Chapter 167: Creating the Truth (2)
A world where all stand equal.
It was a grand ideal.
Niobe thought back on her past. The world that Orthes spoke of… at the very least, it would be a world where she wouldn’t have to worry about tomorrow’s survival.
After a long moment of deliberation, Niobe shook her head.
“Even so, senior… it’s still impossible,” she said firmly. “You can’t put all the Commandments in one person’s hands, and at the same time, that person has to be someone who won’t desire them. You said it yourself — a mage can’t be trusted with the Commandments. So I get it, you’ll bring in the anti-magic factions as part of the revolutionary leadership. But do you really think the anti-magic radicals will cooperate with a mage’s plan?”
Orthes smiled.
“Funny you should mention that,” he said. “I actually know someone like that. A certain anti-magic radical who desperately wants to destroy the Commandments.”
***
Later
I let out a deep sigh. Finally, the recruitment was complete.
The excuse I used to lure them in was simple but effective: “the destruction of a Commandment.”
The bait was effective because I laid down the groundwork in advance.
Destroying a single Commandment was framed as a form of symbolic satisfaction for anti-magic radicals. It was presented as a major victory that would satisfy their deepest desires — the destruction of the core symbol of magical authority.
The reasoning I used in my presentation was split into three main points:
The Destruction of a Symbol
Destroying even one of the Commandments would represent a colossal blow to the foundations of the Ten Towers’ power. After all, the Commandments are the source of their might, both practically and symbolically. The anti-magic radicals’ desire to destroy magic could be partially realized through this symbolic act.Prevention of the Birth of a New Mage King
The Commandments contain the Mage King’s knowledge — the foundation of the entire magical system. It’s not an exaggeration to say that someone who possesses all Ten Commandments could, at least theoretically, rival the Mage King in magical theory. Destroying even one Commandment would eliminate the possibility of such a successor emerging. It would be a “safeguard” against the rise of a magical dictator.Proof of Revolution’s Integrity
“Revolutions need the support of the masses,” I had told them.
“How does blowing up a Commandment achieve that?!” they had retorted.
“Simple,” I replied with a grin. “It’s a declaration of our principles. By destroying a Commandment, we send a message to the world — we will not repeat the sins of the Ten Towers. We will not hoard the Commandments for ourselves. We’re different.”
Niobe seemed reluctant but eventually nodded, accepting — however begrudgingly — that there might be some merit to the idea.
“…We’ll discuss that later,” she muttered. “For now, I need to get back to Blasphemia.”
“Of course,” I agreed. “When the revolution reaches its turning point, we’ll discuss it again.”
With that, she would return to Blasphemia.
Her task was clear: recruit personnel, consolidate power, and — under the name of Salmosia — take control of the organization.
Under normal circumstances, it would be a long, arduous process. But I had given her a certain… “secret weapon.”
***
Back at Hydra Corp
Carisia listened intently as I explained the “secret weapon” I had handed to Niobe.
“What’s this secret weapon you mentioned?” she asked, eyes narrowed.
“Ah, nothing too extravagant,” I said, feigning modesty. “It’s just a document that happens to be very effective in Blasphemia’s particular environment.”
I proceeded to explain.
“Word is, it’s now a public secret among the Ten Towers’ higher-ups that Blasphemia’s leadership had some ties to Argyrion.”
Carisia frowned. “And?”
“So, I handed Niobe a list. It’s a list of Blasphemia’s senior personnel who had suspicious links to Argyrion, along with a few… enhanced ‘facts’ sprinkled in.”
“…You made it up, didn’t you?”
“Technically, no. Not all of it.”
The signal-spoofing was thanks to Adoosiam, the transmission system originally designed by the Mage King himself. Since Argyrion’s communications used the same foundational system, it was a simple matter to forge a few “missed calls” in the Blasphemia executives’ personal logs.
“Basically,” I said, “I created several ‘missed calls’ from Argyrion’s private communication network on the personal devices of key Blasphemia executives. Each missed call is going to drive them insane. They’ll claim it’s nothing but a glitch, but who’s going to believe them?”
I glanced at Carisia. She had a strange look on her face.
“Did you… have some kind of grudge against Blasphemia?”
“Grudge? Nah,” I said with a shrug. “It’s just the most effective strategy I had at my disposal.”
But I did think back to those harsh days when Carisia and I had been on the run in the desert.
The infamous “Golden Desert Operation” had wiped out most of Blasphemia’s top personnel. I assumed their leaders would face some sort of reckoning for the debacle.
But nope.
The operation’s commander? Still at large, hiding in luxury.
Meanwhile, low-level agents like Halto who defected to Argyrion were left to bear the consequences.
So, when the opportunity presented itself to undermine Blasphemia, I seized it. It wasn’t out of hatred.
It was simply… practical.
With Niobe now poised to rise as a new power center within Blasphemia, it was the perfect time to inject a little chaos.
“They’ll be too busy clawing at each other to stop Niobe,” I said with a grin.
Carisia stared at me for a moment.
“Orthes,” she said.
“Yes, boss?”
“Are you really going to entrust the future of the world to Niobe?”
I nodded without hesitation. Carisia raised a brow, her gaze sharp as ever.
“Niobe won’t be the only one,” I said, leaning forward. “I’ll also entrust it to Kreon, to Lampades, and even to Hector. Each of them will play a role. And of course, you’ll have a role too.”
Her eyes narrowed. “And what about you? You sound like you’re planning to walk away from it all.”
“I am,” I replied with a grin.
Carisia blinked, momentarily stunned. Then she snorted.
“Ha. I see it now. You’re planning to destroy society just so you can slack off in peace, aren’t you?”
“Exactly,” I said with utmost confidence.
Of course, there was one more reason.
Destroying the Ten Towers while ensuring that Hydra Corp became the only force with access to the Commandments would make it infinitely easier to craft weapons of mass destruction. Weapons that could be used in the final battle against the Mage King.
If the Mage King returned, I didn’t want to be the only one fighting him.
We’d need an army.
“I get it,” Carisia muttered.
“Do you?” I asked, tilting my head.
Carisia smiled. It was a sharp, knowing smile.
“If you’re going to play this game of thrones, you’ll need puppets on the board,” she said. “Niobe will spark division within Blasphemia. Kine will do the same within the Ten Towers. Kreon and Lampades will play their roles as well. Hector will be the wild card. And, of course, you’ll have control over them all, directly or indirectly.”
I nodded.
“Then there’s one last thing,” Carisia said, her grin sharper than ever.
“What’s that?”
“Propaganda.”
I chuckled. “Once Niobe has Blasphemia under her control, I’ll use them to spread it. After all, what’s more efficient than using law enforcement as your mouthpiece?”
Her smile grew wider.
“All we have to do now,” she said, “is wait for the Ten Towers to march.”
“And that will happen within a month,” I replied.
Soon, the biggest house in the world would be empty.
And I would be inside it.