Looming Danger

Chapter 34 Looming Danger

For Ayda, Ceid's words were more than just comfort; they were her salvation as she teetered on the edge of collapse under the weight of her guilt.

She had always assumed that the deaths of hundreds, possibly even thousands or tens of thousands, would be her fault. The burden of causing such tragedy weighed heavily on her, compounded by the grief and blame she imagined from the innocent families left behind.

Thus, Ceid's words were like a beacon of light illuminating her dark world.

However, even after offering solace, Ceid still believed it best for her to refrain from such reckless behavior in the future.

So he added, "Of course, I'm not saying your action was entirely correct."

He looked at her and said, "There's always a possibility that your actions indirectly caused a disturbance, leading to a chain of events that ultimately caused the beast tide.

But, regardless of whether or not you detonated the underground base, who could say with certainty that we can avoid the beast tide from occurring?

After all, we are making assumptions of 'what if' for past events. It's all hypothetical, and debating it serves no purpose. Even without your involvement, countless factors could have led to the same outcome.

But, that does not mean your action was not reckless. Don't you know what would happen if you were discovered? How would your family feel to see you were no longer around when they woke up?" Ceid softly reprimanded her.

As he said here, he looked deep into her eyes.

Ayda acknowledged the truth in Ceid's words, realizing the potential devastation her actions could have caused to her family.

The thought of her mother's reaction filled her with turmoil, and she couldn't help but flustered and rebuked herself for her rashness. "I'm sorry," she murmured, softly, her voice tinged with regret.

Despite understanding her mistake intellectually, Ayda still felt a sense of injustice emotionally. All she wanted was to take revenge for her family. She felt she was wronged and couldn't contain her tears.

Seeing her crying and feeling conflicted, Ceid let out a sigh. "In any case, don't worry too much. Everything will be fine," he reassured her.

"Just try to avoid such reckless actions in the future. And if you're troubled by anything, please don't bear the burden alone. You can always confide in me, or report it to the government."

After that, Ceid remained silent, allowing her to digest every word he said. It would be beneficial if she could release the burden in her heart and emerge from the shadow of guilt.

Thinking about it, Ceid suggested, "Or, if it would make you feel better, you could volunteer to join the militia. I heard they are recruiting volunteers to defend the city wall. I'm sure when the beasts reach the city later, there's plenty you can contribute to its defense."

"Anyway, think about it," he added, patting her shoulder before leaving her alone to sort out her thoughts.

-

Ceid returned to the Azure Building alone, leaving Ayda some time to herself. It was almost time for breakfast when he came back.

Fortunately, Ceid had ordered take-out delivery for the crew, less he would go back on his words.

On the other hand, Ceid did not need to worry too much about it. He had already asked the caterer to prepare a month's worth of meals for everyone.

The construction crew was still busy on the upper floors and focused on modifying and reconstructing the outer section of the fourth floor.

Today's tasks included the initial work on the veranda and external garden that Ceid had requested. There was plenty of work to be done, and the crew had even brought in a crane and various heavy machinery to reinforce the pillars and build the extended concrete floor.

Since the veranda and garden were not part of the building's original design, architects and engineers were called to oversee the construction. This ensured that the newly added structures were aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound.

Most importantly, they wouldn't compromise on safety.

Construction work had also begun on the lounge room for the past few days. Previously, the concrete slab between the two top floors for this section was demolished and combined. Now, efforts were underway to ensure that the modifications didn't compromise the structural integrity of the building.

Additionally, many reconstruction tasks, and rewiring needed to be done.

The top two floors were originally built and designed as typical office spaces. With the conversion to a penthouse, there were numerous items to be addressed on Ceid's given checklist. These include the kitchen, pantry, dining hall, swimming pool connecting to the balcony garden, modifications to the toilet and bathroom, the study room, theater room, and much more.

For the construction crew, the top two floors's transformation was their primary concern. They might even need to create separate pipelines, air conditioning, heating, and wiring systems for these floors.

Fortunately, Asma City was not located in the northern or southern hemisphere. Otherwise, they would have needed to account for the building's load when the snow fell and temperature fluctuations, which could affect the structure.

-

Ceid opted not to disturb the construction crew or seek out Borris. Seeing that the construction was progressing smoothly, he saw no need to add to the chaos or disrupt their work's pace.

Instead, he went back to his room to continue his meditation.

After seeing Little Hei and Little Hong, Ceid was eager to resume his cultivation so that his two contracted beasts could awaken sooner. Despite Wyd's comforting words, he could not put his mind at ease unless the two awakened from their dormancy.

Now that I think back, I was not qualified to lecture or admonish Ayda about feeling guilty.

He thought to himself.

He also felt guilty for affecting his contract beasts despite knowing it was not his fault. And that the cause was due to an inevitable accident.

Brushing his thoughts out of his mind, he sat down and calmed his mind. Soon, he entered his meditation state.

-

We went back several minutes before that.

17th March 11AE, 08:45.

Far to the north, inside the base on the first defense line.

Everyone at the base had just finished their battle. Apart from those stationed on lookout and guard duties, the rest of the personnel were now on their way back to their quarters to rest.

With the approaching next wave of the beast tide, everyone needed to utilize their free time wisely and remain prepared for any forthcoming battle.

Lt. Colonel Gran sat in his study room, his expression serious and respectful. Behind him, Major Dell, his adjutant, stood at attention, ready to assist.

In front of him, a hologram projection displayed a conference room scene, where general-level officers convened to discuss the current tactical situation. The attendees included commanders from various defense lines, each engaged in the intense deliberation.

On separate screens, projections showcased the commanders of the second defense line, Major General Cart; Major General Rod from the third defense line; and Major General Tom, of the city wall defense line.

Admittedly, Gran who only held the rank of lieutenant colonel, stood out among the commanders of the defense lines.

This distinction arose because the first defense line was initially established as an observation outpost for the northeastern frontier. In stark contrast to the division comprising tens of thousands of soldiers, the outpost could only station a mere thousands of troops.

He and various detachments were tasked with constructing and fortifying the first defense line, a crucial effort, aimed at buying time for civilians' evacuation.

The initial strategic plan involved leveraging bombardment to weaken the advancing beast horde and strengthen the defenses of the frontline.

The fact that this strategy successfully repulsed the first wave of beasts was a significant achievement for the ongoing battle.

As the discussion unfolded in the conference room, Lt. Colonel Gran observed silently, his attention focused on the exchange between the generals from various defense lines.

-

In the conference room, tension hung thick in the air, as the generals engaged in a heated exchange, their voices echoing off the walls.

General Cart, representing the second defense line, spoke first, his resolute voice. "We need to bolster our forces along the perimeter and reinforce our fortifications.

On the other hand, we must separate a detached team to monitor and search those beast kings. The last thing we need is a breach in our defenses."

General Rod, commanding the third defense line, nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We can't afford to underestimate the capabilities of these beasts. We must remain vigilant and prepared for any scenario."

Meanwhile, Major General Tom, responsible for the city wall defense line, chimed in with a grim expression. "Currently our soldiers were already spread thinly along the defense line. We could not afford to separate a team to search for them."

He added, "We don't even know whether those beasts had penetrated the first defense line. It could be possible for the injured Vulcan Eagle beast king to hide somewhere in the mountain region to heal, while the level 9 beast king may still be eyeing covetously outside the first defense line.

Instead, we need to strengthen our patrols and increase surveillance. If the level 9 beast king penetrated our defenses without our notice, it could spell disaster for the city."

Lt. Colonel Gran listened intently to their deliberations, his mind racing with thoughts on how best to coordinate their efforts.

As the discussion continued, it became increasingly evident that the threat posed by the unknown level 9 beast king and the injured Vulcan Eagle beast king loomed large over their plans for defense.

With the potential for a breach in the defense line and the safety of the city at stake, their strategies needed to be refined and executed centered on them.