“Well then, I’ll leave it to you.”
Click.
The last interviewee closed the door behind him. Raul rubbed his slightly aching forehead and looked down at the documents before him.
F, F, E, C, D, F……
These were the final ratings he had given after personally interviewing the tower masters and assessing their financial conditions and acquisition feasibility.
Raul couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.
‘I had a feeling, but still, it turned out as expected.’
He knew well enough that good and solid assets weren’t going to come easily, yet he couldn’t hide his disappointment.
The existing factions had already snapped up all the prime assets. However, he wasn’t completely discouraged. Mage towers were the exclusive domain of mages, many with long and storied histories.
Normally, the idea of them being put up for sale was absurd.
‘Starting with something is better than starting with nothing.’
At least not all the options were total wrecks. Two mage towers seemed like they could regain normal functionality with appropriate investment and personnel replenishment.
These were the Granek Tower and the Jade Tower. They both received a C rating and still had key personnel remaining.
Although they lacked the technology to stand alone, they had experience in manufacturing various magical items and power armor under license or subcontract.
For Raul, having the capability to manufacture and assemble power armor was enough.
‘I never intended to produce power armor from scratch anyway.’
With talented individuals, sufficient funds, and time provided to the research team, results were bound to come. The only question was whether those results would come sooner or later.
“Bernard, schedule another meeting with the masters of these two towers and proceed with the acquisition. I’ll handle the association part.”
“Yes, sir. But are you sure about this? It seems….”
Likely a waste of money. For Bernard, who usually followed Raul’s instructions without complaint, to voice concern indicated just how problematic this venture was.
In truth, the cost of acquiring the two mage towers and the subsequent investments required to restore their operations might very well outfit an entire knight order with power armor.
However, Raul deemed it essential to produce his own power armor.
‘Once war breaks out, acquiring power armor will be like plucking stars from the sky.’
It was no joke; a time was approaching when even vast amounts of money wouldn’t suffice to procure power armor. When the continent inevitably plunged into full-scale war, demand would skyrocket, and production would plummet.
Power armor would be the key determinant in the war’s outcome, making facilities that produced it prime targets. Additionally, the attrition of experienced mages in warfare would further reduce production.
‘When the leadership is inept, even a winnable war is doomed to failure.’
In his previous life, the leadership of the Leslie Kingdom had conscripted mages from various towers to make up for their depleted forces. Mages who had never set foot on a battlefield before were annihilated without even properly casting their spells.
‘Each person has their role, and ignoring that has its consequences.’
While Raul wasn’t a citizen of the Leslie Kingdom, he intended to prevent such tragedies in this life as much as possible.
If a similar situation arose, he planned to extract as many talented research and manufacturing mages from the kingdom as he could.
Establishing his own mage towers was also part of this groundwork. Of course, his primary goal was to secure a stable supply of power armor.
With a mix of bitterness, Raul returned to the Mage Association. Seeing his expression, Department head, gave a wry smile.
“It appears you haven’t found many satisfactory options.”
He had expected this outcome. Truly worthwhile towers either negotiated their way into other factions’ hands as bankruptcy loomed or dismantled themselves early on.
The towers still standing were mostly those where the masters held onto lingering attachments or had no other choice.
“Still, two towers seem decent. I’m willing to acquire the Granek Tower and the Jade Tower, so I’d appreciate the association’s mediation.”
“Ah, that’s a relief. I’m somewhat familiar with those two. You’ve made a wise choice.”
Despite his words, Dario felt somewhat embarrassed. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for the young noble who had come with high expectations but found the reality less than ideal.
Maybe it was for this reason that Dario decided to mention some information he had initially intended to withhold.
“…Actually, there’s one more mage tower you haven’t looked at.”
“Really? I thought I had reviewed all the available options. What is it?”
“It isn’t very famous. It’s called Perido Tower. It has a long history, but it’s not well-known. However, within the kingdom….”
Dario continued to explain, but Raul had already tuned out.
‘Perido Tower? Could it be the Perido I know?’
The top five power armor brands on the current Connect continent were Leopard, cornelius, salvatore, Duren, and Axle.
However, when Bae Dohyun lost his life in his previous life, the power armor brand rankings were very different.
And the leading new brand and mage tower then was 『Perido』. Raul took a moment to steady his trembling heart and control his breathing.
‘Calm down. It might just be a tower with the same name, and there’s no guarantee that Perido will achieve the same success now.’
Yet, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation.
“When can I see it? Is it really available for sale?”
Seeing Raul’s suddenly eager demeanor, Dario hesitated and said mildly.
“But there’s a problem. The tower master is adamant about not selling, and there are many internal issues. Moreover, the kingdom’s major factions have their eyes on it. And…”
Dario listed a series of problems associated with Perido Tower. Just hearing briefly, Raul could guess why the tower wasn’t listed publicly.
But Raul spoke firmly.
“Arrange a meeting with the tower master. I want to see it for myself.”
If that place was indeed the Perido Tower Raul remembered. And if he could find the seeds of ‘that technology’.
Raul resolved that he would acquire Perido Tower at any cost, even if it meant changing his plan to only dabble in affairs in the Leslie Kingdom.
‘I can’t miss this. Even if it means clashing head-on with the kingdom’s noble families, I must make this happen!’
His eyes were filled with determination.
*
Woosh.
In front of a roaring fireplace. An elderly man sat in an old armchair, a blanket draped over his knees, staring listlessly into the flames.
There was little expression to be found on the old man’s face, but the occasional twitch of his eyebrows suggested inner turmoil.
“Sigh.”
A deep sigh escaped the old man’s lips.
‘How am I going to handle this?’
Though not large, the mage tower had existed for hundreds of years, and now, during his tenure, it was facing bankruptcy.
The old man was the tower master of Perido Tower, who inherited the name ‘Perido’ just like the master before him, signifying the continuity of the tower’s legacy.
But due to his misjudgments, the name Perido might soon vanish into history. Master Perido stared blankly into the flames, losing himself in the illusion that he was burning within them.
As a mage specializing in fire magic, it had been his habit for over seventy years to think while staring into the flames.
However, today, even this long-standing habit failed to clear his troubled mind. And soon, another interruption occurred.
“Master, excuse me. Sir Droyzen is here to see you again.”
Woosh!
As if to represent the tower master’s simmering emotions, the fire in the fireplace surged intensely, escaping the hearth and shooting towards the ceiling.
But as Perido rose from his seat, the flames quickly subsided, his expression now as cold as ice.
“Didn’t I tell you not to attach ‘Sir’ to that scoundrel’s name? He’s no longer part of our tower!”
“S-sorry, sir.”
The mage who had delivered the news bowed his head. The tower master of Perido was no longer the weary old man by the fireplace; he was now the proud 6th-circle master and the head of the tower.
“Hmph. Let’s see what kind of bullshit he’s spouting today.”
As he strode forward, a small magic circle appeared under his feet, and his figure seemed to blend into the air.
Swoosh.
Appearing out of thin air, the tower master of Perido faced a middle-aged man who bowed his head.
“You’re here, Master.”
“You dare call me your master, you ungrateful wretch!”
A stream of curses flowed from Perido’s mouth, but the middle-aged man’s expression didn’t change one bit. Exasperated by the lack of reaction, Perido fell silent as the man began to speak.
“Stop being stubborn and go with the flow. If you enter negotiations now, I can secure the best terms for you.”
“No need, you madman. Even if I die, Perido Tower will never fall into your and their hands!”
The middle-aged man, Droysen, clicked his tongue and said to his former master.
“The more stubborn you are, the more you’re making your tower members suffer. Are you planning to ruin their future with your useless pride?”
“What?! How dare you! How dare you speak of them! You vile creature!”
Unable to contain his fury, flames erupted from Perido’s body. Like a fire incarnate, he reached out to grab Droysen by the collar, but…
“Stop right there, Master.”
“If you take another step, we’ll consider it a declaration of war against our 『Skylar Tower』.”
Two knights blocked Perido, issuing a stern warning. They were clad in power armor etched with lightning motifs — customized for users associated with Skylar Tower.
Skylar Tower.
Owned by the Count Skylar from the Leslie Kingdom, it was one of the three major factions in the kingdom.
Though it didn’t surpass Leopard or Cornelius in prestige, skylar’s Tower was central to the Skylar Corporation, one of the top ten power armor manufacturers on the Connect continent.
Even so, two armor users couldn’t genuinely stop a 6th-circle mage like Perido, but he quickly quelled his flames.
Despite his exceptional prowess and Perido Tower’s storied legacy, he couldn’t stand against the Count of Skylar.
But the fire in his eyes remained, glaring at Droysen as if to burn him to ashes.
‘Droysen, you treacherous fiend!’
The root of all this trouble was none other than Droysen, his former disciple.
*
With fifty mages, ten knights, and twenty technicians, Perido Tower was a mid-sized tower. Its technology allowed it to produce B-Grade power armor, making it quite reputable.
The tower had a tradition of its masters remaining unmarried and treating their disciples as their own children, passing the tower to the most talented among them.
As new generations of mages, raised almost like siblings, took on apprentices, they continued this cycle, making Perido Tower akin to a family.
The management of the tower had been overseen by Droysen, Perido’s talented and seemingly dependable disciple.
But about a year ago, things had started to unravel when Perido Master discovered a new technique related to power armor.
The Gate Incident and the invasion of the royal palace presented both crisis and opportunity for many mage towers.
Naturally, young Droysen advocated for aggressive investment and market strategies, and the aging Perido Master had yielded to his advice.
But it was a trap.
Droysen abused his master’s trust, securing loans from usurious lenders under false pretenses, selling finished products below value, and deliberately severing critical business ties — all to betray the tower.
By the time Perido Master realized this, it was too late. The tower was buried under massive debts, and the loan sharks’ claims had passed to Skylar Tower.
And when Perido sought out Droysen, he had already joined Skylar Tower.
(To be continued…)