Chapter 146: Cult Leader

Five invisible figures moved silently through the grounds of the Imperial Zenith School.

Their footsteps made no sound.

Even their mana fluctuations had been carefully concealed.

They were an elite infiltration unit of the Hidden Kosilori Cult, personally selected by the Left Guardian and the Right Guardian.

Although the two Guardians constantly quarreled over almost everything, they had reached complete agreement regarding this mission.

And, failure was not an option.

Infiltrating the Imperial Zenith School alone had already cost them dearly.

It had taken nearly three weeks just to breach the school’s security without being discovered.

After that, they spent another two weeks patiently observing patrol routes, studying the magical formations, and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Months earlier, every information agent the Cult had secretly planted within the school had suddenly gone silent.

Whether they had been captured, killed, or choose to remain silent... nobody knew.

Fortunately, the organization still possessed old intelligence regarding the school’s security systems.

Although many defensive formations had changed overtime, some fundamental mechanisms remained the same.

By concentrating all of their efforts on a single entry point instead of attempting multiple infiltrations, they had eventually succeeded in entering the school unnoticed.

Along the way, they had also contacted another member of the Cult.

Or rather, someone whose father belonged to the Cult. Someone currently studying inside the school.

Unfortunately, the young man clearly didn’t want to be involved with them.

So, the Cult had ultimately resorted to threats just to force a meeting.

"Once this is over, don’t ever think about contacting me again." Chad said coldly, glaring at the group.

He pointed directly at the man leading the operation.

"And the moment I become stronger, I’ll personally kill you."

The captain merely smiled.

"Is that how you speak to one of your father’s old friends?"

"I don’t know you, and I don’t want to." Chad snorted.

Although his father belonged to the Hidden Kosilori Cult, he himself didn’t.

Most of his childhood had been spent with his mother’s family, leaving him almost completely detached from the organization.

Still, he recognized the Red Armband worn by everyone present.

Within the Cult, that Red band represented tremendous authority.

The man leading this operation happened to be the Vice Squad Leader of the squad once commanded by Chad’s father who was a Silver Band.

A band reserved exclusively for Grand Masters and Fifth Circle Grand Mages.

The remaining members accompanying him were no ordinary operatives either.

Every one of them was a Red Band and specialized in infiltration, assassination, concealment, or support.

The Cult had deliberately avoided dispatching Grand Masters or stronger experts.

Not because they lacked such people, but because the Imperial Zenith School was one of the most heavily protected places in the Empire.

Sending too many powerful individuals would immediately alert the old monster hidden within the Empire.

Their mission demanded precision and not overwhelming force.

One of the operatives glanced toward Chad before sneering.

"Leader why are we wasting time talking to a rootless bastard?"

"You motherfu—" Before Chad could finish cursing, his expression suddenly changed.

An invisible gas had already spread through the surrounding air.

His vision blurred and his body became heavy.

"...What did y-you...?"

Unable to resist, Chad collapsed onto the ground.

Then a slender figure with long pointed ears quietly emerged.

Without saying a word, the elf carried Chad away to hide him until the operation concluded.

Watching this, the captain calmly folded his arms.

"Our sleeping poison has improved but it still isn’t strong enough. We’ll need a more potent version if we expect it to affect higher-ranked individuals."

He then turned toward another member of the squad.

"In the meantime, Borund, do your job."

A short, broad-shouldered dwarf stepped forward while scratching his beard.

His braided hair and thick beard perfectly matched the stereotypical appearance of a traditional dwarf.

"I swear, one day I’m killing you for giving me orders." Borund grumbled as the captain merely laughed.

Both of them wore Red Armbands so in the Cult hierarchy they were in equal ranks.

One by one, he removed strange magical devices and carefully placed them around the entrance of the [Goblin and Undead Dungeon].

Some resembled crystalline rods, while the others looked like tiny metallic spiders.

One device quietly emitted an invisible pulse that slipped directly into the dungeon’s magical network.

Its target was the Dungeon Core.

Borund wasn’t trying to destroy it, he intended to temporarily hijack several of its functions.

Specifically, the Observation Spells and the teleportation system.

And the operational authority governing the first floor, along with the floor where their true target currently resided.

Naturally, such a feat couldn’t be accomplished instantly.

Even for a master dwarven artificer, remotely interfering with the Dungeon Core required time.

Fortunately, Borund happened to be one of the finest magical tool craftsmen within the Hidden Kosilori Cult.

As long as nobody inside the Observation Room directly assumed manual control over the Dungeon Core, he was confident he could complete the takeover.

Several minutes later, the elf operative silently returned giving the captain a single nod.

Chad had been successfully hidden.

The captain’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Everything, was proceeding according to plan.

They were now one step closer to completing the mission entrusted to them by the Hidden Kosilori Cult.

A mission that promised rewards beyond anything ordinary members could hope for.

***

Hidden Kosilori Cult Headquarters, Unknown Location.

Most people imagined the headquarters of a cult as a dark, gloomy place hidden beneath the earth or deep within an isolated mountain range.

The headquarters of the Hidden Kosilori Cult, however, was nothing like that.

Instead of ruined temples and sinister fortresses, a vast city stretched across the land.

Traditional architecture blended harmoniously with modern MagiTech, creating a unique atmosphere where ancient elegance and contemporary craftsmanship coexisted.

Wide streets, flourishing gardens, and bustling districts gave the impression of a prosperous human settlement rather than the home of a secret organization.

Very few people would ever suspect that this peaceful-looking city was actually the heart of one of the most mysterious cults on the continent.

And at the very center of the city stood the Great Kosilori Palace.

Its towering structure overlooked everything around it, making the surrounding buildings appear insignificant in comparison.

This magnificent palace served as the residence of the Cult Leader and the highest authorities of the organization.

At that very moment, on the palace’s highest floors, a meeting of the cult’s upper echelon was taking place.

Only one figure remained.

The Cult Leader quietly sat alone on the rooftop of the Great Kosilori Palace, enjoying the gentle breeze as silence surrounded him.

For several moments, he simply looked up at the sun without saying a word.

Eventually, he slowly lowered his gaze.

His eyes settled upon a point far beyond the horizon.

If someone could trace his line of sight from high above the world, they would discover that he was looking directly toward the Imperial Zenith School.

Surprisingly, though, he wasn’t observing the school.

Because at that exact moment...

Someone within the school was also looking back at him.