Parka was speechless at Jack’s confirmation.
He had only mentioned Gaon, the first Tower Master of Gardion, as a guess, expecting Jack to deny it.
But to hear it was truly that Gaon?
Jack’s smile wasn’t one of jest, and the gravity of his words silenced not just Parka but everyone in Belmar Hall.
No one dared speak—the revelation of Gaon’s identity was that shocking.
“Is it certain? Truly that Lord Gaon? How…”
Parka broke the silence, his voice trembling with disbelief as he muttered on.
Jack nodded understandingly. “I know it’s hard to believe. I didn’t believe it at first either, but something undeniable convinced me.”
“Could you share what that was…?” Parka asked eagerly.
“I’m sorry, it’s a family matter I can’t disclose,” Jack replied. “But I assure you, on the Belmar Duchy’s name, that it is Lord Gaon. And besides…” He trailed off, smiling.
“Would an 8th Circle mage need to impersonate Gaon, especially when it would be exposed so easily?”
“…!”
The hall erupted in gasps, followed by excited murmurs.
“I recall tales that Gardion’s first Tower Master was an 8th Circle mage!”
“8th Circle? Was that even possible?”
“I thought the tower exaggerated it…”
“If the duke himself says so, it must be 8th Circle…!”
The guests’ excitement stemmed from Gaon’s 8th Circle status.
Gaon was a figure from the distant past, and since his time, no mage had reached the 8th Circle through proper means—only through the illicit use of magi.
To the modern world, the 8th Circle was a mythical realm.
The return of an 8th Circle mage, a true ally of humanity, was monumental, and their excitement was only natural.
Jack waited for the fervor to subside, but it only grew.
Finally, he spoke to calm them. “Everyone.”
His voice echoed, and one by one, the guests fell silent, though their excitement remained palpable, expressed through their very presence.
Their reactions suggested they’d be valuable allies for Jack’s plans. Satisfied, he continued, “Things will get busy soon. Please rest and prepare. I’ll arrange another meeting shortly.”
“Understood!”
“Haha, I’ll keep myself in top condition!”
The guests responded enthusiastically, beginning to leave the hall. Not all departed—some approached Jack, all mages or magic-related individuals. He could guess why: they sought Gaon or Gardion Tower.
Parka spoke first, his eyes earnest.
“It’s said Lord Gaon occasionally mentored mages. Might there be a chance to learn from him…?”
Parka had reached the 5th Circle long ago and, despite relentless study and cultivation, realized the 6th Circle was beyond him—no matter how much he trained or consumed elixirs.
But Gaon might know a way, fueling Parka’s desperation.
“I’ll speak to Lord Gaon,” Jack replied.
“Thank you!” Parka bowed deeply, then added, “And I truly didn’t know about Melting.”
“Ah,” Jack responded softly.
Melting, one of those captured by Gaon, was Parka’s colleague of five years.
Jack believed Parka’s claim of ignorance.
Gaon had confirmed no other Abyss members remained among the guests, and even the Belmar Duchy hadn’t suspected Melting.
How could Parka have known?
“I understand. You must be the most shocked,” Jack said.
“Thank you for believing me. I never imagined Melting was a traitor…” Parka trailed off, his face bitter.
“If you need information on Melting, please let me know.”
“I will,” Jack assured.
Their conversation ended, and the remaining mages took turns speaking with Jack.
The last, Pelles, a 4th Circle mage and nephew of the Ramuran Kingdom’s court mage leader, left with a bright smile, offering his aid.
Jack scanned the now-empty Belmar Hall, reflecting on recent events. “Veslin,” he called.
From a hidden chamber, Veslin, the 1st Intelligence Unit Head, emerged. “Monitor all the guests from now on,” Jack ordered.
The guests had pledged their support, but Jack wasn’t naive.
Some would leak information. He knew of five informants sent by other families, and there were likely more.
This was his chance to root them out.
“Yes, sir,” Veslin replied.
Jack left the hall for the duke’s private vault to retrieve the Necklace of Atra. Upon arriving, he examined it, thinking, It looks like an ordinary necklace.
When Elgrin demanded it, Jack had inspected it thoroughly but found nothing special—just a beautifully crafted piece.
Yet it couldn’t be ordinary, or the Abyss wouldn’t covet it so fiercely.
As he left the vault, he wondered, Can Lord Gaon uncover something?
***
Meanwhile, screams filled the interrogation room.
“Arghhh!”
“Urgh!”
“Please, I’ll tell you everything… Argh!”
Hearing the Abyss operatives’ cries, Gaon cast, “Silence.”
The screams vanished, though their pain persisted. Gaon turned to Vaslin, the only operative not under Bone-Crushing Agony. She flinched, eyes downcast, trembling.
“Still claiming ignorance? This is your last chance,” Gaon said flatly.
“Tell the truth, and you’ll die painlessly like them. Lie, and you’ll endure ten more minutes of fun like the others.”
Vaslin glanced right, where her dead comrades lay with peaceful expressions, then left, where others writhed in agony.
“I… really don’t know. Our orders were only to assist Elgrin. I didn’t even know about the necklace!” she pleaded.
It wasn’t a lie. Vaslin, a long-time infiltrator in the Belmar Duchy, had recently received orders to aid Elgrin without specifics. She only learned of the Necklace of Atra during this mission.
“Hmm…” Gaon let out a soft groan.
Vaslin fell to her knees. “Please, kill me! I’m not lying!”
She wanted death to escape the pain.
Gaon, after multiple cross-checks, confirmed only Elgrin knew about the necklace.
If she was lying after this, there was nothing more to do.
He cast a spell.
A sharp wind blade pierced Vaslin’s neck.
Slash!
Her head fell, and her body ignited.
Whoosh!
Gaon extinguished the flames and moved her beside the other dead operatives.
A knock came. “Lord Gaon,” Jack called.
Gaon, already sensing his approach via ki, used Pacheongi to open the door.
Creak.
Jack entered, startled by the silent, writhing Abyss members and the dead, but his gaze quickly shifted to contempt for them and reverence for Gaon.
“I brought the Necklace of Atra.”
He handed it over. Gaon examined it closely.
…What?
His ki sensed nothing, but his eyes caught something—a faint, mysterious pattern inside the necklace’s gem. Focusing Pacheongi on his vision, the pattern grew clearer.
What is this?
It was an unfamiliar symbol. Gaon glanced at the surviving operatives, including Elgrin. Does he know?
He suspected Elgrin might. Extending his hand, Elgrin floated forward.
Gaon paused Bone-Crushing Agony.
“Hah… hah… I’m sorry, please, let me die…” Elgrin gasped, begging.
Gaon ignored him, drawing the gem’s pattern on the floor. “You know what this is?”
“I don’t! I swear!” Elgrin shouted, his sincerity evident.
Gaon, unconvinced, resumed Bone-Crushing Agony and asked the others.
All claimed ignorance.
One more try, then I’m done.
Their answers might change after ten more minutes, but Gaon doubted it—they seemed genuinely clueless.
He decided to ask once more before ending the interrogations.
Returning the necklace to Jack, he said, “Keep this safe. It’s not an ordinary necklace.”
“Yes, sir!” Jack, surprised, examined it before pocketing it and asked, “May I ask about your plans?”
Jack was curious about Gaon’s next steps, knowing they could reshape the continent’s dynamics.
Gaon paused. His original plan was to visit Gardion Tower, but Jack’s report on the Varta Kingdom’s dire state gave him pause.
The tower wouldn’t collapse immediately, but Varta might without intervention. Still, I have three months.
After deliberating, Gaon decided. “I’m heading to the tower as soon as the interrogations are done.”