Chapter 98

The agents sent from Panoptes will likely only conduct a superficial investigation before retreating.

A full inspection of the magic towers mandated by the Ten Towers isn’t something that can be done in a day or two. There’s no need or reason to invest manpower and resources into meticulous inspections of towers already bowing early, as is happening now.

Their direct concern lies with the traitors allied with Argeyirion—not the majority of ordinary magic towers.

Still, there might be an exception.

“Artificial Tenth Ranks were originally said to be beneath Mount Etna.”

This means that even if Panoptes’ inspection team decides to “take the opportunity to search Geryon’s and Caike’s tower while they’re here,” there won’t be anything incriminating to find.

Carisia knows these circumstances roughly, so this current communication holds no meaning beyond confirmation. I wrapped up the conversation appropriately and turned my head toward Lampades.

“I’m not much of a social person either.”

This friend has a good sense of humor. Even during my active days when I was solving cases nonstop, I never met anyone as skilled at connecting with people as you.

“Haha, indeed. I’ve never seen a resolver with connections as extensive as yours.”

There’s something called bioelectricity—electrical signals generated from biological activity. Such electricity occurs even in the neurons when humans think.

Lampades was especially adept at detecting such bioelectricity. He claimed that due to the magical energy each individual possesses, or perhaps through a spell detecting bioelectric currents, one could feel a subtle ‘personality’ that distinguishes individuals.

Seeing this modesty from someone with such abilities makes me realize he must have lacked true greatness.

Right now, I have the authority to use company funds… no, why am I calling it private?

Finding Cnemon is officially part of my company duties. There’s no hesitation in budget allocation.

“Do you need any other artifacts besides the Thunder Lord?”

“No! No, I swear, I don’t need any other artifacts. It’s just that, as Tower Master, I have things to handle, which may take some time.”

Lampades waved his hands frantically. Indeed, was time really the issue?

I calculated the schedule in my mind. Thanks to the recent artifact theft, the development progress of the Artificial Tenth Rank has significantly increased.

…And simultaneously, a new mystery arose.

What exactly did the ancient Theistic Order do? This is precisely why I’m searching for Cnemon.

Adjusting Lampades’ extradimensional radar makes sacred artifact searches far smoother. However, finding the special relics of the Theistic Order, those imbued with the spirits of priests, requires a different approach.

The Pluto Temple was the order’s final stronghold. Despite thorough searches, only six relics were found there.

Adding the relic of Phobos that I’ve already obtained, seven ancient Theistic Order relics have been accounted for. The remaining five most likely disappeared during the war between the Theistic Order and the Wizard King.

To be more specific, they probably became trophies of the magic towers.

This is where Cnemon comes in.

That guy knew all sorts of secrets about the magic towers. When I was working as a resolver, I didn’t care about such matters and overlooked them…

Perhaps during this comprehensive relic survey pushed by the Ten Towers, Cnemon meticulously kept records of the relic ownership statuses that could become weaknesses for other towers.

When he suggested we join hands to overturn this corrupt world of magic towers, I should have listened carefully. Now, I somewhat regret dismissing his idea back then and wandering around without interest in reforming the magical society.

Lost in old thoughts, Lampades suddenly asked me:

***

“Would it be alright if I briefly contacted the people at the magic tower? I’m worried about causing trouble since it’s my first visit to another tower.”

Lampades rarely spoke directly, but even in his straightforward words, hidden messages lay.

The overt message: a request for protection against the upcoming inspectors for the sake of his tower’s residents.

The covert message was revealed in the choice of the word “trouble.” If necessary, he intended to use force to escape.

This was a non-negotiable condition.

Ortes nodded leisurely.

“Of course. Though, Astrape might be having age-appropriate conversations with Kine right now, so she may not answer the call.”

Kine is also a magician raised by Ortes. Placing her with Astrape could be interpreted in two ways.

“Trust me, my close aide is with Astrape,” or “Astrape’s life depends on you.”

“Here, both interpretations seem appropriate.”

If Lampades faithfully fulfills Ortes’ ‘request,’ Kine will act as a protective barrier for Astrape. But if Lampades strays from Ortes’ expectations, Kine will become a dagger aimed at Astrape.

In any case, there’s no intention to harm the residents of Lampades’ tower right now. Lampades weakly shook his head and asked.

“How much time do we have left?”

“Ah, it’s not urgent. They simply wish for you to drop by during your spare time.”

“Spare time… Are they asking me to visit within my stay schedule at Hydra Corp?”

Our stay at Hydra Corp’s tower is limited to about ten days—a rather tight timeframe.

Within this period, if I want to retrieve Cnemon, Lampades himself will inevitably have to move. And if he does, the only person who can protect his tower’s residents during his absence would be Ortes.

Though Ortes promised protection, finding someone who escaped his sight within ten days is undoubtedly a difficult task.

“By the way, I’m curious—why are you looking for Cnemon?”

This was Lampades’ genuine question. Ortes had never pressured him despite promising to visit someday.

‘That’s why I trusted and went to the upper-level review believing he might be dead…’

A bitter feeling welled up inside me. Like a fish caught in a net. But separate from my emotional state, a rational question surfaced.

If Ortes were compared to a fisherman, he’d be a very patient one. Waiting years to catch a single fish without showing any anxiety.

He remained invisible while nurturing his tower, appearing only when I least expected it.

Now, unusually, Ortes was demanding that I “bring Cnemon.” What could Cnemon have possibly done in the past?

‘No. Perhaps I should consider it differently.’

Cnemon might possess something Ortes covets…

After a brief moment of contemplation, Ortes nodded. Did he decide it was fine to share with Lampades, who would directly carry out the mission?

‘But he won’t reveal every detail. That’s Ortes for you—always leaving something mysterious.’

“I merely want something from Mr. Cnemon. Let him know appropriate compensation is prepared. Also, express my regret regarding past events.”

“Past events?”

Ortes was always at the forefront of extradimensional missions. Diving into the most dangerous requests and returning as if it were natural, then accepting yet another. This cycle repeated endlessly.

Because countless other resolvers who accepted simultaneous high-risk missions died frequently, rumors spread that Ortes might be behind all those deaths.

Even when Ortes handled high-risk missions alone, without other resolvers, his obsession with extradimensional exploration made him publicly known as an apocalypticist.

Given this, the only plausible collaboration between Ortes and Cnemon would involve exploring contaminated extradimensional ruins. Could Ortes have made a mistake?

That Ortes?

Reading the doubt on Lampades’ face, Ortes chuckled awkwardly and replied.

“Haha. We once acquired an artifact during an exploration of a contaminated ruin and conducted some performance tests. Turns out it was consumable. I gave everything that remained to him, but from Cnemon’s perspective, it might not have felt like a fair distribution. Since then, he seems to have been avoiding me.”

It’s a reasonable explanation. Yet…

‘Does this seem too trivial a reason for a falling out among apocalypticists?’

“Sorry, I’ve held you up too long while you were supposed to contact the tower members. I’ll leave you to communicate freely.”

“…Alright.”

Ortes stood up and left.

‘I know this communication is an excuse, and so does Ortes. What demand should I make to avoid the inspectors’ eyes…’

Lampades fell deep into thought.

Meanwhile, Ortes received another call from the CEO.

“Yes. Have the inspectors left? Already?”