared with you, not without my blatant consent,” the man clarified.

“... So, what will be challenging our regions of influence?” Vloz asked, “How shall we prepare for something we know nothing about? Please, tell us.”

The man nodded. “Bradok, Ania... and Vloz. You three will be facing the most pressure, that is a fact. Such is the fate of your kind in the current age. Zelsh, you may become a target of assassination, as well.”

Dewlia, Donovan, and Jeminine felt their faces tighten before getting a chance to even see Zelsh’s reaction. Yet they were startled again, noting no change in Zelsh’s expression.

“That’s to be expected...” Sighing, Zelsh gave his family a jovial grin, “Should that happen, I’m glad to have such a wonderful family that can carry on in my stead.”

“Dad, don’t-”

“Be assured that I’ll help you all I can,” stated the man, interrupting Donovan. “Still, I felt it best to make things clear. It’s better to avoid such a situation than to let it blindly occur.

“Jeminine, I don’t believe you’ll be targeted for assassination. However,” the man continued, “your region will be pressured at the border, at the very least.”

Pondering, Zelsh asked, “So, prefectural war may break out?”

The man gave a silent nod.

“I see... Yet the Iron Territory will get involved?”

“Yes. It certainly will...” Clasping his hands together, the man leaned forward against the table.

Before Vloz could speak, Bradok questioned, “So, the regions will fight over Iron Territory?”

“Yes... That’s what will likely happen...”

“Why’s that?” asked Bradok, unfazed by the difference in their strengths.

The man sighed, asking, “Iron Territory is the home of a massive magicite mine, correct?”

“WHAT?!!” Zelsh’s eyelids stretched, nearly squeezing his eyes out of his sockets.

Everyone else was startled by the outburst, everyone but Jarrit, who quietly nodded in confirmation to Zelsh.

Seeing this, Vloz looked to the stunned king. “Is there a great significance to magicite ore?”

Nodding, Zelsh took in a deep breath. “Yes... It’s an ancient ore with few abilities. Most consider it a common tool to aid early cultivation, but large quantities of magicite ore can be considered a national treasure to anyone old enough to know it’s worth.”

“Old enough? What do you mean by that?” Vloz questioned, seeing how even Lady Dewlia was confused by these facts.

Zelsh looked at the mysterious man and explained, “Magicite ore, when there is enough, can be refined into weapons. Such weapons are strictly used for nothing less than prefectural warfare and defense.”

“...” Twitching in suspense, Vloz tried to shake off his nerves. He looked at the man across from everyone. “What should we do? Is there anything-”

“There are a few options. Regardless of what happens, your prefecture lord will quickly learn the truth. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however, your enemies that used bandit scouts and spies also know this information. And, as someone who personally knows how large the deposit is, I can guarantee that it’s large enough for neighboring prefectures to declare war in order to receive a portion of the resources on the border...”

“Meaning... Tempest will be making a claim?” Zelsh asked, startled to believe such a thing. “But to reach it, they would need to...”

“They would need to cross the corners of the Psyche and Rot Regions,” stated the man. “They would struggle to claim much territory, but such a large deposit will be investigated by the quadrant.”

“THE QUADRANT?!?!”

Everyone spoke out, flabbergasted by such a need.

“The Quadrant? We own enough magicite to make the quadrant jealous?!!!” Bradok broke out in laughter, doing his best to cope with the information while keeping his brand of sanity. “Well, what if we hurry and mine it for the region’s king?”

But the man shook his head. “It’s too late for that... You’ll have someone arriving to study the mines before tomorrow night.”

“Seriously?!” Vloz shouted, putting his brain to full use but to no avail. “Then, what do you suggest we do?”

“I... I’m not entirely certain.” The man’s answer rocked their hearts more than anything previously mentioned. “I’m not entirely certain what the best plan of action is. Because the moment the quadrant hears of this, so will Lord Treeda...”

Zelsh closed his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “... And Lord Treeda would seek the contents as property of her clan...”