Chapter 149: Internal Management (1)
Returning to Etna City, Orthes’ first stop was to meet with Lampades.
“I heard about what happened in Algoth City. Sounds like it was quite the battle,” Lampades said, maintaining a composed expression while closely observing Orthes’ reaction. Through Kynemon, who shared a certain camaraderie with Orthes, Lampades had been informed about the events in Algoth.
The revelation that shocked Lampades most was Argyrion’s betrayal. To think they had plotted against Orthes and even succeeded in part—it was nothing short of astonishing.
It was also noted that the contaminant entity Argyrion had presumably prepared at the Amimone Tower to counter Orthes was utterly annihilated in an instant.
Kynemon had recounted how Orthes abandoned the “Bubble of Erasure” with apparent ease and replaced it with something else. The massive explosion that eliminated the contaminant was undoubtedly a result of this substitute mechanism.
Lampades felt a phantom dryness in his mouth. While Orthes and Carisia were absent, their agents executed orders with machine-like precision. However, one undeniable fact emerged: the efficiency of their operations had multiplied since Lampades provided the Radar to them.
From one division, there were reports of terrible screams echoing through the night. In a facility resembling a spider’s lair, unknown and likely dreadful experiments were being conducted.
A Hypothesis Formed
Drawing from the facts he knew, Lampades pieced together a hypothesis:
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- Fact One: The Radar Lampades had developed significantly increased the efficiency of finding something critical to Orthes’ plans.
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- Fact Two: Using the enhanced Radar, Orthes’ agents had secured an excessive quantity of this resource.
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- Fact Three: Orthes had completely neutralized Argyrion’s secret weapon at Algoth using some unknown means.
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- Fact Four: The agents were unaware of this special method. The only exception might be…
Kaicle.
Lampades had met Kaicle several times, particularly after their first “accidental” encounter in the executive office, where the latter had requested adjustments to the Radar for specific purposes.
When news of the contaminant’s emergence and the subsequent explosion reached the Ether Network, Hydra Corporation was thrown into disarray. Uncertainty loomed over whether Orthes and Carisia had survived.
Yet Kaicle, unshaken, approached Lampades with requests for further performance enhancements.
From this, Lampades concluded:
The massive explosion Orthes used in Algoth must have relied on a resource traceable via the Radar.
This resource, while rare, had become sufficiently available thanks to the Radar’s improvements.
Lampades’ mind wandered to old legends: stories of visionaries who executed their own subordinates to safeguard their secrets.
If Orthes decides to silence me to keep his secrets…
Lampades reassured himself with a strategy. While the theory behind the Radar’s functioning had reached its developmental limits and could be discarded, its operation depended on Astraphe, the central figure driving its performance. Without her, the Radar’s capabilities would plummet. Additionally, the regular mages of Lampades Tower, skilled in syncing with Astraphe, were equally vital.
Preparing his case for sparing Astraphe and his Tower’s members, Lampades nervously awaited Orthes’ words.
“Lampades, what’s your opinion on the Ten Towers?”
Here it comes, Lampades thought. He had anticipated this since Orthes recruited the apocalyptic-minded Kynemon. Orthes seemed genuinely intent on burning the world down.
“Ah. You mean their power, not their governance?”
“Yes. What do you think of their military strength?”
“…If you’re facing one member, it’s possible to defeat them. But is there any group capable of taking down all ten towers?”
Orthes nodded slowly at the response.
“I understand you’ve had extensive conversations with Kynemon.”
Lampades stiffened.
“As you’ve likely surmised, Kynemon and I share some aligned goals. That’s why I’m bringing this up, but…”
The next words would determine whether this was a negotiation or a warning. Lampades’ tension mounted.
“Isn’t it about time for you to return to your Tower?”
“…What?” Lampades blurted, caught off guard. This was far from a demand to hand over everything or a call to join Orthes’ cause.
“You see, Kynemon has always had an… ideological intensity, hasn’t he?”
“…He has.”
“That’s why we could work together. But your goals differ from his. It’s inevitable that Hydra Corporation and the Ten Towers will clash.”
“And when that happens, won’t my Tower also be branded an accomplice and eliminated?”
“I’ve prepared contingencies. If events unfold as expected, the Ten Towers will find themselves too strained to focus resources on eradicating your Tower. They might even overlook your involvement entirely, valuing every mage tower too much to waste their efforts.”
The Ten Towers, strapped for resources? Even with the limitless mana reservoirs of the Ten Commandments? Just what is Orthes planning? Lampades wondered, his thoughts racing.
Gathering his resolve, Lampades finally asked, “I have a few questions.”
“Go ahead.”
“That magic you used in Algoth—wasn’t the Radar crucial for acquiring the necessary resources? Are you truly willing to give up that advantage?”
“…Impressive deduction. First, I should clarify that the magic wasn’t mine. However, your Radar was indeed pivotal for Hydra Corporation’s plans. But,” Orthes shrugged, “we’ve already secured what we need. While we haven’t mined every location, we’ve recorded enough to ensure surplus availability.”
The calm certainty in Orthes’ response sent chills down Lampades’ spine.
Hah. This one’s sharp, no doubt about it.
While Lampades believed the Radar was used to create mana bombs, it was actually for producing Artificial Commandments. The bombs were merely a byproduct of that process. His conclusions were incomplete, but surprisingly accurate.
“Second question, then: does the ‘necessary amount’ include what’s needed to counter Argyrion?”
“We’ll avoid direct confrontation with them as much as possible. The Ten Towers will handle eliminating Argyrion without our intervention.”
Lampades considered this. Recruiting him had crossed Orthes’ mind initially, but Lampades carried too much baggage. Unless the entirety of Lampades Tower relocated to Etna City, Orthes couldn’t protect all of its members. Asking Lampades to abandon his ambitions was unthinkable.
There was also the contingency of Astraphe potentially coming into contact with the Mage King. While Orthes understood Kine’s mindset after extended interaction, his encounters with Astraphe were too brief to predict her actions.
“A wise strategy. One last question.”
“Of course. Ask anything.”
“You only pick fights you’re sure to win. But can you really be certain of victory against the Ten Towers?”
Lampades had struck a nerve.
“I’ve noticed something different about you compared to your time as a fixer. Back then, you moved with unshakable confidence. But now…”
“It’s partly because the opponent is the Ten Towers. But not only that.”
“Not only that?”
“It’s hard to explain, but the ultimate adversary we must face might defy my expectations—or render them meaningless entirely. Your Tower, in this sense, serves as an insurance policy.”
“To create a safe haven, unrelated to Hydra Corporation, as a fallback?”
Orthes nodded. Lampades found it hard to believe. An adversary beyond Orthes’ understanding? Only mythical gods came to mind. The idea of Orthes planning for his defeat was unprecedented.
Yet it was a welcome arrangement. Preserving the Tower’s strength and returning home with mutual secrecy intact—there was no reason to refuse.
“One last thing, then. Does your unease have anything to do with Argyrion?”
Orthes smirked wryly. A rare hint of humanity.
“Argyrion? It’s close. Let’s say… it’s about the entity behind them.”
After concluding his discussion with Lampades, Orthes turned to Carisia. With the external partnerships handled, it was time to address internal matters.
“No one in the company knows the full extent of our plans, right?”
“Kine and Kynemon are busy rebuilding in Algoth. No one is aware of the plan to create Artificial Commandments or to go to war with the Ten Towers.”
Carisia massaged her temples. With the impending clash between the Ten Towers and Argyrion, the timing was perfect to strike White Light.
To fully unleash Hydra Corporation’s capabilities, the truth would have to be revealed.
“But,” she said.
“Yes?”
“Do we even need to reveal the truth to fight the Ten Towers?”
“…What?”