Chapter 514: Coincidence or... Providence

CH514 Coincidence or... Providence

***

Udara’s growth aside, Alex agreed with his wives. It was highly unlikely that the Safe Haven sorcerers would initiate any grand war against the Navi forces any time soon — much less against the unknown force that had ended their dominance on the plane’s main space.

As Udara had said, if they truly intended to act, they would have done so long ago.

The fact that they hadn’t meant the conditions within their Safe Haven were comfortable enough for continued existence.

There was no urgency.

And without urgency, the idea of war would continue to be postponed indefinitely from the sorcerers’ side... at least until the resources within their sealed subspace began to run dry and forced their hand.

"What do you think about the question he asked me — about intellect and power?" Alex asked. "Do you think he was referring to the past, or to the future?"

This time, he didn’t direct the question to Udara. His gaze rested on Zora and Eleanore.

"The future," both women answered almost at the same time.

"He didn’t sound like a man reflecting on the past," Zora said. "He sounded like someone hesitating over a decision that would shape his future."

For obvious reasons, she had felt a strange familiarity with Baron Belloc during that exchange.

"And very little of what he said about the plane’s history connects to a dilemma of power versus intellect," Eleanore added. "It makes far more sense if he was looking forward, trying to decide what to do next.

"House Belloc has been severely weakened for over three generations. The powers-that-be have surely imposed quiet restrictions to ensure it stays that way. Baron Belloc must have long buried any ambitions of a great war in favour of simply preserving what remains of his House’s legacy.

"But your arrival... likely disturbed that balance."

"Exactly," Zora continued, picking up from Eleanore. "Much like you did later in the conversation, the Baron’s question wasn’t merely to understand you. It was to test his own decision through your answer.

"If you had chosen power, you would have validated his decision to avoid resistance — to maintain neutrality under the Navi’s watch because House Belloc is too weak to struggle.

"But you chose intellect."

She smiled faintly.

"In his eyes, that wasn’t just an answer. It was confirmation of what he already knew deep down — that the current weakness of his House is no excuse to submit completely.

"And that is why, knowing the powers-that-be would never allow him to grow his hard power through military strength, he had chosen instead to cultivate soft power — commerce, diplomacy, education... and in doing so, turned Ostmont into what it is today."

"It was because you pointed out his subconscious decision to keep fighting that he chose to reveal the buried history of this plane to you," Zora added.

"I see..." Alex smiled wryly. "So you think that, based on my answer, he now sees me as someone who will stand against the Navi — and gave me information he believes may be useful to that cause."

"Exactly," Zora nodded.

"He did say, the enemy of my enemy is my ally — even if an uneasy one," Eleanore reminded.

"And there’s also what he told you just before the call ended," Zora added.

—

Just before the projection faded, Baron Belloc had said something that lingered in the air.

"I believe you should know," the Baron had said. "According to the records of our forebears, when the deities took over, they combined their power to cast a shield around our plane using its fate and fortune.

"A shield designed to use causal fate and fortune to keep all intelligent, sapient foreign entities from entering. Yet, somehow, your group managed to breach it.

"I think you should ponder deeply what this means... and how the deities will react to it."

—

Alex had taken those words as a simple warning to keep a low profile.

’If the shield truly works as the Baron claims, then our expedition party might be the first intelligent beings to breach it. In that case, there’s a strong chance the Navi will treat this matter far more seriously than usual, regardless of our strength.’

’We need to hide our trail even more carefully.’

That had been his conclusion.

But now, listening to Zora, it felt like there was something more layered in the Baron’s words — something he had overlooked.

"What of it?" Alex asked.

Zora gave him a flat look.

"Come on, Alex. You catch the complicated things instantly. You expect me to believe you can’t see the obvious one sitting right in front of you? That’s a little too convenient, don’t you think?"

"But I really don’t know," Alex replied with an innocent expression.

A wry smile tugged at Alex’s lips.

Zora eyed him sceptically, then glanced at Udara and Eleanore. Both women gave small nods, confirming what she suspected — he truly hadn’t seen it.

So Zora explained patiently,

"Baron Belloc told you the shield was formed using this world’s Providence to keep out anyone who doesn’t already possess Verdantis’s Providence.

"In that case, what do you think it would mean to him that we were able to enter?"

"That we have Verdantis’s Providence..." Realisation dawned on Alex. He frowned. "But that’s impossible. There’s no way we could already have Verdantis’s Providence."

"Under normal circumstances, yes," Zora nodded. "Which means this isn’t a normal circumstance."

Eleanore stepped in gently.

"Think about it. If you were a denizen of a world in quiet peril, and suddenly a group that should not be able to exist appears — a group seemingly capable of opposing the threat looming over the world — how would you interpret that?"

Alex’s eyes widened.

"You’re not suggesting Baron Belloc sees me — us — as some sort of heroes sent by fate, destiny, or Providence to save Verdantis, are you?" He laughed.

But the laughter faded quickly.

Udara, Zora, and Eleanore were all wearing dead-serious expressions.

"...Wait. You’re serious?"

Alex said flatly, "You do realise we’re talking about a noble here, right? What kind of noble believes in heroes?"

"The kind that’s close to desperation," Eleanore replied calmly.

"And the situation lines up a little too well," Zora added. "Ask the copper-skinned orc. Don’t forget — you’re already the Red Rock Hero."

Alex gave her a look.

But humour aside, their reasoning made uncomfortable sense.

It would explain Baron Belloc’s willingness to reveal as much as he did — if he believed Alex wasn’t merely an outsider, but some sort of providential variable sent to break the deadlock of their world.

And Alex did not like that idea.

A restless feeling crept up his spine.

’Our coincidental arrival on this plane... meeting Kron... the Navi’s gaze in the Red Rock nest... the sudden beast tide at Dragonstone... and now this revelation from Kron’s father...’

’Too many things are happening around us.’

It felt less like exploration and more like... orchestration.

’It’s almost as if something is pushing us toward something.’

Alex’s instincts from his previous life as an avid web novel reader began screaming at him.

He could feel it— He was about to be dragged into something very big.

And very annoying.

Far more than the straightforward interplanar expedition he had originally planned.

He exhaled slowly.

’Fortune favours the bold... huh.’

***