Chapter 116

Gorgoph incanted a soundproofing magic. It was a spell very familiar to Ortes, since it had been developed by the Magic Tower that created high-frequency blades.

‘This principle must be about overlaying voices with noise, right?’

Once he confirmed the magic was fully operational, Gorgoph asked with an evident show of caution.

“What are you thinking?”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“Why did you bring up such a monstrous claim?”

‘Ah, there he goes.’ This was exactly what Ortes expected.

“There’s no need for you to say that. I’ve already come here understanding the situation.”

“…”

Silence. A clear sign of distrust. Still within expectations. Ortes slowly raised his hand and reached into his coat.

Suspicion deepened in Gorgoph’s eyes. Such a deliberately slow movement couldn’t possibly be an ambush, but he still refrained from immediate retaliation.

What Ortes pulled out was a lantern.

“…?”

“Here. Look not with the eyes of flesh, but with the eyes of truth. You should feel a power that isn’t of the Ten Towers.”

Gorgoph activated his mana. The lantern radiated an alien force, something distinct from both mana and magical energy.

“This is… a relic of the heretic followers!”

“If I were truly loyal to Blasphemia, would I have preserved this artifact so intact? If I followed their orders faithfully, wouldn’t I have destroyed it immediately?”

Clever diversion. Not all Blasphemia agents destroy relics upon discovery; doing so would prevent gathering information on the sect’s capabilities.

Only after thorough analysis and study, when a final verdict determines the relic can’t be used for the Ten Towers, does destruction occur.

But these internal details aren’t widely known, especially now that the Ten Towers have issued a decree against relics.

An illusion crafted using preconceptions about Blasphemia. Gorgoph hesitated and countered.

“If you were on our side, you shouldn’t have done this. Danao will hunt down our comrades one by one.”

‘Aha, just as I thought.’

“Consider another perspective.”

“Another?”

“Yes. There must be comrades inside the Amimone Magic Tower. However, while you know ‘someone’ else exists, you don’t know precisely who, do you?”

“How can you be so sure?”

Gorgoph feigned confidence. He didn’t like how this newcomer, who had just arrived in the city, acted so casually as if knowing more than himself, a dispatched representative from Amimone. It was also a mild power play to regain control of the conversation.

“Don’t doubt in the face of justice… But I suppose you will. The reason is simple.”

Ortes smiled as he replied.

“The person who sent the distress signal wasn’t you, was it?”

***

Upon hearing my words, Gorgoph’s expression hardened. How could I know all this?

Of course, because I was the one who sent the distress signal. Gorgoph probably hasn’t even figured out who did.

“The sender of the distress signal implies at least one other person besides you who could send signals to Argeyirion exists. Your devotion to the cause is evident at first glance, but it seems you lack the charisma to recruit others.”

“…I admit it.”

“Now we don’t have time. Blasphemia’s cleansing squad will arrive soon. We must quickly find and gather our comrades.”

“And then what? Even if we gather them as you say, if the cleansing squad breaks through the extradimensional contamination zone, it’ll be over. There’s no solution unless Argeyirion sends someone other than you.”

As if struck by a headache, Gorgoph rubbed his forehead before suddenly looking up.

“Is that it? Should we gather our comrades to break through the extradimensional contamination zone? Though there will be losses, it’s not a bad plan…” “Your imagination is lacking.”

“Huh?”

Taken aback by my sudden remark, Gorgoph faltered. I slowly scanned him as if evaluating.

The unique erosion-based mana originating from the extradimensional source doesn’t manifest visibly. I still don’t understand how Argeyirion recruits people.

‘Do they really have some kind of hypnotic app or something?’

“Exactly as I said. Your mission doesn’t change.”

“It doesn’t change? You told Danao to root out the traitors and offer their heads to avoid cleansing! Are you saying we should offer our own heads?”

“On the contrary.”

Gorgoph’s expression hovered between anger and confusion – quite an entertaining sight.

“Why should we become traitors?”

“That story…”

“Cut off Danao’s head and present it to Blasphemia. Wouldn’t that allow the Proper Tower to fully support your cause?”

“…!”

As Gorgoph exclaimed in amazement, I shook my head. Placing a finger to my lips – a gesture signaling silence.

“Don’t shout. I’ll gain Danao’s trust and make him complacent while stalling for time. You need to help me identify our comrades. Understand?”

“I see. So this is why Argeyirion didn’t send anyone else besides you…”

I shrugged. Thanks for imagining things on your own.

“Now, I’ll go outside and declare your purity has been verified, then take on a supporting role. You confirm your position and select the comrades. And when I give the signal, you know what to do, right?”

Gorgoph’s eyes sparkled as if seeing a lifeline from heaven. I added one more reminder.

“In case external forces approach, remember my words and act accordingly…”

With that confirmation, I opened the door and shouted loudly.

“Danao, Tower Master! Please come!”

***

Danao faced Ortes one-on-one. He felt deep irritation guessing why this Blasphemia agent dared to confront him directly.

“First, use the soundproofing magic.”

“Where did Blasphemia’s great skills go?”

“To check if any traces of extradimensional mana appear during your spellcasting.”

Danao’s expression darkened. Snapping his fingers, he cast the soundproofing magic before shouting angrily.

“Do you think I’m a madman colluding with Argeyirion’s fools!”

“Not at all, Master Tower Chief. Please hear me out.”

A completely different humble stance compared to outside. Ortes addressing him with the honorific “Master” made Danao’s eyebrows twitch.

“I must clarify this first. Most of what I said outside was exaggerated.”

“What?”

Ortes began explaining calmly.

While it’s true reinforcements were requested by sending personnel outside the tower, gathering enough strength to handle an enemy the size of the Proper Tower would be impossible.

“As you know, Amimone Magic Tower’s inspection lies on the extension of Argus and Blasphemia’s rivalry. Would Argus oppose the purge of Amimone Magic Tower desperately?”

“Even in this situation?”

“Because of this situation. Would Argus prefer the scenario where ‘the entire Amimone Magic Tower colluded without Argus knowing’ or ‘there were indeed some collaborators within Amimone Magic Tower, but this was provoked by Blasphemia’s mistake, and the core leadership including the Tower Chief is innocent’?”

Danao fell into thought. Indeed, he had been continuously maintaining good relations with Argus contacts even in this situation. Argus would surely be confident he wasn’t the collaborator.

“So. What’s the point of telling me this, Blasphemia agent?”

Mentioning his position directly was a challenge to his ulterior motives which might benefit Argus. Ortes handled it skillfully.

“Right now, we can seize the momentum and pressure everyone so no one doubts the arrival of the cleansing squad. But what if someone calms down and realizes the cleansing squad might not exist?”

“I see. Your life remains because of the retaliation to follow.”

The reason this Blasphemia agent could push so hard was due to the certainty that killing him would result in the death of everyone present – a sort of retaliation mechanism.

However, what if the retaliation itself turns out to be an illusion?

His life would then be as precarious as a candle in the wind.

“So, Tower Chief Danao. Let’s form a temporary alliance to preserve each other’s necks.”

“Coarse rhetoric and pressure alone won’t catch the traitors. Do you have a plan to draw them out?”

Ortes pulled out Eystia’s lantern from his coat. Danao could sense an ominous power, a profound impiety as old as history, from the relic.

‘So he possesses such a high-risk artifact. Clearly, he’s an elite among Blasphemia!’

“This is an antique I confiscated nearby. I was heading to headquarters to submit it for analysis when an emergency dispatch request came from Algus City, so I ended up bringing it without presenting evidence. I’ll use this to introduce myself as Argeyirion’s spy.”

“I’ll act as bait to gather the collaborators, then we and the loyalists will move in to suppress them and offer them to the Ten Towers?”

“Yes. The timing for suppression will be signaled by me. If everything goes well, both my life and your position can be preserved, can’t they?”

Two flavors from one item. Ortes smirked inwardly.