Ch.78Countermeasure Meeting (1)

“What the hell is this….”

A file titled “List of Magic Towers Affiliated with the Arguirion Alliance” uploaded anonymously to the Ether Network. The data inside faithfully reflected its title.

A list of numerous magic towers secretly in contact with Arguirion. At a glance, there seemed to be over 100 of them.

All of them were mid-tier or higher magic towers that I’d had the chance to hear about at least once. Most were publicly listed towers, and there were even some True Magic Towers among them.

‘Did that many magic towers really join hands with Arguirion?’

No. Perhaps these were towers that Arguirion had ‘attempted’ to contact. There’s no way that many magic towers would have actually colluded with Arguirion.

If they could form a magic tower alliance of that caliber, Arguirion would have moved more boldly.

A different choice than their current approach of recruiting Blasphemia’s internal personnel and preparing terrorist statements. Conversely, they could have thoroughly concealed their identity as Corruptors and applied for the Ten Commandments Succession Battle as the leader of a magic tower alliance.

With that level of power, obtaining the Ten Commandments through the succession battle wouldn’t be just a far-fetched fantasy.

If all the towers on the list responded faithfully, they could potentially challenge one of the Ten Towers.

Issues like the distribution of authority within the alliance would arise after victory, but such matters were secondary.

If Arguirion’s true purpose, like other Corruptors, was to expand connection points with other dimensions, authority distribution would be meaningless. They wouldn’t have intended to give rewards anyway.

Publicly, they could promise anything in the contract, and once they obtained the Ten Commandments, they could simply use that incomprehensible magical power to destroy the world barrier.

A battle where victory in a single decisive confrontation would fulfill their purpose as Corruptors. Even in defeat, being a magic tower ‘alliance’ would allow them to distribute responsibility among other towers, minimizing their losses.

‘The very fact that they didn’t choose this method proves there are limitations to Arguirion’s recruitment capabilities.’

Then why was this list created in the first place?

First, the exposed list had some evidence, albeit flimsy. Evidence with many parts deliberately erased, as if to provoke greater suspicion. The kind of vague allegations that are difficult to refute precisely because they’re so loosely connected.

Such evidence existed for each magic tower on the list. Only Arguirion could possess such a wide range of evidence simultaneously.

The identity of the leaker is Arguirion.

But what could Arguirion gain by causing chaos in the magical society?

‘Argos will mobilize extensively to audit the magic towers. They’ll coordinate with Blasphemia to track Arguirion’s traces. That means relatively fewer personnel will be available to hunt down Arguirion.’

Are they willing to drive away all potential collaborators just to buy a moment of time?

If so, this was an ominous sign. I couldn’t begin to imagine what they planned to complete with the time gained at such cost.

The current situation is clearly anomalous.

“We need to hold a strategy meeting.”

Even with a meeting, I can’t recklessly reveal all the facts to the directors.

The current ‘Divine Investigation’ is somewhat illegal simply by using divine power. The directors accept it only under the pretext that we’re utilizing the power of vanished gods rather than directly following them.

As long as it’s just utilizing divine power, we won’t be labeled anti-magical reactionaries. We might be somewhat ostracized among magicians, but if it’s part of magical research, what can they do?

There are occasional cases where lightning-attribute magic towers possess secret weapons like relics of Aigios, the god of sky and thunder.

But anything beyond that is a different story.

Research attempting to incorporate divine power into magic has existed in secret.

Attempts to steal wisdom from the Ten Towers can happen.

Ambitions to become one of the Ten Towers are also possible.

But the destruction of the Ten Commandments—few magicians would accept a purpose that rebels against the very system of magical society.

“…It’s premature to tell the directors everything right now.”

Currently, the directors are valuable as a force that can reorganize Etna City and project power externally. It’s already difficult to fill Dimedes’ vacant position; we don’t need to reduce our personnel further by forcing them to choose between the Ten Towers and Hydra right away.

Eventually, the directors will have to make a genuine choice. But not right now.

I began preparing for a meeting titled “Regarding the Rapid Changes in the Divine Investigation Environment.”

I did send a message to the Divine Order right after talking with Niobe, warning them that Blasphemia found the current situation suspicious and to be careful…

I didn’t expect the situation to change this drastically. I’ll need to talk to them again later.

***

A few days before Hydra Company started their meeting, the Divine Order was also holding a conference.

The first to arrive at the empty round table was Demos. The agenda for this meeting was the news recently warned about by the person called Outis, or L13.

‘Blasphemia has detected the temple excavation. Reduce activities for the time being.’

Do they have the capacity to monitor the Divine Order’s activities even while fighting Arguirion?

He knew it was possible because they received nearly infinite support through the Ten Towers, but it was still frustrating to face such capabilities when opposing Blasphemia.

Of course, Demos’s assumptions were quite different from reality.

Hydra Company conducting Divine Investigation under the shadow of the Divine Order.

And Salmosia mistaking Hydra Company’s movements as Argos’s sabotage.

Finally, Ortes.

No one had yet noticed the shadowy hand coordinating information between Blasphemia and the Divine Order.

After Demos, Hyacin appeared at the round table. When the number of seated priests exceeded six, Demos spoke.

“What is the Pope doing? Does he still have no intention of using his powers for the Order?”

Demos spoke with a sharp tone. A question aimed at Hyacin, the Pope’s confidant. Hyacin slowly nodded.

“The Pope is already exercising his powers for the Divine Order. He is refining the grand plan.”

“Grand plan, grand plan. Isn’t that grand plan a betrayal of the Celestial Ones? I shudder at the shabbiness of preparing betrayal while still scraping together past glories.”

“Not betrayal. Independence.”

The gazes of Demos and Hyacin clashed across the round table. The conflict between the conservative young Demos and the radical old Hyacin was nothing new.

“…Don’t think the reason for collecting sacred artifacts is merely an obsession with past glory. The Pope sees things more broadly and deeply.”

Following Hyacin’s apologetic addition, Urania spoke up.

“Did you hear anything more from that friend who doesn’t like me? When I contacted him, all he said was ‘Wait for the right time. I’ll soon find a new method.'”

“Same here. He just said he’d create an opportunity soon. But no matter how capable he is, there’s a limit to the openings he can create as a mere agent. I believe our order needs to take more active measures—”

Clunk!

Along with the sound of something rolling, footsteps rushing down the corridor were heard. The boy who ran in, gasping for breath, was Prodito.

A priest of Piraios, god of gatekeepers and messengers. From nameless backwaters to Elysion. He could open doors connected to every corner of the world.

It was also Prodito who granted the sacred arts that opened portals to the round table for members of the Divine Order.

Because of this, Prodito was the type who either arrived first at such meetings or didn’t attend at all if uninterested. It was very rare for him to appear in the middle like this.

“This is rare, you being late and all. The title of messenger god’s priest must be weeping, kid.”

“Ha… ha. What nonsense. I’ve brought the newest information fastest.”

Despite panting, Prodito winked. Urania burst into a small laugh seeing his attempt to feign composure.

“What news made you late for the meeting?”

“Come on. I told you I’m not late. We need to change the meeting agenda, old man Hyacin.”

Thud. Prodito threw a mana proxy onto the center of the round table. Though some priests were uncomfortable with a magical device being brought into the Divine Order’s sacred place, even they had no time to worry about such things after reading the projected hologram.

The most surprised was Hyacin. This was a branch that didn’t exist in the future he had glimpsed.

“What is this…?”

“Uncle Demos. Didn’t you say that ‘Nameless’ fellow promised to create an opportunity? This seems to be that opportunity.”

Numerous magic towers exposed for secret dealings with Arguirion. The magical society visible on the Ether Network was embroiled in unprecedented chaos.

“How on earth?”

The bewildered voice belonged to Hyacin. How was this possible? How could Arguirion’s confidential list of magic tower dealings be leaked so easily?

In just a few days?

‘Could it be that Phoibos has chosen him?’

Demos was equally confused.

Let’s say Blasphemia had desperately tracked Arguirion and identified all the magic towers they had dealings with.

Could a mere agent access that information?

‘Just how high is Outis’s position within Blasphemia…?’