Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 333

In the hall, the atmosphere had become suffocating after Kharzan's departure. The five leaders remained seated around the table, evaluating their options with the gravity of those who bear the fate of millions upon their shoulders.

Lingering traces of corrupted energy still clung to the air.

"We cannot hand over the boys," Selphira affirmed, breaking the tense silence. "If we yield to this first demand, we'll be accepting our political surrender. The next request will be worse, and it won't be the last."

"But if we refuse," Arturo Dravenholm intervened, his Qilin's antlers still manifested above his head, "we risk starting a war in which we would find ourselves at a clear numerical disadvantage. A two-to-one ratio, based on the now blatant alliance between Yino and the Goldcrests."

He stood and began creating figures in the air with differently colored minerals, forming a three-dimensional diagram in the center of the room.

"Yano has one million inhabitants," he explained, pointing to a circular pie chart divided into sections. "Of these, almost ninety percent are horde fighters but not war combatants with a rank not higher than Bronze 2. In this group, we invest ten billion units of crystals from the main vein and what's obtained from external or different sources."

The sphere divided, showing a dominant section and other much smaller ones.

"Then we have another four or five percent at Silver 1, who consume another five billion units of mana. At Silver 2 is two or three percent, absorbing another five billion."

Julius nodded, recognizing the figures they regularly handled in economic council meetings.

"And finally," Arturo continued, "around one percent... approximately ten thousand people, reach Silver 3 or higher, consuming about ten billion for their cultivation just at that level."

Sirius observed the diagram with an impassive expression, but his fingers lightly caressed the ring on his hand, a signal that only Selphira recognized as unease.

"Of those ten thousand," Arturo added, "barely five percent reach Gold 1 or higher rank, having invested more than ten additional billion crystals in them just for their personal cultivations."

A small bright light appeared at the pyramid's apex, representing the culmination of single investment and cultivation.

"And at the top, our King, whose individual cultivation represents an investment of more than five hundred million by itself. Our 'special weapon' that cannot be harmed by Silver rank tamers."

He paused briefly while creating another separate section next to the first. The mineral particles rearranged themselves, forming a comparative model of the neighboring kingdom.

"And do you know how Yino compares?"

Arturo adjusted the diagram, looking primarily at Victor and Ignatius, creating a second pyramid.

"Yino has a similar distribution in terms of total population... approximately one million inhabitants, and access to a similar amount of mana. The main difference, besides lacking a 'King' of our level, is their distribution of ranks."

The second pyramid reconfigured itself, expanding in the middle and narrowing at the top. The visual contrast between the two power structures was immediately apparent.

"There, Bronze ranks occupy sixty percent, while low Silver 1 represents thirty-five percent. This comes at the expense of their higher levels, of course, but it gives them a broader base of decent combatants."

"To that, we must add the situation with the Goldcrests," added Ignatius, connecting the pieces. "If they fight against us, the balance would tilt drastically."

Arturo nodded, expanding his diagram. The mineral particles shifted, creating a new configuration that illustrated the potential alliance.

"Exactly. If the approximately three hundred thousand inhabitants of the territories under Goldcrest influence change sides, we would be talking about going from a battle between equivalent forces, one million against one million, to a significant imbalance."

The numbers floated, reorganizing themselves into a stark visual representation of the potential conflict.

"More than 1.3 million against less than 0.7 million. Basically, a one against two." Arturo paused, letting the gravity of the situation settle. "And if the abyssal corruption continues expanding at the rate Kharzan implied... we could be facing a one against three in beast numbers and power."

Julius rose abruptly, shaking his head. His Qilin manifested more fully.

"Your demographic branch calculations are impressive, brother, but they leave aside a crucial factor: the quality of our higher lines." He pointed to the apex of Yano's pyramid. "This is, without a doubt, our advantage. If it were really a three against one as you suggest, they would have attacked already."

He approached the diagram, adjusting it.

"I think Kharzan came precisely to measure strengths, to correctly understand the real gap between our capabilities." A tense smile appeared on his face. "What he saw probably confirmed to him that they don't have such an overwhelming advantage as they would like to believe."

Arturo frowned, reconsidering his analysis.

"Then you suggest that if we count the three main families of Yano against the three of Yino, and one of ours goes to the opposite side... we're not really in a two against four?"

"Exactly," Julius confirmed. "Calculating quality and not just quantity, we're probably in a 2.5 against 4, where the Goldcrests only count as 1 on that scale and without father here."

"Which would mean..." Arturo began, as the implications became clear.