Another Me Declares War on Me
Byro's sarcastic words were like a poisonous thorn, piercing Erza Knightwalker's heart.
She whirled around, her long, scarlet hair tracing a sharp arc in the air, and a blazing fire of anger instantly ignited in her beautiful eyes.
"Chief of Staff Byro, please watch your words!"
Knightwalker's voice was icy cold, showing no sign of yielding despite the fact that the other party was the Chief of Staff.
"It's none of your business how I Erza Knightwalker, conduct myself!"
"Oh?" Byro grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, his wrinkled face full of undisguised mockery.
"Captain Knightwalker, you certainly have the airs of an official. I just wonder if you can use that same swagger when it comes to capturing Fairy Tail?"
"You!" Knightwalker trembled with rage, his knuckles turning white from gripping the sword hilt so tightly.
"Fairy Tail, I will bring them to justice sooner or later! But that has nothing to do with Jiang Bai!"
"Is that so?" Byro's small eyes glanced at Jiang Bai Warren, who had remained silent throughout, and his smile deepened.
"Let's hope so. After all, His Majesty's patience has its limits."
Just as Byro was about to say something more, a chilling killing intent, cold enough to freeze the soul, instantly enveloped the entire observation deck.
Jiang Bai Warren, who had been silent all along, slowly turned his head.
His unfathomable eyes held no emotion, only a calm gaze fixed on Byro.
However, it was this calm gaze that made Byro feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and his blood seemed to freeze.
"Chief of Staff Byro," Jiang Bai Warren's voice was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"When did it become your place to interfere in my affairs?"
"Or do you think your life will outlast His Majesty the King's patience?"
A blatant threat!
Byro's face turned deathly pale instantly, and a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to save face, but found himself unable to utter a single word under the tangible pressure from Jiang Bai Warren.
He had no doubt that if he uttered another word of nonsense, this man would really snap his neck in front of everyone.
Jiang Bai had long disliked this old guy named Byro.
If it weren't for the king's constant protection, Jiang Bai Warren would have had a hundred ways to shut him up forever.
At this tense moment, when swords were about to be drawn and war was imminent.
"Report!"
A piercing scream shattered the silence on the observation deck.
A messenger came scrambling over, and in his haste, he tripped over his own foot and fell flat on his face.
But he didn't care about his disheveled appearance at all. He scrambled to his feet, rushed to the crowd, and knelt down with a thud.
His voice was filled with extreme fear and disbelief.
"No, this is terrible! My lords!"
Byro frowned in displeasure. "What a flustered display! What kind of behavior is this!"
Erza Knightwalker felt a chill run down her spine, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
"What happened? Tell me quickly!"
The messenger, panting heavily, shouted with all his might:
"We've just received an urgent battle report from the front lines! A man has appeared... a man who looks exactly like General Jiang Bai!"
What?!
Upon hearing this, everyone present, except for Jiang Bai Warren, was stunned.
Knightwalker's eyes widened suddenly as she recalled that fleeting glimpse of him during their pursuit of Fairy Tail.
Sure enough... I wasn't mistaken! But it seems I've misjudged.
The messenger gave them no time to process the information, continuing to report rapidly in a near-hysterical tone.
"That man claimed to be from another world, Earth-land, and his name was also Jiang Bai!"
"He... he single-handedly defeated the entire force defending the town with just one move!"
He also said... he also said...
As the messenger finished speaking, he looked up at Byro, whose face was ashen, and the captains, who looked shocked. His voice was trembling.
"He also said that he was going to declare war on our entire Kingdom of Edolas!"
"Declare war?!" Hughes and Sugarboy exclaimed in unison.
"Are you kidding me! One person declaring war on a country? Who does he think he is?"
Erza Knightwalker remained silent; her mind was a jumbled mess.
Jiang Bai from another world?
They are incredibly powerful and can even use magic that doesn't require any tools...
No wonder!
No wonder there's another "Jiang Bai"! They all come from another world!
A sinister glint flashed in Byro's small eyes.
Unlike the others, he wasn't shocked; instead, he showed a hint of interest.
Things seem to be getting more and more interesting.
However, among everyone present, the one most affected was undoubtedly Jiang Bai Warren himself.
A crack finally appeared on his perpetually icy face.
Another... me?
From Earth-land?
Still want to stop Anima?
Jiang Bai Warren abruptly raised his head, and for the first time, his deep, emotionless eyes showed doubt towards the enormous Magic Crystal floating in the air.
Are we really doing the right thing?
This question, which he only dared to ask himself in his heart, was now presented to everyone by another "self" in the most arrogant and direct way.
That "me" challenged the "me" of today.
"Jiang Bai?"
Erza Knightwalker noticed the sudden instability in Jiang Bai Warren's aura and called out to him with concern.
Jiang Bai Warren did not respond.
He just stared intently at the enormous Magic Crystal, as if trying to see right through it.
An idea powerful enough to shake his entire worldview began to grow wildly in his mind.
Your Majesty...
Were you lying to me from the very beginning?