Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 969: Information [1]

"Michael. Do you know why the scale of the demonic supernatural activity this time was so significant?"

"They have performed coordinated attacks in the past. But this is the first time we have seen simultaneous activity across multiple locations throughout the realm. I’m talking about beyond the sea in other nations rather than concentrated pressure on a few points."

Michael was not shocked by the question. He had spent close to a week at home with access to the internet, and the news had spread thoroughly enough that anyone paying attention had a general picture of what had happened across the realm.

He considered his response for a moment, knowing he had to give an answer even if it was just to play along.

"They planned it for a long time," he said, playing safe.

Director Lin nodded.

"That is part of the truth," she said.

However, what she said next shocked Michael.

"The reason the operation reached this scale is because they had help from outside the realm."

Michael knew what Director Lin meant by "outside the realm."

This was not some other faction within Aurora’s borders. Another civilization had extended its hand into this realm’s affairs.

Local conflicts were one thing, but an outside force with designs on Aurora was a different category of problem.

If things were not handled carefully, this could be the foreshadowing of an invasion.

"Surely the demonic supernatural should understand that inviting an outside force in is like opening your door to a shark, right?"

After all, hell was different from one’s own home.

"Common sense and logical reasoning. You expect those from crazy men?" Director Lin asked with a mock smile and shook her head.

Director Lin then asked another question.

"Do you know the Solara, Edren, and Vael civilizations?"

Michael’s answer to this question a year ago would have been a blank stare.

A year ago he had not known those names existed, let alone that they belonged to civilizations like Aurora.

It was only after entering the supernatural world and the academy that he had become knowledgeable about these things. In his time here he had not focused on external civilizations specifically, but the information had accumulated passively through general study, and the three names Director Lin had just listed were not unfamiliar.

They were the three closest civilizations to Aurora. More importantly, they were also hostile toward Aurora.

From what he understood, the tension between Aurora and those three existed because Aurora’s growth rate had been exceptional enough that Solara, Edren, and Vael had collectively decided it represented a future threat. In their view, a civilization growing at such a pace, left unchecked, would eventually want dominance over its neighbors.

To Michael, their fear was not irrational. Subordination was not an unreasonable thing to worry about.

However, based on his knowledge, though the three had gathered together to suppress Aurora, the most they could manage was to barely maintain a stalemate.

Hearing their names, Michael immediately had a guess.

"Are they the ones backing the demonic supernatural this time?"

Director Lin nodded once.

"All three. This is also what Teacher Brian and I were currently discussing."

"This is also connected to why we called the students back," Director Lin continued. "Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done soon. If we allow this to drag on we will be dealing with considerably worse problems down the line."

Michael heard the opening in that and took it.

"What does the academy plan to do?"

Director Lin regarded him for a moment before answering.

"The Federation and the academy have reached a joint decision. We are going to strike the demonic faction directly." She paused. "Calling it a war would be generous, given that these people are not the type to stand in a field and fight and that they hide so well. But with the Federation’s reach and the academy’s own sources, we have identified several of their locations."

She continued.

"If we move fast enough before they can react, we can deal damage significant enough that they will have no choice but to pull inward. It will force them to focus on recovery rather than whatever nonsense they are planning now. This will also buy Aurora some breathing room and send a clear message to the three civilizations watching from outside."

Michael’s immediate thought was that cornered people did unpredictable things. With how erratic the demonic supernaturals had proven themselves to be, this might only force them to bite back harder.

But he believed the Federation and the academy were not organizations that made decisions carelessly. They should have their own calculations and considerations, so he kept the thought to himself.

Inwardly, Michael also felt a stir of excitement.

He did not know how extensive the Federation and academy’s sources were, but he did not believe their information could match his in depth or detail, not unless they had also managed to capture a Rank 4 from the other side and extract their memories wholesale.

This was exactly the situation he had been waiting for.

He had spent time quietly considering how to extract maximum value from what he knew, and now the opportunity had arrived.

"Director Lin, there’s actually something I wanted to discuss with you privately."

Director Lin raised a brow slightly.

"Oh? What is it about?"

"It’s about the demonic faction."

A trace of curiosity entered her eyes. She had just been wondering what this talented student had been seeking her out for.

Of course she would never have guessed that Michael had only stumbled into the office following his connection with Brian. He had initially planned to visit Director Arven first.

"Speak."

Hearing this, Michael instinctively glanced toward Rynne and Teacher Brian.

The meaning behind the gesture was obvious.

However, to his surprise, Director Lin did not ask either of them to leave. Instead, she simply leaned back slightly in her chair and gestured casually.

"If it concerns the demonic supernaturals, there’s no need to avoid them," she said calmly. "You can speak freely."

Looking at her relaxed attitude, Michael could roughly guess what Director Lin was thinking.

She probably assumed he merely had some small clue or insignificant observation related to the recent incident. Something useful perhaps, but not important enough to warrant privacy in front of the other two.

To be honest, Michael could not blame her.

If their positions were reversed, he would probably think the same thing.

After all, no matter how exceptional his growth had been recently, he was still technically a student, and the subject involved the demonic faction, one of Aurora’s greatest long-term threats.

What meaningful thing could a student possibly know that they did not?

Michael felt slightly frustrated.

After all, he genuinely did have something important to say.

His gaze shifted toward Brian and Rynne again.

Teacher Brian simply watched quietly.

Rynne looked mildly curious.

Michael hesitated for a brief moment before making a decision internally.

Fine.

If they wanted him to speak openly, then he would simply drop the largest card immediately.

"I know some of the demonic faction’s locations," Michael said calmly.

The room became quieter.

But Michael continued before anyone could interrupt.

"Important locations. Some of them should contain Rank 4 members."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Director Lin’s previously casual posture straightened almost immediately. Teacher Brian’s eyes sharpened. Even Rynne’s usually indifferent expression shifted faintly.

For a brief moment, no one spoke.

Then Director Lin’s voice came out considerably more serious than before.

"...Repeat that."

Michael remained calm.

"I know several demonic faction locations," he repeated. "Including some important strongholds."

He paused deliberately.

"And based on the information I possess, some of those locations should contain Rank 4 existences."

Director Lin stared at Michael for several seconds without speaking.

In the end she decided to give him a listening ear.

"How?" she asked quietly.

Michael had already expected that question.

But before answering, he glanced toward Brian and Rynne again.

This time the meaning behind the gesture was even clearer.

This time, Director Lin complied.

She turned toward Teacher Brian first.

"I apologize for the sudden interruption, but please give me a little time with my student."

However, to Michael’s surprise, Teacher Brian did not comply.

If Michael truly possessed important information, then as a Federation powerhouse, Brian could not simply walk away because of a few polite words.

Brian had no desire for conflict with Director Lin, nor did he wish to pressure Michael unnecessarily. But this involved the demonic faction. As a representative of the Federation, he had a responsibility, even if it meant doing things that left a bad taste in his mouth.

Though even now, a part of him still found it difficult to fully believe that a student could possess information that the Federation and academy did not have. But what if Michael truly knew something important?

If so, leaving casually would be negligence.

So Brian remained standing.

Director Lin’s eyes shifted toward him.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Brian finally broke the silence.

"If it concerns the demonic faction to this degree," he said calmly, "then I’m afraid I can’t simply pretend I heard nothing and leave. As long-standing partners, Director Lin should know that now is the time for us to stand together against a common enemy."

There was no aggression in his tone.

Rynne glanced between the two quietly.

Michael, on the other hand, looked a bit uncomfortable. The atmosphere had become quite awkward.