The first choice Osian made after accepting the request was not to go to District 44 immediately. He was now at Zero Ground's contact location.
Zero Ground possessed a spider web-like extensive and dense information network beneath Tirna. This contact location was also one of the core areas that comprised such an information network.
In Tirna's underground, there were still many monsters, fugitives, and Ethereals that were difficult to handle. However, thanks to Osian having eliminated the biggest troublemaker, Zero Ground could move more actively than before.
"We meet again."
What greeted Osian were the squirming sisters Krua and Atilla, along with Cthulatlap who was with them. And there was one more person.
"It's been a while. Have you been well during this time?"
"Yes. It has been a while. You look much healthier than before."
Gaien, wearing a plague doctor's mask, sat across from Osian.
One of Zero Ground's administrators, he was a secretive person. His identity hadn't been properly revealed, and he rarely moved carelessly. But if the other party was Osian, the story was different. Gaien had come directly to this place to meet Osian.
"More than that, you've cleverly created such a place underground."
Osian looked around the meeting place. It was an amazingly splendid Gothic-style interior. From furniture to artworks, it made one wonder if such a design was really necessary. Above all, despite being underground, it wasn't stuffy and the air was clear.
"I would be grateful if you could consider it as my personal taste being involved."
Well, even the underground world has its own economy running. Rather, all sorts of secretive things unknown to the world are traded. Using just a tiny fraction of those funds, dozens of such spaces could be easily created.
"Right. Let's end the small talk here and get straight to the main point. Do you know about the recent situation in District 44?"
It wasn't a question for confirmation but for certainty as Osian thought that Gaien would know this. As Osian expected, Gaien knew it well.
"Of course. Recently, many people have started gathering in District 44. Even vagrants wandering underground are flocking there after hearing rumors."
"Rumors? This is news to me."
"That's understandable. The rumors are just starting to spread now, and especially the poor and weak people are paying attention to them."
"That's interesting. Is there a Pied Piper or something?"
"Lord Osian must have roughly guessed it too. The Red Liberation Army is currently hiding in District 44. Yes, that's right. That force that threw a nation into chaos. They are now gathering people in District 44."
"Don't tell me they're trying to start that revolution thing again?"
"We haven't been able to confirm that yet, so we don't know. But the possibility of that being high cannot be denied. In the recent seriously intensified protests, the Liberation Army led by Lukai attacked businessmen's factories and caused massive losses."
Osian had heard about that from Plimene too.
"Lukai is an excellent man. He knows well what people get enthusiastic about. He knows how to actively utilize his surroundings. He attacked the privileged class for the sake of the weak and induced people's unity."
The talent for agitation. In terms of moving people's hearts, he had similarities with Rose. Of course, there was a very big difference between them: purity.
"Perhaps because of that, Lukai is being accepted as a kind of god among the lower classes. The reason people who follow him are gathering in District 44 is also for that reason. Behind it all, it's probably because Lukai himself subtly spread the rumors."
"Whatever it is, Lukai is plotting something in District 44."
Cross-checking, this part was no different from the information Plimene had brought.
"Then have you heard about heretics?"
"You mean impious ones like the Eternal God Church. Aren't they practically the same as me?"
Gaien said with a laugh. Of course, this was also his way of joking. By his side were sisters who were treated as heretics serving as guards.
[Hmph. Even as a joke, don't treat me the same as such a fellow.]
Cthulatlap said in an irritated voice.
"Understood. I'll be careful."
Watching Gaien apologize politely, Osian asked:
"You two seem closer than I thought."
"We have to live together, so a good relationship is essential. Let's return to the earlier question. Seeing you ask about heretics, it seems related to this District 44 incident."
Indeed, Gaien was a capable man. Having lived long years, it was natural. If human wisdom and insight were compared to a well, Gaien possessed a considerably deep well. Deep enough that no matter how much water was drawn, the contents would never run dry.
Osian nodded.
"Right. I heard from an informant. That Liberation Army forces are gathered in District 44, and they're joining hands with heretics."
"Hmm. Heretics. Due to the recent District 17 incident, there has been massive suppression of religion in Tirna. Of course, the main force behind this is the Petra Church faction that came from outside."
"Religion suppressing religion. What a ridiculous thing."
"Ironically, what threatens religion most are other religions. Because of that, even religions that are usually treated as minor are experiencing persecution like heretics."
Among the persecuted religious groups, there probably aren't many real heretics. The problem is that although few, real heretics do exist. Though not as much as the Eternal God Church, they too are sufficient elements of danger.
"If one heretic is hiding, even 99 religions have no choice but to be suspected."
"Yes. People are that afraid, and the city government has no choice but to move sensitively and radically."
"In other words, the heretics people speak of are likely just persecuted religious groups."
"Probably, if we guess. But as you know, not everything in the world flows exactly as high probability suggests."
Osian knows too. The world is not a precisely operating mechanical device. If anything, it's closer to an amorphous mass that transforms every moment.
The world is full of chaos, and the future is merely one of chaos's countless effects.
People try to predict the future based on data. They see only an extremely small part of chaos and say they have mastered the world. Osian knows well how meaningless such an act is.
It's more absurd than a blind person touching only an elephant's trunk and arbitrarily imagining what kind of beast it is.
"In the end, there's no choice but to check directly."
"We've sent informants too, but since crowds have started gathering so much, gathering intelligence has become difficult."
"It seems more people have gathered than expected."
"It's probably because the District 1 attack incident was so significant this time."
Osian nodded. Lukai and other Liberation Army executives had attacked District 1, the sky island Celestia. They destroyed the opera facility and inflicted unforgettable trauma on the upper class who were enjoying parties there.
There were several deaths and considerable material damage too. But what was even greater was the symbolism.
Tirna's symbol. The dream destination all wealthy people wanted to reach. That District 1 had been marked by muddy feet from outsiders who had rolled in. And they had trampled it thoroughly, so the shock was tremendous.
'Great shock to the upper class, satisfaction to the lower class.'
We can do things like Lukai too. The moment they made up their minds, a definite flame of motivation was planted in their hearts.
"Is Lukai trying to start a revolution or something in Tirna?"
"He might be. I also live in this city, but Tirna isn't usually a lenient place."
"If they're such people, it wouldn't be strange for them to join hands with heretics."
The wealthy upper class joined hands with heretics and devoured the lower classes for their own immortality. And now those lower classes are joining hands with other heretics to survive. This is the world's irony. And at the same time, this is also chaos' characteristic.
Yesterday's enemy becomes today's ally. The victim and perpetrator switch places like flipping a palm.
"Right. Thanks for letting me know."
"Are you heading to District 44?"
"Recent corporate movements are not normal. They don't like people gathering in District 44."
"That would be so. Too many have gathered. The motives would be various. There would be anger and hope too. There would be survival instinct to survive right now. These emotions that would have just evaporated in the past are now gathering by one powerful focal point."
Gunpowder accumulates that would explode violently with just a spark.
That focal point is Lukai.
Lukai was an unwelcome guest who came from outside the city, an impurity that couldn't mix. That impurity is rapidly rising as a force in Tirna.
The guide of the abandoned ones. The spokesperson for voices no one listens to.
It's obvious that it’ll become a huge tsunami soon.
'Right. The corporations are now afraid of Lukai.'
Those who wield absolute power in Tirna are keeping in check a single individual. What a ridiculous thing this is.
"If Lukai creates a force and starts operating in earnest, Tirna will undergo great changes."
"Even if not that, he could constantly cause protests in the currently stabilized Tirna and drive it into chaos."
This is just an extremely small aspect of complex society.
"Yes. So we can only pray that nothing happens. Zero Ground exists separately from Tirna, but we inevitably influence each other. Especially in cases like now, when Zero Ground residents are also tempted."
"Right. I understand well. Sorry for making you come such a long way."
"When it's no other than Lord Osian, how could I stay still?"
Gaien rose from his seat with a smile. He was a busy person. Just making time here was already a thankful thing.
"Ah, you may continue the remaining conversation separately. I'll excuse myself."
It was what Gaien said to Cthulatlap. The basketball-sized starfish frowned as if displeased.
[No need. We're already people who know everything about each other, so there's nothing particular to hide.]
The eye turned toward Osian.
[Recently I've been feeling quite irritating energy from the surface. Do you happen to know anything about it?]
"It seems you felt it. Perhaps because Red Eternity greatly shook the barrier that day, there's a fellow who secretly snuck in through that gap."
[Tsk. I had vaguely expected this would happen, but there was a quick-footed fellow. So what kind of guy was it?]
"If I say clown, do you know?"
Cthulatlap frowned.
[How would I know if you put it that way?]
"Hmm. That's true too. His appearance would have changed while crossing over to this world. For now, it's presumed to be an outer god and an avatar, but he was a very cunning fellow. He preferred mocking and toying with others. Above all, he seemed unable to stand seeing others' happiness."
When these elements were mentioned, Cthulatlap seemed to have something that clicked.
[Hmm. I'm still not certain who it is. But there's a fellow I can roughly guess.]
"Surprising. I thought you knew everything."
[I told you before. What you call the outside also has its own power structure. I know that red fellow because his domain has contact points with mine. But there are far more who don't. There are outside fellows I don't know too.]
"But having a guess means he's quite famous?"
[He's not famous. His affiliation is famous.]
"Affiliation?"
[Me and that red fellow often occupy territories alone. But there are quite a few who have created their own forces. Even among what you call outer gods, levels differ. Even outer gods who are weak have no choice but to be devoured.]
"A choice for survival then. This is quite unexpected information."
Krua and Atilla, not knowing this either, listened to the story with quite interested expressions.
[There are alliances where they joined hands to survive among themselves, but conversely, there are also forces united by one overwhelming strong being. Especially in the latter case, he's quite a dangerous fellow. No matter how weak they are, fellows called outer gods bowed their heads to survive.]
Outer gods bowing their heads to other outer gods and going under them to survive.
"What the hell does he do?"
[The most dangerous and most filthy fellow.]
Cthulatlap showed emotion for the first time. Arrogant as he was, he had looked down on even Red Eternity, but this time was different. He showed clear wariness toward the opponent.
[Black Conception. Source of Darkness. All Negation. Endless Hunger. Master of all that stagnates and rots in the world. A madman who never stops, expands his forces, and pursues apocalypse in the name of destruction.]
Called by another name.
[The Star Devourer.]