The magic core of a magic tower retains the memory of any magician who has authority to control it. The Ten Sages can access information about cores within their lineage.
This combination of facts implies that any unauthorized occupiers of a magic tower could be discovered at any time. Punishments for such trespassing vary depending on duration and reasons, but the severest penalty is an extermination order.
Unauthorized occupation is defined as failing to register changes within one month after a Tower Master’s replacement.
Registering as a Tower Master with a proper tower doesn’t impose obligations like taxation to higher towers. Thus, most new Tower Masters opt to pay fines rather than diligently register within the deadline.
“In other words, if Hydra Corp were to seize all the magic towers in Etna City, the proper towers would inevitably find out.”
While Baegmun concealed their personal goals thoroughly, they made no effort to hide the activities of Hydra Corp itself.
Her downfall was, to some extent, predictable from the moment she neglected her subordinates’ management.
I hope neither the proper towers nor our future protagonist Simon ever uncover Carisia’s true intentions.
“So, we won’t officially merge your tower, Geryon, or Caike’s tower.”
Geryon let out a bitter laugh, his self-deprecating tone suggesting he felt like a puppet with his future mortgaged.
“A figurehead. Though you’re generous in letting me live.”
You’re right—it’s generous. Anyhow.
He should have met his end when he challenged Carisia.
I quickly checked her expression to ensure she hadn’t noticed anything amiss. She didn’t seem dissatisfied.
“The three towers will ostensibly maintain a tense relationship, entering into… war.”
“Apologies. That phrasing wasn’t appropriate. They’ll enter into a competitive system.”
A false war orchestrated through Geryon—this was my hypothesis for why Carisia had captured him.
“Suddenly recruiting mercenaries or constructing new facilities wouldn’t raise suspicion. We’ll use that situation to restructure not only our organization but Etna City itself.”
“For more efficient and healthier directions.”
Ortes’ plan sounded revolutionary at best, delusional at worst.
The absurd goal of creating an eleventh Sage.
The biggest issue was that none of us here knew whether the artificial Tenth Rank created by Caike even existed.
As if voicing the board’s doubts, Geryon asked, “Since I’m a prisoner, asking for more than survival might be greedy. But I must ask—do you know how to locate the artificial Tenth Rank? Or even how to reach Caike?”
“Haven’t I already said? He’s inside Mount Etna.”
“Send a probe into the boiling lava? Or hire water or ice elemental mages to cool it while advancing?”
“That—”
Ortes’ flowing explanation abruptly halted. His usual smile faded, replaced by an almost blank expression—a side of him rarely seen.
Those observing closely noticed his gaze momentarily shift toward Carisia.
Then Ortes resumed with a faint smile.
“It’s a secret.”
Predictable. There’s probably only one person in this world capable of flustering him so.
“I don’t mean to imply distrust in all of you, please rest assured.”
Perhaps Ortes had overstepped the limits Carisia allowed.
Why does the chairman intend to extract Caike in a way even the board isn’t privy to?
And what exactly is Ortes’ relationship with the chairman?
Their bond is evident, but how they met and formed such a trusting relationship remains shrouded in mystery.
d*mn it.
I haven’t even thought about how we’ll meet him.
I hastily reassessed Carisia’s expression. Still the same faint smile—she hasn’t detected any inconsistencies in my ramblings yet. I’ll fudge the rest later.
The meeting concluded.
How to create tension and restructure the organization will be secondary once Caike is secured.
Thus, the final question of the meeting was: “What happens if we can’t find Caike?”
Carisia answered without hesitation: “Our mission doesn’t change.”
Whether this was a plan to rise to power using Etna City as a base regardless of Ortes’ success, or confidence in Ortes’ infallibility, none of the board members knew.
The meeting convened by Carisia’s sudden order ended with her dismissal.
Only Ortes and Carisia remained in the conference room.
As Arabel exited, she glanced back.
Behind Carisia stood Ortes, hands crossed behind his back, smiling gently.
‘With that perpetual expression, it’s impossible to guess what he’s thinking…’
Ortes, meanwhile, was contemplating every working person’s wish:
‘I want to go home.’
“Boss.”
It was decided that Bertrand’s Miner’s Guild would temporarily take charge of Geryon’s supervision due to their prior acquaintance, making him easier to control.
“Does your boss not think we two might conspire against her?”
Bertrand shook his head.
“Even if we did, it wouldn’t pose a threat. You know better than anyone after directly engaging her.”
Though humiliating, Geryon nodded. She had fought with absurd amounts of expended mana and under mysterious surprise attacks.
And he’d been captured without landing a single effective blow.
He had anticipated a formidable competitor amidst rumors of unrest in the slums and underworld, but instead found himself nearly eliminated.
“So, how does your boss fight?”
“Have you never seen her fight? Rumors say she’s fierce. She single-handedly wiped out the Lernian Tower and kept eliminating dark alley fools who dared challenge her—a tyrant.”
“The Miner’s Guild avoids such battles. Our bodies are our assets. While some among us are physically strong or dabble in magic due to handling mana stones, that’s all there is.”
Difficult for others to mess with, but incapable of expanding influence beyond self-preservation—that was the Miner’s Guild.
“Ah. So you decided to follow along when others did?”
“That’s just good politics. As long as we can keep digging and living as we always have, we’re content. Now answer me. How does she fight?”
“Crazed wild boar?”
The phrase slipped impulsively, but Geryon realized it aptly described Carisia’s fighting style.
“Indeed. It wasn’t light magic that tore off my arm. She simply twisted each limb with brute force until it snapped. She then vaporized the thrown arm with a beam.”
“What memorable equipment does she use?”
“Besides the gauntlet, does she use any other weapons?”
“Hmm.”
Seeing Bertrand nodding thoughtfully, Geryon wondered why this seemingly combat-uninterested old man was asking such trivial questions, until he remembered Bertrand’s race.
“Sharp old man. Planning to bribe her, aren’t you?”
Dwarves were renowned artisans of artifacts. Clearly, Bertrand intended to win favor with the city’s new ruler using his skills.
“Just survival strategy.”
Though his intentions were exposed, Bertrand replied nonchalantly. Decades of experience had taught him that appropriately gifting a ruler could suffice for survival.
“Now, let me ask you something. What exactly is Ortes?”
Among the eight directors of Hydra Corp, known for their individual strengths, Ortes acted as if superior to them all.
“He doesn’t seem like just a scholar backed by the boss.”
Particularly striking was Kreton’s attitude. Even though he could likely k*ll Ortes using three or four of his six arms in a bind, he still showed significant respect—an oddity given his terrible temper. And for Kreton to bow not only to Carisia but also to Ortes?
Bertrand hesitated. Summarizing Ortes in a few words was difficult; his deeds were too numerous, his known history too scarce.
“Let me correct one misconception first. Carisia wasn’t alone when she destroyed the Lernian Tower.”
“You mean he was with her.”
“Yes. In every battle affecting the underworld’s balance, he was always by Carisia’s side. Stronger than anyone under her, trusted above all others. Doesn’t that make him Hydra Corp’s second-in-command?”
*
“Now, will you explain?”
As soon as the board left, Carisia turned her chair to face me.
“Why reveal such a polished false plan instead of our real objective?”
Chairman, destroying the Ten Sages is your goal, not ‘our’ goal.
