"Well, Military Headquarters is focused on the Mid-East Allied Forces right now. Sparta Fortress is like a nail driven into the Marleyan mainland."
"Sparta Fortress is less than two hundred kilometers from the capital as the crow flies. Until that nail is pulled out, Military Headquarters won't have the attention to spare for Paradis Island. We might not set out for another six months or a year."
Zeke hesitated slightly, but explained anyway.
"Then pull out that nail and set out for Paradis Island immediately." Roald slowly rose to his feet.
"There seems to be some unrest at home. Military Headquarters has already withdrawn all troops from the border. We aren't capable of launching an attack right now. Marley..."
"Hahahahaha! You're the ones who aren't capable of attacking." Roald gave a disdainful sneer, turned, and walked out of the tent.
Startled, Zeke hurried after him.
With a thunderous boom, a forty-meter-tall Black Iron Titan pushed off with both legs. The ground split violently beneath him, sending up a vast cloud of dust.
Four or five nearby tents collapsed outright, throwing the Marleyan soldiers who were packing up to withdraw into a panic.
Coughing, Zeke watched Roald's retreating figure soar into the distance after that single leap. He stood rooted to the spot, dazed.
"He's terrifying... Chen Si, please hurry..."
Elsewhere.
Gabi was still crawling toward the fortifications of Sparta Fortress. A dozen sticks of explosives were tied to her ankle with rope, dragging along the ground behind her. She took a pair of scissors from her waist and snipped through the barbed wire bit by bit.
"Gabi, stop. Don't go any farther." Falco crawled up beside her and urged her in a low voice.
"Quit talking and take these!" Without even looking at Falco, Gabi tossed him the scissors, then