Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 676: Conspiracy...?

CH676 Conspiracy...?

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‘However, this new Pantheon causes me unease,’ Alex contemplated. ‘If the old Pantheon truly maintained strict secrecy as I suspect, then it’s highly probable the new Pantheon is completely ignorant of Gu Mo. Consequently, they are utterly unaware of the much larger conflict for this plane unfolding beneath the surface.’

Alex observed his own reflection in the carriage window and noted the furrow forming between his brows.

‘The very first action the new Pantheon undertook was power consolidation—which necessitated the purging of other established factions within their own Temples. This further diminished the likelihood of older records enduring or essential truths being passed down.’

When the BattleBane Guild Master recounted that the Twilight Adjudicators eliminated five Combat Sages—Legends—during their years of evasion, Alex immediately harbored doubts.

If Juror had meticulously worked to weaken the old deities before making his move, it was likely he hadn't yet developed a subordinate of Legendary status at that juncture. Should that be the case, it's improbable the Twilight Adjudicators themselves boasted numerous Legendary powerhouses.

Even with such powers, they would likely not have exceeded one or two at most. And if that were so, their pursuers would never have been so negligent as to permit the Twilight Adjudicators to successfully claim five Legendary existences in retaliation.

Label him a conspiracy theorist—or perhaps just a pessimist regarding human nature—but Alex strongly leaned towards believing that most of those Combat Sages met their end at the hands of the new deities themselves. They likely used the ensuing chaos as a pretext to undermine rival factions within the Temples, thereby solidifying their own dominance and sway.

At best, he might concede that the Twilight Adjudicators, at a tremendous cost, managed to fell one Combat Sage. Possibly two, if one were to stretch credulity to its absolute limit. But five? No. That was simply too convenient.

The instant they achieved the demise of even a single Combat Sage, their threat level would have escalated dramatically. From that point forward, such recurring triumphs would have become exceedingly improbable.

Alex recognized one undeniable truth—the older and more formidable an individual became, the more intensely they dreaded death.

It stood as one of the profound ironies of human existence.

That as many as five of these veteran and powerful Combat Sages—individuals who stood at the pinnacle of mortal might in this world—would all succumb to the same hunted group?

Alex found this premise utterly unbelievable. Particularly in a realm where those very Combat Sages could be considered divine beings walking among mortals.

‘Another matter that troubles me is the artifact purloined by the War Deity.’

‘Judging by its description, I would venture that the artifact was most likely the totem stele that One Heaven unearthed in the hidden Heaven—the very one that likely served as a beacon, summoning Gu Mo across the void and deceiving the old deities into establishing Deity Cultivation within Verdantis.’

‘An artifact of such nature is not something the ancient deities could or should casually destroy at their whim. Had it possessed such fragility, it would never have endured its journey through the void from Gu Mo’s place of origin to this plane.’

‘No… something about that is inconsistent.’

Alex’s thoughts grew more somber.

‘Then there is Juror. The War Deity imparted to him the method of achieving godhood, utilizing knowledge derived from the totem stele. In contrast to the ancient gods, Juror should have possessed far less opportunity to study it.’

‘So how was he capable of not only grasping the technique for deicide but also executing it successfully in such a brief period—when the older deities had failed in this endeavor for centuries?’

‘I refuse to accept that those power-hungry traitors of the bygone era harbored no desire for mutual destruction after the myriad wars and betrayals they engaged in. They absolutely would have attempted it. So why was it Juror—a newly emerged deity—who managed to realize the potential for true deicide?’

Alex’s eyes glinted sharply.

'Everything leads back to the totem stele...' he murmured aloud.

His internal reflections continued.

‘That accursed object must have deliberately instructed Juror on how to achieve this. Just as the ancient deities were before him, Juror—and perhaps the entirety of the new generation Pantheon—must be nothing more than unwitting pawns.’

‘In that scenario, every event—from the deicides, to the destruction of the totem stele, to the ascendancy of a new Pantheon—must all be facets of a singular grand design… a design the new deities are far too oblivious to perceive.’

‘Gu Mo.’

The name resonated deeply within Alex’s consciousness.

‘This occurrence must be linked to Gu Mo.’

That conclusion solidified in his mind like cooled iron.

‘But Gu Mo was sealed at that time. What possible Sourceder could he have gained from the deities engaging in mutual destruction—’

Alex’s thoughts abruptly halted.

An unnerving chill coursed down his spine.

‘No… perhaps that is precisely the point.’

His eyes widened with sudden, dawning horror.

’Deicide... and the destruction of the totem stele... they both share one element—a colossal outpouring of energy!’

’Such a massive release of energy would have undoubtedly impacted the plane itself. The Planar Consciousness would have been compelled to react—either to negate the damage or to rectify the imbalance. However, a plane’s resources are not infinite. To mend one catastrophe, it must reallocate resources from elsewhere.

’Something akin to the seal that holds Gu Mo in suppression...’

Alex’s breathing quickened for a fleeting instant before he forcefully regained his composure.

’If my suspicion is correct, then that implies Gu Mo might have been freed much sooner than I initially anticipated,’ he concluded.

’Concurrently, it would have diminished the strength of the plane’s guardians—which, whether I approved or not, had transitioned into the new deities. With the old Pantheon vanished and the new generation too oblivious to grasp the reality of the situation, Gu Mo would have found it considerably simpler to execute his plans without any active opposition.

’Damn it all... even while imprisoned, this fiend was still orchestrating schemes at the highest strategic level.’

Were the implications not so dire, Alex might have risen to his feet and offered applause for Gu Mo’s ingenuity.

Naturally, all of this remained within the realm of his own speculation. It was entirely conceivable that he was merely fabricating an intricate tale born from an overactive imagination and an excess of mistrust.

Nevertheless, he had perused a vast amount of political and conspiracy-themed literature, enabling him to recognize the emergence of dangerous patterns.

Even so, a degree of doubt lingered within him.

In contrast to other critical junctures, his otaku — his reader's — intuition was not sounding a resounding alarm.

’At best, it’s merely a faint tremor at the periphery of my awareness,’ Alex mused.

He acknowledged the possibility that he might be overestimating Gu Mo. He might be overestimating Juror. He might even be overestimating the entirety of the new Pantheon.

Yet, one certainty remained — a certainty sufficient for him to place his trust in — that some clandestine scheme was in progress beneath the surface.

He simply could not ascertain the true architect of the plot. Was it Gu Mo’s design? The new Pantheon’s machinations? The lingering influence of the sorcerers? Or perhaps some other entity operating from the shadows?

That very ambiguity left him profoundly unsettled.

’I must make preparations for the most unfavorable outcome,’ he resolved.

As a component of this preparation for the worst-case scenario, Alex redirected his focus toward concluding a less significant affair that was already underway.

’Having already made a favorable impression on Lady Wintermere, I ought to act swiftly and resolve this 'Lost Heathen' predicament as expediently as possible.’

Entirely unbeknownst to Brock Peyton, the death sentence for both him and his entire cohort was expedited.

Alex retraced his path, navigating once more through the concealed passageways beneath the tailor’s establishment before making his return to Fortuna Mansion.

Following a mere few hours dedicated to rest and strategic planning, the group mobilized once more.

This time, their objective was to deliver the final blow to the Lost Heathens, sealing their doom.

***