The dusk glow could not penetrate the heavy curtains. Finn's office was brightly lit, and the air carried a trace of fatigue.
Kashu stood before the desk and succinctly briefed the three leaders on the sudden disturbance at the Monster Festival.
Finn pushed aside the mountain of documents awaiting review on his desk, rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily, and spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice.
"Are you certain? An unknown enemy has set their sights on Ais?"
Kashu nodded. "Loki has already met with the other mastermind. We can basically be sure, unless they're still plotting something in secret."
Riveria's expression grew grave at those words, and her tone was colder than usual.
"We have far too little information at present. Can we find any clues about the new species of monsters in the underground waterways?"
Kashu calmly shook his head. "That won't work. The underground waterways are as tangled as a spiderweb. Any search would be futile."
"Even if they left behind a few traces, the current would have washed them away long ago."
As he spoke, he held up two fingers and explained.
"There are only two things we can confirm right now."
"First, the enemy has the ability to freely control the new species of monsters, though we still don't know the extent of that control."
"Second, the enemy knows of surface passages outside Babel Tower. That is how they were able to bring the new species of monsters from the Dungeon's deep floors to Northeast Street."
Gareth let out a muffled grunt upon hearing that.
"Northeast Street... the enemy sure knows how to pick a place."
Even someone like him, who relied on force and was not skilled at strategy, could tell how troublesome that area was.
Finn tapped his chin with his fingertips,