Ch.99Unexpected Visit (4)

“Yes. Have the auditors left already? So soon?”

“I gave them maximum access to the magic tower’s mana core and even disclosed the Ether Space confidential documents, so they just did a perfunctory check and left.”

“My goodness. They shouldn’t handle their work so carelessly.”

Ortes shook his head.

‘Today’s agents are slacking off. Back when Blasphemia was playing hide-and-seek with me, she was so diligent and passionate about her work.’

If the Panoptes agents had known what Ortes was thinking, they would have collapsed from high blood pressure on the spot.

Currently, 90% of their increased workload was directly connected to Ortes, and of the remaining 10%, 9% could be traced back to the butterfly effect created by Ortes.

His actions were so problematic that it wouldn’t be strange if a passing Panoptes agent lunged at him shouting, “If we eliminate you, the world would return to normal!”

But such a future was impossible.

Even Ortes himself didn’t know exactly what consequences his actions had brought about.

When the butterfly that caused the storm doesn’t know it’s the cause, those caught in the storm can’t harbor resentment toward the butterfly.

All Ortes knew was that his every word was increasing the workload per Panoptes agent today as well.

“Ah, President. Couldn’t we effectively utilize Geryon for the divine investigation work soon? I think it would be good to leave the detailed scheduling to Director Arabel, who should have some free time since the auditors left early.”

Add Arabel to the list too.

***

After some time had passed and he returned to the reception room, Lampades stated a few requests.

“Could we possibly move our tower’s accommodations? I heard the conflict is still ongoing. Somewhere safer, I mean.”

Come to think of it, that was true. In Etna City, destruction followed by reconstruction had become almost routine, and things had essentially reached a stalemate, but outsiders would perceive it differently.

Sudden death by getting caught in a war between magic towers. Or being kidnapped by an enemy tower while being a guest of Hydra Company and used as a hostage.

The ominous futures that could arise from magic tower conflicts were endless.

‘Hmm. Could that be why the Panoptes agents conducted such a cursory inspection?’

If they understood that the reason for this preliminary inspection was to prevent false accusations from rival towers, it would make sense for the agents’ inspection to be less rigorous.

In conflicts between magic towers, it was a classic tactic to report the opposing tower to the Ten Towers, tying their hands and feet while seizing control of the situation.

Now it was so classic that it had little effect, but in exceptional situations like now when the Ten Towers were baring their fangs, things were different.

From a Panoptes agent’s perspective, it was natural to think, ‘These guys are too busy fighting each other to commit treason, so I should finish quickly and investigate other suspicious places.’

“That’s unexpected…”

“What is?”

“Ah, just talking to myself. Of course we can relocate you. Please wait a moment.”

Hydra Company headquarters has quite a few vacant rooms. Just the top floor that Carisia and I use has several empty rooms remaining.

During the Lernian Tower era, it was a building used by at least dozens to a hundred people, or hundreds if you included test subjects.

Currently, the only regular residents at Hydra Company headquarters are Carisia and myself.

Ah, conditionally Arabel too? Carisia makes her work overtime strangely often. Poor thing.

Excluding exceptions like Arabel, most work outside of divine investigations is handled at the level of the directors’ personal organizations, and people only visit Hydra headquarters for comprehensive work reports or meetings.

‘The top floor is out of the question. Carisia wouldn’t want other people in her space.’

The middle floors wouldn’t satisfy Lampades, who requested “safety.”

Since escape would be difficult both upward and downward. Naturally, that leaves only the underground floors…

“Is there a problem?”

“No. I’ll move your accommodations to Hydra Company headquarters’ underground… a kind of shelter area.”

“A shelter.”

“Both the protective capabilities and facility conveniences are excellent. I’ll give you the master key to the underground area.”

***

Ortes took a key card from his pocket and handed it to Lampades. It was such a casual gesture.

Lampades read the heavy meaning behind that casual gesture.

The authority to handle the Hydra Company headquarters building without even reporting to the president. Either Ortes was that trusted by the president, or the president was Ortes’s puppet.

The conversation in Elysion came to mind. When told that Ortes wasn’t as good a person as one might think, the Hydra Company president had replied that she already knew that.

Did she truly trust Ortes despite knowing his true nature? Or was she being so subtly controlled that she couldn’t notice this overstepping of authority?

“However, from the third basement floor down is Hydra Company’s storage area, so it’s unsuitable for residential purposes. There are items quite sensitive to state changes, so please refrain from approaching them if possible.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

Lampades carefully considered how to extract Knemon. Where to begin tracing his tracks, whether he would still be using his real name.

He needed to find him within ten days to guarantee the safety of his people.

***

Kine faced Ortes after quite some time.

Since Ortes’s plan to enroll her in the Mouseion had fallen through, he had been incredibly busy.

She had been practicing magic in her spare time, but it was hard to shake the feeling of being a mere placeholder.

Then today, a sudden new mission was assigned.

‘Remember Miss Astrape whom you met at Elysion? Since you two are about the same age, why don’t you chat with her?’

Though she didn’t understand exactly why she was being asked to build a friendship, Kine faithfully followed Ortes’s orders. She still hadn’t received the bodies of any of her cult family members.

If she diligently carried out even tasks like this, perhaps the day her family could rest in peace would come a little sooner.

After sending a prayer to Bacchus filled with curses and wishes, Kine faithfully carried out her mission to converse with Astrape.

In truth, it was too childish to call it a mission.

It was the classic and time-honored debate-turned-argument about ‘what is the strongest magical attribute.’

‘I brought it up initially just to break the awkward atmosphere, but somehow it turned into a battle of pride between electricity and darkness attributes…!’

Kine couldn’t believe she had reacted so sensitively to the disparagement of dark magic. After all, magic was ultimately just a means for revenge.

‘Though learning magic is fun, I must admit.’

She had been sent to build a friendship but ended up wasting time arguing about who was stronger and who was weaker. She wondered how Ortes would react to such a report.

With some tension and fear, Kine opened her mouth before Ortes.

“Well, we weren’t seriously fighting, were we?”

“It was just… a playful conversation that got a bit heated.”

Ortes’s reaction was completely different from what she had expected. Instead of reproaching her for accomplishing so little, he simply asked about the content of their conversation.

“That’s good. Please be a good friend to Astrape during her stay.”

Kine’s mind became confused. What is this man thinking?

Surely he didn’t send me just because we’re similar in age?

Feeling like she was in a labyrinth, Kine asked:

“What exactly am I supposed to do?”

“Come on. There’s nothing specific you need to do to become friends. If you’re asking seriously, I don’t have many friends myself, so I can’t really answer.”

“…Who said I was asking how to make friends?!”

“Oh, you weren’t?”

That slick smile raises my blood pressure every time I see it. Kine sighed deeply and replied wearily:

“Originally, the point of the mission was to enroll in the Mouseion. That’s how the Bacchus cult members would be released.”

“They’re not released as payment for completing missions, but when Kine’s magical abilities become sufficient to properly help souls reach nirvana—”

“Yes, yes. But now I can’t go to the Mouseion, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Ortes stroked his chin. The blue light beneath his thinly opened eyelids pierced through Kine.

“My initial expectation for you was indeed enrollment in the Mouseion.”

For the first time, Ortes began to speak about his grand plan.

***

I began explaining various things to Kine step by step.

Starting with how exceptional her talent was, and the fact that with such talent, she would undoubtedly receive an invitation from the Dark Abyss Tower.

Then how to rise to a high position within the Dark Abyss Tower by achieving research results. Even the means and methods to reach that position.

“Ultimately, the role I expect from you is to seize the Spartoi from the Dark Abyss Tower.”

“You mean those soldiers made from priests’ souls that we saw in Elysion.”

“Yes. You would be able to handle priests’ spirits better than anyone else in the Dark Abyss Tower. However…”

“It’s not like the Mouseion is the only way to enter the Ten Towers, is it?”