The Vicada Traveling Troupe’s leader, Vicada, felt that the atmosphere of Etna City had somehow changed.
The first thing that caught his attention was the heat.
Despite being located next to a volcano, the heat surrounding Etna City was gradually cooling down.
The easiest way to notice this was the color of the sky. The more active the volcano, the gloomier the sky was bound to be.
This was due to the volcanic ash being spewed by Mount Etna. Vicada recalled that for about a year, the sky around Etna City had been relatively clear.
Now, a thick gray cloud full of impurities loomed over the sky.
‘Is it the volcano’s active period?’
Generally, a volcano’s active period is a natural disaster, but in this city, the story was different. The energy of the activated land supplies magic power to the entire city and increases fossil production.
To liken it to agriculture, it was a sign of a good harvest. Vicada let out a sigh mixed with regret.
When the local economy becomes bearable, the popularity of products used to escape reality, like electronic drugs, decreases. It’s clear that this outing would yield much less profit.
“I’ll have to increase the circus’s presence.”
He pressed a button on the gauntlet strapped to his right hand. It was a wearable computer to manage the enchanted body modification device, the Enchantware, implanted into Vicada’s own body.
The solution injected directly into his spine washed away his worries.
A rising sense of happiness. The world looked shining, even though the amount of light hadn’t changed. While swimming in jubilation, Vicada suddenly heard a buzzing noise that made his head throb.
The wearable computer warned him of low residual fluid.
‘Meconion…’
She was a drug manufacturer no one could catch in this area. Vicada found it hard to understand her peculiar hatred for the new era’s electronic drugs, but wasn’t the nature of spirits naturally fickle?
Half of her was a spirit, so perhaps she inherited their quirks. It had been a while since Vicada headed towards the green paradise of the gray city.
“Hello?”
Instead of the green-haired Alraune hybrid he expected, he was greeted by a suspiciously dressed human.
*
Had the owner changed in the meantime? Where was Meconion?
Vicada responded composedly. He had received entry permission from Geryon.
The Geryon crew might be money-loving scoundrels, but as long as you handed them cash, there wouldn’t be any major trouble, and they’d do the work equivalent to what they received. Unlike the tyrants of Lernian Tower.
‘Could it be that Pythos Tower has finally made a move after decades of silence?’
Even if Kaicle surfaced again, there was no reason for someone with enough wealth and power to stretch a hand into a drug den like this. They had no motive to come down to the Underworld.
Could Lernian Tower have swallowed up Meconion’s den?
This seemed quite plausible. But showing Geryon’s entry pass would likely make them retreat while being reluctant. They were strong only in their corners.
“I apologize for the delay in introduction. I am Orthes from Hydra Corporation.”
“Hydra Corporation?”
It was the first time he had heard that name. It hadn’t existed when he visited here two months ago. Was it a new force challenging Etna City’s long-standing tripartite system?
“We received permission to enter from Geryon.”
Regardless, if it were still a nascent force that hadn’t yet established a foundation, it wouldn’t take actions that could escalate into a full-blown war against the existing powers. Vicada attempted to use Geryon’s authority as a shield to exit the den.
“I am aware.”
Aware?
“Geryon escaped from us a few days ago. It seems Pythos Tower helped him. You can’t see him inside the city, can you? We took a look at the entry logs he issued.”
What in the world was he saying?
Even at the fastest, just over two months. Was there a force that had grown strong enough to subdue Geryon to the extent that Pythos Tower felt threatened?
“Could Geryon be hiding somewhere inside the city, or is he trying to escape outside to regroup?”
The slithery-eyed man suspected the traveling troupe. Suspected them as an external force trying to assist Geryon’s escape.
“No! N-no, there’s been a misunderstanding! We don’t have the ability or the will to do that!”
“A misunderstanding?”
The thin-eyed man drew a line across his brow.
“What misunderstanding are you talking about?”
He was skilled at pressuring opponents by leveraging authority. Vicada’s nerves were on edge from the threats that felt like they could stall his drinking buzz.
Making a reckless excuse like “We aren’t affiliated with Geryon!” here would be a bad idea. He’d seize the opportunity to say, “Affiliated? You mentioned that, didn’t you? Sounds suspicious.”
What to do now?
How can he survive this situation?
Vicada recalled the atmosphere of the den once more. The faces inside were no different than before. If Meconion had died, the regulars wouldn’t just sit still.
“Meconion! She’ll guarantee our identity! We only handed money over to Geryon, and received nothing in return! So why would we risk our lives for him?”
Orthes nodded.
“Is that right, Director Meconion?”
From inside the den, a blood-soaked Alraune hybrid stepped out.
“You two, please converse properly.”
*
Although Orthes vacated the spot, Vicada didn’t speak freely. Thinking that he wouldn’t be eavesdropping would be foolish.
“What the heck is going on? What’s this Hydra Corporation?”
In her bewildered tone, Meconion replied with a faint smirk.
“A monstrous organization that devoured Lernian Tower. We barely survived.”
She explained to Vicada what had transpired in Etna City over the past month. Lernian had collapsed, the Underworld unified. Geryon had been defeated, narrowly escaping to save his life, and Kaicle from Pythos Tower had returned.
“Bad timing to return, Vicada. The three towers are now in the thick of war preparations.”
“Damn! Information like this doesn’t circulate in this backwater city! I wouldn’t have come if I’d known! Couldn’t you at least have given me a hint?”
“Didn’t you hear? I’m affiliated with Hydra Corporation. It means I’m on a tight leash.”
“Damn. What’s that guy even after?”
Meconion shrugged her shoulders. Vicada felt a sense of kinship from her trembling figure, recalling Orthes.
“I’ve got one piece of advice for you. Just beg to show them anything.”
“But, hey. We have things in our troupe-”
Dangerous levels of illegal substances and lethal weapons that were clearly marked illegal by most towers. And slaves kept for special purposes.
“Ha. Is that more precious than your life?”
“……”
“Because of Lernian Tower’s preferences, narcotics weren’t banned in their territory. Hydra Corporation was too busy expanding its influence to care about the law. So they couldn’t pick at minor legal issues to extort more.”
“Hmm…”
“I know because I’ve been through it. That guy may be cracked, but he sticks to his word. If Geryon isn’t in your troupe, he’ll send you compensation.”
*
Vicada expressed his desire to survive, whether in the safe or by the bed, wherever it might be.
Orthes’ response was succinct.
“I’ll be over shortly.”
The suggestion of unexpected inspection. Vicada clicked his tongue and exited the den.
Meconion, who watched his back, asked.
“Is it really necessary to go through all this trouble? Wouldn’t it be better to ask for a relic outright?”
“There are several reasons.”
At some point, Orthes came back with tea and handed a cup to Meconion. Surprised by the unexpected delicacy, she exclaimed in admiration.
“What is this? It’s well brewed!”
“The Boss is particular. The first reason is the rumor.”
As Vicada had mentioned, rumors in a quiet place like Etna City don’t circulate well. It was the same for the Ether Network, the internet for Mages.
“Vicada will spread the tension in Etna City. From the perspective of the Ten Towers, no matter how much we gather magic and whatever we do, they’ll see it as just a cute fight among the lower towers.”
They needed someone talkative who could spread Hydra Corporation’s war theatrics, and Vicada happened to be suitable for the task.
“And the second?”
“They have nothing to hide from me. It’s only natural since Geryon isn’t with them. They won’t want to arouse any unnecessary suspicion and won’t hide anything.”
“You think they would’ve hidden it if they had asked for a relic from the start?”
“How often do you find people in this era who believe in gods? They’ve probably dealt with hardships and have been kicked around. If he’d approached directly, they would’ve shrunk back.”
Meconion looked at Orthes with skeptical eyes. They went through all this trouble because of the uncertain possibility that they might hide something?
Orthes recalled the magical troops secretly operating in the Ten Towers.
Those who inherited the teachings of the old gods. The extermination squad of the Ten Towers aimed at eliminating primitive priests possessing divine power.
If there truly were followers of Bacchus in Vicada’s Traveling Troupe, and if even rumors reached the extermination squad, it was obvious they would hide the relic.
About an hour later, Orthes got up from his seat.
“Well then. Shall we go look for it?”
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