"Now, then, shall we move on to the topic for today?" I smiled, stepping forward once more.


    After settling the Maria issue—at least, to the best of my ability—it was time to address another matter of utmost pertinence.


    The Nether Cult!


    "We currently have an edge over them, but if we''re not careful, we could get flipped to the losing end." I added, my tone depicting concern for the Kingdom.


    "I see..." King Albion murmured.  "... You must have a strategy to cover that, right?"


    Once he added that, I nodded.


    My main objective, after retrieving the Arcanas, was to find out more about the Nether Cult. Once that was done with, I had to destroy them.


    ''And... we''ve finally reached that phase.''


    "I n on attacking them in a week''s time. Before the appointed time is reached, there are certain things I would like to prepare, but a week is the highest time frame."


    Gasps and murmurs echoed around me. Since this meeting was filled with the important members of nobility, as well as high-ranked persons of the Kingdom, they were most likely under a heavy presumption of the Cult.


    The same Cult that stood behind the Demon Incursion, and also had spies working within the Eastern Kingdom... they were formidable foes indeed.


    "But why one week? Surely, we''ll need more time to prepare and amass our strength. Besides, if you desire to use the Arcanas to your advantage, won''t you require quite a bit of time to learn of their abilities?"


    King Albion was correct. In an ideal setting, that would have been preferable.


    However—


    "There''s no telling what the Cult would do if we give them enough time. It''s possible that they might have something sinister they''re plotting, and the fact that we''re giving them more time means they will have more opportunities to enact whatever scheme they have in mind."


    It was simply too risky!


    "I see. But still..."


    "I understand your concerns, however there''s no need to worry. I have hatched an efficient strategy that will function exactly how I envision it to."


    The issue with one week was that it didn''t give us enough time for training, as well as time for preparation against the enemy—whoever they were.


    Personally, I felt we would also need more time—that is, unless two conditions were satisfied.


    "We possess [The Hermit], which is an Arcana that slows time. Using this, we can properly prepare in the space of one week."


    Neron had more Mana than I did, so he could make the time ratio work to our advantage. We could spend years within a week, training with our Arcanas to improve as much as possible.


    "We also have an informant from the Nether Cult. A former member has been sessfully won over to our side, and with enough information on their organization, we''ll be able to n more appropriately."


    I saw the King''s expression brighten as I spoke, and he nodded with every point I made.


    Once I was done, a wide smile formed on his face, and he nced to his side—in the direction of the Helmsworth Family.


    "You guys are quite fortunate."


    The Duke and Duchess nodded, though their expressions still didn''t change. It felt almost creepy, but I could live with it.


    "I know I have said this before, but your son really takes after you, Damien." Next, King Albion addressed my father.


    "Haha... not a chance, your Majesty. When I was his age, I was barely running my family business alongside my father." My father humblyughed.<novelnext></novelnext>


    He was a modest person, so he had omitted the part where he had been responsible for the finances of his family''s linen business when he hadn''t even been an adult yet.


    My father was a genius!


    ''The only edge I have over him is the fact that I''m older.'' Since I reincarnated, I had a wealth of experience that he didn''t.


    That was what made me special.


    "So, Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth... tell us your n moving forward. The specifics, if you may."


    There was no harm in saying anything.


    For one, I had ensured this entire area was impervious to Observational Magic. I had also fact-checked everyone present here, so the possibility of an information leak was minimal.


    ''Besides, if its Legris Damien, he should be able to figure out what I''m going to do. It''s pretty obvious.''


    The n was simple and straightforward, and the only reason it would work was because of our level of skill as individuals and as a team.


    "I intend on dividing the members of my team into groups. One part will remain in the Eastern Kingdom to protect it, the others will be spread out to the respective Nations to assist them there, and finally the main force will attack the headquarters of the Nether Cult."


    "Spreading out your team? Won''t that reduce the level of power you''ll have? Going into the enemy''s camp, won''t you need more people in order to stand a better chance?"


    King Albion had a point. If I didn''t have any other stakes in the other nations—Eastern Kingdom included—I would have poured all my efforts on the headquarters.


    However, that would be a stupid thing to do.


    "There''s a strong likelihood that the cult will attack the other nations. They''ve shown how merciless they can be in the past, and if it was me, I''d definitelyy waste to the other civilizations while their champions were currently fighting against my forces."


    I had utilized the same strategy against the demons, during the war. It was an effective n to not only reduce the moral of the fighters, but to also take care of a defenceless nation.


    The Nether Cult most likely considered the other Nations to be worthless or dangerous enough to be eliminated.


    ''The Demon Incursion proved it. Besides, their First Seat easily wiped out the Beast folk Nation.''


    In any case, if we were to make any mistake, we could suffer the same fate.


    "I''m curious, who will you leave behind to protect the Eastern Kingdom?" King Albion asked.


    I smiled upon hearing this question. It was bound to be asked eventually.


    "Elrich Lendertwale and Maria Helmsworth. These two will remain here." I saw a surprised expression leak out of Maria, but I chose not to address it yet.


    Fortunately, she didn''t too.


    "It''s the best option, and I hope you understand."


    I watched as her parents nodded in approval, most likely thankful that I wasn''t taking their daughter to the centre of the battle.


    ''I don''t think they understand, though...''


    If what I was thinking was the actual case, then every single portion of the world wouldn''t be safe from the Nether Cult.


    ''Maria and Elrich will have to fight their hardest to protect this ce.''