The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

"The first correct answer."

Frondier said.

"Chaos? How?"

"The Manggot have a unique method of movement called 'Shadow Transfer.' It's a technique that allows them to reach the vicinity of a designated target. While excessively long distances are impossible, they can instantly appear next to someone."

Saying that, Frondier scanned the crowd.

"Someone among you here may be connected to the Manggot's shadow."

"Wh-what?"

"Who is it!"

The people in the meeting room unconsciously looked behind them or checked their shadows, but no one discovered anything unusual.

In fact, even Frondier couldn't predict Selena's transfer. Even with his 'sixth sense.'

That's probably why Selena severed her own shadow. If she remained connected to Frondier's shadow, it would be possible for another Manggot to target him.

"However, they don't know the current state or location of the target they will transfer to. If I were the Manggot, I wouldn't jump into such a dangerous situation. If they're not careful, the lives of everyone connected to the shadow could be lost. That's not the problem."

Frondier raised one finger.

"Just one person."

He was smiling, but not laughing.

"If even one member of the Manggot can cross the Empire's barrier, that one person will instantly multiply into more than a hundred."

"...And that's where the chaos begins."

"Exactly."

The Empire's barrier was built to defend against monsters, not humans.

It was strong against simple brute force attacks, but it was vulnerable to magic, technology, or stealth infiltration used by humans. It wasn't designed for that.

"Frondier."

The voice that came then belonged to the Emperor.

"Tell us the second reason. It's hard to be patient."

"..."

Frondier had just referred to Sanders' answer as the 'first correct answer.' Meaning there was a second one.

In the meantime, Frondier briefly examined the Emperor's face.

'...He's back.'

He had good complexion and no lethargy.

Bartello sat on the throne as the perfect image of an Emperor.

Deeply relieved by that, Frondier spoke.

"The second answer is also simple. It's a common tactic used by the weak when fighting the strong, just as common as chaos."

"A method as common as chaos?"

"Alliance."

Frondier's answer raised even more question marks in the meeting room.

However, among the many people,

"...Ah."

Philly let out a sound.

Her face instantly paled as she looked at Frondier. The brief eye contact with Frondier confirmed that Philly's prediction was accurate.

At the same time, Osprey closed his eyes with a sunken expression. These two were the ones who understood Frondier's meaning exactly.

"What are you talking about? What alliance does the Manggot have?"

Ludwig voiced the same question that most people had.

Frondier looked at Ludwig.

"The Urfa family head already knows where the alliance is."

"What?"

"You fought them together last summer."

After hearing Frondier's words...

Ludwig, who had been furrowing his brows in confusion for a while even after hearing it...

"...Are you saying, right now."

His face contorted into an expression befitting the word 'horror' as he stammered.

As if to show that thought, Frondier waved his hand again, and the map moved.

The map that had been showing the Empire and the Manggot changed to show a more distant location, revealing the entire continent beyond the Empire's barrier.

"The Manggot live without the protection of the wall. No matter how much they hide in a place without outer monsters, they have to head to places with abundant resources for self-sufficiency. In other words, they have to go to places where the outer monsters are."

If there were places where the outer monsters didn't go, naturally, it would be difficult for humans to live there as well.

To survive in such a place, they would eventually have to move from a place with nothing to a place with something to eat.

"They know more about the outer monsters than anyone else. Their habits, their aggression towards humans, the differences from the monsters within the wall, and even the abyssal monsters that should never be approached."

Frondier's black mana scattered beyond the continental barrier. Along with it, towers were built up in all directions, just like the ones built above the Manggot and the Empire.

"They know when the outer monsters will attack the Empire. And they can adjust that timing to some extent."

That's right.

The reason why Frondier considered the Manggot so dangerous and why he constantly emphasized the need for the Empire's entire army...

It wasn't because he feared their unmeasurable power like devils or gods.

The truth was simple.

"Outer monsters will swarm from all directions of the Empire. The ones that used to attack the barrier sequentially and periodically will all come at once, from all directions, north, south, east, and west, to break the barrier with their bodies."

No one responded to Frondier's words. Not even a breath could be heard.

The once noisy meeting room was so quiet at this moment.

"We cannot attack them first."

They just listened blankly to Frondier's words like convicts sentenced to death.

"Because they are more numerous than us."