The young officer from Yanila Su's deduction seemed to inject a sliver of hope into everyone. If they could reach Luen without difficulty, then, as Brando had put it, they had a very good chance of leaving Anzlova. Everyone thought so. Once they boarded a ship and put out to sea, the Jorgendigons would be unable to catch them. To those subterranean cave monsters, at least on the surface of the sea—this was still the Empire's domain. The discussion soon grew lively, but while everyone else was still considering how to escape, the count's daughter from Yan Fort had already begun thinking further ahead.
She asked, "What about after we leave port? Which route should we take? Mezz or Cloak Bay?"
The others fell silent for a moment before Oni answered, "I think we should go to Cloak Bay. Mezz is under the control of the White Legion. Until we're certain of Her Majesty the Queen's attitude, we can't casually enter her sphere of influence." It seemed that she had finally accepted the possibility that the Queen had betrayed the Empire, and she had begun incorporating that assumption into the discussion.
"No, no, no," Chiara said, vigorously shaking her head. "Cloak Bay has always been within the Cecil Family's sphere of influence, and it's controlled by the Temple of Flames. On the surface, it seems to be the place farthest from the Queen's control. But think about it. Since everyone understands that logic, Her Majesty must understand it too. In ordinary times, it would naturally be the place farthest from the Empire's Supreme One. But now? I think it may be the center of the whirlpool."
"That does make sense..."
"So we go to Mezz. But what about the White Legion?"
"Forget the White Legion for now. In the north,