Chapter 1254: A Smile with a Sharp Edge ( 1254 )

Vane shook his head, watching how everyone eagerly accepted the plan laid out by Julius without question.

Julius, noticing Vane’s demeanor, crossed his arms and looked at him.

"Is there something you’re not satisfied with, Vane? You’ve been restless this entire meeting."

"No..." Vane exhaled, forcing himself to remain calm. "But the Supreme Goddess mentioned that we shouldn’t be reckless. We should gather more intelligence on Armand and this Garius person before moving forward. Without detailed information, we risk exposing ourselves to unnecessary danger."

"Oh?" Julius’s smile remained calm, but there was a sharp edge to his voice. "So now you’re using the Supreme Goddess’s name to question my plan?"

Angrar, who had been leaning casually on his chair with both hands behind his head, glanced at Vane with a mocking grin. "If you care so much about details and information, why don’t you go there yourself? I’m sure your chosen team would be eager to accompany you on such an important mission."

"Right~ I think what Angrar said makes sense. How about this, Vane?" Julius smirked. "Why don’t you assemble your team of chosen ones and go gather intelligence yourself?"

"Wh... what?" Vane’s eyes widened in surprise.

"What’s with that surprised look?" Angrar smirked darkly. "What Julius suggested is reasonable. I’m sure you’re more suited for this kind of mission. And while you’re on your intelligence-gathering mission, maybe you’ll find out what happened to the agents and hired assassins we sent to investigate Armand."

"Yeah." Julius nodded, his expression unchanging. "I’ll give you two months to gather that intel and report back to us. I’m sure you don’t mind, right, Vane? After all, you’re the one who keeps insisting we need more information."

"B... but..."

Julius glanced at Vane and narrowed his eyes. "What? Don’t tell me you’re backing down now after all that insistence about needing more information?"

"Two months is not enough to collect proper intelligence, and you know that." Vane glanced at Angrar before looking back at Julius. "Gathering intel takes time, especially with the distance to Armand. And with the Human Kingdom’s upcoming civil war, the roads won’t be safe. Scouting, infiltrating, and reporting back within that timeframe is unrealistic."

Julius’s face shifted into a calm, pure smile, but his presence grew heavy and intimidating.

"Hmmph. You’re the one who kept insisting we need more information. You kept saying we should gather intel, plan carefully, and not be reckless. And yet, when you’re given the very task you’ve been advocating for, you start making excuses and questioning the plan?"

He paused, his smile never wavering, but his eyes cold.

"And yet you dare to question your leader’s plan? Hmm?"

"N... no..." Vane shivered, glancing down at the table while the others avoided looking at him.

Julius’s aura flared, pressing down on the room like an invisible weight. His voice was firm and controlled, carrying the full weight of his authority.

"As the leader of this mission, appointed by the Supreme Goddess herself, I am giving you a direct order. You will take your chosen team and gather intelligence on Armand. I will give you three months. If I receive no news or report from you by then, I will proceed with the plan I have laid out, with or without your intel."

Julius sat down and crossed his arms, his sharp glare fixed on Vane.

"Now go. You are no longer needed in this meeting. Focus on your task and leave for your mission today."

Vane stood and gave Julius a stiff, formal bow before stepping back, turning around, and heading toward the main door.

After leaving the room, Vane gritted his jaw, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists.

That stupid, dumb, fucking asshole.

He acts like he’s above everyone else, like he’s untouchable.

Just because he’s stronger than us, possesses skills none of us have...

And now he’s ordering me like a servant.

He stopped and punched the wall, his eyes narrowing in fury.

Why the fuck was I summoned alongside a shithead like him?!

After he gained more power, after he received the best blessing and skills, and after he became the Supreme Goddess’s favorite, her personal chosen partner, he started acting like he owns everything.

And because of that, he does whatever the hell he pleases, ignoring every plan, every strategy, every warning.

Shit! I was the one who was supposed to be the strategist! The Supreme Goddess herself said I should be the one planning the invasion, coordinating the teams, making the tactical decisions. And yet he shoves me aside like I’m nothing.

He continued walking, his footsteps heavy with anger.

And now I have to carry out a mission that’s completely unrelated to what the Supreme Goddess entrusted me with.

The guards around looked at Vane as he passed by, offering respectful bows.

"Sir Vane."

Vane paused and glanced at them, forcing himself to remain calm despite the anger simmering inside him.

"Pass the message to my team. Assemble at the courtyard. And please prepare the best horses for us, and inform the ship to prepare for departure toward Amazarak."

"As you command, Sir Vane."

Vane exhaled and glanced at the two royal guards as they hurried off to carry out his orders.

Fine... you win this time, Julius.

But I will gather intelligence there. And I will find out everything I can about the fallen Human Kingdom heroes’ divine weapons.

Maybe there’s a way to upgrade my own weapon, or learn skills from those seven lost artifacts. If I can obtain even one of those weapons, it could give me the edge I need.

He walked toward his room, stepped inside, grabbed a pouch of gold coins, and headed back out, making his way down the hallway toward the main door leading to the courtyard.

The distance from here to the other continent by sea will take around seven days. Hmm.

I should stock up on emergency food supplies. Even if the royal ship has prepared provisions, who knows what might happen during the journey.

And once I reach Amazarak, I’ll make sure to get a map of the continent first, checking for safe routes toward Armand.

Let’s hope the civil war hasn’t started yet.

I should instruct my team to disguise ourselves as an adventurer party. We’ll travel from town to town, visiting adventurer guilds, and gather any information we can find.

Including the location of the fallen heroes’ weapons.

( End Of Chapter )