Episode 233 – World’s Demise (4)

World’s Demise (4)

Late at night.

I visited Lockhard Corporation disguised as a completely different person.

“…”

Without a word, I looked at the rough man sitting opposite me.

Chewing, chewing—

He was chewing gum as he spoke.

“So, a meeting, is it?”

“Yes. Here’s a sample.”

I placed a suitcase full of illegal synthetic mana stones on the table. Click-clack—I opened the case.

The CEO of Lockhard let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha. That’s quite a lot for a sample, isn’t it?”

“Take it. Use it all, and we can negotiate afterwards if you like.”

“Nah, we’re not interested.”

The CEO leaned back on the sofa, but his subordinates swallowed their saliva with greedy faces.

“You can just take it.”

“Eh, I’d be cursed for this. The whole world’s in an uproar over murders and whatnot, and you want to do business with illegal mana stones?”

This negotiation was a trap.

Whether he took the mana stones or not, Grawl was taking photos of this scene with a canon camera.

“We are loyal to Quantum Mechanic. Do you know who Quantum Mechanic is?”

“I don’t.”

“…You from another country? I don’t know if you’re a Rhine or what. But, get lost. Unless you want your head smashed in on your way home at night.”

The guy was surprisingly loyal.

But Quantum Mechanic wouldn’t trust that loyalty.

Those types are all the same.

Once they harbor distrust, they never believe you until death.

“Yes. I will leave the mana stones.”

I stood up from my seat.

“Are you an idiot? Take it with you. I don’t need your trashy mana stones.”

He waved his hand dismissively.

“…”

I picked up the suitcase again. I turned around and walked towards the factory exit.

“Hey. If you show your face here again for something like this, consider it your funeral!”

His voice echoed robustly, followed by the snickering laughter of his colleagues.

I quietly smiled as I left the factory.

‘Master! What should we do with the photos?’

Just then, Grawl asked.

‘Report it to the local police. Say it’s an illegal mana stone trading scene.’

‘To the local police?’

‘Yes. There’s probably collusion. If the police are notified, they’ll immediately report it to Quantum.’

Such business can’t be conducted without the help of local law enforcement.

Plus, information conveyed by the police is highly credible, whether it’s from corrupt cops or genuine ones.

‘Got it!’

Once Quantum Mechanic receives the information from the police, they will definitely deal with Lockhard.

I’d bet on it.

* * *

The very next day.

I received a report from Grawl that Lockhard had been turned into a wasteland.

I was surprised by the speed of the events, but I went back to the site.

“…It’s real.”

The small to medium-sized enterprise known as Lockhard was left with only traces of its existence.

Was this really the place from last night? The entire factory was almost erased, as if it had been baked whole in an oven.

“Quantum Mechanic, was it?”

Their actions are swift and their methods cruel.

Seems like a sharp character. I know the underworld, but I’m unfamiliar with the shady figures of the surface world.

─Master!

A clear voice called from below. It was Grawl, in his original form after a long time.

“What happened?”

─Just as you instructed, Master, I had friends scatter traces of mana stones all over the factory.

Grawl had created synthetic mana stones. I had ordered him to sprinkle the fragments throughout the factory, and the cats did so faithfully.

─I also leaked the photos of the mana stone transaction to the local police. Just like you said, there was collusion with the police! It went straight to Quantum Mechanic!

It’s worth noting that, continentally, almost all synthetic mana stones are treated as illegal.

Not only is the production environment dangerous, but the process for synthesis is inhumane, and the quality of the mana stones is unsafe.

To put it simply, if natural mana stones are humans, then synthetic mana stones are monsters.

─It all happened within 6 hours~ Quantum Mechanic’s people swarmed in and wrecked everything~

“…Quantum, no. What about that Jesco guy?”

─Jesco. A.K.A Quantum Mechanic. A synthetic mana stone artisan, he owns quite a few factories. The scale is huge! His annual turnover is enormous! He has so many connections in the back alleys that he doesn’t seem to care about a small to medium-sized enterprise. I’ll send you the report by email now!

Ding─

I opened my smartphone.

“More of a big shot than I thought…”

Indeed, the numbers he’s pulling in are quite significant.

I thought they were just kids compared to the underworld.

If a non-entity like Jesco is doing this well, then certainly, Zia must be struggling in this industry too.

“Well.”

I took a few photos with my phone. They were for the report I would send to Zia.

“The mission is accomplished for now.”

“Is that so.”

A sudden voice.

It was Akane. Grawl flinched and hid behind my ankle, and she handed me a piece of paper.

“…What’s this?”

“One week later. The meeting place.”

I took it.

I could just pass it on to Jade, but the week’s wait was irritating.

“A lot of people could die in a week.”

“It was the best I could do.”

Akane crossed her arms. She stared intently at my face and said,

“I’m looking forward to seeing who will go there. Are you confident?”

“Yes.”

How could I not be confident?

Anyone who has ever witnessed a man named Jade, at any moment before my regression, would understand.

“I guess I’ll have to go see for myself.”

Akane chuckled lightly. I looked into her eyes. I knew she was a ‘doll.’

“You shouldn’t watch. It could be dangerous for you, Akane, if you get involved.”

“Are you an idiot? I can just send a doll.”

Akane smirked nonchalantly, but I shook my head.

“That doll is also a part of you, Akane.”

“…”

Her nose twitched slightly.

Dolls are not infinite. After all, a doll is an extension of her consciousness.

Therefore, the death of a doll signifies the depletion of her spirit.

“The cost of curiosity is too high.”

If one treats death too lightly, one risks losing oneself.

“Don’t walk into the darkness.”

Humans fundamentally cherish themselves the most. They must. It’s a natural survival instinct.

“Resist the darkness.”

Akane might be fated to become a mere phenomenon. A superhuman born with talents too vast for any human to contain.

“By screaming. By raging.”

But if she does not give up on being human, if she does not lose what’s most important, if she struggles like that…

Then Akane can surely remain human.

“…”

She frowned.

“I’ve called out Jude Velot. Let’s see what happens. I hope there’s a basis for your confidence.”

I watched her retreating figure for a long time, along with Grawl.

─Wow… She’s so cool.

Grawl spoke with a tone of admiration.

Perhaps some memories from his past life linger. I grabbed the scruff of his neck and hoisted him onto my shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

─Yes!

* * *

Libra Aerial Garden.

Zia read the report from Shion Ascal.

[Lockhard Corporation Report]

She had already heard the news. Lockhard had vanished overnight like a mirage. The leadership was assassinated, and the factories were devastated.

But she hadn’t known the details, so Zia was understandably anxious.

Such extreme destruction was bound to have repercussions.

“Ah.”

Today, Shion’s report had dispelled her worries.

Lockhard had essentially self-destructed. They had lost their backing. No, their backers had actively destroyed Lockhard.

The report detailed the ‘slander’ that had been used.

Pretending to be another dealer, they had leaked illegal synthetic mana stones to Lockhard, taken photos pretending to make a deal with them, and reported it to the police to naturally let the information seep into Jesco’s ears.

The cruel, no-questions-asked tactics typical of the underworld.

“…”

Zia revised her assessment once again.

Shion Ascal is a much sharper blade than anyone had anticipated. Someone who can change themselves as needed, when needed…

─Above all, the intelligence and execution capabilities are beyond expectation.

Someone said during a video conference on the laptop. It was ‘Jean’, one of Zia’s confidants.

─Exposing Jesco, who backed Lockhard, acquiring their mana stones, and devising a perfect plan. He’s doing the work of a team all by himself.

“Yes. We can start now.”

The domain left vacant by Lockhard would now be swallowed up by Zia’s Lithium Corporation.

─Yes, then I will prepare the troops.

Jean, the personnel manager of Libra Station, had the task of finding suitable troops, that is, combat personnel. After all, a company needs people to protect it.

“Yes.”

Just then, the office door opened. Zia quickly ended the video conference.

“Who… Ah.”

She feigned surprise, her eyes widening.

Zia’s older brother and the eldest son of Libra, Derek.

He walked steadily and sat down on the sofa.

“Brother… you’ve come up to the garden…”

“Zia. I heard you took in Sonya.”

“…”

Zia’s mouth went dry for a moment. Could he have come to criticize her for hiring Sonya? It didn’t seem likely.

Derek, with a furrowed brow, asked again.

“Is that not the case?”

“Yes… but she’s a friend…”

“It’s fine. If you’ve taken her in, it can’t be bad. She’ll at least lead a life befitting a noble. Just make sure she doesn’t cause me any trouble.”

Derek, of course, knew that Sonya was blameless. He wasn’t the type to torment a subordinate he had dismissed over a misunderstanding.

“More importantly, you’ve got a pretty decent guy.”

“Ah. You mean Shion…”

“Yes. Is he going to be your balancer?”

“To become a balancer… would require the permission of my brothers…”

Derek chuckled lightly, his expression saying there was no reason not to grant permission.

“Of course, there’s no reason not to allow it.”

Indeed, that was the case.

Shion had received favorable evaluations from all direct family members.

“But the question is, is he truly yours?”

Derek’s eyes narrowed sharply once again.

Could my brother also be coveting him?

In the past, she might have hesitated, but now her mind was made up.

She had to be greedy.

“…Yes. He’s my man.”

“…”

Derek fell silent for a moment, then looked at her and chuckled lightly.

“Be careful not to lose him. Hold on to him until I am confirmed as the successor.”

After all, what’s yours will eventually become part of the successor’s assets.

With those words, Derek left the room.

* * *

Elise had completed the draft of the barrier with Layla.

“…Elly. Will this work?”

“I don’t know yet.”

They had no help from other mages. There were several practical reasons, as Ken Petra had mentioned, but above all, this barrier could not be constructed by anyone other than Elise.

“Are you going to pull in the incomplete parts like a magnet?”

“Yes.”

It was a barrier that utilized her Spectrum, 「Magnetism」. By drastically extending the waves, it strongly slowed down the progression of death curse operating within the barrier.

“…We can’t fail. It has to work on the first try. We’re in a hurry.”

The problem, however, was time. If the barrier was constructed incorrectly, tens of thousands of patients hospitalized at Petra Hospital would die.

“If only we had someone to help review the blueprints…”

Elise bit her lip.

“Elly.”

Suddenly, Layla placed her hand on Elise’s shoulder with a grave tone.

“Hey. Maybe we should ask him?”

Him.

Who is he?

“Who is he?”

Layla quickly grabbed her smartphone and fumbled to show a contact.

[At Your Service]

“…This person.”

At Your Service.

“What?”

Elise looked at her incredulously, but then blinked and thought it over.

At Your Service.

A grateful person who had been a great help during the college board exams and had also provided psychological therapy.

She didn’t know how much expertise he had in magic, but…

It was better than not trying at all.

“Let’s ask for his help, Elly.”

Layla’s voice was more serious than ever.

Elise nodded in agreement.

* * *

I found my way to Jade’s capital mansion. The malevolent energy that flowed out like an aura was fierce, but I could bear it well enough.

“…I’ve come to see Lord Jade.”

There were three seemingly pointless guards at the entrance. They made a call somewhere.

“…Yes, understood.”

No, on second thought, they weren’t pointless at all.

If an acquaintance who knew nothing of the current situation came looking for Jade, they wouldn’t likely leave with their life.

They were guards tasked with preserving the lives of guests.

“You may enter.”

“Thank you.”

I stepped inside. With each step up the stairs, the oppressive atmosphere grew heavier.

The presence of the world’s foremost power was this overwhelming…

I reached Jade’s office and knocked on the door, which was decorated in an antique style.

Knock-knock-

─Come in.

His voice was laced with murderous intent. I opened the door. Jade stood in the center of his office. His expression was calm, but his clothes were slightly disheveled.

Surprisingly, it looked like he had been practicing or training for combat.

“Have you located it?”

“Yes.”

“…You’ve found it.”

Jade took a step forward. In that moment, the distance between us closed.

───!

Even his light footsteps whipped up a Gale that shattered the windows like blades. A small cut appeared on the tip of my nose.

“…Yes.”

The pressure was immense, almost unbearable.

Jade looked at me, frowning slightly.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, I’m certain. However… there’s a ‘time’ set for the meeting.”

“A promised time?”

“Yes.”

I handed over the note I had received from Akane.

“Jude Velot. The place and time suggested by the one who calls himself World’s Demise.”

“…Hmm.”

Jade scanned the note with drooping eyes.

One week later. The old house underground.

“One week. By then-”

“Ms. Eceline will be fine. They are working on a barrier at Petra Hospital to slow down the progression of the death curse.”

“…Hmm.”

Jade’s expression hardened, but then he cracked a faint smile.

“…I might just go ahead and wait there.”

──Right after.

It felt as if the mansion itself exploded.

Kwaaaa──!

A sound beyond the speed of sound caused a deafening roar that seemed to crush my eardrums, and the shockwave generated inside brought down the ceiling and the floor. The upper part of the mansion disintegrated into debris and collapsed.

“Ah…”

Caught in that simple charge, my body ached.

“It hurts like hell.”