For regular trading between the Torres Faction and Argyrion, the first ruins seem more suitable than the second ruins.
This analysis is based on the size and excavation status of the two ruins. The scale and manpower of the first ruins are significantly greater than that of the second, so it wouldn’t be strange to have frequent personnel changes since it’s still in the initial stages of excavation.
Thus, from Argyrion’s perspective, which needs to periodically exchange Silver Thread Hosts…
As Arabella excitedly expounded this reasoning, she suddenly realized she had said ‘too much.’ Orthes had somehow left the room without her noticing.
The only ones left in the President’s Office were Carisia and herself.
Arabella tried hard to keep her expression neutral. She hadn’t even hinted at any talk of Secret Inspectors or the like yet.
‘I just brought up a theory that there’s something going on between the Torres Faction and Argyrion…’
But as extraordinary Mages tend to be, Carisia’s insight was extraordinary. She would surely realize from Arabella’s confident demeanor that she was aware of Orthes’s hidden identity.
While waiting anxiously for a judgment, Arabella noticed a peculiar smile lingering on Carisia’s lips.
“I heard you well, Director Arabella. I’ll take my leave now.”
‘W-what?’
Arabella realized she had been spared from execution. Could it be that her information-gathering skills or insight were highly valued?
Unexpected mercy. Maybe it was a declaration of sharing secrets to some extent.
Pondering her mixed feelings, Arabella muttered…
“Guess I’ll just take a nap.”
Deciding to return to the dreamland she was abruptly banished from.
*
Arabella’s reasoning seemed quite rational at first glance.
However, there was another issue.
Time.
For Argyrion to cooperate so extensively with the Torres Tower, sufficient time must establish a foundation of mutual business trust.
It made no sense that such an elaborate cooperation framework was set up right after the Elysion Terror incident.
For this reason, I regarded Arabella’s theory as somewhat of a joke, but it seemed Carisia thought differently.
If one had to choose a site, she advised heading to the first excavation site, which Arabella theorized to be the trading location between Argyrion and the Torres Tower.
In reality, the advice from the President was less of a suggestion and more akin to a direct order. I didn’t add any other comments and complied with the command.
For convenience, I referred to it as the first excavation site of the Torres Faction in Arabella’s report, but naturally, an official name existed.
“Cretera…”
An island adrift atop a giant lake, currently a ruin that served no city purpose. It seemed extensive excavation work was being conducted, even bringing in a mobile Mage Tower Core typically used by Magic Engine Trains.
Using the intermission, I accessed the Ether Network. The location I was searching was the Fixernet, where troubleshooters posted feedback on requests or evaluations of clients.
I lightly skimmed over the reviews of orders from the Torres Tower.
The first review that popped up stated how one shouldn’t take on slave transportation jobs since getting assigned to the wrong responsibilities would just spoil one’s mood. Excluded posts that included the term “slave” in search filters.
As usual, there were no other reviews beyond the statement that excavation work was hard labor.
The mundane reviews, laden with boredom and fatigue, oddly reassured me.
‘If an artifact like the Talisman of Thunder had been discovered, the Fixernet would be quite noisy.’
If the Talisman had already entered the hands of the Torres Tower, extracting it would be quite bothersome.
‘Unless it’s in transit to the main tower or under research in a branch, if it’s just sitting in a vault of the main tower, that would stir a huge commotion.’
After scanning the Fixernet a few more times, I decided what to do next.
‘It seems there are plenty of dangerous environments inside the ruins. I’ll go in as a temporary troubleshooter, gauge the atmosphere, and if things go south…’
I’ll snag the artifact with my eyes wide open.
*
The Mages of the Torres Faction conducting excavation work on Crete Island were always thirsty for new personnel.
Archaeological excavations inherently come with many casualties.
Ruins from the Mythological Era were originally spaces dedicated to the gods and were filled with devices to execute unauthorized intruders on the spot, while the ruins from the end of the Mythological Era were practically plastered with anti-magic traps due to the wars with Mages.
Ruins from the Mage City Era weren’t exactly welcoming to Mages either, of course.
The current trend of Mages lurking to steal each other’s visions and assassinating each other’s spies originates from the Mage City Era.
Mages from that time who mercilessly disposed of those trying to steal their magic or snatch theirs from them were never lenient towards their disciples.
Thus, it was common for traps or monsters to exist within the ruins. The environment filled with magic within the ruins even managed to preserve traps against temporal decay.
Towers didn’t want to waste precious Mages on such trivial and bothersome labor.
Hence, subcontracting to troubleshooters and mercenaries became an inevitable outcome.
Smichia, a Mage stationed as a interviewer on Crete Island, was unable to hide her bewilderment upon seeing a troubleshooter who claimed to have come because of a ‘job posting.’
Covered in a visor and donning reinforced clothing, they resembled the infamous dark Spartoi.
To put it more bluntly, they called to mind a golem or undead.
“I don’t know where you found the job posting….”
Smichia remarked with a sour expression as she pulled out three contract papers.
One was a corporate outsourcing contract for mercenaries belonging to companies over a certain size. Another was for troubleshooters belonging to small offices, and lastly, one for individual troubleshooters.
Among them, solitary troubleshooters were preferred over mercenaries with corporate ties or troubleshooters from offices. Most of the time, if they died, there would be no legal guardian to pay compensation to.
It turned out the visor-clad figure belonged to the last category, without hesitation, selected the solo troubleshooter’s contract.
“You know how to activate the contract, right? Infuse your magic.”
The magical contract, which replaces signing with mutual infusion of magic, is difficult to forge and is the most widely used form of contract.
However, the figure in the visor shook their head. A heavily modified voice emerged.
“I cannot use that form of contract due to issues with the magic release mechanism in my artificial body. Let’s proceed with a signature contract instead.”
“Where’d you get that head so you could keep it on… but then again, that’s none of my business.”
They might not even be Mages but ones who use Fighting Spirit. Smichia suppressed her curiosity and tossed a pen. The visor-clad figure signed without hesitation.
“Utis? Clearly a pseudonym.”
“Isn’t that what everyone who rolls in here goes by? One or two unfortunate circumstances are hardly peculiar.”
“Hmph. Even if someone comes looking for you, don’t expect the Torres Tower to protect you.”
“I know.”
A blunt response. Losing interest, Smichia replied in a professional tone.
“Go over there to the personnel management office for further details.”
*
This is why I like troubleshooters.
I contemplated while reading the contract in hand. A scam contract filled with all sorts of tricks to squeeze the settlement ratios against a solo troubleshooter who had neither an office nor experience.
The troubleshooter’s circumstances that compel them to sign onto such a contract are predictable, and that’s why their somewhat suspicious appearance often raises less suspicion.
There are many bottom-tier troubleshooters hiding illegal or quasi-legal secrets. Yet if only verified individuals were hired, the rates simply wouldn’t match.
The head of the personnel management office looked over my contract and sent me an Ether Network address along with a password.
“The excavation team departs every morning. It’s divided into surface and deep levels, and you’ll need to pre-register on that webpage to determine where you fit in. Detailed descriptions, including difficulty, are also on that webpage, so familiarize yourself.”
The password appeared to be for accessing accommodations for external personnel. I nodded appropriately and turned away.
‘Today’s excavation seems to be over; perhaps I’ll check the atmosphere on-site…’
*
The site manager felt a pounding heart. The name Utis, meaning ‘nobody,’ was the most commonly used pseudonym among those who ventured into the troubleshooter industry.
However, even among such nobodies, there are some with unique traits.
These individuals are specially treated despite bearing the name of nobody, setting themselves apart from others named Utis.
Like having four eyes or a head aflame with flames.
Not utilizing magical contracts and relying solely on paper contracts.
‘…’
There were urban legend-like stories about these unique Utis in the troubleshooter industry. Sometimes fortune would strike if a four-eyed Utis participated, while rumors circulated that the flame-headed Utis was a recruiter from the Infernal Tower.
Of course, there were rumors surrounding those who didn’t use magical contracts, too. More like terrifying tales.
‘Whenever he visits a site, there’s bound to be an accident.’
This was common knowledge shared only among veterans in the troubleshooter industry. Tower’s higher-ups viewed these urban legends as nothing but irrational superstitions of those who hadn’t even entered a tower. When reported, one would undoubtedly be ridiculed with a remark about being ‘more rational if one were a Mage.’
The manager swallowed hard.
‘It’s already been years since rumors about Utis who don’t use magical contracts disappeared. Must be a coincidence…’
*
As I squeezed into a six-person dormitory, memories flooded back.
‘I used to use such pseudonyms frequently when trying to launder my tracks while being chased around here and there.’
Though it was tiring then, it has now become a period that can be fondly recalled.
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