Second World

"Liguritudum's army has just crossed the border," John began as a 3D map projection appeared above the device. It showed the zoomed section of the border between Liguritudum and Palgrost. The map showed the area bordering the two countries, the Daflue region.

Jack remembered that region was where Jeanny and Paytowin visited the Council of Elpo. It was a border region filled with marshland.

"Aside from Aurebor and Hydrurond, Palgrost is the next one that borders directly with Liguritudum," John explained. "That's why I was rather surprised when the murder at the border settlements happened. It's as if implying Liguritudum is going to invade us. I always suspect Palgrost to be the next target."

"Why are we finding this out late? Do we not have eyes and ears inside Liguritudum?" Jack asked.

"Unfortunately, our guild members have been banned from entering Liguritudum," John said. "That guild blockade you use to stop World Maker and World Ruler's members from roaming within Themisphere, Master did the same to Liguritudum."

"… This means Master's sovereign level has reached level 9," Jack remarked. "He should have seven royal agents."

"You are still ahead of him," Jeanny said.

"Not by much," Jack said. He had been hoping that because Master was not familiar with the Monarch System, he could have a large gap between their sovereign levels.

"I don't think his improvement is from solving the affairs," Peniel said. "He has successfully conquered Hydrurond. Subjugating another country gave a sovereign a large number of merit points."

"Wow! In that case, we should do the same," John said.

Jack rolled his eyes at him.

"What about Hydrurond?" William of Wellington asked. "Now that World Maker has sent his army to Palgrost, Hydrurond should be vulnerable."

"Even if we attack, I can't conquer that country," Jack said. "I have to give it back to its rightful ruler, Queen Aldryth."

"It's not advisable to attack even if we want to. The Aurebor has stationed their army in Hydrurond," Armstrong informed. "The one that invaded Palgrost is only Liguritudum's army."

"And their zombie army," David added. Serpent Boss sent their members to gather intel once the news circulated about the Liguritudum army crossing another country's territory.

"Do we know how strong the army that is invading Palgrost?" Jack asked.

"Based on our intel gathering, we estimate their army to have around 2,200,000 soldiers and 1,300,000 zombie soldiers," David reported.

"Two million? Did they bring all the troops from Liguritudum?" Jack asked.

"No. They still have around 500,000 left inside Liguritudum," David answered. "With how that country is surrounded by allies aside from Palgrost, I wonder why they didn't just bring the whole troops. Other countries will have to go through either Aurebor or Hydrurond to get to them. There is no need to leave that many troops behind."

Jack knew that it was because Master had no choice. Wilted would use the opportunity to strike if Master pulled all his troops out of the country.

"That means his rate of gathering soldiers is even faster than us…," Jack said.

"They also draft the troops from Hydrurond," John reminded.

"Yes, our scouts do see a portion of draconian soldiers within their army," David informed.

"This means that if they successfully conquer Palgrost, the rate by which their army increased will be even faster…," Jack said.

"Don't forget the merit points he got if his invasion is successful," Peniel said.

"What about if Themisphere invades Aurebor?" Jennifer asked. If Themisphere could remove Mistress from Aurebor's throne, the Wicked Witches would have more freedom in that country. "With Aurebor's army in Hydrurond, Aurebor should be vulnerable."

"We have to go through Hydrurond or the Dorwin region if we are to invade Aurebor," Isabelle said. "The Dorwin region is the largest border region there is. We might as well go through another country to get to Aurebor. We won't be able to hide our movement. The Aurebor could adjust their army in Hydrurond to return before we arrive."

"Not to mention, there are still more than one million troops inside Aurebor not including the one stationed in Hydrurond," Armstrong added. "It won't be easy taking them out unless we bring a majority of our army with this invasion."

"That will leave our country vulnerable," Arther said.

"No. Our main objective should be to prevent Liguritudum from conquering Palgrost," Jack declared. "We have to send a message to President Thelgrun that we will be sending reinforcement."

"But our army will have to go through Sangrod for that," Isabelle said. "Or at least the Jagara region next to it. Still, sending a large army so close to their border might offend them."

"I will send a message to Emperor Marcus of the Sangrod Empire as well," Jack said. "With how Master has been invading one country after another, I believe Marcus will also consider Liguritudum as a threat. Maybe he is even willing to send reinforcement himself. I understand Sangrod and Palgrost are friendly to one another?"

"Friendly but not allies," Isabelle said. "Emperor Marcus is very mysterious and very fickle. No one truly knows what he wants."

"We don't see any big military movement in Sangrod until now," William of Wellington said. Saint Edge had its headquarters in the Sangrod Empire. "It is safe to assume that the emperor has no intention of aiding Palgrost."

"He also still owes us from the incident with our king. We can't trust him," Alfredo uttered.

"What incident?" Manager Steelhand asked. The truth about King Themos was not known to the public.

"Never mind that," Jack said. "I will send messages to them and hope for the best. But this messaging between countries takes too long a time. I can't just wait and do nothing until they reply. Maybe I should just go directly there and talk to them."

"We have already built an embassy in Palgrost," John said. "If you send a message to President Thelgrun, you should receive a reply in less than a day. For Emperor Marcus, however, we will have to wait probably around five days before we get his reply."