The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 297

The Rebirth of the Mythical Archmage-298

Shadow was genuinely impressed after hearing the full story of the recent Levi subjugation operation.

Eliminating Levi, a troublesome executive, was a significant achievement in itself.

On top of that, they had successfully blinded Hermes’ eyes and ears with the fake evidence they had prepared in advance.

This would lead Hermes to believe that Shin In-hyuk was the mastermind behind everything.

‘Perfect.’

Framing Shin In-hyuk for all of Shin Ha-yul’s actions was a stroke of genius, even upon reflection.

By making it seem like Shin In-hyuk was hiding behind Shin Ha-yul, Shin Ha-yul could escape their notice.

If Shin In-hyuk hadn’t been put at the forefront, such a perfect scenario wouldn’t have been possible.

If they had tried to avoid risks halfheartedly, manipulating evidence to make it seem like they had no connection to Shadow, they wouldn’t have been able to deceive Hermes so completely.

‘With this, Shin Ha-yul is somewhat safe now.’

It wouldn’t be accurate to say he was completely safe, given that Shin In-hyuk would now be targeted.

But it was much better than Shin Ha-yul being known as the mastermind behind everything.

‘On top of that, Shin In-hyuk has now become the perfect bait.’

Shin Ha-yul’s safety was a great gain, but the benefits didn’t stop there.

Because of this incident, the Black Magic Tower would have no choice but to target Shin In-hyuk.

They would turn their attention to Korea and use every means at their disposal to eliminate Shin In-hyuk.

Naturally, surveillance on other areas would weaken.

With the number of executives already reduced and manpower lacking, the gaps would become even larger.

‘This should make it much easier for Sophia Anecheff to move.’

As gaps appeared elsewhere, preparations for the ongoing spy sweep operation and the Black Magic Tower headquarters raid would become much smoother.

They would have some trouble sweeping out the spies in Korea, though.

But that was a problem they could just give up on.

Since all eyes were focused there anyway, it wouldn’t make much difference whether they eliminated the spies or not.

The spies in Korea could be dealt with slowly after all the major tasks were completed.

‘It seems the day the Black Magic Tower collapses isn’t too far off.’

Shadow’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

They were cold eyes filled with a burning desire for revenge against the Black Magic King and the Black Magic Tower, who had made him this way.

“Sato. Get up.”

At that moment, someone called out to Shadow.

It was someone Shadow had never seen before.

Judging by the aura and presence they were subtly emitting, they were clearly no ordinary person. But he didn’t know who they were.

‘A new executive? Or an executive I don’t know about?’

With those thoughts, Shadow rose from his seat.

Then, he slowly followed the man into the room.

“You seem very relaxed.”

The man walking ahead slightly turned his head and glared at Shadow.

“Do you know what situation you’re in right now?”

“Yes, I do.”

Currently, Sato was under suspicion of being a traitor.

It was suspected that he had leaked Levi’s information to the outside, leading to Levi’s death.

Shadow was now on his way to be interrogated about that.

“Even knowing that, you’re so relaxed. What confidence is that?”

“I have no confidence. I have no way to prove my innocence.”

It was always harder to prove innocence than to prove guilt.

Since he hadn’t done anything, there was nothing left behind. How could he prove his innocence?

“I just… believe.”

“Believe?”

“Yes.”

Sato replied with eyes like a priest filled with faith.

“I believe that the executives of the Black Magic Tower will recognize my innocence.”

“Hoh…”

The man’s eyes gleamed with amusement.

“Those who are considered executives of the Black Magic Tower. They wouldn’t be unable to distinguish between truth and lies?”

“It’s a bit harsh, but… yes. I believe that the esteemed executives will immediately prove my innocence.”

“Puhah!”

The man burst out laughing.

“This guy is something else.”

He clutched his stomach and laughed heartily, as if he had never been so amused in his life.

“I thought you were so relaxed because you had something prepared. But all you can say is… Puhahaha!”

The man laughed loudly, as if he couldn’t be more entertained.

“I don’t know what kind of expectations you have of us, but you’re mistaken.”

The man’s eyes turned menacing.

“We have no intention of proving your innocence. Whether we have the ability to or not.”

He stopped walking, turned around, and stared directly at Shadow.

“It’s a hassle. Whether you’re a real traitor or not. Who cares? It’s your fault for doing something that makes you suspicious. Isn’t that right?”

The man placed his index finger on Shadow’s neck.

Blood flowed from Shadow’s neck where the fingernail touched.

It felt as if he had been stabbed by a sharp knife.

“I was going to just kill you during the interrogation since I’m in charge of this one…”

The index finger slowly moved.

The wound on Shadow’s neck grew longer.

“Unfortunately, it seems that won’t be possible.”

The man took his hand off Sato’s neck and smiled regretfully.

He licked the blood from Sato that remained on his fingernail.

“You’re lucky. The person in charge of today’s interrogation is someone who, as you said, can prove your innocence.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief.”

Sato still showed no change in expression.

The man chuckled at Sato and turned back around.

Then, he hurried along the path he had been taking.

About 20 seconds passed.

“Go in.”

They had arrived at their destination.

A wooden door that clearly looked luxurious.

Shadow slowly opened the door.

‘The one waiting inside is probably Hermes.’

Hermes, the only executive involved in Levi’s death.

Given Hermes’ personality, there was no way he wouldn’t have moved.

It was clear that Hermes was in charge of today’s interrogation.

‘Then, how should I try to persuade Hermes?’

He was confident that he knew Hermes’ personality better than anyone else.

He knew what to say to gain Hermes’ trust.

He knew what actions to take to gain Hermes’ favor.

He knew it all.

‘If I just say what I’ve prepared, I can persuade him 100%.’

At that moment, the door opened halfway.

The view inside the room came into sight.

‘As expected.’

Hermes’ face was visible.

It was as he had predicted.

‘Now, if I just persuade Hermes as I’ve prepared…’

Then.

‘……!’

Shadow’s thoughts stopped.

As the door fully opened.

At the same time as confirming the man standing behind Hermes.

Both his thoughts and body stopped functioning.

‘Why… is that man… here…?’

At that moment, the mysterious man who had brought Shadow kicked the back of Shadow’s knee, forcing him to kneel.

Then, he also knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

“I greet the great King of Darkness.”

Shadow remained kneeling, blankly looking up at the man in front of him.

‘The Black Magic King… why…’

The man who had been bowing his head next to him frowned and glared at Shadow.

How dare he.

The man raised his left hand to press down on Shadow’s head.

But then.

“That’s enough.”

The Black Magic King stopped the man’s action.

“Stay as you are. Don’t move. Don’t even breathe. Just stay still.”

With an expression of great interest.

He stared intently only at Shadow.

“Indeed.”

The corners of the Black Magic King’s lips curled up slightly.

“So that’s how it was.”

As if he understood everything.

As if all his questions had been answered.

He had the expression of a detective who had solved a murder case.

“Eleventh child of darkness.”

Eleventh child of darkness.

Hermes.

“Yes.”

Hermes replied while prostrating himself.

“That child is innocent.”

“……”

Hermes’ eyes trembled.

Sato was innocent?

That couldn’t be.

‘If it wasn’t him, who leaked Levi’s information?’

Anyone could see that he was the culprit.

That newbie was the traitor.

But.

‘But if the Black Magic King says he’s not, then he’s not…’

He could deceive the eyes of others, but not the Black Magic King’s.

If the Black Magic King said he wasn’t, then he wasn’t.

“Yes. I understand. Then, I will end this interrogation here.”

Hermes bowed his head to the Black Magic King again, then slowly stood up and turned towards Shadow.

“You heard that, right? The interrogation is over. Go out.”

“…Yes.”

Shadow replied with trembling eyes. He tried his best to maintain a poker face, but it wasn’t working.

The sudden appearance of the Black Magic King and the incomprehensible declaration of innocence had completely frozen his brain.

‘What… is he thinking…?’

He didn’t understand the Black Magic King’s purpose.

He didn’t understand why he had bothered to attend the interrogation of a mere member.

He didn’t understand why he had declared him innocent without any questions or answers.

Everything was a mystery.

Shadow slowly rose from his seat with a dazed expression.

“Wait.”

At that moment.

“You must be curious about why your master died.”

The Black Magic King slowly opened his mouth with a meaningful expression.

“The one who drove the seventeenth child of darkness to his death…”

Shadow’s eyes trembled violently.

No way. No way…

“…is Shin Ha-yul.”

Shadow’s heart sank.

“H-Black Magic King. Does that mean… that the mastermind behind this incident is not Shin In-hyuk, but Shin Ha-yul?”

“That’s right.”

The Black Magic King’s eyes gleamed as he looked at the tormented Shadow.

“It’s the truth that the seventeenth child of darkness conveyed with his last ounce of strength before he died.”

Shadow felt it instinctively as he met those eyes.

“The mastermind behind this incident is Shin Ha-yul.”

“Levi…”

That man knew that he was Shadow.

He knew and was pretending not to know.

Shadow’s whole body trembled.

‘Why…?’

Like a mouse in front of a cat.

Like a pitiful lamb who had lost his will due to fear, facing a monster beyond his comprehension.

‘Why me…’

All he could do was tremble.

“I’ve said enough, haven’t I?”

The Black Magic King turned his gaze to Hermes.

Hermes was startled and bowed again.

“Yes. It’s enough. Please leave the rest to me. I will deal with Shin Ha-yul myself.”

Hermes was deeply moved.

To entrust such a big task to him again.

‘The Black Magic King favors me after all.’

To not betray that expectation, he would succeed in this mission no matter what.

He would kill Shin Ha-yul by any means necessary.

Hermes made that resolution.

“Black Magic King. I will help too.”

At that moment, the mysterious executive who had been silent all along spoke up.

“I will show that foolish one who dared to rebel against us…”

“I do not permit it.”

The Black Magic King looked down at the man with a blank expression.

“This task will be handled by the eleventh child of darkness alone. Until further orders, the intervention of other executives is forbidden.”

Hermes was moved once again.

‘To give me a chance to make up for my recent failures…’

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. Due to the recent reduction in executives, many gaps had appeared.

In the current situation, moving more than one executive was too risky.

That was why he had said he wouldn’t allow the intervention of other executives.

But.

‘Whatever the reason, the important thing is that he chose me over the other executives.’

In other words, the Black Magic King trusted Hermes the most, not anyone else.

“I can trust you with this, right?”

“Yes! Of course!”

Hermes bowed his head deeply, almost touching the ground.

“No matter what happens, I will eliminate him.”

“I have high expectations.”

Shadow was still staring blankly at the two of them.

‘He’s telling Hermes to handle it alone?’

A series of incomprehensible situations.

‘In a situation where it wouldn’t be strange to order all the executives to turn Korea into a wasteland… why send only Hermes…’

At that moment, his eyes met the Black Magic King’s.

‘Why do something that would benefit Shin Ha-yul…’

They were deep eyes, as if he could see through everything.