Chapter 916 – #199_Trade(3)
#910
One.
I don’t know if it will be delivered to Duke Tiphareth soon, but I conveyed everything anyway.
“Cunning indeed.”
“It is a life of public service.”
“It would be nice if it was convenient. No matter what you do, you can rationalize it with the excuse that it is public.”
“Oh my gosh, too. You speak as if I betrayed even my comrades.”
In fact, the hardliner Qliphoth took the real power in the current Hexsenacht.
The mistake of Lydia, who was the leader of the moderate faction, and the subsequent downfall played a decisive role.
As if the hardliners had been waiting for this moment, they had stolen many things from Lydia and tarnished her reputation.
Well, if that’s what you call a colleague?
“I will sort it out. What you want is to prevent the two hardliners from gaining access to the floodgates.”
“Yeah, right.”
“There is no obligation to fight, but in the event of an armed conflict, I will subdue the two.”
“That’s right too. To be honest, it’s cleaner to kill.”
It is almost certain that this situation was Urshira’s dogma, not Qliphoth’s consensus.
He was informed that he did not report anything to Qliphoth because he wanted to keep the lock secret until he got his hands on it.
However, if Urshira gives her report and she manages to get hold of the locks apart from Malgo, this will lead to an increase in power for the hardliners.
Urshira belongs to Qliphoth and will operate it for hardliners in exchange for some kind of payment.
Qliphoth, who took control of the flooding as well as lacking real power in Hexsenacht, will reach his second heyday.
The position of Lydia, who has been claiming to be the head of the moderate faction, will be less than it is now, and the Solidus Merchant Corps, which has been struggling to lead the sunny business in a chaotic world, will also greatly slow down.
It was obvious what Qliphort would do after excluding competitors and holding everything in his hands.
In an attempt to conquer the world, Gehenna may cross the red line she is watching, or perhaps even declare her war on Gehenna.
“I don’t want war. If we wage an all-out war with Gehenna, Hexsennacht will eventually lose.”
Many achievements must have already been dazzled by the explosive growth and splendid debut of the world, but Lydia was different.
He saw through Gehenna’s potential more calmly than anyone else.
Of course, the achievement of polishing magic to live in the land of the fittest is powerful.
However, Gehenna, where her best witches gathered and exchanged endless discussions and research, must have raised her power to a level different from her last war.
That is why Gehenna is the lair of lazy dragons.
No matter how Hexsenacht flies and crawls.
Even if she despises and despises her witch of Gehenna as her conservatorium.
Even without the head, Duke Keter, that fact does not change.
“The picture I think is the most ideal. Hexsenacht just exists at a level that makes it a moderate threat.”
So strong that Gehenna could not readily resolve her all-out war.
At the same time, being strong only to the point where Gehenna does not feel threatened.
That is the most ideal balance.
So there was no room for justice to intervene in Lydia’s request.
She only pursues her own interests.
“Isn’t it good enough to say that we are on the same boat?”
Eloa is able to thwart her flooding by holding her locks in her hands.
Lydia is able to thwart the hardliners’ expansion of power and fulfill her personal vengeance.
Lydia says that at this moment, the interests of the two do not coincide.
Eloa closed her eyes.
I understood everything the Gold Coin Witch wanted.
She just thinks she’s pretty reasonable to dismiss as bait.
“Dorothy?”
“I will return you safely when everything is over. I swear by the name of Magnus.”
Lydia took her witch name.
How trustworthy can an oath made in the name of merit be?
Even Eloah could not understand that.
She just needs one more confirmation to believe she saw right through.
“I will ask you one last time. What do you want?”
His gaze, straight like a blade, was directed at Lydia.
Lydia shrugged her shoulders and stood up, shaking her cheeks.
“It always has been. I have to pay even the interest on what I suffered to be freed.”
That is the source of the philosophy that runs through Lydia’s life.
2.
Originally, Siu and Eloa were planning to take a lukewarm response to the soon-to-be-appearing floodgates.
This is because there may be some danger lurking, and the power available right now is limited.
Although he was going to take action, that didn’t mean a radical solution to rush in as soon as the pocket dimension opened.
However, as long as Lydia holds her Dorothy hostage, it is as if the options are gone.
“Anyway, you mean Dorothy is all right?”
“Yes.”
Siwoo was called by Sharon and waited for Eloa’s communication to end.
“Then we have to go get it.”
After conveying the circumstances, Siu spoke without hesitation.
Eloah, Amelia, and Sharon knew he would.
What is surprising, however, is that Siwoo maintains a fairly calm mind.
“Certainly suspicious, but… Is there still any stars? Lydia’s request isn’t handing over the locks, it’s for us to take control, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then we must stop the flooding and bring Dorothy.”
“Shiu, but…”
“I will go myself.”
Of course, it is dangerous for Siwoo to move.
Stepping in with limbs that may have been conceived implies a risk that is incomparable to simply stepping into the present world.
However, Dorothy was taken into custody.
Dorothy risked her life for Siu and betrayed Hexenacht.
And vice versa, of course.
“I will prepare.”
Only then do the three realize that Siwoo is never the same as usual.
Siwoo shook off the concern and dissuading gaze and left Eloa’s room.
He had a satellite phone in his hand at some point.
Siwoo called Dorothy several times a day when she could not be reached.
The communication number is so familiar that you can type it with your eyes closed.
A cheerful voice was heard on the other side of the receiver before the reception tone had gone through a few times.
[Is something wrong?]
Lydia left a contact method.
This is why she needed a device to exchange opinions in real time in preparation for variables and to deliver answers to negotiations.
This was also a device that showed Lydia’s confidence that she could pull out of her body at any time, even if she was backtracking.
“Hello?”
[Oh, is it you? Long time no see. Miss Sisoon]
“Yes, I am. How are you?”
Lydia laughed out loud with her signature jingle, noticing what was so enjoyable.
Lydia said why witches tend to look down on Siu somewhat.
She’s simply been told that it’s because Siu, a young witch, regardless of gender, is seen pretending to be an adult.
The reason Lydia smiles like that is probably because Siwoo, who pretended to be relaxed and contacted her individually, seems like a child who wants to pretend to be an adult.
[I’m fine. Drinking champagne in a luxury hotel room, going to the theater, and sometimes comforting herself in the memory of her sad ending in bed with Shisuni. Were we really hot then?]
“Well, it was.”
[That’s why I’m so glad. Why did you contact me anyway? Did Duke Tiphareth order it?]
“No. We contacted each other individually.”
Lydia, who had been making nonsensical noises, became quiet.
As far as she knows, Siu is a disciple under the protection of Duke Tiphareth.
However, while his lover, Dorothy, was kidnapped, he kept in touch with each other?
She’s probably racking her brains to figure things out now.
Eventually, he came up with the most reasonable guess.
[Are you going to do a hostage exchange?]
In other words, the speculation that Shin Si-woo, who could not see his lover being held captive, chose to be held hostage instead.
It was also an offer that Lydia liked enough that she accepted with her arms crossed.
An exchange between the 22nd rank witch and the only male witch in the world.
Even if the lock gate falls into the hands of the hardliners of Hexsenacht, it is an acceptable exchange price.
“No way, it can’t be.”
[What’s leaking?]
Siwoo, who laughs at such speculation, does not hide it.
[Then why did you call? You want me to change Dorothy?]
“Not even that.”
[… ?]
“I want to tell you that I will accept the offer. And in the meantime, I have something to tell you.”
[I’ll listen. Try]
Lydia’s cold answer came back, seemingly sarcastic.
“I was a slave in Gehenna. For five years, I struggled to escape while only learning magic. Even after becoming a witch, it wasn’t that smooth. There were many deaths, and there were many crises that seemed impossible to overcome. But in the end, she survived and somehow rose to the rank of archwitch.”
[Ah-ha, I see. Please send your cover letter via email]
In front of Lydia, who bluntly showed that her interest had declined, Siu continued to speak in silence.
“I honestly don’t know what Lydia-sama is up to. It seems that she has dug a trap, and it seems that the condition is taken at face value… It’s very difficult. But, I have to say one thing.”
Bianca said.
If she transcends humanity, she must shed that bondage.
It’s easy to say, but very difficult to follow.
I think it’s because Siwoo Shin is a very weak person.
Resentment is carried to the end like a small person’s boat, and forgiveness is seldom easy.
If you’re happy, you’ll laugh until you can see your teeth, and if you’re sad, you’ll weep and cry.
The righteous sense of duty to live a life for others just because you have special powers is vague, and you don’t even think of looking down on others.
As Dorothy pointed out, it is an innate weakness that cannot be cast off.
But it’s different if it’s a problem with my person.
“If this is a trap. If that happens to my lover. I will go find you.”
They are willing to squeeze out the glaze and be ready to get their hands dirty.
“No matter what ridiculous dangers and crises, you survive far and wide. It will reappear as your most feared enemy by any means necessary. I definitely do therefore…”
A gasping sound could be heard over the receiver.
The queen, who sits on a golden throne and commands innumerable exploits, feels threatened, albeit for a moment, by the menace of her fledgling.
Now, there is a strange spirit in his words that creates a sense of crisis even in the face of an unreasonable threat.
“Behave well.”
[Ha… Haha]
A sigh mixed with laughter flowed as if that fact was absurd.
However, Lydia was the queen, and Shin Si-woo was a fledgling who held the princess hostage.
Spirit doesn’t change anything.
Still, Lydia answered with great satisfaction.
[Good luck. Warrior]
Communication was cut off.
Siwoo picked up the red eggplant.
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