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Immediately after returning to Etna City, Carisia was having a private meeting with Orthes.This time, it was rare that Orthes sought out Carisia first to report on the strategy of triangular division regarding the Divine Cult, Blasphemia, and Argyron.
"We've established channels to both gather and disseminate information with the Divine Cult and Blasphemia. Hydra Corporation has positioned itself to somewhat influence the movements of these three factions."
Even Carisia found this outcome to exceed her expectations. It was akin to placing spies within Blasphemia and the Divine Cult.
The most remarkable part was that these spies didn't even know they were spies, providing information willingly.
From their perspective, Orthes was an ally.
From the general report of the events in Elysion, Carisia knew Orthes had done something significant, but this time…
"You did this while taking Kine along?"
"I needed insurance as mere words wouldn't have convinced the priests. Showing them actual use of divine power made it easier to deceive them."
'Isn't it a bit odd to say it was easy to deceive them?'
Carisia considered her confidant's cunning but didn't voice it. It wasn't the first time Orthes had come up with and executed such outlandish plans.
"So, Boss. Have you thought of a strategy to deal with the Ten Towers?"
The Ten Towers. While Carisia's confirmed enemy was the White Light Magic Tower, if a major war broke out, reinforcements from other towers would certainly come.
"If we start a conflict under the pretext of a succession war, other towers won't interfere. However…"
"Regardless of the justification, once we destroy the Ten Commandments, the term succession will be meaningless. Whether for revenge or to protect their own Ten Commandments, they will engage Hydra Corporation."
Carisia twirled her long hair around her right index finger. After wrapping it three or four times, she suddenly spoke.
"You know there's a flaw in that strategy of triangular division, right?"
"Yes. While we've set the stage for a conflict among Argyron, Blasphemia, and the Divine Cult, there are entities capable of overturning the entire board."
Ultimately, it was the Ten Towers. Their overwhelming asymmetrical force, the Ten Commandments, was the main concern.
"At this point, accelerating the completion of the Artificial Commandments seems the most rational course."
If the Artificial Commandments were completed, Etna City would become an impregnable fortress even against the Ten Towers' expeditionary forces.
"The first line of defense using the city walls, the second line centered around Geryon, Kaicle's towers, and Hydra Corporation, and the final defense line at the Etna Volcano. Even an airborne assault would struggle to break through."
Orthes' assessment wasn't exaggerated. The daily orchestrated destruction and redevelopment of Etna City were transforming it into a planned fortress city, replacing the chaotic slums and dilapidated outer walls.
Of course, the advantage over the Ten Towers was limited to defensive warfare.
"Even the Ten Towers have seen instances where a successor replaced a defeated tower, so we can't be complacent just because we're strong in defense. Ultimately, we need to go on the offensive too."
The means to capture the White Light Magic Tower. A way to clash the magic fields of the White Light Magic Tower and the Artificial Commandments had to be devised. Carisia felt she had a few more tasks added to her plate.
A solution popped into Carisia's mind.
'What if I just leave everything to Orthes…?'
No, no. Carisia shook her head. Orthes might seem all-capable, and he indeed succeeded in most tasks he was assigned, but that didn't mean he was truly omnipotent.
'A concrete instance of failure, well…'
Ah. Friends.
"Come to think of it, have you been in touch with your friend often?"
"No. We didn't contact each other for years, but thankfully, he remembered me well."
Orthes seemed quite pleased to have reunited with his friend and shared various stories.
"I once told you that someone said to me, 'I'll betray you before you betray me!' Remember? The only one who stood by me then was Lampades."
"He has quite the discerning eye."
Carisia replied dryly. Was it true that he didn't betray, or was he just too scared to do so?
"My friend is quite capable."
Unexpected bragging about a friend. Carisia felt unsettled. Orthes was evidently not omnipotent. His social skills might be his weak point.
'That friend of yours seems to see you as some sort of monster rather than a friend.'
"Is Lampades your only friend?"
"Haha, Boss. I might not be very social, but I'm not entirely without friends. I worked hard at the extra-dimensional frontline."
Carisia suppressed the urge to retort, 'Didn't you say you were betrayed multiple times there?'
"Speaking of Lampades' tower, have you heard anything from Kine?"
Carisia decided to change the subject before her patience ran out.
"Kine? Isn't handling the details of the corporate scholarship and the employment contract after Musaeion something you handle personally, Boss?"
Orthes' question implied that Kine hadn't told him anything.
"That kid from Lampades' tower, Astraphe, says they've seen you before? Or rather, heard about you."
***
'Heard'? What does that mean?
"Did my friend Lampades tell them about me?"
"He says you saved her from being sold into slavery. Does that ring any bells?"
Oh?
I've only recently busted one slave trader. It's even more certain if Astraphe is connected.
The faction of Torres Tower dealing with Cretone. The person in charge was named Tarknia, right?
But when I directly questioned Tarknia, he adamantly denied knowing such a child.
The Astraphe I saw now wasn't mechanized. If the Torres faction had gotten hold of her, her entire body, except for her brain, would have been modified with Enchantware.
'…Was Astraphe one of the people recently captured and waiting in the warehouse?'
What a stroke of luck. Astraphe was hiding somewhere among the crowd I incited by distributing Magic Engraved Drives.
It wasn't bad that Astraphe remembered me. At least there was one less ally for the Mage King.
The goal is to destroy the White Light without clashing with the Mage King, but things don't always go as planned.
In case of an emergency, having one less potential enemy is a positive outcome.
'But merely leaving a good impression feels somewhat unreliable. I need a more definitive way to make Lampades and Astraphe side with Hydra Corporation.'
I decided on a means to make Lampades and Astraphe actively cooperate with Hydra Corporation.
I'll give them too much to refuse.
***
Carisia recalled what Kine said when she brought this news to her.
'I don't know what's part of Orthes' plan and what isn't, and it scares me.'
"It's good news. Astraphe is an outstanding mage like Kine. It'd be great if they became close at Musaeion."
The person who actually saved Astraphe, Orthes, seemed indifferent. As Carisia thought that,
"Seeing how Lampades personally came to rescue Astraphe, he must think highly of his student. With Astraphe having a good impression of me, we should leverage that to foster contact."
Orthes had saved Astraphe months ago. Since then, Astraphe joined Lampades' tower, and Lampades' skills were needed for Hydra Corporation's objectives.
For some reason, Lampades hadn't given a definite answer about the alliance. It was truly fortunate that Astraphe remembered the favor from Orthes…
"It's a coincidence, right?"
"Pardon? Ah. It's a coincidence."
Orthes, who had been touching his chin and thinking, spoke.
"Lampades sees Astraphe's talent in electromagnetic wave manipulation as crucial for the final completion of extra-dimensional detection magic."
Carisia nodded. While Lampades was a relatively conscientious mage, the odds of him diving into a terrorist-infested city just out of conscience were low.
"Lampades himself is an excellent mage, and since Musaeion admission is a given, simply offering academic support to Astraphe wouldn't sway him."
"Right. As a tower master with eligibility for ascension, he's likely financially well-off too."
"But I happen to know a place that might have a suitable artifact for that kid."
Carisia rubbed her temple. It was a habit she picked up from Orthes.
To read over 200 fully translated episodes, patreon.com/Denji02