Orthes, who returned to Etna City, first sought out Lampades.
“I heard about the situation in Algoth City. It seems it was quite the fierce battle.”
Lampades feigned a calm expression while observing Orthes’s reaction. Knemon, in a somewhat sympathetic position, had informed him about the series of events in Algoth City.
What shocked Lampades was Argyrion’s betrayal. To plot against Orthes and succeed—how shocking!
It seemed that the contamination from the Amimone Tower, which Argyrion had prepared to face Orthes, had also vanished in an instant.
Lampades had heard from Knemon about the ‘Bubble of Silence’ and how Orthes had abandoned it with little concern. It was not difficult to guess that the ‘big explosion’ that eliminated the contamination was the phenomenon caused by the means Orthes had created to substitute the bubble.
Lampades felt a strange illusion as his lips seemed to dry up. Although Orthes and Carisia were absent, their subordinates executed their orders like machines.
However, one thing was certain: the efficiency of the subordinates’ activities had improved many times over due to the ‘Radar’ provided by Lampades.
Terrifying screams were heard from a certain director’s office until dawn. It was uncertain what horrendous research was continuing in that office, which had an impression resembling a spider.
Lampades drew hypotheses from several facts.
Fact one: The radar provided by Lampades had drastically increased the exploration efficiency of something essential to Orthes’s plan.
Fact two: The directors under Orthes had secured that ‘something’ beyond necessity using the improved radar.
Fact three: Orthes had completely eliminated Argyrion’s secret weapon through some means after being betrayed by him.
Fact four: The existence of such special means was a secret even to the directors. The only exception would be…
Kaicle.
Lampades had met Kaicle several times, who referred to himself as a low-level employee. It was after their accidental encounter (which he claimed) in the President’s Office.
To ask him to tune the radar for a specific purpose.
Once the news of the contamination’s emergence and the big explosion in Algoth City was conveyed through the Ether Network, Hydra Corporation was engulfed in a restless atmosphere. This was because the survival of Orthes and Carisia had not been confirmed.
Kaicle, however, calmly visited Lampades to ask for performance improvement even amidst this turmoil.
The resulting hypothesis was: the big explosion that Orthes used in Algoth City was created using some resource that could be explored through the radar.
That resource was extremely rare, but finally, a surplus amount could be secured through the radar developed by Lampades.
Lampades recalled the old legends—the terrifying tales that spoke of those who ruthlessly purged their subordinates who had researched together to keep the secrets of Vision Magic.
‘If Orthes is trying to silence me to keep the secrets…’
His constructed radar theory had no room for further development at this point. In other words, it was a part that could be eliminated without issue.
But the core component operating the radar, Astraphe, was different. Without her, the performance of the exploration techniques would drastically degrade. This was also true for the general mages from Lampades Tower who worked closely with Astraphe.
Preparing reasons to save Astraphe and the other tower members, Lampades anxiously awaited Orthes’s words.
“Lampades, what do you think about the Ten Towers?”
‘Here comes that question…’
He had suspected this since recruiting the doomsday cultist Knemon, but Orthes truly seemed intent on burning the world.
“Oh, it’s not about whether I support or oppose the system; I’m asking about their combat power.”
“…If one of them is a member of the Ten Towers, there may be a chance to defeat them. However, could there really be a group that can take down all ten towers?”
Upon hearing that answer, Orthes slowly nodded.
“I understand you’ve had many conversations with Knemon.”
Lampades’s body stiffened.
“As you might suspect, Knemon and I share similar goals to some extent. So let me say this.”
Whether the next words would be an announcement or persuasion, Lampades felt a surge of tension rise.
“Perhaps it’s time for you to return to the tower.”
“What?”
It was an unexpected question. It was neither a demand to hand over everything he had nor a clear reveal of his true nature by requesting allegiance.
“That is, you see, hasn’t Knemon been overly radical in his thoughts since his days as a Troubleshooter?”
“…He has.”
“Thus, Knemon and I could join forces. But your goal is different, isn’t it? A confrontation between Hydra Corporation and the Ten Towers is a foregone conclusion.”
“If Hydra Corporation fights with the Ten Towers, wouldn’t our tower also be guilty by association?”
“I’ve prepared to prevent that from happening. If things unfold as I predict, the Ten Towers will struggle to allocate resources to cleanse your tower. Each tower will feel the scarcity, increasing the likelihood of burying the suspicions.”
‘Is it really possible for the Ten Towers, who possess the vast source of magic known as the Ten Commandments, to face resource shortage? What on earth are they planning?’
Gathering his thoughts, Lampades spoke.
“I have a few questions.”
“Ask away.”
“Isn’t the magic you used in Algoth City dependent on resource procurement through the radar? Are you really planning to just give up that advantage?”
“…Impressive. But I must clarify that the magic in question is not mine. Indeed, Lampades’s radar is an essential element of Hydra Corporation’s plan. However…”
Orthes shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ve already secured the required amount for the plan. It’s just that we didn’t have enough manpower to mine it, but there are plenty of recorded locations.”
This confirmation that he had already secured a sufficient amount was chillingly nonchalant.
*
Hah. This guy is clever too.
In fact, Lampades’s radar was needed to create the Artificial Ten Commandments, not to create magic bombs, though magic bombs were indeed by-products of making the Ten Commandments.
It might have skipped a lot in the middle, but he had managed to guess the right answer.
“Then here’s my second question. Does the required amount include what you’d consume to counter Argyrion?”
“I intend to avoid conflict with that one as much as possible. Even if Hydra Corporation doesn’t act, the Ten Towers will try to eliminate him.”
Lampades fell into thought. Initially, he had considered bringing Lampades into the fold, but it seemed like too much of a burden for this guy, so he gave up on that idea.
Unless Lampades Tower relocated entirely to Etna City, he couldn’t possibly protect all the mages he commanded. If they engaged in a full-blown war with the Ten Towers, they would soon come running to destroy the tower, and asking a friend to give up their dream was simply impossible.
It was also a precautionary choice in case Astraphe ever came into contact with the Mage King. Though Kina and he had spent considerable time together, making it easier to understand her, he had only met Astraphe a few times and couldn’t be sure how she would react.
“Is that eijii? Quite effective. Now, for my last question.”
“Hmm? Please feel free to ask whatever you like.”
“Don’t you only engage in fights you’re sure to win? When it comes to fighting the Ten Towers, are you uncertain of your victory?”
Lampades’s words struck a nerve.
*
“It seems you’re different now than you were during your Troubleshooter days. You moved with certainty in your plans. But…”
“Because the opponent is the Ten Towers. That’s not the only reason, though.”
“There’s more to it?”
“It’s hard to explain fully, but ultimately, the opponent I will face is probably beyond my expectations… no, it’s likely my expectations are useless. Lampades Tower, so to speak, is an insurance policy.”
“You plan to utilize it as a channel through which someone can seek asylum in case of a crisis by making it appear to have no relation to Hydra Corporation?”
Orthes nodded. Lampades found it hard to easily believe what Orthes said. Orthes was an unfathomable being.
Was he akin to the gods of ancient legends? It was strange for Lampades to consider a scenario where Orthes thought about defeat.
Yet it was a welcome situation. Maintaining the secret between them while preserving the tower’s strength and returning home. There was no reason to refuse.
“My last words will have to be recanted; one more question. Is your anxiety related to Argyrion?”
Orthes smirked wryly. Such unexpected humanity.
“Argyrion, huh? It’s somewhat similar, yes. Should I say it relates to the presence behind them?”
*
After finishing his conversation with Lampades, I headed towards Carisia. Now that I had settled with the contractors, it was time to decide how to treat the internal company members.
“Is there anyone in the company who knows our plan properly?”
“Neither Kine nor Knemon are aware of the plans to wage a full-scale battle against the Ten Towers after creating the Artificial Ten Commandments, as they are working on reconstruction in Algoth City.”
Carisia rubbed her temples. Now that the full-scale clash with the Ten Towers and Argyrion was about to unfold, it was the perfect time to strike with the White Light.
To enable the employees of Hydra Corporation to fully demonstrate their capabilities, the truth must be unveiled.
“But then again…”
“Yes?”
“Is it necessary to reveal the truth when we’re fighting against the Ten Towers?”
“…What?”
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