<584 – Delicious Linked Quest (8)>
The Foundation gained tremendous benefits amidst the turmoil of the Empire changing emperors not once, but twice.
“The Empire’s fastest feet are now in our hands. The superiority of our non-fair flight power and the number of transmission magicians—no empire can surpass us.”
“…What intricate scheme do you have in mind this time?”
“Me? Hahaha! Don’t be silly. It’s all thanks to the remarkable wisdom and foresight of our Secretary Office Head. All I did was enjoy the results that came about automatically. If there’s a plan, it must be with our clever Secretary Office Head.”
As the Director feigned humility, the darkened branches of the World Tree bore fruits like bubbles.
Tanks, airplanes, nuclear bombs.
Unfamiliar weapons and blueprints of the Steel faction adorned each fruit, bursting and disappearing one by one.
[The Fruit of Corrupted Life]
The Director’s numerous connections to the World Tree’s relentless vitality bore the deep talents of Oknodie and new dimensional knowledge as their fruits.
[Memory Transfer]
[Knowledge Injection]
As those blossoming fruits utilized the unique function of [Dark Mana] contamination for memory injection, the Secretary Office Head realized what the Director meant.
It demanded the development of new weapons, and it ordered a shift in power dynamics in the current continental political situation.
“Oh my God.”
The Secretary Office Head’s long-held composure was violently shaken, his eyes quivering.
Other weapons were one thing, but nuclear bombs—the danger posed by that was beyond serious.
With one strike, it could obliterate an entire city, turning the surrounding area into a death ground filled only with disease and death.
“The wicked power that has reached the ultimate of dark magic!”
Even if a non-fair flight soared through the sky and dropped a bomb on each capital, the world’s economy and culture would inevitably regress by centuries.
The lords of various nations would bow their heads in fear of the Foundation’s power, allowing the Foundation to finally be realized above the Empire.
This can’t happen.
He had been waiting for a chance to avenge the Director, involved in all sorts of wicked deeds.
Yet the disaster and casualties brought about by nuclear weapons were far beyond what could be tolerated.
“How long do you think the research and development of the new weapon will take?”
“We’ll need to extract key personnel from the ongoing plans. We cannot discuss timing until we finalize or halt existing plans.”
“That’s unfortunate. The ripe fruit that hasn’t yet revealed its green sheen looks fresh, but it lacks flavor and must await its time. Similarly, plans require a fitting schedule. Still, given the care taken, perhaps we can hasten the harvest; there are no farmers who would just toss aside their crops.”
“…Understood. I will expedite plans to plunge the situation and economy of each region into despair.”
Thus, the world grew ever more precarious, enveloped in turmoil.
Project [Era of War].
A plan to plunge the regions into ruin while granting the most special ‘scholarship students’ who borrowed the Foundation’s power the strength and resources to realize their desires.
At the right time, with the appropriate justification and support, the impact wouldn’t be as great.
Thus, side effects and conflicts, along with wars against those opposing the Foundation, would intensify and become even more vicious.
“Yet, this is better. At least it’s not the Foundation peacefully seizing power and supporting forces.”
If the Foundation’s power and might temporarily diminished, perhaps someone might strike before the development of wicked new technologies.
But who could possibly take such a bold step?
Even the Empire’s Seonhwang, stepping back to calm the complex imperial situation and the young Empress Masugaki overwhelmed by negotiations with vested interests to close the seals of the Underworld that Seonhwang had kept shut, had no capacity to consider the Foundation.
Once the [Era of War] project commenced, the nations in each region would also lose such momentum.
Those with any remaining strength were the Southern Sacred City-State Federation, yet even they lacked the power or reason to stand against the Foundation.
Unless someone draws a new grand design opposing the Foundation and presents justification, the Foundation would soon develop new weapons and stand above the Empire.
This future was already perceived as highly feasible in the eyes of the Secretary Office Head.
“The perfect chance for revenge has ultimately vanished.”
Now, even knowing he would fail, he had no choice but to prepare to rebel against the Director one day, even if meant facing death.
Concealing his muddled feelings, he strived to bow his head today and suppress his emotions, when the map of the continental topology in the back of the Director’s office caught his eye.
Blink. Blink.
Signals connected to the communication magic tools linked with inspectors and information sources from various regions.
That signal began to multiply rapidly, one by one, from the North.
“That’s strange. Has the Era of War already begun?”
“Not yet.”
The Director held up the communication magic tool.
Like a dark shadow curled up in the world’s darkness, the Director’s face, typically sporting a light smile, gradually deepened into one filled with emotion.
That emotion was joy.
The Secretary Office Head found that even more terrifying.
He had learned from experience that every time this man found joy, someone else would suffer.
Eventually, after concluding the communication, the Secretary Office Head asked.
“Has an incident occurred in the North?”
Rather than verbally explaining the numerous communications, the Director unfolded a mana board, sharing the recorded documents containing reports from each region.
━━━
[Blue Magic Tower]
Background of Conflict:
The Blue Magic Tower in the Northern region is operated through the collaboration of Vice Tower Master Erdritch from the Cold Magic faction and Vice Tower Master Absob Terezo from the Freezing Magic faction, but Erdritch aims to topple the longstanding partnership to ascend to the position of Tower Master, hoping to use the Foundation’s power to eliminate his rival.
Original Plan:
Vice Tower Master Absob Terezo is developing an [Ice Bomb] to drop the temperature in the vicinity of the magic-invading monsters, causing all living beings to freeze to death for military purposes, but Erdritch, supported by the Foundation, plans to intervene in the spell to expand the freezing range of the [Ice Bomb] to induce civilian casualties and use it as political leverage to promote a movement for Terezo’s resignation.
Emerging Variable:
Due to a report of the plan leaked through some circumstances, Terezo has detected Erdritch’s plot, and the Freezing Magic faction is loudly condemning it while demanding punishment against the Cold Magic faction.
━━━
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[Forest of Snow Fairies]
Background of Conflict:
In the Northern Frost Forest, a variant fairy type despised by snow fairies for its taste in ugly monsters over weaker, cuter humans was born. This fairy, with the support of the Foundation, decided to impose its distorted preferences on its kin, aiming to normalize monster love as normal sexual orientation.
Original Plan:
The plan involved exterminating the village residents near the Frost Forest and ruining the fairy’s favorability towards humans through actors in the ‘fake town’ created by the Foundation, then enhancing the favorability towards monsters through a substitute ‘Beastman Village.’
Emerging Variable:
The head of the Beastman Resurgence Society, leading the Beastman Village, is currently under attack from eradication forces dispatched by the Northern Grand Duke. Moreover, a ‘grave pit’ housing human remains has been discovered, infuriating the fairies.
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[Northern Resistance Army]
Background of Conflict:
In the Northern continent conquered by the Empire’s invasion, a resistance army exists that still inherits the legitimacy of the fallen old dynasty. This resistance army has allied with the beasts in the full-scale war against the Empire, but an ambitious player wishes to deny their support from Yuda, the Northern Grand Duke.
Original Plan:
The Northern Resistance Army plans, through collusion with the beasts, to temporarily breach the defense line of Northern Grand Duke’s military, repeatedly seize the front line through the strength of the resistance army, thereby weakening Yuda’s power to rebuild an independent nation. Of course, this plan is established under the support of the Foundation.
Emerging Variable:
Yuda has declared the Northern Resistance Army as humanity traitors instigating a series of plots from another organization and has placed a bounty on the head of the resistance army’s commander, Yerpo.
The resistance army is currently caught in chaos due to multiple assassination attempts targeting Yerpo and internal strife.
━━━
The grand plans established by the Foundation to diminish the human territories in the Northern Front and newly cultivate the Foundation’s power have all sounded alarm bells at once.
“Isn’t it truly astonishing? There’s someone capable of discerning all of the Foundation’s movements so meticulously, and Northern Grand Duke Yuda has accepted and acted without reluctance.”
“…I am not a betrayer.”
“Of course I know. I’m keeping an eye on everything the Secretary Office Head does, after all. But oddly enough, while several plans have leaked from the North, only ‘one plan’ has not been discovered.”
“I’m afraid I don’t grasp it.”
“Of course you wouldn’t. This is a secret plan inspired by my fondness for my dear daughter.”
The Director smiled slyly while manipulating the mana board, bringing up a new information window.
━━━
[Jigoku Pirate Group]
Background of Conflict:
The Jigoku Pirate Group modified the Foundation’s cruise ship to establish an independent fleet showcasing their might as pirates, but to conceal their fleet, they have been receiving food support from a Northern fishing village backed by the Foundation, where they have been discovered with a secret mooring site. The Foundation plans to use this fishing village for traps.
Original Plan:
The fishing village will soon suffer an attack from a false unit disguised as the [Northern Regular Army] opposing the Foundation.
The Jigoku Pirate Group intends to incite Northern Grand Duke Yuda to plunder the new maritime trade routes opened due to the rising temperatures in the North.
Emerging Variable:
No information about the shipyard and fishing village, nor about the false unit has leaked at all. There are no variables.
━━━
“When Yuda’s lifeline is opened, with the Jigoku Pirate Group, all of the wealth in the North will be recovered, turning Jigoku into a new pirate force and consuming the North as the Foundation’s capital—such a plan has not met even a bit of obstruction. Isn’t it incredibly ironic? The only operation that hasn’t been provocatively planned is that the groundwork has been perfectly laid.”
“I apologize. I will somehow catch the spy within a short period.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Only five beings in the world possess the capability to approach my plans with such precision.”
“Five, you say?”
“Man’s Representative. The Demon King of the Demonic Clan. Seonhwang of the Empire. The Principal of the Academy. The karma of the gods hasn’t yet wavered, and the Demon King isn’t ready to sever their ties. Seonhwang is gaining power in the Underground World. The Principal is satisfied just watching.”
“Then who’s left?”
“The most profound and dark, devilish wisdom rooted in the Steel faction, which is tied with the [World Tree]. It’s my child, Oknodie.”
The Director realized.
His daughter was thwarting the Foundation’s plans.
“Don’t tell me… are you going to do it?”
“Do it? That would be a little disappointing to express. As a parent, if my child strays, I must naturally provide guidance.”
The Director was rather pleased.
The fact that his daughter had matured enough at such a young age to challenge him from the shadows of the world was indeed gratifying.
But the pride and face of a parent spurred his heart.
He had to show his child the greatness of a parent.
He must let her know there’s a mountain she cannot surpass.
“Let’s move the Jigoku Pirate Group. And let’s spill the information to the Northern Grand Duke first.”
“!!!”
“Since you broke Papa’s precious toy, let’s also ruin our dear daughter’s precious toy and inscribe the sorrow of a ruined toy into that little heart.”
