Reincarnated Hero System - Chapter 1234 - 1234: Decades of Plotting [Bonus 7]
“I’ve not exactly hidden my intent to visit the Beta Continent in recent times, and naturally, that information has reached the ears of the continent’s national leaders.
You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that some of them are apparently banding together to draft an International Law meant to keep me out of their borders.”
Leoniel’s eyes widened at Evan’s words.
“When did this happen? I wasn’t aware of it.”
“I’m not surprised you weren’t,” Evan replied. “Isolon hasn’t been invited, at least not as far as I know. But an invitation wouldn’t be far off, given that it’s being spearheaded by the Solaris Union, and your neighbour, Whaijan, has already agreed.”
Hearing this, the other Marquis frowned deeply.
“What sort of justification do they have for such a thing?”
The Solaris Union Evan mentioned was a Major World Power on par with the Aelum Kingdom Sharon came from and the Desert Country of Tarse.
It was formed from six smaller countries that joined together, pooling their powers to become a single great nation, and for them to act in the name of the ‘Solaris Union,’ the rulers of all six constituents had to reach an agreement.
But considering Evan’s current popularity, his public status as a Hero, and his standing as a GWE Marquis, trying to restrict him through international law required a very strong justification.
“Well, they claim that I’m the one who attracts the ‘Disasters’ that I ‘solve’, and if I can’t enter their borders, they’d have no problems. They say it’s for the security of their nations.”
Leoniel couldn’t help but facepalm when he heard Evan’s explanation.
“That’s such a stretch it makes me question their intellect. I can understand why they might think that, since the Disasters usually don’t get attention before you arrive, but if they took a moment to properly research the Demonic Hand, they’d see that it cannot be the case.
The Demonic Hand plans in secret as far as I’ve discovered, and you’re only bringing to light plans that have already existed.
That’s something anyone who rises to the position of a ruler of a nation should be able to figure out with a little investigation, especially given they’ve targeted 3 Major World Powers in less than 5 years.”
Evan nodded lightly at Leoniel’s words, glancing at the waitresses as they brought their meals. Once the table was set, he turned back to Leoniel and spoke.
“The people orchestrating these Disasters already picked their target locations before I was even born.
Look at their track record. Does anyone really think the Demonic Hand could plan and prepare attacks on these Major World Power nations in just a few years?
They’ve been planning these things for decades!
Graugro from 30 years ago was a test run for the Cheverton Duchy’s attack 4 years ago, and I certainly wasn’t born 30 years ago.
They even had some of the Regional Chiefs of Tarse inside their pocket. That’s not something you accomplish in less than 10 years.”
Evan picked up his cutlery, removing the serviettes wrapped around them as he continued, “They’ve had plans in secret for decades, the locations already predetermined.
I only found out about their plans and the targets they had in mind 7 years ago, shortly before I awakened to my Unique Skill and became a Hero, who then had the obligation to prevent these plans from coming to fruition.”
Leoniel immediately noticed a specific detail in Evan’s statement, eyes narrowing as he asked, “You found out about their plans 7 years ago?”
“Hmm? Of course, I found out,” Evan responded. “You don’t think I was born with that information, do you?”
“Pfft. Of course not.”
Leoniel turned his gaze to his own meal, picking up his cutlery as he added, “I’m just curious, like everyone else, about how you came to know these plans of theirs.”
“Ah, right. The source of my information, huh? While everyone would like to know that, it’s information only certain members of my inner circle have access to.”
Evan’s answer left Leoniel a bit surprised.
“You’ve told people?” he asked.
“Of course. I’m not a one-man army, you know? The ‘Tarse Defence Force’ wouldn’t have been possible if Emperor Lloris didn’t know the source of my information.”
Putting down his fork and raising one hand, Evan continued, “Your efforts to investigate the Demonic Hand for their potential threat have improved my impression of you, so I’ll let you in on a little secret.
Contrary to popular belief, I don’t constantly receive updates on the Demonic Hand’s plans. I obtained the bulk of the information once and have been acting according to it.
Any ‘updates’ I get usually come from capturing and extracting them from a Senior Member of the Demonic Hand.”
Evan revealed a crucial detail he hadn’t shared with many, and Leoniel stared at him in silence for a moment, as if gauging just how significant what Evan had told him was.
Finally, he spoke, asking a question.
“So you’re saying your intel on the Demonic Hand’s plans might be out of date?”
“Exactly,” Evan responded, picking up his cutlery again. “That’s why I’m rushing to accomplish as much as possible while I’m still 90-100% certain.”
As he took a bite of his pasta, he continued, “Make no mistake, the overall structure of their plans and the major milestones cannot change.
They have a set goal, and there is one most efficient way for them to achieve it with the methods they have, so that cannot change.
What can change are the smaller details within their larger plans. They can adjust many of those details from what I know to what I don’t know.”
When Evan said this, Leoniel thought back to something Evan had mentioned earlier and asked, “Is that part of why you didn’t want your current location known? So they wouldn’t be able to predict where you’re going and know which part of their plan you intend to disrupt next?”
“Exactly!” Evan responded, his voice a little louder. “Marquis Leoniel, I’m really glad you’re quick on the uptake.”
Leoniel waved a hand lightly. “Drop the title. Just call me Leoniel,” he said.
“Don’t mind if I do then,” Evan replied, picking up his drink and taking a sip before continuing, “Well, no point crying over spilt milk. My presence on the Voyager is public knowledge now, and the Zeraxes Archipelago will be expecting me.
Not long after that, news of my arrival will reach the Beta Continent, and my enemies will know I’m coming for them. This is forcing me to adjust my plans and remap my movement path.”
Evan tapped a finger on the table, projecting a small holographic map of the Beta Continent with a single gold line running through it, curving and bending around.
“I planned to head straight south, but the Demonic Hand would be watching me, and if I go south, they’d know exactly what I intend to do.”
When he said this, Leoniel glanced down at the map, his eyes narrowing slightly as he saw the labelled names of the nations in the south of the Beta Continent that the gold line cut through.
‘The Holy Empire, Deston, Solaris Union, Whaijan…and Isolon.’
“I wonder…what exactly was taking you to the south?”
At Leoniel’s question, Evan casually pointed to a mountainous region in the nation bordering Whaijan on the opposite side, Vuwhax.
“A sister of someone who saved my life years ago, when I nearly got assassinated in Duscon, lives there.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Leoniel looked up from the map, eyes wide at what Evan had just said so casually.
Seeing his surprise, Evan blinked, then remembered that the event he just mentioned hadn’t been made public.
“Well, in Year 1053, the Demonic Hand sent members of their First Division after me because I fucked up their GWE plans and killed the Eighth Finger of the Demonic Hand.
Someone helped me out of that mess, and I went on to prove why they really should have taken me out then in Lacertilia, Wolfen, and Tarse.”
Evan mentioned the name of a nation that Leoniel didn’t know had any connections to the Demonic Hand, Wolfen, the nation invaded by the Great Eastern Empire shortly after the Lizard Lord’s Outbreak, but Evan continued before Leoniel could comment on it.
“Anyway, the person who helped me back then has a sibling in Vuwhax, and they’re kind of ‘imprisoned’ by the Demonic Hand.”
Explaining the magical slumber of the Ouroboros of Fire and Earth, Ashe Iremith, and the modifications the Demonic Hand had made to the conditions for awakening her was complicated, so Evan just summarised it that way.
“I was planning to go help them, but I can’t do that anymore now,” Evan said, concluding.
