C214: Order Synod (1)
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As soon as the meeting began, the most silent First Order raised its hand. It can only be expressed that he raised his hand because something like a thin hand rose out of the round fire.
"Yes, Leslie, do you have any questions?"
Leslie was the name of the one who has never spoken before. Now Rudger knew all the names. It's just that what they were doing in the world wasn't revealed yet.
"There is a vacancy in the First Order position this time, so does that mean Esmeralda died in the middle of the mission?"
"Yes."
"I didn't want to believe it, but what Nikolai said was true. Then may I ask you how it happened?"
They couldn't believe that a First Order who had a contract with a highest-level fire spirit died.
The question was how Zero Order would react.
The eyes of the First Orders, including Rudger, were directed at Zero Order.
Zero Order in the mask opened his mouth.
"Hmm. I hope John Doe, who was at the scene at the time, can explain it."
'Are you turning the arrow on me here?'
Rudger smiled even at the sudden situation.
"Esmeralda's death came from Quasimodo. To be exact, the two destroyed each other."
When I opened my mouth as if I had been waiting, everyone was surprised.
"Destroyed each other?"
"You probably didn't know, but the first order Esmeralda, or to be exact, the spirit of fire she was using, was the real First Order."
"Do you mean the ugly monster Quasimodo?"
When asked by Bentmin, I replied yes.
"Yes, Esmeralda was just a tool, in fact, Quasimodo controlling her body. The master-servant relationship was reversed."
The case in which evil spirits manipulated humans to move themselves.
I revealed the truth to everyone. As I explained to Zero Order, when Quasimodo was cornered, Esmeralda began to resist and the two destroyed each other.
"It was a co-destruction."
Leslie, who asked the question, murmured as if she had been convinced.
"Did she really have that peculiarity? Then Esmeralda may not have actually been fit for the First Order position. It's the end worthy of incomplete power."
"However, her power was real. I feel sorry for the empty seat. Actually, I wanted to analyze it a little bit! Oh Hyo Hyo!"
Even if the existence itself was incomplete, the power of Quasimodo was real.
Insane life force that regenerates even after being hit directly by a great 6th tier spell of the opposing attribute and even a flame with the will to burn anything.
Rudger knew its power because he fought with Quasimodo.
The reason the Zero Order recruited him as a First Order must have been because of his terrifying power. Even so, Rudger didn't see a single person who was sad since their colleague died.
'Are you saying that there is no fellowship between you?'
Zero Order opened his mouth.
"So I'm thinking of picking a new First Order first. Is there anyone who disagrees?"
Everyone was silent at Zero Order's question. They must be very self-conscious to leave the executive position vacant.
Even if there's a new first order, they won't oppose it because it's not related to them.
"Oh Hyo Hyo. Zero Order, who do you have in mind for the First Order position?"
"I want to ask you what you think first. Do you have any suggestions?"
"I think we should promote a qualified person among the Second Orders."
Nikolai gave a proper opinion.
There are a few people among the Second Orders who covet the First Order position, or who have the ability to rise to it.
"Nikolai, is there anyone you recommend? I'll consider it if there's anyone we can use under your wing."
"I'm sorry, but the members below me are the only ones who are not suitable for the First Order position. But most of all, I don't think anyone will catch Zero Order's eyes."
"As expected."
"Well, I just said it. Isn't everyone here picked by Zero Order? Hahaha."
All of the people gathered here were selected by Zero Order not promoted.
'Even in Esmeralda's memory, Zero Order recruited Quasimodo himself.'
Inviting me to this position may also be to replace John Doe, who is now dead. Zero Order is making me the real John Doe. What an irony.
"We all respect Zero's choice."
When Nikolai said so on behalf of Leslie, she did not hide her discomfort.
"Nikolai, refrain from stepping up as if you're our representative."
"Huh? Is that so? I just said it because everyone was quiet."
"Even if you don't bring it up, our opinions are the same. You don't have to come forward like that."
"Oh, I'm scared. Let's listen carefully."
Perhaps because of Zero Order, the atmosphere of the two did not become more serious.
'First orders don't seem to get along very well.'
Indeed, they are all strange people with abilities and personalities.
It is a miracle that these guys are gathered in one place.
Is it because of the charisma of Zero Order that made it possible?
"Well, there's nothing for me to do except to bring in someone who fits the First Order position. It won't take long because there are a few people who have been eyeing it recently."
Eventually, Zero Order decided to recruit a new member to fill Esmeralda's vacancy.
"Then let's move on to the second agenda. Are you all doing your job well?"
Just as John Doe infiltrated Theon, the other First Orders have their respective missions.
The first person to speak was Leslie.
"Yes, it's going well over here. Old wizards will self-destruct without knowing it sooner or later."
'Old wizards. Self-destruction. Sooner or later.'
I listened to Leslie.
'What it's the next big event related to wizards?'
While Rudger was thinking only one thing came to his mind, "Mysterious Night."
'If she's talking about old wizards that means that she belongs to the Old Tower or is she a senior member of the School Association.'
The New Tower could not be excluded from the list of suspects.
'Although it's made up of relatively young people, it's not like they don't have old wizards among them.'
Whatever it may be, as long as the opponent was a First Order, it was clear that he was in a fairly high position in an organization.
"Me too. I'm working hard to stir up people's anxiety and fan the Liberation Army behind their backs."
It was Nikolai who spoke.
Is he an agitator who supports the Liberation Army from behind and shakes ordinary citizens?
However, there is no way that an ordinary person is proficient in all kinds of information.
'Looking at your firm confidence in this, you must be sitting in a high position in an institution.'
It's possible that he is sitting in a senior position in an intelligence agency and the intelligence services of the Exilion Empire are no exception.
"I'm also progressing calmly, but there's a little bit of a nuisance."
Next to Nikolai was Bentmin.
"The integration is progressing step by step, but we haven't found the missing 'it' yet. So I think it will take some time."
Integration and something she's looking for.
'Integration means that they are separated from each other, but what is there to integrate from the perspective of Bentmin, who is noble just by looking at the way she talks?'
"Oh Hyo-hyo. I……."
Then it was Victor Dreadful's turn. Victor, who would normally have talked excitedly, showed a little hesitation when his turn came.
When he didn't answer, Nikolai said with a sneaky smile.
"Oh, yeah. Victor said his lab was attacked by someone. This should be the second time it happened, right?"
"What? Is that true? No, Victor, you've always been so careful. What's going on?"
Victor said in a tearful voice.
"It's unfair! The experiment escaped on its own or an unknown intruder appeared! My subordinates didn't do their job properly!"
"It's your responsibility for not managing those underneath you properly. I hope you don't just focus on your own experiments and pay more attention."
Leslie shot back reproachfully.
Victor couldn't resist and asked Verom, who sat next to him, for help.
"Night Verom say something. You were there then!"
"Damn it. Why are you biting me? It has nothing to do with me."
"You are also responsible for letting the enemy escape! You should have caught it then!"
"Oh, my."
Verom sighed.
"Verom, did you have anything to do with it?"
"Leslie, let me tell you, when I arrived, the Baltanung branch had already been robbed."
"But you seem to have faced the enemy, did you miss it?"
"Because it wasn't an ordinary person."
"If you were using the power of black armor, you would have been able to control it at once even if it was a decent opponent. Besides, weren't there a black wizard and Victor with you?"
"The black wizard was already dead, and this crazy scientist almost died. I saved him."
"What?"
Leslie was surprised.
"It seems that quite a number of great people acted."
"No. It was just one intruder."
"Only one?"
"Yes. That's a different level."
Victor helped out.
"That's right! He really didn't make sense! He put a black shadow on his body and jumped over the space!"
"In addition, the flame magic he showed at the end was not normal."
When Victor and Verom said this, Nikolai couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked.
"Who the hell was it? Did you see the face?"
"I couldn't see it because he had a shadow all over his body. The only thing I know is that he had a shadow over his body, can move through space and used a great fire spell because the factory became a sea of fire when that spell was used."
"A sea of fire… Didn't you say that the Leathervelk branch was completely burned out?"
"That's right! That's what I heard!"
"Hmm. I think it's the same person who attacked the Baltanung branch and the Leathervelk branch."
Nikolai's guess was sharp because Rudger actually burned them both down but they wouldn't even dream that he did it.
The First Orders, who had expressed various opinions on the unidentified intruder, concluded that there was little they could find out right now.
"John Doe, what did you do?"
The last batter was me.
"I'm gaining credibility by infiltrating Theon and building up my performance as a teacher. It's actually going well."
The mission given to John Doe was simple. Since he is specialized in disguise, infiltration, and assassination anyway, the scale of the mission is remarkably small unlike other First Orders.
I closed my mouth as if I had finished my business with those words.
It was then that Nikolai opened his mouth at that moment.
"Hmm. I've heard a lot of news lately. John Doe is very competent as a teacher."
"……."
I glanced at Nikolai. He seemed only a black flame, but not to the point where I could not even feel the emotion contained in his gaze.
"But it's very strange. You're making a name for yourself, unlike your usual self."
What was in his gaze was 'doubt'.
"I hear that name often these days. Rudger Chelici created a new magic Rudger Chelici makes a splendid performance. I don't know about other guys, but I hear that name a lot."
"So, what do you want to say?"
Nikolai waved his hand and said as I spoke impatiently.
"Me? Hahaha. I don't have anything in particular to say. I'm just saying that the way you've been doing lately is not like you."
Nikolai just said as if in passing, but the other First Orders were affected by it and stared at me softly like they were asking 'Are you really John Doe?'
'Oh, my.
Zero Order is just watching this scene as if it was funny. He had a perfect bystander's attitude of no arbitration or help.
'It's fun.'
Are you deliberately keeping your mouth shut?
Zero Order's idea was too blatant. If that's the case, I have no choice but to go a little blatantly here.
"John Doe, why aren't you saying anything? Or maybe something really fishy…….?"
"Nikolai."
I opened my mouth, staring softly at Nikolai.
"It's hard to keep listening to your nonsense. Why is your tongue so long?"
Nikolai shut up at my rant and the atmosphere of the round table turned cold.