"Kanna, we already looked into the situation you're talking about.
Although a year has passed, our office coverage is actually less than one-tenth of Iberia's entire territory. After all, establishing an office not only requires coordinating personnel but also radiating out to surrounding villages and towns.
Currently, all our offices are in inland areas and haven't yet reached the coastal regions.
You have to understand that Iberia also has dozens of mobile cities, and the manpower Rhodes Island can currently deploy..."
At this point, Misery shrugged. Most of Rhodes Island's Elite Operators were currently heading towards Victoria. Kanna was arranged to go and meet Kaltsit precisely because Rhodes Island's upcoming operations in Victoria couldn't proceed without Kaltsit. Therefore, the situation in Iberia had to be resolved as quickly as possible, and then everyone would make their final preparations.
Theresis had been operating in Londinium for several years, and at this time, Rhodes Island received news that Victoria's Duke Theresis was unhappy about Londinium being occupied and was preparing to act. Whether to defuse the war or to leverage the identity of a certain Operator within Rhodes Island, this was a golden opportunity.
Also, because the current batch of veteran Elite Operators within Rhodes Island trusted Kaltsit, with whom they had fought alongside, more than the 'unwise' Doctor and the young Amiya, major decisions that could affect Rhodes Island's international status and influence still needed Kaltsit's oversight.
It was precisely because Rhodes Island's main force was currently invested in Victoria that the number of Operators who could be deployed to other countries was significantly reduced. The fact that Iberia could establish these offices within a year was because Iberia was currently the most friendly country to Rhodes Island, which is why Rhodes Island's contingent received extra care here.
"That's true. Rhodes Island's scale is only so big. If we really wanted to cover all of Iberia with offices, we'd probably have to throw in everyone."
Many people inside and outside Rhodes Island held Operator status, such as the exchange group from Lungmen assigned to Rhodes Island, who were given Operator identities. However, they would only assist the Rhodes Island headquarters with training and learning. Unless an enemy was at their doorstep, these individuals generally would not accept combat assignments from Rhodes Island, let alone long-term field work.
So, in reality, very few people who belonged to Rhodes Island could actually go on field missions. Reaching the current level of operations basically meant pulling people out one by one.
A day later, the convoy arrived at the coast. Ifrit was originally very interested in the real ocean, but looking up, under the dark clouds, the entire sea appeared as black as ink. That profound and mysterious feeling seemed to want to swallow everything whole.
"Huh! Is this the real sea? To be honest, it's not pretty at all, and it's not interesting at all!" Ifrit looked at the sea but felt a chill down her spine. After shrinking back into the car, she complained to Saria.
"The sea is never beautiful. The sea you saw in Siesta was merely a man-made dream, but what you see now is the true, real ocean, capable of completely devouring Terra's civilization." Kanna, who had somehow slipped onto the roof of their car again, poked her head in and said after hearing Ifrit's words.
"Speaking of which, Saria, do you know anything about Aegir?" After speaking, Kanna turned to look at Saria, who was driving.
"Aegir? It's said to be a kingdom from the deep sea. Iberia's prosperity was closely related to Aegir. In those days, Iberia's military and technology were indeed at their peak, but unfortunately, The Great Silence took away all of Iberia's glory. After that, Aegir's technology seemed to suddenly fade from this country. Although Iberia still retains many technologies far surpassing other countries, compared to its peak, it is undoubtedly an aging elder now."
As a former executive of a technology company, Saria naturally had some understanding of Iberia and its miraculous technology. However, Iberia's xenophobia was very severe. Except for the very first few years, news from this country in the past decade or so had been scarce, and all of it came from wandering Iberians.
Speaking of which, this was her first time in this country. Previously, no matter what connections she used, she couldn't open the route into Iberia.
"Then do you know Skadi?"
"That 'Abyssal Hunter'? I've heard of her power on Rhodes Island. Is she an Aegirian?" As the happy orca lady with strength that could move mountains and overwhelm the world, her lack of concern for most things often led her to do things that shocked other Operators. Coupled with her formidable strength and perfect appearance, there were many legends about her on Rhodes Island.
"Bingo! Skadi is an 'Abyssal Hunter' from Aegir. Her opponents have always been the Seaborn and the giant beasts of the ocean, which is why she is so powerful."
"From what you're saying, 'Abyssal Hunter' should be an organization, not just a title, right?" Saria asked after a moment of thought, having listened to Kanna.
"Indeed, 'Abyssal Hunter' is an organization of Aegir, just like the armies of various countries. However, their opponents are not other countries, but the threats from the deep sea.
However, something happened before. Skadi and that group of 'Abyssal Hunters' accomplished a feat of god-slaying. They'successfully' killed the leader of the Seaborn, one of their gods, 'Ishar-mla.' Skadi was the one who slew the god. After that event, Skadi was washed ashore, losing contact with Aegir and the other 'Abyssal Hunters.'
She initially thought she was the only one left after that great battle, until Specter appeared..."
"Wait, why haven't I seen this information in Rhodes Island's database?" Misery listened to Kanna's words and felt increasingly uneasy. Before coming to Iberia, he had asked Amiya to transmit intelligence about this place, including information on the Seaborn collected by Rhodes Island, but none of Kanna's statements were in it.
"Of course, Skadi hasn't told anyone else about this. Kaltsit definitely knows some things, and besides Specter, I know the most about it on all of Rhodes Island."
"Wait, aren't you concerned about Kanna's 'god-slaying'? That's 'god-slaying'!" Ifrit's eyes gleamed with golden light. She imagined an ugly 'god' screaming as it was split open by Skadi's greatsword, a single strike dividing the ocean in two, and then Skadi turning around gracefully, leaving the battlefield in the cool pose of a true'strong one' who never looks back at explosions.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"