Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2940: Directions

After the briefing concluded, Emery did not leave the Cosmic Palace immediately. He remained for a short while, exchanging a few direct words with Emissary Duncan, carefully extracting what additional details he could without overstepping.

Nearby, Klea moved with equal intent, speaking with several faction representatives whose territories bordered Baeldum. In a situation like this, information was as valuable as power.

When they finally returned to Dawnstar, Emery wasted no time and called for a meeting.

Within minutes, the core of his faction gathered.

Klea stood beside him, composed and focused. Fjolnir stood with arms crossed, his aura steady and imposing,, Typhon, and Soltz took their places with attentive expressions.

Beowulf and Camila arrived together from the city’s outer perimeter. Oeno and Nyx arrived last, having come directly from Dawnstar city.

Morgana remained in seclusion, while Tessa, stationed in Centauri, and Kayelin in Utopia were unable to respond on such short notice.

Without delay, Klea delivered the briefing with clarity and precision, outlining the situation, the risks, and the Alliance’s expectations. Her tone remained calm, but the weight of the information was unmistakable.

When she finished, silence lingered briefly.

They began with containment, and Emery first turned his thoughts toward Earth, if only to confirm that it did not require immediate intervention.

The planet’s position on the far edge of the sector already worked in its favor, as it remained outside the main flow of interstellar traffic and lacked any form of public teleportation access. With the Nephilim maintaining their watch and the hidden Avalon waypoint now fully under his control, Earth was effectively insulated from sudden intrusion.

For the time being, it could be considered secure.

With that settled, his attention shifted to Neo Terra.

Camila and Beowulf stepped forward together, their response prepared and confident. As the ones responsible for the city’s defenses and infrastructure, they spoke with clarity born from long-term preparation.

Camila explained that the current screening measures were not newly implemented, but part of a system that had been in place for years. Every individual entering the city was subjected to detection, and these were not conducted casually or intermittently. Beowulf added that Master Apothecary Kayelin herself, personally oversaw a full purification cycle on a monthly basis, ensuring that no latent infection could remain undetected for long.

Their report left little room for doubt.

Neo Terra was prepared.

Emery acknowledged their efforts with a slight nod, though his focus did not linger. His thoughts moved quickly, settling instead on the far more concerning situation in Dawnstar city.

Nyx stepped forward, and tension in her expression carried through into her voice.

She reported that Dawnstar lacked any consistent or systematic screening, and while there had only been three confirmed parasite incidents over the past year, there were numerous unverified cases that had never been fully investigated. More troubling was the recent pattern. Over the past few days, there had been a noticeable surge in incoming immigrants, far beyond what would normally be expected, and this increase had been accompanied by reports of unexplained illness and a growing number of missing persons.

The connection was difficult to ignore.

Emery’s expression hardened slightly as he listened. He was familiar enough with the Red Dawn faction to understand both their strengths and their limitations. While they held authority over the city, their internal coordination and preparedness were far from sufficient to handle a crisis of this magnitude. In a situation involving the scourge, even a short delay could allow the infection to spread beyond control.

If an outbreak began in Dawnstar, it would not remain contained there.

And once it spread, Neo Terra would inevitably be affected.

"What about Utopia and Centauri?" Emery asked, shifting his focus to the broader situation.

Nyx responded without hesitation, explaining that through their Red Lotus network, information regarding the parasites had already been disseminated across both cities. The Zodiac faction and the Apothecary center had played key roles in educating the half-blood communities, ensuring that at least a portion of the population was aware of the threat and the necessary precautions. However, she added that the response from the city lords themselves remained uncertain, as no large-scale enforcement measures had yet been confirmed.

When it came to Centauri, however, the situation was different.

They had already taken decisive action.

A temporary ban had been placed on all incoming visitors, allowing only returning residents to enter the city, and even then, those individuals were subjected to strict quarantine procedures within specialized detention facilities.

Emery found some reassurance in that, though it did not ease his overall concern. Dawnstar remained the weak point, and its position, though distant from Neo Terra, did not make it irrelevant. If the infection took root there, the consequences would not remain isolated.

He made his decision quickly.

"Tell Kayelin to come here," he said, his tone firm. "Have her bring some of her team."

Keayelin has conducted extensive research on the scourge; her presence in Dawnstar will be crucial.

He turned slightly toward Oeno and Nyx, his gaze sharpening.

"Coordinate with Gwen and Varkul as well. I want immediate support in Dawnstar."

"Yes, my Lord," Nyx replied at once, fully aware of the urgency behind the order.

As the matter settled, Emery allowed himself a brief moment of personal thought. His mind drifted toward Shinta, his daughter, who remained within the Academy.

Given the strict entry protocols and the controlled environment maintained there, he trusted that she and the other students would remain safe for now. Even so, he did not dismiss the possibility of intervention entirely. The waypoint he had prepared within the Academy remained available should the situation escalate.

With containment measures addressed, Emery shifted the discussion to the next matter—the question of accepting refugees.

Unlike many of the factions present at the assembly, he did not immediately view it as a burden. Neo Terra was still in a stage of expansion, and while its infrastructure had grown steadily, its population still far reached the level required to fully support its long-term ambitions. In that sense, the influx of immigrants, if managed properly, could become an opportunity rather than a liability.

He had already reviewed information regarding Baeldum. Though classified as a middle-realm civilization, it was far from underdeveloped. The planet housed over twenty factions and half a dozen established martial sects, which carried deep historical roots. This meant that among the refugees would not only be civilians, but also trained cultivators, scholars, and individuals with valuable knowledge and skills.

They could be taken in as refugees for only a few months—or perhaps years. Still, if properly integrated, they could significantly strengthen Neo Terra.

However, the risks were just as real.

Handling such a population required more than simple acceptance—it demanded structure, diplomacy, and strict oversight. It was not a matter Emery intended to manage personally.

He turned to Klea.

"I’ll trust this matter to you" he said simply.

Klea met his gaze, understanding immediately, though her expression shifted slightly as another realization followed.

"Does this mean you’re going to join the rapid response team yourself?" she asked, releasing a quiet breath. "I thought I would be able to support you this time."

Before Emery could respond, Fjolnir stepped forward, his voice firm.

"I will come as well."

Emery contemplating the matter for a few seconds.

"This mission will be dangerous."

From the information he had obtained through Duncan, the situation on Baeldum had already exceeded normal expectations. Among the advance team that had gone silent was a Supreme-level figure—something that alone elevated the threat far beyond a standard scourge outbreak.

In truth, Emery had no intention of joining.

However, circumstances left him with little choice.

He needed the Alliance contribution points, and more importantly, refusing to participate in a sector-level emergency would damage his standing within the Alliance. If he intended to secure a place within the Alliance council—he could not afford to remain absent.

Fortunately, with the Khaos domain restored and the waypoint system functioning again, he could ensure a level of mobility and retreat that others did not possess. That alone greatly reduced the risk.

On the other hand,

Leaving Neo Terra without sufficient protection was not a risk Emery was willing to take lightly.

His gaze shifted toward the two strongest figures present.

Typhon.

Soltz.

Ideally, Soltz would accompany him. The old man had experience dealing with the scourge, and more importantly, he was compatible with the Khaos seed, making him a valuable anchor point for rapid movement and support.

Typhon, on the other hand, was better suited to remain behind, guarding the city and supporting Dawnstar if the situation worsened.

Before Emery could finalize the decision, Typhon spoke.

"I’d rather not get involved in any official missions," he said casually, though there was a clear undertone beneath his words. "But if something happens to you... my grandfather would probably disown me."

Emery let out a quiet breath, already understanding. Typhon has a bound responsibility to stay close to him.

That settled it.

He turned to Soltz and considered the situation further. Dawnstar still lacked artificial waypoints, and with Morgana in seclusion, Keeping Soltz behind would ensure that both Neo Terra and Dawnstar had a reliable safeguard.

The decision was made.

Emery would depart with Typhon, while Fjolnir and the Voidwolf crew would remain as additional support, ready to respond if the situation escalated.

With everything settled, Emery straightened slightly and glanced across the gathered group.

"All right," he said. "That’s all for now."

The meeting came to an end, and as everyone quickly moved to carry out their tasks, Emery turned to his own preparations before departing on the dangerous mission.