Ch.199Chapter 199: The Kingdom of Duron (5).

Faced with Professor Lehman’s veiled threats and statements that seemed to pierce through her family circumstances, Princess Siloin bit her lip with a short groan, seemingly at a loss for words.

Her green eyes wavered with complexity. It was an awkward situation where her positions as a princess of the kingdom and as an academy student collided.

A heavy silence descended upon the reception room once again.

Lamrepo was on the verge of fainting at the audacity of these people calmly planning to steal an airship—a core strategic asset of an allied nation—right in front of that country’s princess. The other companions also held their breath, feeling the weight of what was about to unfold.

Valt’s resolute declaration. The weight of his words pressed down on the air in the reception room like lead.

Stealing a core strategic asset of an allied nation? It was an extreme choice that was hard to even imagine, one that would require preparing for diplomatic catastrophe and even war.

Lamrepo could barely breathe with his deathly pale face, and the faces of the other companions showed anxiety and bewilderment, as if asking, “Is this really the only way?”

Only Professor Lehman raised the corner of his mouth as if finding it interesting.

Lehman spread a new holographic map on the table as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“Now, take a look at this first.”

It was information so detailed it was hard to believe they had gathered it in such a short time—the expected security routes around the Knights’ Headquarters underground hangar, multi-layered magical barriers, and even the types and ranges of detection sensors.

It was Lati who broke the silence. She tilted her head as she alternately looked at the map spread on the table and the parts list.

“Wait, Professor, Valt.”

Lati, who had been quietly analyzing the component blueprints Lamrepo brought, raised her head and stopped them. Her expression was serious.

“The plan sounds good, but… the order is strange. No, even before the order… those parts, didn’t Lamrepo just explain they’re extremely large? Not just large, but…”

She pointed to a specific part of the blueprint.

“It says here that just one ‘Cryogenic Mana Stabilization Core’ is as big as this reception room? And the other parts are similar or even larger.”

Everyone’s gaze returned to the materials at Lati’s point.

She was right. The estimated specifications of each part were beyond imagination.

“If we steal the Tempest first, the Duron Knights will obviously mobilize their entire force to chase us. It’s only a matter of time before we’re discovered. In that situation, would we have time to visit five different factories or dangerous areas to retrieve parts as big as houses that emit unstable magical reactions? And even if we get the parts, how would we move them to the airship and safely store them inside the cramped airship? This plan is… physically impossible.”

Lati’s logical analysis cooled the heated atmosphere like cold water.

Stealing the airship itself wasn’t the problem. Even if they stole it, what came after was the bigger issue. Solpin muttered in a low voice.

“…No matter how advanced the Tempest is, it couldn’t possibly maintain its speed carrying five of those things. It would just become a moving target.”

Aileen agreed.

“The risk of being surrounded while wasting time extracting and transporting parts from each location is too great.”

Lamrepo now hung his head as if resigned.

“Th-that’s why I said it was impossible…”

While everyone was unable to find a solution in the silence, Valt’s expression was surprisingly calm.

It was impossible that he hadn’t considered this situation.

Stealing the airship obviously had to be done last.

Only then would quick delivery to Quan be possible.

“Who said it was impossible?”

As if recalling something long forgotten, he stared into space for a moment before rummaging through his spatial pocket.

Finally, in his hand was an old silver-framed hand mirror covered in a layer of dust.

“Valt? Why suddenly that mirror…?” Lisa asked with puzzlement.

Liris’s eyes also wavered slightly.

She remembered that mirror.

Valt wiped the dust from the mirror’s surface and looked around at his despairing companions.

His voice carried a strange certainty.

“It seems the time has come to use this. ‘Franz’s Mirror.'”

He briefly reminded them of how he had taken it from a Dark Society executive in Brasov.

“It’s an artifact I recovered in Brasov. Remember the ability we confirmed then? This mirror perfectly replicates and stores the target or space itself in a subspace within the mirror. Physical size or weight isn’t an issue at all.”

The companions’ eyes widened at Valt’s confident words.

They began to recall the events in Brasov or vaguely understand the mirror’s abilities through Valt’s explanation.

“S-so… even those house-sized parts…?”

Lati asked with a trembling voice.

“Yes.”

Valt nodded.

“Even if the parts are as big as buildings, it won’t be a problem. This mirror can hold them all.”

“Wait, let me see that!”

Professor Lehman excitedly took the mirror from Valt’s hand.

He quickly analyzed the mirror’s magical response and internal structure. His eyes shone with admiration.

“Ha! So this is the ‘Franz’s Mirror’! One of the highest-tier ancient spatial artifacts I’ve only heard rumors about! Wow, as expected of an artifact, its stability is beyond question! The depth of the subspace it contains is so deep and stable it’s difficult to measure! With this… we could easily store those five parts and still have enough space left to play a soccer match?! Damn, to think you’ve been keeping such an amazing item tucked away all this time! As expected of my disciple, your scale is different! Kuk kuk!”

Professor Lehman poured out admiration and confidence instead of doubt.

In the face of the artifact’s absolute performance, all previous concerns were mere groundless fears. Franz’s Mirror was the perfect answer to overcome this desperate situation.

Color returned to the faces of the companions who had been in despair. They looked at Valt with eyes mixed with awe and relief.

‘As expected of Valt…!’

‘So he had a plan all along!’

‘To think he was hiding something like this, really…!’

Their trust in Valt grew even stronger.

Yuria seemed rather disappointed.

“Eh? So we just need to carry the mirror and go poof poof? What, that’s so boring!”

Despite her words, undeniable relief was evident in her eyes.

“Good.”

Valt took back the mirror from Lehman and gripped it tightly.

“Then our operation is clear.”

“Phase 1: Secure transportation. Professor Lehman, Lamrepo. You two will secure the airship as planned as quickly as possible. We need air travel to visit 5 factories in six days.”

“Phase 2: Collect parts and store them in the ‘mirror.’ As soon as we secure the airship, our entire party will move with Lamrepo. We’ll visit the 5 factories in order to secure the parts, and as soon as we secure them, we’ll use Franz’s Mirror to replicate and store the space containing the parts. Professor Lehman and the mages will assist as much as possible to ensure the stability of the storage process.”

“Phase 3: Information gathering and securing the rear. While we collect the parts, Princess Siloin. You will remain here in Siduron to ensure the safety of Lamrepo’s family and the merchant guild headquarters in the name of the Duron royal family until we return safely from our mission, and simultaneously collect all information about the ‘Tempest’ airship. This is for Plan B, just in case.”

Siloin seemed surprised by his plan and her role for a moment, but soon nodded with a grave expression.

“…I understand.”

Valt’s explanation continued.

“Phase 4: Conceal the mirror and make the final decision. After storing all five parts in the mirror, we return to Siduron. We’ll make the final decision on how to secure the Tempest based on the information collected by Princess Siloin and the remaining time.”

“Phase 5: Final delivery. We’ll quickly transport Franz’s Mirror itself to the southern Gerunteu territory using the secured Tempest. In front of Quan, we’ll materialize the parts again using the mirror’s power to fulfill our promise.”

Valt’s plan was bold and dangerous, but thanks to ‘Franz’s Mirror,’ the seemingly impossible mission now had concrete implementation phases.

“Kukukuk! Great! Touring the country with just a mirror, and maybe even hijacking an airship at the end! That sounds super thrilling?!”

Yuria exclaimed, unable to hide her excitement.

The other companions also nodded with determined expressions, as if steeling their resolve.

“Good.”

Valt declared finally.

“From now on, we’ll do a final check of our equipment for combat and emergency situations.”

He checked the first target while looking at the map.

“Our first target is the 3rd Cryogenic Research Workshop on the outskirts of the capital. We’ll meet here again in one hour. Let’s move out!”

At Valt’s firm command, the companions began to move in perfect unison.

The remaining members hurried with their final preparations for the arduous journey ahead, alternately looking at their weapons, magical tools, and Franz’s Mirror.

Valt quietly looked down at the old mirror in his hand. Could this small artifact really create a miracle?

His heart was still heavy, but now solemn determination had replaced hesitation.