WeTried Translations
Translator: Botanica
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Became the Slit-Eyed Henchman of the Evil Boss
Chapter 9
──────
A Feast of Empty Words (3)
The mana core of a Magic Tower remembers the mage who holds the authority to control it. The Ten Commandments can access information about the mana cores belonging to their lineage.
The combination of these two facts means that mages who have illegally occupied a Magic Tower can be discovered at any time. The punishment for illegal occupation varies depending on the duration and reason, but the maximum penalty is a subjugation order.
The benchmark for illegal occupation is when registration of the change is not completed within one month after the Magic Tower Master is replaced.
Registering a Magic Tower Master with an Apex Magic Tower does not create obligations such as paying taxes to the higher-ranking Magic Tower. Therefore, most new Magic Tower Masters who inherit a Magic Tower choose to register faithfully within the deadline rather than pay a fine.
“To put it another way. If the Hydra Corporation were to occupy all the Magic Towers in Etna City, the Apex Magic Towers would inevitably learn of that fact.”
In the original work, the White Nameless thoroughly hid her purpose, but she did not bother to conceal the activities of the organization itself, the Hydra Corporation.
In a sense, her end was a somewhat foreseeable conclusion from the point she neglected to manage her subordinates.
I hope that Karisia's true goal is not discovered by either the Apex Magic Towers or the protagonist Simon, who will arrive someday.
“So we will not merge your Magic Tower, Geryones, or Kaicel's Magic Tower. At least, outwardly.”
Geryones let out a hollow laugh. A sense of self-mockery could be felt, having pawned his future and become a puppet.
“A figurehead president. I suppose I should be grateful that my life was spared.”
Generous. Right.
Originally, he was fated to die the moment he charged at Karisia.
I quickly checked Karisia's expression without her noticing. She didn't seem dissatisfied.
“The three Magic Towers will appear to be in a state of tension, warring with each other… Oh. My apologies. That doesn't sound good. We will enter into a competitive system.”
A false war fronted by Geryones. That was the purpose I had inferred for Karisia capturing Geryones.
“If we suddenly hire mercenaries or construct new facilities, no one will find it strange. Using that situation, we will reorganize the organization, and furthermore, the city of Etna itself.”
***
“Toward a more efficient and sound direction, that is.”
Ortes's plan, to put it positively, was groundbreaking, to put it negatively, it sounded like a delusion.
An absurd plan to create an eleventh Ten Commandments.
The biggest problem was that no one in this room knew whether the artificial Ten Commandments that Kaicel was said to have created actually existed.
As if speaking for the Directors doubts, Geryones asked.
“As a prisoner, it would be a luxury to hope for anything more than survival. But I can’t help but ask. Do you know a way to find the artificial Ten Commandments? Or even a way to meet Kaicel?”
“Huh? Didn’t I tell you? He’s inside Mount Etna.”
“Are you suggesting we send a scouting droid into the boiling lava? Or hire a water or ice attribute mage to cool the lava and advance?”
“That’s-”
Ortes’s words, flowing smoothly, suddenly cut off. The smile he always wore also faded into something close to a blank expression. A side of him that could not be found in his ever-composed demeanor.
Those watching Ortes closely could notice that his gaze momentarily turned toward Karisia.
Soon, Ortes formed that faint smile on his lips again and spoke.
“It’s a secret.”
It was only natural. There was only one person in this world who could make that man falter.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, so please rest assured.”
It must mean that what Ortes was about to say next exceeded the level Karisia had permitted. Just what method does the President have in mind to lure out Kaicel that she would hide the plan even from the Directors?
And Ortes, the only one who has been shared that plan, what kind of relationship does he have with the President?
Although their relationship was certain, how the two of them met and came to have such a trust was shrouded in mystery.
***
Damn it.
I hadn't thought about how to meet him.
I hurriedly checked Karisia's expression again. Still that faint smile. She's in a pretty good mood.
That means, so far, she hasn't sensed any discomfort or gaps in my rambling. I'll just blurt out that it's a secret and improvise the rest later.
***
The meeting ended.
The question of how to create a state of tension and reorganize the organization was something to be dealt with after securing Kaicel first.
Therefore, the final question that marked the end of the meeting was, "What happens if we fail to find Kaicel?"
Karisia answered without hesitation: "What needs to be done will not change."
None of the Directors knew whether this meant a plan to use Etna City as a base to prepare for ascending to the throne even if Ortes's plan failed, or if it was an answer born from the conviction that Ortes would never fail.
The meeting, which had begun with Karisia's sudden summons, ended with Karisia's dismissal.
Two people remained in the conference room until the end: Ortes and Karisia.
Arabel turned her head slightly as she left the room.
Behind Karisia. Ortes, with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling faintly.
‘With that expression always on his face, I can’t even guess what he’s thinking….’
Ortes was thinking.
‘I want to go home.’
The wish of every office worker.
***
“Old man.”
It was decided that Geryones would be placed under the custody of Bertrand’s Miners Guild for the time being. The reason was that since the two were acquainted, they would be easier to control.
“Don’t you think your boss might think we’ll join hands and stab her in the back?”
Bertrand shook his head.
“That just means she thinks we wouldn’t even pose a threat. You’d know that better, since you took her on directly.”
It was a humiliating thing to say, but Geryones nodded readily. The opponent had expended an absurd amount of mana, and it was an unknown ambush.
And yet, he himself hadn't landed a single effective blow and was taken prisoner.
He had sensed the slums and underworld were stirring and, thinking an unusual competitor might emerge, tried to nip it in the bud, but it was he who nearly got eliminated.
“So. How does the President fight?”
“You’ve never fought her? The rumors say she’s quite fierce. The tyrant who single-handedly wiped out the Lernian Magic Tower and ground down every fool from the underworld that came at her.”
“The Miners Guild doesn’t get involved in that kind of brawl. Our bodies are our assets. Since we do manual labor, we’re strong, and since we handle mana stones, there are a few who can use some magic. But that’s all.”
An organization that was hard for others to touch recklessly, but conversely, could not extend its influence. The Miners Guild was an organization limited to self-defense, not expansion.
“Ah. So when others bowed down, you just bowed down with them?”
“That’s how you get by. We’re fine as long as we can keep digging the earth and living like we always have. Just answer me. How does she fight?”
“A crazed boar?”
It was a word blurted impulsively, but Geryones felt that the term accurately described Karisia’s fighting style.
“Actually. The one who tore off my arm wasn’t using light magic. She broke my arms one by one with pure physical strength. Though she did fire a beam at the arms I was thrown and vaporized them.”
“Any memorable weapons?”
“Does she use any weapon other than the gauntlet?”
“I see.”
Watching the nodding Bertrand, Geryones wondered why an old man who seemed uninterested in fighting was digging into such trivial details. Then he soon remembered Bertrand’s race.
“Crafty old man. Planning to offer a bribe?”
Dwarves were known as masters of artifact crafting, as a race. Bertrand was clearly trying to use his talent to curry favor with the city’s new ruler.
“It’s a survival strategy.”
Even though his inner thoughts were read, Bertrand replied nonchalantly. It was the wisdom of an old man, learned over a long life, that if survival could be ensured by giving a proper gift to those in power, it was better to do so.
“Then let me ask you one thing now. What kind of man is that Ortes fellow?”
The eight Directors of Hydra, who were among the city's most formidable. And Ortes, who clearly acted like their superior.
“He doesn’t seem like the sort of scholar who just rides on the President’s coattails.”
What was especially striking was Cryton’s posture. Although Cryton was a man of considerable combat prowess,enough that if he used three of his six arms, or even four in a pinch, he could easily kill him, and yet.
On top of that, his temper was vicious. It was one thing for Cryton to bow his head to the President, Karisia, but to act so subservient to Ortes as well?
Bertrand was deep in thought. There was too much Ortes had done to explain him in just a few words, and too little that was known.
“First, let me correct one misconception. When the Lernian Magic Tower was wiped out, Karisia wasn’t alone.”
“You mean he was with her.”
“Yes. In every battle that decided the fate of the underworld, that man was always by Karisia’s side. Stronger than anyone else under Karisia, and trusted more than anyone else. I’d say he qualifies as the second-in-command of the Hydra Corporation.”
***
“Now then. Would you care to explain?”
No sooner had all the Directors left than Karisia spun her chair around to face me.
“Why you revealed that bogus plan with such a fine facade, not our real purpose.”
President. Destroying the Ten Commandments is your goal, not ‘our’ goal, you know.
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
