Chapter 995: The First Gateway (5)

“It’s not concrete evidence, more circumstantial, but at this point, it’s almost certain information.”

Bernard’s message: a high-ranking Eyes of Blue executive was among the clients who visited the Conjunction Spell Master’s operating theater.

Bernard said, shaking the file folder in his hand.

“The changes in the Lighthouse’s observation cycle as it illuminates the Veil. The movements of Watchers moving back and forth across the front lines… all support the fact that the Eyes of Blue have temporarily withdrawn from near the Gateway.”

“…”

“Given that Lighthouse Keeper Lapis is currently unharmed, there’s only one possibility to consider.”

Bernard extended the file folder towards Lennok.

“Something the Eyes of Blue need to request from the Conjunction Spell Master. Likely a high-level surgical procedure on a high-tier superhuman, something only the Spell Master can perform.”

“A request, you say…”

Bernard’s explanation omitted many details, yet Lennok was able to recall the events at the Gateway through his words.

He remembered the words the Conjunction Spell Master had uttered the moment they met at the entrance to Gateway City.

‘The Conjunction Spell Master told me the discussion regarding the Lighthouse’s affairs was already concluded the moment he saw me.’

Originally, the Spell Master had revealed his consciousness at the Gateway because he detected the Eye of the Wellspring Lennok possessed.

It was a message delivered under the assumption that Lennok, with the Eye of the Wellspring, was on the Watchers’ side. It was tantamount to confirming that the Conjunction Spell Master and the Eyes of Blue had struck a deal concerning the Lighthouse.

If they had agreed not to illuminate the Lighthouse near the Gateway, and the reason was something the Eyes of Blue needed to ask of the Spell Master, then…

As Bernard said, that request would most likely be something only the Spell Master could do.

“Judging by your reaction, it seems you have your own suspicions. The Warband currently believes that a key Watcher from the Eyes of Blue is in critical condition.”

Bernard reiterated, looking at Lennok’s contemplative face.

“Stopping the Lighthouse implies they are a significant power within the Eyes of Blue, and needing help from a master physician like the Conjunction Spell Master means the injury is severe.”

“Officially, the Eyes of Blue only antagonize the Guido Cult and Pandemonium, don’t they?” Angel, who had been sipping whiskey nearby, asked.

“It seems there was a major clash with the Cult or Pandemonium recently. The Cartel hasn’t received any news about it yet.”

“Who knows? The Eyes of Blue tend to handle most matters quietly. Since their leader is the Lighthouse Keeper, they’re incredibly adept at blocking external surveillance and observation.”

Bernard shrugged.

“Thanks to them, informants like me have to really hit the pavement to get information on the Eyes of Blue. I found out about the changes in the Lighthouse’s observation cycle myself.”

“You’d solve it with your innate ability anyway, so why are you acting like you did so much legwork?”

“…Anyway, here’s the ‘easy way’ I’m proposing.”

Bernard cleared his throat and turned his gaze to Lennok, who was looking at the documents.

“Contact the Eyes of Blue executive who has booked surgery with the Conjunction Spell Master, and enter the operating theater as a caregiver.”

“…”

“We can provide items for disguise or concealing your presence. The important thing is just for you to secure the cooperation of that high-ranking executive.”

“A caregiver, you say…”

Lennok shook his head.

“I’ll admit it’s an ingenious idea. You’ve managed to gather a surprising amount of relevant information.”

The idea of piggybacking on a patient who had booked surgery to infiltrate the Conjunction Spell Master’s Domain wasn’t bad in itself.

One had to acknowledge Bernard’s ability to investigate the characteristics of the operating theater, the time of the surgery, and the scheduled events at the Gateway.

But Bernard, without reacting much to Lennok’s praise, immediately countered.

“So? Can you do it?”

“Before we discuss that plan, there are two problems.”

Lennok replied, closing the file folder with a thud.

“First. It’s been several months since I left the Eyes of Blue. I haven’t explained why to the other Watchers.”

“…”

“I don’t know how the Watchers feel about that. I don’t even know if they’d be willing to cooperate with me in the first place.”

Lennok glanced away and said.

“At the very least, I need to know which Watcher has booked the surgery with the Spell Master. Only then can I determine if they’ll cooperate with this.”

“A personnel issue, then.”

Bernard nodded.

“Alright. We’ll secure the list of booked patients. What’s the second problem?”

“The second problem is…”

Lennok placed the file folder on the table and stood up, speaking.

“You still haven’t told me what the Ability Awakening Warband wants from me.”

“…What?”

Bernard’s retort came a beat too late.

But Lennok didn’t miss even that subtle anomaly.

Thud!

Lennok pressed down on Bernard’s shoulder with one hand as he tried to stand, his face expressionless as he looked at him.

“The series of information you just explained to me. This isn’t a briefing prepared in just a few days.”

“…”

“The Warband has been looking for a way to enter the Conjunction Spell Master’s operating theater for a long time. Haven’t they?”

Lennok had planned to go to the First Gateway to acquire a Veil Fragment only four days ago.

But the information Bernard had just revealed was not a plan that could be devised from only four days’ worth of collected data.

A series of facts and even hypotheses based on them, only possible by continuously monitoring the Conjunction Spell Master, the Order Alliance, and the movements of the Eyes of Blue.

Wasn’t it possible because the Ability Awakening Warband had been preparing for a long time for the very objective Lennok had conceived only four days prior?

“This discussion is only possible at the stage where all plans are set, and execution personnel are being chosen. And you’re sharing the plan with me, trying to induce its execution.”

Whoosh!

Flames flared in Lennok’s hand, stretched out long, then instantly spread wide across Bernard’s back.

The flames parted like wings, enveloping Bernard’s form and flickering.

Lennok asked, watching Bernard’s face stiffen from the heat brushing his cheek.

“Speak, superhuman. What does the Warband want from the Conjunction Spell Master’s operating theater?”

There was no way they would share such information and a plan for free, without any ulterior motive.

It was only possible if the Warband was pursuing the same objective as Lennok, or strongly desired something more.

Crucially, while sharing this information, Bernard had not said a single word about what they wanted.

Lennok knew that before considering the plan’s success rate, understanding their motive was paramount.

“…Mr. Evan.”

Angel tried to say something, his expression grim, but Bernard raised a hand to stop him.

The explorer, gazing up at Lennok with a composed face, slowly nodded.

“You’re right. We’re not sharing this information with you without any expectation.”

“…”

“But that’s only if you accept this job, isn’t it?”

Despite Lennok’s flames rippling up his neck, Bernard merely stiffened his expression. He wasn’t visibly agitated.

As Angel had explained, it was likely because Bernard himself was a veteran who had navigated countless conflicts.

“You can think of it as an advance. If we hadn’t shared this information first, you wouldn’t have trusted us at all.”

Bernard spoke slowly.

“You’ve listened to me so far because the information I provided about the Conjunction Spell Master and his operating theater matched what you encountered. That’s why you didn’t doubt my plan even after hearing about the Eyes of Blue, isn’t it?”

“You keep deflecting.”

Bernard’s words were a fairly accurate guess at Lennok’s judgment, but Lennok remained unswayed.

It was clear he was deliberately avoiding the main point by constantly bringing up the issue of motives.

“Just answer my question. What does the Warband want?”

“…Hmph. This is why I didn’t want to take this job.”

Bernard sighed softly and complained.

“High-ranking spellcasters are too skilled at finding flaws and openings. They try to read between the lines of every conversation. Even if we take a disadvantageous stance, they won’t just let it slide.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

As Lennok amplified his mana, Bernard finally opened his mouth.

“In the Conjunction Spell Master’s operating theater, the body of Mikal Zelih, the Third Seat of the Warband, is preserved.”

“The Warband’s Third Seat?”

“It’s a title given to the ten most powerful innate ability users in the Ability Awakening Warband, listed in order.”

Bernard’s explanation was much kinder than before.

Bernard carefully stretched his neck and shoulders, then spoke.

“Among them, Zelih, the Third Seat, possessed an extremely rare specialized innate ability within the Warband.”

“…”

A specialized innate ability.

Lennok frowned, feeling a strong sense of déjà vu from those words.

Lennok retracted the flame wings, pushing them closer to Bernard’s jaw, and asked.

“The third strongest ability user in the Warband is dead and remains as a corpse in the Conjunction Spell Master’s operating theater?”

“It was an unfortunate accident. Zelih, the Third Seat, made a misjudgment.”

Bernard’s expression darkened for a moment as he answered.

“He possessed the ability furthest from death among the Ten Seats. He couldn’t have imagined that the Conjunction Spellcraft could affect an innate ability to that extent.”

“…”

“The problem is that after Zelih, the Third Seat, died, his body fell into the Conjunction Spell Master’s hands. The Spell Master is an extremely skilled physician, so it wouldn’t be strange for him to dissect and investigate Zelih’s body if he recognized his abilities.”

Bernard held Lennok’s gaze, his expression grim.

“Currently, the Warband headquarters’ top priority at the First Gateway is to retrieve the remains of Zelih, the Third Seat, preserved in the operating theater.”

“…”

A high-ranking executive of the Ability Awakening Warband who died at the hands of the Conjunction Spell Master.

Had they shared the plan to infiltrate the operating theater to retrieve that corpse with Lennok at this point?

Through him, the Warband desired only one thing.

That Lennok, having entered the operating theater, would retrieve Zelih, the Third Seat’s body, on their behalf.

“I understand that the Ability Awakening Warband wants to recover the body of this ‘Zelih’.”

Lennok tilted his head.

“But bringing out a body would inevitably draw the Spell Master’s attention. That’s a contradictory objective to your suggested method of secretly infiltrating the operating theater. It seems too risky in many ways.”

“We’re not asking you to recover the entire body. Given the Conjunction Spell Master’s nature, it’s unlikely Zelih’s body is still intact anyway.”

Bernard spoke with a calm expression.

“Our superiors believe the Third Seat’s body has already been dissected into internal organs and tissues.”

“…”

Bernard’s answer implied no expectation whatsoever regarding the Conjunction Spell Master’s methods or disposal.

Just from those words, one could guess how terrible and sinister the Spell Master’s reputation was.

“The only part of Zelih, the Third Seat’s body we want to recover from the operating theater is the brain, which is critically important for the functioning of an innate ability.”

Bernard tapped his temple with one hand and said.

“And specifically, only the cerebral cortex, where the flow of thought is most clearly observed.”

“You’re saying you want the cerebral cortex recovered from among the brain fragments the Spell Master has carved up?”

“Distinguishing it won’t be difficult. The Conjunction Spell Master surely knows which body part is most important for a superhuman.”

Bernard, arms crossed, nodded.

“He’s certainly keeping Zelih, the Third Seat’s head, separately. He might even be researching it already.”

“…”

“I believe you understand what I’m trying to say, having heard this much.”

Bernard spoke calmly, looking at the silent Lennok.

“Infiltrating the operating theater, retrieving the Veil Fragment you desire, and the remains of Zelih, the Third Seat. That’s the entirety of the deal we wish to propose.”

“…”

“We disclosed this information first partly to gain your trust, but also because retrieving the Third Seat’s remains could make achieving your objective easier.”

“My objective could become easier to achieve?”

Lennok’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Bernard.

“Are you saying the innate ability of Zelih, the Third Seat, preserved in the Conjunction Spell Master’s operating theater, is that powerful?”

“Zelih, the Third Seat, possessed, quite literally, the ability furthest from death among all innate ability users.”

Click.

Bernard pulled out a pale white glowing case and offered it, a bitter smile on his face.

“He was an immortal, based on semi-permanent super-regeneration, and at the same time…”

Lennok too was left speechless by the distinct symbol etched onto the case.

A strange shape, resembling a single path converging back towards its origin.

It was the symbol of the Guido Cult.

“He was one of the progenitors of the Cult’s Immortal Body experiments.”

Clank, clank!

Violet chains hung bound within the dark room.

Dozens of corpses, necks bound, intertwined above them, swaying slowly.

Using the swaying corpses as a curtain, an older man sat alone in the darkness, his back turned.

“O’Edon.”

One of the Warband’s ability users standing behind him quietly called his name.

“Evan Martinez has arrived at Gateway City.”

“…”

“Bernard is currently handling Cheonbeon, explaining the Warband’s plan and attempting to persuade him. If things go according to plan, it will be fine, but…”

The hesitant ability user asked.

“Considering Cheonbeon’s nature, if we don’t even consider a clash with the Spell Master…”

“It’s not strange, considering the loyalty that fiery wizard showed to the Eyes of Blue.”

With just a low utterance of his reply, his voice reverberated, rattling the chains violently.

Each time, dozens of corpses chained to the swaying violently, unsettling the room.

“That man is always looking for a place to burn his life away, no matter where he is. He hasn’t changed at all since the Labyrinth.”

The older man, who had been sitting with his back turned, slowly stood up, placing one hand on his knee.

Several ability users who were attending him rushed to his side.

“O’Edon. Your ability adjustment isn’t finished yet. If you move now…”

“Nonsense, I’m not trying to spoil over a week’s worth of meticulous adjustment.”

The man said with a hint of a smile in his voice.

“However, it would be even more troublesome if there were a hitch in retrieving the immortal body we’ve been working on for over half a year.”

“In that case…”

Beyond the face of the man who turned his gaze in the darkness, a purple gleam flashed in his eyes.

“I will go meet Cheonbeon myself.”