"!!!" Clovis widened his eyes. "A spider?"
"Yes." Erwin nodded. "While it’s true that the beasts that manage to survive this whole time look random, it’s clear that when they’re the apex predators or have distinctive features, they will most likely survive and become a beast that inhabits the underworld. And according to the remnant of the web we’ve found among those rubbles…"
Professor Genzert added, "The data is matched with the data that Sdein Country had 10 years ago. The web matches toxicity and all other characteristics, except for the fact that the one we record is stronger than the existing data. In other words, the spider itself is actually stronger than what Sdein Country has."
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.
"The spider recorded in the Sdein Country is a Tier 5 beast, close to Tier 6. However, the data we have is actually ten times that amount," Erwin continued.
"Ten times? Are you saying that the spider that causes all this is Tier 6 if not Tier 7?" Clovis widened his eyes in shock.
Erwin confirmed it with a nod.
"So is there already a plan?" Ragna asked.
"We are still discussing the plan, but more importantly, we’ve been trying to locate the spider first so that we can see whether it’s good to use explosives or not."
"Why is that?" Jay frowned. "Are you afraid that the spiders have created a few layers of webs and you’ll run out of explosives before you can bring down all the rubble?"
"Indeed." Erwin raised his index finger. "I told you earlier that a beast needed to have a certain distinct feature, right? This time, the spider we’re talking about is from the Carboniferous period, where giant insects lived. And the spider identity is the biggest spider that is recorded in history, Megarachne servinei. And it’s possible that this is the culprit."
Kanaria sucked a cold breath before crossing her arms. "So we can’t do anything before we locate the spider?"
"Can’t we check the condition of the underground city through a different city? I mean, we can send reinforcement using another tunnel to at least improve the situation in the underground city. I mean, if the city on the surface is already in such a condition, I can’t imagine the underground city’s location."
"Mhmm?" Erwin and Professor Genzert raised their eyebrows, not expecting that solution.
"Let me call the commander first." Professor Genzert walked away and informed him about this idea.
From his voice, the commander seemed to be impressed. Fortunately, his reply came as expected. "Thank you for the suggestion, Professor Genzert. However, please focus on the tunnel. We’ll handle the rest of the problems here."
"But…" Professor Genzert sounded worried.
The commander had no choice but to say, "We thought about this idea two days ago. In fact, we have dispatched two teams with Tier 6 explorers as the leaders. However, we haven’t received any information from them yet.
"Although we have several Tier 7 explorers, we can’t move them easily, especially when the enemies are still unknown. For example, even if they manage to reach the city, what if a Tier 7 ambushs them? Or what if this is a trap from the spider? If they come and investigate the tunnel from below, what will happen if the spider crushes them with those rubbles while they’re inside?
None of them can survive."
When Professor Genzert heard all those possibilities and the actions they had taken, he ended up apologizing.
"Still, why are you thinking about this right now?"
"It’s…" Professor Genzert hesitated for a moment. "My son invited several friends. One of them suggested the idea when I explained the situation in the city."
"Your son?" The commander contemplated. "How long did that person come up with that idea?"
"Right away? I explained, they asked."
"I’m interested in meeting your son’s friend. If I’m not mistaken, your son has made a group of friends during the competition. May I ask if they are from the Libation Fiesta?"
"I don’t know who they are. But they are coming in a group of five."
"In that case, that’s definitely them. Do you mind if you bring them to us?"
"This…" Professor Genzert hesitated. He didn’t want Clovis and the others to be detained or questioned by the commander.
"Please don’t worry about it. I just want to have some words with them. How about bringing Erwin there as a guarantee? Besides, there are also a few high-ranking people here, so I can’t really bully them… not that I plan to."
"I understand. In that case, should I just send them to your location? Do I need to explain a bit more about the city’s situation?"
"No. I’ll take care of the details."
"Alright then." Professor Genzert hung up the call before letting out a sigh. He went back to Clovis, saying, "It appears that the commander would like to see you guys."
"The commander?" Clovis looked surprised. "Why?"
Professor Genzert shook his head. "It seems that he is interested in the person who suggests the idea."
While Clovis and the others were confused by the sudden invitation, Erwin received a call from Aileen. It was just a brief call, but enough to cause him to smile apologetically. He turned to Clovis and the others. "It’s true. Aileen seems to be there as well."
Clovis could only accept the invitation.
Erwin drove them to the military base. It was a short trip since the military base was never located too far from the underground tunnel.
They were guided into a meeting room with six people in it. The first one was none other than the commander of the base, a Tier 7 human.
The second person shared a similar feature, which seemed to be Erwin’s relative. The third and fourth people were also Tier 7 humans, who controlled the city. The last two people were Aileen and an elderly man.
Considering Aileen was standing behind the elderly man, it seemed that he came from the same family but had a very high rank within the family.
"So you have come." The commander’s expression turned grim.