blogombal Page 620
Page 620
"so……"
Matouchi's voice lowered.
Beneath his tightly furrowed brows, his eyes became incredibly solemn.
"Is the Magic Association short-staffed?"
El-Melloi II finally lit the cigar between his fingers, the orange-red flame illuminating the slightly dim room. A wisp of grayish-white smoke rose, carrying a unique spicy and mellow aroma, temporarily carving a path through the oppressive air.
He took a deep drag of his cigar, letting the pungent smoke swirl in his lungs for a moment before slowly exhaling. The smoke rings twisted and spread in the air, like the mystery itself spiraling out of control.
Chapter 649 Contingency Plan (4k)
El-Melloi II did not give a direct answer of "yes" or "no".
He simply took a deep, silent puff of his cigar, then slowly and heavily exhaled a large cloud of smoke.
The ash from the cigar fell silently from between his fingers.
The swirling smoke seemed to temporarily obscure the complex emotions churning in his eyes.
He remained silent for a few breaths, as if gathering his strength, or perhaps considering how to dissect this deeper wound.
Then, he spoke slowly, his voice coming through the smoke, carrying a deeper weariness and an indescribable bitterness:
"The number of people in the Mage's Association... is indeed an unavoidable, cold fact." He acknowledged Matou Ike's earlier assessment, but then his tone shifted, like a dull knife cutting through rotten wood, "However..."
He paused for a moment, a pause that carried immense weight.
"...It's mostly a problem within the Mage's Association."
"Ah."
A short, cold laugh, full of undisguised sarcasm and irony, suddenly burst from Matou Ike's throat.
The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a sharp icicle, instantly piercing the heavy atmosphere in the room and also tearing through the heavy veil of pretense in El-Melloi II's words.
This sneer was knowing, disdainful, and carried an almost cruel insight of "I knew it."
Barthezmero isn't crazy.
It wasn't that she betrayed the ironclad rules of law and political science that had stood for millennia.
Quite the contrary!
She saw the irreversible future foreshadowed by the disaster eight years ago—the torrent of mysterious resurgence was unstoppable, and the number of magicians was far from enough to keep up with the surge in global mysteries that needed to be monitored, dealt with, and even "cleaned up"!
The millennia-old dam of the principle of concealment had already been riddled with cracks by the impact of the Holy Grail War eight years ago.
Now, the mysteriously resurgent floods are rising and roaring at an unprecedented rate, attempting to breach the dikes.
The Clock Tower, especially the Department of Law and Politics which bears the name of "order," is simply a mantis trying to stop a chariot when faced with this massive wave that is about to sweep the globe!
Barthezmello, the "Magic Marshal" known for her iron fist, did something that... might not have been "damaging" the dam at all.
Instead, they deliberately blast open a controllable breach before the dam completely collapses and the floodwaters engulf everything in the most chaotic and disorderly way!
Rather than allowing the mystery to erupt sporadically in an unmonitored and unmanageable state, causing countless uncontrollable panics and disasters, it would be better to…
Let it be completely exposed in a concentrated and intense "big leak" orchestrated by the Clock Tower itself!
In this way, at least at the very beginning of the chaos, the Clock Tower could forcefully intervene with its accumulated power and knowledge, attempting to establish something on the ruins...
A new order, led by them?
This is by no means an act of kindness, but rather the most extreme and dangerous stop-loss and high-stakes gamble based on harsh reality!
Use a controllable global catastrophe to avoid countless uncontrollable sporadic disasters that could ultimately destroy the very foundation of a magician's survival!
Use exposure to gain centralized management, and use chaos to regain control!
Matou Ike's playful smile deepened, carrying an almost admiring yet cold mockery:
"It seems... our 'Marshal of the Demonic Path' has an astonishingly strong will."
He deliberately emphasized the word "courage," as if he were savoring the madness and determination behind the word.
Upon hearing this, El-Melloi II could only offer a wry, helpless smile. He exhaled a long smoke ring, and through the swirling smoke, his voice carried a complex acknowledgment:
“That official’s efficiency… is indeed… commendable.”
The use of the word "praise" is extremely subtle, acknowledging Barthez's decisive style while also implying a complex and unspoken emotion regarding his decision-making direction.
Matou Ike leaned forward slightly, his amber-colored demonic eyes gleaming with a probing light, as if trying to pierce through the smoke to see the truth:
“So,” he said, his tone carrying an undeniable sharpness.
"The 'Grand Marshal of the Demonic Path' himself organized such a 'grand performance'... worthy of being recorded (or rather, nailed to the pillar of shame) in the annals of mystery, personally lit the fuse, and shattered the ironclad laws of a thousand years..."
He paused deliberately, creating a strong dramatic contrast.
"...But she herself didn't attend this 'opening ceremony' that she orchestrated?"
This question is like a precise scalpel, piercing a point that is extremely absurd.
El-Melloi II's fingers, which were holding a cigar, paused noticeably for a moment.
Behind the smoke, his expression instantly became extremely...strange. It was a complex look, a mixture of disbelief, utter absurdity, and a hint of knowing "I knew it."
He seemed to be struggling to find the right words; his Adam's apple bobbed a few times before he spoke in a tone tinged with strong uncertainty and subtle awkwardness:
"...The itinerary of Lord Barthelon..." He cleared his throat, as if he needed to overcome a huge psychological barrier to say what he was about to say.
"...Um...According to the information I received through unconventional channels..."
He took another puff of his cigar, as if to bolster his courage, before speaking in an almost narrative-like tone:
"...she seems to have...gon out to massacre a sizable dead gang gathering near London around the same time the incident occurred."
"what?"
Even with Matouchi's extensive knowledge and deep cunning, he couldn't help but let out a short but genuine gasp of surprise upon hearing the answer.
His face, which always carried a calculating or languid air, showed a rare moment of blankness and bewilderment, as if the brain's sophisticated processor had been briefly shut down by this outrageous information.
Exterminate the deadly followers?
At the same moment when the principle of mystery and concealment is torn apart globally, the foundation of the magic world is shaken, and human society is plunged into unprecedented chaos and panic...?
The sovereign of the Department of Law and Politics, the marshal of the demonic path, the mastermind behind this colossal wave...
Instead of being at the eye of the storm directing operations and turning the tide at the Clock Tower headquarters, she... went to the outskirts of London to wipe out the Dead Legion?!
The juxtaposition of the earth-shattering events of "annihilating the Dead Folk" and "uncovering the mysterious hideout" is itself filled with a suffocating sense of absurdity.
And yet, Barthelo Lorelei, on the scales of priority, unhesitatingly, even impatiently, chose the former?!
Matou Ike's mind raced, trying to grasp the logic behind it. Were those Dead Apostles, at that particular moment, a threat that was imminent, transcending any global catastrophe?
Or is this... part of Barthellello's "plan" to clear away the remnants of the old era and pave the way for the new order? Or perhaps...
He eventually gave up on investigating further.
A feeling of absurdity, absurdity, and even a touch of indescribable...admiration welled up in my heart.
Matou Ike leaned back on the sofa, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, the look of bewilderment on his face gradually transforming into an extremely complex and indefinable expression.
He didn't know whether he should "praise" the monarch Barthezello's impeccable, ingrained professional ethics at this moment—
Even while personally triggering an apocalyptic disaster, they did not forget to fulfill their duty as legal and political science officers to "eliminate heretics," and their dedication is truly "awe-inspiring."
One has to admire how thick-skinned that person was—
Amidst the dramatic changes sweeping the globe, they remained focused and clear-headed in carrying out a "routine" clearing operation, as if the storm sweeping the world was merely background noise.
This is no longer about courage.
This is simply a kind of focus and obsession that transcends human comprehension.
"Ha..." Matou Ike finally let out a soft sigh that was unclear in meaning and full of absurdity, and shook his head, as if he was digesting this fact that was enough to drive anyone who knew the truth crazy.
“Since…” His voice was deep and clear, each word carrying unavoidable weight.
"Your Clock Tower, or rather, 'certain people' who orchestrated this operation..."
He glanced deliberately at the chaotic sky outside the window, a symbol of dramatic change. "The passage between the inner sea of the star and the surface of the planet has been successfully opened, causing the mystery to surge back like a flood..."
He paused, his gaze piercing the other person as if it were a tangible force.
"Then, I presume... you've already prepared contingency plans?"
He emphasized the word "contingency plan," with a strong sense of sarcasm. "This time..."
"...Don't try to fool me with empty words again, Second Prince."
"..."
El-Melloi II's fingers, holding the cigar, trembled suddenly, and a long ash fell silently. Amidst the swirling smoke, a clear hint of embarrassment flashed across his weary face.
Matou Ike's blunt, almost cold, question precisely struck at the most unspeakable scheming spot in his heart—
Regarding Hartres, regarding Albion, regarding his deliberate manipulation of Matou Ike into this storm without revealing all the inside information.
"Haha...of course." He chuckled dryly, trying to mask his unease at being exposed, but to little avail. The laughter sounded particularly jarring and forced in the oppressive air.
He couldn't deny it.
When he learned that the key clue that Matou Ike was desperately seeking to solve the problem of "time gear meshing" was hidden in Hartres, he was indeed tempted.
That selfish desire—that almost obsessive longing to see Iskandar the Conqueror again—curled at his reason like a venomous snake.
He intentionally and subtly drew Matouchi's attention to the clue of Hartres, like placing a carefully guided chess piece on a chessboard.
During this process, he did not reveal all the information he knew about Hartres, the potential chain reaction of Albion's awakening, and especially the deeper intentions that might exist within the Clock Tower (particularly the Legal and Political Department).
As for the reason?
On one hand, there was the undeniable, deep-seated personal desire—for that slim chance to meet the king again, he was willing to take the risk, even at the cost of using a powerful "ally."
On the other hand, it is based on his position as the monarch of the Clock Tower and the leader of the El-Melloi faction.
After careful consideration, he concluded that allowing events to gravitate more towards the clock tower would be more "beneficial" for the future.
This judgment carries a strong political consideration and risk aversion.
Of course, this was not a decision made unilaterally by him.