Orthes frowned for two reasons.
First, it was unexpected that there was a mage showing interest in Hydra Corporation right now.
Hydra had used all kinds of means to avoid attracting attention from the mainstream magic community. While their policy might shift somewhat with the upcoming Amimone Tower election, there were still no factions aware of Hydra’s true nature.
In other words, Hydra and the Kine involved were not well-known candidates, just another faceless contender who would drop out midway.
‘There’s no reason for anyone to draw connections now.’
Unless the social network was ripe, and influential candidates had already made their mark, it was strange to focus on Hydra at this point.
Coming forward without necessity implies that the other party has ulterior motives. That was the first reason.
The second reason.
‘Divine Power?’
He sensed divine power from the mages behind the candidates. To be precise, they should be called priests rather than mages.
‘Unless they’re part-timers like Kine.’
However, in Orthes’s view, their abilities as mages were unimpressive. The numerous artifacts surrounding them were eye-catching, but on the flip side, it suggested they could only perform magic through those artifacts.
The priests masquerading as mages weren’t negligent about hiding their divine power; it was just that Orthes’s vision was too unfairly perceptive.
Two women stood behind the faction leader. Adorned in elegant dresses befitting the social leader, they possessed looks that anyone would readily acknowledge as beautiful. Normally, their appearance alone would be enough to gain goodwill.
However, this wasn’t the place or time for it. Everyone knew that this was a battleground for mages vying for a legacy, and other participants had come prepared to use beauty as a weapon. Their looks were ill-suited as armaments for this occasion.
Orthes evaluated swiftly.
‘Carisia would look great dressed like that.’
Thankfully, the heightened aesthetic standards within the social network prevented people from fixating on them, and their pace quickened a bit.
Their approach was discreet yet unwavering. They made no effort to attract attention, gliding past other groups without a glance.
Orthes exchanged glances with Carisia.
Carisia nodded briefly. She entrusted her authority to Orthes.
Orthes stepped forward, raising his hand. A waiter bustling around the grand banquet noticed the empty glass in Orthes’s hand and refilled it with champagne. Naturally, Carisia and the others positioned themselves behind Orthes.
As the suspicious group approached the Hydra faction, Orthes naturally blocked their path a few steps ahead.
It was an ambiguous distance that made it a bit awkward to involve others in the conversation, just as Orthes had intended.
With his keen vision and the insights borrowed from the notes Arabella had created over countless nights, Orthes attempted to probe their identities. These were lists of groups interested in the remnants of Amimone Tower.
Yet there was no mention of anyone associated with a priest handling the divine power among them. Orthes masked his unease with a familiar smile and moved forward.
His first words were:
“Oh, how delightful. You must be the faction leader from Lebrak City.”
The man walking ahead of the priests flinched. However, he quickly regained his composure and replied.
“What an honor! To recognize a small faction like ours at a glance. Are you the leader of the Tabning faction?”
Orthes shook his head.
“I am Orthes, the representative of Hydra Corporation contracted with Mr. Knemon. I’ve been delegated external cooperation authority for this matter.”
The business card he retrieved bore the title of Hydra’s secretary, which indicated an external position.
The Lebrak City faction leader could glean much from this. The organization known as Hydra was more firmly allied with the Tabning faction than expected, or it had completely dominated the situation.
Holding all political negotiation powers for external cooperation and social dealings meant that the Tabning faction had to possess deep trust in or tight control over Hydra.
The Lebrak City faction leader was clearly the latter. The voice of the ‘sponsor’ echoed in his mind. Words were already forming in response to the Hydra secretary.
“Haha. The external cooperation manager, huh? Does that mean you think we approached for that purpose?”
It was a probing question, as if to ask whether he thought they had come to unify candidates or establish a non-aggression pact for the competition.
“Haha. Both of your employers believe social dealings are the foundation of all cooperation.”
In response to the probing, Orthes hinted simply. By referring to “your two employers” without mentioning Carisia or Knemon directly, he implied their powers were equal.
Of course, that wasn’t the case, but Orthes thought there was no need to reveal the truth to these dubious individuals.
The phrase ‘social dealings are the foundation of cooperation’ subtly conveyed the message, ‘Since it’s obvious you came here with intentions, let’s skip to practical matters.’ It was a neat packaging to avoid wasting time on social niceties.
“Quite forthright.”
*
Carisia took in the scene, capturing Orthes as he conversed with the approaching mages in her gaze. Kine, looking somewhat anxious, tugged at her clothing.
Looking down at Kine, Carisia smiled slightly before speaking.
“Mr. Knemon.”
“Hmm.”
“We do not mind how you approach the competition. Please harvest victory in the way you desire.”
“Harvest, huh.”
‘To them, is deciding the successor of the Apex Tower just a mechanical task?’
Well, Orthes, alongside their boss, was present at this event. Knemon had experienced Orthes’s shocking abilities on several occasions.
Orthes was precisely the kind of person optimized for the assassination tactics other candidates were seriously considering. It wouldn’t be surprising if the candidates remaining halved by the next day after Knemon mentioned that “there were many candidates.”
However, Knemon had no intention of reaching out to Hydra for assistance at this moment. Firstly, he sensed that Carisia had another reason for tagging along without informing him of the details.
‘Orthes is also likely an essential personnel for Hydra’s event, so I can’t just borrow him.’
Secondly, there was an irrational, emotional aspect.
This place was where he aimed to conclude his revenge on the lost Mage Tower. During this last moment, he wanted to avoid borrowing anyone’s hand.
“If things truly become dire, I will seek help without hesitation. But until then, I will do my utmost.”
Carisia anticipated Knemon’s response. It was exactly as she had expected based on what she heard from Orthes and the movements within Hydra’s organization.
“Best of luck to you.”
After the brief reply, Carisia turned to approach Orthes. At some point, the Lebrak City faction leader had stepped back behind the two beauties, and Orthes was chatting away with a smile – at least on the surface.
Carisia slipped into the conversation seamlessly. Knemon felt a slight discomfort.
‘Strange. Wasn’t the plan to leave everything to Orthes and have him gather all the information?’
Given that it was Carisia’s action, there must be some deeper meaning behind it. Left alone, he called a waiter to order chocolates for himself and the somewhat awkward little escort and downed a drink.
*
As Carisia approached, unexpectedly, the dubious group retreated quickly. Perhaps they thought it would be a situation where the employer would intervene directly if the discussion dragged on too long.
I could see a champagne glass in one hand. I clinked glasses with Carisia.
“You seemed to be enjoying yourself.”
“Who finds work enjoyable, boss?”
Carisia shrugged and gestured to herself with her other hand. I couldn’t understand the sentiment that perhaps bosses find their work enjoyable.
Among that simple gesture was a subtle magic of concealment. A highly simplified hand sign. It was a soundproofing spell.
“What kind of human was he?”
I caressed my chin.
“Well, I wasn’t quite sure he was human.”
*
The two beauties, keeping their distance from Orthes, were in deep thought. There was no need to vocalize the thoughts swirling in their minds. They already understood each other.
To be precise, they shared one thought, one sentiment.
Some layered consciousness existing among various humans pondered.
‘What kind of human is that?’
