Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Eren wore a satisfied smile as he examined the remarkable progress he had achieved. 

What he was seeing in front of him wasn't just the boost he had received from attaining the Sin Series Marks. It was also the result of nearly a decade of relentless hard work.

'Hmm, I'm just one step away from becoming a Master Ranker with a liquid state mana core. It's amazing to think how unattainable this would have been in my previous timeline. And it's downright surprising considering how broad my Ranking Path is.'

Eren mused to himself, his smile tinged with a touch of melancholy as he reflected on the past. He felt a sense of nostalgia for the years of dedication and effort he had invested since being granted a second chance at life.

Considering that Eren had only recently broken into the Master Rank, his progress was nothing short of astounding. He had even outpaced the so-called prodigies from his generation in Anfang.

Eren sensed that his connection with infernal energy had surged to even greater heights after acquiring the remaining Sin Series Marks. The sheer magnitude of this newfound power left him somewhat overwhelmed, as if he'd been handed an unfamiliar and potent fuel source with no manual.

Additionally, Eren perceived a change in the Sin Series Marks since Aleph had formally chosen him as his heir. It was as if he could now detect the constant emanation of residual infernal energy all around him. However, he struggled to grasp how to harness this energy to its full potential.

"I guess fully utilizing Aleph's inheritance at my current level is not something I can pull off at my current level," Eren admitted with a sigh. "I don't even know the extent of what he's granted me, and how to wield it effectively. So it's best to not think about this Elder Ichor inheritance for now," he concluded.

"Hm? What is this? Urgent alert?"

As Eren prepared to close his ID-Stone-generated Status Panel, his attention was drawn to a new message at the bottom of the status updates—a stern amber alert issued by Edinburgh's central administration.

"Heh, they're a bit late with their warnings."

Eren chuckled wryly as he read the notice directed at him and the White Raven Guild. He had foreseen this unfolding when he made last-minute changes to his guild members' deployment, though he was somewhat surprised that the kingdom had taken this long to issue a warning.

Eren had already instructed Agatha to disregard all warnings issued by Edinburgh's central administration. His advice to her was to provide superficial responses to buy them more time.

Currently, the White Raven city was in the midst of preparations for a 100-year-long siege. The city's key figures, including Nina, Levine, and Jiana, were fully occupied with tasks such as procuring food, Ranking resources, and other essential provisions.

Eren had already reached out to the Matriarchs of the Amazonian tribes to secure these vital resources. Valeria Vanlor, Seraphina Riversong, Evelina Green, Isadora Frostborne, Callista Blackthorn, and Galen Ironfist were presently en route to Eren's city, fulfilling his invitation to visit and delivering the much-needed supplies.

Alongside them, Galen's mana beast, Nova, a resilient bear-like creature resurrected by the Goddess Great Mother, joined the group. They were expected to arrive in the City of White Raven within a matter of days. Eren's connections with the Amazonians had proven invaluable in his current predicament.

"I can't predict what will happen to this kingdom once I've concluded the Lazarus Project my way. But I hope that the things that I built from the ground up will endure the aftermath," Eren muttered to himself, his eyes looking into the void.

"Eren, are you ready?" Alephee's voice, though somewhat distant, cut through his contemplation like a sharp call to attention, snapping him back to reality. Eren replied as he rose to his feet.

"Yes, I'm done. Are we late?" Eren inquired as he emerged from the cave, where Alephee and Naya were patiently waiting.

"We're right on schedule," Alephee responded, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon as though peering into the enigmatic unknown.

"Although it is just for the show to give confidence to their respective forces, the Sages from both factions have already started their confrontation," she added, closing her grimoire. In an instant, the book containing her spells and abilities vanished from her grasp, signaling her readiness to depart.

"There's no news from Argo. And we… we can't contact him. But we can't wait here for him as well. We… we shouldn't keep that ancient Sage waiting," Naya remarked, her eyes fixed on Eren. She had embraced her role in this grand scheme and was resolute in her determination to aid the man who had given her a renewed purpose.

"Then let's get moving," Eren declared with a solemn tone, his recently enhanced yet somewhat unsteady Individuality poised to radiate. His emerald green eyes gleamed with resolve as he clenched his fists. In the blink of an eye, he, along with Naya and Alephee, vanished from their surroundings.

***

In the heart of the City of White Raven, a bustling tavern served as a hub for Rankers of all backgrounds, where they convened daily to mingle and discuss various matters. 

Presently, it buzzed with activity as news of the ongoing war dominated conversations. The tavern was notably more crowded than usual, largely due to recent changes in the policies of the White Raven guild concerning wartime deployment.

Typically, most Rankers from the City of White Raven would have hastened to the borders between the warring kingdoms. However, an advisory had been disseminated to the members of the White Raven Guild and its affiliates, and the message was simple: stand down.

Citizens learned that the White Raven Guild had diverged from the traditional arrangement of war contracts issued by Edinburgh's central administration. It had opted not to dispatch any of its lower-ranking personnel to the battlefield.

This was a drastic decision that had even impacted some of the Expert Rankers who were instructed to refrain from participating in the conflict.

The news regarding Eren's stance swiftly spread throughout the City of White Raven. It triggered discussions and debates in every nook and cranny of the city.

Those Rankers directly affected by this choice found themselves uncertain about how to interpret the news and what consequences it might bring to them. After all, Edinburgh wouldn't just brush this matter aside.

"Haah! So much free time that I don't know what to do with it. It feels like we got unemployed out of the blue. What are we supposed to do now?"

Amid this uncertainty, Tara Faelar voiced her concerns, her voice tinged with disappointment for the potentially lost pay, as she sipped from her wine glass.

She turned to her companions for answers, Julia Ekhart and Lady Zee, who flanked her at their table in a secluded corner of the tavern.