Clack, clack. The sound of heels striking the floor echoed through the room.
It was the only sound in the otherwise silent conference chamber. A woman dressed in black naturally took her place at the head of the table as if it were predetermined by the flow of water itself.
Her snow-white hair flowing, she surveyed those present with an imposing gaze that seemed to look down from a great height even though everyone sat at the same level. Those who met her eyes couldn’t help but tremble.
“Nice to meet you all. My name is Carisia.”
Arabel, looking at Carisia, thought to herself:
“Not in the slightest.”
Over the past few months, this mysterious witch had suddenly appeared, upending the balance of power in the underworld and dismantling several criminal organizations.
While naive fools whispered about her being a “saint” due to her radiant light magic illuminating the darkness of the slums, Arabel knew better.
The light magic may have been divine, but the woman’s nature was far crueler than anyone else’s.
Who could call someone who watched people evaporate into golden mist a saint?
“This gathering includes both those meeting me for the first time, and those who already know me,” Carisia continued softly.
Arabel half-listened while lowering her gaze.
Polite words and honorifics aside, the message was clear: “This territory is mine. Bow down or face consequences.”
But there was no real choice. Those who had tried to oppose had met spectacular deaths long ago.
“Heads that are many must inevitably split,” Carisia said. “But we will be different.”
Including Carisia, nine leaders had chosen to submit to her authority. Together they would be known as Hydra Corporation.
Arabel bit her lip. Like the mythological beast their organization was named after, not all heads were equal. There was one central head that granted them immortality.
An implicit threat regarding the hierarchy between Carisia and the other leaders.
“With this declaration, our fates are bound under the name of Hydra Corp.”
Though Arabel bowed her head in submission, she briefly considered assassination before shaking her head.
Because of the man standing silently behind Carisia, his presence almost imperceptible unless you focused on him. He blended into the background like a faint shadow.
If Carisia was the immortal center of the hydra, this man was its poison.
“Ortes.”
Some called him Carisia’s bodyguard. Others called him her strategist.
Arabel both affirmed and denied these titles. Neither fully captured who he was. If anything…
“Confidant.”
The only one Carisia truly trusted to share her inner thoughts.
As Arabel signed the contract, she licked her lips.
To eliminate Carisia, she’d first need to deal with him.
I thought to myself:
“d*mn.”
After living in this world as Ortes for over a decade, I had finally discovered the true identity of my employer – and the world itself.
Carisia was the antagonist of this story, and this world was fictional.
Rather than “taking office,” the more appropriate term for what I was witnessing would be “ascending the throne.”
And with that realization, I began contemplating my escape.
“Employer.”
After the eight leaders who had submitted to Carisia had left, I quietly spoke to her.
She slightly shook her head.
“Could I humbly request permission to resign?”
A flash of white light passed by my neck – magic moving at the speed of light.
Impressive. The wall where the spell hit only scorched slightly, suggesting it wasn’t a full-powered attack.
Her personality had always been twisted since the day we met, and apparently hadn’t improved when it came to reacting to talk of leaving.
“What’s the problem now?”
“Let me ask you instead – what problem makes you want to leave?”
Her smile was charming – to someone who didn’t know her well.
Having worked under Carisia for years, I knew how rare genuine smiles were from her.
“What more could I possibly do to assist you, Employer? You’ve consolidated all the organizations in the city, and those remaining aren’t worth mentioning. I’m sure I’m no longer needed…”
I never finished my sentence. Carisia had covered her ears with both hands – an obviously childish gesture uncharacteristic of her usually composed demeanor.
I sighed. As one of the founding members, I felt I had done enough, but apparently Carisia wanted to keep using me.
“Why are you really doing this?”
“You’re addressing me incorrectly.”
When we first met, I didn’t even know her name, so “Employer” had stuck. She had never complained until now.
Recalling the departing leaders earlier gave me insight.
Ah, officially she was now “Chairman.” Even though Hydra Corp operated in a legal gray area by consolidating illegal enterprises, the title remained.
Coming from a noble background, her sensitivity to such titles made sense.
“Yes, Chairman.”
With certainty, I addressed her with the new title.
Her expression soured. Had I done something wrong? But no, it shouldn’t be that…
“Dismissed. You may go.”
Her graceful hand motion belied her true nature – something I knew all too well.
Bowing politely, I exited what would become the Chairman’s office.
What did I have left to do here? Searching my fading memories of the original story, I wandered on.
Carisia sighed. That unpredictable person.
Does he realize how much more relaxed he becomes around me? Blinking twice, she absentmindedly polished the fountain pen Ortes had procured for her.
Her pale fingers caressed the pen’s surface.
Much remained to be done. Establishing Hydra Corp was merely the first step in her family’s revenge.
First, she needed to transfer the magical tower license from the organization she had dismantled to her own name.
Reviewing the paperwork for the Mage’s Guild submission, she glanced toward the door Ortes had exited through.
Despite all their shared history, he still teased her with resignation threats.
Unconsciously, she voiced her petulant thoughts:
“…I told you to use my name.”
He never did in the end.
Returning to my room, I first inspected the environment. In this world where magitech thrived, money could buy technology rivaling or surpassing modern civilization.
Which meant eavesdropping was a real concern.
Even after we had thoroughly cleaned the building after taking it over, one could never be too careful.
Especially with the risk that one of today’s eight leaders might have planted listening devices.
“Though I’m clumsy with magic…”
Pre-made spells were available for purchase. Inserting a USB-like device into my gauntlet terminal…
The correct term was Magic Imprint Drive, but “USB” felt more familiar.
A crackling noise filled the air as green magical energy swept the room. Various decorations like flower vases and clocks glowed green.
“My, my. Everyone’s so quick.”
I destroyed the hidden surveillance devices. While skilled mages might trace the magic back to me, I wasn’t a mage.
“I’ll overlook today’s incident. Next time, I’ll arrange a personal meeting with the Chairman for whoever’s responsible.”
One advantage of serving under powerful figures – you can leverage their name.
Who would want a private meeting with Carisia after already signing a merger agreement?
Then, let me organize the original story.
I picked up my pen.
*
Hidden in Ortes’ room, Arabel felt her composure slipping. Using the latest stealth suit technology combined with her unique magic to suppress her presence, she had achieved near-perfect invisibility.
Even the slightest air disturbances or carbon dioxide traces were masked by her carefully honed abilities developed during her information-gathering days in the city’s underworld.
Yet he had casually seen through her and dismissed the matter with “I’ll overlook it.” What incredible skill.
By mentioning a “personal meeting with the Chairman,” Ortes had effectively warned the leaders against trying to contact him directly – a preemptive strike against any plans of collusion.
Arabel carefully reduced her form further and slipped out through the door gap.
Surely, his warning wasn’t directed at those who installed the surveillance devices?
Shaking her head, she realized it was aimed at her.
Only after destroying each device did Ortes speak – clearly targeting her hiding in the room.
Biting her lip, Arabel accepted that for now, she would have to submit to the authority of Carisia and Ortes.
