Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

The relatively stagnant conflict between Edinburgh and Layos was abruptly reinvigorated.

It was almost as if an unseen hand had expertly stoked the embers of war, compelling both factions to respond with resolute and aggressive measures.

Considerable time had elapsed since the Grandmaster-ranked figures of both realms had been positioned along the borders. However, as of now, they had yet to make their strategic moves. In this regard, Duke Arthur Renar of Edinburgh and Commander Saisha Goren representing the kingdom of Layos were noteworthy individuals.

Following the demise of Isen Osan, Duke Arthur Renar had arranged the mobilization of his forces near Edinburgh's borders. In a fitting countermeasure, the kingdom of Layos had dispatched Saisha Goren to stand as a poised deterrent against any direct action Arthur Renar might contemplate.

It could be argued that both kingdoms had embraced a mirrored deployment strategy, strategically balancing their forces to complement the ongoing engagements. The Grandmaster-ranked entities from both sides sat comfortably in their army bases while the conflicts between their Master Ranker-led battalions took place regularly.

The delicate balance of power, however, was shattered when Arthur's forces unexpectedly launched a covert assault against a Layos battalion that had emerged victorious in the struggle for a contested region situated between the two kingdoms.

This action was deemed a violation of the Anfang Alliance's code of conduct, given that neither an official proctor from the Alliance was present nor was the battle officially sanctioned by the Alliance.

Leading Arthur's forces to attack the said battalion was Nysa Nael, a young woman holding the rank of Expert. She had garnered a reputation by actively participating in various battlefronts and representing Arthur's interests in several of Edinburgh's campaigns.

Interestingly, Arthur himself remained oblivious to Nysa's decision to initiate such an attack against Layos' forces. Upon discovering that Nysa had unilaterally engaged the returning Layos battalion, he was both astonished and displeased by her impulsive actions.

***

Inside the briefing room of Arthur Renar at Edinburgh's Army base, the Duke was seated behind an expansive desk. An array of holographic screens adorned the desk, displaying real-time data on Edinburgh's current deployments across various locations, ongoing conflict zones, and geological intelligence on advantageous terrains.

Two notably sizeable holographic screens directly before Arthur provided him with his daily schedule and vital information concerning both allies and adversaries. This privileged information, meticulously organized by Edinburgh's intelligence operatives, was accessible only to a select few, with Arthur holding the highest level of clearance.

At present, one of these large screens was dedicated to presenting Arthur with all available information on an individual named Nysa Nael. As the Duke of Edinburgh, Arthur had an extensive staff at his disposal, prompting him to navigate the central database on this screen to recall that Nysa Nael had been employed by him and was operating under his authority.

The reason behind Arthur's current scrutiny of Nysa's dossier was her imminent presence in his briefing room for an official inquiry. Her actions had violated the Anfang Alliance's protocols, and as her superior, Arthur was compelled to prepare a report for the Alliance, outlining her misconduct.

During this time of war, the Anfang Alliance treated breaches of its protocols with utmost seriousness, a standard upheld on both sides of the conflict. Neither Edinburgh nor Layos were granted any leniency by the Alliance. Or at least, that was the official stance.

However, even the Anfang Alliance wasn't as uncompromising as it might seem. While such code violations were infrequent and not taken lightly, a certain level of leniency could be negotiated if both Edinburgh and Layos were willing to pay a certain price.

In Arthur's mind, a debate raged about whether Nysa Nael was worth such an effort. With his extensive influence and resources, he could easily mitigate the punishment that awaited her. Nonetheless, he needed to ascertain whether Nysa's potential contributions justified his investment in altering her impending fate.

***

A decade ago, Arthur would not have been so cautious when it came to placing trust in those under his command. However, numerous events have transpired since then.

During the Battle of the Edinnica Arena, he learned that a substantial number of individuals working under him were spies infiltrated from the kingdom of Layos. Exploiting his easygoing nature, they had insinuated themselves into his private army and wreaked havoc upon him, his son Jason, and the entire kingdom of Edinburgh.

Since that incident, Arthur had grown warier of extending trust too freely. He had developed a habit of extensively investigating the backgrounds of potential allies, employing various resources at his disposal before arriving at any decisions.

It's safe to say that the ongoing war had substantially transformed a once-trusting and somewhat haughty Ranker like Arthur. He no longer believed that people wouldn't betray him just because he was a Grandmaster or that he was the Duke of Edinburgh. He no longer accepted things at face value, instead choosing to delve deeper into matters.

Naturally, Arthur didn't harbor a perpetual undercurrent of suspicion or paranoia. As a Grandmaster Ranked individual, his self-assuredness couldn't be easily swayed. Consequently, he opted to carefully scrutinize Nysa's actions before arriving at a definitive verdict.

Standing before Arthur in a stance reminiscent of a seasoned military veteran, Nysa Nael was attired in combat-ready clothing. Despite the ruggedness, there was an undeniable elegance to her appearance in the long-sleeved top and cargo pants.

The sleeveless armor she wore ensured protection without being overly ostentatious or burdensome. Her light blue hair was neatly secured behind her head. With her hands bound behind her back, she gazed expressionlessly ahead, awaiting the commencement of Arthur's questioning.

"Child Nysa, could you clarify the reason behind your assault on the Layos forces during their return to their kingdom? I'm sure you are well aware that such an action violates the established code of conduct by the Alliance," Arthur inquired in a somber tone, his attention focused on Nysa's history displayed on the holographic screen.

AN: Saisha Goren initiates mirrored deployment against Arthur's forces in chapter 1373. Eren instructs Nysa Nael to join Arthur's forces and become his spy in chapter 1194.