episode_0193

“How is the evacuation proceeding?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Most of the survivors have already evacuated to other clan territories.”

The man on the hologram explained.

He said that the clans were aware of the Magnabyss members’ presence and were cooperating by condoning their actions.

“I see. You’ve been through a lot.”

Valefor said in a tired voice. The sleeve of his left arm hung loose from where his elbow should have been.

The man on the screen felt grief at his appearance but didn’t show it.

“I was just lucky.”

The former chairman of Magnabyss felt dizzy as the atrocities of the insane terrorists came to mind.

What sight could be more terrifying than falling from a great height with tens of thousands of tons of debris?

The malicious terrorists repeatedly rammed large trucks loaded with explosives comparable to an aerial bombardment. If he had been unlucky, his body wouldn’t have been recovered, just like the other executives.

After being found and rescued by hunters immediately after the accident, Albert was now secretly moving to handle the situation in place of the chairman.

“More than that, Julius’s situation is the problem. To think even the command and control center was attacked…”

The Grand Archmage groaned. The Ariel Group had stormed the command and control center, turning it into an inferno with overwhelming firepower, and then detonated a large quantity of explosives, sacrificing themselves.

The Chief Mission Operations Officer, who boasted the second-highest position in the clan after the chairman, vanished without a trace.

“…I also feel regret about Julius’s matter. But don’t worry too much. We have replacement personnel at the continental branches. They haven’t been able to touch those yet.”

Former Chairman Paxton felt a somewhat bitter taste from the Grand Archmage’s words. With crucial personnel vanishing in an instant, it would take a considerable amount of time to restore Magnabyss to its original level.

“However, the biggest problem is with the academy.”

The Archmage spoke casually, but the face of the chairman on the hologram twisted in displeasure.

Though he was currently just a figurehead, he too was once a disciple of the Grand Archmage.

To think a project years in the making vanished in an instant. Where could they find personnel to replace Dr. Sturges and his research team?

“…I am ashamed. Shortly after sending a rescue team led by Kroshel and Kaim, the facility itself was blown up. Team member Kaim is missing, presumed dead.”

“What about Kroshel? Is there any possibility of revival?”

Paxton shook his head.

“It’s impossible. Through the Inspection Bureau and Federal informants, we were only able to recover some body parts and part of his head. Even those were caught in the explosion and are not intact.”

The tools have diminished. Valefor clicked his tongue with regret.

“It’s a pity. That one was the most promising specimen. It will take time to cultivate another one of that caliber. With other specimens also captured, the blow is significant.”

“There’s an opinion that we can extract some memories from the brain if we spend time. What should we do?”

The Grand Archmage nodded in agreement. What’s broken can simply be replaced. If they insert data, they might be able to reduce the deployment speed.

“The disappearance of the doctor is a tragedy, but we cannot stop the plan. Other clans, and even the Federation, are already proceeding with their own projects, they say. This is an arms race. Do you understand what I mean?”

“You’ve said that before. I always remember.”

The Grand Archmage gave detailed instructions on the direction of future plans, troop deployment, and the utilization of slush funds and assets.

The chairman faithfully carried out the instructions and devised a plan for withdrawal to the continent.

“What are your thoughts on the network construction plan?”

“Regrettably, we must abandon it. We can’t keep clinging to it just because of the sunk costs. Prepare the second plan again. The one we started but stopped before.”

“The second plan, you mean…”

“If we can’t win by quantity, we must compensate with size. If necessary, seek cooperation from the Luminxa Foundation. Biotechnology is their specialty. We have a few debts with them from before, so we should be able to get help from the chairman and his sibling.”

Paxton’s eyes, which had been calmly organizing the Grand Archmage’s instructions, wavered for a moment.

“…By sibling, do you mean Laplaxia? I’d ask you to reconsider that instruction. Chairman Raihan is a madman.”

“Yes, he is mad. That’s precisely why he’ll be even more interested in our ideas. He’ll cooperate actively out of curiosity alone.”

Many people would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. However, those who find joy in life by making the means themselves the end are very rare.

The Luminxa Foundation chairman’s twin sibling was such a being.

For a while, Valefor issued detailed commands. The chairman at the hideout meticulously recorded and discussed his instructions.

Before long, the end approached.

“Must you really go to them? Wouldn’t it be better if I took all the blame instead?”

Chairman Paxton worried. To bow down to the Federation first? Depending on the situation, he might be imprisoned for several years.

“Someone must buy time from the outside. And that someone must be a person no one can easily touch. Currently, there is only one such individual in our clan.”

“Didn’t you say that left arm was the work of the Obsidian Legion? If you enter Federation territory…”

“It’s merely a suspicion. And don’t they say, ‘The darkest place is right under the lamp’ [a proverb meaning the most obvious things are often overlooked because of their proximity]? The Federation’s jurisdiction is actually advantageous to me. And if the Legion themselves come to find me, I should be glad. Though our directions differ, Sycamore and I have a common goal. Negotiations won’t be difficult.”

The Grand Archmage said so, calculating possible negotiation terms in his mind.

For instance, the Obsidian Legion Vanguard.

‘The enemy’s identity is unknown, and a significant portion of the clan’s assets and personnel have vanished.’

It was a grim situation. Nevertheless, the Grand Archmage remained unperturbed.

Holding a promise to return, he was ready to willingly face hardship.

The time had come. Valefor, having concluded his call, prepared to leave the hospital room.

Before stepping out, he took out an old pocket watch he kept in his pocket and looked at it. It was a scratched antique, but one of the few items he cherished.

‘Over a century has passed.’

The Grand Archmage opened the lid of the pocket watch. Inside, a small photograph was affixed.

A faded early color photograph, an old memory.

A gray-haired young man in a classic officer’s uniform and an orange-haired woman sat side-by-side, smiling.

It was a long-past affair.

Valefor, who had been gazing at the photo with a complex expression, decisively closed the pocket watch’s lid.

He was helped out the door.

Amidst the spotlights of countless reporters, the chairman boarded the armored vehicle.

**

When former Chairman Valefor was taken away by the Federation, many people were dismayed.

Among them was the alliance of small and medium-sized clans that had been preparing an offensive.

“What do we do now? The Federation has taken everything…”

“That’s true. But what is there to hesitate about? With the Cascades family supporting us, and the Federation taking the lead, this is an opportunity. Let’s charge in now!”

Thus, the clans launched a media offensive.

Of course, their primary actions focused on devouring the ownerless and empty businesses.

As if to reclaim all the lost profits and unfair treatment they had endured, the clans recovered the concessions and divided them amongst themselves.

Meanwhile, there were also groups acting more aggressively.

“Lady Adela Cascades, the next head of the family, currently enrolled at Aegis Academy, was subjected to assassination threats from Magnabyss’s Mystical Investigation Department and Vanguard agents. This will be considered a hostile act against the Cascades family, and we will certainly retaliate…”

The Violets shouted as they saw the familiar-looking beauty appearing on the live broadcast.

“Wow, it’s Adela Unnie!”

An elderly elder was giving a speech from a classic podium adorned with ornate carvings, while family members, including Adela, sat behind him.

「Wow, they’re moving in cooperation with the Federation Army?」

「They’re absolutely going for the kill.」

The Violets grinned widely.

Now the Magnabyss Clan was completely finished.

Though who would seize influence in the empty Western District remained unknown.

While people thus proclaimed their own definitions of justice, there were also those with long faces.

Not everyone could rejoice in the realization of justice.

Especially if it was a group that had once sided with evil.

“The Ariel Group, huh…”

In the meeting room of the Helios Clan headquarters. Rigel Solstice gripped his throbbing head and inhaled sharply.

While his relatives couldn’t voice their opinions and merely exchanged glances, the purple-haired woman frowned.

“Everyone, please calm down. Support from Magnabyss has been cut off, and some internal factions are watching us warily. We are in turmoil. Any suggestions?”

A cousin shouted.

“Damn it! How can we calm down? Didn’t you all see that broadcast? They said the Ariel Group! Undoubtedly, those guys. They’re clearly the ones who were guarding that girl, Irene!”

“It could be a namesake…”

“Are your eyes buttonholes? Are you deaf? Their actions and fighting style are similar! Don’t you get it? Either Orion Solstice was in league with those terrorist bastards before he was cut in half, or Irene has some strange backer! Whatever the case, we’re finished!”

Rigel felt despair as he watched invisible fissures forming among the relatives gathered to seize clan shares.

‘Damn it, no way. Those terrorists…?’

He tried hard to deny it, but he couldn’t help but consider the possibility.

What if the Ariel Group, which was guarding Irene, was the same organization that caused the serial terror attacks in the Western District?

‘Not only did they rescue my brother’s only daughter, but now they’ve even made our backer disappear. This is absurd…’

It was an organization that crippled a giant clan overnight, so dealing with them would be like twisting a child’s wrist [an idiom meaning it would be extremely easy].

“…Have we ascertained Irene’s whereabouts?”

“We’re looking! Her movements have been observed in several places, but…”

Amidst the noisy meeting, Rigel quietly rose.

The gazes of relatives from both sides focused on him.

“Everyone. Let’s calm down. So what if they’re terrorists? While attention is on Magnabyss, the Ariel Group is an organization designated as a terrorist group by the Federation. If it’s indeed the same organization, this is an opportunity to legally expel that girl. Let’s report them!”

A young cousin stammered, asking.

“B-but… they’re the organization that crushed the Four Great Clans, aren’t they? What if they’re close with Irene?”

Rigel forced himself to speak loudly, trying to conceal his trembling.

“No way! She’s clearly being used!”

Even as he spoke, he was half in doubt internally.

His niece had the weakness of being young and inexperienced, but she wasn’t foolish.

As Rigel continued to think, he felt a chill.

Regardless of whether they were terrorists or not, how could they possibly contend with such a bodyguard unit now? Especially when they had neither Stregonix nor Magnabyss’s assassins.

‘Damn it, no way. Surely not…’

Rigel wanted to just throw everything away and have a drink.

**

While everyone focused on their own affairs, the Violets were forming new friendly relationships.

“So, there are multiple Violets?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“We are ‘Revenge’!”

Sophieel couldn’t help the smile that slowly bloomed as she watched the grinning Violets.

‘They’re cute…?’

It was a few days before the special interview with the scholarship officer.