447 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 447: [A Decisive Victory by MacLaine in Russfelheim] The calm voice of the dark-haired beauty echoed through the communication device. However, the message she delivered was far from what had been anticipated. "What the...?" The unexpected report left the old man momentarily speechless. After a moment of disbelief, he frowned and asked, "What about the Emperor? Did he use the scrolls I sent him?" The scrolls sent to the Emperor were enhanced versions of the tower's clandestine schemes laid at the Eastern and Western fronts of the Empire. They were masterpieces crafted with the entire wealth of the tower, intended for maximum impact in a short period. Yet, even those seemed to yield little effect. "[...The activation was confirmed. However, the scope was significantly less than anticipated. It appears the preparations were discovered in advance.]" "I see..." The old man’s face reflected a sense of understanding. Nonetheless, the situation remained perplexing. "Even if the results were less than expected, it should have been enough to turn the tide of battle. Did it fail to activate completely?" Could it be the Emperor couldn’t even properly trigger the magic circle? Despite only possessing a fragment of the legacy's power, wasn't he still a grand magus? "[It appeared to be less than half of that.]" "Half...? And even then, the imperial army lost?" "[The Emperor's swift defeat by Logan MacLaine was the decisive blow.]" "What!?" The old man abruptly stood from his seat in disbelief. How could this be!? The Emperor possessed the power of the legacy, a skill formidable enough not to be underestimated. Even if Logan MacLaine was a formidable adversary for him, he should not have posed the same threat to the Emperor. ‘The Sword Saint lineage and the Ares lineage complemented and evolved together. There shouldn't be an essence differential there?’ An earlier encounter revealed that the fate-changer wielded the same power as the Sword Saint lineage. Upon confirming that even the power that emerged post-founder was included in the prophecy, the tower's path seemed more certain than ever. Thus, the entire strategy was altered. But why were things unraveling like this...? “Could Logan MacLaine have grown even more during that time? Preposterous!” The old man's words of disbelief clearly reached Louisa on the other side of the communication line. “[...Regardless, the Emperor’s defeat is a reality. Subsequently, the Black Knights went berserk and turned against the imperial army and the Emperor. This decisively shifted the battle momentum.]” What on earth was going on here? "Black Knights targeting only the imperial army? Impossible!" “[My father and I confirmed it personally.]” "What nonsensical claim is that?! Normally, a berserk Black Knight would lose all reason!" "[Yet, the facts are as they are.]" Despite the head mage's furious outcries, Louisa's response remained calm. “What...?!” The baffling sequence of events was beyond comprehension. ‘What on earth happened?’ Grrrr. “...This isn’t normal. Absolutely not! Report back on the war’s progress detail, especially concerning Logan MacLaine and the Black Knights!” “[Well…]” Louisa, who had been promptly responding, hesitated at that moment. “...What is it?” “[Pursuing the defeated Emperor, we... apologize.]” The head mage's patience snapped at the sight of his pupil lowering her head amidst unexpected chaos. “Huh?” The reason was easy to deduce. He had exploited the Gerard family's grudge against the Emperor. However, on the precipice of a grand undertaking, the head mage found no room for understanding such 'trivial' personal matters. “Have you idiots gone and messed it all up? I knew you would make wreck this!” Bang. The head mage's violent words finally twisted Louisa's previously calm expression. Not that it mattered to him. To him, the Gerard family were no longer royal rulers but mere wizards, with one yet to even reach full wizard status. "You weaklings, do you have any grasp on how to handle matters? Disobeying my orders like that?" "[Head Mage, you've gone too far...]” "Too far!? How!?" Crack. The few remaining teeth ground together, producing an unpleasant noise. “Did you capture the Emperor? Did you at least inflict a mortal wound?” “[...]” “Of course not. How could you hope to defeat a grand magus with your sorry selves!? You clung to the Emperor so pathetically that your household fell to ruin?” “[Even if you’re the head mage...]” Although Louisa’s face flushed with embarrassment on the screen, to the head mage, it merely seemed pitiful. “What!? Have I said anything incorrect!? What if your pitiful acts compromise the grand undertaking?” "[...]" "If our mission fails, your hopes will dissolve. Don't you grasp that!!" "[…] I'm sorry, Master." Phew. Having unloaded his ire, the head mage's rationale finally returned. Though they were pitifully incompetent, they were still necessary for the operation. Realizing he had vented too excessively under stress, he felt the need to console them slightly. “…I know you’ve been working hard, enduring the loss of the royal house for this mission. Rest assured, once our aim is achieved, I’ll plead your cause before him.” “[…Thank you.]” “So, ensure no more mistakes from hereon.” “[…Yes.]" Pop. Louisa’s subdued voice didn't inspire much confidence, but with those words, the head mage terminated the communication. His mind cluttered like a tangled skein, he needed to sort out his thoughts. ‘Perhaps I should have gone myself?’ He knew he couldn’t move due to having to manage the Western kingdoms. Yet, the regret lingered. ‘The most significant issue is Logan MacLaine's prowess.’ When they last met, based on his discernible skills at the time, it should have been impossible for him to defeat the Emperor so decisively. The power of the Sword Saint lineage fundamentally opposed that of the Kassel Tower. To utilize the fate-changer as a sacrifice according to the prophecy, they first needed to subdue him. Since the Kassel Tower's might alone couldn't achieve this, they had struck a deal with the Emperor. But who could have foreseen the situation becoming this convoluted? ‘He couldn't have surpassed the limits of an Aura Master in such a short time. It's something no one has achieved in recorded history.’ Even for a genius who reached the Aura Master level in his twenties, attaining anything beyond was considered impossible. ‘Or did he perhaps awaken a trait that allowed a temporary surge in power, like a berserk state?’ Of course, losing control is a detrimental trait even at the level of an Aura Master's prowess. Yet it was the only trait conceivable beyond his understanding. Thus, while the tower master came close to the truth, he arrived at a slightly different conclusion from the Emperor. ‘If growth is the most plausible factor, considering the case of the Sword Saint, an Aura Master reaching an extreme could rival even an 8th-class Master Archmage.’ The brief growth theory to an 8th-class level, although nonsensical, still seemed more feasible than surpassing the Aura Master's limits with a peculiar trait. Despite this realization, the path ahead seemed even more daunting. "...In a way, this might be fortunate." The shocking variable was interpreted with reluctant optimism. ‘If the quality of the sacrifice is higher, the likelihood of his full descent increases.’ If Logan MacLaine proved strong enough, even if the Western Legion of the Empire defeated the Western Alliance without major losses, dealing with MacLaine afterwards would be a challenge. In such scenarios... ‘The Empire could fall.’ The mere thought sent shivers down his spine. A prospect he hadn't even considered until recently, given the Empire’s unparalleled superhuman numbers, formidable military strength, and resources. Furthermore, the godlike power inherited from Taron Ares continually endowed the Emperors with the might of an Archmage. The true terror of that inherited power was not just the Emperor wielding a mage's force. ‘It's remarkable how ascending to Emperor alters even one's temperament.’ Rulers ascending to the throne, regardless of their previous character, are forcibly endowed with the 'mental fortitude and reason' and 'duty to prosper the Empire,' enabling them to maintain the archmage's realm. This is exactly why the Empire has never ceased to grow steadily since the Ares Kingdom era. This unyielding power was the true legacy of the ancient Archmage, Taron Ares. It was thus that the ancestors of Kassel Tower bowed and integrated into their inner circle. ‘Yet, they failed.’ And now, how did the situation take such a turn? “Heh, heh heh heh. How intriguing. Fascinating.” Truth be told, had the signs of the fate-changer or the epoch of departed gods not emerged, he too might have played that hand. Initially, he planned to bow to the royal family and then influence the next generation's emperor. He had even meticulously prepared for such a contingency, factoring in a series of actions to take within the royal family. In terms of magic, no matter the domain, he considered himself the greatest of all who embodied the truth of the world. He believed it was the only way to achieve his grand ambition, avoiding the clutches of the Ares faction. But then, the signs of the age of gods’ departure emerged, and the fate-changer appeared, shifting the epoch completely. “Oh... so that’s what it is.” The old man clapped his hands spontaneously as he rose from his seat. “The fate-changer…" The prophecy referring to the fate-changer suddenly resonated strongly within him. While the power of the Sword Saint lineage was merely physical might, the true strength lay in eliciting seemingly impossible world shifts. Perhaps even the Empire’s downfall. And it was Logan MacLaine. “And the one who foresaw this was him.” His faith in the ancestors seemed to solidify even further. Indeed, the moment when the grand operation would flourish was drawing nearer. ‘This variable is merely a part of the process.’ With that thought, his heart felt significantly lighter. For now, finding a way to further exploit this variable was crucial. Firstly... “The Emperor.” How would the Emperor respond to consecutive defeats? The prediction wasn’t challenging. “He won’t surrender or give up. The Emperor of the Ares Empire is a being who must continuously move forward.” This relentless drive, even at the cost of annihilation, wasn't merely a penalty for obtaining the power of succession; rather, it was inevitable. The Emperor, even facing destruction, would choose to fight to the bitter end. And should the Empire genuinely begin to crumble, it would accelerate the gathering of energy at ‘that place.’ ‘Possibly amassing more power than anticipated.’ With Logan MacLaine present, his victory seemed almost certain, though the Empire still maintained some capabilities. It was ideal for both sides to fight extensively, ensuring maximum sacrifice to fulfill his grand endeavor. Precisely, both the Empire and MacLaine must fall. Capturing Logan MacLaine was imperative. Thus, what the Kassel Tower needed to do was evident. “Ensure it unfolds accordingly.” It began with promptly addressing the ongoing Western war. And then... A sly grin spread across his face as an idea struck him. “Heh heh, this will be interesting. Very.” As he chuckled, the communication device, previously dormant, flickered to life again, transmitting its signal across the secure lengths of the continent’s central intelligence network, reaching areas inaccessible to unauthorized individuals. [Please state your identity, caller.] Once more, the imperial communication officer found themselves face-to-face with him. “We’ve met before, haven’t we?” [Please state your identity.] "Heh heh. Such humorless people, aren't you? Very well, inform His Majesty the Emperor that the Black Serpent has another proposal to make." The tower master's grin was now markedly different from his demeanor when he first heard the news of the Empire's defeat.