Chapter 151: Hydra Corporation Assembly (1)
I had boldly announced the beginning of the Plan to Divide the World, but implementing it immediately was not feasible.
To proceed, the expedition forces of the Ten Towers had to depart first. Provoking the battle-hardened and enraged Ten Towers prematurely would likely turn my carefully laid plans into rubble.
Turning my focus away from the Plan to Divide the World, I reviewed my immediate tasks and found nothing requiring my direct involvement. It was an oddly familiar feeling.
For the first time in ages, I decided to inspect the internal workings of Hydra Corporation. Following Carisia’s advice, I planned to pitch to the board members not as “we will destroy the White Light,” but as “we will seize the White Light, so prepare to face it.” Even so, there were some truths I needed to explain to the board.
Chief among them was the enmity between Carisia and Argyrion. In hindsight, this entire affair began with their conflict.
“Fortunately, the board is unaware that Argyrion considers us an enemy.”
Likewise, Argyrion did not yet realize Hydra Corporation had turned hostile against them. Not until Nastian returned to them bearing my name.
For now, it was fortunate that Argyrion lacked the resources for external ventures. They were preoccupied preparing for the Ten Towers’ wrath.
“Perhaps I should meet with the board members individually while informing them of the upcoming assembly.”
***
“Director Bertrand is asleep,” yawned Geryon, nonchalantly addressing me as he emerged.
“Hmm? Is Director Bertrand working on something directly?”
“You don’t know? What I’ve heard is that the old man is engrossed in a task ‘personally assigned by the boss.’ Even Arabella is being relentlessly mobilized.”
Carisia’s mysterious directive clicked in my mind. It must be related to some kind of schematic for a magical bomb. Reluctant to disturb Bertrand’s rest, I simply conveyed the assembly schedule and left.
When I visited Cretone, I encountered a similar scene. It was break time at a demolition site, and he lay on his back using a rolled-up cloth as a makeshift pillow—a posture only achievable by someone deeply attuned to such environments.
“Wait a minute. Does Cretone even sweat?”
Under normal circumstances, his heavily modified body wouldn’t require a towel. Then again, dust was inevitable in demolition sites, even if it wasn’t sweat.
After distributing coffee and bread to Cretone’s crew of physically enhanced mages, I reminded him of the meeting schedule.
“And who should I say informed me?”
“Ah, just mention the ‘grinning guy from headquarters.’ I handle all the mundane errands like spreading messages among directors.”
Noiro, Divius, and Meconion were still out conducting Divine Investigation missions, and it was surprising to hear that Meconion had left Etna City. I had pegged him as someone tied to his drug den. Perhaps something had changed.
When Kaicle came to headquarters for a report, I notified him of the meeting. That left only one person to visit: Taros, the half-dragon mutant.
The bronze-scaled Taros regarded me with a peculiar gaze.
“To think you’d come in person….”
“Haha. I’ve been busy outside lately, so I haven’t had the chance to meet with the directors. I thought I’d take this opportunity to inform you all of the assembly.”
“Bertrand’s task… is proceeding smoothly.”
Bertrand’s name surfaced again, hinting that Carisia’s assigned “work” was monumental.
Could it be preparations to weaponize the Artificial Commandments as bombs? Taros, a representative of the mutants exposed to magical waste, was one of the most knowledgeable about the underground mana pipelines of Etna City. Perhaps work was underway on the pipelines connecting the Artificial Commandments on Mount Etna.
I made a mental note to ask Carisia later. For now, I changed the subject. Since I couldn’t ask other directors, I decided to probe Taros’s thoughts on fighting the Ten Towers.
“That’s good to hear. Director Taros, how would you evaluate Hydra Corporation’s standing?”
“I assume… you don’t want me to say ‘I don’t know.’”
Taros appeared deep in thought. I had initially assumed him to be cunning in combat but not particularly wise—an impression based solely on his appearance in the original story. That was clearly my mistake.
“To answer precisely is difficult. But Hydra Corporation has demonstrated the audacity to devise and execute plans to deceive the Ten Towers.”
A sharp response, despite claiming uncertainty. Hydra Corporation was indeed deceiving the Ten Towers.
“And if deception escalates into outright conflict, will we have the means to carry out our plans?”
Taros’s eyes quivered at my question.
“This assembly…?”
“Something along those lines. I wanted to gather the board’s candid thoughts to present to the boss before the meeting.”
After some coaxing, I assured him anonymity in reporting opinions, encouraging him to speak freely.
Ignoring internal unrest before a major operation often leads to catastrophic backlash. I cited examples of corporations collapsing due to unaddressed concerns.
“Like the Ten Towers….”
“They let Argyrion linger and ended up in this mess.”
Deeply pondering, Taros promised to have his response ready before the meeting.
***
The directors didn’t entirely dismiss the idea of a conflict with the Ten Towers. Taros’s reaction leaned more toward resignation than incredulity, as if it were an inevitable outcome.
He also didn’t seem to think victory was impossible, given his hesitance to call the idea absurd. The directors’ confidence might stem from the Artificial Commandments, the Ten Towers’ declining prestige, or rumors that the Etna City explosion was Carisia’s doing.
Whatever the case, morale was higher than I expected. If I unveiled parts of the Plan to Divide the World and connected it to the succession war, they might be more motivated.
***
Taros’s hands trembled as he reflected on Orthes’s fearsome aura.
The man had pinpointed “internal unrest” in their conversation, casually mentioning Argyrion and the Ten Towers’ predicament. Taros recalled a recent encrypted message that hinted Argyrion could cure his family’s mutations caused by extra-dimensional contamination.
The message, a whisper of betrayal, had been swiftly deleted, yet Orthes somehow knew.
Unanswered questions plagued Taros.
***
As I organized Hydra Corporation’s files, Arabella approached, her expression weary.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“Why didn’t you tell me to clear my schedule for the assembly, like you did for the others?”
“Ah.”
I hesitated before deciding to be honest.
“Director Arabella, where have you been just now?”
“The Strategic Planning Room in the basement.”
“Considering you’ve been eating and sleeping there for days, I figured you wouldn’t be leaving headquarters until the meeting.”
Arabella silently screamed in frustration.