Ch.18The Vicada Traveling Troupe (1)

Bikada, the leader of the Bikada Traveling Troupe, sensed that something about Etna City had changed.

The first thing he noticed was the heat.

Despite being built next to a volcano, the warmth that had enveloped Etna City was gradually cooling.

The easiest way to tell was by the color of the sky. The more active the volcano, the gloomier the sky would become.

This was due to the volcanic ash spewed by Mount Etna. As Bikada recalled, for about a year, the sky around Etna City had been relatively clear.

Now, thick gray clouds full of impurities hung overhead.

‘Is the volcano entering an active phase?’

Generally, volcanic activity is a natural disaster, but in this city, things were different. The activated earth energy supplied magical power to the entire city and increased fossil production.

To use an agricultural metaphor, it was a sign of a bountiful harvest. Bikada let out a regretful sigh.

When the local economy thrives, the popularity of items used to escape reality, like electronic drugs, tends to decline. It was clear that this journey’s earnings would be significantly reduced.

“I’ll have to increase the circus portion.”

He pressed a button on the gauntlet on his right hand. It was a wearable computer for easily managing the magical body modification equipment—enchantware—implanted in Bikada’s body.

The liquid injected directly into his spinal cord washed away Bikada’s worries.

A rising sense of happiness. The world seemed to shine, though the light intensity hadn’t changed. As Bikada swam in euphoria, he suddenly heard a noise ringing in his head.

The wearable computer was warning him about low liquid levels.

‘Mekonion…’

She was an unrivaled drug manufacturer in these parts. Her quirk of despising modern electronic drugs was difficult for Bikada to understand, but spirits were capricious by nature.

Being half-spirit, she must have inherited their eccentricities. Bikada headed toward the green paradise in the ash-colored city.

“Good day to you?”

The one who greeted him wasn’t the green-haired Alraune hybrid, but a suspicious-looking human in a formal suit.

***

Has the owner changed in the meantime? Where is Mekonion?

Bikada responded calmly. His troupe’s entry permit had been issued by Geryon.

Geryon’s gang was greedy, but as long as you paid them, they caused no trouble and did what they were paid to do. Unlike the tyrants of the Lernian Tower.

‘Surely the Phytos Tower hasn’t awakened from its decades of silence.’

Even if Kaikel had reappeared, he wouldn’t extend his reach to a drug den in the outskirts. Someone with enough wealth and power wouldn’t have any reason to venture into the underworld.

Did the Lernian Tower take over Mekonion’s den?

This seemed quite possible. But if he showed Geryon’s entry permit, they would back off, albeit reluctantly. They were only strong within their own territory.

“Forgive my late introduction. I am Ortes from Hydra Corporation.”

“Hydra Corporation?”

It was a name he’d never heard before. A name that didn’t exist when he visited two months ago. A rising power challenging Etna City’s long-established triumvirate?

“We have received entry permission from Geryon.”

In any case, if they were a new power that hadn’t yet established their foundation, they wouldn’t risk actions that could escalate into all-out war with existing powers. Bikada tried to use Geryon’s authority as a shield to escape from the den.

“I know.”

He knows?

“Geryon escaped from us a few days ago. The Phytos Tower seems to have helped. Haven’t you seen him in the inner city? We’ve examined the entry list he issued.”

What was he talking about?

In just over two months, there was a force that had subdued Geryon and grown powerful enough to threaten the Phytos Tower?

“Is Geryon hiding somewhere in the inner city, or has he fled outside to recover?”

The snake-eyed man was suspicious of the traveling troupe, thinking they might be an external force helping Geryon escape.

“No. Oh, you misunderstand! We have neither the ability nor the will to do such a thing!”

“Misunderstand?”

His narrowly opened eyes curved into an arc.

“What misunderstanding am I making?”

He was skilled at using authority to pressure others. Bikada’s nerves were on edge from the intimidation, enough to sober him up.

It would be a poor move to defensively claim, “We are not in league with Geryon!” He would seize on that, saying, “In league? I never mentioned such a thing… How suspicious,” and then pull out a knife.

What should he do?

How could he survive this situation?

Bikada recalled the atmosphere of the den again. The people inside were no different from before. If Mekonion had died, her regulars wouldn’t have remained quiet.

“Mekonion! Mekonion can vouch for our identity! We only paid money to Geryon and received nothing in return! Why would we risk our lives for him?”

Ortes nodded.

“Director Mekonion. Is that so?”

From the back of the den, a tired-looking Alraune hybrid walked out.

“Please, you two have a good conversation.”

***

Though Ortes had left, Bikada didn’t speak carelessly. It would be foolish to assume he wasn’t eavesdropping on their conversation.

“What the hell is going on? And what is this Hydra Corporation?”

Mekonion responded to his bewildered tone with a faint sneer.

“A monster organization that devoured the Lernian Tower. We barely survived.”

She explained to Bikada what had happened in Etna City over the past month. Lernian had fallen, and the underworld had been unified. Geryon had been defeated and escaped with just his life, and Kaikel of the Phytos Tower had returned.

“You came back at a bad time, Bikada. The three towers are right in the middle of preparing for war.”

“Damn it! Information from a backwater city like this doesn’t even circulate on the Ether Net. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come! You could have given me a heads-up!”

“Didn’t you hear? I’m now a director at Hydra Corporation. They’ve got me on a leash.”

“Damn. Who exactly is that guy?”

Mekonion shrugged. There was a sense of shared feeling in her shuddering at the thought of Ortes.

“I have only one piece of advice for you. Just beg and say you’ll show them everything.”

“But listen. Inside our troupe—”

Illegal drugs at dangerous levels and extreme poisons clearly outlawed by most towers. And slaves kept for special purposes.

“Ha. Are those more precious than your life?”

“…”

“The Lernian Tower’s preferences meant drugs weren’t banned in their territory. Hydra Corporation was too busy building up their ranks to care about laws. So they can’t use legal violations as an excuse to extort more from you.”

“Hmm…”

“I’ve experienced it myself. That guy is crazy, but he keeps his word. If Geryon isn’t in your troupe, he’ll give you compensation and send you on your way.”

***

Bikada conveyed his willingness to let them search anywhere from the safe to the beds, as long as his life was spared.

Ortes’s response was concise.

“I’ll visit soon.”

Meaning he would appear unannounced for an inspection. Bikada clicked his tongue and left the den.

Watching his retreating figure, Mekonion asked,

“Is it necessary to go through all this trouble? Wouldn’t it be better to just ask if they have any sacred artifacts?”

“There are several reasons.”

Ortes, who had brought tea at some point, offered a cup to Mekonion. After taking a sip, Mekonion was impressed by the unexpected culinary skill.

“Wow. You brew well?”

“The boss is particular. First, there’s the matter of rumors.”

As Bikada himself said, rumors don’t spread well in quiet towns like Etna City. Even on the Ether Network, the magical internet of sorcerers, Etna City was a quiet place.

“Bikada will spread word of Etna City’s tense situation. From the Ten Towers’ perspective, no matter how much magical power we gather or what we do, they’ll see it as just a cute squabble between lower towers.”

They needed someone loose-lipped to spread word of Hydra Corporation’s war theater, and Bikada was perfect for the job.

“And the second reason?”

“They have nothing to hide from me. Naturally, since they don’t have Geryon. They won’t try to hide anything to avoid unnecessary suspicion.”

“You think they would have hidden it if you had asked for sacred artifacts from the start?”

“Believers in gods are rare in this age. They’ve probably been pushed around and beaten down as a way of life. If confronted directly, they would have withdrawn.”

Mekonion looked at Ortes with skeptical eyes. All this elaborate act because of the uncertain possibility that they might hide something?

Ortes thought of the magical unit secretly operated by the Ten Towers.

Those who directly inherited the doctrines of the old gods. The Ten Towers’ execution squad that eliminated primitive priests who retained divine power.

If there really was a follower of Bacchus in Bikada’s troupe, and if they had heard even rumors about the execution squad, they would certainly hide their sacred artifacts.

After about an hour, Ortes rose from his seat.

“Well then. Shall we go and have a look?”