Chapter 110 – Reinstatement

The place where the two witches left.

In the reception room, the Director and Rashid remained.

The Director, recalling what had happened earlier, broke the ice.

“To be honest, if it weren’t for you, I would have rejected the Purgatory Coven’s request, regardless of its content.”

“Is that so?”

“As you know, isn’t there a sin they committed?”

Speaking of that sin,

there was his death.

“It’s about Inquisitor Ludrick.”

“Right. The Magic Tower fellows played a major role in Ludrick turning out that way. They are ones who contracted with demons. No matter how much they try to deny it, the fact that they are the demon’s minions remains unchanged.”

“That is true.”

“Still, because of what you said, I thought I shouldn’t just ignore their request. Even if my feelings were like that, the content was serious.”

The Director tapped the armrest of the sofa with his fingertips.

“Yet, I cannot understand it. Even so, to think there are those who advocate that nonsense called the Humanity Equivalent Exchange within the Magic Tower. It seems their faction is quite large, too.”

The Purgatory Coven coming all the way to the Order was practically the same as saying that the Magic Tower could not handle the matter easily on its own.

“I heard that one of the groups advocating for that professor is the Dharma Mage Division. It’s not that I don’t know about the Dharma Mage Division, but I didn’t think they were that lacking in judgment.”

“You are right. They are not such a foolish group.”

“Then, do you know why they are advocating for that professor? I should have asked the Witch Leader instead of you, but thinking of the deceased Ludrick, I didn’t think to ask.”

“The Witch Leader probably doesn’t know much about it either.”

“Is that so? Then, do you know?”

Pondering for a moment, Rashid opened his mouth.

“I know roughly. It is suspected that the Dharma Mage Division has been contaminated.”

“Contaminated?”

“As you know. The Dharma Mage Division is usually led by two High Dharma Officers. However… this is also something I heard, but I heard that recently, those two High Dharma Officers have been following someone faithfully.”

“Following them faithfully?”

The Director made a rough guess.

“Is it perhaps an archdemon? Naturally, it would be related to them, but what else could there be?”

Rashid knew exactly, but the problem was that he could not tell him exactly.

“It is not something like an archdemon. It seems to be something else that we cannot fathom. I need to investigate this further.”

“Really? Was there such a thing?”

The Director furrowed his brow as if thinking.

“I can’t even get a grasp. Anyway, you should go and do your best. Since we cannot just ignore it.”

“Yes, I will cooperate with the Magic Tower people to resolve it well.”

“Do you need any support?”

Rashid shook his head.

“No. Even if additional inquisitors were added, since the location is the Magic Tower, there would be many restrictions on activities. It is better for me to move alone.”

“Very well. If you need people, let know anytime.”

* * *

After finishing the meeting with the Director, Rashid returned to his office for the first time in a while.

Karl was near the entrance, and he looked quite surprised to see him suddenly visit.

“Chief Inquisitor. What brings you here?”

“What do you mean? I have been reinstated. Has anything happened in the meantime?”

“No, nothing in particular happened.”

“That’s good.”

Rashid checked for her, who was not at her seat.

“What about Inquisitor Aria?”

“She is out. Lately, she is almost always outside.”

The reason she was outside was obvious.

She must be buying up government bonds.

“Tell her that I’ve been reinstated.”

Then, recalling what she had said, Rashid changed his words.

“No, I will tell her myself.”

Rashid operated the magic communication orb at Karl’s desk to call her.

After a few rings, her voice came through.

“Karl, what is it?”

“It’s me. I’ve been reinstated.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s just a notification.”

The magic communication ended with that.

Rashid, who ignored the incoming call that rang again immediately, spoke to Karl, who could not hide his bewilderment.

“Karl, the escort troops currently attached to me.”

“Yes? Oh, yes. They are the ones I have carefully selected. Their skills have been verified. You won’t be disappointed.”

“Double them.”

“Double them, you mean?”

“Since I’m reinstated, it should be fine to double them. I won’t have to walk on eggshells as much now.”

“Yes, then I will double them.”

Kane and Zodiac would target him immediately once the internal cleanup of the Magic Tower was finished.

It was a measure taken for that reason.

“As you already know, this is a measure to be kept only within Basilica until the moment I say otherwise.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Then take measures immediately.”

“Yes. By the way, are you reporting for duty today?”

“No, I plan to start working from tomorrow.”

There was no need to push himself.

“I just came by to deliver those words. The Director called me earlier. Well, see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Passing Karl who stood respectfully, Rashid left the office in the same direction he had entered.

At the same time he left, Karl received a magic communication that was ringing fiercely.

* * *

The next morning.

“You have been reinstated?”

She spoke to him, who was sitting calmly.

[Devastation Near the Imperial Border… Allied Kingdom Tanks and Bombers Attack -Imperial Daily-]

Rashid, who was reading the headlines of the newspaper, reacted indifferently.

“I told you yesterday, didn’t you?”

He was so confident and natural that she was also lost for words.

However, her expression was bright.

“It’s a relief. You returned earlier than expected. By the way, is the work related to the Magic Tower already finished?”

“Finished? It’s only the beginning.”

“But you returned already?”

“Yesterday, people from the Purgatory Coven came. To ask for help. So there is no longer any need to take a leave of absence.”

“So that’s why you returned.”

“Indeed.”

Rashid, who was reading the newspaper article, suddenly put down the newspaper and began to scan his surroundings.

“What is it?”

“No, I feel like someone is watching me.”

“I must be watching you. Since I am looking at you like this.”

“That’s not what I mean. Anyway, is the purchase of government bonds going smoothly?”

“Yes, I am still running around busily.”

“Keep up the hard work. That is also an important task.”

As she left with a smile in response, Rashid, who knitted his brows, tilted his head.

‘I definitely felt like someone was watching me…’

It was not a simple misunderstanding.

Because it was a part where his extra-sensory intuition was involved.

Who could it be?

Zodiac?

Even if it was hard for Kane, it was possible to some extent if it was Zodiac.

He was an out-of-spec existence.

Moreover, he possessed what Zodiac wanted.

‘It seems he is starting to target me. Even so, he wouldn’t invade the Inquisition Bureau.’

Rashid scanned the other newspapers lying on his desk.

[Allied Kingdom Strikes Imperial Army with New Magic Laser Cannon -Capital Dispatch-]

[Controversy-Ridden Professor Kane Appointed Board Chairman of Magic Tower Academy -Sky Island Newspaper-]

Kane assumed office as the chairman of the academy.

This carried significant implications.

The position of chairman of the Magic Tower Academy was a key post that exerted influence over academia and the Magic Tower overall.

Occupying this meant that Kane had found stability by suppressing other forces within the Magic Tower.

In other words, he had finished preparations to attack him.

‘In the past, he would have sent the Face Changer. If the bribing with goods had succeeded, he would be his hand and foot by now.’

Rashid smiled faintly.

‘But it will be impossible. Because I interfered, he will lack the money to hire him.’

Rashid knew the Face Changer better than anyone else.

He was simply a madman.

‘If by any chance they plan to control him with Zodiac, I want to go and stop them. Ten to one, they will fail.’

Knock, knock!

A knock was heard.

It was Karl.

“Chief Inquisitor.”

“What is it?”

“We received contact from the Basilica main gate reception office; a person claiming to be a Magic Tower teaching assistant is requesting to see you, Chief Inquisitor. What should we do?”

“A Magic Tower teaching assistant?”

Why did she come to find him?

The reason could simply be asked when they met.

“I know who it is. Go and bring her in yourself. She is an acquaintance.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

* * *

The board chairman’s office of the Magic Tower Academy.

Kane was encountering a certain man in that place, which he had seized with the help of the Dharma Mage Division.

Was his age barely twenty?

He was a young mage in somewhat sloppy attire.

His appearance was that of an idle playboy.

“So, what you are saying is to get rid of one inquisitor for you?”

Face Changer.

He was called that by the public.

Devil and angel.

They said he was a mage with two faces.

There were many rumors in various ways, but they said there was no room for doubt regarding his skill.

“Well, that’s not even difficult. If you want, I can blow away not just an inquisitor, but the Inquisition Bureau itself.”

After exchanging a few words,

it seemed for some reason that he was not confident, but was rather extremely boastful.

“Are you not overestimating yourself too much?”

“Have you only lived being deceived? I tell you it is possible. In exchange, the reward must be certain. Because this side is very high-quality manpower, so I absolutely don’t move for pocket change.”

“How much do you want?”

“Let’s see. Imperial currency is out. I heard gold is dirt cheap these days? In that case, credits or the mana stones that mages like would be very nice. Let’s make it mana stones. I don’t trust credits either.”

“How many mana stones do you want?”

“100 of the highest grade. Fortunately, I don’t discriminate by type.”

Although he was expensive, they said his handling of work was solid.

The problem was that even if he was expensive, he was just too expensive.

“If it is 100 of the highest grade… wouldn’t it be better if I stepped forward instead?”

Even at Kane’s words,

he did not bend at all.

“Then you deal with him.”

There was also this rumor.

To the point of being hateful,

he was truly ill-mannered.

“…”

What should he do?

He was not a person of good temper.

Moreover, he was a misanthrope.

He detested even normal humans, let alone a human who spoke insolently.

He didn’t even want to associate with him, but it was better to win him over for the sake of the plan.

“Then, let’s do this. I have 10,000 mana stones. All of them are of the highest grade.”

“Oh, 10,000 of the highest grade. Then I’d be able to kill 100 inquisitors.”

The Face Changer showed an amiable smile.

Although his temper was dirty, he seemed to soften endlessly before wealth.

“Will you stay by my side? Then I will give you the 10,000 mana stones.”

In fact,

if only he could print gold secretly,

he could buy and hand over things like mana stones infinitely.

However…

due to a certain inquisitor’s useless raising of suspicion, that matter had gone down the drain.

“Great. I have no reason to refuse.”

“Right.”

“But you see,”

Kane had a foreboding feeling here.

“That ends in one day. Because my daily wage is 416 highest-grade mana stones per hour.”

He was definitely a madman.

“But think of it this way. The time it takes for me to clean up one inquisitor is merely a few minutes. If I put my mind to it, I can quickly get rid of about 10 people in an hour. Then, isn’t it a huge profit from your perspective?”

Kane’s voice sank low.

“Are you joking with me right now?”

“Haha, shit.”

Not to be outdone,

the Face Changer also let his expression sink low.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“…”

There was no reason to fight him.

“What kind of madman would pay as many as ten thousand highest-grade mana stones just to hire you for a single day?”

“Then I have nothing to say either. Go find someone else.”

The Face Changer stood up from his seat.

Kane, who narrowed his eyes and distorted his expression, suddenly made a proposal.

‘I am bossing around even the High Dharma Officers like hands and feet. Would it be impossible for this fellow?’

“There is someone I’d like to introduce. That person will easily pay the mana stones. Would you like to meet them once?”

He had no reason to refuse that.

“Fine by me. But who is that?”

“Would you wait for a moment? I will call them shortly.”

When the Face Changer formed a circle with his thumb and index finger, Kane immediately made contact.

It was the Dharma Mage Division.

If they crossed over through a portal, it would be in an instant.

‘I will boss you around for free for the rest of your life. You insect-like bastard.’