Chapter 158: The Wizard of Espionage
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 158: The Wizard of Espionage
The Assembly was convened. The purpose was to formulate a plan for the upcoming ‘Public Security Headquarters Raid’.
Two wizards were walking down the corridor of the West Tower that led to the meeting place.
One wore the mask of a chihuahua, the other, the mask of a koi carp.
“Isel.”
The chihuahua asked her abruptly.
“Why are you still with the Assembly?”
Let’s review the Assembly’s position and Isel’s goal.
The Assembly provides Isel with information about the Labyrinth. In return, Isel has been hiding the Assembly, an organization of possessors.
For example, when Meldini tried to push a bill to root out possessors, it was Isel who used the Berten family’s political power to block it.
And what was Isel’s goal?
To kill the Labyrinth Master and shut down the Labyrinth.
The Assembly had supported her in this endeavor.
‘We want to kill the Labyrinth Master, too. If we kill him, we can go home. But we don’t have the ability to do it.’
The Assembly had established its position early on.
‘If you, Isel, can kill the Labyrinth Master, we will give you our full support.’
But hadn’t the situation changed drastically?
The leader of the Assembly was a monster.
The White Lion was a subordinate of the Labyrinth Master.
Chihuahua and the other executives of the Assembly had fought on the White Lion’s side during the last Labyrinth eruption and his attack on Dalstream.
On the contrary, they supported the Labyrinth.
From Isel’s perspective, the sense of betrayal must have been immense.
“That’s why I understand why you disobeyed my orders and continued to fight,” Chihuahua said.
To be honest, she had expected Isel to leave the Assembly and run straight to Meldini to spill everything she knew.
“But you came back to us, Isel. Asking for forgiveness for disobeying orders, claiming you had no choice because your father and brother were watching.”
Chihuahua stopped in her tracks.
“Why are you still with the Assembly?”
The Assembly was suspicious of Isel.
“To kill the Labyrinth Master.”
Isel’s answer was the same as it had always been.
“That’s why I’m still here.”
“But we’re on the Labyrinth Master’s side.”
“I doubt that.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Because even if the Labyrinth Master is killed, you can all still go home.”
“…”
“Your goal isn’t for the Labyrinth Master to conquer the Ethereal Galaxy. Nor is it for the gods of the Ethereal Galaxy to stop him. Your goal is simply to go home, isn’t it?”
The Assembly’s loyalty to the Labyrinth Master was pathetic.
They were opportunists, placing the Labyrinth Master and Wizus on a scale and watching to see which way it tipped.
If it tipped toward the Labyrinth Master, the Assembly would choose that side without hesitation.
Conversely, if the possibility of someone killing the Labyrinth Master became significantly higher, they would immediately choose that side.
“Am I wrong?”
“We’re long past that kind of deliberation.”
“To be honest, I was furious at first. That you had all been deceiving me. I thought you were using me like a combat doll to kill the Labyrinth Master, but it turned out that wasn’t even the case. You were actually on the side that obeyed him.”
Isel continued.
“It was hard to forgive. But now I understand. Because I, too, once betrayed you and held a different card.”
“What card?”
“Caleb.”
“I knew it.”
A smile formed on Chihuahua’s face.
“I thought you two seemed too close.”
“That wizard had more knowledge about possessors than you all did. So I switched sides. I thought if anyone could guide me to the Labyrinth Master, Caleb had a better chance than you.”
“So why have you cut ties with him now?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Isel said.
“Because when it comes to someone who can guide me to the Labyrinth Master, the White Lion seems more promising than Caleb.”
Join the operation to rescue the White Lion. Rescue him. And then dive into the Labyrinth with him.
The White Lion would take Isel to the Labyrinth Master.
“If your dying wish is to meet the Labyrinth Master once, the White Lion can make that happen. But wasn’t your goal to ‘kill’ the Labyrinth Master?” Chihuahua asked.
“It’ll be hard to kill him that way.”
“I believe that if I show you it’s possible, you might side with me.”
“That’s too reckless. It’s not like the Isel I know.”
Chihuahua drew a wand from her belt.
“Meldini put you up to this!”
The tip of the wand was aimed at Isel’s chin.
“Tell me the truth.”
“It is the truth.”
“Impossible. The current consensus at the university is that the White Lion might be the one who caused the Labyrinth eruption 12 years ago. And you’re going to help rescue him and release him back into the Labyrinth?”
“Would you like to use Lie Detection Magic?”
“…”
Chihuahua stared intently at the Koi Carp.
“I can’t see a skin rash through that mask.”
“Dispel Disguise.”
Isel brought her wand to her face and removed the disguise magic.
“Lie Detection Magic.”
Chihuahua cast the spell on Isel.
“I will tell you everything. I am not here on someone else’s orders,” Isel said.
“Everything I just told you is the truth.”
“Testify that you haven’t hidden anything either.”
“I have hidden nothing.”
“…”
Isel’s face remained calm.
“I don’t believe it.”
Chihuahua tilted her head.
“You’re a calm and intelligent wizard. Why would you choose such a reckless, low-probability option?”
“Do I have any other choice?”
“You could have stuck with Caleb and continued to fight the Labyrinth.”
“When I was at the university,” Isel said, “Professor Dalstream was my thesis advisor.”
“…”
“He wasn’t called an Archmage for nothing. Caleb told me. When Dalstream was murdered, he couldn’t do a thing.”
Countless wizards at the university were heartbroken by the Archmage’s death, but none of them could compare to Isel.
“And while Caleb’s knowledge of possessors is impressive, even he didn’t know about the White Lion or the Dagger Raptor.”
“…”
“Sohen will not be able to defeat the Labyrinth,” Isel stated.
“They won’t even be able to find the Labyrinth Master, let alone kill him.”
“…”
“There’s only one way to protect Sohen. I have to rescue the White Lion and dive into the Abyss with him. And then, I will kill the Labyrinth Master.”
She hugged her wand tightly to her chest.
“Now, I’m the only one who can do it.”
“Actually,” Chihuahua said, “we wanted to kill the Labyrinth Master at first, too.”
“…”
“But we realized it early on. That it was impossible.”
Chihuahua’s voice grew slightly moist.
“That’s why we split. With Blackdog. Sohen cannot defeat the Labyrinth. Your judgment on that is correct.”
It was as if an expression could be seen even through the dog mask.
“So I’ll support your final challenge. I don’t have high hopes, but I wish the scales would tip in your favor.”
Her wand, full of pity, pointed at Isel.
“Disguise.”
After placing the Koi Carp mask over Isel’s face, Chihuahua opened the door to the secret meeting room at the top of the West Tower.
“Welcome back, Koi Carp.”
“Thank you.”
“So, who did you say you came to see?”
The Orc Berserker, Krom, frowned at the absurd request.
“Blackdog?”
“Yes.”
“Hey, you bastard! You think Blackdog is your friend?”
“The Labyrinth will open soon. And another great war will break out over the White Lion. I want to ask Blackdog for help.”
“So why are you the one coming here to do that? Who the hell are you? Where are Peterson, Meldini, or Cardinal Servan?”
“You listened to me before when I asked you to have Nimue and Rococo guard the stairs.”
“Hahaha.”
Krom finally burst out laughing.
“Back then, I thought you were some grunt from the Assembly who had decided to betray them. I just figured you might have some information. The situation is different now.”
“If you think I might have information only I know, just like last time, will you let me meet him?”
“What do you have?”
“A spy within the Assembly.”
“…”
Krom’s shoulders flinched and then froze.
Tick. Tock. Tick.
The sound of the second hand of a wall clock flowed over the table.
He’d had a similar experience before, giving him a sense of déjà vu.
It was before Enver died.
Enver and I had come to see Krom, and Enver had bluffed as if I had joined the Assembly.
And Krom had been lost in thought, his chin resting on his hand, just like now.
“You’re not bullshitting me, are you?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“There was that time you brought Neko and the constables and wrecked my casino.”
“You shouldn’t have killed Enver, then.”
“Hmph.”
Krom snorted.
“Follow me.”
He led Caleb through the third-floor corridor of the casino and into the vault.
They passed through mountains of gold coins and opened another small door at the far end of the vault.
Then they walked for another ten minutes along a dimly lit path.
The slope descended steeply, and the ground level had likely dropped from the third floor to the first in an instant, perhaps even to the basement.
“He’s hidden quite deep.”
“Blackdog is someone who needs to be.”
A massive living quarters appeared in the basement of the criminal organization.
Wary eyes darted at them from all directions.
“Isn’t that a Public Security constable?”
“Are you crazy, Krom?”
“Ah, another pain in the ass is here.”
Every one of them was an incredibly skilled high-floor adventurer.
Not only that, but they were also ‘wanted fugitives’.
“I called him because the situation warrants it, you bastards. The Labyrinth might erupt again soon. A war with the Assembly is a given.”
Krom stomped through their midst.
“Blackdog!”
He shouted with all his might.
Krom, Nimue, Rococo.
The final member of that Deep Layer party, Blackdog.
“You have a visitor!”
[The Henry-Triggered Labyrinth Eruption: Focusing on the Magic University]
Yernil was sitting on a garden chair in the Berten estate, reading a book. It was night, but the moon was bright enough to see clearly.
When she had joined the university’s Enchanting Department, she had heard stories. About Meldini at the magic university, this and that.
Of course, Yernil was someone who usually detested books, but…
I’m curious about what Caleb reads.
Caleb had borrowed this book from the library. But he had been too busy to even read it before having to leave again.
[The so-called ‘Henry-Triggered Labyrinth Eruption,’ brought about by the possessor Henry, inflicted enormous damage across all of Sohen, but the damage to the magic university was particularly devastating. This document covers how fiercely the heroes of the magic university fought back at the time. Professor Meldini, in particular, lost his wife, son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and granddaughter in this battle…]
“Excuse me.”
Someone was pounding on the front gate of the Berten estate.
“Bipa!”
Startled, Yernil drew her bow.
A white-haired Taoist was standing beyond the gate.
“I’m not Bipa!” the Taoist shouted.
“But I am a Spirit Race Taoist.”
“Wh-who are you?”
“I’m here looking for Isel.”
Now she noticed a Dokkebi and a Kappa standing next to the Spirit Race Taoist.
Yernil knew at once.
It’s Isel’s party.
She had lived in Wyndham for a long time. Hadn’t Edward Berten said so? That Isel had adventured with a famous high-floor party.
“Caleb developed a spell called Ball Lightning,” Isel said.
“That’s enough about Caleb. I don’t want to hear any more. Let’s talk about our plan to raid the Public Security Headquarters instead,” said the Old Tree Ghost.
“Then, before we move on to that meeting, just a moment.”
The Eyelash Frog raised its hand.
“Shall we take a short break?”
“Sounds good.”
“I need the restroom.”
The Assembly members filed out. Some went to the restroom, others smoked on the balcony.
Isel also headed for the restroom.
Click.
Once inside a stall in the women’s restroom, Isel took a paper talisman from her pocket.
It had already been used and was completely torn.
They’re such good friends.
She had received this talisman from the Spirit Race Taoist that morning. Thankfully, her party members had rushed here as soon as they heard the news of the Labyrinth eruption in Sohen. Even though the situation had already ended.
Disguise Talisman.
She had been able to get it.
A Deep Layer Taoist of the Spirit Race named Bipa had also used this art recently, while she was a fugitive chasing Caleb.
It was a technique Isel knew well.
She had used the Disguise Taoist Art to layer ‘Isel’s face’ over her own.
On top of that, she had used Disguise Magic to put on the ‘Koi Carp’ mask.
Then, she had made her oath under the Lie Detection Magic and dispelled the disguise.
No matter how much she lied, the skin rash wouldn’t appear.
Because the disguise talisman was active.
Rip, rip.
Isel tore the talisman into small pieces and flushed it down the toilet.
Chihuahua had made a fatal mistake.
If something like Lie Detection Magic hadn’t existed, she would never have accepted Isel back.
Their over-reliance on that magic was their downfall.
Let’s just rest for a moment.
But there was a problem.
The pain rising from the rash was real.
“…”
She was no different from a swan, paddling furiously beneath the surface to remain serene above the water.
Her flawless face was a creation of the disguise; beneath it was hell.
Endure it. Just a little longer.
Isel pinched her thigh.
Caleb had fainted from this pain, hadn't he? It was understandable.
But Caleb.
Look at this.
Caleb’s a student and I’m a professor. Of course I wouldn’t faint.
Isel thought of the small joke and forced a smile.
‘Ball Lightning’ was a calculated information leak. Mixing in a little truth always made it more lethal to the enemy.
I will kill the White Lion and annihilate the Assembly.
Then I will kill the Dagger Raptor.
And then I will kill the Labyrinth Master.
Just endure it a little longer.
Isel bit her lip hard to make the pain subside.
Then, after flushing the toilet.
“Let’s go, Chihuahua.”
She walked on, her face expressionless.