ALL NOVEL Chapter 124
“Seems like I’ve said just about everything in three words. There’s one thing I haven’t mentioned, but no one around here has heard of it, so let’s skip it. Four letters. I don’t quite fancy it as my real name either…”
If I had to pick the closest thing to a ‘name’ in this world, it would be that. Since it was a title I chose myself.
“It’s Orthes. My friends call me by this name. I’ve used five or six-letter names at some point, but—”
Since I was told to speak in short order, I started with the name Utis, but then realized there was no one around to hear the next name.
Danao had his eyes closed. His nerves were slowly fading away. It seemed his body, which had reached its limit, finally gave up the attempt to stay alive.
“Phew….”
It turned out to be much more different than expected, but somehow, the work was done.
Damn Argyrion. I never thought I’d be wasting the artifact I borrowed from Knemon to deal with them.
Initially, the plan was to secretly store the extra-dimensional artifacts in the hidden warehouse and socially send off the Tower Master. For some reason, Argyrion rushed in, close to a seizure, and I had to rely entirely on improvisation.
“First…”
I guess I need to turn the communication relay of the Mage Tower Core back on after returning to the Tower Master’s room.
The traitors who saw the illusions will testify that Danao was also their comrade, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to create the situation I wanted.
*
Since the news of the Elder of the Ten Towers being murdered, the flow of the magical society remained consistent.
That didn’t mean it wasn’t chaotic. The collective fury of the Ten Towers swept away all other news in the torrent of events, leaving no time for other topics to emerge.
But now, another storm was hitting the magical society.
The traitors who had eaten with Argyrion were now common stories, but this time the scale was different.
The Tower Master of the Apex Towers had betrayed them.
Dozens of agents from Argos, raised at the Amimone Tower, as well as the Tower Master of Amimone himself.
This was as far as ordinary folks knew. However, among the higher-ups, those who held key positions in the Mage Towers and knew one or two secrets of the magical society, rumors started to spread that the one who uncovered this massive conspiracy belonged to Blasphemia. The political landscape of the power struggle secretly ongoing within Panoptes had turned upside down.
Salmosia was rejoicing at the good fortune brought by L13.
“So, what did he demand? No need for supplies like enchanted wares or maintenance of artifacts?”
“He demanded nothing at all. He simply said he’d created a provisional list of clean candidates for Tower Master among the traitor-free factions of Amimone Tower, asking for fair competition…”
Niobe continued her report while hiding her feelings of frustration. Her senior had finished everything before the reinforcements even arrived and left her to deal with the aftermath.
Salmosia praised her as “a true model of an inspector,” but Niobe felt something was amiss.
It was far more palpable and realistic fatigue than any noble sense of duty or mission.
‘Feels like…’
I’m being chased by something. There was a sense of urgency that couldn’t be hidden even among the laughs. It could be explained by anger towards Argyrion, who shook the magical society, but Niobe felt different from the way her senior had been chasing Argyrion before.
*
“Damn it.”
As the extra-dimensional storm cleared and the broad communication network was restored, alarms flooded into my gauntlet device one after another.
Texts from Carisia asking why there was no news came in.
*
Knemon sat across from Orthes, whose appearance looked unusually fatigued. He had eyes and ears too. It was clear that this man was behind the great tragedy that had occurred in Algoth City.
Knemon knew Danao. Not to mention the greed of the whole world, he had a vast greed and a greater self-preservation instinct than all the greed combined within Algoth City.
That’s why Danao always targeted Mage Towers weaker than himself. His way of slowly increasing his size through safe and certain hunts.
There was no way Danao would do something crazy like teaming up with Argyrion. He was a man who meticulously pursued risks and returns, leaning more towards merchant than mage.
However, the world already knew Danao had colluded with Argyrion.
The price Knemon was to pay to Orthes was the Tower. However, how could a Tower that was openly known to have colluded with Argyrion possibly remain unscathed?
Thanks to the title of Tower Master, Amimone Tower hadn’t shattered yet, but it was as good as having received a death sentence.
“Haha, Mr. Knemon. I apologize.”
Therefore, the sudden opening of the conversation was the exact opposite of what Knemon had anticipated.
“… Huh?”
“I have a lot to apologize for… First, that bubble of silence, you know? I used it once.”
“What?”
Ever since Orthes suddenly asked to borrow it to take over Amimone Tower, Knemon had given up any hope of returning the Bubble of Silence.
Typically, items taken with “I’ll give it back later” don’t come back.
Knemon inadvertently lifted the bottle of the bubble he had received. The contents reflected in the light from the ceiling had slightly shrunk.
“Originally, I intended to use this as a pretext to oust the Tower Master of Amimone and secretly smuggle the real thing back to you, but things got tangled, and I ended up using it once. If there’s ever a chance I can help you, please let me know.”
“Uh, alright.”
Knemon trailed off. He thought the reason Orthes reclaimed the Bubble of Silence was that it could be an effective weapon if he ever stood against Hydra Corporation. A preemptive measure against possible betrayal.
Orthes returned the dangerous artifact with a calm demeanor, just like when he threw the Bubble of Silence at Knemon in the extra-dimensional contaminated zone.
“And about the Tower Master inauguration of Amimone…”
Knemon nearly had a panic attack. After all, wasn’t it this very Tower that Orthes had rendered incapable? The position of Tower Master of a Tower that would soon be dismantled held no meaning.
“I’m very sorry about that too. Originally, I planned to ensure the certification of Tower Master would be sent to you as soon as I return, but the process has now gotten a bit complicated.”
“What?”
“The Amimone Tower won’t be dismantled. I’ve arranged things with Blasphemia.”
Orthes, nonchalantly revealing that he was manipulating a pillar of Panoptes, dropped an even more shocking statement.
“You, Mr. Knemon, will be participating in the selection competition for the Tower Master of Amimone Tower as one of the responsible figures for its factions. I wish you good luck.”
*
Knemon, who couldn’t understand the situation, pressed Orthes for a detailed explanation. Orthes’s explanation was as follows.
If the Apex Towers were completely purged, the aftermath would be severe. The gray characters that had unknowingly traded with Argyrion would be unable to proceed when they revealed their true colors.
If the core hierarchy of the magical society, excluding the Ten Towers, was erased from existence, every Mage Tower that had traded even once with Argyrion would lose all prospects of recovery.
“Thus, it’s about leaving the name of the Amimone Tower while indicating the intent to ‘spare their lives’ at least. If only the Tower Master is changed, the Tower remains intact. The suggestion that you can be spared even after betraying them if you bring back the head of the traitor Tower Master.”
“No. What I’m curious about is how I made it into the list of candidates for the Tower Master of Amimone Tower.”
“Haha. Isn’t it well-known that Amimone Tower has a tentacle-like expansion? The Tower that resisted till the end will be trampled, but those who bow down willingly will be left as factions. You’re among those factions that were absorbed and merged, as we’ve prepared the documents.”
Knemon finally realized Orthes’s intention.
This was a test. ‘I’ll give you the chance to become Tower Master, so prove your ability.’ It must have been to check whether Knemon, who had been away from the field for a long time, met the standards.
At the same time, the reward was incredibly sweet. This upcoming selection competition for the Tower Master of Amimone was a formal procedure certified by the Ten Towers. In other words,
It was an opportunity to forever leave a record in the history of the magical society that his lost Tower had instead swallowed Amimone Tower.
“I apologize for things turning out this way.”
Orthes’s suspiciously smiling face looked delighted now. The expression of wanting to see his skills was something Knemon could accept joyfully this time.
“…I’ll do my best.”
*
Knemon understanding the situation was a relief. But the relief was short-lived.
“Hm.”
It was because of the boss in front of me. I had slipped away under the excuse of talking once I returned, but now I was cornered into a private meeting.