Kaicle raised questions about Orthes’s identity, but even Carisia couldn’t provide any further answers. A few months ago, she had considered the possibility of Orthes being the Pope or a demigod.
However…
‘The entity dispatched from Argyrion and the mental parasite referred to Orthes as a demigod.’
If that were the case, then it couldn’t be true.
Though it was purely a gut feeling with no basis, Carisia trusted her instincts. There was no way Argyrion’s judgment about Orthes could be accurate.
‘If he is not a demigod, but rather an existence beyond that, there is only one candidate…’
A god.
Even in this era, where the cult of ancient gods had declined, the name of a god carried weight. No, it would be more accurate to say that the name of the gods was so heavy that the Ten Towers diligently worked to diminish the cult’s influence.
The hunting of the mental parasite dispatched by the Divine Cult at Orthes’s request was shocking. It seemed as though their unreasonable powers of holy energy only presented results without detailed processes.
Carisia recalled Kaicle’s theory that the Mage King corresponded to the god of magic. Had the Ten Towers not reached this conclusion?
If they had come to the same conclusion, then it made sense that they were obsessed enough to establish a dedicated hunting division in Panoptes. If the Mage King who walked the earth could wipe out all other cults, then similarly, if another god descended to the earth, the magical society might also be swept away.
‘Oh?’
Orthes’s actions were somewhat similar. While he hadn’t confronted the cult head-on like the Mage King and destroyed it, Orthes was systematically dismantling the order and structure maintained by the Ten Towers and the magical society.
As Carisia pondered this fact, she shook her head.
No matter what Orthes’s identity was, the fact that he was currently by her side was enough. She had long accepted this simple truth.
Feeling refreshed, she called out to Orthes. It was time to prepare what she would say at the assembly.
“Ah, Boss. I have good news. I’ve recruited someone who will greatly assist us in the Divided World.”
Carisia was not perturbed.
“Aha. Is that Niobe, the agent from Blasphemia? If you’ve recruited someone from within the Ten Towers, that’s a good thing.”
“Hmm? No.”
“Then is it someone from Argos or Eidolons instead?”
“Haha, Boss. Even I have limitations. It wouldn’t be easy to recruit someone from a completely unrelated department.”
“If it’s not from within the Ten Towers, then who exactly did you bring in?”
“Oh. I mentioned I had three friends from my Troubleshooter days, right? This is the last one.”
Carisia was still unperturbed. Instead, she was just worried about Orthes’s friendship.
Although Orthes’s so-called ‘friends’ had their own skills, it remained uncertain if he truly regarded them as friends or merely as high-dimensional beings whom he labeled as ‘friends.’
Carisia chose her words carefully. It was unfortunate that Orthes’s friendship seemed one-sided, but there was no need to delve into that.
“You said he was a friend from your Troubleshooter days. Does that mean he is still a Troubleshooter now?”
“Ah. To be precise, he would be a friend I met before even starting as a Troubleshooter… Even back then, resolving troubles was more like a side job for that older guy.”
“Older guy?”
“He’s quite an old friend. We’ve known each other for the longest time. So, what should I say his main job is…?”
*
Sensing a headache coming on, Carisia decided to postpone discussing ‘friends’ until after the assembly.
“I’ve already informed the person who, due to his position, will inevitably learn the truth in advance. Now I just have to decide what to say to the other directors.”
“I will appropriately package the false purpose of wanting to seize the White Light through the succession war.”
Orthes nodded. Carisia calling him this way was an indication that she would delegate the announcement at the assembly to him. The directors had to play their roles in the fight against the Ten Towers.
It wasn’t just the directors. Even Geryon, whom Carisia had captured, was essential for the first succession war aimed at securing the White Light.
“If we say we will break the Ten Commandments, those living within the magical society will understandably feel resistance, but if we say we aim to obtain the Ten Commandments, their thoughts will first turn to whether it’s achievable. And with your abilities, Boss, you can assure them that it is indeed achievable.”
Orthes pledged to prepare everything, and Carisia nodded.
Then the anticipated day of the assembly arrived.
*
“First of all…”
Orthes surveyed the surroundings. It was similar, yet different, to when he had first announced the founding of Hydra Corporation. One of the eight directors was missing, but in their place, Geryon and Kaicle had entered.
During the first meeting, the Hydra Corporation’s conference room had been nearly empty, as Orthes and Carisia had dealt with all the previous occupants not long before.
Compared to that time, today’s conference room was splendid. Thanks to Bertrand’s cooperation, all the furnishings of the meeting room had been newly revamped.
Feeling a certain thrill, Orthes began his opening speech.
“I am immensely grateful for your presence. It is an honor to share that our artificial Ten Commandments project has borne fruit with all of you.”
The directors remained silent. It was a significant matter, but they were certain he had not summoned everyone just for such pleasantries.
“The vision that President Carisia proposed for our company is to become the eleventh Ten Tower. This vision is about to come true as the artificial Ten Commandments are practically complete…”
Orthes’s smile deepened. The directors sensed that this was a signal that the real main subject would emerge next.
“─However.”
“It is too early to be satisfied with just this level, as the President has determined.”
Noiro raised his hand. Orthes looked at Carisia, who nodded once to permit the director’s statement.
“Is it about the completion quality of the artificial Ten Commandments? Or is it about the purpose of Hydra Corporation itself?”
“It’s the latter. The President has felt great disappointment with the current behavior of the Ten Towers.”
A wave of agitation spread among the directors at the word disappointment. What he was about to say was akin to…
“In the Argyrion turmoil, the Ten Towers were in a position where they must constantly prove themselves. But what was the reality? From the Elysion Terror to the Algoth City Apex Tower annihilation incident. The Ten Towers failed to prove their value of existence.”
The term ‘value of existence’ was an extremely radical choice of words. However, the Ten Towers served as a public security apparatus, a judicial agency, and also the military of the magical society.
In the Argyrion situation, the Ten Towers had consistently failed. Because of that ‘power’, they couldn’t freely remark, but the annihilation of the Mage Tower’s Mage Tower Core was sufficient to be considered a failure for the entire Ten Towers.
“Because of this, the President has decided that the position of the peak does not suit the current Ten Towers.”
Naturally, Orthes stood behind Carisia, and she took over the speaking.
“The Ten Towers have remained stagnant for far too long. They have been maintained according to the Mage King’s design that the most exceptional mage should occupy the peak.”
Carisia’s golden eyes sparkled. At that moment, Kaicle, the only one besides Carisia and Orthes who knew their true purpose, stifled a smile at Orthes’s word choice.
“Now, our Hydra Corporation will stand at the peak.”
Orthes and Carisia were not simply seeking to take over the position of the Ten Towers; they intended to dismantle the entire system. Yet, if their plans succeeded, it was certain that Hydra Corporation would rise to the top as the one who toppled the Ten Towers. In that sense, they had not lied.
After Carisia finished her statement, Orthes stepped forward once more. He slowly looked around at the directors.
“We now have very detailed information regarding the current situation of the Ten Towers and Argyrion. Based on this, we will leverage the strength of the entire magical society to bring down the Ten Towers. However…”
After a brief pause, a blue glimmer seemed to shine beneath Orthes’s eyelids.
“If you listen to what comes next, you will be like those who cross the river of no return. I will give you one last chance. A chance to leave this room, or—”
Boom! A noise too loud to be merely the sound of a person collapsing filled the conference hall.
It was Taros.
The Meconion beside him urged him to do something, but Taros knelt and did not move.
Slowly, the mouth of the half-dragon opened.
“…A proposal for reconciliation has come from Argyrion.”
‘Huh?’
It was a confession completely unexpected. Orthes managed to keep his expression neutral.
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