Adopt 190

Episode 190

The horror of the possible outcome alone was enough to keep me vigilant. At the same time, it made clear just how difficult this case would be to resolve.

Above all, there was simply too little information.

I had discovered the black mage organization’s goal, but I knew neither the means nor the steps they intended to take to achieve it.

Furthermore, they had vanished like rabbits diving into burrows, hiding themselves away.

‘At this point, there’s no way the lord will agree to evacuate the people.’

The harbor city was a massive cogwheel driving the economy of the west.

I could hardly expect the people here—stubborn westerners who held their ground even through the annual typhoons—to clear out the city solely on my word, unsupported as it was by any concrete evidence.

‘The surest way is to find and neutralize those bastards.’

But if they had learned about Shuga through the traitor at the temple, they would avoid making any rash moves until the day of their planned operation drew near.

So for now…

“You’d best return to the capital, Master.”

“I’ll return to the capital.”

Cheshire and I spoke at the same time, then looked at each other and grinned.

Apparently, we were thinking along the same lines.

Still, I doubted that Cheshire’s plan and mine were entirely identical.

After all, working with the temple was unlikely to be an option in Cheshire’s mind.

Sure enough, when Cheshire heard my plan, his pretty face twisted with disgust.

“Ugh.”

With that one short sound, Cheshire voiced his verdict on my idea.

He looked utterly appalled, but I knew he understood.

This time, we would have to set aside all previous resentments and cooperate with the temple, whether we liked it or not.

---

“Ophelia, I’ll be leaving now.”

That evening, the day Giuseppe was injured.

Ophelia’s face, bidding farewell to Belinda, was painted red with the hues of the sunset.

“I’m sorry I can’t see you off farther.”

“Oh, stop. If anything, I should apologize for not staying by your side until the end.”

After sharing a quick embrace with Ophelia, Belinda boarded the carriage.

The carriage carrying Belinda sped away without hesitation, following the road leading out of the city.

As the carriage reached the city’s outer wall and passed through the checkpoint, a hawk circling in the darkened sky turned sharply and winged its way toward the harbor city.

The bird, having arrived over the city, glided low—each beat of its wings shedding rotten feathers into the fetid air.

Until at last, it came to rest at an abandoned house in a deserted alley, slipped through the window, and dove straight toward the massive mirror set at the far side of the room.

But rather than striking the mirror’s surface, the hawk passed through it as if diving into water, smoothly and without resistance.

Back in its original place, the hawk landed on its perch, and its master gently stroked its head.

Even at this slight touch, the hawk’s bedraggled feathers fell away. The Red Tower Master clicked his tongue with a mocking smile.

“Tsk. How pitiful. Looks like you missed the time to die long ago. Perhaps you should let it go now? Its flesh is rotting, and the stench is foul.”

The hawk’s master didn’t bother to reply or even look at the Red Tower Master.

He simply restored the decaying body of his old companion—offering the life of another, fresh hawk he’d already prepared as payment.

The hawk, drawing shallow, rasping breaths, gave two short cries to signify it had completed its mission.

“She’s left the city,” the master announced.

At these words, a sense of relief crept onto the faces of those gathered around the round table.

“Then can we move now?”

“Seems the Seeker thinks so as well.”

The Red Tower Master, winding magic about his finger, floated a slip of paper from the table’s center so all could see.

It was a map of the temple, clearly marking the room where Giuseppe now lay.

Everyone understood the gravity of what it meant.

For a moment, their gazes drifted to the empty seat at the table.

After a heavy silence, someone spoke.

“With the High Priest incapacitated, there won’t be another opportunity like this. The Seeker has always seen the head of the temple as a thorn in his side.”

“And not just that. Right now, he is the only one in the kingdom with the Power of Truth. If we eliminate him, there won’t be any divine trials for some time.”

As the tension rose, the Red Tower Master’s words abruptly cooled the atmosphere.

“I won’t get involved in this.”

All eyes turned to the Red Tower Master at his unexpected proclamation.

Many looks were openly hostile. But unaffected, he continued as if counseling a beloved student.

“Unlike you lot, who revere the Seeker for granting your deepest wish, to me, he’s just a business partner. I see no reason to follow his every order. As I recall, we never agreed to such unreasonable terms.”

“Don’t forget—we’re only helping with your disgusting wish out of gratitude for the Seeker’s favor.”

At that veiled threat, the Red Tower Master laughed languidly.

“How very contradictory. You claim loyalty to the Seeker, yet ignore his instructions to help me fulfill my wish?”

When no one could answer, the Red Tower Master, as if he’d said all he wished, rose to leave.

“Well then, I hope you’ll all do your best to make my wish come true. Heh heh.”

Hostile eyes bored into his slight frame, but no one dared move to stop him as he left the table.

Only when the Red Tower Master’s presence had fully receded did someone speak.

“If that bastard were to gain the power of immortality, he’d be an unparalleled disaster for this continent.”

No rebuttal followed, but all nodded in grim agreement.

At that moment, a figure who had been silent throughout picked up the map from the table.

“Since there’s already been a terrorist attack, temple security will be tight. If someone distracts the priests, I’ll take care of the rest.”

As everyone voiced no objection, the man holding the map melted into the darkness.

---

Late at night, as everyone slept, lights began to flicker on at the temple perched high above.

One by one, more lights blazed until it seemed the place was on fire.

“If you’ve been in contact with the infected, please come this way!”

“Treatment will be done over here! Don’t be afraid—just follow our instructions!”

It all began with a single ship that docked late in the evening.

While unloading cargo, the sailors found a crate whose sender and recipient were unknown.

When they broke open the thick wooden box in search of its owner, a sinister light burst out, and pungent smoke boiled forth.

Choking and in tears from the smoke, the sailors peered in again.

The box was now completely empty, as if nothing had ever occupied it.

The sailors thought little of it, assuming that something like gunpowder had simply blown away in the wind.

Not until a virulent epidemic began to spread among those sailors—and then, rapidly, to others—did the gravity of the situation begin to dawn.

The number of infected grew exponentially until, in the end, the temple itself had no choice but to intervene to halt further spread.

At the heart of their efforts, as the priests divided the afflicted and healthy for treatment, stood Ophelia.

With all the priests having left their quarters to battle the epidemic, someone quietly slipped inside amid the chaos.

Without betraying the faintest sound, he strode purposefully down the corridors.

At last, he reached the door of his target. He paused to sense for anyone within.

The room was silent.

He gripped the handle and turned it. Inside, his intended target lay quietly as if asleep.

“Never thought I’d take up my old profession again.”

With practiced ease, the intruder drew a sharp blade and approached the bed.

The moment he confirmed that the sleeping man’s face matched the description of his target—

He swung his weapon without hesitation.