Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix C.287: Forced talk

Branden began to shed light on the origins of the ongoing conflict. It became apparent that the entire battle had its beginnings in a puzzling incident that had taken place just two months earlier. During that time, a human ship had inexplicably disappeared in the waters along the coast, setting off alarm bells among the local residents.

In response to the ship's disappearance, concerned individuals had launched a search operation along the coastline, hoping to uncover any traces of the missing vessel. Unfortunately, this well-intentioned effort inadvertently triggered a chain of events.

It was around this period that the sea folk, accompanied by their formidable sea monster allies, had commenced their relentless attacks on the port town.

The link between these two occurrences was evident, yet the precise details remained shrouded in mystery. The sea folk, known for their inscrutable ways, had made no attempt at communication. Instead, they had descended upon the town with a singular destructive intent: to engage in combat and wreak havoc.

"A lot of information is missing, and I guess with the sea folk's uncooperative attitude, it is hard to obtain any more information," Rain said. NovelFire-exclusive-content

"That is right," Branden said.

Despite the seemingly sensible explanation provided by Branden, Rain couldn't shake off a persistent sense of suspicion. He was hesitant to entertain the idea that Branden, a trusted ally for so long, might now be concealing critical information.

However, as Rain continued to ascend through the ranks of the country's elite, he couldn't ignore the possibility that the intricate web of political maneuvering and hidden agendas might be at play.

Rain acknowledged that Branden had successfully achieved his primary goal of rescuing Tristan and Teria, a mission that had held the utmost importance. The cities had been secured, but as Rain ventured deeper into the convoluted world of noble politics, he couldn't help but ponder Branden's next moves.

Beyond his imminent marriage to Esmeralda, a matter already set in stone, what new objectives or motivations might be propelling him forward?

The uncertainties and the potential veiled agendas that lurked in the upper echelons of society left Rain with an unshakable suspicion that there was more to the situation than met the eye. It was a sentiment he couldn't easily dismiss, particularly in a realm where trust and loyalty often faltered in the shadow of power and influence.

"So, the plan is to kick their asses until they give up on the fight?" Rain asked.

"I wish that it were that simple," Branden scratched the back of his head. "That will only make them hate us and attack our ships in the future. We want to solve this issue and perhaps improve our relationship with the sea folk."

"It doesn't seem like you have a clear plan regarding that," Rain said.

The proposal to mend relations with the sea folk by intervening in the ongoing conflict raised suspicion in Rain's mind. It wasn't just the concept itself; it was the timing, and the circumstances that made Branden and the others appear dubious. It felt as though they had carefully orchestrated the situation to create a well-timed opportunity.

The fact that this idea emerged precisely when they were grappling with the sea folk crisis triggered concern. It seemed as if they had engineered the situation to make themselves appear as heroes and mediators. This orchestrated sequence of events appeared too convenient to be a mere coincidence.

Rain found himself wrestling with these doubts and suspicions. He pondered whether his own mood might be contributing to this skepticism. Perhaps he was simply in a sour mood, causing him to view every action and motive with excessive suspicion. He recognized the critical importance of trust in his friendships and alliances, and he couldn't afford to let unwarranted doubts cloud his judgment.

For now, he decided to keep his suspicions to himself. He understood the necessity of gathering more information and gaining a better understanding of the situation before making any judgments.

"Do you guys have any ideas?" Branden asked. "We have the authority here, but we are out of ideas."

"That depends. How many each side lost?" Rain asked.

"Even though the giant monsters are troublesome, and they destroyed a bunch of buildings, we avoided losing soldiers," Branden replied.

"We also avoided killing the monsters, not like we avoided, but more like they were too tough," Orcis added while showing a troubled expression. "The sea folk always stay out of range, so we never got any closer to scratching."

Rain began to wonder if there were any practical exercises or techniques he could use to alleviate the growing stress and persistent suspicions weighing on his mind. The situation had become increasingly complex, and he yearned to regain a sense of clarity and composure.

What struck him as particularly odd was the unusual lack of significant casualties on either side despite a month of intense battles and the subsequent request for reinforcements. This raised a host of questions about the true nature of the conflict and whether hidden agendas were at play.

With each layer of complexity he uncovered, Rain couldn't shake the feeling that something was awry. Still, he didn't feel that determined to uncover the truth and make sense of the perplexing events since it could cause more problems than it solves… Still, he didn't want to be used, so he didn't have any other choice.

"You are good at ice magic. Why not just freeze the ocean and reach the sea folk?" Rain asked.

"It would take a while. Even if I had a lot of mana, the sea folk and the monsters would be able to destroy them in no time. We would be exposed too," Branden said.

"... I guess someone that can fly will have the chance to approach them without worrying about that kind of limitation," Rain said while regretting a little, showing Branden how he could fly. "I guess I will capture one of them and force them to talk with us."