Episode 532
Zeke furrowed his brow as he listened to Baron. The report was unexpected.
“What do you mean by ‘unsettling movements from Nirvana’?” Zeke asked, eyeing Baron.
Baron handed over a file. “This is a report compiled over six months by the Black Stage, monitoring Nirvana’s activities. They’ve been unusually active in the last three months.”
Zeke quickly scanned the file, using his system to analyze the data for any peculiar trends. One word stood out: “Golem.”
He opened the file to the relevant section, tapping his knee thoughtfully as he read. After a moment, he looked up at Baron.
“Are you saying Nirvana is manufacturing combat golems?”
Baron nodded. “Yes, they’ve been purchasing large quantities of materials needed for golem cores over the past three months.”
Zeke understood the implications of Baron’s report. Nirvana, one of the three great transcendent families alongside Dreiker and Ishtar, was renowned for its magical prowess. While Dreiker boasted the strongest knights and Ishtar had its deadly assassins, Nirvana’s claim to fame was its golem-making technology.
In most kingdoms, knights and mages worked together, with knights protecting mages on the battlefield. Even in Delphoa, a nation of mages, a knightly order was maintained for defense. But Nirvana had chosen a different path, replacing knights with mass-produced golems.
Originally, golems were inefficient, slow, and limited in movement, serving as little more than moving walls against aura-wielding knights. As knights grew stronger, golems fell out of favor, and the traditional knight-mage collaboration became the norm.
However, Nirvana’s mages refused to accept this. They advanced golem core technology, eventually achieving efficient, mass-producible golems. These golems proved their worth three hundred years ago during the fall of the Holy Empire, when Nirvana’s golems and battle mages held off all attackers.
Unlike typical golems, Nirvana’s were fast, sturdy, and efficient, with modular parts that could be easily replaced. This innovation turned golems from obsolete relics into formidable war machines, allowing Nirvana to survive the chaotic era.
Now, three centuries later, Nirvana’s golem technology had advanced even further. Zeke recalled seeing autonomous golems at Nirvana’s central branch, capable of independent action on the battlefield.
Baron’s report on Nirvana’s bulk purchase of golem components was a warning. Zeke asked, “Do you think Nirvana is preparing for war?”
Baron nodded. “It seems likely.”
“They could be fortifying against demon attacks.”
“True, but we must consider the possibility of Nirvana using golems to invade the continent.”
Zeke looked at Baron. “What’s your conclusion, Baron?”
Baron met Zeke’s gaze steadily. “We need to neutralize Nirvana’s military capabilities.”
Zeke frowned. “Are you suggesting a preemptive strike?”
Baron shook his head. “A direct approach could be costly. Instead, we should pressure the factories and suppliers of golem materials to disrupt their production.”
Zeke pondered Baron’s strategy. ‘Is this how Arthur Dreiker operated?’ Arthur had ruled the central continent through indirect pressure, forcing adversaries to self-destruct.
Baron was the perfect weapon for Arthur’s subtle, meticulous warfare. Now, serving Zeke, he seemed eager to apply the same methods.
Zeke asked, “What would the previous head have done, Baron?”
Baron replied without hesitation, “He would have ordered me to compile a list of related companies immediately.”
“Yes, he probably would have.”
Arthur Dreiker was that kind of man. Zeke spoke slowly. “My father might have done that, but I won’t, Baron. I’ll contact Nirvana directly. Don’t act rashly.”
Baron nodded, his expression unchanged. “Understood, my lord. Is there anything else you require?”
“Yes.” Zeke looked directly at Baron. “Arthur Dreiker.”
He continued, “I want to know about the previous head and his relationship with my mother.”
Arthur Dreiker and Laura Agamemnon’s relationship was a mystery Zeke hoped Baron could unravel. He watched for any reaction, but Baron remained unperturbed, even to Zeke’s heightened senses.
Baron bowed. “I will follow your orders, my lord.”
“Report back as soon as you gather information.”
Baron nodded, saluted crisply, and left the room.
Alone, Zeke stared at the spot where Baron had stood. ‘Baron Dreiker. As inscrutable as Arthur.’
He decided to have Boris and Shadia investigate Baron further. Setting aside thoughts of Baron, Zeke refocused on Nirvana’s golems.
‘Mass production of golems.’
With increasing monster and demon attacks, Nirvana’s preparations seemed defensive. Yet, as Baron suggested, it was wise to investigate further.
‘I should contact Nirvana through Zeros.’
The next day, Zeros entered Zeke’s office, having quickly followed up on Zeke’s inquiry about golem production.
Zeros hesitated before speaking. “My lord, according to my mentor, officially, it’s to prepare for monster attacks.”
Zeke sensed something unsaid. “So, unofficially, there’s more to it?”
He wondered if Nirvana was indeed producing combat golems for invasion, as Baron feared. But Zeros’s response was unexpected.
“Apparently, the head of the family returned, claiming to have seen the future, and insisted on producing a thousand golems.”
Zeke frowned deeper. “Master Jorge returned? But can a family operate like that, even with a head’s decree?”
“I understand your skepticism. In most families, it wouldn’t be possible, but Nirvana is different.”
Nirvana wasn’t bound by bloodlines but by merit, allowing anyone to join through exams. Despite its chaotic reputation, the family’s longevity was due to strict adherence to the head’s word.
Zeke recalled his past life. ‘I remember something happening when Nirvana’s head reappeared.’
He searched his memories and recalled one event. ‘Master Jorge of Nirvana reaching the 9th Circle.’
A 9th Circle mage earned the title of Archmage. While Hoshgar surpassed this to become a transcendent, a 9th Circle mage was a formidable force in the mortal realm.
‘But it’s not supposed to happen yet.’
In his past life, Master Jorge reached the 9th Circle four years from now.
Zeke suspected that his earlier achievement of reaching the 9th Circle was due to the changes in history brought about by his return.
“The head of Nirvana has decided to prepare for the future by creating a thousand golems.”
“Even within the family, the decision has been met with some surprise, but since it’s the head’s decision, everyone seems to be following along.”
Though not entirely pleased, the fact that they were going ahead with the creation of a thousand golems was a testament to Nirvana’s capabilities.
As Zeke pondered this, Xerath leaned in closer and whispered to him.
“Master, your teacher has been asking if there’s any way to get more fairy stones.”
“Already used up all those?”
“For wizards, fairy stones aren’t about quantity. It’s simply a matter of having them or not.”
Xerath sighed and continued.
“Since fairy stones are essential for the golems’ cores, it seems they’ve taken everything we had. I had a hard time calming your teacher down.”
Zeke considered Xerath’s words carefully before speaking.
“Xerath, tell Antonio that this quarter, we’ll supply twice the amount of fairy stones we did before.”
Xerath cheered at Zeke’s words.
“But there’s one condition.”
“What condition?”
Zeke’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“Request that Nirvana sends a representative to attend the upcoming Continental Assembly.”
Xerath looked flustered, his eyes darting around.
“Attend the assembly…?”
The only meeting Nirvana’s mages typically attended was the head selection ceremony held every five years.
Most were too absorbed in their research to bother with other meetings.
Zeke grinned at Xerath’s discomfort.
“Let it slip that the representative from Nirvana will receive a free one-year loan of the newly developed ultra-dense mana analyzer.”
The ultra-dense mana analyzer was a magical device created through the collaboration of Hades, Fainan, and Gelion. Recently unveiled at the magic society, it boasted far superior performance to existing analyzers and offered a broader range of experimental possibilities, making it highly coveted by all wizards.
Offering one of the only two such devices on the continent for a year was an irresistible proposition for any mage.
Xerath’s eyes widened in surprise, but he soon nodded with determination.
“I’ll make sure to persuade them, no matter what.”
“Good, Xerath. I knew I could count on you.”
The next day, Zeke received word that Master Jorge, the head of Nirvana, would be attending the Continental Assembly.