Chapter 247: Two Days Until the War
Mirian’s question hung in the air of the room, creating a new and heavy silence. It was a very valid doubt that filled all the humans present in the refuge with sudden worry.
If the demon king Rigal’s people could communicate in such a fast and effective manner over great distances. Could they find out about the surprise attack once they force their way into the immense enemy castle?
All the gazes of Ryan’s group locked onto the dragon woman, waiting for a confirmation of that terrifying scenario. Ivis observed them in silence for a few long seconds, shaking her head with evident laziness.
She let out an annoyed sigh at the fear and ignorance of the mortals surrounding her.
"My lady Ophelia already thought about that little detail a long time ago," Ivis explained with a tired voice.
"She possesses a special relic that blocks any kind of telepathy over quite a wide range."
Ivis settled into her chair, completely downplaying the major concern Mirian had just raised.
"As long as we use that object during the attack, there will be no problem whatsoever with enemy communications. With that relic’s strong effect covering the entire castle area and with Janina taking care of loose ends. We will completely prevent any annoying reinforcements from ruining the main plan."
The girls in the group exchanged glances after hearing the water dragon’s clear explanation. They commented in hushed tones that they knew absolutely nothing about the existence of that kind of blocking relic.
The world of ancient magical objects was always full of strange secrets for the vast majority of adventurers. But then, they answered themselves and reached a very logical conclusion about their own ignorance.
It was only natural that they were unaware of that valuable information about anti-dragon artifacts. After all, they had never faced dragons in their past lives while working for the guild.
And they never thought that one day they would do something as dangerous as invading a demon king’s snowy territory.
Ryan was very curious to hear about that mysterious communication-blocking relic. An object capable of cutting off the magic of beings as powerful as dragons was something incredibly valuable.
He leaned forward slightly in his comfortable wooden seat and decided to ask about it directly.
"Tell me, Ivis, how exactly does that object work and who will carry it during the invasion?"
Ivis stared him straight in the eyes with her vertical pupils and clarified the matter for him bluntly.
"In fact, to your surprise, that is an ancient human relic, it was not created by demons. And due to its strict conditions of use, you are the one who must activate it at the exact moment of the attack."
Upon hearing that sudden and important condition from the dragon, Ryan fell silent in his spot. And he thought seriously about Ophelia’s true intentions.
That woman really might not need him or his group to kill Rigal in direct combat. The demon queen of Morrisen was probably strong enough to crush her rival on her own.
But upon realizing those small hidden details, Ryan finally understood everything very clearly. Ophelia’s main reason for asking for his help and forming this unusual alliance was due to that human relic.
She could not use it due to her demonic nature, so she wanted a human to do that job. She wanted someone highly trustworthy who would help them on the battlefield and not betray them behind their backs.
Someone who was completely capable of using that relic without fail to ensure the plan’s success.
Ryan smiled to himself, lowering his gaze slightly to hide his expression of understanding from the group. He mentally praised Ophelia once again, recognizing her immense capacity for planning things out.
She was definitely a very astute woman who calculated every small move on her chessboard. But then, Ryan continued reflecting on the grave implications of that discovery, and his faint smile disappeared.
If Ophelia had such a useful and powerful relic kept in secret. It worried him greatly to think about what kind of dangerous things the demon king Rigal might have at his disposal to defend himself.
Hidden objects that might affect them far more than expected during combat.
Ryan immediately deduced that he must be twice as focused on this matter from this very moment on. He could not afford any distractions, nor the slightest error in judgment in his future tactical decisions.
Because this would be his first large-scale fight in this unknown world, and there were far too many variables.
After that long moment of tension and reflection, the group continued talking about the details of the plan.
They reviewed the positions and attack times, and after a good while they finished the extensive conversation.
Helen was the first to stand up from her seat with a very abrupt movement full of annoyance. The black-haired warrior spoke with an extremely cold voice, looking at her companions and her leader with bitterness.
She said that since she wouldn’t be allowed to go to the fight in the north, she had no reason to stay and listen any longer, and she would leave the room immediately.
Helen turned around and began walking toward the refuge’s exit with heavy, forceful steps. Mirian tried to stop her, raising a hand and saying her name with evident concern over her attitude.
But Ryan raised his own arm and stopped Mirian before the archer could go after her.
He made it very clear with that simple, firm gesture that Helen needed to be completely alone to assimilate her punishment.
From her spot on the other side of the table, Ivis looked at Ryan in a heavy, complicit silence.
He nodded his head at her, giving her a silent signal confirming a prior agreement they had between them. And then, Ivis also stood up from her chair and left the place, following the exact same path the warrior had taken.
After the two of them left, only Ryan, Alicia, Karol, Beatrice, and Mirian remained in the room.
They spent the rest of the time chatting about very trivial things and about whatever details Karol and Beatrice had to report from their mission in the nation of Kallistia.
...
The next day, the bright sun once again illuminated the large villa hidden in the sky dungeon.
Ryan did the exact same routine as the day before very calmly and without rushing his steps. He went straight to the cold stone basement to visit the young holy knight who was still a prisoner.
After verifying that Chloe was still chained up and alive, he crossed the villa’s magical portal without delay. He went to see Ivis on the one hundredth floor of the dungeon to make sure everything was in order with the plan.
Since there was no major news in either of the two places, he retreated back to the safety of the villa.
Ryan stood in the center of the large training courtyard, surrounded by the fresh morning air.
He pulled out from his magical inventory all the weapons, swords, and spears he had collected over a long time. A large amount of metal, shields, and blades fell onto the dirt floor, forming a very noisy pile.
Ryan called his personal assistant and asked Alicia to gather all of that immediately with the rest of the villa’s weapons. He ordered her to have them checked and distributed without fail to the strongest warriors of his army of demi-humans and elves.
There were only two short days left to meet Queen Ophelia in the cold north and begin the attack.
Ryan left Alicia in charge of distributing the weaponry and entered the main house with firm steps. He walked down the empty hallway until he reached his own room and closed the wooden door behind him.
And finally, standing in the middle of the silent room, he pulled out his massive boomerang.