Chapter 185 The Man In Power

Hearing the word Calamity which Erend said, they had never imagined, Adrien and Billy looked at each other.

Their eyes reflected an obvious worried. But they were used to danger and hearing bad news. So it didn't take long for them to compose themselves.

"Explain that, Drake," Adrien said.

Erend swallowed before starting to speak. As if wetting his throat and tongue so the words could come out more easily.

"I know from a source that I can't tell you," Erend began. "In one year, there will be a calamity that will come and threaten us all. The scale of that calamity is so large that it includes another world."

Adrien and Billy watched Erend speaking those words with pounding hearts.

"We already know that parallel worlds exist. And that calamity is coming to devour those parallel worlds. Including ours, eventually."

Unknowingly, Billy clasped his hands tightly.

"Fortunately, our world is in uhh... a slightly lower list, let's just say it like that for now," Erend continued.

"It's all because, in our world, magic power doesn't exist."

"Wait," Adrien said, interrupting. "You say that as if the calamity is a living thing that plays the role of a predator."

Erend looked at his superior with serious eyes. "Yes. Because it is."

Billy swallowed hard.

"So... Uhh... It's alive?" Billy asked.

Erend nodded. "Pretty much. I caught a glimpse of its form. And it's moving, it is alive."

Erend remembered again about the vision he saw when he had that dream. At that time he was still in the Elf palace and could not sleep.

The dream felt and looked so real.

Even after some time had passed, Erend could still remember it very clearly. Like he saw the view of the cemetery on this sunny morning.

"Shit. After I thought we could live a peaceful life for a while, you came with that news," Billy said in a frustrated voice.

Erend shrugged. "I'm just telling the truth. Whether you accept it or not is up to you."

Erend knew that Billy didn't really blame him for all the bad news.

Billy just expressed his frustration naturally as usual.

Erend also knew that Billy would eventually accept this as inevitable. So he will look forward again. Same as always.

Lt. Boartusk - their superior, now Cpt. Boartusk - also not a person who will collapse after hearing a bad news situation.

His mind was as strong as steel. That's why Erend told them about what he knew.

"Then what should we do now?" Adrien asked in a calm tone.

Billy also turned to Erend, as if waiting for his answer.

"I have thought of something. But... I don't know if this is the right thing or not," Erend said with a bit of hesitation.

"What is it?" he asked again.

Erend glanced at the both of them in turn.

"I was thinking of asking the Elves to teach you Magic powers."

~~~

A middle-aged man lit his cigar. Then suck it in one long puff.

The man then blew the cigar smoke upwards and watched the smoke until it cleared on its own.

*Knock knock knock.*

A knock on the door was heard.

"Come in," the man said.

General Lennard came in carrying a black folder. He sat down on the chair in front of the man.

"What's wrong, Lennard?" the man asked.

"Sorry to bother you, Mr. President," General Lennard said.

The man in front of him right now was the President of the Republic of Ascaria.

He is a former military officer who has retired. In other words, is a senior to General Lennard.

Julius Shelton is his name. He was known as a wise leader in the country and always put his people above the interests of ministers and officials.

Because of that, he was a figure loved by the public, both when he was still a minister and even as president as he is now. With the exception of the people in Slums.

However, of course, Julius wanted something that everyone with the power wanted. That is, the greater power.

General Lennard handed the black folder to Julius. He received it and immediately opened it.

"This is them?" Julius asked with his mouth clamped on a cigar.

"Yes, sir. They are the three people who had gone to that other world. To be precise, they went to where the Elves live," General Lennard said.

In contrast to his usual demeanor, General Lennard was being more polite when talking to Julius.

That attitude was not only out of respect, but also a bit of fear.

Julius is indeed someone who looks friendly and kind in the eyes of the public. But, it's all just a facade to hide his true self.

After all, politics is all about the image you put up in the public eye. And Julius Shelton does that very well.

"You've told them everything they need to hear?" Julius asked.

"I did, sir. They agreed to cooperate and promised not to say anything more."

"Yeah. I knew they would take it. They weren't that stupid."

Julius flipped through the profile sheets of Adrien, Billy, and Erend.

When he got to the file on Erend's profile, Julius studied him for a bit longer than before.

"Is this the kid who was said to have defeated the special forces?" Julius asked while holding up Erend's file so General Lennard could see it.

"Yes, sir." General Lennard nodded.

"How's that going?" Julius asked again.

"The leader of the special forces corrected his testimony because he thought it was something impossible. He thought at that time he was on adrenaline and imagined something beyond reason."

"Did he ever meet these three people?" Julius asked.

"No, sir." General Lennard shook his head. "The three of them don't know the identity of the special forces."

"I hope so," Julius said.

He heard that this soldier named Erend had a very strange power.

He can withstand the bullets and fight the special forces alone.

The power is so great that it is almost impossible. Even though the special forces had withdrawn their testimony, Julius' hunch said something else.

~~~