City ​​of Witches 1119

Chapter 1119 – #265_Promising Talent (2)

#1113

1.
The will of Duchess Erelim was the consensus of the Truth and Enlightenment Academic Conference.
At the last meeting, she declared that she would not implement any checks on the Hessed Society or Shin Siwoo.

The academic conference accepted her decision, despite finding it somewhat incomprehensible.

“Seriously, isn’t this too much? They make me work all day, and then more work, and then even more work….”
“You must have had a hard time.”

However, Olivia, who was listening to her friend Daphne’s complaints after a long time, thought,

‘If I play my cards right, I might be able to build up some good merit?’

The policy of Duchess Erelim, who had suddenly changed her stance from being hostile to Shin Siwoo to completely reversing it, was somewhat puzzling to the members of the academic conference.

Therefore, while most followed her instructions, they also speculated, ‘Is the Duchess perhaps in a difficult situation?’ or ‘Is her true intention different, but the circumstances are not favorable, so she is taking a neutral stance?’

At that point, Vice Department Head Olivia encountered Daphne’s complaints.
The reality of the direct research institute under Shin Siwoo, which was not easily heard outside.

The truth about the basic studies research institute that she learned was shocking.
It was far worse than the rumors she had heard.

Hearing this, Olivia thought that this might be a golden opportunity to scratch Duchess Erelim’s itch.
It was, so to speak, a unilateral decision based on excessive loyalty.

“I’ve heard rumors that they make you work a lot… I didn’t know it was this inhumane.”
“Right? I mean, they give us a decent salary, but even considering it’s a project, how can they run two large projects and curriculum revisions at the same time with this few people?”

Daphne, already quite drunk, hiccuped and complained with a flushed face.
Daphne’s mouth, having lost its restraint due to alcohol, was much looser than usual.

“Two large projects? Wasn’t the restoration project the end of it?”
“Yeah, that was the end. But around the time the restoration project was finishing up, they brought in a new one?”
“Uh-huh, I see… huh?”

Olivia, who was about to nod, wondered if she had misheard something.

“Wait, the restoration project is finishing up?”

It was already widely known that Shin Siwoo had taken on the research service commissioned by the Immigration Office.

Although it was a six-year project, Count Kohab had independently predicted that they would achieve significant results within half a year.

But now, less than a month later, they were already finishing the research…
It was unbelievable.

“How is that possible? Even if it’s Shin Siwoo’s specialty, the great witches of the Truth and Enlightenment Academic Conference, who are known for their skills, could only manage temporary repairs, let alone restoration?”

Of course, the actual construction had not yet begun.
However, considering the Hessed Society’s strong financial situation, there was no chance that the project would be overturned due to lack of funds, so they would be advertising an unprecedented achievement and research capability in the history of Gehenna.

“They’re grinding people like that… of course they have to achieve that much….”
“……”

Olivia, hiding her bewilderment, continued to ask.

“Then what is the second large project?”
“That… you have to keep it a secret?”
“Of course, we’re friends.”

Daphne leaned forward and revealed the whole story.

Combining the dimensional magic formula technology acquired from restoring the gate + the homunculus tracking function of the gate + the artifact manufacturing technology of the Geminai family.
Thus, gaining exclusive hunting rights for dormant homunculi.

“…That’s insane.”

Olivia couldn’t help but be shocked.
Regardless of whether it was true or not, if that became possible, the Hessed Society would have a huge cash cow for a while.

What was the way the exiles and public enemies made a living in the current world when they lived under the strict laws of Duke Keter?

It was homunculus hunting or work as guardians commissioned by institutions or nations.
A single academic society would be monopolizing the industry that fed so many witches, even if it was incomplete.

Even this was only a very small profit.

Now that Keter no longer exists, if the witches, each of whom is a transcendent, decided to accumulate wealth, they could sweep up as much money as they wanted.
They just don’t do it.

Therefore, the true value of the homunculus hunting rights lies in the spoils of war: artifacts, research materials, and gnosis eggs.

Depending on how much of a share the Hessed Society takes from the spoils, it would be possible to achieve explosive research progress and increase its size.

Perhaps, in a short period, they could grow two or three times their current size and aim to expand their power to rival the Truth and Enlightenment Academic Conference.

“How much time is left for the hunting rights project?”
“About two weeks? I left before that, so I’m not sure….”
“This is unbelievable….”

Shin Siwoo.
He was a remarkable man.

Olivia closed her mouth for a moment and remained silent.

What should she do?

Daphne was her close friend.
Using a friend to achieve her goals was not the act of a true friend.

However, if a rival academic society had such explosive potential, was it right to follow Duchess Erelim’s complacent response out of loyalty?

If Daphne also received huge benefits as a result, wouldn’t that mean she wasn’t using her friend?
After a brief silence, she made a decision.

“Daphne, listen to me.”
“What is it?”

According to the reports so far, Count Shin Siwoo treated people harshly.

While pretending to provide accommodation, he forced inhumane working hours, demanded the return of vacations through coercion, and so on.

In Olivia’s view, it was a rampage caused by a lack of experience and excessive greed.
If witches were treated like that, it was inevitable that they would complain, even if it was in the middle of a project.

She was just curious how the system had been maintained so far.

Then, Olivia could seduce Daphne and shake things up herself.

Where to start?
From the inside.

Fortunately, most of the researchers in the basic studies department belonged to the Wine Pub Society, and they were friends who could be persuaded through Daphne.

She could promise them rewards and intentionally delay the research, or if things went well, she could ask them to leak internal information.

The information she had heard from Daphne so far was information that could have been known with a little attention, and the real game was about to begin.

Before persuading Daphne, Olivia decided to further inflate her agitated emotions.

If she was sufficiently heated, she would feel less guilty about betraying her former boss.

“Isn’t Shin Siwoo, that pretty-faced guy, the problem?”
“……”
“He makes you work like crazy, while he’s leisurely hooking up with his many lovers.”
“……”
“If you complete the project, the credit will go to Shin Siwoo anyway. Your friends from the Wine Pub, and even Sister Sola, are clearly just being used. You know that, right?”
“……”
“Honestly, isn’t his current fame all for show? Rather than working under such a horny dog, it would be better to….”

Olivia stopped talking.
A subtle red color, different from drunkenness, had appeared on Daphne’s face.

“Take it back.”
“Uh… huh?”
“Take back what you said about the society head being a horny dog right now!”
“But… but he actually has so many lovers….”
“What do you know! The society head is a good person!”

Even though she was clearly drunk to the point of losing her reason, her tone was clear.

“Oh… oh? Okay… sorry….”

Olivia was bewildered.
Just a moment ago, Daphne had been complaining about the society head.

But as soon as Olivia said something negative about him, she got angry as if her teacher had been insulted.

“Olivia, I’m going to head in first today.”
“Da, Daphne?”

Not only that, but she suddenly stood up and left the wine bar with staggering steps.

“What? What’s wrong with her?”

Olivia stood up awkwardly and saw her off.

2.
“Haa….”

Malkuth Gallery in Lenomond Town.
Daphne walked alone, drinking from a bottle of wine she had brought.

Before Olivia threw a wrench in the works, today had been the best day ever.

After getting out of the all-night work, she had a luxurious morning coffee after sleeping in, enjoyed a hot bath, got an aesthetic treatment, and met a friend…

Had the day ever been this long?
She could feel the freedom as much as she thought.

But…

“Ugh… what is this emptiness….”

It was too long.
The day was too long.

Even though she had left in the middle, it was still only around 9 o’clock even though her schedule for today was over.
It was the time when she would have eaten the lunch box that Lady Linne had given her and would have been back to work.

The days in the research institute were like a war, with her colleagues.
They were hard, but they were rewarding and fulfilling.

And the society head, Shin Siwoo, who led the way.

He would politely utter harsh criticisms during the confirmation stage, and he would give them twice the amount of work without a word, but he was not a bad count that Olivia could speak ill of.

Perhaps…
Had she thrown away a truly precious relationship for this short and empty rest?

“……”

Daphne stopped abruptly.
And she started running somewhere.

3.
“Huu.”

Siwoo sighed deeply.
It wasn’t because of the piles of documents on his desk.

It was because of Daphne’s resignation letter.
Her sudden resignation, after having faithfully followed the research, had given Siwoo quite a shock.

A sense of problem that he had never thought of before began to creep up.

Perhaps he had been pushing the researchers too hard?
Everyone was currently working hard on the research, but was it possible that some of them were secretly struggling like Daphne?
Should he revise his policy now?
These were the questions that came to mind.

At that moment.

-Bang!

The door to the basic studies research building opened.
Amidst the surprised gazes of the researchers, Daphne, with a flushed face, stood panting.

Before he could even guess what was going on, Daphne dropped to her knees.

“I’m sorry…!!! I’m sorry for submitting my resignation…! It was my fault…!!!”

Forgetting her usual honorifics and speaking as if she was drunk, but with all her heart so that everyone gathered there could hear, Daphne shouted.

“It’s unsightly to say this now!! I said I would leave the research institute!! But that… I can’t cancel it, but…!!! Can’t I…!!”

Tears streaming down her face, Daphne continued to beg with her head bowed.

“…Please, let me stay with the Hessed Society!! Just one more time…!! Accept me as a colleague again!!!”

After a plea that was almost a scream that could have echoed, a quiet silence fell.
But Daphne kept her head bowed, maintaining her posture as if she would stay there forever.

-Step, step, step

Siwoo, who was standing in front of her, quietly bent his knees and lifted Daphne up.

“Please get up.”
“Society Head….”
“Why did you change your mind? Our basic studies department is not a place where you can come and go as you please. The rules of the organization are important. Depending on your answer, I may not be able to accept you.”

Of course, he was happy.
However, it was not desirable to undermine the soundness of the organization because of his personal happiness.

Daphne swallowed her tears and answered in a choked voice.

“I realized… that without Count Shin Siwoo’s guidance… I have become someone who cannot be satisfied….”
“…Um, please don’t say that outside.”

Siwoo, having heard a somewhat embarrassing answer, carefully wiped her messy face with a handkerchief, as she was crying and sniffling.

He was worried about Daphne’s treatment, but well, a day of deviation was okay.
She was a truly loyal and excellent resource.

“Welcome back, Assistant Researcher Daphne.”

And as if it was a habit, he patted Daphne’s head and welcomed her back.
Daphne, who was blankly looking up at Siwoo with his warm touch and smile, spoke in a loud voice like a new recruit.

“From now on, I will devote myself to the society head… and give my loyalty…!!!”

Applause, cheers, and whistles poured out warmly, welcoming the prodigal daughter back.

“Daphne, if you cry and laugh, you’ll grow hair!”
“Welcome back, Daphne!!!”
“Where do you think you’re going, trying to run away alone!!!”
“Society Head! Please let Daphne do half of my work!!!”

Siwoo, who was watching them with a satisfied smile, was convinced.

The operating policy of the Hessed Society’s basic studies research institute was not wrong after all.