Early morning.
The Sky Fortress was a hive of activity, with rescue and repair efforts underway everywhere.
A high-level meeting of the Grand Duchy's Royal Academicians was also being held in the fortress's central conference room. Thirteen people were present, excluding those unable to attend due to special circumstances.
"About His Majesty..."
Antonio shook his head and said in a low voice, "He's carrying out a secret mission. It was His Majesty's own plan, and it concerns the outcome of the war and our very survival, so we can't make it public."
The others exchanged glances, inwardly wondering what secret mission the Chen King could be on that required His Majesty to set out in secret himself.
Still,
had the Chen King been here during the monsters' sneak attack last night, things could have turned truly disastrous.
Since the Chen King's whereabouts were classified, Antonio naturally wouldn't reveal them at this meeting.
After a brief discussion, everyone dispersed to rest after a tense night of fighting, preparing for the battle to continue that night.
"Master Reilo, the Sun Energy expert."
Antonio suddenly called out to Reilo.
Reilo stopped.
Seeing that it was Master Antonio, the scholar of Evolution's Profound Meaning, he frowned, then gestured for Windsor, the Altar Communicator, and Edward, Father of Bombs, to leave first.
After everyone had filed out, the conference room was empty once more. Only Antonio, Fladick, and Reilo remained.
Thud.
The heavy conference room door closed again.
"Please, sit."
Antonio motioned for Reilo to stay calm.
Under Reilo's puzzled gaze, he let out a low sigh. "Now that it's just the three of us, I'll be frank. Including the two of us, fewer than ten people on the battlefield know His Majesty's whereabouts. I can tell you now, too..."
As Reilo looked on in