Chapter 1249: Post-War Processing (2)

“The subjugation operation… is over.”

In the Outer Zone of the mega-city Vulcan.

The commercial district where the Cartel’s headquarters are located.

Virgil, seated in the central conference room on the top floor of the headquarters, murmured quietly.

His gaze, with hands clasped tightly together, never left the three-dimensional screen floating in the center of the conference room.

“The entire force allied with The Legion was annihilated immediately after entering District 49. Three or more Legion Commanders and all Flame Pillars. Two Ten Seats and a Cult Cardinal died during combat.”

“……”

“Including Song-ha’s death, and the demise of Ethan Bajour, who returned after decades…”

At Virgil’s trailing words, none of the executives could reply.

They simply watched the screen, following Virgil’s gaze, with complex and subtle expressions.

“Deadrise has lost the war.”

Virgil said quietly, his voice ineffable.

“Truly… Van won. Though I believed it would happen…”

A war that began in the Outer Zone of Vulcan, where superhumans from across the continent had gathered and clashed.

It was only natural that the Cartel, having formed a cooperative relationship with Adamant Tower, was preparing to intervene.

The planned deployment time for the Cartel’s most powerful force, the executives, was immediately after The Legion’s forces began their entry into District 49.

The plan was to disrupt the rear of The Legion’s main force the moment their Domain was invaded, thereby dispersing their power on both sides.

However, the executives, who had been on standby here for over three days, ultimately failed to properly enter the battlefield.

Adamant Thunder’s massacre, which wiped out half of The Legion’s main force immediately as the subjugation operation began.

The Golden Labyrinth completely swallowed The Legion’s forces, who had entered District 49 with all their might.

All that remained on the empty battlefield were battered and shattered stragglers, not even requiring the executives to personally step in.

The Cartel’s execution squad was preparing to rush in as soon as the battlefield was cleared and the Labyrinth reopened.

But when the Domain collapsed and the Labyrinth reopened, all the battle’s situations were already drawing to a close.

“Well, it’s not bad for us, is it?”

Meryllda, one of the executives, tilted her head with a wry expression.

“It was the worst-case scenario for us to have to step in at all, so maybe it’s a good thing that it ended without us moving.”

“……”

“More importantly, I’ve been on standby for three days straight and I’m going stir-crazy! Can I go out and run around now?!”

“Meryllda. What kind of insolent language is that in such an important meeting?”

Gyro, a newly recruited executive, spoke.

He glanced over, fiddling with something like a coffer in both hands.

“Just because your rank is high doesn’t mean you can act disrespectfully in official settings. Observe proper etiquette.”

“What, you punk. By distribution within the Cartel, I’m your senior here.”

“But where did Angel go at such an important time?”

“I don’t know. He was mumbling like a madman about having to meet someone…”

Unfamiliar faces scattered throughout the conference room added their comments, following Meryllda.

These were the new executives of the Cartel, continuously recruiting talent from across the continent.

“Regardless, I imagine many will be shocked by Deadrise’s defeat.”

Lauder, the Curse Sorcerer, smiled, arms crossed.

“They are the military group with the most combat experience across the entire continent. In terms of pure war-fighting capability, there are probably fewer than five organizations that can compare. To think such war experts would be defeated by a single wizard – an unprecedented event.”

“……”

“The utter defeat of The Legion, which started as one of Vulcan’s Three Chiefs and advanced to the Central Front. I’m trembling with anticipation at how many will revel in their downfall and curse them.”

“Hmph, you creepy Curse Sorcerer…”

Oropin, a Knight Commander from Kabahim, sitting askew with his arms crossed, sneered at Lauder.

“You just want to collect negative emotions suitable for your curse spellcraft, don’t you? Why are you pretending to be so informed about current affairs?”

“Oh? Am I wrong? Even if others are an exception, I think the seniors who were around when the Three Chiefs were still active must have unique thoughts on this.”

Lauder smiled, unconcerned, and shifted his gaze.

“Even among The Legion’s leadership who died in the subjugation operation, some of you must have known them personally, right?”

“……”

“What, punk.”

Virgil remained silent, and Meryllda grumbled, arms crossed.

“With MacQueen and Kansoa dead, it’s just Virgil and me now. Don’t ask such annoying questions.”

“But—”

“We were trying to kill each other before the project even started. Do you really think there was any emotional connection?”

Meryllda said flatly, slumping back into the armchair with her arms crossed.

“There were an unusually large number of talented individuals gathered, but they were all just creepy guys obsessed with Kaiser.”

“I certainly knew about Vulcan-born superhumans like Song-ha and Baragan. There was a time when we were distant friends with them.”

Virgil replied quietly.

“But after the project failed and Kaiser died… they became so strange that I couldn’t understand what they were thinking anymore.”

“……”

“After that, we barely interacted. It’s true that there was a certain gap, even though we were grouped as the Three Chiefs.”

The Corporate Alliance Cartel. The Private Military Company Deadrise. The Family Alliance Eight Directions Citadel.

Each was called a head representing Vulcan’s underworld capital, military power, and mystery, but their strengths were not equal from the start.

Deadrise was Kaiser’s personal guard, led by Ethan Bajour, a collection of raw talents Kaiser had personally gathered.

Everyone knew that in terms of innate military strength, they possessed unparalleled talent and potential.

Perhaps that’s why no one was surprised when they left Vulcan and advanced to the Central Front.

“Though our paths diverged, and now we are enemies again… there was a time when we shared the same dream and interacted.”

Virgil spoke calmly amidst the silence.

“For now, I simply wish to express my condolences for their lingering regrets.”

From the perspective of the executives who had interacted with Deadrise, they felt no particular sentiment regarding their demise.

Instead, their feelings were more focused on the misjudgment of starting a war to subjugate Adamant Thunder at this time.

The annihilation of The Legion and the end of Ethan Bajour.

Regarding that, Olivera, their leader, must have more complex and profound feelings than Virgil or Meryllda.

Therefore, Virgil decided to hold his tongue in this meeting.

At this moment, Olivera sat at the head of the table, silently gazing at the screen alone.

He understood that her gaze, hidden by her veil, was far more clouded than before.

[……I see.]

Olivera, who had been staring at the screen alone for a long time, whispered weakly.

[From Kundara, I might have… known all along.]

“……Chairman.”

[……]

Olivera slowly rose from her seat.

The freely chattering executives rose in unison with her movement.

[You’ve all worked hard for three days. Everyone, please rest comfortably from now on.]

Olivera said quietly, turning around.

[The Cartel will resume normal operations in one week.]

“Chairman. We will escort you.”

“If you inform us of your destination, we will immediately deploy personnel—”

[No. It’s not for that.]

Olivera replied.

[Putting aside even unexpressed sentiments for a moment… there’s a guest I must meet first.]

“……A guest, you say?”

[Even in this state, I cannot be inhospitable to a distinguished guest who has traveled so far.]

Saying so, Olivera caressed the veil covering her face with one hand.

As if thinking of someone else who wore a similar item over their face.

[It’s a personal matter.]

Vulcan Central District.

The Speaker’s Office, where the Senators of the City Government Central Council are seated.

“……Unbelievable.”

Someone among the senators, observing the ruined aftermath of District 49, murmured quietly.

“Bajour… has departed.”

“Adamant Thunder was victorious. Against The Legion…”

The Central Council had existed as Vulcan’s highest governing body even before the Black Consumer Project.

Though its affiliated members had changed over time, no one here was ignorant of Vulcan’s history and inner workings.

Most senators knew what the name Deadrise meant to this city, and what secrets they held.

Everyone understood what a formidable military organization The Legion was, and what a dominant force they were across the continent.

The result: Deadrise’s elite superhuman force repeatedly defeated and then annihilated by a single wizard.

The shocking defeat meant that not only the Legion Commanders, but even the Captains and the Marshal, ultimately could not overcome Adamant Thunder alone.

Even the countless experienced senators could not have dared to predict such an overwhelming outcome.

Perhaps that’s why they maintained neutrality in this war for as long as possible.

It was simply that Adamant Thunder’s magic far surpassed the level the City Council had envisioned.

“A magical result indeed… no, perhaps he has already reached the pinnacle of magic itself.”

“I thought he might have reached a level similar to an Ascendant… but this is far worse.”

One by one, senators expressed their thoughts throughout the quiet Speaker’s Office.

“In terms of massacring such a large superhuman force, he might even surpass some Ascendants.”

“How can a mere human wield such a weapon of war? I simply cannot comprehend it with my knowledge.”

“Just before the war ended, I was certain he was irreversibly insane… was it all a lie from the beginning?”

They could not fully witness Adamant Thunder’s appearance throughout the subjugation operation.

The Incarnation Body that appeared immediately after the failed Ascension Ritual, and Lennok himself who appeared afterward.

His appearance, and all his words, were not captured by mere broadcast equipment.

However, despite that, people across the continent watched what happened in this war.

Tens of millions of Vulcan citizens clearly witnessed the massacre that flattened the Outer Zone of Vulcan.

Everyone definitively faced the fact that the wizard, notorious for being blood-crazed, had, in fact, been restraining his madness all along.

And how broken the madness he unleashed against his adversary truly was.

“It would be best to contact those associated with Adamant Tower immediately.”

“The lines connected to the Tower are paralyzed. We should assume the lines were cut during the subjugation operation.”

“Was the battle so intense that even infrastructure couldn’t be maintained… we could offer goodwill by supporting the Tower’s reconstruction.”

The expressions of the senators, quickly continuing their discussion, had become indescribably serious.

They considered how enormous an impact the outcome of this war would have on Vulcan’s political landscape and power dynamics.

And how much they could achieve in this city simply by leveraging Adamant Thunder’s incomparably elevated status.

Everyone instinctively sensed this and was trying to set up a game to maximize their gains for their respective factions.

“In any case, it is nominally the victory of a Magic Tower affiliated with a mega-city. It would be good for the City Council to commemorate and honor this.”

“However, someone needs to take responsibility for the Outer Zone being devastated. Let’s first convene a hearing to summon Adamant Thunder, and then discuss rewards and punishments…”

“Are you insane? You want to hold another hearing against a Transcendent who has reached such asymmetric power?”

“The entire Central District would fall into panic. Summoning him to an official setting must be done with utmost caution.”

“At the very least, if we don’t create a plausible pretext, public reaction will become uncontrollable.”

A sharp confrontation between those wary of Adamant Thunder’s power and madness, and those sympathetic to him.

As the senators gathered in the Speaker’s Office discussed future responses and kept each other in check.

“Councilman Meyer.”

The Senate President, sitting at the end of the Speaker’s Office, stood up.

Walking across the floor with a cane, the President, with an unexpressive face, looked down at the bowed old man.

Meyer slowly raised his gaze, meeting the President’s eyes.

“……President.”

“From this moment on, I entrust all authority of the City Council regarding the post-war processing of the subjugation operation to you.”

The middle-aged man with dark black hair spoke calmly, looking at Meyer.

“With Deadrise’s defeat and Ethan Bajour’s death, there are many matters related to the project that need to be handled by higher authorities.”

“……”

“Not only the Central Council and the City Government, but even the Elder Council will move to deal with the aftermath of the project. During that time, we need someone to set the Council’s direction.”

The Senate President spoke to the silent Meyer in a low, almost commanding tone.

“I trust you understand the meaning of my words.”

“……”

Meyer was the senator closest to Adamant Thunder within the City Council, and had openly sided with him.

He was also an extreme hawk who had consistently argued that they should reject The Legion and help Adamant Thunder in the subjugation operation.

A powerful figure who had rapidly climbed the ranks within the Central Council, acquiring high positions.

The meaning of the Senate President transferring authority over post-war processing to Meyer at this time.

As other senators, understanding this fact, turned away with strange expressions or clicked their tongues in dismay.

“Understood. I will do so.”

Meyer slowly stood up, leaning on his cane, and said.

“Assign Senator Haven as my assistant. I will need his connections.”

“As I said, all matters related to the subjugation operation are left to your judgment.”

The President said with an unexpressive face.

“You are free to use all of the City Council’s personnel appointments and budget.”

Having said that, the President did not hesitate, immediately turned, and left the Speaker’s Office.

Several elderly senators, of a similar age to the President, naturally followed him out.

Meyer, for a moment, forgot his current situation and watched their retreating figures.

The reason he had desperately clung to power and aimed for the Mayor’s position.

The secret related to his son’s death was within arm’s reach.

But, even so—

Meyer desperately regained his composure and slowly turned his gaze.

The Grand Mage who had greatly helped Meyer, a local notable from Vulcan’s Outer Zone, rise to this position.

There was simply too much to do to maximize Adamant Thunder’s victory in this war.

“Councilman Haven.”

“Yes, Councilman Meyer. I’m here.”

Meyer nodded towards Konrad Haven, who was smiling leisurely.

“Effective immediately, I will lift the martial law declared throughout Vulcan. Announce the end of the war and permit inter-zone travel and financial transactions.”

“Understood. I’ll see to it immediately.”

“Furthermore, feel free to lift the embargo on all media and press related to the subjugation operation.”

“……Yes?”

“At this point, there’s no reason to deliberately hide or conceal the results of the war. Especially if we need investment and budget for post-war processing.”

Meyer chuckled, looking at Konrad’s somewhat bewildered face.

“Aren’t you curious what kind of reaction we’ll get once the results of this war are announced across the continent?”