Strategy

The room was quiet for a moment.

Ruby tilted her head, her fiery red curls sliding to one side with the movement.

"... Hmm, really?" She blinked her turquoise eyes. "Even though Lowell has already said so, I still find it hard to believe."

Methode crossed her hands gently in front of her, her blue-violet eyes filled with gentle contemplation.

"Yes, it's truly unbelievable."

Sense looked up from the map.

"Hey, did you guys know?"

Fern stood beside Frieren's chair and nodded.

"Yes. Lord Lowell possesses the ability to 'Future Sight.'"

Sense looked at Lowell.

"Really? That's wonderful." Her voice was calm, without any surprise. "So, what kind of future do you envision? Lady Serie has always been willful; she certainly won't be willing to discuss tactics with us."

Lowell walked to the window and crossed his arms. Outside the window were the layered rooftops of the Royal Capital and the outline of distant mountains.

"Hmm, my Future Sight is actually..." He clicked his tongue, "Tsk, actually there are two types. One is during battle, which has nothing to do with this. The other... I can probably use it once every hundred years. After using it, the 'predetermined future' I saw at that time will be stored in my mind, and I can just find it when I want to see something."

He turned around and leaned against the window frame.

"This future was actually something I foresaw decades ago. In that future, I was a little slow during my journey and didn't make it to the scene in time. Serie died, so this time I called Himmel and the others over ahead of time."

"However, that was decades ago. Due to the butterfly effect, the actual situation is likely different now."

The room was quiet. Only the faint sounds of the bustling streets of the Royal Capital city could be heard from afar, appearing blurry and distant through the thick walls and glass.

"As for the mastermind behind it all," Lowell continued casually, "He probably Future Sight this move too. I couldn't see him clearly in what I saw. But I don't think he's stronger than me."

He smiled.

"Such a person could not possibly exist in this world."

Sense was silent for a few seconds. She lowered her head and looked at the points marked in red ink on the map.

"Is that so?" she said softly. "Even so, being able to block the sense of Future Sight is still quite remarkable."

Fern tilted his head slightly.

"Is there such a thing as magic?"

"Of course there are," Lowell said, "And more than one. Not to mention others, the Emperor of the Empire has magical artifacts that can counter Serie's Prophetic Dreams. It's also possible for others to block my Future Sight; after all, the Hero of the South and Scharlach are locked in a love-hate relationship in countless futures."

Frieren sat in the chair, raised her eyes, and looked at Lowell with her emerald green eyes, her expression more serious than usual.

"Even I can't imagine defeating Serie," she said clearly. "Without a doubt, she is the pinnacle of magic in this era."

Fern's gaze shifted to Himmel, then back.

"So, as you said before, the person who assassinated Serie was a warrior, right?"

"Yes," Frieren nodded, "At close range, it's possible for a warrior to kill a mage of a higher level."

Her gaze swept over everyone in the room.

"Like now, Fern, there are six First-Class Mages in this room. If Himmel wanted to kill any of them, it would only take a moment. We wouldn't have time to do anything; we can't cast spells at this distance."

Fern instantly took a half-step behind Frieren and Lowell, grabbing their sleeves with a touch of childlike cuteness. Her pale purple eyes glanced at Himmel, her face showing no fear, but the action itself spoke volumes.

Himmel chuckled and reached out to scratch the blue hair.

"I can't..."

Ruby grinned and went over to him, hugging his arm.

"Exactly, exactly, how could Himmel do that? It was just an example."

Fern smiled softly as well.

"I was just joking."

Sense waited until this little interlude passed before continuing to speak. Her fingers unconsciously twirled a strand of her long brown hair.

"Of course we've considered that possibility. The most likely assassins of Serie are warriors. Sense and Falsh will guard Lady Serie. We are both experts in close combat and fighting against warriors."

Falsh his glasses and nodded. He stood ramrod straight, like a javelin.

Fern thought back for a moment.

"Yes, indeed. Lady Frieren mentioned this before. During the First-Class Mage exam, if she encountered Sense in a narrow space, her chances of winning wouldn't be high. But in an open area, her chances of winning would be greatly increased."

Sense nodded.

"Indeed. My magic excels in close combat, and isn't particularly effective at long-range battles. However, this battle will likely take place at the ball, so I think we'll have a chance to shine."

"Furthermore, Brugge's barrier magic is unparalleled. He doesn't need to actively cast barrier magic because his 'Unshakable Garment' already incorporates multiple barriers. Simply expanding the size of the barrier will naturally encompass Lady Serie as well."

Fern thought for a moment.

"That should work, right? This arrangement sounds perfect."

Frieren hugged her knees, resting her chin on them. She pondered for a few seconds.

"Hmm... that's true. As for the barrier, it should be able to defend against both frontal warriors and warriors like the 'Shadow Warriors' who excel at stealth and surprise attacks."

Lowell walked over from the window and sat down in the empty chair next to Frieren. The chair legs dragged on the floor with short, sharp sounds.

"That's true, but," he leaned back slightly in his chair, "There might be a way to break through the barrier against warriors specially enhanced by mages. After all, someone who dared to assassinate Serie must have some skill."

Sense tilted his head.

"The warrior in the shadows, a special attack against mages..."