Chapter 114 – Two Spies

Lavender Garden.

Rashid, who was sitting at a cafe table waiting for someone, received an incoming magic communication.

As he operated the communication device, a familiar voice was heard.

“It is me.”

It was Kaiser.

“You are late. Shouldn’t you have contacted me right away that day?”

Several days had already passed since Kaiser went to see Kane.

If nothing had happened, he would have contacted him immediately.

“You are too harsh when you do not even know the circumstances. Do you have any idea what kind of trouble I went through?”

“Circumstances? Did you blow your cover or something?”

A faint sigh came through the communication device.

“Ha… That is not it, but there is one thing I want to ask.”

“One thing you want to ask? What is it?”

“That person named Zodiac…”

“Zodiac?”

“What on earth is his identity? He looks completely like a woman, but the voice heard through sound transmission is definitely a man. Is he a cross-dresser? Or is he a woman? Or is he a man?”

He must have been confused about his identity.

Since his appearance, behavior, and voice would have all been completely discordant.

“Why do you ask that? It shouldn’t be very important, right?”

“I am just asking because I am curious. Really, out of pure curiosity.”

“Don’t you already know?”

Kaiser did not answer for a while.

“Surely… you are not just saying he is the Dragon King?”

“Correct. But did he look like a woman?”

“Yes, he was wearing clothes like those seen only in martial arts games. However, his gaze was so terrifying that I could not examine him properly. Even though we were together for several days, all I can remember is his profile.”

“You were with Zodiac for several days?”

“Yes. At first, he did not show any interest, but after recognizing my Authority, he became strangely obsessed. He called me a harmless human who is all talk? Anyway, I suffered quite a bit for a few days. He kept refusing to let me go, saying I was cute.”

It was absurd.

To think Zodiac showed such interest in him.

“Unbelievable. To think Zodiac showed interest in you. But it seems he is a woman this time?”

“Was he not originally? Was he a man back then, by any chance?”

“In my time, he was a man who looked like some Heavenly Demon.”

“A Heavenly Demon? Were there such elements in this world?”

“You see, those Evil Gods cross over from a world similar to wuxia novels. Zodiac is also from that side, so his attire is similar to it.”

“Ah… No wonder the outfit was strange. So there was such a reason.”

“More than that, Zodiac showed interest in you?”

Rashid could not stop the laughter leaking from his lips.

“Why are you laughing like that? It is unpleasant.”

“Because it looks exactly like that situation.”

“What situation?”

“Don’t you know that? The story of a tiger playing with a baby deer instead of eating it. It plays with the baby deer very gently and kindly.”

“Ah…”

Kaiser’s tone sank.

Even without seeing his expression, it was clear enough.

“It seems Zodiac found you cute. Zodiac is not human. He is an Eastern dragon. Moreover, he is the king of such dragons.”

“Sigh… I received some useless affection. At first, my heart fluttered a bit, but because the male voice was so bothersome, I did not go as far as having any foolish thoughts.”

So that was what it was in the end.

“On second thought, it is not great. Talking to him made it certain. I stepped in shit.”

Rashid only continued to let out soft chuckles.

“No, it might be a good thing. This is the first time I have ever known Zodiac to show interest in anyone. Zodiac is a being outside the norm, so he has no interest in lesser creatures.”

“He told me to meet him again. Do I have to keep meeting him?”

“Again?”

“Yes, I barely escaped our previous meeting by making all sorts of excuses. I do not know why he is so interested in me, but he asked me to show him around the world.”

“This is crazy.”

His laughter-filled expression soon slowly faded.

“It worked out well. While you are alone together like that, try to drive a wedge between him and Kane.”

Ultimately, they had to drive a wedge between the two to capture the isolated Kane.

“Driving a wedge…”

“There must have been many opportunities?”

“But… I was afraid something bad would happen if I played tricks for no reason, so I held back a bit.”

“We must capture Kane. We still have time, but once the Magic Tower is completed, he will immediately start his plan. Surely you do not intend to be equivalently exchanged for a scrap of knowledge?”

“Hmm… Please give me some time. He is someone who knows my strength. If I carelessly wag my three-inch tongue, I will probably evaporate right on the spot without being able to make a peep.”

“Indeed. Especially if he has even figured out your abilities. Anyway, keep up the hard work. Contact me if you succeed.”

“What if I fail?”

“If we fail, both you and I will just become scraps of knowledge.”

“Sigh…”

The communication ended.

Rashid chuckled.

It was good news.

To think Zodiac would show interest in someone who was all talk.

‘I will leave Zodiac to Kaiser, and I can deal with Kane from this side.’

Just then.

Someone came to see Rashid.

It was the woman he had been waiting for.

“I clearly said I really hate this.”

It was Veronica.

She had a rotten expression on her face from the start.

“Are you here? You are a bit late.”

Making no effort to hide her displeasure, she slumped into the seat across from him.

“Why did you call me? There must be plenty of other witches you could order around.”

“If all witches are the same anyway, it is better to deal with a witch I know.”

“Where did your lover go?”

“I do not have a lover.”

Veronica’s expression softened slightly.

“So, what is your business calling me here?”

“What other reason could there be? It is to capture Kane.”

Although beating down Kane was something he could do himself.

As expected, it was better for someone from the Magic Tower to drive the wedge rather than himself.

Because the success rate itself was different.

“Capturing Kane is not that difficult of a task. I suppose you all think similarly?”

“That is true. Kane is… well, even if only Eldest Sister went, he would be easily taken care of.”

“Then you must also know the reason why he cannot be captured?”

“Why ask when you already know? It is because of the Dharma Mage Division.”

“Correct. It is because of that Dharma Mage Division. Then, do you know why the Dharma Mage Division is taking Kane’s side?”

Regarding this question.

She could not answer either.

“You have a look of not knowing on your face.”

“Do you know, then?”

“I know roughly. Don’t you think the Dharma Mage Division has become strange lately?”

“They became strange?”

They had not been on good terms since a long time ago.

“Originally, relations were bad, but…”

“The Dharma Mage Division is currently being swayed by a guy named Zodiac. He is a being outside the norm who crossed over from another world.”

“Zodiac? That is the first time I have heard such a name.”

“Of course it is the first time you have heard it. No one would have told you.”

She thought about the Dharma Mage Division and that person named Zodiac for a moment.

“Lately, it did feel like the Dharma Mage Division was searching for mana sources like the Immortal Heart… I should look into that.”

“Anyway, capturing Kane is simple. It is over if you split him and the Dharma Mage Division apart.”

To think he would take such an approach.

She, who did not know much about the link between Kane and the Dharma Mage Division, could not help but feel curious at his words.

“That is not bad either. Where on earth did you learn to be so sly?”

“However, I cannot step forward here. As you can see, I am an Inquisitor, and Kane will have a strong aversion to whatever I say.”

She pointed at herself.

“Then you want me to do that?”

“Correct. You are better suited than me.”

She showed a reluctant expression.

“Look here. We are currently at war with that professor. Would that professor listen to us?”

“You are a witch. Tell him you betrayed the Purgatory Witches.”

She explicitly scowled.

“Would he even believe that?”

“You just have to make him believe it.”

As she was about to object, she thought of the method and held back the words that were about to spill out.

After a brief silence.

She asked.

“You want me to go that far?”

“If it is necessary, of course you must. You are good at acting, aren’t you?”

“Acting, my foot.”

“You were good at pretending to like someone even though you had no interest.”

“That is a basic skill that a witch must possess. If you cannot wrap a man around your finger, is that even a witch? That is just a clumsy bear.”

There was no need for the idle chatter to drag on.

“Plot with the Witch Chief and stage a fight. Then flee and align yourself with Kane. Since you are fundamentally a witch, Kane will also be half-in, half-out. Actually, it is not an impossible story, is it?”

“Flesh it out a bit more. The story is too thin.”

“Kane does not fully trust the Dharma Mage Division either. He is worried that they might intercept the Divine Primal Matter he will obtain when his plan succeeds. In fact, all the Dharma Mage Division wants is the Divine Primal Matter that Kane will obtain.”

Divine Primal Matter.

Element Zero, which could be processed into anything.

“Because if they have that, they can create anything, whether it is the Immortal Heart or any other mana source. So, from the Dharma Mage Division’s perspective, that is the goal, and Kane has no choice but to worry about it. Aim for that part and approach Kane.”

How did he know such things?

She, who had been staring at him with suspicious eyes, showed a confident smile.

“You are a player.”

Rashid showed an indifferent expression.

“You are saying all sorts of nonsense to an Inquisitor. Why don’t you just go to the Inquisition Bureau and advertise it? That would be better.”

Smiling with her eyes, she spoke.

“Hey, do you think I am crazy? Why would I do such a thing? More importantly, are we a match made in heaven? A witch and a player, this is a great combination.”

“Stop the nonsense. Go to Kane. And drive a wedge between him and the Dharma Mage Division.”

His words continued.

“Once the relationship between the two falls apart that way, I will capture Kane.”

She showed a lukewarm reaction.

“Did you hear anything from Eldest Sister? There must have been something.”

What was she talking about?

It was the price.

Normally, there should have been one more magic book.

But since he had already used it, he could not trade with it.

“It seems you want something troublesome.”

“For me, I want to do anything for my darling. But you know. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

What would be good?

There was something he had thought of in advance.

“There is nothing left of what you like. Instead, I can make this promise.”

“A promise? Look here. I hate promises. I like things that are actually visible. Something tangible and extremely material. I am incredibly materialistic.”

She then grumbled in a small voice.

“And what promise? You would not even believe a promise I make anyway.”

“If you ever get dragged away by an archdemon like back then, I will save you once. Just open a portal. I will handle the archdemon.”

Her expression completely cooled down.

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Out of what I can offer, that is the only valuable thing. You wouldn’t entirely dislike it either, would you?”

Veronica touched her lips.

Indeed, if the promise could be guaranteed, it was not a bad deal.

However.

The problem was that it could not be trusted.

“How can I trust you?”

“Whether to believe it or not is for you to decide. Otherwise, leave. Go bargain with another witch. Anyway, the Purgatory Madame promised me that she would assign a witch to me. So one of them will surely bite. Honestly, is there anyone among you who can face an archdemon and get out without any trouble?”

Rashid recalled the various witches belonging to the Purgatory Witches.

None of them were trustworthy, but would there really not be a single witch who would be enticed by his words?

“Go ahead. I will meet with another witch.”

He truly intended to send her away.

However, she, who was keeping her seat, suddenly changed her attitude.

“Fine. I will let you fool me. Since you saved me once back then, I will try being a clumsy bear for once.”