Chapter 830: Knot (17)

“An agenda item about Adamant Thunder? No, wait, did Peshia Grisbern die before that?”

At the news that Peshia had fought and lost to Adamant Thunder, even the members who had been discussing other topics turned their attention.

Not only Vernon, who was heavily intoxicated, but even The Doctor, who had been observing the situation, showed interest.

“That gambling-addicted woman lost to Adamant Thunder, you say? This is quite interesting news.”

“The Ghost Princess was a renowned spear master even in the Central Front, wasn’t she? For such a formidable figure to be defeated by a mad wizard, alone…”

“Hmph… To die fighting, what an inappropriately noble death for her.”

Among the whispering others, Maiya, who had been silent, scoffed.

“That unpleasant lunatic should have gambled away her own organs and died selling them.”

“…”

It seemed Peshia’s notoriety and temperament were quite widely known even on the Central Front, as the reactions to her death were particularly strong.

While hearing about Lennok’s achievements from others was familiar, this kind of reaction was new.

Deimus flinched slightly at Maiya’s scathing mockery but did not lose his composure.

“There’s no doubt Peshia’s death was noble. She fought for the Legion until the very end, and Headquarters honored her by engraving her name in the warrior’s graveyard.”

Instead, he merely nodded slowly with a calm demeanor.

“But separate from that, Adamant Thunder’s power and influence in Vulcan have undoubtedly reached an undeniable level. Even if Headquarters is postponing the current situation, they will surely reach a similar conclusion.”

Deimus, looking at the members gathered in the consciousness space, slowly began to speak.

“So, if we were to organize an operation to subdue Adamant Thunder in the future, would any members be willing to participate?”

“…Subdue Adamant Thunder?”

“You, you actually meant that?”

Chebyen and Freya, who had participated in the meeting at the time, retorted with incredulous expressions, but Deimus didn’t bat an eye.

“As those familiar with the Legion know, we will eventually return to Vulcan and reclaim the city. That is the Marshal’s deepest wish, the final culmination of an unfulfilled desire.”

“…”

“Before our main forces move, we intend to contact Vulcan’s prominent figures and coordinate. And lunatics who can’t be reasoned with, no matter how much you try…”

Deimus, his gaze cold, swept across his surroundings and spoke.

“They must be eliminated from the board beforehand. That’s all.”

Only then did the members, realizing that Deimus’s proposed operation was no empty boast, fall into thought.

What Deimus was saying now wasn’t that only Pandemonium members would gather to kill Adamant Thunder.

He wouldn’t even expect that kind of solidarity or operation in the first place.

He merely wanted to confirm beforehand if anyone intended to get involved in Deadrise’s future plan to act directly.

Even while leading the 7th Corps, constantly moving back and forth across the Central Front, he was simultaneously coordinating with Pandemonium and drawing up a blueprint.

It was unclear what level of prowess Deimus himself possessed, but it was clear that, even without considering that, his abilities were highly competent.

Feeling that he had sufficiently set the mood, Deimus spoke again.

“Especially Freya and Victor. I’d like the two of you to participate in the subduing operation.”

“Me?”

“Adamant Thunder is a grand wizard who has reached the pinnacle of Pure Spellcraft Elemental Magic.”

Deimus explained, looking at the frowning Freya and the silent Lennok.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that he’s virtually unrivaled in head-on clashes that test output. Furthermore, he seems to be highly skilled in solo combat, to the point of defeating a master spear user like Peshia single-handedly.”

“…”

“To take down such a monster, we need transcendent area-of-effect spellcraft not limited to a single target, like Freya’s, or special power that defies conventional standards, like Victor’s.”

Perhaps because he was a commander leading a corps on the field, Deimus’s briefing was unhesitating.

A logically coherent persuasion, as if he had already run simulations several times in his mind on how to deal with Lennok.

“We can dispatch vanguards from the Legion to withstand Adamant Thunder’s magic. But unique talents like yours are not easily found outside of places like Pandemonium.”

Deimus said.

“To meet rare talent holders, difficult to find across the entire continent. That is precisely why I joined Pandemonium.”

“Hmm…”

“The same goes for others. If anyone is willing to participate in the operation, I promise top-tier treatment and conditions in the name of the 7th Corps.”

How calmly Deimus explained, as if indirectly praising the members gathered here.

But the individuals gathered in the consciousness space only reacted indifferently to Deimus’s words.

“Well, even if you say that, aren’t you just trying to exploit my abilities?”

Freya said, twisting her hair around her finger and practically sprawling on the chair.

Every time he saw her, Lennok thought she seemed to have no idea how to sit properly in a chair in the first place.

“I’m a lot busier and more expensive than you think.”

A cold sneer seemed to flicker in Freya’s eyes as she looked at Deimus.

“If someone’s not on my level, I don’t really want to play along with them.”

“…”

“Adamant Thunder, that wizard, has nothing to do with me in the first place, so I have no idea why I should do some operation with you.”

“Freya. I am aware that you are a global diva.”

Despite Freya’s sharp provocation, Deimus remained calm.

“There are many fans of yours even in the corps I command. So much so that I’m troubled by subordinates writing love poems every time you hold a concert.”

“So what?”

“If my proposal doesn’t satisfy you, I will buy the time you use for your performances.”

“You’d buy a celebrity’s time, not Pandemonium’s spellcaster’s?”

Freya, understanding the implication, let out a snort.

“Alright. Perfect timing, actually. I’m about to go on my 12th world tour soon.”

“…”

“No more, no less, just pay the same amount as my last tour’s revenue. Then I’ll seriously consider it.”

“…Expected revenue from a world tour, you say.”

“It’ll be dangerous if I participate in the operation, won’t it? I might have to use a lot of spellcraft. Then I might not be able to sing throughout the tour.”

Freya, sprawled with her arms crossed, nodded.

“If I face that crazy wizard, I might unnecessarily incur his grudge. Isn’t this level of risk distribution only natural?”

Since she likely considered this a life-threatening endeavor, asking that it not interfere with her main profession was, at first glance, a reasonable demand.

However, Deimus could not easily nod at Freya’s words and remained silent.

Maiya, who had been watching with a cold expression from the side, shook her head.

“You’re terribly indecisive for a Deadrise Corps Commander. In short, she’ll move if you just pay, so what’s the hesitation?”

“Maiya, that’s not it.”

The Doctor twitched his white furball and chuckled.

His voice, too, had deepened strangely, as if greatly amused.

“It’s because he’s a commander leading a group that he knows how absurd Freya’s demand is… Rather, you could call it a result of experience and wisdom.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Doesn’t that just mean there’s no one here with an appreciation for art?”

The Doctor snickered, looking at the two of them.

“Well, the point was that the amount would be so significant that even Deadrise’s Corps Commander would hesitate to spend it.”

“…”

When Freya holds concerts across the entire continent, her expected revenue seems to be surprisingly enormous.

Lennok, too, had never paid much attention to artistic activities in this world, so he lacked related knowledge.

While he considered whether he should find out how much money would be needed to hire Freya through Davi later, The Doctor spoke to Deimus.

“Deimus, let’s stop there.”

He said, smiling slyly through the white furball.

“I don’t care how you exploit these fools, but the timing isn’t good for intervening in Vulcan. You must know what kind of position Adamant Thunder has established in that city now, don’t you?”

“…”

“A-Adamant Thunder, as soon as he established his Magic Tower, he began recruiting wizards to work and is supplying items throughout the city by partnering with various businesses.”

Professor Raphael cautiously began to speak.

“Aside from the notoriety he’s informally built up, the response to his related businesses is so good. He must have a very skilled operator by his side.”

“Professor Raphael, continue.”

The professor, who had been glancing at Hylaea, hastily stated his opinion.

“If the tower’s business were to be disrupted at a time like this, it’s safe to assume the City Council might directly intervene… Ahem, this should remain confidential, if you please.”

“Did you hear that?”

The Doctor twitched his furball, shrugging his shoulders as he spoke.

“Killing Adamant Thunder alone won’t end it. Considering the economic losses and vested interests it would bring to Vulcan, the Magic Tower must be maintained for the time being. At least, the Vulcan City Council would wish for that.”

“I know.”

Deimus nodded.

“But that’s something that can be resolved by finding someone to take over the tower’s operation in Adamant Thunder’s place, entrusting them with the work, and negotiating with the City Council.”

“Hmm.”

Suddenly, The Doctor’s voice turned cold.

“Was it so difficult to understand what I said?”

The simulated consciousness space immediately grew cold.

But even with The Doctor’s chilling reply, Deimus’s reaction did not change.

His will and well-founded opinions were simply too firm to bend to the direct or indirect pressure and persuasion of his opponent.

A resolute reaction, as if he would risk a confrontation here and push his opinion through if necessary.

Lennok fell into thought, observing Deimus.

‘What should I do…?’

If necessary, he could persuade the other members of Deimus’s opinion and proceed with the operation.

Conversely, he could crush Deimus’s opinion right here and simply dismiss it.

Since he had heard the situation from the beginning, intervening itself wouldn’t be difficult using Lennok’s experience and knowledge.

The problem lay in how Lennok, in his alias of Van, would handle this agenda item.

If Pandemonium members participated in the operation and attempted to subdue Adamant Thunder, Lennok had no intention of interfering separately.

In this scattered organization, built on the assumption of mutual indulgence and betrayal, there was no need to dwell on such connections.

However, instigating and creating such a scenario directly with Lennok’s own hands was a completely different matter.

Although the situation had changed considerably since Lennok first joined, Pandemonium still held meaning and value in many ways.

Even without eccentric monsters like The Doctor or Maiya, Deimus’s statement that unique talents, not easily found, were gathered here was not wrong.

“…”

It was ironic. Because of the logic Deimus presented to persuade them to subdue Adamant Thunder, he actually felt inclined to stop the operation.

Although this organization, Pandemonium, wasn’t something he particularly liked or found convenient, it still needed to be maintained.

At least until the Director himself made a move.

Thinking this, Lennok opened his mouth.

“Before joining Pandemonium, I spoke with Myeong a few times.”

“…The Nether King?”

Feeling the consciousness of everyone immediately turn to him, Lennok spoke.

“He said he was traveling the continent, searching for talents and geniuses beyond the norm.”

“We know that-”

“And I was one of them.”

At Lennok’s brazen words, spoken with a straight face, the expressions of Freya and the other members turned odd.

“This guy, so casually praising himself…”

“Arrogant bastard.”

“He was always this arrogant. Not surprising…”

“Ahem, a very confident gentleman, indeed.”

Ignoring Professor Raphael, who was also looking at him with a strange expression, Lennok spoke to Deimus.

“Among them, Myeong seemed particularly fond of Adamant Thunder.”

“…”

“If Myeong is still maintaining his consciousness, he might be paying attention to matters in Vulcan. Are you prepared for that?”

“Ah, I see.”

At that moment, Deimus nodded.

“Then the operation will be difficult for the time being. I understand.”

“…”

At Deimus’s answer, which shattered his firm resolve from just moments before as if it were a lie, the others were speechless and stared at him.

“You…”

“Was the Nether King that scary to you? No, of course, he is truly a terrifying person, but.”

“The truly terrifying thing is that he became stronger day by day, traveling the continent. That abnormal growth and talent…”

“He’s a mad monster who demolishes cities for fun. It’s not surprising, is it?”

“For fun?”

At that moment, The Doctor suddenly burst into laughter.

The Doctor, who had been quietly twitching alone, asked, his furball wiggling.

“For fun, you say? Surely you didn’t interpret ‘gabihang’ that way too?”

“…It wasn’t?”

“No.”

The Doctor chuckled.

“That is one of the most hideous yet sublime rituals on this continent. Among rituals not linked to Ascension, it is virtually-”

At that moment, The Doctor, who had been about to say something, abruptly stopped.

“Oops, I shouldn’t say any more. Otherwise, Myeong might truly come to kill me ‘for fun’.”

Leaving the silent members behind, The Doctor turned his gaze toward Deimus.

“Anyway, I’m glad you understood our position. If I had known you were so concerned about Myeong, I would have told you from the start.”

“…Perhaps.”

Deimus retorted.

“There’s no reason to spread the story of that black wizard single-handedly annihilating the 2nd Corps.”

“…”

“Nor the fact that the 2nd Corps Commander, who fell at the end of that battle, still suffers from trauma from that time.”

Deimus, his face expressionless, turned his gaze to Lennok and spoke.

“There’s no particular reason to go around talking about it.”

“…”

He had thought about leveraging Myeong’s infamy, but he had no idea there was such a deep, ill-fated connection with Deadrise.

It seemed Deimus was convinced that Lennok had heard those facts directly from Myeong.

While Lennok was pondering whether he should clear up the misunderstanding right then,

“Deadrise. You’re not the only ones moving to pick up the pieces of past mistakes.”

Maiya said to Deimus with a cold expression.

“I don’t care what you do in the Central Front, but if you roll around without washing off the filth you’ve accumulated on the front lines, you’ll pay the price.”

“If that’s what the Machine City’s top Enforcer says, then it’s no empty threat.”

Deimus replied with an expressionless face.

“However, we are not plotting this lightly either.”

“…”

“Peshia was a core member of the Legion who followed the Marshal from Vulcan, fixated only on him, all the way to the Central Front. Her being killed immediately after returning to Vulcan for the grand plan is a grave matter that Headquarters cannot overlook lightly.”

Deimus slowly rose from his seat, looking around as he spoke.

“If, by any chance, a formidable figure like the Nether King moves, the Legion will also take appropriate countermeasures.”

“Appropriate countermeasures, you say?”

“Simple.”

Deimus smiled.

“The Marshal himself would move to confront the Nether King.”