Chapter 233 - Infinite Mage

Most members of the Black Line are notorious fugitives. Especially the Magical Seven, who are branded as heinous criminals on a global scale, require absolutely safe hideouts if they are to stay in one place for any period. Working under such an inept master would soon lead one to the guillotine. With that thought in mind, it was hard not to worry about his own safety. "Hmm, is it time to wrap things up here?" Even when pursued with fervor by bounty hunters of the Red Line, Arius has evaded capture thanks to his animalistic instincts that tell him when to strike and retreat. His senses, honed through over a decade of living on the run, were warning him that waiting any longer would be dangerous. ‘But ending things like this would be a waste...’ Ataraxia. The greatest find of his looting career had fallen into his net. The reason he was drawn to looting wasn't solely for the material gains; it was more to satiate his intellectual curiosity as an Unlocker. In that context, the powers of the Archangel Ikhael were definitely alluring. ‘Should I recklessly dive down to Tier 1? No, I can't do it alone. A magician's subconscious is much stronger than that of a normal person. And I can't team up with Orkamp either.’ Arius, resting his chin on his hand, slowly raised his head from his ponderings. Looking down the empty corridor, he spoke with a slender smile. "Is something the matter?" As soon as a nameless aide of Zion's appeared from the corner, a cynical smile crossed Arius's face. The aide wasn't a magician nor an assassin. Yet, as always, you couldn't sense his presence until he chose to reveal it. "Someone wishes to meet you, Mr. Arius." He knew of Zion. Still, the aide didn’t mention his master’s name. It would be ill-advised for the world to know that Arius, Orkamp's aide, and Zion, a key figure of the Theraze faction, were secretly transacting. "That's a welcome proposal. Lead the way." As the aide turned and began to walk, Arius's gaze lingered on the old man’s Achilles heel. He moved silently, treading lightly like a cat, but Arius was certain that the leg muscles concealed under his robe must be extraordinarily developed. This didn't mean he was particularly skilled. It was, perhaps, more akin to the devoted craftsmanship of a lifetime caretaker. ‘Phew, what an interesting place this palace is.’ @ "Damn it! That bastard completely got one over on me!" The glass bottle Zion threw crashed against the gallery door. It shattered into fragments, startling a cat that had been sleeping on the floor to spring away. Indifferent to the commotion, Woo Rin sat at the table and took a sip from her teacup. "Why? I enjoyed it. It was spectacular, wasn't it?" Zion glared at his sister. Her enigmatic personality was usually endearing, but at times like this, it was infuriating. "I need to intervene personally. I can't just leave Shirone alone." Woo Rin spoke, stroking the chin of the cat on her lap. "He was quite a threat. What if he had cast a spell towards the stands?" Recalling the earlier incident, Zion blushed in anger. As Woo Rin remarked, the power was overwhelming. Even with the highest level of security, there would have been casualties. "Exactly! It was a declaration of war! It must’ve been revenge for me drawing my sword against him!" "Maybe you’re overthinking it? It could just be that he was angry." "It’s all the same! How dare a lowly creature ignore my proposal! I'll not let it go unpunished!" Just then, someone knocked on the gallery door. Sensing it was Arius, Zion calmed himself and returned to the table where his sister sat. "Come in." Arius opened the door and entered. Although this place was the only way to meet Zion without attracting attention, today the atmosphere was unusually tense. As he gracefully leapt over the glass shards on the floor, he greeted them politely. "It’s been a while, First Prince. Ah, Lady is here as well." Zion snorted derisively. Titles such as First Prince felt pointless in the current situation. "Take a seat. I have something to discuss." As Arius nodded in acknowledgment and took a seat, Woo Rin poured him tea. He accepted the teacup with both hands and turned to Zion. "What is the purpose of this meeting? Have you grown tired of the object I procured for you last time?" Woo Rin corrected him with a dismissive wave. “Oh, you didn't procure it. You sold it, and charged a fair price." "Haha! If you want to put it that way. But you're aware, aren’t you, that such an object can’t simply be bought with money?" Zion wasn’t interested in idle chatter. "It's not about the object." "Oh, then what might it be?" "Stop playing coy! It’s obvious now. The reason Father summoned Shirone to the palace is to loot Akraasia, right?" "It’s called Ataraxia, not Akraasia. And calling it looting isn't quite right. Extraction would be more accurate." Zion took a deep breath to calm himself. Letting Arius's sly banter distract him would mean they’d never get to the point. "So... how far has the plan progressed?" "Hmm, that’s a delicate issue even for you, First Prince. I am, after all, bound to His Highness and cannot divulge secrets." Zion extended a hand northward. Armand flew toward him, almost as if sucked in, and clung to his hand before being directed to Arius's throat. "I'm not joking around, you better start talking seriously." Arius, appearing more composed with a blade aimed at him, sipped his tea. Yet inside, many thoughts swirled. Zion was nothing more than an impudent brat. On the other hand, Armand was a bothersome weapon. Despite being the one who had acquired it, it still felt like a shameful waste in the hands of such a lackluster royal. "If you’re asking how far things have progressed, I’d say... about 49 percent." It wasn’t entirely a lie. Half the work lies in starting, and since they hadn't yet begun, 49 percent seemed appropriate. As Woo Rin grasped the meaning behind the words and let out a small laugh, Zion, mistakenly thinking that significant progress had been made, urged for answers with a surprised expression. "Stop it at all costs. No, you should eliminate Ataraxia altogether. Surely, a looter like you can manage that?" Arius exhaled through his nose. What a fool. How could one consider eliminating the power of an archangel that has crossed into this world just because it threatened a mere crown? Ataraxia was a treasure of humanity that needed to be analyzed, even if not looted by him. "As I've mentioned before, I'm bound by contract to His Highness..." "If it's money you want, I can provide plenty." Arius closed his mouth. He had amassed a fortune from his dealings with Zion thus far. Although his interest lay more in the thrill of looting than in money, a clean break from Orkamp was in order. Seizing this last opportunity could perhaps provide a comfortable retirement fund. "Hmm." Deep in contemplation, Arius finally dropped his facade, revealing the cool, reptilian gleam in his eyes, which even with Zion’s blade pointed at him, sent shivers down the prince's spine. But Arius's veiled pupils were targeting not Zion, but Woo Rin . ‘She’s stunning.’ Although not an appropriate sentiment to feel for a fourteen-year-old girl, she was indeed remarkable. With her mystical appearance and the radiant allure of the Theraze, she was an enviable fruit. While he had already analyzed the psyche of many, Woo Rin remained elusive, her thoughts an enigma to him. When he first worked as a Diver, there was a period when he delighted in delving into the raw, naked desires within the human psyche. Desires, so often muddy, vile, and grotesque. Yet after diving over 800 times, no human mind seemed novel to him anymore. Against this backdrop, Woo Rin represented a fresh frontier, one capable of revealing an uncharted world he had never encountered. If he could dive one last time before his death, Woo Rin, rather than Ataraxia, would be his chosen subject. "Let me clarify. Currently, Shirone's Ataraxia cannot be extracted. It's encapsulated. However, if you wish, I can uproot Ataraxia entirely and present it to you, Your Highness." "Give it to me? Ataraxia?" "Indeed. The power of the archangel would then belong to you." Zion swallowed hard. At that moment, his expression was a mirror image of Orkamp’s. Indeed, any who had witnessed the power of Ataraxia would react similarly. But Woo Rin instantly caught the flaw in the words, unperturbed. "You just said extraction was impossible." "In a conventional sense, yes. Ataraxia likely resides in the deep realm of Shirone’s consciousness. In short, it’s too profound. As one dives deeper into the psyche, the resistance of the self grows stronger. At the depth close to a sea trench, you’d be buried instantly." Zion retracted Armand and inquired. "Then how do you propose to loot it?" "There is a way." Arius intended to offer the same proposal he had made to Orkamp. Yet this time, he hesitated. If he could turn things around, now was the last moment. By making this proposal, he would irrevocably alienate Orkamp, necessitating his immediate departure from Khazra as soon as the job ended. "Tell me! How can I obtain Ataraxia?" As Zion pressed on, Arius replied in a chilling tone. "By excising Shirone’s brain." Both Zion and Woo Rin were taken aback by the suggestion. "Excise... his brain?" "To be precise, it’s about dismantling Shirone’s subconscious. Consciousness dwells in the brain, but the subconscious is tied to the body. Hence, separating the brain from the body significantly weakens the self’s resistance when descending into the depths of consciousness. Of course, there's no need to open the skull. You just need what's above the neck." Arius drew a line across his neck with his thumb for emphasis. Zion nodded, seemingly grasping the idea. "In short, you mean to say kill Shirone?" "Well, I’m not fond of inductive reasoning. Just because the neck is cut doesn’t necessarily mean death. I'm merely presenting a safe method to penetrate the subconscious, not advocating for Shirone’s death." Zion was incredulous. Surely, he wasn’t suggesting this had no connection to assassinating a candidate for First Prince? "Cutting the neck doesn’t equate to death? That's insanity." Arius smiled, as if receiving a compliment. "In my life as a looter, I’ve learned that there isn’t a single sane person in this world." Disregarding the insanity, Zion returned to the primary issue. "If I bring Shirone’s neck, can you extract Ataraxia?" "If you ask if it's possible, it is. However, it must be done swiftly. I must enter the mind as soon as the neck is severed. ‘Just in case’ he should die, his mind would vanish with him." "That swiftly? Once the neck is cut, life lasts barely ten seconds or so." "Time moves slowly in the subconscious. The door is already set. As soon as we behead Shirone, we go in, dive down to Tier 1, and loot the genuine Ataraxia. Then it becomes yours, Your Highness." Zion puffed his cheeks and exhaled before pacing the gallery. Even so, blatant assassination seemed rash. Yet, this was the right move. As time passed, more neutral supporters would defect to Orkamp. If action was to be taken before any paternity results were unveiled, today was the day. Arius noticed the murderous glint in Zion's eyes and smiled in satisfaction. Zion was indeed closer to being a king than Orkamp. As if he already had his answer, Arius inquired. "Then, how much are you willing to pay?" Zion replied without verbal contradiction, indicating agreement. The negotiation table was now set. After careful consideration, he named his price. "27 billion gold." Arius, slightly dissatisfied, queried back. "Hmm, wasn't Armand's selling price 3 billion gold?" "So what? Are you trying to say that brat's magic is worth more than my magic sword?" The 27 billion Zion proposed was calculated from such reasoning. 3. Midnight Ball (3) "Well, I’m merely the seller. You've seen what it can do firsthand, shouldn't the offer come from the buyer?" Zion bit his lip in frustration. Despite his denial, the reality was evident. Ataraxia held far greater value than Armand. More than its value, it was something he was desperate to possess at any cost. "40 billion. That's nearly all of my assets. That should suffice, right?" "40 billion, you say." With 40 billion, one could currently fund the construction of around four magic schools. Even so, Arius wasn't particularly enthused. Honestly, the amount of money was irrelevant. He had sold Armand for 30 billion, yet had he put it up for auction through Cueria, it could have fetched at least an S-grade status, or even a blank check. The reason he couldn't auction it was simply because it was stolen property. Though most objects were stolen, putting something he personally lifted up for auction could lead pursuit straight to his doorstep. Since money meant little to Arius, offloading the item to Zion, who offered the safest option, was the most profitable route. Seeing Arius dissatisfied with the 40 billion offer, Zion grew restless. The harder the prize was to obtain, the greater his desire for it. However, even after scraping all his funds, he could only raise about 7 billion more from the current amount. Woo Rin could easily have at least ten times 47 billion, but squandering any chance to ask her favor on money was unwise. Understanding Arius didn't much care for material wealth, Zion decided to unveil his final card. "In addition, I'll ensure you a place within Theraze’s faction." As expected, Arius’s eyes gleamed with interest. Theraze, the Empress of Kasha, was among the most powerful figures on the continent. With her protection, a life constantly on the run would be a thing of the past. However, Zion lacked the authority to make such appointments. Woo Rin was the only true gateway into the heart of Theraze’s faction. Glancing sideways, Zion checked his sister’s expression. “Woo Rin, you can manage that, right?” Though it was his first-ever plea to her, he was confident it would also be his last. With Ataraxia, he could rise to power single-handedly. Just this once, only this once. "Then, Shirone has to die, right?" "Probably. There’s no guarantee he’d die just because his neck’s cut." Knowing his sister held a fondness for Shirone, Zion repeated Arius's bizarre rhetoric. Yet, it served as a rather clever misdirection. "Hmm." Woo Rin lightly pressed her fingers against her lips, gazing upward. While reluctant to meddle in Kazra’s political affairs, watching Zion struggle stirred her sympathy—and, in another way, highlighted his ineptitude. Believing this likely to be his final opportunity, she realized a little kindness wouldn't hurt. "Alright. I'll talk to Mother." Zion exhaled a sigh of relief. Though it was ironic that he felt anxious over what family ought naturally to do, her approval was a relief he could not overlook. "Alright, the deal stands. 40 billion, plus Theraze’s backing. Tonight, behead Shirone. And bring me Ataraxia." To this, Arius blinked in surprise and raised his hand. "Hold on. Do you mean for me to carry out the task?" "What do you mean? Isn’t looting your job?" "Uh, it seems you’re not aware, Prince, but this requires a specialist. Looting is my expertise, not combat. Besides, I really dislike the sight of blood." Zion stared in disbelief. While many non-combat magicians existed, they all possessed enough prowess to handle dangerous situations. Isn't it absurd for someone who just insisted on extracting a brain to claim aversion to bloodshed now?