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Chapter 337: Absolute Domain
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Draco froze on his feet. When the door shut, he waited a few moments more before unleashing a punch to the wall and shattering it.
“God damn it!” he yelled. In fact, he yelled and also cursed for a good while over before his gaze landed on Zelga. He pulled the man up by his collar and spat curses right at his face. “Because of your stupidity, I have been insulted right off my face in front of my subordinates!”
He threw Zelga back to his chair but Zelga, who was still fuming with hate, didn’t get angry at him.
He knew that if he retorted, Draco would have a grip on his neck in regards to the secret deal they had made upon themselves.
Right now, he was a sinner and he doesn’t have a right to speak anything about the trouble he had just made.
The price of this mistake affects his plans as well.
And also, in the bigger picture, his greatest sin is the fact that he offended and insulted the Terran Cultural Heritage titular entities: an Archmage.
This was a sin akin to insulting the entire Terran Civilization.
The Circle of Magi is the oldest and only open secret organization that had lasted older than even the oldest record in the Book of Legends.
No one knows their origins.
They are the guardians of the Terrans and during the dark ages where the dragon race ran rampant, pushing the Muans and Terrans to the brink of extinction, the Circle of Magi was one of the very few organizations that had lasted until the end of those bloody days of war.
But today… of those organizations, only the Circle of Magi had remained and thus, they are treated as the Terran Race Living Heritages.
Yet, theirs is an organization that kept to their own and never affiliates themselves in the mundane.
Only their ambassadors and very few agents are able to make contact with them and every time they do appear are always times when Terroa is facing something really historically important.
The outer circle can be considered disciples of the members of the Inner Circle, while those very, very few who were above even the Inner Circle and stand at the same, or even higher, pedestals than an Envoy, are those very, very few people addressed as an Archmage.
Because there are rules about being an Archmage and the biggest is that “one must be outstanding in their Magic Abilities”, not many are given this title and that’s why such a title is very prestigious that warranted absolute respect and adoration.
Yet now, this titular living cultural heritage of the entire Terran Civilization, an exalted Archmage, was lusted over by a mere King Candidate’.
Even if he’s the Emperor of the Terran Race, he would still be beneath the soles of an Archmage and would still need to bow his head when he is in front of one.
And yet… he lusted over her?
In every meaning of the word, Zelga was indeed a moron and a fucking imbecile.
“God damn it! You fucking piece of shit! Do you have any idea how this will affect the entire Kingdom? Do you fucking have any idea how this will fucking affect the entire planet if it is ever even published outside? Forget about your title as a King Candidate, not even the emperors of the distant eras in the past can save you from the wrath of the entire civilization. You are a fucking public enemy, from this day forward. Do you know what that means, huh, you fucking moron?”
Zelga was being berated heavily, cursed without a slight tinge of restraint. But… no one in this room was his ally. Even the Guard Captain hated him.
If he was not retrained by the presence of Draco who was his superior and is way, way up in the ladder of authority in their echelon, then he would have hacked this piece of garbage just by the mere fact that his actions had insulted the Terran Race as a whole.
Zelga was being seen as an arrogant human!
“Just because you are a King Candidate, you dare to vaunt outside and parade yourself already as a king?” Draco was really furious, “You choose at this moment, are you going to commit suicide or are you going to do what I tell you to and stay out of trouble until the official start of the King Test?”
Zelga is a prince, a real world prince!
He had always disdained the NPCs who were only bits and pieces of programs with limited capability to certain prompts.
And yet, right now, the very thing he disdained is ordering him to either commit suicide or become his loyal lapdog.
Zelga wanted to retort but he realized… he can’t.
Yes, he can always start a new character but that will affect his plans of revenge on everything and everyone who had wronged his pride and status.
He can always start a new character with a new Unique Ability, but he can’t become a King Candidate because there was no time left.
Starting new character needs 24hrs from last log out and within those 24 hours in the real world, three days would have long passed in Terroa.
The King Test is already due in two days and so he wouldn’t make it in time.
In addition, he needed the position Draco gave him to squash The Legion with a justified reason.
Adding to that is the fact that his pride wouldn’t be able to take it. Running away from this situation would only hurt his ego. And that’s what makes him furious as well.
He was being ordered to kneel down or commit suicide to redeem himself of this sin against the entire Terran Race —a race of NPCs!!!
“Well? Should I do it for you?” Draco spoke and pulled out his sword.
Right now, Zelga was confused and so angry that he didn’t see the smile floating on Draco’s lips.
All of this was just his ploy.
“I told you I would lead you in the nose someday.”
(AN: Vol6 Ch.68)
This is like harvesting diamonds after the volcanic eruption, or finding a gem right after a storm.
He found his opportunity to control Zelga when he was on his lowest. And Zelga doesn’t have any defense because he had brought all of this upon himself.
Draco had a grasp of Zelga’s weakness. He was an impetuous and impulsive moron who thinks not by his brain but by his manhood.
He had seen it when he sent that dragon to attack Siva and now, he had proven it once again.
Draco eyed the Guard Captain and the Secretary.
Aside from those two, they were the only ones in the room at the moment and even the adjacent rooms had been vacated because of the VIPs involved in this matter.
“I’m sorry.” Zelga finally decided and clenched his fists as he uttered, “Help me solve the issue.”
It was clear that Zelga chose his plans over pride.
Draco sheathed his sword and said to the other two, “Forget this incident. You are the only ones who knew what happened so when this leaks out in the open, I will make sure that you will watch as your families are burned alive. Am I clear?”
“Yes sir.” “Yes sir.”
Then he looked at Zelga, “This matter is not yet finished. I saw how that Archmage hated you and from the looks of it, it’s either the Knight is her lover or her brother. But seeing that they are both affiliated with the Circle of Magi, I can only adopt a concept of them being envoys from the Circle of Magi; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to order around two monstrously powerful people like they are his servants. In addition…”
Draco paused here. He didn’t want it to be true.
Just thinking about those two hulking figures and the way just one of them planted his subordinates to the wall and the ceiling like they were mere furnishings, were enough to threaten even Draco.
The two of them looked up to see the dangling bodies of his two subordinates, an urgent threat rising on their chests.
“You’ve fucking made a mess this time, Zelga. If I am that Knight, I will really not let this matter rest just like this. If his mission and his meeting with Pistareen weren’t more important, then he would have no qualms killing you here and now.”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Zelga shuddered, “What do you mean?”
Draco looked down on him disdainfully, “You are actually this stupid? Didn’t you just hear his clear threat to you? He told you that if you’re not in the city, then you wouldn’t only end up like this.”
“I will be killed?”
“Hmp. Being killed is your easiest way out. Even if you have that ability of yours, don’t ever think that someone who can command those two monsters are only limited to this much show of force. He clearly knew how my status represents the power in Jeremiah but he didn’t even think twice on trashing your goons right in front of me. What do you think that represents, huh? And even after he knew who I was, he still threatened you. Don’t you think someone like that will be afraid of me or you, or even your dragon… if ever? Hmp. How naïve. I can only assume that they are indeed envoys from the Circle of Magi.”
Having said that, he swiped the air and showed Zelga a picture… it was a picture from a forum.
“This is?” he asked but upon second look, his eyes widened, “What is this?!”
“Read the caption.”
After a while, Zelga asked, “Directly summoned by Pistareen?”
Didn’t I say it just now? Draco thought.
What a complete moron!
Draco frowned even further. “There have been a few rumours in the past decades about the old bastard grooming a few people and naming them Magic Knights but there have never been any sort of evidence to their existence.”
“Magic Knights…” Zelga and the Guard Captain felt their sweat forming upon these two words.
It’s because earlier, the Knight had addressed himself as such and even demanded for someone from The Mansion to come and verify his identity.
Circle of Magi…
Magic Knights…
Before they landed on a conclusion, Draco balled his fist again and punched the wall a second time.
“And this is not the really frightening bit of fact in this incident.”
“What is?” Zelga was puzzled.
This is NPC matters and as Volga of The Legion, until now, he never cared about these information even in the slightest.
“Stupid!” Draco roared at him. “Don’t you get it? I just saved your ass from being destroyed by the Circle of Magi! Why do you think the Enchantment Temples lasted this long in the entire history of Terroa? Why do you think that in every part of the world, there is a Temple? Why do you think that in the entire history of Terroa, there is no other kind of civilization like the Enchantment Temple?”
Zelga paused, he really doesn’t have any idea and this made Draco want to slap his face repeatedly.
“You fu—hrrrmmmm… I’m starting to believe that what that Halma bastard spoke of was actually the truth. Why are you even a King Candidate? It is simple: because the Enchantment Temple is an organization subordinate to the Circle of Magi. Do you get it now? You’ve just insulted and offended the Circle of Magi. This little incident you caused confirmed every little rumour we have in the past.”
Zelga was totally shocked. Who wouldn’t be when they just learned they just insulted one of the most respected organization in the world —even by the players of RPG: Terroa.
He didn’t expect that his simple fit of lust would actually move a huge secret monster that’s been hiding in the shadows for thousands of years.
What if the Circle of Magi moved against him?
Not only will this affect his plans, but he will also become the shame of the entire game, affecting all, even the real world. If the players boycott the game, the company will suffer and when a proper investigation is conducted, they can trace the ID Number of the player who caused it all to happen.
The company may not move against him but they can publish the investigation result. He will be shamed in the real world.
He can’t let that happen.
The weight of the consequences outweighed the reason of his actions. He really pulled the scale of a dragon this time and with it, the entire Kingdom of Jeremiah might be affected.
Draco then landed the final blow, “And the worst part of it is that you alone don’t have the slightest of qualifications to pacify their anger.”
He had done it.
He had really done it.
Zelga held his head, regretting his actions. Yes, he hated that Knight for his arrogance but now that he thought about it, he landed on the very first idea he had when he first met them.
“Those guys are really ranked NPCs!”
The Circle of Magi is an NPC Organization and all quests and missions related to them have a minimum difficulty of B-Rank —this is a really tight requirement for the current gamers’ standards.
Defeating a Ranked Title or Name yields Unique-Grade Rewards but befriending them yields twice or even more privileges.
In the entire history of the game, perhaps he was the only one who had actually offended Ranked Titles/Names, but not just any other Ranked ones!
He actually offended the Circle of Magi!
Yep. He had really done it.
Not only this is a huge loss to him, it was also a hit to his ego and pride... as well as to his personal mission.
Draco gritted his teeth. Looking at the bastard at this moment, just thinking about the things he had to let go just to pacify the situation, and then just thinking about how he was disdainfully treated by that Knight earlier… all of it adding up… wasn’t going to be lower than Zelga’s wrathful feelings right now.
“Stand up.” Draco ordered.
“What?” Zelga raised his head in confusion.
“I said stand up!” Draco yelled with the authority of a superior and although Zelga didn’t want to, he had already signed a mental agreement when he acquiesced to him earlier.
Like a real soldier, Zelga stood up, straightening his posture. Draco walked towards the door and gestured for Zelga to follow.
Yet before he went out of the room, he made an eye contact with the Captain of the Guards. It was a warning of his threat earlier.
So, as much as the Captain wanted to hack and slice Zelga, he wasn’t left any choice but to grit his teeth and swallow his rage.
“Arrogant human.” He murmured. “Just you wait there. Your time will eventually come!”
*****
When Siva got out of the building, there were so many people here that they looked like a sea of heads when seen from a high place.
Scion panicked like a child as she hid behind him.
Her experience with public wasn’t much and this is the first time that she was being treated like a celebrity. The notion was scaring her.
Siva felt her fear and gave Cortana a mental order that was translated into his two guards taking their steps forward to clear a path.
“GIVE WAY!!!” the [Destroyer] shouted.
His voice was different from the [Smasher] but his was still a voice that belonged to a bouncer in a high-level club.
The soundwave travelled far and those who were in the front side moved back, giving way to them.
Cortaderia Halma is a High Magistrate and just his status alone was enough to deter almost anyone who had a soul of player inside their avatars, how much more are the ordinary NPCs.
And yet, he was just a minor character compared to Siva’s presence.
Just the fact alone that he was at the very front of this group, even in front of Halma, he was already treated by everyone as a VVVVVIP in their hearts.
There was pressure radiating from Siva and was a combination of hostility and real might, deterring a few people with sensitive skins to danger.
And then, those who could sense Mana of other people, aside from Siva, the woman hiding on his cape was also emitting high Mana output and this is enough to actually make them think twice to the two people’s identities.
What more…
“Hey look, is that Lady Brea?”
“My god… she’s just a follower in this group?!”
Lady Brea is a famous character in Jeremiah and her identity held the same status of importance as Zelga.
But the difference between them is that she held a low profile while the latter flaunted his status to the public like a raccoon with a golden tail.
The reason why there are so many people in here is that they heard a rumour that Zelga offended a very important person.
Now that they saw this scene, they couldn’t help but think that this might really be the case.
Zelga brought trouble upon himself.
A King Candidate… brought shame to the title.
A king Candidate… from the Wall of Jeremiah had brought shame to the organization.
This is such a big piece of news.
“Cortana, did you record everything in there?”
“Of course, Boss.”
Siva smiled, “Good. In the near future, we can use that as a fighting ace in our sleeve.”
“Fufufu~~ You’re so evil, boss.
“Urgh. S-Shut up.”
“Shutting.”
Blackmailing is just part of business. He learned this lesson with the letter missive he had received from Pistareen.
Stating facts, then threatening consequences is but the basics of blackmailing techniques.
If he masters this, then he could clearly play the role of a Godfather who offers deals that clients cannot refuse.
“Ah, boss, you’re smiling evilly again.”
“I can’t help it. You’re so evil yourself. Who taught you to plant their heads in the wall and ceiling? It was the most hilarious thing I’ve ever seen in my life!”
Truthfully, just stopping himself from laughing is a great strain and challenge to his ability to control his emotions. And by this, he improved his control over his [Killing Zone] once again.
“Alright, putting that aside, with this incident, we discovered a few important matters that concerns the Circle of Magi and the Enchantment Temple.”
“It’s all thanks to that Draco.”
“Indeed.”
One must remember that Cortana implemented the [Active Scan] function of the Auricle Device to the Absolute Domain of the BMA and the [S-Generators] attached to the Signal Towers and the [BM-Smasher].
The scan has a range of 100m and everything in its range is perceptible to Cortana.
In this regard, while they were exiting, the [Smasher] was left to the rear to guard them and as well as extend Cortana’s “senses” to its reach.
And by this, they were able to hear, through the vibrations in the wind wall, what they were talking about in the office of the Guard Captain.
This was a feature that wasn’t included in the original Auricle Scan of the Auricle Device, but is her own invention through Siva’s prompt when they were still inside the Dragon; using sound like a sonar to pinpoint their exact location in the body of the large dragon.
What they did here is the same principle.
And through it, they discovered a few important information they can use in the upcoming meeting against Pistareen.
“It’s all thanks to those smart people posting that in the Net. We can use this to advance our own goals and purpose for coming here in Jeremiah.”
“Cortana, we’ve received 200 extra Megatons of Tesla Coils in this trip. Please compute a practical design on how we can improve the effects of the [Absolute Domain] of BMA and [S-Generators].”
“Yes sir. But where should we focus it on?”
“Increasing the range and load quantity.”
The [Absolute Domain] has a maximum range of 100m and only within this range can the weight of the Black Ironwood Alloy items (puppets included) be negated and even used as an asset.
In essence, it’s like their oxygen. Without it, they are only as good as weights; they can’t move and they can’t function.
Only within the [Absolute Domain] are they usable and this in itself is both a weakness and strength.
Also, the [Absolute Domain] is the limit that the implemented [Auricle Scan] range is applied.
The BMA is currently on its limits of settings and improving it needed more resources and a better blueprint design.
The Mega-Crates are intended to be used to build more towers and their guardians; the Tesla Coils are one of the Superconductors he needed for a better [Generator] design, and also for improving the BMA.
He can’t let this opportunity pass.
Now that he had the resources, he must upgrade the scan range as well as the load quantity it can carry…
…and when he meant by load quantity, he meant the number of functions implemented on the scan range of the Absolute Domain.
“As much as possible, I want to extend all of my senses within the range of the scan, especially the sense of touch and hearing.”
Cortana had read his mind. “Ah, you want to use commercially sold cameras for visual imaging and sonar technique for audio rendering. It is doable but I need more time to surf the Net for blueprint references and integrate their designs together into one functioning blueprint.”
“How long do you need?”
“Around five minutes.”
—ah, the power of 500YB of processing power!
“Do it.” Siva was really looking forward to it. “Now that I got that out of the way…”
He led their group out of the crowd towards the Grand Enchantment Temple. When he finished all his instructions for Cortana, they were already in front of the gates of the large ‘mansion’.
“At last. The Grand Enchantment Temple.”
.
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Finally!!!
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