Chapter 32

Chapter 32
Chapter 32

“This isn’t the moment for this. We have to summon our dispersed allies immediately. At this rate, every one of them will be seized.”

“Understood, I will broadcast the gathering signal at once, however…”

The man’s sentence trailed off as the reality of his partner’s statement sank in.

Regardless of their haste, it was painfully clear that at least a few of their number would fail to slip past the mercenaries and would fall into custody. The issue stemmed from the fact that they had pushed too deep into the territory, operating under the false assumption that the mercenaries would remain idle for much longer.

As if reading those grim thoughts, the individual on the left gave a heavy sigh.

“Rescuing everyone is a lost cause now. Our only path forward is to salvage as many of our people as possible.”

“Ha, how did our luck turn so sour?”

With spirits weighing heavy, the two men exhaled breaths that seemed to vibrate against the earth. Just a brief window ago, their operation had been proceeding without a hitch; they had never anticipated such a violent reversal of fortune.

“On that note, what is the word from the contracted mages? If we pull our comrades back so suddenly, the placement of the intended anchor points is going to be set back.”

“They claim to be uncertain themselves. Apparently, the outcome hinges on how many anchor points are already functional, but that’s almost certainly an alibi in case of a delay. Black mages, truly…”

“Hold on—!”

The man on the right inhaled sharply, his face pale with dread at the mention of ‘black mage.’ Even with the confidence that they were unobserved, he couldn’t credit that his partner was being so reckless with his tongue.

“Listen to me, friend. I have warned you never to utter that title. If that label leaks out, it could trigger an absolute nightmare.”

“To whom would it leak? We are practically walking corpses anyway, now that our rendezvous spot has been compromised.”

“It is a catastrophe even if it reaches our own ranks, not just the opposition. More importantly, isn’t that a term the very mages assisting us absolutely loathe?”

Generally, the title of black mage was reserved for those who dabbled in sorcery involving the manipulation of human life, blood, spirit, and the soul. While the abstract study might be ignored, magic necessitated practical application. Because these practitioners abducted innocents to serve as fodder for their arcane progress, the mere existence of a black mage was viewed as that of a monstrous felon.

Naturally, any mage with a shred of dignity detested the branding and considered it a profound slight.

“These are individuals whose entire lineage was framed as black mages by the Empire. What do you imagine will happen if your insults reach their ears?”

“What could those wretches actually do? They will simply swallow their pride. You are far too concerned with their feelings, comrade. Mages are a breed that requires a firm hand from time to time.”

Observing his partner’s dismissive sneer, the man on the right rubbed his temples. He understood the roots of the other man’s animosity toward the spellcasters. The mages’ defiance was less a revolt against Imperial rule and more a play to seize authority from the aristocracy. To a man defined by noble supremacy to his very marrow, such a thing was an intolerable irritation.

‘But what is the use of clinging to that useless elitism when cooperation is vital? If those mages abandon us at the turning point, it will be an unmitigated disaster.’

Despite their shared affiliation, he felt a sharp divide in their visions. While he truly yearned for the sovereignty of his homeland, his partner’s sole motivation was to exercise power without the Empire’s shadow hanging over him. This fundamental difference was why, even after ten years of partnership, a true bond of friendship had never formed between them.

‘I want to set him straight, but he is far too stubborn to listen.’

Suppressing another sigh, the man gave a short nod and spoke in his most diplomatic tone.

“Regardless, keep your temper in check until the mission is fulfilled. It serves us no purpose if their bitterness festers and ruins the objective. We can focus on ‘disciplining’ them once the goal is achieved.”

“Hmph, I suppose. Mages are notoriously petty by nature, after all.”

The companion gave a begrudging nod. It wasn’t the realization the man hoped for, but it was enough for now. Feeling a small sense of relief, the man went over their upcoming itinerary for a few more minutes before the two parted ways. Now that the situation had turned chaotic, they needed to settle the fallout with maximum speed.

—

Lucian deployed the mercenaries at strategic chokepoints and waited for a target to stumble into the trap. If even a single person was taken, he intended to arrive swiftly and extract intelligence before Tristan could intervene. Naturally, he remained vigilant for any scraps of information trickling out from the captives already in custody.

‘With six individuals secured, there ought to be plenty of leads. Even if they attempt to mask the mages’ involvement, they should be undergoing questioning by now.’

Despite the friction between Lucian and Tristan, they were both pillars of the same house. If the situation demanded it, he had the right to request access to the findings. Regrettably, Tristan’s report was far from promising.

“The six of them haven’t uttered a single syllable since their capture. No matter the persuasion or the threats, they refuse to speak.”

“I assume you didn’t rely solely on polite conversation?”

“Hardly. We employed torture as a matter of course. But it was as if their capacity for pain had been extinguished; they showed no signs of distress.”

“I see.”

Lucian let out a low, frustrated sound. He recalled stories of a specific concoction. A serum that, once ingested, rendered the user totally immune to physical agony, though it came at the cost of their other senses, such as taste. It was whispered to be a tool used only by the most zealous cultists or killers, as the damage it dealt to the body was permanent.

‘To think they would go so far as to use that.’

If they had taken such a drug, traditional interrogation through pain was useless. The only remaining path was to dismantle their psychological defenses and pull the truth out.

“Will you let me speak with them?”

“No.”

The rejection was as swift as Lucian expected. He began to formulate a counter-argument, but Tristan cut him off with a cold stare.

“You are currently calculating the Imperial family’s favor in your mind, but as long as you are playing those politics, I have no intention of letting you near them. It is safer for you to remain in the dark than to have your judgment clouded by fragmented intelligence.”

“A massive disaster could be looming if we miscalculate.”

“You are being overly dramatic.”

Tristan waved away Lucian’s concerns.

“If there are mages at play, they are undoubtedly from some shattered school labeled as black mages. Do you truly believe a group that has been hunted like vermin for three centuries possesses any real strength? They are beggars who can barely feed themselves, let alone preserve high-level magic.”

“Mmm.”

Lucian found himself momentarily silenced by the harsh logic of Tristan’s assessment. The existence of a rogue mage, persecuted by the Empire for over 300 years without a sanctuary, was typically one of extreme deprivation. Many lineages had simply vanished because the pressure made it impossible to mentor successors, and some had perished in total obscurity. Unless a school specialized in survival or hid within the bowels of the underworld, maintaining their tradition was nearly impossible.

Tristan was well-acquainted with these facts, which was why he dismissed Lucian’s warnings as paranoia.

“Quit fretting over ghosts and return to your post. I will oversee the questioning. If anything relevant surfaces, I will notify you, so stay out of it.”

With that final dismissal, Tristan turned his back and disappeared. Standing alone after his attempt at reasoning failed, Lucian wore a weary smile.

‘This is a mess. Though his logic isn’t entirely flawed.’

As Tristan noted, most rogue mages were struggling just to survive. Many schools were mere shadows of their former selves after 300 years of lost knowledge. However, there were always outliers.

The variables changed entirely if a school’s focus was geared toward mass slaughter or anarchy. Furthermore, a lone mage was one thing, but the situation became far more dangerous if a group like the Empire Liberation Front was providing the resources.

‘It is the ideal scenario for a devastating strike.’

But unless one saw the flames firsthand, no amount of debate would change Tristan’s mind. It was clear he wouldn’t get anything from the existing prisoners. His only hope now lay in the traps he had set for himself.

“Third Young Master.”

Raymon’s voice suddenly pulled Lucian from his thoughts. Lucian shook off his anxiety and looked over.

“Report.”

“We have a catch.”

“…!”

Lucian’s focus sharpened at the secret signal. It meant a member of the Empire Liberation Front had been intercepted. A thin smile touched his lips at the perfect timing.

“Lead the way.”

—

Lucian moved with haste to the designated meeting point. It was situated on a trail connecting the northern perimeter to the Yellow Forest. Upon his arrival, the mercenary squad greeted him with looks of self-satisfaction.

“Hahaha! Young Master, witness this! We have secured a member of the Empire—!”

“Quiet!”

Lucian moved quickly, clapping his hand over the mouth of the loud-mouthed mercenary leader. He leaned in and whispered to the bewildered man.

“Keep your voice down. Do you want to announce to every other mercenary unit that you’ve struck gold? Keep your mouth shut, take your platinum coin, and leave.”

In reality, his concern wasn’t for their safety but for keeping the news away from Tristan, though he used their greed as a convenient cover. The captain looked stunned for a moment but quickly nodded in agreement. Lucian reached into his cloak, pulled out a shimmering platinum coin, and pressed it into the man’s palm.

“Here is the payment I promised. Not a word to anyone.”

“Hehe, much obliged. You are a man of your word, Young Master.”

Smirking as he pocketed the wealth, the captain gathered his men and departed. He clearly understood that Lucian wanted this handled in total shadows. After ensuring the coast was clear, Lucian approached the captive, with only Raymon standing guard nearby.

“Are you a member of the Empire Liberation Front?”

“…”

“To be taken down by mere mercenaries… you were either reckless or far too confident in your own skin.”

“…”

“You navigated a forest teeming with monsters with surprising ease. How did you manage that?”

“…”

The young captive remained silent, his expression a mask of defiance. Expecting this wall of silence, Lucian decided to skip the pleasantries.

“You’ve enlisted a mage, haven’t you? Gnolls and kobolds are creatures that naturally clash, yet they are cooperating with strange efficiency.”

“…”

“Only sorcery could force such a union. Is it the Beast School? Since both groups are animalistic, perhaps they can be manipulated?”

“…”

“That was a test. The Beast School lacks the power for such a feat. This is genuine black magic.”

“…!?”

The captive, previously statuesque, suddenly widened his eyes and fixed a sharp gaze on Lucian. He realized his blunder an instant later, but his mask had already cracked. Lucian leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, steady tone.

“It is a common tactic for black mages to hide behind the names of other schools, pretending to be harmless outcasts. They especially lean on those lies when they are herding monsters, but it is a deception. Monsters are not simple animals; they are entities of corruption.”

“…!”

“You believe you’ve hired a simple mage, but you are the victim here. A black mage has infiltrated your ranks under a false identity. Do you have any inkling of what you are participating in? You are aiding in a massive sacrificial rite that will consume every living soul in this region as fuel.”

At Lucian’s declaration, both the prisoner and Raymon felt a chill of terror. If his words were true, wouldn’t every person within the boundary perish the moment the spell was cast?

The young captive finally broke his silence, his voice cracking.

“L-don’t play games with me. You’re just spinning tales to make me talk.”

“You idiot. I cannot fathom what you were thinking, bringing a practitioner in when you know nothing of the craft. Do you still not see it? We are standing on the edge of a slaughter that will be remembered for centuries!”

Lucian stood up with a sudden, sharp movement, acting the part of a frustrated mentor dealing with a fool.

“I could have understood if this scheme only targeted us. To your group, the Empire is the enemy, and the citizens under its flag are likely expendable to you. But to include your own lives in the pyre! There is a limit to such incompetence!”

The captive’s eyes darted frantically. He desperately wanted to dismiss the claim as a lie, but Lucian spoke with the heavy weight of absolute certainty. What if it was real? What if he and all his brothers-in-arms were nothing more than cattle for a black mage’s ritual?

As a wave of nausea hit him, the young man asked in a shaking voice.

“Is it the truth… is this magic truly such a foul rite?”

Lucian refused to meet the man’s eyes and turned away. He let out a long, heavy sigh, acting as though he were mourning a tragedy.

‘Actually, I am making this all up.’