In Carisia’s plan, Cnemon was to act as bait.
His role was to earnestly participate in the Tower Master selection and secure the qualifications for becoming a tower master. In other words, he was to fully pursue his ambition. The Argeyirion purge that Carisia was preparing would take place quietly, without anyone noticing.
“The Ten Towers will assign some task to verify the abilities of the tower master candidates, though we don’t know what it will be yet. But it’s certain that everyone will actively use off-field tactics.”
“Are you referring to assassinations?”
At Ortes’ question, Carisia nodded. The essence of the tower master selection was a process of elimination until only one remained.
If the number of participants could be reduced early on, naturally the probability of the candidate they were supporting advancing would increase.
“Well, assassination might be the easiest, but there will be other methods used as well. Like sponsors making agreements with each other to unify their candidates. Knowledge is a shareable commodity after all.”
Carisia, twirling her hair, spoke coolly.
“We’ll investigate those who ‘move the least’ first.”
Argeyirion must not attract attention. Secrets are most potent when few people know them. Off-field tactics inevitably expose the presence of the sponsors behind the candidates.
“There isn’t really much reason not to use such effective off-field strategies. Either a candidate lacks a sponsor, or the sponsor must remain hidden… Or, very rarely, the candidate has enough confidence not to need a sponsor at all.”
“I’ll compile a list of candidates without sponsors and report back.”
“Oh, that’s fine. Director Arabel will handle it.”
A certain full-body enchanted magic user wearing spider-like gear was once again groaning over another late night at work.
“There are two things we need to do. Protect Cnemon, who will become the tower master, and track down Argeyirion.”
Ortes nodded. Even if Argeyirion didn’t attempt to assassinate Cnemon, the sponsors behind the other candidates were different. However, a question arose.
“Cnemon may have stepped away from active duty, but he’s a survivor from the Adjacent Extradimensional Zone. Would guarding him even be necessary?”
Here, the issue wasn’t about the necessity of protection, but its effectiveness.
The front line against extradimensional threats was so dangerous it was aptly called the “Magical Frontier.” Someone who had survived there with all five senses intact – though Cnemon might not agree with this assessment since he’d recently reconnected with Ortes – and now lived a peaceful retirement life, was undoubtedly a formidable individual.
The forces sent to assassinate someone like Cnemon wouldn’t be something ordinary guards could handle.
For the initial attempts, they might send run-of-the-mill assassins, but those deliberately chosen to target the remains of the Proper Tower would be highly skilled adversaries whose abilities shouldn’t be underestimated.
“To meaningfully affect an assassination attempt on Cnemon, one would need at least someone on the level of the Hydra Corp board members.”
This was the crux of the problem. The directors of Hydra Corp were already overworked according to Carisia’s plans. If she left her post to hunt down Argeyirion, the workload on each director would only increase.
“Let’s assign Kine.”
Carisia responded dispassionately.
“Pardon?”
Ortes, who had expected to personally guard Cnemon while Carisia chased Argeyirion from behind the scenes, was surprised by the unexpected answer.
“I’ve tested Kine’s skills multiple times. Both in concealing divine power and projecting magical energy, they’re perfect.”
An essential aspect of Kine’s combat capabilities was their use of divine power. Unlike magic, which distorts the natural order, divine power reflects it, thus promoting natural healing regardless of sect.
Carisia had focused precisely on this point during Kine’s training.
“Kine can simultaneously wield divine power internally while using magic externally. I call it multi-tasking of dual abilities.”
By continuously healing internally while masking the presence of divine power with external magic, Kine gained the endurance to continue fighting indefinitely unless instantly killed.
“In case of emergency, Kine can revive Cnemon or, should Cnemon d*e, hold onto his soul through necromancy. There’s no better guardian than Kine.”
Ortes couldn’t deny that there was no more suitable candidate. Unbeknownst to him, Carisia had transformed a survivor of a fallen sect into a powerful agent.
“If Cnemon dominates the tower master selection with our support, other forces will also grow stronger. While Kine blocks these approaches, we’ll track Argeyirion among those who don’t approach, correct?”
Carisia reluctantly nodded.
‘If I were Haltos…’
While moving to claim the remains of the Amimone Magic Tower, I would have planned my moves assuming interference from Ortes. Not just preparing contingency plans if Ortes appeared, but structuring the entire strategy on the assumption that Ortes would inevitably interfere.
Thus, Carisia wished to stay close to Ortes, but the rational part of her mind pointed out that this would be wasteful.
Among her assets, none were as powerful as Ortes. If Argeyirion attempted to oppose Ortes, they would need preparations sufficient to assassinate at least one of the elders of the Ten Towers.
Exploring only one direction at a time was too inefficient, and the means to threaten Ortes were limited.
Caught between concern and logic, Carisia reached a compromise.
“We’ll search separately, but if anything suspicious arises, call me.”
*
Cnemon adjusted his clothes uncomfortably. He was at Algus City’s grand banquet hall.
Naturally, Cnemon, invited as a candidate for the Amimone Magic Tower master position, had an uncomfortable presence following him.
Carisia, Kine, and Ortes.
Cnemon was mostly bothered by the last person, though the first occasionally made him uneasy as well.
Especially now.
“Kine is insurance.”
Before the Ten Towers announced the detailed procedures for the Amimone Magic Tower master selection, they gathered the candidates for a private meeting. Carisia, attending as Cnemon’s sponsoring organization, spoke softly.
“What kind of insurance do you mean?”
“Your d*ath.”
Cnemon was an astute man and understood everything from the situation. When Carisia signaled, Kine demonstrated ominous shadow flames flickering at the tip of their finger.
It was an impeccable purity of dark elemental magic, indicating that despite Kine’s youthful appearance, they possessed deep expertise in dark magic, specifically necromancy, as hinted earlier.
“I suppose I should thank you.”
The opportunity to reign above the heads of his family’s enemies was within reach. Cnemon did not want his perfect revenge ruined by an unexpected assassination.
Even as a marionette controlled by necromancy, continuing life was preferable. After all, he was already being manipulated by Ortes; it wasn’t particularly objectionable.
Having decided to focus on observing potential competitors rather than worrying about his guardian-c*m-surveillance officer, Cnemon turned his attention elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Kine was perplexed.
‘What am I even doing here…?’
Called almost daily by the boss and pushed around before suddenly being deployed into actual combat. Wasn’t my original role supposed to be infiltrating Museion, getting special recruitment into the Black Archives, and handling internal information leaks?
Ortes had explained that there were ‘other ways’ to draw attention from the Ten Towers, but…
‘To thwart assassination attempts on the tower master candidate?’
Before taking this position, Ortes had muttered something about, “If you perfectly complete this mission, you’ll suddenly be recognized as a prodigious magician.”
‘Right. A sudden prodigy stopping assassins would certainly draw attention!’
While Kine silently fumed at Ortes, Ortes looked around.
As fitting an event meant to subtly hint at redemption for traitors, this private gathering was unusually lavish given it took place in a city recently devastated by a magical disaster just days ago.
‘Those figures over there look familiar from the Proper Tower registry.’
Ortes’ primary observation targets weren’t the tower master candidates but the sponsors behind them. If any of them had accepted patronage from Argeyirion, it would significantly shorten the process of tracking them down.
However, no collaborators were visible even under subtle scrutiny.
‘My luck isn’t good enough for things to go this easily… Wait?’
Someone was approaching the Hydra Corp group. Ortes’ squinted eyes furrowed.
