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Jin, Murakan, Diphus and Joshua lifted the masks hanging around their necks.
Boom! Bam!
Only a minute or so had passed, but the noise and vibration of the battle had already grown significantly.
Now that the decision was made, they had to get in as quickly as possible even by a second. Drakka and the 2nd Magic tower would provide immediate support.
"However, since the situation has changed, we will skip regrouping after collecting internal information and disperse immediately upon entry to confirm 4th, 11th, 17th, and 19th sections. The Black Knights and I will take care of 4th and 11th sections, while 4th and 12th flagbearers will handle 17th and 19th sections."
The 4th and 11th sections were relatively further from the 2nd magic tower compared to 17th and 19th sections. Joshua was also extremely cautious. Even in such a situation, he wanted to ensure that Jin and Diphus were unaware of the 2nd magic tower as much as possible.
"Either secure the battleship's blueprints or destroy the most important resources, and return to the main house alive. Also, prioritize escape in case you are likely to be captured or killed by the enemy. All other decisions are left to your discretion."
"Understood."
Joshua extended his fist to Jin and Diphus. The two of them briefly looked at his fist and lightly bumped it.
"I wish you good luck, younger brothers."
"As we live, the day when my eldest brother wishes me good luck has finally come. Well, let's have a celebratory drink you decided to give to Jin when we all return safely."
"Good luck, 2nd flagbearer."
First, Joshua and the Black Knights entered the shipyard beyond the tunnel. Jin, Murakan, and Diphus watched their backs for a moment.
"Ha! Kid, if you hadn't poked me in my side, I could have turned his jaw around without a doubt. Did he speak to me informally just because I give him a hard time for making a decision quickly? Someone like a 2nd flagbearer? Many people died at the hands of this Murakan, indeed. I think of that every time something like this happens. He didn't even wish me luck."
"Oh, well, I appreciate your patience."
"Lord Murakan, that guy's head will fall off his body before dawn anyway."
"Right, he's as good as dead."
"Jin, I take back what I said about being disappointed yesterday. You were right all along. Kinzelo went beyond our expectations, but still."
There was no need to keep an eye at Joshua anymore, but they still had to properly assess the situation after entering.
'I need to calculate when Kinzelo will make its move on the 2nd Magic tower. It is a problem if I go too fast or too slow compared to them. However, I must enter later than Joshua.'
The key was to take advantage of the competition between Kinzelo and Joshua at the 2nd Magic tower.
Now, it was time for quick thinking and adaptability.
"Reinforcements will arrive within 30 minutes at the latest. They might have already arrived."
Even if the dragons were flying to the location, it would still take a minimum of 30 minutes to reach the Sota Desert.
"If that cubic thing you mentioned is here too, it's possible."
Spatial-time device. The unidentified cubic object that Midor Elnor used in Gaifa Archipelago.
Jin had shared information about it with Diphus in advance. Since the survivors of Gaifa Archipelago had witnessed the Spatial-time device themselves, there was no significance to keep it secret.
"I think there's a high possibility it's in the shipyard as well. While Joshua was here, he might have received information related to it from elder brother Vigo or our mother, so it's best to assume that he is aware and taking action."
Zipfel was also aware that the other three major factions knew about the Spatial-time device, so there was no need to hide it.
The reason why Sandra Zipfel was so angry when Midor Elnor used the device for revenge in Gaifa Archipelago was because it should have been revealed at a more critical moment, such as when directly striking Runcandel's main house or when forcing one of the major factions to surrender. Midor believed that he could kill Jin and his enemies and leave no evidence behind.
"Anyway, we'll have to join forces with Kinzelo for a while."
After entering, Jin decided to slaughter the Zipfels with Kinzelo first, instead of going to the sections assigned by Joshua.
"We need to deal with as many as possible, especially those from the 2nd Magic Tower."
"I guess that way we can reduce the number of troops returning after we enter the 2nd Magic Tower, right? If there is a cube in the 2nd Magic Tower."
As Diphus responded, it was necessary to reduce Zipfel's forces as much as possible because of the cube.
Kinzelo was well aware of this fact, which was why they were conducting such a large-scale terror operation. It wasn't just about securing an easy entry into the 2nd Magic tower.
"That's right."
"Oh, my head hurts! So, kid, in summary, you're saying we should just go in and kill all the Zipfels?"
"That's correct, but don't reveal your true form, and conserve your strength. If they find out that you and I are here, the level of reinforcements may change. Anyway, let's start making our way in."
The tunnel led to the 6th section of the shipyard.
As they entered, the first thing they saw was the collapsed facility, flames raging in various places, and Red tigers slaughtering managers with a sinister, mocking laughter, as if they were third-rate villains.
"Die, you wretched humans!"
"As of today, this place is under the control of Kinzelo!"
"Pl-please spare us!"
Jin and his group hid between the devices, pillars, and pipelines, watching them for a moment. It seemed that Joshua and his group had already moved elsewhere.
'Zipfels are impressive.'
Despite the destruction and the fire, seeing the underground shipyard for himself, Jin couldn't help but be amazed. The 6th section alone was filled with countless components and mechanical devices.
At first glance, it seemed like there were dozens of identical components. That means that at least that number of mass-produced battleships were being made.
"I was deeply shocked when I first saw it in person. Even if these are the battleships with half the power of Kozec, if they are mass-produced like this, the world will soon be completely under Zipfel's control."
Diphus whispered as he read Jin's thoughts.
"There's nothing to be so scared of, Diphus Runcandel. I destroyed that finished product in one breath."
Unlike Murakan, who snorted, Jin felt somewhat distraught.
'I need to analyze the spatial-time device as soon as possible when I return. I don't know about Kozec, but the clan must acquire mobile summoning device technologies, or any means that can counter them.'
One of the reasons Murakan was able to destroy Kozec-2 in a single breath in the Gaifa Archipelago was that his strength had recovered to 50 percent.
The level of the mages on the battleship was relatively low. The engine of the battleship was influenced by the mana and magic of its passengers.
If the mages on board that mass-produced battleship were at the level of Spectres or the elite mages of Zipfel, the outcome might have been different.
A heavy weight pressed on his chest, as if a boulder was crushing it.
'...There's no need to be impatient. We'll catch up. We must.'
If he could recover all of Temar's legacy, and if he could lift the curse engraved in the clan's blood. If he could restore the former glory of the Runcandel.
"By the way, it is strange that Joshua and the Black Knights had no idea that the information was leaked."
"You mean operation time? I don't think it's a coincidence that Kinzelo started the terror attack right now. That said, I don't think there's a spy among the Black Knights Joshua brought. He would be extremely cautious about potential information leaks."
"Could there have been a spy among the enforcement knights?"
"No, impossible. Even if there was one, nobody among the enforcement knights knew the exact timing of the operation. The control was carried out perfectly."
"Joshua couldn't have leaked it directly, so it means that someone stole the information at the barracks while avoiding the guard of Joshua, your, and the two Black Knights."
"Joshua always kept the operation plan with him. It's almost impossible. Moreover, he never spends time alone, and even when he sleeps, at least one Black Knight is always with him. It seems as if he was haunted by some kind of ghost...."
Diphus suddenly stopped talking, as if something had just crossed his mind.
At that moment, Jin and Diphus were both thinking of the same name.
"Could it be?"
"Yona...?"
Yona Runcandel.
There were only a handful of people in this world who could do such a thing, the greatest without question was Yona.
The two of them thought of their youngest sister at the same time and felt an inexplicable chill.
"No, hold on. It can't be Yona. If Yona were involved in this matter, it would only be if Mother personally entrusted the request to the Nameless. But does Mother have a reason to keep that fact hidden from Joshua?"
Due to time constraints, it was not impossible for Jonah to come here as well.
But Jin believed that if his youngest sister had known the information about the shipyard, she would have given a warning when she came to see Tikan.
"No, she wouldn't."
"...In that case, is it Sir Owal, Nameless King?"
"I think if anyone from the Nameless is involved, it would be the Nameless King rather than elder sister Yona. I believe Mother wouldn't have commissioned this, but Kinzelo would have asked the Nameless for help."
"Right, whether it's a commission or something else, it wouldn't make sense for Yona to be used by the Nameless to steal information from Runcandel. If Sir Owal and the top assassins from the Nameless are involved, that would explain it roughly."
Of course, this was not a definitive conclusion. It would make sense as long as they left no traces, but even so, the Nameless, who had been maintaining neutrality, had few reasons to intervene in such a sensitive matter.
"Hmm. Even if the Nameless was involved, it's unlikely they'd get more involved in this matter. In the end, it's not a bad situation for us, so we don't need to worry too much about it."
"That's correct. They probably only handed over the operation information to Kinzelo and then withdrew. Let's head to the 17th section and the 2nd Magic tower for now. We should assess the situation in other sections as we go."
The group began to move, leaving behind the sight of the Red Tigers massacring the managers in the 6th section of the shipyard.
'But it seems a bit strange. Could it really be her...? No, it can't be, right? It's probably a trick. Even if she came, as elder brother Diphus said, she has probably already returned to Samil. She would have just passed on information to Kinzelo.'
Despite his unease, Jin opened his senses and observed his surroundings more carefully. However, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Jin could not even think in his dreams that a woman was smiling and watching him.