Chapter 105

Carisia was overlooking two factors.

Firstly, Carisia’s manner of speech had been heavily influenced by Ortes.

The reason Lampades felt Ortes’ shadow upon meeting Carisia for the first time also stemmed from her unique way of speaking.

Though she addressed people politely, there was an undeniable sense of pressure that only those who had experienced Ortes could truly empathize with.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. There’s no need to reintroduce myself to Mr. Lampades, but it is the first time we meet, Mr. Cnemon. I am Carisia, the president of Hydra Corp.”

Cnemon desperately signaled to Lampades. It wasn’t an attempt at conversing through glances; they weren’t that close.

However, if Lampades were to apply his bioelectric current detection magic, he could read surface consciousness through neural activity. Since the eyes are closely connected to the brain, they’re the most suitable organ for such eavesdropping.

This was a prompt to quickly decipher thoughts.

‘What exactly is this man’s relationship with Ortes?’

When Lampades employed magic, Cnemon’s perplexed emotions came through vividly.

Lampades hesitated on what to say and simply shook his head.

‘I don’t know…’

Carisia watched the tense duo like a defendant awaiting judgment and shook her head.

“Ortes once said he had three friends.”

It would be nice if at least one of them were truly a friend. Wishing for a bit of luck for her rather unlucky confidant, Carisia flipped a page.

Two floating bundles of paper gently landed in front of Cnemon and Lampades under the guidance of magical power.

“Given concerns about Ethereal Space hacking, we’ll have to conduct this briefing in a somewhat classical manner. Please understand.”

Slowly and solemnly, the explanation began.

***

“I believe everyone here knows Etna City is currently in a state akin to war.”

The three magical towers dividing Etna City—Hydra Corp had pushed Geryon’s faction to near extinction with astonishing control, but Kaike’s tower suddenly allied with Geryon, causing disruptions.

At least, that’s how it appeared. In reality, all Etna City’s magical towers were already under Hydra Corp’s control, and the ongoing conflict was merely demolition work for rapid urban redevelopment.

Maintaining the war status quo minimized attention from the Ten Towers. A magical tower unable to secure even one city’s dominion wouldn’t attract much notice in the magical community.

Carisia didn’t reveal these inner details, deeming it unnecessary.

“I understand why you might find this strange. With Ortes around, eliminating a city’s Tower Master should be a simple task, right?”

This was the suspicion Lampades harbored. The Ortes he knew might casually walk in one night saying, “Ha ha ha, it would’ve been wasteful to let him live, so I cut off his head,” while carrying the decapitated body of a Tower Master.

“In reality, it’s partially true.”

“Partially?”

“Geryon can be removed anytime, but Kaike is the problem. His support for Geryon has been announced, but his whereabouts remain unknown.”

Through Kaike’s disappearance, Carisia aimed to quell these suspicions.

Kaike often visited Hydra Corp to study collected relics (allowed for artificial sage creation) or randomly barged into the president’s office demanding more budget (too scared to directly ask his immediate superior, the Director of Sacred Investigation). However, Lampades was unaware that Kaike had become Hydra Corp’s puppet. He wouldn’t suspect anything unusual.

“Therefore, our company plans to adopt a more aggressive expansion strategy.”

Kaike gathered various relics as specimens for artificial sage creation, which previously seemed merely peculiar but now, with the Ten Towers announcing extensive relic inspections, takes on a different meaning.

“Perhaps this could be called an extralegal tactic to draw out Kaike. I’ve heard, Mr. Cnemon, that you enjoy collecting the weaknesses of magical towers.”

Neither Cnemon nor Lampades lacked political acumen. Lampades had navigated restrictions since the inception of magical towers, while Cnemon acquired skills as a successor educated in the art of magical towers.

Cnemon slowly spoke.

“So, President Carisia, you intend to accuse Kaike of hiding relics?”

Though retired, Cnemon still had eyes and ears. He understood the heightened sensitivity surrounding relics due to the alliance between anti-Ten Towers terrorists and superstition followers.

“That’s correct. If Kaike responds to the Ten Towers’ summons, we may locate him. If not, his tower will be dismantled by the Ten Towers. But inviting you, Mr. Cnemon, isn’t solely about Kaike.”

“Not just Kaike?”

A mix of fear and an odd excitement bubbled within Cnemon. Once, overwhelmed by Ortes’ madness, he fled but once held the dream of overthrowing the magical society.

He thought now was the opportune moment to do so. While Argeyirion opposed the Ten Towers, quietly gaining strength amidst general indifference.

“To be precise, Ortes wanted to call you to deal with Kaike. What follows is my idea.”

This was Carisia’s consideration. Ortes hadn’t hesitated before Lamapdes to discuss devouring other magical towers, right?

Thus, attributing the part about ‘devouring other magical towers’ to Carisia herself and framing the invitation to Cnemon as her directive to find ways to handle business competitors would preserve Ortes’ reputation among friends.

‘Although, whether Ortes has any remaining goodwill is questionable.’

Ortes.

Cnemon silently repeated the four-character name in his mind.

Upon hearing that name, Cnemon felt his excitement dissipate as if awakening from a dream, leaving behind only dark dread.

His ambition to overthrow the magical society equated to the end of the Ten Towers system—collapsing the social structure of magical towers with powerful extradimensional forces and starting anew from an equal wasteland.

But Ortes undoubtedly envisioned annihilation without even ruins.

…And Carisia, loyal to Ortes, wouldn’t differ much.

“Yes. Other magical towers. Towers possessing significant contraband known to the Ten Towers that would cause considerable trouble if revealed. We aim to use their hidden treasures to establish ‘amicable cooperation.'”

‘By needing other magical towers, does this mean they plan to blackmail them for visions using relics?’

Too ordinary and insignificant to be Ortes’ plan. This couldn’t possibly be the complete plan of Ortes and his devoted president. Another possibility flickered in Cnemon’s mind.

‘Subjugating magical towers… acquiring their Magic Cores?’

The larger the magical energy stored, the greater the potential explosion—a timeless truth.

If multiple magical towers were used as nodes to create a continent-scale magic array and the accumulated magic concentrated purely into an explosion, it would undoubtedly become a devastating inferno capable of erasing the earth’s surface.

‘But is there an artifact capable of controlling and containing such massive magical energy?’

If such an artifact existed, it could only be the Ten Sages—

‘Ortes, and Carisia, are plotting something grand. It shouldn’t be taken lightly. They wouldn’t abandon a plan requiring the Ten Sages. They must intend to acquire the Ten Sages somehow.’

In chaotic situations, under the name of Hydra Corp, subjugated magical towers, and the diminished authority of the Ten Towers.

‘…A succession battle?’

The traditional plot of multiple magical towers uniting against one of the Ten Towers.

‘Do they aim to claim a seat among the Ten Towers and then obliterate civilization with a chain reaction of massive explosions using the Ten Sages?’

A shiver of horror ran down Cnemon’s spine. To ascend to the pinnacle of the magical society only to destroy it—truly something Ortes would conceive.

An extended silence followed. Ultimately, the choice rested with Cnemon. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

A world reborn from ashes wasn’t the future Cnemon desired. Total annihilation leaving no trace of ash was not what he sought.

“Excuse me—”

The door burst open.

“Miss Carisia, I have a request—”

Standing twice the height of an average person, with an enchanted prosthetic eye embedded where his right eye should have been—it was Kaike, supposedly missing.

“Oh, my. I didn’t realize we had guests at this hour. I’ll come back later.”

With extreme politeness, Kaike bowed deeply and exited the room. The excessive respect shown towards Carisia confused Cnemon. Hadn’t she claimed to seek him to deal with Kaike?

Then it dawned on him.

Ortes was outside the door.

Kaike had been allowed entry by Ortes.

The timing of Kaike’s entrance coincided precisely with Cnemon’s intention to refuse—too convenient to be a coincidence.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

A mere formality to notify him: “Even without your cooperation, the plan is already underway.”

Cnemon glanced at Lampades. Either he failed to recognize Kaike or simply didn’t understand the situation, his face brimming with questions.

“…I accept your proposal.”

If doom was inevitable regardless of his struggles, he resolved to witness it up close.

Carisia pondered how to handle this sudden disruption and decided to brazen it out.

How could anyone confirm the person who just entered and left was Kaike? She could simply insist it was another Hydra Corp employee who resembled him.

Even if they suspected it was Kaike, they lacked means to prove it.

If Carisia denied the identity of the person who just entered, they’d have no choice but to accept it.

And here, the second factor Carisia overlooked made its presence known.

“Truly an excellent decision. One last thing.”

She considered herself less suspicious than Ortes.

“Please accept our apologies for the oversight of our staff. This unscheduled meeting caught us off guard.”

“Staff…?”

Cnemon muttered.

“Yes, just an ordinary employee.”

In fact, sometimes Carisia was even more suspicious than Ortes.