Gard looked down at the communication device on his wrist, his expression turning ice cold. However, it didn’t take a second ring for him to pick up.
"When were you going to tell me?"
There was no greeting, just a voice as cold as tundra on the other end. It was almost dead in its density, so glacial it pinpricked at Gard’s brain and wormed into his ear, making his body run cold along with it.
"This is entirely my fault." Gard replied calmly.
"Then why isn’t your head on my desk yet?"
"There is an opportunity here." Gard continued calmly. "The Genesis Council’s rule has not been tested in a very long time. It has become an arcane rule that no one knows how to enforce any longer.
"We may be a small step away from being a true Genesis Race, but we are close enough that our weight is not nothing. The Genesis Council also knows that we would not allow a failure at this step easily. Should they seek to cut us out, they will need to come with the intent to wipe us out. Essentially, all-out war. Nothing less will work.
"Given the current situation, they might not be willing. Not to mention the fact that doing so will require justification, which will further require an explanation of why the multi-Frame is so dangerous and why it must be snuffed out.
"These are all things the Genesis Council will have to weigh while it is deciding how to deal with an arcane law."
"So you mean that your ingenious plan is to heavily rely on the family? Why should the family not simply take your head and give it to the Genesis Council as recompense?"
"The family may still choose to do this, and I would not weep for a moment. However, if I am to be used as a scapegoat, I should be used to the fullest extent. Assigning a new Associate Producer will only mean that they will have to be scapegoated as well in the end.
"And my apologies for the offense, Producer Endes, but should you do this, it will also implicate you."
There was a silence on the other end, but Gard could practically feel the sneer. Still, he knew he was correct.
If Endes swapped him out now, it would mean he was acknowledging his understanding of the situation. That would make it a lot harder to give up just two Associate Producers as the fall guys. They would have to take Endes’ head as well at that point.
However, if Endes left Gard on, then he could claim that everything was Gard’s cover-up’s fault and leave it at that. That would give him a much higher chance at survival.
"It seems that you have really thought everything through." Endes said coldly.
"I would prefer not to do this, but a multi-Frame has not appeared in over 1,000 seasons, the rarity is impossible, and most of the Races it has ever appeared in know never to bring themselves forward to participate in the Genesis Games lest they be exposed.
"For this multi-Frame to come from a Cracked World is even more unheard of. The matter was covered up by my Assistant Producer and by the time I learned of it, the boy had grown powerful enough to protect himself.
"Even now, I cannot be 100% certain that he will fall. I have only done everything that I can to ensure that he does.
"However, like I have also said, Producer Endes, as much as this is trouble, it is also an opportunity. There is a small window between whether this is wildly spread knowledge that must be snuffed out, and a limbo period where not many know what they are watching that can be taken advantage of.
"A Cracked World with a rising hero that can actually fight back against the greater Races is an unheard-of story. The ratings will be through the roof."
"And if he survives? What will you do then?"
"He will not." Gard said coldly. "I have just documented the approach of a member of the Ashen Arc Clan."
"Hohoho..."
Endes’ voice sounded somewhere between amused and furious.
Maybe the Low Races wouldn’t know what they were coming across, but a member of a High Race would know a multi-Frame when they saw one.
That could still be fine so long as Grey died in a timely fashion, the Genesis Council might really let bygones be bygones at that point. However, what of the fallout after the fact?
Right now, the trio that had entered the region of Zone 234 were only doing so to take out Joaquin. The benefit of killing one of the Great Udon’s chosen was excellent. They would definitely be broadcast at that point.
There was a reason the Great Udon selected his first chosen not based on objective power, but instead based on who could trigger the best story lines by being named.
However... if the Higher Races started to find the Cracked Worlds interesting, then they would stick around and linger. At that point, there would be no salvaging what was left.
"I know that this mistake is my own, Producer. However, do you not believe that it would be worth the lull that would happen following the complete wipe out of the Cracked World if it meant there was such an attraction?
"Even if the Ashen Arc Clan member goes on to massacre them all trying to find another interesting party like the boy, we can cross that bridge when we get there and benefit from things as they are now.
"The money we make from this will far surpass what we will lose afterward. We will be well on our way to earning enough for tribute to the Genesis Council, especially considering what we have planned for the final arc."
Endes fell into silence for a long while before he spoke again.
"How this goes will decide your life and death. Good luck, Gard.
"As for your Assistant Producer, kill him."
Gard’s jaw set. Killing an Assistant Producer was not an easy matter at all. This would have to be done delicately.
However... he already had a plan for this as well.
Caldrin could only blame himself.