Chapter 188: Details

In a small room waiting to enter the coliseum stood several Hero Academy students.

“Tch... I’m stressed,” Jordan muttered and when they looked at him, he explained. “The abyssal portals just appeared! There’s no way I’m not stressed out.”

“Did you see the video? It’s an all-black portal and just looking at it gives an ominous feeling,” Frank said seriously.

“No, that’s not the worst of it. I heard that the Romanian authorities have not accepted the reinforcements,” Marc said and when everyone looked at him, he detailed. “Apparently, several Romanian national guilds have united, wanting to be the ones to enter the gate. That was their protocol they have been putting together and the Romanian government can’t do anything.”

“That can’t be true, can it?” She hesitated, Nicole.

The answer was silence.

Since before the abyssal portals, the preparations were in this style.

Some confident countries would not accept support from other countries or organizations and that was because of the idea of profit that haunted the abyssal portals.

Simple temporary dungeons were a huge benefit and these abyssal portals that caused a stir in the eyes of some individuals were a danger accompanied with benefits.

“Unfortunately, it may be true. Romania is a peculiar country. It has not joined the European Union, and that is why they do not follow its rules and that led to several adventuring guilds settling there with more ‘freedom’. They are medium-sized guilds with some S-ranks in command, but together they control the politics and influence the decisions in Romania,” Clémentine explained with a historian’s tone and at the end, with a sigh, she added. “It may not be as corrupt as the West African Republic, but dirty deals are more common than one can imagine.”

Nicole was silent.

The guilds were the major forces of the countries and were the bastion of defense against the dungeons and, in a way, the primary force in dealing with the monsters.

While most countries tried to nurture an army of their own, it was impossible to compare with the adventurer’s guilds whose members earned a huge amount of money.

Unless one was a nationalist or wanted to serve one’s country, joining the army of any country in the world was generally a bad way to go in terms of economic and job prospects.

Romania was not the only country with such a system.

South Africa had warlords who united to protect the country and despite having a democratic system, the warlords actually had influence in the government.

Going one point further, the West African Republic has a democratic system, but those who held the real power and made the decisions were the guilds of adventurers, powerful mercenaries, and warlords who joined together to form it.

In that place, corruption was extreme enough to the point of dirty deals being made in the light of day and not to mention the laws, which always served those in power.

And no one would deny that guilds influenced some other countries, though not all went to the extreme like the aforementioned countries.

“Being a student sucks,” Marc muttered helplessly, and ignoring those present, he commented. “We don’t know anything about the abysmal portals. The Romanian authorities have not given any public information. We know where they are, but we don’t know where it leads to or its danger.”

It was a complaint that revealed some tension.

“What if this is big enough to affect all of humanity?” Marc asked, getting the silence spread again.

It was true that the Abyssal Portal only appeared a few hours ago at night in Romania and it was possible that the proper investigation had not yet been conducted, but even if there was information until it was published, they would know nothing.

They were students

All they could do was follow the rules and continue with the academy or the tournament, which was not canceled despite what happened.

“Even if you know what it was about, could you still participate?” Alice asked, walking into the waiting room.

That question made Marc go silent.

He was only a B-Rank, people stronger than him were even more many than he could imagine.

Experienced A-Ranks who would be considered the elite with years of experience and S-Ranks who were former players and then there were the rare SS-Ranks and even those few SSS-Ranks.

To put it another way, they were students who had neither the strength, power, nor authority to get involved in this matter and couldn’t even get information.

“Do you know anything?” Érica asked, unable to resist her curiosity.

They were now waiting their turn for the B-Rank group duel and Clémentine’s individual A-Rank duel, but the tournament seemed insignificant compared to the abysmal portals.

Unlike the others, Érica knew that Alice and Aurora were more than they seemed and could not be considered normal.

Adding that Aurora had left very early, it was clear that something had to do with the current situation.

The only reason Alice was here and didn’t accompany her was that they didn’t know what the mode of the A-Rank duel was going to be and if it had been group, she would have had to take part.

Alice opened a bag of chips calmly and nonchalantly.

“No, I’m not the person in charge of getting information,” Alice replied, and under everyone’s gaze, she warned. “If you wish to know more information, you had better wait until tonight. Edward is Director Vincent’s apprentice, and he will surely have information.”

Érica understood that the person in charge of getting the information was Aurora and, for a reason, she was not present.

As for Edward, even though he had a duel in a few hours, he had also withdrawn, surely approaching his master to find information.

“However, even if the information is known, you guys cannot intervene. You won’t put some students as the main force in a matter like this, not unless you have high-level contacts,” Alice said, acknowledging the reality in front of them and munching on some chips she recommended. “It is best that you focus on the tournament. Only with a certain level of strength will you be trusted to intervene in these matters.”

Her recommendation seemed directed at everyone, but her gaze was on the members of the usual group.

Winning the tournament and the prize in order to have a chance to move up in rank or become stronger was a shortcut.

Knowing how to seize the opportunity was up to them.

As for now, others were to take up the task.

******

The detailed images of the abyssal portal were passed through one by one.

A large black portal that trembled and gave a sense that it led deep into the abyss.

“We have a recording,” General McLean pointed out, and with that, let it play.

It wasn’t the footage of the abyssal portal appearing that was spreading on the internet, but it was a group of mechanics, using drones.

Those drones went into the portals, then disappeared without a trace.

No matter how hard they tried to get back, it didn’t work and even if they used more primitive methods like tying it with ropes.

Not only drones were sent but also golem and robots were sent, but they also disappeared even when they were carrying scrolls used to get them moving back.

“No matter what means were used to explore the portals, nothing works. It is not on the scale of a small space like temporary dungeons and even not a small dimension like some objects may contain. Wherever they lead to, it’s not close enough for information to be received or teleported,” General McLean reported in a serious tone.

The methods employed were harmless and the safest, but none could bring back information.

That a drone or golem had returned damaged was better than not returning at all... After all, the first option would let on that it was dangerous, but this only caused further uncertainty.

“The Romanian government and the guilds are united for now and, as far as we understand, support teams and all those individuals who wish to participate have been turned away. Even if they say they do not want any payment,” Cardinal Brousseau mentioned and, with a serious tone, stated. “That extends to all the churches, to Greece and the European Union. Russia, on the other hand, has only secured the Romanian-Russian border.”

With those words, those present received detailed information on the situation at the political level.

Because of the guilds joined, the Romanian government has been refusing aid forces to participate directly in the abyssal portals, but some support teams have been accepted to be in the area.

It has also accepted the research teams that come with those support teams, so the information was coming in.

“Because they rejected it, the other countries are just watching with no desire to use force or intervene with more extreme methods. In public, they talk about respecting Romania’s sovereignty, but it is quite possible that they are just watching to wait for results.” Cardinal Brousseau explained.

This was a situation that could affect everyone, but no country would move first without thinking of the future consequences.

Now the others were using the Romanian guilds as a shield so they could ‘scout’ first.

They can gain wealth, but they can also fail and thereby gain information.

No country was completely benevolent and kind, that was because the rulers and leaders had to look at the big picture.

It was the same even with Zerzura, who intervened in Kenya and while on a personal level there was reason to help the people, the benefits in the big picture were also great.

Unless it was vital, no leader wanted to risk the possibilities, and even more so when those leaders had millions of people under their care.

“The Romanian guilds are morons,” Alima murmured, who was present at this meeting of high command.

In the Zerzura city form of government, there was a vacancy for an adventurer’s guild that would represent all adventurers.

The Orisha Oko filled that vacancy and Alima was the representative for today.

In every country, the guilds had influence and here it was no different, only the Orisha Oko guild would show up when it came to matters concerning adventurers.

Today, as it was an issue that would affect everyone, it was also present.

“The benefits are too tempting, it is inevitable that they will get carried away,” an old man with gray hair commented.

“James is right. Unfortunately, those who will suffer the worst consequences are the common people and all their citizens,” Minister Turay interjected and, with a sigh, added. “On that note, I am glad they have evacuated the area.”

Aurora also sighed quietly and agreed with the minister.

The guilds were ‘taking a risk’ but those who would truly lose would be the citizens who might suffer those consequences.

While it was true that the area around where the abyssal portals appeared was evacuated, Constanta City was huge, with hundreds of thousands of inhabitants and had not been completely evacuated so as not to spread panic.

“I heard that Cosmos Enterprise granted a permit for a team of their new weapons. That will help the soldiers a bit if something happens,” James said calmly and seeing that no one perked up, he revealed. “Anyway, Zerzura can’t do anything about this situation. We are strong and we have allies, but our influence only extends to Africa, and our priority is this.”

He was referring to Zerzura’s influence as a whole, but also in a way, making clear the stance the Apicius Enterprise was taking in this matter.

While Apicius Enterprise was known as a company engaged in the food industry, to define it as such was to understate the influence.

The company’s roots extended far and wide and it even had relationships with guilds on other continents.

“Who has taken the lead in guarding the portal has been the Church of Order, sending Cardinal Auguste recognized SS-Rank. As for the Church of Time and Space, it will only keep an eye for the time being.” Cardinal Brousseau reported.

She was expressing the stance that the Church of Time and Space had taken.

“No country helped us before, and I do not wish to help now. That said, if it is necessary to move and follow orders, I will do so, but at this time, the military is in intense training,” General McLean commented.

Perhaps he could be called spiteful, but his words were no lie.

Africa fell and because of the situations in other countries, no one sent any form of aid.

As an individual, he refused to provide aid, as a General he would follow the orders he was to follow.

“I don’t know about the other guilds, but the Orisha Oko has no interest in matters outside of Zerzura, or Africa in general. None of us want to risk for nil gains,” Alima pointed out calmly.

It was strange to talk about ‘null’ gains when the guild frequently protected the region for free, similar to Aurora’s small group of mercenaries.

Even before they took risks by protecting Zerzura in times of extreme hardship, but this alone showed that they prioritized the city over other regions.

This was the big picture.

Each was an important individual who had influence and authority to make many decisions freely and, as unpleasant as it was, they were bound by the big picture.

Aurora did not say too much, she understood them perfectly, as she often found herself bound.

What she wanted to do conflicted with what she had to do... Just as it happened in Nakuru, there she found herself in a situation where she was limited by the big picture, but at the same time, she found something she wanted to do.

However, now unlike them, Aurora knew what she had to do and had the possibility to do it without hiding.

“And you Aurora, what will you do?” Minister Turay asked and with a smile, added. “I’ve seen Alice in her battles. She’s as flashy as ever. I think it’s good for you to continue with the tournament and the academy, for now, Zerzura doesn’t need her ‘protector’.”

His last words carried a teasing tone, which made some subtly smile.

Aurora also gave a smile, not because of her title, but Minister Turay’s words.

He was hinting at her staying at the academy, enjoying a normal ‘student’ life, something she may not have had in the right way.

But even though she understood his good feelings, Aurora shook her head immediately.

“I know the Head of National Security of Greece and have been waiting for his message to participate in a meeting with the forces of the Falion Empire. They too were turned down, but because of the closeness of Romania, they have to prepare,” Aurora answered with a serious tone and, looking at those present, she added. “If I get any extra information, I will send it to you in case it is useful.”

Before coming, she was talking to Urfin, who mentioned to her that when he organized everything, he would invite her to talk about the situation personally.

Not just talk about the abyssal portals, but fix her position on the entire thing.

Thanks to Cithrel, she could have a chance to get closer to the situation.

Cardinal Brousseau gave a half-smile without saying too much, understanding that she liked to work.