Chapter 520: Curtain Call (3)

When I extracted Logier’s memories and got my hands on them, I didn’t expect much.

Pandemonium and the special agency Aegis.

As an informant moving between both organizations, it was highly likely he knew various sensitive pieces of information.

Conversely, at this point, he revealed his identity and was subdued by Lennok, indicating his skill level.

He was a man who lacked understanding of his own Mind Imprint, to the point of self-destruction after Victor, who couldn’t even use half his power, exploited a flaw in his Miniature Universe.

To put it simply, he was similar to Turan, the white lion whom I faced in Blaiver Tower and who is now the Doctor’s puppet.

Despite possessing a powerful body and a useful disposition that coveted the spirits and bodies of others, he used it in a perverse way, resulting in a fate worse than death.

Perhaps the Doctor also saw a similar sense of déjà vu between Logier and Turan, and jokingly warned him to be careful.

Despite his natural talent and aptitude, his Mind Imprint and the way he handled it were crude, so he ultimately couldn’t ascend higher.

Therefore, I thought the information contained in his memories felt more like recent intelligence than secrets of Pandemonium and Aegis.

However, the scene unfolding before Lennok’s eyes was a sight he had never seen before, even after long dealings with Pandemonium.

[……]

A ruined, collapsed city.

A desolate landscape, shrouded only in silent mist, as if cut off from the world.

Myeong and the Director stood in an emptiness like facing the end of the world, but their gazes were directed slightly differently.

Unlike the Director, who seemed to have no interest in anything else, Myeong’s gaze seemed to be directed over his shoulder at the ruined city.

As if he intended to engrave the scene of the ruins where he stood into his memory for a long time.

“Are you sure about this?”

After a long silence, Myeong was the first to speak.

He glanced towards Lennok’s line of sight and let out a small laugh.

“Still watching, I see.”

“……Doesn’t matter.”

The Director replied.

He didn’t even turn to look where Lennok’s gaze was fixed.

“Because all the causality remaining in this area has been taken care of. This is the last of it.”

“The last of it, you say……”

“Besides, weren’t you the one who brought that werewolf?”

Myeong nodded at the Director’s indifferent retort.

“The path to Outer Sea Front was quite rough, you see. I needed help from a local.”

‘A local……’

Only then did Lennok understand why Logier had met the Director and Myeong.

Was there an ‘operation’ among the many Myeong handled alone while traveling across the continent that required Logier’s help?

“If there’s a story that needs to be conveyed, the messenger doesn’t matter, does it?”

The Director said.

“As long as it arrives correctly, the intermediate process isn’t that important.”

“Even if you don’t know who it’s being conveyed to?”

Myeong asked.

“Then you wouldn’t know if it arrived correctly.”

“No. It will definitely arrive.”

The Director denied.

“Because hundreds of destructions and two failures prove it.”

“Interesting.”

Myeong, listening, crossed his arms and chuckled.

“Is that a personal anecdote?”

“…….”

The Director didn’t answer immediately.

He simply raised his gaze, which seemed to carry noise, and stared at the ruins Myeong had been looking at before replying.

“It’s not just my story.”

Myeong seemed to understand the meaning of those words and fell silent, and Lennok also kept quiet.

Because Lennok now vaguely understood what the Director’s words had just implied.

‘The Director knew I would look into Logier’s memories.’

He knew someone would confirm this moment through Logier’s memories, though he didn’t know who.

And he also knew it would be properly conveyed to the recipient the Director desired.

Myeong asked about the reason, and the Director, in a very roundabout way, implied that the basis for it was rooted in personal experience.

Even considering that the answer might be related to the Director’s true identity.

Myeong, too, must have asked the Director about the leakage of information through Logier, rather than about Logier himself.

A chilling intuition and a premonition bordering on certainty.

The conversation between the two already transcended the very concepts of timelines and variations of possibility.

‘Myeong and the Director agreed to show this memory to someone, and they didn’t know who that recipient would be.’

But why?

The conversation they were having now and the city that had become ruins.

Did their encounter hold such grave significance that it needed to be conveyed in this manner?

To drive a wedge of certainty into a suspicion already solidified by strong inspiration?

Even as Lennok was lost in thought, the conversation continued in the memory.

“Are you trying to toy with paradoxes amidst the discontinuity and infinitude of space-time? Even the great failures must find this troublesome.”

“To repeatedly make choices that are not wrong is a miracle founded on paradox and duality. You know that, don’t you?”

The Director said.

“That’s why memories must be left in this way. During the brief respite that enables Jinwa’s corruption, transmission through language will lose its meaning.”

Myeong stared at the Director for a while, then shook his head.

“I have no lingering attachments. No delusions either.”

“…….”

“But that’s also why I’m delaying reaching the end of the path. Are you really okay with this?”

Myeong’s final question, which had not lost its hint of a smile throughout.

But the Director, hearing those words, seemed to smile faintly instead.

“There’s not as much to learn from foolish failures as one might think.”

“…….”

“All I’ve learned is that even when you do your best, regrets remain. So, do what you believe in.”

The Director said, passing by Myeong.

“Because if you don’t reach the answer, all promises will eventually turn to foam beyond the sea.”

Logier’s memories ended there.

The scenery Lennok had been witnessing through Logier’s sight and senses rapidly receded, and then everything felt broken and bounced him out.

Fzzzt……!!

“Ugh……!!”

As if waking from a shallow sleep, Lennok’s consciousness abruptly snapped back to reality and he tumbled onto the train floor.

The noise buzzing in his head was irritating, like a tickle in his brain, yet the memory he had just witnessed did not disappear.

Lennok grimaced, holding his head, then slowly let out a sigh.

“Haa……”

The conversations of these transcendent monsters still felt a step removed from common sense.

Perhaps that was because the concepts they observed and the timelines they stood upon were located in a different place from others.

But even so, Lennok could somewhat understand what they had been trying to convey.

‘The Director’s next objective has been set.’

Ascendant Jinwa.

A Transcendent who founded the continent’s common language, and an ancient monster who had existed among Ascendants for a very long time.

Although he hadn’t seen or heard much about him directly, Lennok was somewhat aware of the information regarding him.

Hadn’t Sabrinah, the word spirit sorcerer, also conveyed information or rumors about Jinwa to Lennok through a trade?

Strange rumors that he was mimicking the actions of an Outer God and his words and actions were becoming increasingly bizarre.

Perhaps those rumors themselves might be somewhat connected to the Director’s actions.

The name given to the ruins where the Director and Myeong were: Outer Sea Front.

Did that place name and the scenery of the ruins themselves imply some connection to Ascendant Jinwa?

‘The crystal ball is… only good for a few more uses, at best.’

It seemed the output of the memory Lennok had just seen was too strong; the crystal ball’s form was slightly melting and sticking together.

At this rate, it would be difficult to even play Logier’s stored memories a few more times.

Lennok hesitated for a moment, then decided to return to Vulcan later and analyze the memories in more detail at his lab.

It was already overwhelming just remembering and organizing the conversation about the Director and Myeong; there was no reason to forcibly delve deeper into the memories here.

“Davi, what about Evelyn?”

[I’ve confirmed the Divine Bow’s signal update in the Agent database. It seems the pursuit was abandoned once the report to HQ was completed.]

“I see……”

So throwing Logier as bait and escaping was indeed the right move.

Since Evelyn was cooperating with Aegis’s operation, it would have been difficult for her to push further once the informant’s identity was secured.

However, even knowing that, the recent confrontation with Evelyn had been a considerable burden for Lennok, enough that he had to be wary of her pursuit.

Evelyn Marcia. An outstanding warrior, an excellent hunter, a transcendent archer.

She was someone hard to imagine breaking, even if she might be pushed back when compared to anyone else Lennok knew.

Her combat abilities, skills, and the various words and advice based on her judgment and intellect had provided Lennok with no small amount of inspiration.

To the point that he had even imagined a scenario where he would fight her at some point.

Assuming he used his full power, what conditions would be necessary to win against her?

The answer had been set long ago.

‘If I deploy my Domain, it’s fifty-fifty or better; if I deploy and layer Ouroboros on top, it’s an easy win. The problem is the process of getting there.’

No matter how powerful, astute, and technically complete Evelyn the superhuman was, Lennok’s Mind Imprint had already reached a concept incomparable in terms of power hierarchy.

Even if he only succeeded in deploying either the Kaleidoscope Domain or Ouroboros, the probability of defeat would drastically decrease.

If he deployed both, as he tried when facing Amrita, he could almost certainly win.

However, given Evelyn’s skills and mobility as Lennok knew them, the battle would likely unfold in a way that wouldn’t give him time to deploy his Mind Imprint.

While her Inertial Deviation’s output and conceptual range were lower than Lennok’s Domain, its deployment speed was incomparably faster.

As it allowed for various applications, like concentrated gravity exploding, she would likely exploit the momentary gap during his Domain deployment by attacking from multiple directions to secure victory.

Considering that, it’s undeniable that predicting a clear victory in a fight against Evelyn, even assuming full power, would be difficult.

Moreover, confronting her as Victor, in his injured condition after the battle with Amrita, was a huge gamble in itself.

He didn’t think he’d lose, but she was a tricky and difficult opponent, making it hard to be certain of a decisive victory.

Given that he hadn’t even imagined a confrontation like this at this point, it was true that Lennok had struggled somewhat.

Thinking about meeting Evelyn again as Van later on felt like an utterly daunting prospect.

“When I get entangled with Pandemonium, things always seem to end up like this……”

Lennok sighed, took off his mask, and ran a hand over his face, muttering.

“Once I get back, I’ll have to search through Black Palace Workshop’s inventory of goods.”

[I’ll put in a named bid at the auction beforehand.]

“Underground auctions won’t be enough. I might need to borrow some connections from Dyke Corp.”

Since one glove from the Black Palace Workshop was used to deceive Logier, he needed to get a new pair.

What could be more ridiculous than being suspected because he’d be missing a glove when he next met Evelyn as Van?

“I also need to adjust my distorted aura and life signs. If my current disguise magic can’t filter it, I’ll have to change the pattern.”

Even though Lennok’s life signs were subtly distorted to make them hard to detect, there was a side effect: it made him easier to specifically identify precisely because of that.

If he couldn’t solve this problem, Lennok’s current situation of juggling multiple identities would become difficult.

Having been away from the city for a long time, he had achieved various results, but there were also no small number of problems he needed to resolve.

[Still, it’s a relief we can make it on time.]

Davi said, perking up her ears.

[At this rate, we’ll have a little breathing room even after returning to Vulcan.]

“The settlement ended faster than I thought. I expected it to be close, but I should be able to finish preparations roughly……”

The construction of the Eyes of Blue Lighthouse, Pandemonium’s interim settlement. And yet another schedule planned in Vulcan.

It was something he had braced himself for since he started juggling identities, but there was no avoiding the various fatigues that came with the process.

But instead of pondering the tasks ahead, Lennok simply lay down on the train car floor and closed his eyes.

Along with the view of the distant megacity, the night of settlement in Bailuts was slowly drawing to a close.

“I told you this side doesn’t know anything about it.”

Pallard O’Con, Deputy Director of Agents, was on the phone all day, dealing with incoming calls.

It had been quite a while since he, a high-ranking city government official who could afford to be somewhat pompous in his position, had diligently responded to work like this.

But the calls he was continuously receiving were only from such high places that Pallard himself had to answer them.

“Yes, Senator. I understand.”

[……]

“Aegis’s decision was to take Divine Bow, wasn’t it? We, too, had no involvement in her will……”

[……!!]

“We only received the report on the outcome; we couldn’t confirm what actions were taken during the operation……”

CRASH!!

Pallard threw the phone down, covered his eyes with both hands, and leaned back in his chair.

“No, goddammit……. Why are they blaming us for Aegis’s operational failure?!”

Pallard roared in the empty office, then panted roughly and grabbed his coffee cup.

As Pallard gulped down the now cold coffee like water, an unexpectedly indifferent voice came from behind him.

“Your infuriatingly slow work habits haven’t changed, Deputy Director.”

“……!!!”

“Are you still dedicating the rest of your life to being harassed by those old fogeys on the City Council?”

An elderly woman, a cigarette in her mouth, leaned against the window and looked his way.

Unlike her pure white hair and wrinkled face, her slender build and thick coat stood out.

Pallard shot up from his seat the moment he saw the old woman.

“Director Greta……!!”

“I’m here.”

“Where the hell have you been, you crazy old hag!!”

“…….”

“Thanks to you not showing your face for years, you’ve been relieved of your post for ages. Get out of here right now.”

Pallard said, pointing to the office door with a cold expression.

Greta ignored Pallard’s words and pulled out a single document from her coat, placing it on the desk.

“This is a reinstatement application directly approved by the City Council. It’s a fresh one, the ink isn’t even dry yet.”

“Re-reinstatement application?”

Pallard picked up the document with trembling hands and read through it.

The expression on his face as he put down the paper was filled with an emotion that “dumbfounded” couldn’t quite capture.

“Didn’t you just rant and rave to me about those old fogeys on the City Council, you…?”

“Did I?”

“And then you just scampered off and brought back your own reinstatement papers?”

“Let’s skip the unimportant details.”

Greta subtly changed the subject and asked.

“Where’s Marcia? I came looking for her because there’s something I want to ask her.”

“She hasn’t returned yet. She’s probably just idling away somewhere.”

“Oh?”

Greta puffed out a cloud of smoke and then threw herself onto the office sofa.

“Then I’ll just have to wait here until she arrives.”

“……Do as you please.”

She was someone who had held the position of Director of Agents but then disappeared for several years without a word.

An eccentric who seemed to have no interest whatsoever in how the organization ran or its systems.

It had been a long time since Pallard expected normal thinking or reactions from her.

Hadn’t Pallard himself been the one to lead the Agents organization until recently?

“Could you make me some coffee? My throat’s dry after smoking for the first time in a while.”

“Why did you come back? No, what were you doing all this time in the first place?”

“Oh, you haven’t heard?”

Greta chuckled.

“I was the one who created the special agency Aegis and trained its members. My assignment is over, so it’s time to return to my original job.”

“……What?!”

“Hmm, come to think of it, was this a secret only known by the Upper House of the City Council?”

Greta idly stroked her chin and smiled.

“Let’s keep it a secret between us. Well, Marcia already knows, though.”

“No, no…… wait a minute. You were originally the Director of Agents. But you suddenly disappeared, and then you’re saying you helped found Aegis and came back?”

Pallard said, pressing his temples.

“And Evelyn knew that?”

“How else would that strict girl have lent us her strength?”

Greta picked up a nearby newspaper and lay flat on her back, saying.

“Even with two cooperative monsters, things always end in a mess when dealing with Pandemonium……. Well, I did expect it to fail.”

“…….”

Pallard, who had been silent with his mouth agape, asked.

“So you pushed their operational failure onto us, too?”

“Hehehe.”

“Dieeee!!!! You crazy old hag!!!”

Pallard, roaring and trying to strangle Greta, and the two elderly officials’ desperate chase, as Greta cackled and dodged him.

But neither seemed to have much stamina, and in less than five minutes, both were panting and silently gulping water while leaning on the sofa.

“Coffee, please.”

“Shut up. Please……”

Pallard, staring blankly at the office ceiling with a dazed expression, asked.

“What is it you need to ask Evelyn about?”

“Wouldn’t I have come here if I intended to ask her directly?”

“No.”

Pallard said, his gaze subdued.

“Tell me here. Right now.”

“…….”

“I don’t care what you’ve been doing all this time. But if you’re thinking of pulling some trick, I’ll have to stop you.”

“Listen……”

Greta let out a cold laugh.

“Since when did you care so much about the Agents? It doesn’t suit you.”

“…….”

“The other agents who died because of your operational failures would be very sad to see you now. Wouldn’t they?”

“Evelyn quitting the Agents was entirely her own decision.”

Pallard resolutely cut off Greta’s words, pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.

“There were plenty of ways for her to get reinstated, yet she hasn’t returned. Her heart’s already left.”

“Is that so?”

“Divine Bow has dedicated herself enough to the city. Far more than you, at least.”

Pallard said in a heavy voice.

“Don’t hold her, Greta. Let her live as she wishes.”

“…….”

“You don’t even know how much time she has left.”

At Pallard’s words, Greta showed a slightly surprised expression.

“……You’ve learned to say such things. Do people change that much, even with age?”

“……”

“Well, you’re not wrong.”

Saying that, Greta naturally took out another cigarette and put it in her mouth.

Pallard naturally lit her cigarette for her.

Puffing out smoke, Greta chuckled.

“But that ending won’t come as suddenly as you might think.”

“How do you know that?”

“The City Council is giving even a vagrant like me time to prepare, aren’t they?”

Greta cackled and said.

“Those old fogeys, who are obsessed with their own affairs, still have enough leeway to think about the future. That’s what I think.”

“…….”

That wasn’t a clear basis or reason, but simply absurd and contradictory trust.

Trust not in cherished colleagues or friends, but in superiors or burdens whom she disliked more than anyone.

“So I won’t play the role of a sympathetic superior. At least on that front, my opinion differs.”

Greta smoked, waving her hand with a gaunt face.

“If there’s something needed, I’ll use every last bit of it and scrape the bottom of the barrel; why should I care about anyone else’s circumstances?”

“Greta……”

“It’s because you’re buried in that loser’s mentality that Agents is in this state.”

Greta rose with a stern expression and walked towards Pallard’s desk.

“Since I’m back, I’ll have to completely overhaul this agency from top to bottom.”

WHOOSH!!

Greta swung her arm, sending a stack of piled documents flying, and then tossed the cigarette she was holding.

FLARE!!

At the sight of the documents rapidly catching fire, Pallard sprang up and grabbed Greta by the collar.

“Don’t talk nonsense……!! Who told you to……!!”

“I’ve accumulated enough data while training Aegis’s agents.”

Greta chuckled, still being held by the collar.

“From now on, the agents I create will become the top elites even within this megacity.”

“……!!”

“So tell me where Marcia is.”

Greta slapped away Pallard’s hand and, with a staggering motion, sat down in the office chair.

With the flames of the burning documents behind her, leaning back in the chair, she looked like an old ghost.

“The wolf pup who was straddling both Pandemonium and Aegis, testing the waters, has turned into an idiot. I need Marcia’s help to find the whereabouts of the last special attribute sorcerer he faced.”

No longer was there any expression on Greta’s face.

“I’m not asking you to help with Agents’ work right now, Pallard. It’s just about cleaning up the aftermath of an operation she accepted.”

“……”

“So stop hiding it and tell me where she is. That’s an order from your Director.”

At Greta’s resolute words, Pallard took the cigarette from his mouth and sighed.

Pallard tossed the remaining ember among the burning pile of documents and said.

“She said she’s going to an expo.”

Greta’s mouth slightly opened at the completely unexpected word.

A strange conversation, as if the solemn atmosphere from before had instantly vanished.

“……An expo?”

“Yes, I believe it was called the Vulcan Magic Engineering Expo hosted by the City Government.”

Pallard scratched his head roughly and said.

“She said she was going to watch a friend’s thesis presentation.”