Gacha Kingdom Building-Chapter 282: Expanding Network (01)

--This Chapter is written using Erik’s POV--

A few hours ago, the leader of the Aegis, Maya, declared her group would follow their own agenda.

The Aegis swiftly took over the prefecture of their main city with minimal resistance.

According to our sources, with minimal fighting, too.

Unsurprising, given how closely they’d begun to operate.

Surprisingly, given the position Maya achieved and how the Aegis positioned itself in this conflict.

There were many ramifications to her move, and while I was considering them, more news reached my desk.

The team I had sent to keep an eye on Maya’s inconvenient little brother’s residence was killed, with no signs of a struggle.

Through CCTV, we discovered the one responsible was none other than the Witch of Narrations.

Her business there was obvious.

Alpha Team seized him.

Erik: "Take your seats."

While not as annoying as his sister, that man shouldn’t be ignored.

Like his father, he represents a brutish strength that could pose a threat.

The demon he has by his side, especially.

It’s a strong card, in more ways than one.

Erik: "Adriarch. You have heard about the demon that fought for Earth, correct?"

Adriarch: "Heard? I’ve seen her fight with my own two eyes. Let me tell you, it was scary. Her-"

Erik: "That is enough. I have another question."

To think I once thought he’d be a useful source of information...

This senile old man’s stories, long as they are, barely have any meaningful content to them.

If allowed to, he’ll ramble endlessly, tangent upon tangent.

Erik: "If she stood in our way, would you kill her?"

The Colonel has a soft spot for those he has fought side by side with.

When he confronted me about joining the AOTG, I assessed the chances of him being a spy at approximately 3%.

His chances of turning coats, however, reached up to 12%.

He has high discipline and experience, but his heart still speaks loudly.

Sometimes, louder than his mind.

The same thing that brought him to me could potentially motivate him to stab me in the back.

Adriarch: "The young lady wore a uniform. Her eyes, bright as the sky, were darkened in a way I recognized only in veterans. She must have gone through a lot. I’d like to talk and ask what those eyes have seen, if possible. If not... Yes, of course, I would. Something tells me she would, too! Bwahaha!"

Erik: "Good. Know that she is an enemy, and that you might be among the ones to fight her."

An honest answer, but one that did him no good.

Adriarch Tell, your chances of turning against us have increased, haven’t they?

They are now close to 15%.

Someone with a strong heart, a mildly interesting spirit, and enough charisma might get through to you.

While a rare combination, I know of at least one person standing against us who possesses those traits, alongside many other problematic ones.

Which brings us to the main topic.

Erik: "I have seen the demon once. She is a follower of Maya’s brother, one of our enemies. No one in this room, aside from me, is allowed to fight her alone. Call for reinforcements immediately."

Adriarch: "Lassie is that bad, huh?"

Erik: "She doesn’t come alone. From what I’ve gathered, Maya’s brother can summon allies at will. That ability seems to be shared with his followers."

It’s been confirmed through multiple sources.

First, a recon team saw a blue-haired woman summon other recognizable faces without Miwen’s presence.

Second, CCTV caught the same phenomenon.

Third, reconstructions from Gift users at the local.

Adriarch: "Oho? Yahah... What a family you got there, huh?"

Maria: "Fufu. Thank you. They are my pride and joy~"

Erik: "...Quite. Continuing-"

Adriarch: "Wait! I have something you might want to see."

I was about to dismiss him prematurely.

His interruption, this time, was earned.

From inside his pocket, he took out an already opened envelope.

Pop, colorful stickers plastered the neatly folded paper.

Handwritten with beautiful, yet overly big letters, the words "To Adriarch!!! Don’t open!!" stood out from a mile.

Sending a letter was something old-timey.

Doing so in such a manner was childish.

The contrast alone was enough for me to know I wouldn’t like the contents.

Erik: "...When did you receive this?"

Adriarch: "Earlier today, less than an hour after the Aegis attack. If you want to know when they were taken, look at the fourth photograph."

I....

I don’t understand this woman.

Inside the envelope, accompanied by a dozen photos, was a letter.

[Hello, Adriarch!

This is Maya, leader of the Aegis.

But you already know that, don’t you?

I’m the blonde girl! The one who listened to you talk about your back problem the first time we fought.

Remember? Last time I brought you coffee before you headed back. Black. No sugar. (I did put in a little, though!)."

Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I talked with your family.

If you’re doubting me, you can check the photos I sent.

But please don’t misunderstand, I’m not threatening you or your family.

I just wanted to know what they thought about you.

Your sons are worried, but they believe in you.

They said they are sorry and that they love you.

They also wished you good luck. They’ll be waiting to see you again whenever they can.

Also, Erik, don’t even think about killing them and placing the blame on me. I have a way to prove my innocence.

Anyway, sorry for disturbing you in such a manner.

With regards, Maya.]

Among the photos included, one had Maya and Adriach’s son holding a newspaper.

The Aegis rebellion was its headline.

Maya’s face was stamped on the front page, and Adriarch’s youngest son held the newspaper opposite end with her.

Erik: "...What is she doing?"

Adriarch’s family had hidden themselves in another country, on another continent.

Every single document of theirs was faked.

Adriarch asked his own contacts and friends for this.

Men who knew the family.

Men he trusted.

But how she got the information wasn’t even the biggest problem.

Adriarch was living in a conquered military base.

At any given time, he is surrounded by thousands of loyal men.

Yet, Maya found the time to, in less than an hour, visit another continent, meet his family, take photos with them, and somehow deliver this letter.

Unopposed, unnoticed.

Maria: "Hm. I think she’s eating cotton candy in this one."

She was.

They were.

All of them, with smiles stretching from ear to ear on their faces.

...They were the perfect hostages.

Adriarch could turn in a blink if she threatened their lives.

She could have him work as a spy.

Yet, she made sure to show she had no hostility towards them.

Promised she wouldn’t attack them.

She could have taken one of my strongest cards out of play with this move.

But she chose to waste it.

Why?

It can’t be that she’s this dumb.

She knows the value proposition. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have targeted Adriarch.

Erik: "What... Do you think? How do you feel about this?"

Adriarch: "I’m just as confused. But I like the girl. She has a fearless edge. It’s also nice to see Adrian and-"

...His chances of betraying us rose again.

17, maybe 19%.

She decreased his value to me.

Was that her intent?

Make me paranoid? Make me turn against my own executives?

Maya...

I found myself thinking about her more than I do the government these days.

She’s a beautiful theorem.

One that is so blatantly wrong, I can instinctively pinpoint every single flaw in it.

Yet, I can’t prove it.

She continues to evade me, to confuse me...

Adriarch: "Lad? You are quieter than usual."

Maria: "He gets like this when Maya’s involved."

Adriarch: "Oh... Youth finds a way, huh? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us."

Erik: "None of that. I’m only assessing her move before we can prepare ours."

It didn’t matter what she wanted to accomplish with this.

I thought her preaching would be the biggest threat to Adriarch, but she failed to sway his heart with this letter.

Her position was more vulnerable than ever, now that she was in open conflict with the government.

It would be a good time to strike her...

Again?

Her position is stronger now than it was back then.

And she survived.

So why am I thinking about going after her again, when I know there’s a better move?

Miwen and Piper Williams.

Compared to Maya, these two only amounted to annoying variables.

They fell on the same side, on Team Alpha’s, but that didn’t increase their threat level.

On the contrary, it solved the equation.

They became predictable.

Their strength now was too overwhelming for any executive to handle alone.

It wouldn’t take long for them to pick a target.

Erik: "Adriarch, increase your defenses and stay low. You’ll have to fight soon."

Adriarch: "Aye, sir."

The odds of them choosing Adriarch were low.

There were others, far less powerful but equally valuable targets among the AOTG executive.

Erik: "Ceres. I have orders for you."

Ceres: "Oh, it’s finally my turn? Alright. What’s up?"

If Maya’s brother had any semblance of intelligence, Ceres would be one of his likely targets.

Leaving the opponent in the dark is one of the keys to victory, and she was our information center.

With her, no matter what we walked into, we wouldn’t be blind.

That is why I should direct her carefully.

If she were to fall, she’d drag the rest of us.