Zoom!
Jizel crouched like a cheetah.
The friends of Oknodie, close organizations, outsiders, monsters, professors.
As numerous beings tried to get close to Oknodie,
only Jizel took a step back, trying to maintain a wider perspective.
When the desires of many stakeholders surrounding Oknodie collide, the one who gets hurt the most in the process is Oknodie itself.
Whoosh!
“Jizel, Oknodie is inviting you for a picnic. Wanna join?”
“I’ll pass and yield my fun time to Isabel. You two should enjoy this outing together after a long time.”
Ding!
While Isabel enjoyed a gastronomic picnic trip with Oknodie, Jizel eliminated the assassins approaching her, along with the corpses they left behind.
They tracked down the insider who allowed them to infiltrate the academy and investigated from which point the attackers entered and how they were nurtured.
With few traces, deceiving the Dark Trading Company, which had eyes everywhere, was impossible.
Chime!
‘Even as living beings, you must eat and drink.’
The Foundation may have its own organization and trading routes, but the eyes of the Dark Trading Company had already penetrated inside the Foundation.
“The situation has turned. The eyes of the Dark Trading Company have expanded to the Revolutionary Army, and the solid ties formed through the academy are connecting with massive external organizations. Don’t you feel the Foundation is being pushed out?”
“…Impressive. It’s as if I’m looking at the early days of the Chairman, not an ordinary skill.”
Boom!
At the moment when even the Deputy Director of the Foundation was successfully coerced, the Dark Trading Company’s intelligence regarding the Foundation surged significantly.
After the executives meeting ended with numerous branch leaders dead, it would be no exaggeration to say their intelligence skyrocketed.
The moment they obtained a Deputy Director who could substitute the role of a Branch Leader in a crisis, the entire Foundation branch practically fell into the hands of the Dark Trading Company.
Zap!
“To reach the Foundation Headquarters, we need to gather hidden ‘Key Spells’ from each branch. We need to raid more than five Foundation branches, four of which are not ours, to reclaim the spells. Is that even remotely possible?”
“It is.”
At present, the Dark Trading Company had enough strength and power to match Jizel’s ambitions.
Moreover, she wasn’t doing all of this alone.
“Do you need help from our pets?”
“More precisely, we need the aid of the entire Camilla’s Organization.”
“Sure, I owe Oknodie a debt after all.”
Womp!
The contract scammer from Class 981, who attacked Oknodie using Instructor Russo, was Camilla, the queen of the pets.
After being defeated by Oknodie, the ambitious scammer switched tactics to love affairs, having hoarded command over her contractors through fraudulent contracts.
The power of Camilla’s organization had diminished, but the couples tied through their sincerity thanks to the contract had a much higher voluntary loyalty than before.
Time to rumble!
A war against the Foundation.
They were willing to follow even such a reckless mission.
“We’ve acquired plans to divert the urban security forces using a large-scale couple festival and raid the mayor’s residence. The Dark Trading Company intends to counter this and rob the Foundation branch, but we need sufficient forces to hold back the Foundation’s troops at both the festival venue and the mayor’s residence. Especially since the festival venue…”
“There are many people, and participants might be taken hostage, right? So, we need a substantial force capable of exhibiting maximum strength in a crisis. If that’s the case, consider this a proper visit. The contract scammer grows stronger with more followers.”
Zoom!
Once everyone participating in the festival signs a ‘consent form,’ they are drawn into Camilla’s game.
“Now the ‘collection’ begins.”
“Prince Hector, the Kingdom of Troy has survived by choosing Oknodie, but the debt incurred upon returning home is no small matter. This will truly be a difficult request.”
Swish!
“Open the entrance for the Foundation planning to raid Collection City but block their exit. The damages during the process will accumulate like a rolling snowball, but it’s a risk we have to take.”
Hector bore bad feelings towards Oknodie, but it was also true that he was in debt.
He decided to clear that debt with this opportunity.
Vroom!
“Do you want me to turn the Northern Expedition back inland?”
“The North has been able to eliminate all internal enemies thanks to Oknodie. It’s time for the Northern Grand Duke to repay the debt.”
“It’s a rare chance to push the Demon King’s northern front beyond the human activity limit. Is it really worth splitting forces for this opportunity?”
“The weight of trust can only be measured by the parties involved. How much weight do you think the Northern Grand Duke has for Oknodie, for the Dark Princess?”
The Northern Grand Duke responded immediately to Jizel’s request for reinforcements.
“It’s as enormous as the Mountain of Sandeongsan.”
Bravo!
The dispatch of reinforcements was promised.
They had secured the forces to capture a single Foundation branch by force.
“Lame♡”
“…I haven’t said anything yet.”
“Your thoughts are so predictable♡ If Jizel, who typically doesn’t seek people unless having business, contacted me, it was bound to be obvious.”
“Since becoming your Empress, you’ve grown much wiser. As you say, I have a request.”
“I’ll grant it♡”
“…I haven’t even told you what the request is yet.”
“After all, it’s Oknodie~? There’s no reason for Jizel to risk losing influence to bow her head to me♡”
Giggling!
Masugaki’s annoyingly delightful laughter could be felt even through the communication magic tool.
“Snicker. Even if it’s for a request, it’s bound to be something obvious. The Empire is under the strict watch of the Foundation, so you’re looking for an exceptional power to help you with something special~?”
“Correct.”
“Lucky for you. I have a reliable elite force that can act freely without being spotted by the Foundation’s eyes. You don’t mind using an out-of-control Undead, do you~?”
Following the death of the Former Emperor, the Undead Hero Corps developed at the Forbidden Research Institute had become a neglected asset as Oknodie delayed its recovery.
The neglected blade Oknodie hadn’t used was mobilized for an attack on the Foundation branch to rescue her.
“This is everything prepared.”
Whoosh!
Four branches of the Foundation.
The external forces to retrieve the key spells heading toward headquarters were ready.
“The preparation for Phase 1 is complete. Now, we commence Phase 2 of [Foundation Breaking], the raid on the branches!”
Vroom!
The crouching cheetah, Jizel, started to run.
With a speed that could surpass anyone who had built up favor with Oknodie in one go.
Jizel charged towards the largest enemy.
Dark Trading Company vs Wahyhiemhai Foundation.
The prelude to their skirmish had begun.
Boom!
*
Chairman First Wahyhiemhai of the Wahyhiemhai Foundation.
He felt tremendous satisfaction from the power of the newly developed weapon recently completed.
“The 12% of the sandy realm has evaporated due to the magic-enhancement nuclear bomb, and 80% of the area has suffered permanent alteration and damage. It is estimated that it will take at least 10,000 years to recover the dimensional realms.”
The face of the Secretary Office Head delivering the report revealed an undeniable fear.
It was over.
Now, he could inflict damage on the Principal’s cherished 100 dimensional realms that the recovery would take 10,000 years.
The Dragon Principal’s hundred-dimensional hundred-property invulnerable defense would be shattered.
“Convey the dispatch orders for the dimensional non-fair flight.”
“The danger of the non-fair flight and nuclear bombs becoming known means they won’t stay complacent. If we are attacked during the dimensional entry, there’s a risk of explosion in the Middle Realm.”
“Let’s initiate the attack from the Spirit Realm that we annihilated.”
“The energy required for dimensional jumping becomes excessive. If the magic stones owned by the Foundation were moved on a large scale, they would notice from the outside.”
“Hahaha! Secretary Office Head, you’re growing rather anxious.”
“…!”
“Even if you’ve just realized it, it’s too late. Before they act, all hundred dimensions will already crumble.”
Boom!
The victory of the Foundation was already assured.
By the time they realized the Foundation’s prowess, all dimensions ruled by the Principal would have collapsed.
The Evil Dragon Omoshiroi, who once wielded power shaking the world, would no longer hold the same stature after losing most of its fundamental strength.
“While the influence of the Evil Dragon has decreased, I possess the passage to a new steel realm. The balance of power now shifts to me.”
“……”
“What a pity. The opportunity you longed for has ultimately eluded you. Yet, considering your hard work, I’ll let you go. After all, if a high-ranking official like you was easily replaced, wouldn’t that harm the organization’s morale?”
Ding!
It was too late.
The ousting of the Chairman was now impossible.
The moment the Secretary Office Head was about to summon his strength, feeling the urge to vent his frustration with his life, the most unwanted visitor appeared in the Chairman’s office at the worst timing.
“Sorry to interrupt your fun, but I have a ‘delivery’ for you.”
“Oh? Are you speaking to me, Butler of Foundation?”
“A gift from Oknodie.”
The Chairman found the gift interesting, but even more so, the Butler’s shabby complexion and torn body.
“I knew from the report that you were caught in an unusual situation, but you look in terrible shape.”
“…The Demon King’s Four Kings attacked our executives during the meeting. Information must have leaked from inside.”
The Butler openly revealed his intent to kill towards the Secretary Office Head.
Even a one-on-one face-off with the Chairman was no certainty; now, a two-to-one confrontation against a competent person was set up.
‘It’s the end.’
The Secretary Office Head sensed his impending death, but unexpectedly, the Butler withdrew his murderous intent.
As if he had an urgent matter more pressing than the trivial betrayal by the Secretary Office Head.
“It would be inconvenient if the precious gift spoiled. Oknodie wanted this attached to your outfit.”
The Butler presented a pitch-black jewel crystal, and the Chairman observed it with interest.
The magical reaction felt genuinely extraordinary.
In terms of rank, it could be compared to [Holy Artifact] grade relics, if not greater.
“That’s troublesome. I shouldn’t let such impulsive curiosity take hold…”
“…”
“I can’t refuse a gift from my daughter obtained by defying fate.”
The Butler recalled the numerous hardships he endured after acquiring this item and shuddered.
Finally, he could pass this ominous object off.
As the Butler reached out to attach it to the Chairman’s outfit, just before the attachment, the Chairman pushed the Butler’s hand away.
“Just a moment.”
“…Why?”
“A gift received must be used meaningfully; that way, the giver feels fulfilled. I’ll find a better way to use this.”
The Chairman took possession of the gift.
The moment he did, the gift’s effect began to activate.
━━━
Rune of Misfortune: Powerful magic is compacted into the form of a rune. Powerful curses can also be utilized as rune magic. However, this misfortune causes an excessive strong curse to stack, and merely possessing it reduces luck.
[Holding Effect – 50% decrease in the success rate of all judgments]
[Equipping Effect – 100% decrease in the success rate of all judgments]
━━━
Although he didn’t succeed in the ‘equipping’ as Oknodie requested, he successfully passed it to the Chairman.
Half a success, or half a failure.
However, even ‘half’ began to manifest the power of misfortune that the Butler had experienced before.
“What?”
Suddenly, a flash of light shone through the non-fair flight window.
An alarming surge of magical energy.
Following the shock was a massive explosion sound.
Boom!
Far away, in the non-fair flight hangar, a large explosion erupted.
An explosion capable of evaporating a small dimensional realm obliterated one of the Foundation’s secret research facilities whole.
The instant the dimensional barrier unfolded, it prevented total destruction of the Middle Realm, but the aftermath led to the complete obliteration of all matter within the dimensional barrier.
Even the sealed dimensional barrier seemed to release energy as it couldn’t fully absorb it.
With blank expressions, everyone was rushing in, and one Butler hastily approached to report.
“The magical nuclear weapon’s magical amplification structure suddenly collapsed, leading to an explosion. If we remain here, we will be subjected to mana contamination, so we must evacuate quickly!”
“…”
The Secretary Office Head faced his first taste of misfortune.
Unfortunately for him, there were four other instances of misfortune in the midst of the ongoing raid on the Foundation branch waiting for him.
