Ch.9Feast of Random Words (3)

The magic core of a magic tower remembers the mage who has the authority to control it. The Ten Councils can access information about magic cores belonging to their lineage.

The combination of these two facts indicates that mages who illegally occupy magic towers can be detected at any time. Punishment for unauthorized occupation varies depending on the duration and reason, but the maximum penalty is an extermination order.

The standard for illegal occupation is when registration changes are not made within one month after a change in tower ownership.

Registering as a tower master with the Central Magic Tower doesn’t create obligations like paying taxes to higher-ranking towers. Therefore, most new tower masters who inherit towers choose to register within the required period rather than pay fines.

“In other words, if Hydra Company were to occupy all the magic towers in Etna City, the Central Magic Tower would inevitably discover this fact.”

In the original story, Baek Mu-myeong thoroughly concealed her true objectives, but she made no effort to hide the activities of the Hydra organization itself.

Her ultimate fate was somewhat predictable from the moment she neglected to manage her subordinates.

I hope that neither the Central Magic Towers nor the protagonist Simon, whenever he arrives, will discover Carisia’s true purpose.

“So we won’t be merging your tower, Geriones, or Kaikel’s tower. At least not outwardly.”

Geriones gave a hollow laugh. I could sense his self-deprecation at having his future mortgaged and becoming a puppet.

“A figurehead, huh? I suppose it’s generous in the sense that I get to keep my life.”

Yes, generous indeed.

Originally, you should have died the moment you attacked Carisia.

I quickly glanced at Carisia’s expression without her noticing. She doesn’t seem dissatisfied.

“On the surface, the three towers will maintain a state of tension and engage in war… Oh, excuse me. That doesn’t sound right. They’ll enter into a competitive system.”

A false war with Geriones as the figurehead. That was my deduction of why Carisia had captured Geriones.

“If we suddenly recruit mercenaries or construct new facilities, no one will find it strange. Using that situation, we’ll reorganize our company, and eventually Etna City itself.”

***

“In a more efficient and healthier direction.”

Ortes’s plan was revolutionary at best, and delusional at worst.

The preposterous plan to create an 11th Council.

The biggest problem was that no one present knew whether the artificial Council supposedly created by Kaikel actually existed.

Representing the directors’ doubts, Geriones asked:

“As a prisoner, it would be presumptuous to ask for more than survival. But I can’t help asking. Do you know how to find this artificial Council? Or at least how to meet Kaikel?”

“Huh? Didn’t I mention it? It’s inside Mount Etna.”

“Are you suggesting we send exploration droids into the boiling lava? Or hire water or ice attribute mages to cool the lava as we advance?”

“That’s—”

Ortes’s normally smooth speech suddenly cut off. His usual smile also disappeared, leaving his face nearly expressionless. It was an aspect never before seen in someone who always appeared composed.

Those watching Ortes carefully could notice that his gaze momentarily turned toward Carisia.

Soon, Ortes regained that faint smile and said:

“It’s a secret.”

It was obvious. There was probably only one person in this world who could trouble him.

“Please don’t misunderstand—I’m not saying I don’t trust you all.”

This must mean that Ortes’s next statement would have exceeded the level Carisia permitted. What method does the boss have in mind to draw out Kaikel that she’s hiding the plan even from the directors?

And what kind of relationship does Ortes, the only one privy to the plan, have with the boss?

Their connection was certain, but how they met and developed such a relationship of trust remained completely shrouded in mystery.

***

Damn it.

I hadn’t thought about how to meet him.

I hurriedly checked Carisia’s expression again. Still that faint smile. She’s in quite a good mood.

That means she hasn’t detected any inconsistencies or deficiencies in my rambling so far. I’ll just brush it off as a secret and fill in the rest with improvisation later.

***

The meeting ended.

How to create tension and reorganize the company would be discussed after securing Kaikel first.

Therefore, the final question of the meeting was “what happens if we can’t find Kaikel?”

Carisia answered without hesitation: “Our tasks remain unchanged.”

None of the directors knew whether this meant she would still prepare to take the throne using Etna City as a base even if Ortes’s plan failed, or if it came from her confidence that Ortes would never fail.

The meeting that began with Carisia’s sudden summons ended likewise with her dismissal.

The last two people remaining in the meeting room were Ortes and Carisia.

As Arabella left the room, she slightly turned her head.

Behind Carisia, Ortes stood with his hands behind his back, smiling subtly.

‘He always has that expression, so I can’t guess what he’s thinking…’

Ortes was…

‘I want to go home.’

…thinking about every office worker’s deepest desire.

***

“Old man.”

It was decided that Geriones would remain under the care of Bertrand’s Miners Guild for the time being. The reason was that it would be easier to control him since the two were already acquainted.

“Doesn’t your boss think we might join hands and stab her in the back?”

Bertrand shook his head.

“She probably thinks we wouldn’t be a threat even if we did. You should know better, having confronted her directly.”

Though humiliating, Geriones nodded readily. His opponent had used an absurd amount of magical power, and he had launched a surprise attack.

Yet he couldn’t land a single effective hit and was taken prisoner.

He had tried to eliminate a potential threat when he heard rumors of unrest in the slums and underworld, but he was the one who nearly got eliminated.

“So, how does the boss fight?”

“You’ve never fought her? From what I’ve heard, she’s quite fierce. Single-handedly annihilated the Lernian Tower and crushed every fool from the underworld who challenged her—a true tyrant.”

“The Miners Guild doesn’t get involved in such conflicts. Our bodies are our assets. We’re physically strong from our work, and some of us can use magic from handling magic stones. But that’s all.”

The Miners Guild was difficult for others to mess with, but conversely, they couldn’t expand their influence either. They were an organization limited to self-defense rather than expansion.

“Ah, so you bowed down when everyone else did?”

“That’s just being practical. We’re content to keep digging the earth and making a living as we always have. Now answer my question. How does she fight?”

“Like a crazed boar?”

Though blurted out impulsively, Geriones felt the term accurately described Carisia’s fighting style.

“Actually, it wasn’t light magic that tore off my arms. She broke them one by one with brute force. Then she fired a beam to vaporize the arms she had thrown aside.”

“Any notable equipment?”

“Does she use anything besides those gauntlets?”

“I see.”

Watching Bertrand nod, Geriones wondered why this old man who seemed uninterested in fighting was asking such detailed questions, until he remembered Bertrand’s race.

“You cunning old man. Planning to offer a bribe, are you?”

Dwarves were known as master artifact crafters as a race. Bertrand was clearly trying to curry favor with the city’s new ruler using his talents.

“It’s a survival strategy.”

Though his intentions were read, Bertrand responded nonchalantly. It was the wisdom of an old man who had learned through years of experience that if you can survive by simply giving appropriate gifts to those in power, it’s better to do so.

“Now let me ask you something. What kind of person is this Ortes fellow?”

The eight directors of Hydra were all notable figures in the city. And Ortes clearly acted as their superior.

“He doesn’t carry himself like just some scholar with the boss backing him.”

Particularly impressive was Criton’s demeanor. He was someone with considerable combat ability, capable of killing with three or four of his six arms if things went wrong, and he had a nasty temperament to boot. It was one thing for Criton to bow his head to Carisia as the boss, but to show such deference to Ortes as well?

Bertrand pondered deeply. Ortes had done too much to be explained in a few words, yet too little was known about him.

“First, let me correct one misconception. When the Lernian Tower was annihilated, Carisia was not alone.”

“You mean he was with her.”

“Yes. In every battle over control of the underworld, he was always by Carisia’s side. Stronger than anyone under Carisia, and trusted more than anyone else. You could call him the second-in-command of Hydra Company.”

***

“Now then, would you care to explain?”

As soon as all the directors left, Carisia spun her chair around to face me.

“Why you shared that false plan with them, rather than our true objective.”

Boss, destroying the Ten Councils is your objective, not “our” objective.