< 139. Currents Surrounding the Tower >
Aman Katrashu.
Vice leader of the Golden Moon Merchant Company and the Demon King's Black Knight, he was a fairly capable merchant.
He had originally been a knight, but after his aura hole was destroyed, he had no choice but to take the path of a merchant—and fortunately, it suited him well.
But what he did wasn't simple trade.
It was procuring supplies for the Demon King, humanity's archenemy.
That was the top priority of the Golden Moon Merchant Company. Of course, only a tiny handful within the company knew the truth.
"...This is too much. There are so many rare materials—I'm not sure we can get them all."
The man who usually handled business with unwavering confidence was furrowing his brow. The material list handed over by the elf carrying out the Demon King's orders was simply too vast.
"Short on funds?"
"I can't guarantee it."
The 100,000 gold invested by the Demon King had grown considerably through his father's efforts and those of the company's merchants.
But with various ventures in progress, their liquid cash reserves weren't that high, and since these were company assets, he had to watch the executives' reactions too.
On top of that, the items the Demon King demanded were rare and expensive—many fetched absurd prices.
"Buying all this outright would shake the company to its core."
And that was just the start. Supplies offered to the Demon King couldn't exactly be advertised openly as sold somewhere.
There would be plenty of opposition to procuring them at the company's peril in the first place, but after convincing the executives to approve the purchases only for everything to vanish, would they just nod and say, "Ah, I see"?
Aman held nearly full authority in place of his aging, semi-retired father, but the company wasn't his alone.
"As long as payment is made properly, the executives won't complain, right?"
"Well, that's true."
Merchants did it all for profit, after all. If goods vanished but equivalent compensation came in, they'd accept it readily enough.
It didn't solve every issue, but it undeniably eased company tensions.
"What about mana cannons?"
"Mana cannons?"
"You must have some idea what the supplies going through the company to the tower are used for."
"Of course."
That dwarf on the first floor. He'd witnessed the countless mana cannons the dwarf had crafted.
"You don't mean selling those mana cannons...?"
"The Demon King is willing to provide them as payment for the resource procurement."
"Oh...!"
It wasn't bad. No, it was perfect. Mana cannons, alongside golems, were the pinnacle of magitech, strategic weapons coveted by every nation's military for their destructive power.
And since many lacked the means to produce them themselves, buyers were endless.
"Dwarf-made mana cannons, though—the Berft Kingdom won't sit idly by."
If they determined dwarf goods had been smuggled out, they'd launch an investigation and take measures. That was how dwarves handled strategic materials.
"Don't worry. The Demon King said he'll tone down their performance a bit. On par with the better human-made ones. Just that level."
"Perfect, then!"
"I'll report back to the Demon King as is."
The elf vanished.
Aman watched her retreating back, lost in thought for a moment.
He'd answered excitedly at the mention of mana cannons, but there was no lie in his words.
'Mana cannons will drive the executives wild.'
Shortly after becoming a Black Knight, the company had started handling military supplies on investment, and as relations between the Demon King and humans soured, it was finally paying off.
Mana cannons were the crown jewel of those supplies.
Of course, exporting such items would require greasing quite a few palms, but it was worth it.
However.
'Selling off mana cannons... things must be that urgent, huh?'
As a merchant, he was sensitive to information. Even non-merchants could sense the shifting tides.
The Jespain Empire and Hildean Kingdom gnashing their teeth at the Flame Demon Tower.
Daphne Philian's death and the tower's location finally exposed.
Everyone expected a hero expedition.
The Demon King must have made his decision to counter it.
'No idea what he's planning, but I have no choice but to follow faithfully.'
Having contracted with the Demon King, betrayal wasn't an option.
He harbored resentment over his aura hole being shattered, but gratitude for saving his crumbling company and reviving his house outweighed it.
In that situation, the Demon King had carved out some breathing room for him, even if demanding the impossible, and made requests in turn.
So he'd simply go with the flow.
Help the Demon King to the best of his ability.
And if the Demon King died, erase his existence entirely and live as an ordinary human.
'Gathering all this will be a headache, though...'
From scouting resource locations, checking distribution networks, to convincing executives.
'The executives I can handle.'
The Demon King would send sample mana cannons soon; those would make it relatively easy. They weren't incompetent enough to pass up handling strategic weapons like mana cannons.
'Need to find the right people.'
People to scour the continent for the Demon King's demands. With rare items involved, they'd hit auctions and pound the pavement personally.
All while pinching every penny.
One name came to mind.
"Someone out there?"
"Yes."
"Fetch Jetoson."
"Yes."
That smooth-talking, silver-tongued guy the Demon King had sent.
"So, the Hero Guild refused?"
"Yes."
While Berge was hatching his outlandish plan to fit legs on the tower and make it mobile, Hillun Kargil had left guild headquarters and returned to Hildean for a private audience with the king.
"What exactly was said?"
"The guild offered to support the heroes. But their intentions aren't pure."
"Because of Daphne Philian?"
"Yes."
They aimed to join the Demon King subjugation to cover up Daphne's death.
The old Hillun would have welcomed it. Sharing credit with the guild? He wasn't even guild-affiliated anymore. And his fame was too great to be overshadowed by them now.
But the Hildean king didn't want a hero expedition.
It was a rescue team to retrieve princesses—barely qualifying as an assault force.
'The guild wants chess pieces to fight in their stead. No intention of playing along.'
'I'm an Argon of the guild.'
'But before that, a subject of Hildean.'
'Without guild help, we can't rescue the princess.'
'Compromise appropriately. But don't give them what they want. Surely you have the skill for that.'
That was the conversation here between Hillun and Hildean's king. And it clashed starkly with the Hero Guild and the grand elder's direction.
'No full support without an expedition army. What do they plan with that force?'
'A hero-scale assault? Just to rescue the crown princess?'
'We understand Hildean's anguish over losing her, but can't commit much for that.'
'You're joining Jespain's hero expedition anyway. We'll talk then.'
Hildean's demands, conveyed through Hillun, were thus rejected.
The Hero Guild sought honor restoration and to martyr Daphne via a hero-led crusade. Hildean wanted only their crown princess rescued, standing by otherwise.
Parallel lines—inevitable impasse.
"No gains at all?"
"Brought the Red Hawk assault team and 21 heroes."
They followed Hillun personally, admiring his prestige and deeds. He'd gone to headquarters partly for them.
Not a huge number, but as headquarters lurkers, they ranked high among heroes—valuable forces all.
"I'll hire at least 200 mercenaries. And disguise the Blue Sea Knight Order and Sea Dragon Mage Corps as mercenaries to attach."
"Is that wise?"
Why had heroes and mercenaries become the norm for tower hunts? Armies dispatched under hero pretenses often backstabbed.
Thus, the empire allied with northern kingdoms and sent royals as hostages for Flame Demon Tower searches—to justify formal troops.
"If caught, Hildean faces massive diplomatic fallout."
"Wrong. Did you think I'd sit idle after Ernan's kidnapping?"
Unable to rescue her immediately, he'd prepared for the tower's discovery.
Secret pact with Korzen.
"Talks with Korzen are done. Gave up quite a bit for just one knight order and one mage corps, but for you, Hillun Kargil, it should suffice."
"...I won't deny they'll be a great help."
"I want a firmer answer."
The Hildean king growled.
Truthfully, attaching the kingdom's elite knight and mage corps to an away team already fulfilled his duty.
Hillun pondered briefly.
'Rescuing the princess is no issue.'
He could do it solo. Demon King, princess, heroes—all rigged poker anyway.
But appearances mattered. Even as a two-Demon-King slayer, claiming solo tower rescue would breed doubt.
Suspicions of being the Demon King's minion (true, but still).
In that light, 40+ heroes and hundreds of troops looked plenty like an assault force.
If that force "happened" to find the princess on floor 1 or 2, who'd complain?
Suspicious?
Heroes colluding with Demon King?
No.
Once is coincidence; twice, thrice is pattern.
No one would blink at Frost Demon King, then Diamond, now Flame—all running towers the same way.
'And above all...'
Disguised as mercenaries? Thin veil. With Korzen compensated, foreign intel nets would catch it—those in the know would see elites, not randos.
Thus.
"I will definitely rescue Her Highness the Crown Princess."
On such a perfectly set stage, failing to perform would shame the name Hillun Kargil.
Discovering the Flame Demon Tower didn't just rile the Hero Guild, Hildean, and a few nations.
The empire led the search, holding the biggest stake.
But they rejoiced from another angle.
Superiority over failed Hildean and Akan.
Especially crushing Akan's constant nitpicking, despite not being formal foes.
They propagandized the third prince's feat, stoking public pride, superiority, and imperial loyalty.
"I can't fathom Father's intentions."
The achiever himself, fresh from imperial audience, was deep in turmoil.
"What's wrong?"
"Coffee first."
"Here."
Martin savored a sip. The bitterness soothed his tongue, calming him slightly.
"Remember the necromancer's confession and the empire's response?"
"Yes."
"He wants to conquer the Flame Demon Tower."
"...Didn't he say the Flame Demon King is unlikely the true mastermind, so focus elsewhere? But we can't ignore the tower forever—use this to draw allied aid."
"Yes, exactly."
That had been Martin's foundation.
Prince or not, with power behind him, imperial decree was absolute.
But knowing the emperor targeted the true foe—not Flame—and no issues beyond searches, he'd boldly assured the Demon King.
Until recently.
"Did he say why the change?"
"Daphne Philian's death. Makes sense. No Star hero died on mere searches before, nor did Demon Kings thrash like that. The Flame Demon King differs from predecessors—hence no variables wanted."
But.
"With a separate mastermind dooming the empire, subjugating Flame outright? I oppose it."
Flame's subjugation would snap his lifeline to the Demon King.
One might think severing ties possible, but too much given already.
'Palace secret vault plate. And Kaede's with the Demon King. At minimum, until Kaede's freed from her contract, the Demon King must live.'
He knew minions freed on Demon King's death. But would a cornered Demon King release them meekly?
Especially with the empire leading—would imperial princess Kaede fare well? Or stay silent on the vault plate?
No. Martin was certain the Demon King wouldn't.
'Above all, I need his help to become emperor.'
Not expecting miracles. But helpful bits would accumulate into throne-winning power.
Stop it. If not, delay as long as possible.
"I need to see brother Floyan."
Martin rose.
Meanwhile, Berge resolved to roll out the red carpet for Hillun Kargil.
"Send Ernan out ASAP to placate Hildean, then start work. Best plan."
The leg idea must never leak to humans.
Leg construction would obviously happen outside the tower.
"Eager to ship me off so soon?"
"Don't mock."
"Kidding."
Ignoring Ernan's sly smile, Berge continued.
"Best would be flinging doors wide—but that's suspicious. So, interfere just enough. Precisely that much."
"For show."
"Yes. Krutoo."
"Yes, Demon King."
"When they start climbing, lure monsters to attack. Not too many, not too strong."
"Yes."
"Mark the shortest path to the tower with crosses and arrows. Already cleared with Hillun."
"Yes."
"Also..."
He issued various other orders. From adjutant Gordon to lowliest frost orc.
The tower's entire roster steeled itself.
"No failures this time. Failure means death—remember that."
"Yes!"
The tower's denizens steeled themselves.
The Flame Demon Tower was ready.
Except one.
"Downgrade my masterpieces—my babies—into junk for screw-loose idiots?! Absurd!"
The dwarf ordered to nerf mana cannons for Golden Moon handover.
< 139. Currents Surrounding the Tower > End