The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 72

“The Black Mana Tower’s movements are strange.”

“Strange movements, you say?”

“Yes.”

Kim Kangin rested his chin on his hands, his eyes gleaming. He seemed deep in thought.

“In what way are the Black Mana Tower’s movements strange?”

Very little is known about the Black Mana Tower.

Their headquarters’ location, the approximate number of black mages, the number of archmages at the 7th circle or higher, and the number of executives are all largely unknown.

Movements can only be observed if there is definite information about the subject being observed.

How did he figure out the movements of a group where everything is a question mark?

“First, take a look at this.”

Kim Kangin handed me a stack of documents. The moment I held them, I felt the heavy mana imbued in the paper.

They were top-secret documents secured with magic.

“After hearing from Hayul that the Black Mana Tower might interfere with the Olympiad, I used the tower’s intelligence network to investigate the Black Mana Tower. These documents are the results of that investigation.”

“This is so detailed…”

The stack of documents looked to be about 100 pages thick.

This document contained detailed information about the incidents the Black Mana Tower had caused this year.

“As you can see, there are a total of 67 incidents that appear to have been caused by the Black Mana Tower this year.”

“67 incidents…”

They caused 67 incidents in 43 countries over five months.

It was a clear indication of how massive a criminal organization the Black Mana Tower was.

“It’s too early to be surprised.”

Kim Kangin activated the latest tablet PC installed in each seat and displayed some data as a PPT [PowerPoint presentation].

“This is a graph showing the number of incidents caused by the Black Mana Tower between January and May over the past 10 years.”

“This is…”

Data showing a graph of 11 records from January to May of this year.

“Excluding this year, the annual average is 131.7…”

Over the past 10 years, the Black Mana Tower has caused or appeared to have caused an average of over 130 incidents.

On the other hand, this year there are only 67.

It’s a reduction of almost half.

“This change is definitely strange.”

The maximum was 190 incidents, and the minimum was 110.

Statistically, 67 incidents is just too strange.

“And this is the number of incidents that occurred between January and May of the year the Atlantic Wormhole incident occurred 11 years ago.”

The Atlantic Wormhole incident.

One of the world’s top 10 disasters, an artificial disaster caused by the Black Mana Tower.

Kim Kangin moved on to the next data.

“…61 incidents?”

The number of incidents that year was 61. It was twice as low as the annual average and very similar to the number of incidents this year.

“Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

Kim Kangin’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“The reason there are fewer incidents this year is likely because the Black Mana Tower is currently preparing for a major terrorist attack and doesn’t have the time to focus on other incidents. Is that it?”

If the statistics from 11 years ago didn’t exist, I might have just thought that there were fewer incidents this year.

However, if the number of incidents happened to drop to less than half the annual average 11 years ago, and the Atlantic Wormhole incident occurred, and this year the number of incidents has dropped to half again, then the story is a bit different.

There are too many things to dismiss it as a simple coincidence.

We have to assume that there is a high possibility of a major incident occurring this year as well.

“And here. This is a map showing the locations of incidents that occurred between January and May of this year and the locations of incidents over the past 10 years.”

The graph disappeared, and a world map appeared. As Kim Kangin said, the locations of the incidents were marked.

“There are a lot of incidents in the United States this year.”

“You noticed right away. That’s right.”

While the number of incidents this year is less than half, the number of incidents in the United States is about 1.5 times higher.

The incidents are concentrated in the United States, to the point where it can be said that the Black Mana Tower’s sphere of activity is focused on the United States.

“This is definitely an indicator that the Black Mana Tower is trying to do something in the United States this year.”

“Yes.”

The reason why there are so many incidents in the United States is likely because they moved around a lot in preparation for a major event in the United States.

“And whether it’s a coincidence or not, if you add what Hayul said to me, this is the conclusion.”

What I said to Kim Kangin.

‘There is a high probability that the Black Mana Tower will intervene in the Olympiad.’

If you add what I said to the indicators Kim Kangin has investigated, this is the conclusion.

“The Black Mana Tower is trying to do something in the United States this year, targeting the Olympiad period.”

Kim Kangin’s voice echoed heavily.

* * *

Inside the airship heading to the United States, I was lost in thought.

‘The Black Mana Tower is trying to do something at the Olympiad…’

Everyone else is asleep, probably tired.

Kim Kangin is the same.

I’m the only passenger awake on this plane right now.

‘There’s no way the Black Mana Tower would move so massively just to eliminate me.’

Does it make sense for the Black Mana Tower to take a loss by reducing the number of incidents this year by half just to deal with me?

‘In the first place, the Black Mana Tower’s movements became strange starting in January of this year. It wasn’t the time they would have been targeting me.’

I obtained the Book of Idred in April. In January, I was a dropout who Shin Jihan had no reason to target.

There’s no reason for the Black Mana Tower to target me.

‘Then what is it?’

What is the Black Mana Tower’s goal?

What are they trying to do in the United States?

Are they really targeting the Olympiad?

Or are they targeting the White House or a giant corporation like the Reppel Corporation in the United States?

My brain started to spin again.

I recalled the information I received from Kim Kangin earlier and started to think in a new direction.

‘There’s no answer.’

Of course, I didn’t come to a conclusion.

In the first place, the fact that the Black Mana Tower’s movements are strange is just something that was identified statistically.

We can’t be sure that the Black Mana Tower will actually move.

Even if the Black Mana Tower is targeting the United States, there’s no guarantee that they’re targeting the Olympiad.

Everything is an uncertain number.

It’s an unknown.

‘Well, Kim Kangin said that he would share and cooperate with the US’s Red Mana Tower and the US’s anti-terrorism headquarters to prepare, so I don’t think I need to worry…’

When you think about it, this is a benefit for me.

If the Black Mana Tower’s behavior indicators are strange, the United States will be on alert.

The more that happens, the harder it will be for the Black Mana Tower to move.

Naturally, it will be much harder for that unidentified executive who is carrying out Shin Jihan’s request to target me.

Kim Kangin discovering these suspicious indicators this time is something to be happy about rather than worried about.

‘But…’

However.

Something is bothering me.

A nagging feeling, like a small thorn stuck in my throat.

‘Something’s off. Something…’

I kept chewing on that sense of incongruity and continued to think.

* * *

After a total of six hours had passed.

We arrived at Los Angeles International Airport in the United States.

“Wow. This is America.”

Sunchan, who had a refreshed face after sleeping soundly for six hours, stretched and took a deep breath of air.

“This is the smell of America! It’s exhilarating!”

“Yeah. That’s the smell of the airport’s air purifier.”

Jin Heeyun, who also had a shiny face after six hours of sleep, tackled Sunchan.

“Noona [older sister]. Even if it’s an air purifier, wouldn’t the American and Korean ones be different?”

“As if they’d be different. Don’t you know that all air purifiers are made by Reppel Corporation?”

Jin Heeyun snorted as if it were absurd.

Ma Jinseok grabbed Sunchan’s head with one hand and spun him around, teasing him.

“Hey, if you’re going to get into the mood, you should do it after you leave the airport. What are you doing in the airport, embarrassing yourself?”

“Ah. Jinseok hyung [older brother]. Isn’t it the best to get into the mood as soon as you arrive?”

Sunchan laughed loudly! His tension was really soaring through the atmosphere and into space.

The condition-adjusting sleeping seats installed in the Blue Mana Tower’s private plane seemed to have worked properly.

He’s too healthy.

“Okay, be quiet. People are looking at you like you’re weird.”

Ma Jinseok covered Sunchan’s mouth and dragged him outside.

Sunchan made muffled noises as he was dragged away.

“Oh, that rascal.”

Jin Heeyun shook her head and followed them.

“Let’s go too.”

The immigration process was already over.

Since we came on the Blue Mana Tower’s private plane, the immigration process was a high pass, so there was nothing to do.

“I’ll guide you.”

Jeong Sua took the lead and guided us to where the limousine bus to the accommodation was waiting.

“Isn’t the Blue Mana Tower Lord coming with us?”

Adela, who had been quietly following behind, carefully approached Jeong Sua and asked.

“Yes. The Tower Lord has a prior appointment with the Red Mana Tower Lord. I think he’ll probably go to the Red Mana Tower and then come to the accommodation after he’s done with his work.”

“Ah, I see.”

It’s a well-known fact that Blue Mana Tower Lord Kim Kangin and Red Mana Tower Lord James Filler are on good terms.

Adela seemed to have remembered that fact and nodded.

Then, she made a disappointed expression.

“The Red Mana Tower… I’d like to go there sometime.”

Adela’s greed for magical things is no less than mine.

The Red Mana Tower’s special facilities are known throughout the world, so she must have really wanted to go.

“Yeah. I’d like to go there too.”

I also want to see it with my own eyes.

“Hmm. Then, shall we schedule it? The Red Mana Tower Lord also seemed to want to meet Shin Hayul and Adela Stewart. I think we’ll be able to schedule it without any problems.”

Jeong Sua took out her phone and checked the calendar. She was probably checking the schedule for the future.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could we ask you to do that?”

“I would also like to ask you to do that.”

Adela and I rushed to Jeong Sua at the same time.

A tour of the Red Mana Tower.

We can’t miss this.

“Yes. Then, I’ll coordinate the schedule.”

“Thank you.”

Just like that, the tour of the Red Mana Tower was decided.

I’m very satisfied.

“Then, could you wait for a moment? I’ll just go check the number and schedule.”

Right after arriving at the limousine bus-only parking lot, which was our destination.

Jeong Sua left to check the bus and the driver.

She could have just gone with us, but it’s so like Jeong Sua to go alone.

“She’s really thorough.”

Sunchan muttered, half in admiration and half in shock, as he watched Jeong Sua’s work.

She’s amazing, but he has an expression that says, ‘Does she really have to go that far?’

“She’s always like that. That’s why she’s more trustworthy.”

There are times when she lacks flexibility, but her work is always reliable. As far as the work Jeong Sua is in charge of, there’s nothing to worry about.

It’s not for nothing that Jeong Sua is in charge of the Blue Mana Tower Lord’s secretary at such a young age.

“I guess so. I’ve only met her a few times, but I already trust her.”

Sunchan nodded as if he understood.

“By the way. Sunchan, you and Adela…”

I was about to talk to the two of them when it happened.

Whoosh-!

Suddenly, a wind blew.

A wind made of mana with an artificial sharpness that was completely different from a natural wind.

It was flying directly towards me.

“Hayul!”

“… !”

Sunchan and Adela, who were a little slower than me but noticed the attack, blocked my path.

Sunchan immediately used a barrier to block the wind blades.

At the same time, Adela launched a moonbeam to counterattack.

It was a perfect response.

“Nice. Your teamwork is perfect.”

A blond man walked over from afar.

It’s a very familiar face.

“Hello. Korean representative. Good night.”

He greeted me in awkward Korean.

“Is this how you greet people in England? I didn’t know that.”

“Of course not. England is a country of gentlemen. There’s no way this is a greeting.”

The man smiled aggressively.

“This isn’t a greeting, it’s a declaration of war. A provocation.”

“…You’re honest.”

“Of course. Honesty is a virtue of a knight.”

A strong MVP candidate for this Olympiad, and a promising young man from England who reached the 5th circle at the age of 19.

The Gale Knight.

Kyle Bentia.

“So. I’ll be honest.”

He smiled brightly and pointed at me with the tip of his sword.

“Let’s fight. I’m curious about your skills.”