Dan sank into deep thought, analyzing the situation from every possible angle. What should be done now? How should he act in his next move?
Fundamentally, he had a ready and detailed plan for how his family would eventually communicate with the outside world—a precise strategy he had carefully crafted over the past years. However, the timing was intended to be different, set for several years from now when his eldest sons would be stronger, estimating their reaching the age of forty. But what happened today changed many things, turning the entire plan upside down. Since this scout unit had trespassed directly into the area surrounding his base, the original plan was no longer good or applicable. Especially since he had eliminated them all.
The problem now was clear and direct: after a period of three days to a week at most, if this unit does not return to the city of the warlord known as Lord Ayato, there will be an investigation. He will send other units, perhaps larger and stronger, to search for the missing squad and to investigate what happened to them. This would make the entire region much less private, filled with constant patrols and under permanent surveillance. It would cause him and his family continuous annoyance, repeated threats, and potential exposure. This was entirely unacceptable.
Therefore, after careful thought and analysis of the available options, Dan reached a clear conclusion: the only effective solution before him now was to take a large step forward instead of waiting. He had to be the first to move. He had to strike in advance, take the initiative, and control the situation before it escalated.
After a long period of silence while Dan was immersed in deep thought, he finally raised his head and looked at his two sons standing beside him, waiting in silence. He spoke in a calm but decisive voice:
"Follow me. The plans have changed." He paused for a moment, then added: "We will communicate with the outside world ahead of time, earlier than planned."
The reactions of his two sons were completely different from one another. Sato looked at his father with a calm gaze and nodded his head slightly. It was clear that he understood the logic behind this sudden decision and that the circumstances had changed, requiring an adjustment of plans. As for Leon, his facial features shifted slightly, but in a completely different way. Visible excitement appeared in his eyes. A small smile played on his face. Communicating with the outside world meant adventure, potential fighting, and new enemies. This clearly thrilled him.
The three set off at a very high speed through the dense forest, leaping between the trees. Dan led them at the front. He had clearly sensed, using his radar, the location of the large human city that serves as the capital where the warlord called Lord Ayato resides and rules. After exactly half an hour of continuous fast running and jumping, the three stopped suddenly. They hid atop the thick trees at the edge of the forest, their bodies completely concealed among the shadows and dense leaves. From their hidden vantage point, they began to observe and study the large city sprawling before them in the distance.
To Dan, the city appeared... very ordinary. In fact, it was quite backward compared to the modern cities of his original world where he lived in his previous life. Simple wooden and stone buildings, some one story high, others two. Unpaved dirt streets. A large stone wall surrounded it with primitive defenses. In the center stood a relatively larger palace—most likely Lord Ayato's headquarters—but it too was simple and modest by Dan's standards. There was clearly no electricity. No modern technology. It was distinctly a pre-industrial civilization. Ordinary. Primitive.
However, for Leon and Sato, the sight appeared completely different. The city seemed very interesting, even astounding. Their eyes widened slightly as they looked at the scattered buildings and the people moving in the streets. All of this was entirely new to them. Until this moment, they had never communicated with other human areas, cities, or even small villages. From their birth until now, their lives had been entirely confined to the isolated family headquarters in the middle of the wilderness. They had seen only forests, mountains, wild animals, and their family. No other humans. No civilization. No cities. This was their first real contact with the outside world.
Dan looked at his sons, noticing the clear amazement on their faces despite their attempts to hide it. He gave a small, amused smile. Then he said in a calm voice:
"Stay hidden in your places here. Do not move." He looked toward the distant city. "For now, I need to gather enough information before we begin our actual first step."
Leon and Sato nodded seriously. They understood. Dan sat down with his back leaning against the trunk of a large tree. Then he closed his eyes. He began to focus deeply on the Sensory Network technique. He extended it in every direction. The city was about a kilometer and a half from their current location. It was easily within range. But he did not settle for merely sensing the presence of people and their movement. He went deeper. More precise.
He began to analyze all the speech, conversations, and information being said in the entire city—in the streets, houses, and markets. He focused particularly on the large palace area visible in the center of the city. That is where Lord Ayato lives. That is where decisions are made. That is where the important information is. Voices. Hundreds of voices. Thousands, perhaps. All of them entered Dan's mind at the same moment. For an ordinary person, this would be complete chaos, unbearable noise, impossible to distinguish or understand. But for Dan? With his enhanced brain and his extraordinary ability to process multiple pieces of information at the same moment? It was relatively easy.
He began to filter. He discarded unimportant voices—ordinary conversations about food, weather, or daily gossip. He focused on the important voices—conversations mentioning Lord Ayato, the army, patrols, politics, and decisions. Especially, anything mentioned about the scout unit.
In the palace, he picked up a clear voice. Two men were talking. One of them had a deeper, more authoritative voice—perhaps Ayato himself.
"The Nineteenth Unit has not returned yet. It has been two days."
Another voice, younger and slightly worried, replied: "Perhaps they were just delayed, my lord. The area is vast."
The first voice—likely Ayato—responded in an unconvinced tone: "Captain Ryota has never been late. Something has happened." A short silence followed. "Send the Tenth Unit to search for them if they have not returned a day from now."
"As you command, my lord."
Dan opened his eyes slowly. Useful information. So, this Lord Ayato is insistent on exploring the forest, especially with the delay of his followers. Then he said in his mind, "Does he truly believe there are dragons in the forest, and is that the reason for his persistence?"
"In any case, I must solve this problem, otherwise he will continue sending his followers and annoying me."
But the problem was not power. If he killed the second unit as well, a third unit would be sent. Then a fourth. And so on, until his family is exposed to the outside world, which is exactly what he does not want. It was impractical. A waste of time and effort. No. The problem must be solved from the root.
Dan looked at the city once more. A plan began to form in his mind. Simple. Direct. Effective. He would go to Ayato himself. Well, then he would solve the problem in a way that was more... direct, effective, and served him better.
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