A week passed since the alliance began their investigations.
As Frondier predicted, there were no significant findings. They had apprehended a few people who had been injected with mana, but that was all.
Most of them didn’t even know what had happened to them, and even those who had something to hide turned out to be insignificant small fries.
They might have believed themselves to be part of something grand, but in the end, they were just the lowest members of a low-level organization.
“The investigation isn’t progressing easily, but we are definitely preventing potential threats. The reliability of reports regarding mana injections is also increasing. This is a time for patience.”
Eden encouraged the members during the meeting. While his words were true, considering their initial goal was to eradicate the root of the mana injections, it was clear that they had barely scratched the surface.
Of course, from Frondier’s perspective, this was to be expected.
With Eden, the one responsible for the mana injections, leading the charge, they would never get close to the core issue if things continued as they were.
“Damn it, I thought things would start to clear up, but the paperwork just keeps piling up.”
Eden was likely convinced that everything was going according to plan.
The key players capable of resolving this incident were all gathered here, and as long as they followed his lead, he would smoothly progress towards his objective.
However, he wasn’t the only one.
‘…I understand.’
Frondier placed a single document on the table. There was a mountain of other materials piled up, but he didn’t reach for the next one.
It was a complete conclusion to the investigation. There was no need to look any further. With that certainty, Frondier placed his hand on the paper he had laid down.
──That simple action.
Just the gesture of putting down the paper he had been silently reading.
Frondier quelled the scattered atmosphere that had been floating in the meeting.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
Everyone in the meeting had unknowingly fallen silent, their eyes fixed on Frondier. They couldn’t quite grasp the meaning of this sudden stillness.
They only knew one thing for sure.
This profound silence had been orchestrated by Frondier.
He hadn’t used his aura, nor had he raised his voice, nor had he made any grand gestures.
Simply by finishing what he was doing.
The Pros present instinctively sensed Frondier’s immense presence.
“……Frondier?”
Eden called out to him. Frondier lifted his head and met his gaze.
“Yes.”
“You’ve been silent, just staring at documents during every meeting. Are you finally getting bored?”
Eden threw out a lighthearted joke.
For the past week, Frondier’s behavior in meetings had been consistent.
He would flip through the mountain of materials one by one, reaching for the next page at a speed that made one doubt he was even reading them.
Initially, others found it strange, but as Frondier continued without saying a word, they quickly lost interest and focused on the meeting.
He had claimed to know his place, so they assumed he was just biding his time, not wanting to step out of line. That was the general consensus.
However, no matter how quietly Frondier moved, no matter how much they tried to ignore him.
Seeing him flip through the documents like a machine for a whole week, thoughts began to stir within them.
“No.”
Frondier’s response surprised Eden slightly. Until now, whenever Eden had made similar remarks, Frondier would simply agree and move on.
That had been the pattern for the past week, and Eden expected it to continue.
But it was different this time.
The time had come to act.
“There’s no need for me to read any further.”
At Frondier’s words, everyone’s expressions changed.
They all understood what it meant.
“What do you mean by that, Frondier?”
Eden inquired.
Frondier expanded his senses, taking note of the gazes directed at him.
Their eyes were vastly different from when they had first laid eyes on him.
A week of stagnant progress, the ever-growing pile of both genuine and false information, the urgency to root out the culprits, and the worry that the damage to the citizens would spread.
They needed something to shake them out of their subdued mood.
Normally, to persuade someone, one had to establish themselves as trustworthy.
This undoubtedly required time and effort, but in this particular situation, Frondier had devised a simpler method.
The people here still didn’t know who he was.
But regardless of who he was, they were ready to believe in a new narrative.
That’s why Frondier had silently waited for a week.
“Then allow me to explain.”
Frondier rose from his seat. No one tried to stop him. They all desired it.
Except for Eden, who despite initiating the conversation, had a hardened expression. It wasn’t overly noticeable, but it didn’t escape Frondier’s keen eyes.
However, he couldn’t stop him now. Eden had been the one continuously giving Frondier the opportunity to speak for the past week.
“…Go ahead.”
Eden yielded his position to Frondier. As he stepped forward, everyone’s attention was on him.
Frondier first looked at the map Eden had spread out for everyone to see. Naturally, they assumed he needed it to explain the operation.
…That’s what everyone thought, but.
“Let’s put this away for now.”
Frondier removed the map Eden had laid out, carefully folded it, and placed it to the side.
It was a polite gesture, but an incomprehensible one.
“…You’re going to explain without a map? Hey student, haven’t you been staring at maps all day, every day for the past week?”
Someone questioned, causing the others to burst into laughter.
Frondier also chuckled, as if in agreement.
“Of course not. We need a map.”
He had removed the map, yet claimed they needed one?
Just as everyone was pondering this contradiction, Frondier spoke.
“Are you familiar with ‘3D blueprints’?”
He suddenly asked. Some tilted their heads, others shrugged, and a few nodded.
Did they know what 3D blueprints were? Of course, they did. Was there anyone on this continent who didn’t?
It was such an obvious question that they didn’t feel the need to explicitly affirm it.
“Then you’ll understand this quickly.”
Frondier grasped the bracer on his other hand with one hand and lightly rotated his wrist.
“……!”
As something black spewed forth from the bracer, everyone instantly tensed up. Some even assumed combat stances.
Frondier paid them no mind and manipulated the Obsidian.
The black droplets spread out before him, gradually taking shape as lines and planes.
The Pros who had reached for their weapons, anticipating some kind of attack, slowly relaxed their grips and watched the spectacle unfold.
They had no clue about the principles behind Frondier’s actions. The identity of the sudden black liquid was a complete mystery.
However, they all realized what Frondier was showing them.
“……There we go.”
When the movement of the black droplets ceased and a complete form was achieved, everyone in the meeting stared at the shape with their mouths agape.
It was a form they had never seen before.
Yet, despite its novelty, they all knew what it was.
As if confirming their thoughts, Frondier spoke.
“This is a ‘3D map’.”