Bermuda

Unlike before, today's meeting was held outdoors. It was because there was no suitable space to accommodate the unusual scale that even included lower-ranking commanders.

The golden figure that appeared among the navy blue combat uniforms sitting in a wide circle was enough to draw attention by his presence alone. Perhaps because the sun was hiding behind the clouds today, the colors he cast were particularly striking.

The gazes directed toward him were each a little different. Wary looks were unavoidable wherever he went, but there were also many who couldn't take their eyes off him simply because of his appearance, along with curious stares.

Hugo was concerned about Leonardo, who was placed among them, but unlike before, when he had struggled, today he seemed indifferent. Of course, he must be making an effort, but it didn't seem like he was under stress to the point of being unbearable.

Fortunately, as soon as the two of them took their seats last and the meeting began, the concentrated attention quickly dispersed. It was because the chief investigator began briefing them about another existence as surprising as Leonardo's.

Thanks to that, Leonardo, who was able to attend the meeting with a relatively comfortable mind, sat right next to Hugo and listened to the situation report, inwardly impressed. Although he had heard from Alec Siles, their information network was not to be ignored either.

The Council's expedition team already knew about the existence of the queen. They seemed to have deciphered the ancient characters on the stele among the structures, understanding what "Elder Millie" meant and referring to that existence as the "mother body."

This mother body had been sealed for the past several hundred years by a magic circle encompassing the entire peninsula, and its effect clearly remained even now. However, since the {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} seal's power was much weaker than before, the consciousness of the sleeping creature had awakened, and fortunately, it was not yet at the stage of complete liberation, so it was presumed that it could not move freely, being bound to the center of the magic circle, the chief investigator explained.

The reason for the weakening of the seal was attributed to the volcanic activity on the peninsula that had become active in recent years.

First, due to the volcanic activity, the peninsula's overall temperature rose, and clouds were formed under the influence of low pressure, followed by heavy rains that washed away the volcanic ash, revealing the hidden ruins to the world.

And his argument was that as these ruins were gradually damaged by weathering, erosion, or intruders from outside, they were losing their function as a seal.

Leonardo, who had only guessed at the meaning implied by the curved structures, couldn't hide his surprise when he saw the magic circle drawn by the Council on the map of the peninsula.

What he recalled next, as he silently touched his lips, was the ruins he had half blown away while trying to save Kenis, who was surrounded by a horde of Ilaptors, and the huge roar that had occurred immediately after.

The investigator said that the two huge roars that had shaken the entire peninsula not long ago could also be a phenomenon that occurred when a ruin forming a stroke of the magic circle was greatly damaged somewhere on the peninsula.

It was as if the chains that had barely been holding the mother body had snapped a few strands, accelerating the creature's struggle as it awaited the time of complete resurrection.

However, he soon added that apart from such temporary shocks, considering the state of the magic circle and ruins, it was a natural course for the mother body to be liberated in any case, and it was estimated that not much time remained. Then, a commander raised his hand and spoke.

"Then isn't this the opportunity? If we immediately enter the creature's den and launch a surprise attack before the seal is released, we can eliminate the mother body without great damage or loss of power."

"That is the general way of thinking, but the problem is that we cannot predict how the remaining monsters will move after eliminating only the mother body."

The chief investigator had roughly grasped the system of the peninsula controlled by the queen's pheromones, obtaining hints from the etymology of the name "Millie" engraved on the stele, meaning "honeybee," and from the concentration of Ilaptor hordes in the center of the magic circle.

In other words, if this mother body, which was holding the monsters on the peninsula back from going outside, was killed, there was a possibility that the monsters, freed from the control of pheromones, would simultaneously rush out, attack humans, and cause chaos.

He also cited the birth of mutant species and the food-storage habit of monsters that can be seen mainly during the spawning season, speculating that there would be several alternative existences and supporting forces that would newly perform the role of the queen instead of the existing mother body that could no longer produce normal individuals.

In conclusion, he added that eliminating only the sealed mother body would not be a fundamental solution to eradicate the seeds of the peninsula's monsters. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Leonardo, who had been listening, quietly nodded. Then, noticing the assistant investigators bringing something in, he leaned his body forward, which had been leaning back.

The investigator explained that it was a specimen of an egg presumed to be the next mother body. It was clearly almost identical in form to what he had found in Alec's backpack, proving the guy's words that there was more than one egg right before his eyes.

Finally, the chief investigator explained that, considering the Dermocas running away with this egg even in moments of crisis, the Dermocas were likely to be the biggest force supporting the next mother body.

And he argued that the reason they had not been able to find their habitats or nests was because the energy of the creatures, which mainly moved underground, had been suppressed by the huge magic circle.

In the same context, he said that unless the effect of the magic circle disappeared, it was realistically almost impossible to find and eliminate all the next mother bodies that the Dermocas were hiding.

In other words, to achieve "perfect subjugation," the effect of the sealing magic circle had to be lifted, but then the mother body would be released and the situation would become troublesome, and even if they tried to eliminate the mother body first, there was a concern that the monsters would rush out, so the future course of events could not be guaranteed.

In a word, it was a dilemma.

As the clue that had seemed to be within reach disappeared again into a distant maze, the meeting place was filled with murmurs. As soon as the briefing ended, opinions were largely divided into two, leading to a heated discussion.

"Regardless of the situation, I think it's right to eliminate the immediate, close target first rather than worrying about the future. We've almost figured out the location of the mother body, so there's no reason to just watch."

"Taking action first without preparing countermeasures for risk factors is not drive but recklessness. We should leave the mother body for now and continue to reduce the number of monsters as much as possible, even if it takes some time, just like now."

"But didn't you say that the seal restraining the creature is being released? If we delay and the mother body is liberated at an unexpected time, things could get worse."

"If the mother body's control disappears, the creatures that can fly will be the first to go outside the peninsula through the sky. Do you think the barrier above the gate will be able to withstand the numerous monsters trying to escape, now that the primary gate defense has already been breached by illegal intruders?"

One commander in particular preached his negative views to the point of spitting.

"Moreover, the barrier between the Fidele Territory and the peninsula has already been weakened to the limit by the monsters' attacks. If we're not careful, the problem of the peninsula may spread to our main territory as well."

"The peninsula is already our territory, too. And the barrier can be additionally installed. Isn't that why we purchased barrier stones before starting the subjugation, for this very situation? If you keep looking at it only from a negative perspective, even what can be done won't be done."

Both sides had a point, but no appropriate alternative emerged. Leonardo, who had been narrowing his eyes and closely examining the stuffed egg, listened to the commanders arguing among themselves and pondered deeply.

'Can't we do two things at the same time...?'

In fact, there was a scenario that he had been picturing in his mind all along, but there were many things to be mindful of to readily bring it up.

It was an absurd operation devised based solely on theory, and all the evidence and support for it came from what he had heard from Alec Siles, so he had no idea how to explain it.

At that moment, amidst the chaotic meeting, Isabella Roslin, the 12th Battalion Commander of the Southern Branch, raised her hand and asked a question.

"I'm referring to the queen's 'pheromone' that the investigator mentioned earlier. Can't we use that for subjugation?"

As he heard a question similar to his own thoughts, Leonardo turned his head in that direction. The chief investigator, who had been about to step down from the podium and return to his seat, also stopped at her words.

"If we enter the mother body's den and threaten it, wouldn't it try to gather its subordinate monsters and resist?"

The commanders who had been arguing also stopped talking and turned their heads. In the meantime, Charlotte Hastings, the Deputy Commander of the 9th Battalion of the Southern Branch, raised her hand as if she had been waiting and added,

"I also have the same thought as Battalion Commander Roslin. If the monsters are staying on this peninsula because of the mother body's control, I think they will definitely react to the pheromones emitted by the mother body in moments of crisis. Moreover, if it shows control even in a sealed state, wouldn't a mother body closer to liberation have a more definite influence?"

"You mean to stimulate the mother body to lure the monsters and then annihilate them all at once?"

When Bruno asked for clarification, both Isabella and Charlotte affirmed. However, Meterion Clinder, the 3rd Battalion Commander, had a skeptical reaction.

"It seems like a very dangerous idea when the state and power of the mother body have not been properly grasped. Moreover, there's no guarantee that the monsters will move as we wish, is there?"

Some commanders quietly nodded in agreement with his words. Delua also had the same thought as Meterion this time, so she observed the situation without saying much. That's when it happened.

"But now that there is no clear alternative, it's worth trying."

Liner Molten opened his mouth as if to support the opinion of Charlotte, who was the deputy commander.

"Even if the creatures don't move according to our plan and we fail to annihilate them, if we lay barrier stones all around and activate the defense at regular intervals, we can buy enough time before the creatures escape the peninsula. On the contrary, if we succeed, isn't it the fastest and surest way to end the subjugation at this point?"

The end of the subjugation. It was the aspiration of everyone present.

Perhaps due to the great impact of those words, the opinions of the commanders, which had been murmuring, gradually began to converge after Liner's words.