Chapter 32: Driving the Tiger to Devour the Wolf
After some discussion, the Magi decided to each use their own connections to gather intelligence on the Temple faction, so they wouldn't be so passive. Omega was once again sent away by Magos Laust, separated from his "loyal legion." This act of excluding him from the "archeological" work made him smile on the outside, but on the inside...
The days passed. The original industrial district was transformed by Omega and the priests into a large settlement of over a hundred thousand people. It could be said to be the only peaceful and stable area on all of Teyedan. Of course, a settlement of this size could not be hidden from the Archmagos or the Temple. Both sides were no longer just sending verbal notices demanding they hand over their weapons and resources; they were now sending representatives to take control of the settlement.
Omega, being the sly one he was, arranged for both sides' representatives to be housed in the same building near the temple, and then began his performance.
"Magos! You're finally here! If you hadn't come, we would have been torn apart by the mob below!" Omega wailed, clutching the robes of the lead Magos from the Archmagos's side.
"Where is the Magos in charge here? Tell him to come see me."
"Magos?" Omega continued to wail. "The Magi don't care about us! They only care about their own research! They don't care if we live or die!"
The Magos from the Grand Manufactorum didn't doubt Omega's words. Weren't all senior cog-heads like that? "Since they are not in charge, from this moment on, this place will follow my orders. I now command you to immediately begin transferring personnel and supplies to the Grand Manufactorum."
"Of course, Magos, but... but..."
"But what? There are no 'buts'! Understood?!" the Manufactorum Magos commanded forcefully.
Omega, trembling, pointed out the window to the "legion" that had, at some point, assembled in the street below, armed and ready for battle. "Magos, look outside!"
"Hiss! They intend to..." The Manufactorum Magos scrambled away from the window, hiding behind a wall. He asked Omega in a terrified voice, "Do they intend to rebel as well?!"
"Not yet, but..."
"You..."
"It wasn't me! It really wasn't us! If it were, why would I be here with you?"
"Then who are they?"
"Ever since the rumor started spreading that the Archmagos was using living people to make Corpse Starch, the workers have been like frightened grox-pups. They don't trust us at all. The slightest disturbance and they..." Omega didn't finish, but the Manufactorum Magos understood. He was now both shocked and terrified, feeling that he could meet the Omnissiah at any moment.
"Go out and tell them," the Magos ordered, "that the Archmagos has plenty of food to feed everyone! That was all the Temple's doing! As long as they remain the Archmagos's loyal subjects and serve him, he will not treat them poorly."
"But Magos, the rumor has been spreading for so long. Even if I tell them now, they won't believe me. Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless you can provide a quantity of food that will put their minds at ease. Then they will have no choice but to believe."
"What if they take the food and then turn on us?"
Omega pointed to the other side of the building and whispered, "We can have them... deal with..." he made a throat-slitting gesture.
The Manufactorum Magos looked at the insidious little brat before him and thought, I need to find a chance to get rid of this kid in the future. He can't be allowed to live. At such a young age, he already has the face of a treacherous courtier.
But for now, due to the circumstances, he had to go along with Omega's plan. Trade a shipment of food for the allegiance of this settlement, and get rid of a few enemy personnel in the process. Two birds with one stone.
While the Manufactorum Magos was using an encrypted channel to arrange for the food delivery, a secret visitor had infiltrated the Temple Magos's quarters—Jacob.
Crawling through the ventilation ducts, Jacob replayed Omega's instructions in his mind. He knew that the success or failure of this mission would directly affect the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people in their settlement. The time had come for him to risk his life.
He painstakingly climbed out of the vent and saw the Temple Magos waiting for him. The Magos looked at the disheveled Jacob and said, "State your purpose, priest."
"Magos, I have vital intelligence!" Jacob knelt before the strange Magos.
"Oh?"
"Magos, you must have seen the mob outside the window."
"Of course. Don't beat around the bush. Tell me what you know."
"Magos, that mob is no longer the children of the Omnissiah. We can no longer control them."
"Hmph. Continue."
"The Magi here have abandoned us, hiding in their safe laboratories. That is why we were forced to collude with this mob."
The Temple Magos spoke with contempt for the Magi Jacob mentioned. "And they call themselves priests of the Omnissiah. Blasphemy."
"The mob has arranged for you and the people from the Grand Manufactorum to be in the same place so they can play you off each other and gain more benefits."
"They dare? Vile organisms."
"Yes, Magos. But now, the Grand Manufactorum has promised them enough food to feed them all."
"What?!" the Temple Magos exclaimed in shock.
"Not only that, the Grand Manufactorum has also spread a rumor that the Temple intends to turn them all into Corpse Starch."
"..."
"The mob is terrified. They are now planning to submit to the tyranny of the former Archmagos Veyl, and they plan to harm you!"
"They dare?!"
"They more than dare. Magos, you don't know the blasphemous things they have done."
"What blasphemy!"
"Yes, what blasphemy."
"You said they are 'planning,' which means they haven't submitted yet, is that correct?"
"Yes. The mob doesn't trust the former Archmagos either. So they have demanded a shipment of food as a sign of good faith. After they receive the food, they will show their own good faith..."
"Their good faith? The mob intends to..."
"Yes! They intend to use your life as their sign of good faith!"
"Arrogance! Blasphemy! Betrayal!" the Temple Magos roared. "Becoming raw material for Corpse Starch is too good for them!"
"..." Jacob remained silent.
"Priest, you have done well! To risk danger to bring me this news is very good. I will not treat you poorly. Is there a safe way to leave now?"
"My apologies, Magos. It is our incompetence that has implicated you. We are surrounded. However, my comrades and I have a plan."
"You and your comrades?"
"Yes. There are still loyal followers of the Omnissiah here. We long for the day we can return to the Omnissiah's embrace."
"Very good. You are all loyal cogs of the Omnissiah. There will be a place for you in the glory of the Machine God. Now, tell me your plan."
"We plan to attack the people from the Grand Manufactorum to create a diversion. We hope you can escape in the chaos."
"The Omnissiah will remember your sacrifice."
"However..."
"However, what?"
"Magos, we are all just low-ranking priests. We may not be strong enough to harm the Manufactorum Magos. At the same time, we are worried that the mob, if provoked, will attack you directly!"
"This..."
Jacob waited silently. He knew the plan had reached its most critical and uncontrollable point: letting the prey walk into the trap and hang itself.
The Temple Magos's mechanical brain calculated the probabilities of various outcomes. After a moment, he asked Jacob, "Can you keep the mob stable when the conflict breaks out, to prevent them from acting rashly?"
"Hmm... I can delay them for a while, but not for long!"
"That will be enough."
"Magos, you intend to..."
"The mob wants to play both sides and sell to the highest bidder. Then we will turn this 'two' into a 'one,' and leave them with no choice."
"Brilliant, Magos! I will go and contact my comrades now."
"No rush. You are a loyal priest, but you must learn to be patient. Patience brings greater rewards."
"Thank you for your teachings. When do we make our move?"
"Didn't you say someone is bringing them food? The moment they receive it! The moment they think their plan has succeeded is the moment they will be at their most complacent!"
"Brilliant, Magos!" Jacob offered another piece of flattery.
"Hahahaha! Take this relic weapon. Consider it an initial reward for your loyalty."
Jacob's face showed genuine surprise and greed. A treasure from the glorious ancient age of humanity—no cog-head could dislike it. He had thought this was a suicide mission, but now there was an unexpected reward. He still made a show of refusing. "I cannot accept this treasure. I was only doing my duty."
"Hahaha, a fine phrase, 'my duty.' Too many people have forgotten that word. You are very good. Take it!"
Seeing that further refusal would be impolite, Jacob knelt and accepted the relic pistol with both hands. After holstering it, he couldn't help but stroke it greedily. The Temple Magos's suspicions slowly dissipated at the sight, but he still needed...
After crawling back through the ventilation duct, the first thing Jacob did was find Omega. Omega, Rhea, Louis, and the other core members of the "Driving the Tiger to Devour the Wolf" plan were anxiously awaiting his return. He had been afraid that his harebrained scheme would put Jacob in danger.
Seeing Jacob return safely, Omega and the others breathed a sigh of relief. His safe return was more important than the success of the plan. It had been a long shot anyway.
Omega was about to greet Jacob, but Jacob silenced him with a look and spoke first. "The Magos has received the message. He wants us to abandon the plan to attack the Manufactorum Magos. The Magos has his own plan. We just need to cooperate with him."
As he spoke, Jacob deliberately showed the relic pistol at his waist to Omega, Rhea, Louis, Aedus, and Paul.