84
Chapter 84
A luxurious mansion.
The interior of a building armed with dozens of security devices and protective spell formulas.
Inside an office lavishly decorated with jewels and gold.
Sian frowned as he looked at the report submitted by his subordinate.
'As I thought, there's definitely something going on.'
A strange movement he had detected a few months ago.
At first, Sian had brushed it off as nothing significant.
The potion field wasn't exactly a small market, but it was also somewhat ambiguous to consider it a large one.
Even if someone was working behind the scenes to monopolize such a market, it wasn't an issue worth his attention.
Whether as an entrepreneur or a mage, time was a more precious resource than anything else.
Besides, now that he might soon reach the 9th Circle, he had absolutely no time to waste on useless matters.
But now....
'The situation has changed.'
An investigation he had ordered his subordinates to conduct just in case.
The more they dug into that potion entrepreneur, the more suspicious points kept emerging.
Like how they focused on hiding their identity to an absurd degree.
Or how, for some reason, the Princess was also investigating that entrepreneur.
And what was most suspicious of all... was the price of the potions.
A price that was less than 20% of the original, making him wonder if they were literally digging into the ground to do business.
This was truly a price that couldn't even cover the cost of the materials. Yet that bastard was selling potions nationwide at such a ridiculous price.
It was an incredibly strange thing.
'Even if they discovered a recipe that could cut production costs, this is too unprecedented of a move.'
Even if that entrepreneur had connections with an alchemy genius and became able to produce potions at a much cheaper price.
Why on earth would they sell it at such a cheap price?
It was obvious that even if they sold it at the proper price, money would come rolling in as if it were being photocopied.
But this crazy entrepreneur had started a business while completely ignoring profitability.
As if making a donation, they prioritized distributing it widely to the sick people who needed potions rather than making a profit.
'This doesn't make sense.'
An entrepreneur should base all their judgments on whether or not something makes money.
In fact, Sian was doing exactly that.
The facilities he owned.
You could tell just by looking at the hundreds of mining sites where he made workers mine mana stones without a single piece of protective gear.
'They're definitely not incompetent, but...'
They had only ignored profitability; an undeniable professionalism was evident in the work they were doing.
Their skill in hiding their tracks was also outstanding.
They were so thorough that it took a month even with Sian's intelligence network to finally uncover that name.
'Rubia, who the hell are you?'
There is something going on.
There was definitely something going on.
Sian's intuition was telling him so.
Because of that, Sian pondered for a long time... before finally recalling a single possibility.
A bone-chilling possibility.
'If, and this is truly a big if.......'
Such immense ability.
A person who neglects their own success just to help others despite having such power.
A person who, for some reason, values hiding their identity above all else.
Just what kind of person would do that?
And what kind of organization would such a person belong to?
Naturally, a single word flashed through Sian's mind.
'Black Fang.'
It might be an overestimation. Sian tried to reassure himself with that thought, but... it was impossible.
The more he thought about it, the more everything perfectly aligned.
Their bizarre actions up until now.
The way they prioritized helping people over making a profit also made sense now.
Because Black Fang was a group that loved helping people to an abnormal degree.
If those bastards were behind the potion business, of course they would value people's lives over money.
And it perfectly explained why they were hiding their identity so desperately.
The speculation gradually turned into conviction.
Sian's face was dyed with dismay.
It would have been stranger if it wasn't.
Black Fang.
That unidentified group that shook the country from behind the scenes, one that even the Empire struggled to deal with.
If that entrepreneur named Rubia was a member of Black Fang, then Sian had touched someone he absolutely shouldn't have.
Sian had interfered with Rubia's potion business multiple times so far.
Because he coveted the recipe.
Based on the circumstances, it was certain that those bastards had a potion recipe that could drastically cut production costs.
Until just now, he hadn't even suspected that Rubia might be Black Fang, so it couldn't be helped.
'This... might be more dangerous than I thought.'
He had ended up making an enemy out of someone who appeared to be Black Fang.
He had even struck first.
In this situation, would Black Fang just leave him alone?
That Black Fang, who was famous for being infinitely kind to civilians and the weak, but infinitely cruel to their enemies?
Especially when he was operating hundreds of mana stone mines that Black Fang would obviously hate?
'There's no way they would.'
They would bare their fangs at Sian at any moment.
If so, what would happen to Sian was obvious.
The end that all of Black Fang's enemies without exception had met.
It would come for Sian as well.
Sian's life would end here.
The wealth and fame he had desperately built up until now.
It was clear that all of it would turn to dust in an instant.
'...I need to prepare.'
He needed a way to fend off Black Fang.
His power alone wasn't enough.
No matter how much of an 8-Circle Mage he was, he was in a situation where he could never reach the realm of an Archmage.
Yet, the Leader of Black Fang was known to be a powerhouse who could overwhelm even an Archmage.
His strength was far too lacking to go up against such a being.
It was a desperate situation with no way out.
But... Sian gritted his teeth.
Well, there was one method.
One path to survival came to mind.
Sian cast communication magic to contact that person. Fortunately, it seemed he wasn't meant to just roll over and die.
That person said he would at least hear him out and made an appointment with Sian.
'Black Fang.......'
No matter how strong you bastards are.
I have no intention of just sitting back and taking it.
Resolving to struggle to the very end to survive, Sian moved his steps toward the promised location.
*****
A somewhat unexpected sight unfolded before Sian's eyes.
He had asked if the man could spare a moment since he had something important to discuss.
Since they hadn't interacted much originally. He considered it fortunate that the man had even agreed to meet him, which was why he had come to the location.
However, that person wasn't the only one here.
It looked like they were having some sort of meeting.
There were several other people besides him.
Given the caliber of the figures gathered, he felt a little intimidated.
However, Sian was not so weak as to back down here.
'This is actually an opportunity.'
Come to think of it, the more allies, the better. Seen differently, this could be a golden opportunity.
What Sian needed to do right now was clear.
"Please lend me your strength so that I can stand against the Leader of Black Fang!"
Sian shouted with all his might.
To those strongest of allies.
In other words.......
Toward the big shots of the Holy See.
"......What did you just say?"
The man before his eyes.
Cardinal Dominic asked.
Cardinal Dominic was smiling, but the bloodlust radiating from his body was intensely chilling.
However, a smile actually spread across Sian's lips.
Because this was actually a piece of good luck.
He had expected to some extent that the Holy See would hate Black Fang for exposing their secrets.
But he hadn't realized it would be to this extent.
Thanks to that, Sian's plan to bring the Holy See to his side had gotten one step closer to success.
"That horrific demon! We will wipe the Leader of Black Fang from this world with our own hands!"
Excited, Sian answered Cardinal Dominic's question.
He had been in a situation where he thought he would be helplessly killed by Black Fang. But he was able to find a way to survive like this.
Eight cardinals. And the rest were all of Archbishop rank.
A military force that seemed more fitting for a war between nations.
If those people cooperated, subjugating Black Fang wasn't just a dream.
Of course, that was only if they cooperated... but looking at the situation right now, it didn't seem like there was any need to worry.
Bloodlust so intense it made his body tremble.
Just how desperately did he want to kill the Leader of Black Fang?
It was to a level where it was hard to even fathom the depth of his hatred.
Sure enough.
"I will accept your proposal."
Cardinal Dominic declared with a gentle smile.
A perfect success.
Sian had managed to secure the cooperation of the Holy See.
"For a demon to spout such blasphemous words, I can no longer tolerate it. Just the fact that such a being is breathing in this world makes me want to vomit."
A voice laced with madness.
It felt like he was a bit too eager for some reason. But that was a risk he could afford to take.
'I'm lucky.'
Sian genuinely thought so.
For things to work out this well.
He was definitely a lucky man.
There probably wasn't anyone as lucky as him.
Of course.......
"As you wish, I will put all my strength into executing the demon."
"That is truly a relief! Then why don't we head to the mansion right away....... Huh? Your Eminence? Why the mace all of a sudden?"
-Smash!
After getting his head smashed by Dominic's mace, who had completely lost his mind, those thoughts vanished in an instant.
He had clearly made a rational choice. Yet what awaited him was the gruesome outcome of being cut in half after torture.
It was a terribly unjust turn of events for Sian.
...Well, what could he do?
It was all something he had brought upon himself.