Carmilla lead us to the town hall where the baron's office is located at. I thought that she would have to lead us to the same room where the meeting was held, but it seems the baron's reasoning for this was more specific.
"Lord Bellos, I have come with lord Florence," Carmilla knocked at the door before saying so. "You may enter," the baron's voice resounded from inside the room. After hearing such, Carmilla proceeded to open the door.
His office was spacious, with bookshelves placed behind his desk and at the right side of the wall. The books didn't look like storybooks, but actual literature works concerning philosophy, economy, and religion.
On the other side of the wall is a wide and open bay window, allowing the fresh scent of the sea to fill the room. Although I was more interested in the books that our home didn't have, our attention was called by the baron.
"Would you like some tea?" The baron asks with a tired expression. "Please," Sean responded simply before turning his attention to me, "White, why don't you sit as well?"
"It's fine. I don't think I can contribute to your discussions anyways," I denied his invitation. In my world, it's customary for people to face their equals, and as I am now, I am no equal to nobility.
"No, please sit. It would be troubling for my consciousness if such a lovely lady remain standing," the baron turned his attention to me and says with a smile. Because of his exhaustion, the smile he shows looks so weak.
At his words, Sean almost spat out his tea trying to hold back his laughter to stay dignified. He kind of looks like he'll break at any second though. But I guess the baron's impression of me as a girl is reasonable since I haven't tied my hair.
"If you insist," I humbly responded, "but if I may correct one thing, I'm actually a boy." Taking a hairband out of my storage bag, I tied my hair before sitting down.
The baron looked surprised, but he instantly apologized. "Sorry about that," he said with a dry laugh. "It's of no problem. Lord Bellos' impression is justified," I responded, glancing at Sean who in turn avoided me.
"Young lord Florence, I apologize for calling you out this early in the morning. However, we have already formed the dungeon expedition team and we would like for you to lead them," the baron cleared his throat before getting to the point.
Sean looks like he's thinking things through, but there is no sign of him disagreeing whatsoever. Although he looks like a teenager, Sean is still thirteen years old, which kind of seemed unreasonable.
However, as to how a noble should be, regardless of age, they should be responsible and independent. If Sean used the excuse of his age for not participating, it would be looked down on as cowardice and shameless.
Although I can't see any ulterior motives from the baron's eyes, this little chat resurfaced memories of the noble bastards from my old world.
"I see, I understand. But firstly, I would like to see this expedition team, as well as the outline of our plans for the whole matter," Sean responded calmly. His demeanor demonstrated a thorough thinker, which differentiated from the normal Sean I know of.
The baron simply gave out a smile and nodded before standing up, "Please follow me." Sean and I stood up from our sits and followed the Baron. We headed to the rooftop of the Townhall, overlooking the whole town.
Although I already know that this town's size is bigger than what's a town should be, it certainly looks like a small city from here. "Over here," a bulky man, about mid-twenties, called out to us.
I turned my attention in his direction to see other people who look as exhausted as the baron sitting in bark benches and doing some work with the miscellaneous things, like cleaning weapons and trashed papers, above the table.
When the man called out to us, the busy people also turned their attention towards our direction and bowed respectfully. I always walked behind Sean to avoid any misinterpretations, and I'm thankful there are none.
"My lord, we have finalized our plans. Although it may sound troubling, this would be the easiest way," the bulky man said, offering about seven pages of paper containing the draft of the plans.
The baron read through it quickly, before passing it to Sean. "So the guardian apostles aren't currently in this world, huh. Then what about the high-tier mages of the main cities? Are there any reports about them?
"It doesn't look like they can open up a teleportation gate since they are also deployed to the more dangerous dungeons of their regions," The bulky man responded. I remember Velxia saying something about me being as strong as a high-tier mage.
Although I don't exactly know how strong they are, it seems that even the baron seems to look at them with high regard. "Sean, how strong are high-tier mages?" I asked Sean in a whisper.
"They're pretty strong and of the fourth highest in the power rankings," Sean then began explaining.
From the highest rank, there is the traversal rank. These are people who gain skills and power through traversing worlds, dimensions, or realities. It is said these people can even control time and destroy worlds.
Then there's the polarity rank which includes the hero and the demon king who can potentially conquer the world. Followed by the deviant rank which is said to have the power to subdue a continent.
The list then goes down to the irregular rank, also known as high-tier rank, which is said to have the power to destroy a country. These four ranks are the strongest ones.
Then there are the lower and more common ranks which are, from the highest-ranking, advanced, intermediate, and novice ranks.
Apparently, this ranking system was designed by the guild which handles otherworlders. Although the four high ranks of the list seem exceptionally powerful, there are only a few of them.
Of course, that even excludes the guardian apostles who are direct subordinates of the gods as these guys would be even stronger than traversal ranks. Well, I guess that's to be expected for literal god slayers.
So even if the three lower rankings are called 'lower' rankings, it's not as if they're useless. However, to think I'm currently at the level of a country destroyer made me grin inwardly.
Although my main purpose is to have a fun adventure and get stronger to protect the people I've come to love, I kind of feel lazy now knowing that I'm this strong.
The idea of just giving up popped in my head, but remembering the humongous divine spirit that loomed high above the clouds brought me back to my senses. Honestly, even if I know that I'm supposed to be this strong, that divine spirit still scared me.
It wasn't that I was scared for myself, but rather for the fact that I wouldn't be able to save anyone. I'm not a hero of justice or anything like that. In fact, I'm rather selfish for weighing preparing for the worse in the upcoming war and adventuring this world as the same weight.
However, I also understand that with great power, comes great responsibility. It may be because I was still a prince that I understand that, but it also does kind of feel guilty seeing everyone work hard for each other whilst I don't.
"Is that so. You guys get some rest and get ready to depart in two days' time," the Baron declared. The people gathered bowed before cleaning the messy table.
"So, what do you think?" the baron asked Sean who was observing the plans as well as the people gathered. "How about you White. What do you think?"
Sean passed the question and the plans to me, along with the baron's attention. I questioned Sean inwardly, but I decided to just comply to not disrespect the baron. After reading the drafted plans, I opened my mouth to speak up.
"Although I have no initial knowledge regarding dungeons, the plans drafted here seem practical enough for prioritizing survival. However, I do think that we should enforce countermeasures in case of a dungeon outbreak."
"Also, according to the plans here, it seems that there are even narrow spaces inside the dungeon. This is just my opinion, but I think that we need more people specialized in close-quarters combat instead of heavy combatants specialized in crowd control."
"Furthermore, it says here that a dungeon boss can be found after clearing the upper floors of the dungeon and that if the dungeon is deemed to be easy, we would finish the dungeon off by attacking the boss. However, I don't think that's reasonable considering that the party does not include a healer and may cause casualties."
"I suggest we focus only on exterminating the hostiles inside the dungeon to avoid a dungeon outbreak, and handle the boss once reinforcements arrive," I elaborated, unconsciously putting a thumb below my lips.
It wasn't that the plan was bad, but it's as if this world's common sense is hindering a more efficient way to success. The people gathered here mostly have unusually big weapons and bows for their weaponry.
Although this may seem impressive for a team pulled through overnight, having only two varieties of explorers doesn't seem right. Furthermore, the sole defensive line in case of a dungeon outbreak is the town's guards who have giant automatic crossbows ready to fire down from the elevated side of the town.
Their tactics utilize the durability of the town's elevation wall as well as the equipment that could attack both aerial and ground enemies. However, this doesn't look enough, considering that an outnumbered situation may occur.
Although this would be reasonable since they can't station guards at the dungeon's entrance since there are also roamings beasts and chimera beasts, it doesn't necessarily have to be living breathing beings that guard it.
Traps or barricades, for example, would work just fine. I finished explaining, but I was only met with silence. I turned my attention to Sean and the Baron who both have an expression of genuine surprise.
'Ahh crap. I said too much,' I cursed inwardly. To think that the inner strategist in me would come out with no holds barred left me stupefied even at myself.
"Y-yes," Sean stuttered, turning his attention to the baron.