Chapter 697: The Witch and the Magic Tower (11)
Olivera’s words seemed to grasp at clouds, but Lennok immediately understood their meaning.
It was unlikely she would abandon the Cartel to join Lennok’s ivory tower, so the essence had to lie elsewhere.
“You’ll lend your name?”
“[Since you’ve seen what you’ve seen and returned, I suppose I can afford to be generous in matters like this.]”
Olivera said leisurely.
“[I cannot permit you to reside directly in the Tower, but I will generously overlook you preserving a position and lending your name.]”
“…”
Could it be that she was allowing him to use her name because she knew he had met her past self in the closed-off zone?
It was a statement overflowing with self-love, but Lennok focused on the hidden meaning within her words rather than the words themselves.
This was because Lennok, too, understood the value of attaching Olivera Ron Maize’s name to a magic tower.
Simply by putting her name on the Tower, the prestige and legitimacy gained would be immense, given that she had interacted with many wizards but never belonged to any organization.
“[You said you’ve roughly met the necessary authorities and conditions. But there must be a few foundations that cannot be obtained merely through acquisition and approval.]”
“…”
“[Then that wizard running away from the Magic Tower must also be related to that.]”
The puppet’s gaze naturally turned to Tatiana, who stood beside Lennok.
“[Did you perhaps steal one of the Sari the Fire Magic Tower possesses?]”
“……!!”
“Sari?”
As Tatiana frowned at Olivera’s words, which instantly saw through the secret, Lennok casually counter-questioned.
“[The remains left behind by high-hierarchy wizards after death. Even if they are mere thoughts, if gathered and unified, they transform into a Unique Ability, distinct from regular magic.]”
Olivera explained.
“[They manage the Magic Tower and form the basis for the authority or powers granted to its affiliated wizards. You’d understand if I put it in a similar context, wouldn’t you?]”
“Ah, so that’s what it meant…”
The way Tatiana hid the Phoenix Hall, or how the same prayer beads forcibly unsummoned her, was due to the unique management authority of the Magic Tower.
Was it that such Unique Abilities functioned through the will-thought material left behind by the previous Tower Lord?
If Lennok formally adopted the Phoenix Hall as part of the Magic Tower’s management authority after establishing the Tower, its affiliated members would also be able to use similar Unique Abilities.
“I don’t recall you ever being affiliated with a Magic Tower, yet you know a great deal about how they operate.”
“[You’d know if you’ve been to the closed-off zone.]”
Olivera laughed as if the remark was absurd.
“[Who do you think taught me the magic I used?]”
“…”
Lennok pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“Alright. We’ll capture Peshia Grisbern alive and hand her over to you.”
“[You’re quick to understand.]”
Olivera’s puppet slowly turned and walked back towards the palanquin without hesitation.
“[I’ll lend you two executives. Just send the results to my children.]”
Two of the executives who manage the business divisions under the Cartel.
Since each individual was a superhuman who had perfected a high-tier Hierarchy, they would be a sufficient force for this task.
Lennok nodded, then, as if something occurred to him, asked.
“Ah, there’s one more thing I’d like to confirm.”
“[I grant you permission to speak.]”
“Among the spells you used in the past—”
He lowered his voice slightly, quietly re-asking the necessary query.
Olivera heard Lennok’s words and laughed coldly.
“[Hmph, what an impudent fellow… Do you dare interrogate me about forgotten magic right now?]”
“I’m merely seeking your advice, as I believe it’s necessary.”
From beyond the puppet, which tilted its head at his calm reply, a clear chill seemed to emanate.
But Olivera pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded, as if there was some truth to his words.
“[I’ll relay that when I dispatch the executives. But you will realize that understanding a chant and wielding it are two entirely different matters.]”
“I’ll handle that myself.”
“[And the Witch of Conflagration.]”
When Olivera abruptly called Tatiana, Tatiana looked back at her, slightly surprised.
“…What is it?”
“[I’ve worked with your master a few times, so I know.]”
Olivera let out a cold laugh.
“[Though he might overlook minor transgressions, he is not one to ever tolerate abandonment. You must be prepared to endure the consequences of your decisions.]”
“…”
“[Since he is in charge of the first gate of the Central Front, he might not come looking for you immediately. But you should still keep that in mind.]”
As the puppet climbed aboard, the palanquin’s door slowly closed.
“[Because the reason he ground his own disciples into the battlefield was so that he himself could become the brightest sun.]”
Click!!
As the palanquin’s door clicked shut, the red giants, who had stood as if dead, lifted the palanquin and turned away.
With heavy footsteps, the palanquin slowly exited the library.
The attendants, who had meticulously surrounded the area, escorted the puppet away like ghosts.
Only after the radiant glow, which emitted light all the way to the other side of the street, completely vanished, did Lennok turn to Tatiana.
“Looks like it’s roughly sorted out.”
“…You accepted Olivera Ron Maize’s name and say it’s ‘roughly sorted out’?”
Tatiana, looking at Lennok with an incredulous expression, shook her head.
“I don’t understand what that wizard, who even refused invitations from prestigious major Magic Towers, is thinking by acting like this. Does she really believe a new Magic Tower in Vulcan has that much value?”
“…”
“It would be great if things go smoothly, but capturing Peshia alive could be equally tricky.”
Tatiana, having worked on the Central Front for a long time, empirically understood that there was a high probability of hidden secrets in such suspicious dealings.
The fact that Olivera, who possessed self-esteem as high as her skill, readily declared she would lend her name…
…Perhaps she felt she needed to emphasize that this might be a deal accompanied by significant risk and responsibility.
However, Lennok, while acknowledging Tatiana’s words, shook his head decisively.
“For now, we accept the deal. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t matter if we give up later.”
“What?”
“Because by the time we can decide Peshia’s fate, we will have received more than enough cooperation from the executive team.”
Lennok smiled meaningfully.
“We just get the Cartel’s cooperation, achieve our goal, and then withdraw.”
“…Will Olivera tolerate that?”
“She will.”
Lennok’s eyes, as he turned his gaze, sank deep.
“Ultimately, her willingness to cooperate in this matter is because it concerns Deadrise.”
Deadrise, operating as a private military corporation, is an armed organization formed by Kaiser’s confidants.
Although they currently operate mainly on the Central Front, the pasts of Deadrise’s leadership do not simply disappear.
And if Kaiser’s confidants truly betrayed Kaiser and formed Deadrise…
…What would Olivera, who once participated in the Black Consumer Project with Kaiser, think of them?
It’s unclear what Olivera’s current feelings toward Kaiser are, but she undoubtedly considered Kaiser the core of the plan.
If she changed like this after the project’s failure, it’s natural that she wouldn’t be pleased with Deadrise’s existence.
That’s why Lennok believed Olivera would cooperate in this matter, even without adding various conditions or words.
Kaiser’s confidant and the owner of Iron-Plated Wings.
Where could Gileon be now, one of Deadrise’s core leaders?
Ever since Lennok acquired one of the Iron-Plated Wings, he had inwardly awaited the day he would confront Gileon directly, but Gileon still seemed to have no intention of leaving the Central Front.
“…”
Until now, they had merely gone their separate ways without strongly acknowledging each other’s existence.
But gradually, the frequency of their paths overlapping was increasing to the point where matters couldn’t be resolved without encountering the Central Front and the Triad.
After dealing with Deadrise’s executive here and subsequently establishing a new magic tower, they too would have no choice but to turn their attention to Vulcan.
Having thought that far, Lennok leaned on his staff and slowly stood up.
“All our business here is done. Let’s head back.”
“Have you decided which executives to call?”
Tatiana kneaded her leg, then stood up and asked.
“Do you know anything about the executive team?”
“The Cartel’s executive team is known for recruiting externally.”
Tatiana shrugged at Lennok’s counter-question.
“The authority and compensation provided are strong, so even people on the Central Front are interested in those vacant positions.”
Most of the Cartel’s operations are handled by First Executive Virgil and the board of directors, with the heads representing business divisions tending to be recruited externally.
Given the nature of a corporate conglomerate based in the underworld, it would be difficult to control the will of its members without a powerful leader.
Olivera seemed to have little interest in the Cartel’s affairs, but that was only possible because the Cartel’s internal system was so well structured.
If Lennok were to establish a Magic Tower and operate a distribution company simultaneously, he would likely refer to the Cartel’s example.
“I sent a message as soon as I heard Olivera’s words. The head office’s secretarial department should have confirmed it by now.”
“What? Already?”
“Because the Cartel’s help in this matter isn’t just for dealing with Peshia Grisbern.”
It was a precarious situation, with various major powers, including Deadrise, having a foothold in Vulcan’s outer districts.
Although attention was focused on Peshia, who occupied the satellite factory, Lennok knew that the Magic Tower wouldn’t give up so easily either.
“If they sent prayer beads to retrieve the Phoenix Hall, there’s nothing stopping them from sending more forces.”
Lennok said that, gently touching the bandage on his left arm.
“Blaiver Magic Tower’s Warmages and the Central Front’s military units. They might already be in Vulcan. We’ll have to check from now on.”
Vulcan, the Mega-City, District 10.
A bustling building district where the headquarters of several mega-corporations are located.
A splendid premium hotel nestled among skyscrapers that seemed to pierce the sky.
As a place catering to VIPs visiting for business with Vulcan’s megatech corporations, its rooms boasted luxurious facilities and services.
From the shower room in the top-floor suite, a naked man walked out, billowing steam.
Splosh!!
As he ran his hand through his hair to squeeze out water, all the moisture on his body completely dried up and vanished.
The man, who had banished moisture with a single gesture, ran his finger across the tabletop.
The moment he turned his gaze back into the room from the distant bustling city outside the window…
Whoosh!!
The table the man touched became a pile of ash, neatly stacked on the floor.
“…”
Kneeling reverently, he began to meticulously scatter the gathered ash on the room’s floor.
Having completed a small magic circle, just large enough for one person, by scattering the ash, the man finally removed his robe, stood on the magic circle, and closed his eyes.
At that moment, embers rising from beneath the man’s feet slowly began to eat away at his flesh and burn him.
Whoosh, whoosh!!
The sensation of his entire body burning from his toes upward.
Yet, the man’s expression was utterly serene, as if he felt no pain at all.
Finally, the flames that began at his feet completely engulfed his body, and the moment he transformed into a blazing fireball…
Rumble!!
The man’s consciousness inverted from his head downwards, and before his eyes, a colossal corridor of fire unfolded.
Whoosh!!!
A vast corridor, entirely covered in boiling flames.
A congregation of heat so intense that any human who stepped inside would likely burn away without a trace.
But the man, enveloped in blazing flames, walked slowly into the corridor without a care.
The already wide corridor’s landscape continued to expand and slowly split apart as he walked forward.
Crackling…!!
A colossal Hall of Flames, stretching out endlessly.
At the far end of this consciousness space, which incinerated everything, only eight colossal altars remained fully intact.
On each altar, gigantic suns of different colors and forms rotated and blazed.
Whooooom!!!!
Eight altars. But only five suns blazed upon them.
The first, second, and seventh altars had no visible suns.
The man silently opened his mouth before the eighth altar.
“Master.”
C-crack…!!
On the altar was a sun scattering bluish, mist-like flames.
The sun’s surface, as if enveloped in plasma, had dangerous cracks here and there, looking as if it could shatter at any moment.
Without waiting for a reply, the man spoke.
“Fifth Flame Pillar Melter Halfman died while tracking Third Flame Pillar Tatiana Chiglet.”
“…”
“Deadrise Command informed us they cannot confirm the matter. It’s presumed they intend to proceed with the plan according to the existing contract.”
Suddenly, the eighth sun blazing on the altar seemed to writhe.
The man continued.
“We discussed it with the Vulcan City Government, but we were told to resolve it with the approved Magic Tower. They didn’t seem to have any intention of intervening.”
“…”
The man hesitated slightly, then spoke again.
“It’s difficult to take follow-up measures without the ‘Burning Soul of the Hot Spirit Ceremony’ prepared. If there’s any secret plan…”
“[Duren.]”
The eighth sun writhed violently, then spewed out rippling divine power.
“…Yes, Master.”
“[Your understanding is still dim, and your judgment slow.]”
“…”
“[The Vulcan Central Council is not so incompetent as to fabricate excuses. They don’t even respond to worthless questions.]”
“Then…”
“[The words about the Magic Tower are not empty. The question you posed aligns in part with the Central Council’s direction.]”
The answer was to talk to a Magic Tower that didn’t exist in Vulcan.
The Magic Tower Lord had instantly discerned that the answer itself held a different meaning.
“[It can only mean that there is a Magic Tower recently approved by the Central Council and currently preparing for establishment.]”
“……!!”
The establishment of a new Magic Tower, something no one had been permitted in the mega-city.
Realizing the meaning of those words, Duren stiffened his neck, a look of agitation on his face.
“Are you saying they not only granted permission for its establishment but also believe it’s fine for that fact to be publicly announced?”
“[Likely so… I don’t know what changed the minds of those old fuddy-duddies…] The Magic Tower Lord, who had been contemplating in a leisurely tone, then slowly laughed.
“[Go back and tell those old men of the Central Council. Tell them that the Blaiver Magic Tower will write its name on the new Magic Tower to be built in Vulcan.]”
“…Won’t there be an Appointed Tower Lord there already?”
“[It doesn’t matter how they respond. I intend to have a direct audience with the Appointed Tower Lord and take over. And if I receive a positive answer…]
Rumble-rumble-rumble…!!
With a reverberating divine power, the eighth sun blazed even more fiercely and warped.
The sun’s surface stretched open, transforming into something like the teeth of a massive beast, smiling.
Beneath a long, extended tongue, hot flames dripped like saliva.
“[Tell them I will come to Vulcan myself.]”