“What the...”

  Jessica reached the floor near the top, where the Tower Master resided. It was the rendezvous point hashed out before the raid. Of course, it was only if the Tower Master had been successfully dispatched. Viers gave the signal of success to the other Level 4 in his party, so there shouldn't be a problem.

  Yet in front of Jessica was a black sphere around twenty meters in diameter. The sphere could not be entirely seen since it passed through walls and floors but it was an accurate estimate. This was what an Imaginary Domain, or several of them, looked like from the outside. Other than her, there were already the other cultists, waiting. She was reluctant to call them comrades.

  “Dolphin,” Witch, who unbeknownst to Jessica, was also the same person with the alias of Hermit in the club, greeted her upon arrival. “Planning on opening a nursery?”

  Izabella said that because there were a lot of little children behind her. They were the ones she saved from the mad doctor’s captivity. This was not even all of them. And she was sure there were others in the other area of the tower. She needed to consult with Viers about what to do with them.

  In her arms was also the reason this whole raid was happening, the elf mother of Princess Elvina of Latias. She was unconscious but stable.

  “What is this? Where’s Ghost?” Jessica asked.

  “Inside that, most likely,” Bennec pointed his thumb and chin at the black sphere.

  “What’s going on? Didn't he win already?” Jessica asked again. Since using an Imaginary Domain costs a massive amount of Victa, no sane person would use it without a good reason, such as a battle with a serious foe.

  “That is the question, isn't it?” Alan, the other Level 4 from the Blood Church replied.

  It was then Jessica realized that both cultists stand apart from each other, ready to come to blows. However, Claw from the Bone Ravens was not present.

  “...Could it be?”

  Before the situation deteriorated further, the black sphere collapsed. A person, covered in blood, dashed through an opening in the wall created by Viers and Baharir in an earlier fight.

  “Claw?” Jessica gasped. Her state showed how grueling her battle must be.

  She didn't seem to care about the insane elevation and jumped out like a cat leaping out of a burning house. The cultist was a bit different. For one, there was a lot of gray on her hair and her skin had a lot more wrinkles like those touched with age.

  Jessica saw Viers in the middle of the destroyed Domain. He was kneeling and looking down, strange black smoke was coming out of him.

  “Ghost!”

  Only Jessica approached to give aid, the other cultists didn't act.

  “Khh!? What?”

  She stopped before physical contact. The black smoke was like a highly corrosive acid.

  “Fell...” Izabella muttered. It was an affinity the opposite of Holy that the high-ranking members of the Estellian Church used. Fell was a very nasty affinity.

  “...Move!”

  After a few seconds, Viers was on his feet. His face grimaced in pain but he persisted. The other people avoided him like a plague as he made his way to the broken wall. Outside, there was Lykin, already some distance away thanks to using a flying magical item in the shape of a big plate.

  Viers materialing a weapon out of thin air. The cultists had fought its less advanced cousin at the hands of the tower defenders earlier. The lethal anti-materiel sniper rifle. Seeing it, the eyes of the gun maniac Bennec widened. Viers took aim and fired.

  The roar of the weapon firing a magical 50mm caliber bullet was extraordinary. 972 meters away, the Grim Reaper Love Letter reached its recipient successfully. It hit Lykin just below the neck and the force of the bullet dismembered some parts of her body.

  Should she be at full strength, she might have been able to defend it like Baharir earlier but after the Domain battle with Viers, she was far from whole.

  Seeing the target go down like a shot goose in pieces, Viers kissed his gun, forgetting his mask was on the way. Then he called forth Faiya.

  “Bring her remains to me as much as you can. Especially her inventory items.”

  The fire elemental flew away after a nod and Viers turned to face the music. He just murdered a high-ranking Bone Raven assassin in front of their eyes. He could already see some members were about to cry foul and possibly do something stupid.

  Viers produced a recording magical item and threw it to their feet. Showing a projection of the exchange between him and Lykin before she attacked first. After seeing so much drama that can be resolved in xianxia stories with just a little bit of truth, Viers always had a magical item for moments like this and he carried several backups. Just some magical CCTV recording.

  Of course, he would always erase the part when he was doing illegal things later. It would make no sense to create proof of his own crime.

  On the downside, having so many items for all kinds of situations made his inventory become cluttered. Sometimes, it was difficult to find things from his bag especially when it was in an emergency situation. The Doraemon problem. He needed to address this sooner or later.

  “Now, as you all see, she attacked me first and I killed her in a righteous retaliation. That’s it, the end. Before you accuse me of killing her to get more share of the loot, your leaders and I already have an agreement before the raid. Half of Claw’s share will go to the Bone Ravens and half to me. What you get from your work remains in your pocket. Crackshot, no objection?”

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  Lykin personal belongings were a different matter though. It was Viers’ right and he didn't intend to share.

  “Fine by me,” Bennec shrugged.

  “Claw came by your recommendation. Do you have anything to say about her treachery?”

  “What she did is entirely her own. I merely gave you a suggestion. It was your call to bring her in or not.”

  “That is so,” Viers nodded. “And so think why confidently I gather a bunch of you murderous heartless bastards here. Because I’m a bigger, uglier, stronger heartless bastard. Cross me like the late Lykin the Lighteater and find out.”

  There was no one else speaking.

  “If there’s nothing else, it’s time to split up the loot ladies and gents. The Blood Church will get the Artes and archive, Bone Ravens the armory and machines. The leaders stay here while the rest of you can... loot the fallen. I believe the defenders of the Magisterium have a handsome salary. But no more damage to the Tower. This is my Tower now.”

  The rank-and-file cultists slowly walked out after hearing the word loot.

  “And no fighting, boys and girls, not in the Tower. If you want to murder each other, do so outside. That is the accord,” Viers reminded.

  “And don't touch the children,” Jessica said.

  “Yeah, what she said,” Viers echoed.

  “Now then,” Viers said to the remaining Level 4s. “Let’s clean up. You need to get out of here in six hours before the reinforcements come.”

  ***

  Izabella and Alan walked out of the room after the discussion to join the other Blood Church members. It didn't take long.

  “You know, if you strike at him, I will follow. Despite what he said, he should be tired and spent. He fought three Level 4s. Two of them back-to-back.”

  Izabella considered what her right-hand man said. Izabella was now a Vampire Progenitor. Her power was nowhere close to her previous self. She never told Viers about this matter or the visit from the Devil God of Blood either. If she struck now, could she win? Winning would give her the secret of Viers’ strength.

  Then she thought about the way Viers looked at her as if his eyes peered into her very soul. All while wearing a kindly smile.

  The legendary Vampire Progenitor felt a shiver going through her spine.

  “Conflict with him will not lead to anything good. On the other hand, an amicable relationship brings benefits to both sides, just like this venture.”

  “...I don't know him like you do, and I don't question your judgment. Only, I worry about the risk of you associating with an unknown of such power.”

  “As long as I don't betray him, he won't betray me. Let’s leave it at that but be on your guard. Come, Mist. There's so much to do. Our gains today are great but organizing and taking them back will be an undertaking.”

  ***

  Viers asked about the fate of the Executives.

  Jessica reported Doctor Reseh was dead and the elf was safe. She was lucky the frankenstein creature was weak to her qi-based attacks. After she defeated his masterpiece using Qi Rending Arte, she swiftly defeated the non-combatant Level 4.

  But Viers was not so easily convinced.

  “I’m not doubting your ability. It’s just his type that usually has a backup plan. Perhaps his consciousness survives and will inhabit a spare body he hid in a secret lab outside Zetel, nobody knows.”

  Izabella said that she and Alan’s opponents, Executives Galenn and Bissa were defeated but not dead. They managed to run away but their wounds were serious. They might need to recuperate for years.

  “Galenn is the strongest among the Executives and their death is not our primary goal. Driving them off is plenty. Good work,” Viers said.

  Bennec said he killed Executive Shamir and put three bullets in his head just to make sure. Despite the death of his colleague, he did not seem to bear a grudge at Viers and remained cordial. Perhaps he was simply happy having more guns to play with.

  Lykin’s opponent, Executive Malm, seemed to be dead since his belongings were found in Lykin’s remains.

  With Executive Yulia killed by Viers at the beginning of the battle and the death of Tower Master Baharir, the Rupa branch Magisterium was well and truly fallen.

  After giving her report, while Viers and the rest ironed out the kinks for the aftermath, the kids in Jessica’s care seemed impatient. She treated them to food from the Tower Master’s personal pantry with Viers’ permission. She also gave the elf a more comfortable place to rest.

  After she returned, the other Level 4s had left. Only Viers slumping in his chair remained.

  “Finally it's over... I’m so tired,” Viers said to Jessica, he didn't need to put up a strong front anymore.

  “Good work. Are you hurt? Is there anything I can do?”

  “Baharir and Lykin, their fight left a lasting effect that won't be quickly solved. The current me can't kill high-tier Level 4s like them without consequences, it seems,” Viers let out a tired but relieved sigh.

  Jessica saw there was a black magical mark from Viers’ neck to the right arm. The remains of the Fell affinity Arte that Lykin used. There were some that argued that Holy and Fell were the strongest affinities because of how troublesome they were, worthily elements that originated from the Goddess and the Devil Gods.

  “There’s much to do. We need to get the tower in order before the reinforcement Magisterium comes knocking. We need to settle our deal with the cultists so they can leave, tell the former employees of the change of leadership, settle the kids, inform the Estellian Church, there's so much to do.”

  “You can rest, Boss. I’ll deal with it in the meantime.”

  “You’re tired too, I can tell. Your fight is pretty desperate too, hm? Well, I’ve called the Hanged Man. He and his firm will help sort out this mess. They’ll be here in a few hours.”

  “I see.”

  “You can meet him face to face and get acquainted for real. He’s a decent guy.”

  As fellow members of the Arcanum Club, Jessica and Carlo only knew the aliases of each other.

  “Thanks, what else?” Jessica asked.

  “We have three days to lay down the groundwork. Hanged Man will keep the Tower going while I’m away. After that, back to Latias.”

  “You do have a crown to win,” Jessica smiled.

  “It is my curse,” Viers jokingly smiled back.

  They were interrupted by the knocking and entry of a dog beastfolk grandpa. His fur was very white. Viers recognized him from the soul search as the Tower’s caretaker. However, Baharir frequently dished out physical abuse on the old man when there was something he was unsatisfied with. The beastfolk still had bruises from Baharir’s latest and last abuse.

  “On behalf of the people of this land, I, Augen, greet you, savior!” The grandpa with dog ears bowed. “Our heartfelt thanks for saving us from the tyranny of the Magisterium. A thousand upon a thousand thanks!”

  Viers, taken aback from the sudden heaps of praise, looked at Jessica in silence for which she returned with an awkward smile.

  Finding no direction there, Viers decided to be true to himself.

  “Well, I won’t say saved... More like, under new management.”

  The expression of gladness on the caretaker’s face... melted like vanilla flavor ice cream under the glaring sun.