'Crash! Thud!'

Samia and I tumbled out of the fifth-floor warp gate in a tangled heap. We lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath.

"Th-that was too close."

"A very narrow escape," Samia agreed. "Good thing we set up that warp gate as an escape route."

"You both performed admirably."

Ea materialized from a halo of light, offering us cool water and towels.

"Thanks, Ea."

As I rehydrated, Samia asked, "Hunter Kim Yusin, the sample?"

"Secured." I raised my arm, shaking the glass vial.

Samia flinched away. "B-be careful! If that breaks and spills on you, you could turn into a monster!"

"Ah, right. Good point."

I sat up, studying the vial. A drug that turns people into monsters…

"Ea."

"Yes, Tower Master."

"Put this in the sealed library on the second floor. The security magic is strongest there."

"Understood. I will instruct the other administrators to exercise extreme caution."

"And…"

I pulled out the USB, though I knew it was probably fried. "During the data upload, did you manage to memorize anything yourself?"

"Affirmative. I have committed several key pieces of information to memory, including the location of another research facility."

"Excellent work!"

Ea really was the best. My competent secretary had saved the day.

"Hehehe, just you wait, Wayne! I'll pay you back tenfold."

Hearing me, Samia gave me a puzzled look. "Is this what the Magic Tower normally does? You operate like a global defense force."

"Not usually." I brushed myself off and stood. "This is actually our first time exterminating a hostile force on this scale. I just have a personal, deep-seated hatred for demonkin."

"…I see. The demonkin are the greatest evil of our time. It's a hunter's duty to stop such a disaster. I will offer my full support."

"Thank you. Having you with us will be a huge help, Samia."

Until now, our recruits had been mostly non-combat personnel. This was the first time I'd brought in a powerhouse like a certified rank-3 hunter, and having a pro of her caliber as a colleague already made things much easier. From now on, the two of us could likely handle most missions on our own.

"Tower Master," Ea interjected, "using field magic to create a monster diversion while we destroyed the Antarctic facility was effective. However, I anticipate the next facility will be far more heavily guarded."

Samia nodded. "I agree with Ea. We were lucky this time, but the demonkin won't sit idly by after taking such a major blow."

She was right. The next base would likely be guarded by Wayne Jones himself, along with other hunters of rank-3 or higher.

"Fortunately, the Magic Tower has many options."

"…It does?"

"We have numerous methods of attack. We've built up quite an arsenal over the years." I cracked my knuckles. "I'll destroy both of their remaining bases within a week."

* * *

The Westman Islands, Iceland.

Wayne Jones stared grimly at the message on his screen. The attached photo showed another of their secret bases, this one on an island in the South Pacific that the demonkin had purchased and cleared of civilians.

But now…

'A volcanic eruption?'

The photo showed nothing but empty ocean. A massive volcano had erupted, wiping the island and the facility off the map. While the island did have a volcano, it had been dormant, showing no signs of activity. There was only one explanation.

'Kim Yusin…!'

Wayne gritted his teeth. A volcanic eruption could only mean it was the Archmage's signature spell, the one that had become known as the Miracle of Kisowa. It had to be his doing.

A voice crackled over his radio.

"Wayne Jones. We believe this series of events is directly related to you."

Wayne remained silent.

"After your attack on the Archmage, he retaliated by destroying our Antarctic and South Pacific bases. Many here feel your rash actions brought this upon us."

"Those cowards." Wayne didn't bother to hide his rage. "My orders were to annihilate Tanzania and eliminate anyone who got in the way! I was simply following those orders. Are you really going to tuck your tails and run because of one little brat?!"

"Calm yourself, Wayne Jones. We have not lost all faith in you. Defend the Iceland base at all costs."

"I know!"

Wayne cut the transmission and lit a fresh cigar, but his anger still simmered.

'I don't know how he's doing it, but I know he's coming for this facility. I will protect this base, no matter what.'

He heard a footstep, surprised by how loud and clear it sounded against the quiet landscape.

On the second step, Wayne looked up. A man with features as sharp as a sculpture, dressed in a pure white suit with a matching scarf, was walking past.

Wayne knew who he was. His entire body froze.

The man's gaze drifted toward him. The moment their eyes met, a single thought screamed through Wayne's mind.

'I'm going to die!'

The man looked away, his attention once again fixed forward. A wave of relief washed over Wayne, but he was drenched in a cold sweat.

'Ack!'

The moment the man was out of sight, Wayne broke into a dead sprint. He ran like a madman, his prosthetic arm whirling, his face a mask of crazed terror.

'Chzzt.'

"This is the command room! All hunters on site, respond!"

Wayne bit his lip until it bled.

"This is the command room! Wayne Jones! Where are you?!"

He hurled the radio away and scrambled onto the mana-engine boat he'd arrived on. The engine roared to life, and the boat shot across the water.

"Th-this is the command room! We have an intruder! The target… the target is…! Gyaaaaargh!"

"Hah! Hah! Hah!"

Panting, his face slick with sweat, Wayne risked a glance back. A colossal castle made of pure mana floated in the sky. Where had it come from? It was just there, as if it had always existed.

'The Sky Castle Lord! Why is a certified rank-1 hunter here?!'

Wayne clutched his head. The only outsider who knew the location of this base was Kim Yusin.

'Don't tell me.'

Don't tell me Kim Yusin summoned him, too. He'd heard the only people who could contact the Sky Castle Lord were the highest echelons of the Alliance and the president of the French Hunter Association.

'How in the hell!'

Wayne ground his teeth. Giant, the Pharaoh, and now the Sky Castle Lord.

'Just how deep do your connections run, you bastard…!'

* * *

"You have done us a great service, my Lord!" a French military officer exclaimed with a sharp salute.

Albert Clostermann, the Sky Castle Lord, sat in a lavish chair on-site, sipping tea.

"I was told this was the potential epicenter of a world-ending disaster." He glanced at the demonkins' underground base. Giant pillars of light, each over thirty meters in diameter, pierced the earth where the facility had been hidden. "Underwhelming."

"…Ha, haha! Well, your trip wasn't entirely in vain, sir."

"What was inside? Was it really a rank-9 Disaster?"

"Not quite rank-9, but it was a problem that could have easily escalated into one." The officer's expression turned serious as he presented the data. "The demonkin and their followers were developing a chemical agent to transform humans into monsters."

"…Hmm."

"It would have been a catastrophe if their research had continued. They wiped the main computer with an EMP, but we managed to secure a significant number of samples and research logs. It's all thanks to you, my Lord!"

After another sip of tea, Albert spoke, his eyes narrowed. "The one who foretells disasters for the world governments… the Oracle, was it?"

"Ah, yes, sir!"

"I don't like it." He rose from his chair. "I'm leaving. Report to me once the data is organized."

"Y-yes, sir!"

* * *

"I'm stunned."

Back in the first-floor lobby, Samia and I were listening to Ea's report.

"To think there's a prophet called the Oracle who can influence world events, and that its true identity is the Magic Tower…"

"This is the first time I've used the Oracle to advance my own agenda," I admitted.

"Will there be any repercussions?"

"There shouldn't be. I didn't lie. It truly was a situation that could have become a major Disaster."

I pulled up the world news on my phone.

[Shocking! Drug That Turns Humans Into Monsters Discovered! Developed by Demonkin in Secret Base.]

[Sky Castle Lord in Action! Demonkin Base Eradicated, Critical Data Secured.]

[French Government to Hold Press Conference at 17:00.]

[Infectious Drug Incident Shocks the Globe! Korea Not a Safe Zone.]

"Oh, the Sky Castle Lord… France's certified rank-1 hunter. The Oracle can move even someone of his stature?" Samia asked.

"I was surprised he took action personally, too," I said, popping a slice of apple into my mouth. "Still, thanks to a rank-1 hunter stepping in, they recovered the data without a problem. Unlike us, they even managed to prevent the base from self-destructing."

"I see."

"This will expose the demonkin to the world again after they've been lying low. Now that everyone knows about an incident that nearly became a global catastrophe, there will be a renewed worldwide effort to hunt them down."

Maximum results, minimal effort. I was quite satisfied with the outcome. I had no way of knowing if the Sky Castle Lord had killed Wayne Jones, but either way, we had dealt his faction a devastating blow.

"Sunbae! I'm here!"

Jin Bora came bounding through the main gate of the Magic Tower.

"Oh, Ms. Samia, you're here too!"

"Welcome, Hunter Jin Bora."

"Oh, hey! Did you two hear? The demonkin made a drug that turns people into monsters!"

I remained silent for a moment, then feigned a look of surprise. "Whoa, really?"

"Sunbae, don't tell me…" Jin Bora eyed me suspiciously. "Are you behind this one, too?"

"Ahem."

"Oh, for crying out loud! How can you go running wild the moment you get your hands on warp magic?"

"The Magic Tower has to operate on a global scale."

Following Jin Bora, Jeong Seojin also arrived at the Magic Tower. He spoke with a smile. "I heard the news from Iceland, Tower Master."

'This guy catches on instantly.'

"More importantly..."

"What is it?"

"I'd like to request a meeting regarding the Magic Tower's business."

"Go on. Don't hesitate."

I already felt guilty for leaving him to handle all the work we were supposed to share. As if he'd been waiting, Jeong Seojin pulled documents from his briefcase.

"Let's start with the most important matter. We've secured Awu Island, the Magic Tower's new territory. Shall we go have a look?"

* * *

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