Chapter 440: Requesting Mathias’s Support

"Oh great." Maya rolled her eyes. Stella remained silent, which confused Auric.

"Huh? Why is that a bad thing? I mean, even though I couldn’t speak yet, I could surely read the characters." Auric was flabbergasted by everyone’s reaction.

"It’s not exactly about the country itself. The fact that you have to leave this country is the reason this sucks." Katarina sighed.

"Even though you are not currently the most sought-after person because of what happened in Dermania, you are still in high demand. In other words, going to another country is like saying, ’Here I come to check out my potential new country.’ The people in this country are free to approach me or kidnap me because I willingly walk into the tiger’s den," explained Maya.

"Oh." Auric certainly didn’t expect that kind of analogy, but he understood it. Other countries still wanted him. They didn’t manage to get him because he was under protection of Jacob for the last two months, and this was his turf. Even if they came closer to him, they had a high chance of failing.

However, if he left the country, they could attempt an even bolder plan.

"So, can we really do this trip?" Auric asked, looking at Katarina.

"We can. The country will frown upon your action, but they won’t be able to stop you. The problem is how much information we should leak." Katarina raised one finger. "If you go there to investigate the temple, they will think something is going on. Some will underestimate you, but some won’t."

"Yeah. After all, your reputation in the scientific field has increased drastically because of the passive energy and fusion method, not to mention the fact that you are the only one capable of dispelling the multi-element poison." Maya nodded.

"If you think there’s something wrong with the temple, they will have a reasonable suspicion to conduct their own investigation." Stella agreed.

"I see. So, what are we going to do if I want this trip to succeed?"

"First, I need to ask you this one question. What kind of woman is your type?" Katarina raised one finger and asked with a serious expression.

Auric was dumbfounded. "That’s not... a real question, right?"

"It’s actually one of the most important questions." Maya actually supported Katarina.

"What?" Auric froze.

"It’s actually a standard tactic. Honey trap." Stella shrugged. "If they know your type, you could be ensnared by their agents, which will make it easier to kidnap you."

"Suppose I won’t fall for a honey trap?" Auric smiled embarrassedly.

"Very well. I will try to trust you with that." Katarina nodded in understanding. "In that case, I’ll give you your passport. The only thing that worries me is the reason for going there. Infiltrating that facility is not possible. After all, that facility is controlled by the government."

"Is it even possible?" Auric frowned. "I mean, won’t they try their best to stop us?"

"Not exactly. While it’s funded by the government, it’s not exactly their top-secret project. As long as we have a good enough cause, it’s possible to get there." Katarina nodded.

"But what kind of reason are we going to give?" Maya crossed her arms, pondering. "As for this country, I’ll just ask my grandfather or someone else as a supervisor. Definitely not Jacob."

"Hmm..." Auric was trying to find a reason, but it was harder than he expected. The reason needed to be convincing without arousing too much suspicion.

Then again, he might not have to worry about the reason so much. If it truly mattered, he could just let them think there was something in the temple.

"Why don’t you ask Ellia about it?" Stella raised her hand. "Doesn’t she have business over there?"

"It can’t exactly camouflage our goal, though."

"Will that matter?" Stella turned to Auric.

"Well, it might not really matter. Even if they think something is wrong and investigate it again, they won’t know what’s wrong. However, they’ll probably send you an agent that will ’monitor’ you to figure that out. Just remember that even the walls have ears."

Auric pondered for a second before nodding. "I think that’s something I can accept."

Katarina closed her eyes for a moment to consider everything. "Very well. If you don’t mind that situation, then all right. We can ask Ellia to figure out the reason."

Maya tapped the table a few times with her finger. "I still don’t know what I should say to my grandfather for him to agree. Maybe the best person to ask is my mother, but my grandfather is much sharper in this kind of situation. It’s just... if you are talking about the artifacts and all kinds of businesses related to my family’s business, my grandfather will probably come to get you."

"..." Auric smiled wryly. He knew about the Relesha family. It was the crazy family that had even sent a picture of Maya wearing a maid uniform to his room. If not for Maya not telling a single thing to her family, the Relesha family would have spared no effort to get their hands on him.

"Still, as someone who used to be the founder of the adjudicators, Sir Mathias is indeed the best supervisor. He will be able to figure out the enemy’s plan." Katarina could only agree because of Mathias’s skills.

Auric nodded. "I understand. Let’s go with that."

Auric stood up and took out his phone. "I’ll call Ellia for a second."

Auric waved his hand and walked to the side. Maya did the same. "I’ll call my grandfather then."

After walking outside, Maya let out a long sigh first as though she was steeling her resolve before calling her grandfather.

"Please guess who I am. A, Napoleon Bonaparte. B, Charming and Handsome Grandfather. C, your most beloved grandfather!"

Maya’s eyebrows were already twitching even though the call had just begun. "Grandfather... I have a request for you."

"You will have a better chance of persuading me if I can see your puppy eyes."

"..." Maya took a deep breath while thinking, ’Calm down, calm down, calm down, calm down!’

She turned it into a video call. Mathias was simply lying on his couch as though he had nothing better to do.

"Are you in Auric’s shop?"

"Yes." Maya nodded.

"I see. Tell me more about the request."

Maya hesitated for a few seconds. "I am planning a trip with Auric."

"You won’t call me just because of the trip. So, this trip will definitely be dangerous or complicated. It doesn’t seem like you are planning to challenge a Rank 5 or a Rank 6 beast, so I guess it will be a trip to another country?"

"It’s to the United Asia Front, specifically China."

"I see." He nodded in understanding. "So, when are you getting married?"

"What? Can you be serious for a moment?" Maya clenched her hand and gritted her teeth.

Mathias looked dumbfounded before asking, "What makes you think I’m not dead serious?"

"..."

"I heard you quit from Grand Magica College, so now you’re planning a holiday to another country. What does it look like?"

"It’s not like that." Maya really wanted to crush her phone.

Mathias suddenly laughed. "Okay, okay. Let’s put the joke aside. I see, China. Going to another front might not be that dangerous since we’ll fly at a high altitude, so beasts won’t be able to reach us, unlike domestic flights.

"After the apocalypse, many countries have fallen, but unlike the Europe Front, the United Asia Great Base has many countries strong enough to maintain their own territories. They aren’t necessarily large, but they are still quite far apart.

"Korea might have unified, but China occupies the southeastern part of its former territory. They’re sandwiched between Russia to the north and the Southeast Asia Union to the south.

"Those three countries are currently the most dangerous because they are most likely to clash with the beasts.

"In times of need, heroes emerge, which is why Russia and China have Rank 7 humans in the United Asia Great Base. If you really want to go there, you need to take that into consideration.

"However, they won’t move a Rank 7 human that easily, even though we’re talking about Auric, but let me remind you that your movement is limited.

"What is your real target in going there?"

"It’s a facility for researching ruins that have collapsed."

"Is it the one that collapsed 30 years ago?"

"Yes." She nodded.

Mathias closed his eyes to consider everything. After a while, he said, "It’s possible, but how many people are going?"

"Me, Auric, Katarina, Stella... maybe Ellia as well since we’re using her as a cover story. Stella is also a Rank 5 human like me, so she can provide additional firepower. You have seen the others during the training program."

Mathias nodded a few times while looking away. "It should be possible. With me there, I should be able to convince the country that we’ll return. However, I will need to have full control over the security.

"All security arrangements, including hotels and other accommodations, will be made according to my instructions. Have you told him about the danger? Does he know when to shut his mouth?"

"I’ve warned him about it."

"Very well. It should be possible. I don’t mind helping, since the Relesha family owes him quite a lot for clearing your record."

"Thank you." Maya felt relieved.

"I want to ask one question. Now that you are free, are you happy?"

Maya was taken aback by the question, but she soon smiled and nodded. "I am."

Mathias smiled back. "I’m glad then. Just message me about the details later."

"Will do."

"Oh, one more thing. I have prepared your dowry!"

"#$^#@^#&$!"