"We've come this far already.." Jared Leonard's dark voice echoed in the throneroom.

The person he was speaking to remained silent, simply floating beside him as he muttered his thoughts out loud. The dead weren't expected to speak much, or even at all, but Merlin was usually more talkative.

"What's wrong? Having second thoughts?" Jared asked, stealing a glance at the old ghost.

"I'm just considering what your Automaton reported. The man he faced.. doesn't he bother you in the slightest?"

For a moment, Jared said nothing. He closed his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh. His eyebrows became creased and a scowl appeared on his face.

"I am."

Gawain was his best creation. Even though Hugo rivalled him in power, Gawain's speed and energy output efficiency was higher.

He was the pinnacle of Magic Engineering, built upon many years of research and a conscious effort to achieve the best.

"It's difficult to compress the power Gawain possessed into a small Artificial Core. Usually, you'd need them to be as big as Hugo. Plus, with the overheating and energy consumption, making it an Automaton would ultimately overload its Magic Circuits, so it's much better if they're Golems.."

It had been difficult to solve all of these problems while creating Gawain. He had also kept evolving the Automaton, using only the best materials to achieve his current state—at least, before he went and self-destructed.

"Gawain's code wouldn't let him self-destruct unless the enemy was overwhelmingly stronger than him. It bothers me that someone like that appeared, especially soon after we sensed the anomaly. They're clearly connected."

The worst part remained that this individual was on the side of the Outgroup.

"Even if Gawain were to have been sacrificed, I wanted him to at least take out Neron and those pests. To think they survived annoys me to no end." He clenched his fists.

"What of the one who was swallowed up by Gawain's explosion? Do you think he survived?" Merlin's cold words echoed in Jared's head.

"That remains unclear." The moment Gawain self-destructed, they lost connection with whatever happened after. "The site was investigated by drones just recently, though. It seems the factory is still standing."

The explosion was supposed to level everything.

"We'll have to live with the assumption that the enemy survived."

It angered him to no end, but Jared maintained his calm. Interferences were inevitable, but having an unknown variable suddenly appearing right when their plan was in its final phase made him incredibly uneasy.

"Will he get in the way of the project, though.. this new variable?"

"No. We've had interferences from the Midas Empire and the Outers, but none of them can stop what's about to come."

Merlin's wrinkled face morphed into a smile and Jared joined him in it. "Whether or not we can eliminate them before 'it' is concluded is irrelevant."

Closing his eyes once more, Jared broke into an evil grin. He remembered how much time and effort it had taken for them to finally arrive at this point.

"Once the project is finalized, it'll be over for all of them."

*

*

*

[Three Months Later]

I walked into the strategic planning room for the first time since I arrived in this world, seeing that everyone else was already present.

'Looks like I got a bit carried away and lost track of time.'

Smiling, I entered the room, observing how moderately vast it was to allow for free movement and proper expression of ideas. This was where the Outgroup usually planned its operations.

The only reason I hadn't come here before—despite being an official Outer—was because there had been no need for strategic planning for the past three months.

Other than training, learning, and constructing, nothing much was happening here.

Exactly as it should have been.

"I apologise for being late." I told everyone, watching as they shifted their gaze to me.

They all looked a little different from the first time I saw them. Perhaps it was just sentiment, or maybe it had to do with the fact that they were currently wearing well-polished gear and the aura around them felt more impressive.

Either way, I was satisfied with what I was looking at.

"It's fine. Neron just finished briefing us about the plan." Karlia said with a slight nod, a small smile on her face.

It had been three months, and I was glad our time together had been enough to give her a more favourable impression of me. However, if there was something I hadn't been expecting, it was the fact that she was Neron's lover in this reality.

'I shall never speak of this when I return.' I closed my eyes and nodded, maintaining my smile as I banished the image of the couple making out.

"And? Have you all mulled it over?" I asked, glancing in the direction of the leader.historical

"Not yet. They appear to have some issues with it, so I was hoping you could articulate it better."

Neron's dark hair swerved as he smiled warmly at me. He was currently wearing his usual dark cloak, with golden embroidery on it, possessing all manner of effects that made me think he was over geared.

"Is that so? Then, as you wish, leader, I will explain the plan in greater detail." I returned his smile.

Neron had probably wanted this outcome from the beginning. Perhaps it was because I came up with the whole thing, therefore he wanted it to be me who presented it in front of everyone. Even after the past few months, he always ensured I had a major role to play within the group's core functioning.

I stepped forward, eyes on everyone present.

Neron, Karlia, Edward, Kido, Stefan, Beruel, Reed, Vaizer, Ana, and finally.. Ciel.

Everyone was present and accounted for.

"I've been monitoring the affairs of the outside world for the past month. It's time for the Outgroup to make their first appearance in a while."

I could see excited smiles forming on their faces. We were all itching for some outdoor activities. Besides, I could tell they were curious about something.

'How strong have they gotten?'

"I'll explain it quickly, so pay attention." My voice echoed throughout the hall and my heart swelled with equal excitement.

"We're going to the Midas Empire."

*

*

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[A/N]

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