System's POV
chapter-368

Benedict, who didn't miss Arthur's moment of irritation, smirked before telling his reason for coming to see the teenage boy.

"I came here to tell you that the Riggs Family is willing to extend our help in your attempt to subjugate one of the Kings of the North," Benedict stated. "I know how Renz operates. I'm sure that he will just wait for the one-month deadline of your competition and play it safe.

"Frankly, I don't blame him for doing so. After all, we just lost many elite soldiers. The loss was not only from the incident that happened a few days ago but also from the previous battles that we waged many years ago.

"The help that the Riggs Family can give you might be limited, but as long as we are able to do it, we will offer our assistance.

"Will this not cause a rift between the Riggs Family and the rest of the Dvalinn Federation?" Thirteen asked.

"It won't," Benedict replied with confidence. "All of us vowed to reclaim the lands that were taken from us by the Jinns.

"Renz is not a petty person. I'm sure he will genuinely support you if you can really defeat another King. After all, we would have another serious threat to deal with once we decide to take control of the Northern Regions."

Thirteen nodded as he motioned for everyone to follow him to the table inside his room.

The young man then took off his communicator from his wrist and placed it at the center of the table, after which he clicked a button

A projection of Rigel Continent's map was put into display.

"The territory of the Bird Man, which we will call Zed for the time being, is here," Thirteen pointed at an area in the north. He dragged his finger over it, giving it a green shade. "These are the territories he used to rule, and this will be the range of our expansion."

Thirteen then lightly tapped the Northeast and Northwest Regions, which bordered the Bird Man's territories.

"Currently, there are two major threats that we need to deal with to gain a firm stronghold in the North," Thirteen explained. "In the Northeast, there is a Majin Manticore, while in the Northwest, there is a Jinn Centipede. They are the Kings governing these two areas.

"If we want to make this operation successful, we need to take one or two of them out of the picture."

Thirteen then pointed at the Southeast corner of the map, which made Benedict frown.

"The King governing this area doesn't have any offensive abilities and can be easily killed by a Master or Grandmaster, but it's a very dangerous creature," Thirteen stated before giving Benedict, whose face had become pale, a side-long glance.

The Grand Marshal and the Field Marshal wore solemn expressions as the image of the creature who had foiled their previous expedition to regain the Rigel Continent appeared before them.

"The Brain Beetle," Thirteen stated. "This guy is more dangerous than the Rank 9 Sovereigns when it comes to warfare. Although those Rank 9 Earth Dragons are truly powerful, the Brain Beetle has a more horrific ability—it could control monsters and humans.

"I don't need to explain the specifics, but unless we take this guy out, we won't be able to succeed even if we take out the Centipede and the Manticore."

Everyone inside the room nodded. They wholeheartedly agreed with the teenage boy's declaration.

"I will find a way to deal with the Brain Beetle, but for now, I need to prioritize winning my bet with Renz Elrod," Thirteen said. "Only by doing so will I gain the full cooperation of the Dvalinn Federation and the Central Government."

"So, which King will you be targeting first?" Lawrence, who was impressed by the young man's explanation, asked.

"The Manticore," Thirteen replied.

"When will you deal with it?" Benedict inquired. "Do you need our help?"

"No." Thirteen shook his head. "The Leventis Family will deal with him alone."

"Can we not help you?" Lawrence crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't think that the Dvalinn Federation will mind if I lend my assistance in this matter."

Rianna and Shana's father, Tristan, nodded in agreement with his grandfather.

"I know that we declared that the Central Government will help you if you win the bet," Tristan stated. "But, we won't be helping you as members of the Central Government. Our identity will be mere two individuals who wish to give humanity a chance."

Thirteen pondered a bit before nodding his head. "Okay, the two of you can come."

"Then I will also go." Benedict volunteered.

The young man shook his head. "No."

"I don't want to make the Dvalinn Federation think that I only won the bet because I managed to get a lot of help," Thirteen stated. "I'll only accept the Grand Marshal's and Field Marshal's assistance."

Benedict sighed in his heart and reluctantly nodded in understanding.

"Very well. But when will you start your operation against the Manticore?" Benedict asked.

"In a week," Thirteen replied. "The rest of the Naval Army of the Leventis Family will be arriving at that time. I plan to use our family's entire might to crush that Rank 8 Manticore."

After laying out his plans, Benedict finally bade goodbye and left to return to the Dvalinn Federation.

Lawrence and Tristan were about to do the same, but Thirteen stopped them from leaving.

"What is it, Zion?" Lawrence asked. "Do you still have something to tell us?"

"Yes." Thirteen smiled. "Please prepare yourselves. In an hour, we will be infiltrating Manticore's Lair."

The Grand Marshal and the Field Marshal looked at him in surprise.

"Didn't you say that you will only start the operation after the Naval Forces of the Leventis Family arrive?" Tristan asked.

"I lied." Thirteen then pointed at Arthur, and Hans, who hadn't said anything during the discussion. "The five of us is enough to deal with the Manticore."

"You're not taking me with you?" Michael asked as he fixed the glasses on his face.

"No, Uncle," Thirteen answered. "I need you to stay in the Aircraft Carrier. Your role is to make sure that the Dvalinn Federation doesn't notice anything amiss, and make them believe that we're doing anything but conducting a Night Raid in Rigel Continent."

Thirteen didn't need to wait for a week to deal with the Manticore because. What he needed was an Elite Group of people, who would be able to come and go as they pleased.

A team composed of a Monarch, two Thrones, a Champion, and a Legendary Rookie was more than enough to deal with the Manticore.

After telling them about the plan in his mind, the group sneaked out of the Aircraft Carrier during the night.

They soon reached the Northern Regions of the Rigel Continent, from where they'd head toward the Majin Manticore, whom Thirteen believed to be the ideal opponent for their current lineup.

"Sir, before we start this operation, I would like to share a secret with the two of you." Thirteen looked at the Grand Marshal and the Field Marshal of the Central Government who told him that he didn't need to address them as his superiors.

However, Thirteen still decided to show the two of them the proper respect that they deserved and let them know a few of his secrets.

Once his connection with the two Top Dogs of the Central Government became firm and unshakeable, he would be able to do many things with their assistance.

"Feel free to tell us anything," Lawrence stated. "My granddaughter, Rianna, never stopped praising you after she returned from Solterra six years ago. I swear that even if you just sneeze, she would think that you did it on purpose because she believed that you always have a reason for whatever you do."

Thirteen chuckled awkwardly. It seemed that Rianna was overpraising and overestimating him too much.

However, since this wasn't the time and place to talk about such things, he decided to just get straight to the point.

"I have a few helpers with me, which the Laplace Demon helped me smuggle into Pangea," Thirteen explained, making Lawrence and Tristan instantly become serious.

"I'm going to call for him, so make sure to not attack him. He will play an important role in our operation," Thirteen said.

The two military men nodded their heads in understanding.

After confirming that his friend was going to be safe, Thirteen raised his hand and pointed at the ground beside him.

"Come out, Rocky," Thirteen ordered.

A moment later, the Magma Bal-Boa, who had been waiting for them deep underground, emerged to the surface.

"I see. So this is where your confidence is coming from," Lawrence smiled. "Is this the same monster who found the Empyrium and Palladium Mine?"

Thirteen nodded. He wanted to raise Rocky's importance to Lawrence and Tristan so that they would ensure Rocky's safety.

A monster who could find precious ores, and metals underground was an important military asset. In the two men's point of view, that trait alone made the Magma Bal-Boa a treasure that must be protected.

Thirteen didn't mention that Rocky had just turned into a Rank 7 Sovereign a few days ago after absorbing the Cores of the Roc, as well as the other Flying Monsters that the Valkyries and the 69th Battalion had fought.

"This monster is a Magma Bal-Boa, and his name is Rocky," Thirteen replied. "It's a living creature, not an Avatar, so don't mistake it for one.

"There are still a few things that I need to say, but let's talk about it inside Rocky. This place is not safe, and there might be people overhearing our conversation. Rocky, I am going in."

Rocky nodded and opened its mouth wide, allowing Thirteen to walk inside its gaping mouth.

"Come in," Thirteen said. "Don't worry, and just follow me."

Arthur and Hans, who were already aware of Rocky's Mobile Fortress, followed Zion without a word.

Lawrence and Tristan glanced at each other before following suit.

As soon as they entered the Magma Bal-Boa's mouth, Rocky immediately dug to the ground, disappearing from sight.

It headed toward the Northeast direction, where the Majin Manticore was currently resting inside its lair.