Chapter 100

“What do you mean?”

“If you were to distinguish yourself somewhere other than here, depending on the situation, we might consider accepting you as a disciple of the tower.”

“You mean there’s a way other than the orthodox elite course through Museion?”

“The Ten Towers also have their limits—not in the magical prowess of its Tower Masters but in the overall processing capacity of the towers themselves. The Ten Towers are busy now, and I intend to make them even busier.”

‘Is Ortes already thinking of ways to use me? Building a rapport with Astrape is part of that plan?’

Kine’s expression showed deep thought. I shrugged. In my position, fostering connections with both Kine and Astrape meant more than weakening the Ten Towers—it was about recruiting potential allies for the Wizard King.

Though I couldn’t say that outright, I provided some plausible-sounding reasons. If Kine followed the original story and stole Spartoi while shouting “I have control!” it would work out well for me.

But that’s just a bonus. Simply by not working alongside the Wizard King, my plans could be considered successful.

Sending inside information from within the Ten Towers would be ideal, but is it really that easy?

Without a Museion diploma, there are limited ways to enter the Ten Towers—either through long service at Panoptes and subsequent promotion…

…or achieving magical accomplishments impressive enough to catch the eye of the Ten Towers, like inventing something extraordinary or publishing a groundbreaking paper that shifts the paradigm of the magical community.

Even combat achievements, such as resolving extraplanar erosion zones, could count. In the current situation, even single-handedly eliminating an Argeyirion officer might suffice.

However, these kinds of feats are far too difficult for a mere child to accomplish. It will have to suffice that the Wizard King doesn’t attack Hydra Corp.

I handed an employee-welfare ice cream to Kine, whose head was surely spinning, and stepped outside. Since I had assigned Lampades to the task, Cnemon should be found within one to three months.

‘The task at hand…’

Repurposing Lampades’ extraplanar radar into a divine artifact detector.

This I entrusted to Master Bertrand and Geryon, who currently lacks work.

Actually using the divine artifact detector to conduct investigations.

…The timing isn’t right. With the Ten Towers watching closely, this isn’t the best time to actively pursue divine investigations.

Should I really sit idle until Cnemon is found with nothing to do?

Really, can I do absolutely nothing?

***

Ortes felt bored due to a lack of things to do—a fact he’d never admit.

Skimming through Hydra Corp’s Ethereal Space operational records was one way to pass the time.

“Truly, there’s nothing to do…”

Ortes muttered bitterly. Nothing to do within the company?

Would the next few months leading up to meeting Cnemon be wasted?

“No. Not wasted. Blasphemia or the Theistic Order may request assistance at any time. Let’s call it being on standby.”

At that moment, a flash of inspiration struck Ortes.

“Theistic Order? Blasphemia?”

…External contractors!

“I don’t have anything to do within Hydra Corp?”

He had been thinking about it wrong.

“My identity is quite diverse.”

Ortes was involved in multiple organizations: Hydra Corp, the Theistic Order, and Blasphemia.

While his loyalty lay solely with Hydra Corp—or rather, Carisia—there was no rule against taking jobs from other organizations!

Perform various ‘external tasks’ in a way that benefits Hydra Corp. As someone of L13 rank, Ortes devised a creative strategy.

“Blasphemia tasked me with finding spies within Argos.”

Although Argeyirion’s efforts to spread propaganda supporting certain magic towers via Ethereal Space had been halted, Ortes still possessed a list of suspected spies within Argos given to him by Inspector General Salmosia of Blasphemia.

Given the current alliance between Argos and Blasphemia under Panoptes, this list was a ticking bomb.

Ortes chuckled softly.

“Relying solely on friends’ abilities won’t do. It’s only right to prepare a proper working environment before Cnemon arrives.”

As people witnessed Ortes’ deepening smile, they shivered uneasily.

Low-level employees from the board organization stationed at Hydra Corp couldn’t defy the director of the Divine Investigation Office when she decided to review operational records.

In the dim room, the sight of Ortes smiling eerily while projecting some unknown holographic image…

No matter how positively one tried to interpret it, it was unsettling and frightening.

The employees trembled, sensing ominous foreboding.

“In about a month, I should have enough time to lay the groundwork.”

Before Cnemon arrives, divert Panoptes’ attention elsewhere to create an environment conducive to recovering divine artifacts.

And once Cnemon arrives, use the information he possesses to steal—not recover—the ancient artifact.

Smiling, Ortes began searching each individual on the list given to him by Salmosia.

***

Lampades moved swiftly.

“The official schedule includes only the demonstration of the extraplanar radar.”

Rest on the first day due to travel fatigue. Demonstrate technology and supply prototypes on the second day.

Afterward, remain to repair any issues that arise during product use.

If it were merely repairs, other magicians from the tower could handle it instead of Lampades himself.

With ten days at most to find Cnemon to ensure the safety of his magic tower, Lampades remained calm despite inner turmoil. He had informed his tower members that he’d be away for a few days due to some business, so they wouldn’t worry too much.

“None of my old contacts in the bounty hunter network have encountered anyone matching Cnemon’s description. Either he’s changed his appearance or retired from bounty hunting.”

It was likely Cnemon had quit bounty hunting after going into hiding to avoid Ortes.

“It’s too risky to live as a bounty hunter with a changed face, especially if you’ve crossed Ortes. Perhaps I should start tracking him from his hometown…”

***

“So, Ortes, how many friends have you failed to introduce me to?”

This came after Ortes prefaced his introduction by saying that new friends could help Hydra Corp’s operations. First, there was Lampades, who developed the extraplanar scanner, and now another friend who could assist in his purposes.

What kind of friends could possibly result in such absurd coincidences?

“Are they really friends…?”

Carisia recalled how Lampades, described as a ‘friend’ by Ortes, had behaved more like the lead antelope facing a lion—terrifying yet willing to sacrifice himself for the herd.

“Haha. My social circle isn’t that wide. Including Lampades, there are about three.”

“Lampades is a Tower Master, and the other two?”

“The one relevant to our current needs is Cnemon. He was a revolutionary type, dreaming of societal reform.”

“A revolutionary?”

From that single word, Carisia conjured several disturbing possibilities. After all, she herself opposed the system of the Ten Towers.

Taking it further, it wasn’t reform but perhaps an apocalyptic nihilist who believed the world must end first. While Carisia trusted Ortes in many aspects, she did not trust his judgment in relationships.

Naturally, her hand began massaging her temple.

“In my haste to criticize him for wanting to change the world together, I treated him somewhat harshly. I plan to apologize when I see him again.”

If Lampades, whom Ortes considered just a friend, had acted so dramatically, what reaction might Cnonemon have upon reuniting with Ortes after being treated “harshly”?

Reading Carisia’s skeptical expression, Ortes waved his hands defensively and added,

“There wasn’t an invitation like ‘feel free to visit anytime,’ but if I reach out, he won’t ignore me.”

Meeting Lampades gave Ortes a new insight:

“Among mercenaries and bounty hunters, trustworthy individuals are rare, but my friends’ character is worth trusting!”

Even if it was self-serving, how common was it for a magician to risk life and limb to save a newcomer to the tower? Ortes realized his ability to judge friends accurately.

“That guy had a good personality. He’ll obviously reject fighting the Ten Towers, but for a simple task like finding relics, he might accept.”

***

“Hey, messenger of the faceless Ortes!!”

Cnemon shouted in shock and outrage.

Lampades’ face crumpled at the absurd insult.