Chapter 193

In the bright hospital room bathed in sunlight, a middle-aged man with gray hair was conversing with a man on a holographic screen.

“How is the evacuation going?”

“You don’t need to worry about that part. Most of the survivors have already evacuated to the territories of other clans.”

The man on the hologram explained. The clans are aware of the presence of the Magnavis members, but he said they are cooperating in a way that supports their actions.

“I see, you’ve worked hard.”

Valefor spoke wearily. His left sleeve hung loosely where his elbow should have been.

The man on the screen felt a pang of sorrow at his appearance but did not show it outwardly.

“It was just luck.”

Remembering the heinous acts of the insane terrorists, the former Chairman of Magnavis felt dizzy.

What other sight could be as brutal as falling from a high place amidst thousands of tons of debris?

The wicked terrorists rammed large trucks loaded with explosives that rivaled aerial bombardments one after another. If it hadn’t been for luck, he wouldn’t have been able to recover even a corpse like the other executives.

After being found by the hunters immediately following the incident, Albers was now moving secretly, managing the situation in place of the Chairman.

“More importantly, Julius’s situation is a problem. I never thought the command center would be raided…”

The Grand Mage fell silent. The Ariel Group had stormed the command center, turning it into a sea of flames with overwhelming firepower and detonating a large quantity of explosives.

The Chief Mission Operations Officer, who boasted a position just below the Chairman in the clan, had vanished without a trace.

“…I also feel sorry for Julius. But don’t worry too much. There are backup personnel at the branches on the continent. They couldn’t reach that far.”

Former Chairman Paxton felt something uneasy in the Grand Mage’s words. Given that crucial talent had disappeared in an instant, it would take quite some time to restore Magnavis to its original state.

“But the biggest problem is with the academy.”

The Grand Mage spoke nonchalantly, but the face of the holographic Chairman wrinkled in concern.

For now, a mere puppet master, he once was the Grand Mage’s disciple.

He was also aware of the grand project that his master was planning.

To think that a project that had taken years to cultivate could vanish in an instant. Where would he find personnel to replace Doctor Sturgis and his research team?

“…I’m embarrassed. Shortly after sending the rescue team led by Croscelle and Kaim, the facility was bombed. Team member Kaim is missing and is presumed dead.”

“What about Croscelle? Is there no chance of recovery?”

Paxton shook his head.

“It’s impossible. Through the Inspection Bureau’s minions and the federal side, we only recovered some body parts and the head. Even that wasn’t intact due to the explosion.”

Tools have decreased. Valefor clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“That’s unfortunate. He was one of our best specimens. It will take time to cultivate another of his level. It’s a significant blow with another specimen captured as a prisoner.”

“There’s an opinion that if we take our time, we could extract some memories from the brain. What should we do?”

The Grand Mage expressed his agreement. Replacing the broken ones with others was enough. If they input the data, they could reduce the injection speed.

“The disappearance of the Doctor is tragic, but we cannot halt the plan. Other clans and the federal government are already progressing with their own projects. This is an armaments competition. Do you understand what I mean?”

“You’ve said that before. I always remember it.”

The Grand Mage detailed the direction of future plans, troop deployments, and the utilization of slush funds and assets.

The Chairman diligently carried out the instructions while devising plans for withdrawal back to the continent.

“What are your thoughts on the network construction plan?”

“Sadly, we have to give up. We can’t keep clinging to sunk costs. Prepare the second plan, the one we aborted earlier.”

“The second plan, you say…”

“If we can’t win by quantity, we should compensate with size. If necessary, seek cooperation from the Rumyx Foundation. They are experts in biotechnology. We have a few debts from before, so we should be able to get help from the Chairman and his brother.”

Paxton’s gaze wavered for a moment while organizing the Grand Mage’s instructions calmly.

“…The brother? You’re talking about Laplacian, right? I hope you reconsider that directive. Chairman Laihan is a lunatic.”

“Yes, he is mad. That’s why he will be even more interested in our ideas. He will actively cooperate out of curiosity.”

There are many who disregard means for their purposes. But it’s quite rare for individuals to derive enjoyment from making the means itself an end.

The twin brother of the Rumyx Foundation’s chairman was one such existence.

Valefor continued to issue detailed commands for a while. The chairman in the refuge meticulously recorded and discussed his instructions.

Before long, the end was near.

“Do you really have to go to them? Wouldn’t it be better for me to take all the responsibility myself?”

Chairman Paxton expressed his concerns. Bowing down to the federal side first? Depending on the situation, he might have to endure imprisonment for years.

“Someone has to buy time from the outside. And they must be someone who cannot be easily touched. Currently, there is only one such person in our clan.”

“The left arm, you said it was the work of the Obsidian Legion? If you enter federal territory…”

“That’s merely a hunch. And isn’t it said that the darkest place is right beneath the lamp? The federal jurisdiction might actually work to my advantage. And if the Legion comes to find us, we ought to be pleased. Even if the direction differs, Sycamore and I share a common goal. Negotiation won’t be difficult.”

The Grand Mage said this while calculating the possible contents of the negotiation in his mind.

What if he offered some valuable know-how in exchange for the release of prisoners and temporary cooperation?

For instance, the Obsidian Legion Vanguard.

“The identity of the enemy is unknown, and a significant percentage of the clan’s assets and personnel have evaporated.”

It was a grim situation. Yet the Grand Mage remained unfazed.

With a determination to return, he was ready to face hardships willingly.

The time had come. After finishing the contact, Valefor prepared to leave the hospital room.

Before stepping out, he took an old pocket watch hidden in his pocket and gazed at it. It was a battered antique but one of his few cherished possessions.

‘It’s over a century old.’

The Grand Mage opened the lid of the pocket watch. Inside, a small photo was attached.

A faded early color photo, a relic of times gone by.

A gray-haired young man dressed in a classic officer’s uniform sat alongside a woman with orange hair, both smiling.

Now, it was a thing of the past.

Valefor, staring at the photo with a complex expression, resolutely closed the lid of the pocket watch.

He stepped out the door, supported by someone.

As the spotlight of countless reporters poured down, the Chairman took his place in the armored vehicle.

When the former Chairman Valefor was taken away by the federal forces, many were bewildered.

Among them was a small clan alliance preparing for an offensive.

“What do we do now? The federation has just gobbled everything up…”

“That’s true, but what is there to hesitate about? With the Cascadia Family backing us and the federation taking the lead, it’s an opportunity. Let’s charge in!”

Thus the clans began a media offensive.

[We will definitely demand compensation for the Vittorio Dungeon terror and damages!]

[Special Feature: How far will the tyranny of the mega-clans go?]

Of course, their main focus was on gobbling up the empty businesses that had lost their owners.

As if to repay all the wrongful treatment and profits they had been ripped off, the clans began to reclaim their interests.

Meanwhile, there were those who moved more actively.

“The next head of the Cascadia Family, Lady Adela Cascadia, currently enrolled in Aegis Academy, has faced assassination threats from the Magnavis’s Mystic Investigation Department and Vanguard agents. This will be regarded as an act of hostility against the Cascadia Family, and retribution will surely follow…”

The Violets shouted upon seeing a familiar beauty appearing on the live broadcast.

“Wow, it’s Sister Adela!”

An elderly elder was speaking at a classic podium adorned with ornate text, while the family members, including Adela, sat behind.

“Wow, are they going to collaborate with the federal army?”

“They are definitely confirming my thoughts.”

The Violets beamed with satisfaction.

Now the Magnavis Clan was completely finished.

Who would take the influence of the empty western region remained unknown.

While people were shouting their respective notions of justice, there was someone with a sullen expression.

Not everyone could be joyful about the realization of justice.

Especially if they were part of a group that had once benefited from evil.

“Ariel Group, huh…”

In the meeting room of the Helios Clan Headquarters, Rigel Solstice held his throbbing head in his hands and took a deep breath.

As relatives hesitated to voice their opinions, a woman with violet hair frowned.

“Everyone, let’s calm down. Support from Magnavis has ceased, and some of our internal factions are being cautious. We’re shaken. Any comments?”

One cousin yelled out.

“Damn it! How can we calm down? Did you see that broadcast? They said it’s the Ariel Group! Those guys, they’re definitely the ones guarding that girl Irene!”

“It could be a coincidence…”

“Are your eyes just buttonholes? Have you gone deaf? Their patterns and fighting style are similar! Don’t you understand? Before Orion Solstice got split in half, those terrorist bastards were in cahoots with him, or maybe someone weird is behind Irene! Whatever the case, we are finished!”

Watching the invisible cracks emerging among the relatives gathered to grab the clan’s shares, Rigel felt despair.

‘Damn it, please don’t let it be true. That organization…’

He desperately tried to deny it, but he couldn’t help considering the possibility.

What if the Ariel Group guarding Irene was the same organization that caused the series of terror attacks in the western region?

‘Not only did they rescue my brother’s only daughter, but they’ve now evaporated our backup as well. This is insane…’

They were an organization that could turn even a massive clan into a half-dead state in a single day; dealing with them would be like twisting the wrist of a child.

“…Have we figured out where Irene is?”

“We’re looking! We’ve observed her presence in several locations, but…”

While the noisy meeting continued, Rigel quietly stood up.

All eyes from both sides of the family turned to him.

“Everyone. Let’s calm down. So what if they are terrorists? Everyone is focused on Magnavis, but the Ariel Group has been designated a terrorist organization by the federation. If they are indeed the same organization, this is our chance to legally pursue that girl! Let’s report them!”

One of the young cousins hesitantly asked.

“B-but… they are the ones who destroyed the four major clans, right? What if Irene is close to them?”

Rigel tried to hide his trembling and spoke loudly.

“That can’t be! She’s definitely being used!”

Though he spoke, he internally felt doubt.

His niece was lacking in experience due to her age, but she was no fool.

As Rigel continued his thoughts, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Regardless of whether they were terrorists or not, how could they contend with such a bodyguard? Without the Stregonics or Magnavis’s assassins at their disposal?

‘Damn it, please don’t let it be true…’

Rigel wanted to turn everything around and just drown his worries in alcohol.