○
The most senior members of my information organization are all cerebrum skulls.
Individuals with cunning on a different level from ordinary skeletons, and intelligence befitting that cunning.
"Thank you!"
-Greater... loyalty...
"I expect continued effort and results in the future."
"Yes!"
-Yes...!
Among such individuals, I granted evolution to higher entities or ability upgrades to those who desired greater power, and transformation into other races to those who desired self-realization rather than power.
To those born with loyalty to me, I fulfill their desires as a reward for that loyalty.
"You should come to the dungeon for now."
"I will visit in the near future."
A big reward had to be given to Talhan, who was the most senior and had excellent abilities.
Since he had already declined rewards more than once, an even more decisive reward with a greater display effect for others was needed.
For that reward, I already had something in mind.
"Before that. Let's take a look."
"Huh? At what...?"
"How much karma you've accumulated."
Talhan's eyes wavered for a moment. It seems the anxiety sleeping in his inner self was stimulated.
"Put your mind at ease."
"Yes, Master."
When I placed my hand on the head of Talhan, who was borrowing the body of Jason, the head of the Copzerin branch of the Information Guild, an ink-black energy rose up.
That energy soon changed into purple flames and dug into his soul.
'It's not a pretty sight.'
Looking into his inner self, I thought so.
-Let me go-!!!!
-Kyaaaaaak!!!
Screams echoed from within him. They were the cries of those he had sacrificed.
Grudges and pain still remained clearly, rather becoming the power for the path he was trying to walk.
[You're becoming my nourishment.]
[I'll take good care of your lover.]
The thoughts and attitudes he had at the moment of creating those victims were also fully revealed.
A cold and cruel heart.
But even in the moment of carrying out all those desires, he never forgot to remind himself of one thing.
The mindset of desiring in order to be loyal, and maintaining loyalty in order to fulfill greed.
"It was impressive."
"I..."
Even after revealing his inner self like that, Talhan only watched my reaction, without any thought of resistance.
He must have already guessed what I saw inside him, even knowing that I might dispose of him on the spot.
"Don't worry. I saw well."
"Does that mean..."
"A reward for you has been decided, so look forward to it."
"Ah..."
Only then did Talhan let out a sigh of relief and bow to me.
"I will continue to show unwavering loyalty..."
"I don't expect such things. You know, and I know, that's not your way."
"Haha... You're mischievous."
"Nothing new."
His loyalty might waver with anxiety, but it remained unchanged.
And because of this reward, that loyalty would be further strengthened.
○
The inspection system of information merchants was quite intricately structured.
Direct reports by executives and indirect reports by monitors watching those executives.
"In the end, that too is human work."
Talhan's words hit the mark.
A system utilizing human nature.
Not removing self-interest from work, but controlling it through thorough surveillance.
It was a unique way of injecting loyalty into a group gathered by self-interest.
"But if it ends here, there are bound to be loopholes."
If both the executive himself and the monitor were in cahoots, they could act out loyalty as much as they wanted.
"So they applied a rotation system for monitors and executives."
To put it simply.
Like a spring, monitors rotate clockwise and executives counterclockwise, making them monitor different counterparts at regular intervals.
"So. How will you penetrate it?"
At my question, Talhan's eyes flashed.
"I'm aiming for the personnel below the executives, not the executives themselves. The adjutants and general organization members."
"Good thinking."
No matter how much the upper echelons were replaced, all the field informants couldn't be changed.
Even if executives were replaced, informants familiar with local circumstances were absolutely necessary.
And they were the blind spot of this system.
"How do you plan to utilize their... 'special loyalty'?"
A snake-like smile flashed across Talhan's lips.
It was a look that simultaneously showed the aspects of a schemer and a predator.
"There are many of my kind among information merchants. Their loyalty is all tied to profit."
In the voice acknowledging his imperfect loyalty, the previous wavering was no longer visible.
Going beyond that, he was rather trying to use the flexibility of thinking gained from it.
A sinister energy gradually rose in his voice.
"Their profits do not deviate from common sense lines."
He paused briefly and swallowed the water in front of him.
After all, since I was the top boss, he couldn't help but be nervous.
"Money and power. Simple."
It was characteristic of information merchants.
Unlike guilds, they did not hesitate to commit any evil act for profit. Within the bounds of maintaining 'sincerity' towards superiors.
Ironically, their corruption was being justified under the guise of loyalty.
"So..."
Talhan laid out chips of five different colors on the table. It was a skillful hand movement like a dealer in a gambling house.
"We should start with the disciples of 'Thousand Faces' first."
His fingers moved elegantly to arrange the chips.
Each chip was aligned in equal numbers, and the sight looked like a small battlefield.
"Each disciple has already built their own forces. They maintain balance while keeping each other in check and watching their master's mood. But..."
A few white chips are scattered among the other chips.
Like throwing stones into a peaceful pond.
"Thousand Faces has many children. Not only children from his legal wife and concubines, but also several hidden illegitimate children. A rumor that he wants to pass on the organization to one of these children..."
Catching his breath, he smiled meaningfully.
"We spread it."
Indeed.
I smiled, covering my mouth with my hand.
And Talhan too, made an even sharper and more sinister look.
"We'll leak different information to each of them. Mixing lies that seem like truth, and truths that seem like lies. That someone is being favored, or another is preparing betrayal..."
This time, what he picked up was the wine filled in front of each of us.
Taking just enough to wet his throat, he whispered to me in a slightly clearer voice.
"After taking control of the subordinates, all this information could look like it's leaking from different disciples."
"I suppose so."
I nodded.
Given the nature of information merchants, they were more interested in the profits they could make with the information than in the truth of the information they obtained.
They would use the information or the fact that such information exists, regardless of whether it's true or false.
"Lastly... Huu."
Talhan's eyes sank even darker as he inhaled.
"We additionally spread rumors about his lifespan."
"The disciples will become more impatient."
"It would be even better if someone comes out to question Thousand Faces about the successor position. Because that absolute being will never tolerate questioning about himself."
"And that will result in fueling suspicion."
I tapped the table and was lost in thought for a moment. Then I turned my gaze to Evangeline, who was quietly listening beside me.
"How does it look to you?"
"Overall it seems fine, but..."
She spoke while filling the wine glass with movements like a thoroughly trained servant.
"It's not without flaws."
"Oh?"
"Yes."
She placed the wine glass on top of the chips Talhan had arranged.
The red liquid swirled elegantly in the crystal glass.
"This Thousand Faces must be a person who lives up to his name. There must have been a reason for him to reach such a position."
"You're saying he'll have a separate information network to detect signs of internal strife."
"That's right."
Moreover, there was a possibility that he had already anticipated this situation and prepared countermeasures.
Perhaps he was even using the conflict between disciples to test loyalty.
"Anything else?"
"There must be some among the disciples with pure loyalty."
Evangeline's point was sharp.
There would certainly be those who pretended to fulfill their selfish desires to maintain the atmosphere with colleagues on the surface, but actually prioritized the interests of 'Thousand Faces' or 'Gray Eyes'.
"Also, the longer it takes..."
"The higher the possibility of getting caught. We should conduct the rehearsal on a minimal scale."
"That's right. Because once it starts, it can't be undone."
She handed me the wine glass.
Savoring the aroma rising from the glass, I pulled out the last puzzle piece.
"As it happens, there are already fragmented 'Gray Eyes' around here."
Arpina Maelstrom had manipulated the department head of Oison and his subordinates to take control of some of the information merchants.
And the information merchants who noticed this chose to boldly expel them rather than restore them.
Because they judged that Arpina could not be completely eliminated.
Rumors like 'one who escaped from Abelus' or 'one who returned from death' were still circulating.
As a result, there are currently considerable holes in Heisen's information network.
"They know we're blocking information leaks. But..."
"They probably don't know that some of them have been 'changed'."
We could use this to test our plan.
'What was just annoying at first...'
Who knew what she did would be so helpful.
Talhan nodded at our words.
"As you said. Using this, we'll soon be able to accumulate sufficient data."
"Good. I'll leave it to you, so do well."
What I needed wasn't Thousand Faces and his disciples, or children. It was the informants and information merchants working in the field.
It was rather a good thing for those leaders to fall while biting at each other.
If this plan succeeds, I will be able to absorb the information merchants and the regional information they were in charge of, piece by piece, like cutting a cake.
The 'high-grade information' they have now can be extracted through other means.
"Of course, let's start this after finishing your reward."
"Ah, yes."
"Stay in the dungeon. I'll look around other places and come back."
"Understood, Master."
Talhan smiled and bowed deeply, and I lightly patted his shoulder.
The remaining time after that was spent enjoying the banquet he had meticulously prepared.
It was not a bad meal time.
○
Half a day more was needed to stay in Copzerin.
Because there were more things prepared by Eve than expected.
Although she didn't cook directly, it was a date course prepared with full sincerity after tasting.
I couldn't just pass it by.
"If I were an ordinary person, I would have gained weight quickly."
When I said with a laugh, Evangeline made a slightly embarrassed expression at those words.
"Isn't that fortunate?"
"If there were other companions, they would have seen me as a glutton rather than a Dungeon Lord."
At my joking words, Evangeline's expression became even more troubled.
The reason I tease her knowing she'll react like this is probably because her reactions are so honest and lovable to me.
"Um... I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I enjoyed it. Thanks to who I'm with."
"Ah..."
Evangeline's face turned red. I too couldn't hide my smile at the irresistible charm felt from that appearance.
The joy that such small talk brings.
The next destination was Guiles County.
The place where Solemio, the city I practically control, originally belonged.
Actually, it wouldn't have been bad to go all the way to Gremit where Haley is since we've come up north...
'No time, and it's far.'
The carriage I was riding was special.
An undead carriage where neither the coachman nor the horses get tired or need rest, able to run 24 hours. But even so, it can't overcome physical limitations.
If it could, I would have made a flying carriage in the first place.
Even if we pass through Tribress City in the southern royal capital, one of the entrances to my 'mansion', it's not an easy distance to Gremit City.
Unfortunately, it seemed I wouldn't be able to meet Haley this time.
"I'm sorry about that."
To my words conveying that feeling, Haley's voice through the communication crystal was very urgent.
-That's not what I wanted to hear...! I'm grateful just for your thoughts, Master.
"I see. Let's meet when the installation of the entrance there is complete."
-Of course! I'll be waiting eagerly.
"Then, rest."
-I hope your journey goes well too, Master!
In the end, I decided to postpone additional rewards for Haley.
It's an unavoidable choice.
There was a banquet scheduled with the lords of the southern riverside about a week later.
That gathering was also to include rewards for Echidna, who had achieved particularly great merit in this war.
In terms of importance, this side weighed more heavily.
Clop clop...
Listening to the sound of the carriage wheels, I was lost in thought.
Amelia, the lord and second disciple, would be waiting in Guiles County.
She had already sent word that she had arrived there and was waiting for me.
"Let's see what kind of person it is."
A smile appeared on my lips.
News of a suitor for Amelia had come around when the territorial war was just beginning.
Since hearing this news, I had been waiting for this moment.
Whether the noble who proposed to her is qualified, and how Amelia is taking this situation.
The carriage continued to run towards the county, and I closed my eyes imagining those I would soon meet.
○
"Haa..."
Elena looked at the cause of the sigh coming from beside her.
Yuran was sighing uncharacteristically, while also gazing longingly in the direction of the dungeon, which was like her.
'Seems she has some worries.'
'I want to do this and that with my lord all night...'
The two people's thoughts that seemed to match yet not match were intersecting.