This time, a few of the commanders looked at him with contempt, but it was the Bishop who came up behind him and gave the answer.
\"War is 90% information. Until now, we were flying blind, unable to clearly estimate the power of these backwoods villagers. No longer will that be the case. I took the liberty of purchasing a Twin Gravesap to watch, live, as the battle plays out. They know, as well as we do, that if this base is allowed to be built, their loss is certain. I expect to see them use everything they have, and when they do, we will know everything there is to know about our enemies. Come, have a seat… And watch the beginning of the end.\"
A Twin Gravesap!
As these words echoed in his mind, his eyes found the mound of silver earth in the middle of the room from which a very peculiar tree rose.
It had a single, eight-foot-tall straight body from which branches shot out in multiple places at perfect right angles.
Almost as if it were a drawing made by a child, its shape was too simple, but the simplicity stopped when one got the leaves.
The moment anyone gazed upon them, they would feel their heart in their mouth while their bodies began to perspire due to the baleful feeling that they would be engulfed in.
Each leaf was in the shape of a human skull.
The leaves were bone white, too, lending to the mindbending shape of something that one would never expect to see on anything of nature, but for this particular plant, it embodied the sustenance that it used to take root and grow.
It was said that only a special kind of earth which had been enriched by the blood of over a thousand humans could grow a Gravesap tree, which had many medicinal uses.
The Mainland had always been starkly different from Angaria in the fact that there was a very developed branch of Alchemy that was followed by many who sought riches or fame. For such people, this plant was invaluable, but what was even rarer was two Gravesap trees growing in a single grave.
If he remembered correctly, the theory was that the lingering consciousnesses of those who had died to give them life dwelt in both trees, so if a particular spell was used, everything that was being watched by one of the trees could be seen by the other even if they were separated by hundreds of thousands of kilometers of distance.
Hence, twin Gravesap trees were always sought after as the ultimate communication tool to be used in places that might be hidden by natural barriers. As one of the only known natural beings who could overcome this barrier, the trees were very much sought after by forces like the Church which raided continents in the sea, but usually, they were saved for the targets that were exceptionally strong.
Using them on a place like Angaria was surely overkill, but could that still be said if one took into account the loss the Church had had to face when the eye had floated back to them?
Seeing the Bishop smile with satisfaction as his face betrayed the fear that he was feeling in his mind, Jonah hastened to control himself and took a seat, as he had been told to.
The seats were arranged in a circular fashion around the tree above which the image was floating, so even though he was sitting at the back, he could see everything clearly.
The main base had already been erected, and the first layer of walls for complete. Tall and strong they rose from the Sea, transported from the Mainland to such a distant place to ensure its end.
The ability of the tree was such that it was giving them a comprehensive view of everything from above. Hence, everyone present could see the people conjuring the second one.
To Jonah's eyes, something felt off, as those that he was seeing did not look like the experienced Church members who would be sent on such an important mission, after burning so many resources to let them travel safely so far.
He had seen the estimate himself: the amount of resources needed to travel the distance by even a single member was equal to how much it would take for someone to rise to the power level of the Bishop, herself.
When compared to the vast amounts of power that could be obtained from the continent, though, it wasn't too much, but still, he was sure that only those who could be trusted to carry out such an important task without balking at any problems they might face would be sent.
Those he was seeing were anything but what he imagined. They even looked like initiates who had only recently taken the vows and entered the Church, from the way they furtively looked around as if expecting the very sea to rise and swallow them whole.
When Daneel became visible at the far end of the image, all of the commanders lean forward with concentration, while a smile came unbidden to Jonah's lips.
He was seeing his beloved disciple after so long, and it seemed that even in such a short span of time, he had grown.
The Bishop did not miss the smile, though, but whatever she was about to say was swallowed up by the reaction to Daneel's attack.
\"Buglord!\"
\"The reports were true… He's not just a mere dabbler! Look - they're his own creations! He is a true Buglord!\"
\"That explains things!\"
All of the commanders began to say things like these, but Jonah's eyes had been drawn to the Bishop's face, who had taken a seat at the very front after ensuring that he had followed her orders.
In her eyes… shone satisfaction, and this, more than anything, alarmed Jonah and made him brace himself, as he felt that something was going to happen.
Sure enough, standing up, she spoke, and as he heard her, all the blood left his face, and his heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.
\"Our plan was successful: the main target has come. How could he not, when the risk of losing everything must have felt so real? Well… It's a pity. As a Buglord, he could have helped the Church a lot, but to win this war, we have no choice. As soon as he is dead, our victory is certain. I'm sure that his followers will have records of his research, so we will lose nothing. Commander Liam, send my message to this suicide squad of ours. Tell them to begin the process to detonate the base and wipe those cretins off the face of the world. And, Jonah… Break out the wine. It'll be time to celebrate, soon, and you will be the one drinking the first cup.\"