[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower":3,"chapter-the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-76":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1334972,1778,"Chapter 76","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-76",76,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 76: The Special Operations Division (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Tower, which had finally found some peace, was quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Anvil tribe was busy modifying bikes on the 13th floor, and the squabbles between the delivery and potion departments had died down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve finally got some free time, but…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, there wasn’t much room to slack off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to draft the recruitment criteria and training programs for the upcoming “Wind Tribe” hires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘First, for the hiring criteria, focus on criminal records and personality. For the training content, base it on the royal family’s established driving test…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While his pen steadily created a detailed manual, there was a knock at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who could it be at this hour?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning his attention to the door, Oscar froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t sense any presence beyond it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Someone skilled enough to evade my magic detection?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his knowledge, only a handful of people in this tower could do that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even among those few, none had any reason to conceal their presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Which means, it’s most likely an outsider.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar pressed himself close to the door and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the chilling atmosphere caused his eyes to narrow, a voice finally broke through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- I’m here on behalf of the royal palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t something he could easily ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a comment from the lord of Vince before he left came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’ll likely send someone from the royal palace to meet you soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the time had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swallowing hard, Oscar prepared for any sudden attack as he slowly opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing in the corridor was a tall man dressed in a suit, hands clasped behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing a broad smile, the man spoke warmly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I come in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Please do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man stepped inside, quickly scanning the room before pausing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you share this room with someone else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I live alone. Why do you ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. It’s part of my job to examine the layout of a space as soon as I enter. Just by doing that, I can glean a bit about its occupant’s personality. But this room... it feels like it holds two personas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar was taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected someone to deduce so much just from the state of his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impressive. So what do you make of it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normally, it would mean the room has had multiple occupants. But if that’s not the case, then the owner has undergone a significant change. For instance...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s smiling eyes met Oscar’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Something like amnesia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Wow, that’s uncanny. Look at the goosebumps on my arm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar held out his arm in amazement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man chuckled heartily, scratching the back of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, come on. This is just what I do for a living, but I’m flattered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly impressive. Oh, by the way, I’m Oscar Crucian, a 3rd-level mage of the White Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, the man pulled a card from his inner pocket and handed it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nebula Graim, Special Investigation Bureau under the Royal Ministry of Internal Affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Royal Ministry of Internal Affairs... Special Investigation Bureau...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar had never heard of such a department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must have been established after his previous life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forgive me, I’m not well-versed in royal institutions. What exactly does your bureau do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, well, we handle all sorts of things, but our primary mission is straightforward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a bright smile, Nebula answered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To track and trace the presence of demons hiding within this land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Are there demons within the Empire?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s to say? Assuming not a single one has infiltrated this vast Empire would be a bit optimistic, don’t you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This could be a long conversation. Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need, thank you. Time is short, so I’ll get straight to the point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated on the sofa, Nebula asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you resolve your mana loss?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting with the hard questions, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Oscar responded,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can tell you, but I need one assurance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of assurance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That you’re an ally. That you’re someone I can trust with my secrets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Being from the royal palace isn’t enough... Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the implication of Oscar’s words, Nebula nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fair enough. I rushed in too eagerly. There’s a process for this, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled a document from his pocket and signed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a pledge issued by the El Terra Church. Read through it and sign if you’re satisfied.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me confirm it first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After inspecting the document, Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s genuine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re quite the skeptic. Not that I’m complaining—it’s a compliment, honestly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nebula’s faint smile suggested he was genuinely impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nowadays, people tend to trust anything labeled ‘royal.’ It makes my job easier, sure, but it’s worrisome. What if I weren’t actually from the royal palace?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, people today can be rather lax about their personal security.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly my point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pledge’s terms were simple:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If any of Nebula’s words—past or future—were false, he would burn to death on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, Oscar faced minimal risk; the parchment would simply turn red if he lied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re okay with such one-sided terms?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. It’s all about earning trust.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After signing, Oscar spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does this mean that if you are from the Imperial Court, you work exclusively for His Majesty, the Emperor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nebula, who was used to testing others but not being tested himself, nodded his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct. The Special Division is a direct organization under His Majesty, and we follow only his orders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know the current power dynamics of the Imperial Court or who held key positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only person he could trust in this situation was the Emperor himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, could you answer my question now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, the Mana Loss Syndrome? It’s simple. I wasn’t a victim of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Excuse me? What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slightly flustered Nebula glanced at the Pact Scroll, but its color remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean it literally. My body’s circuits were intentionally sealed by someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Intentionally? Do you have any idea who the culprit might be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That much, I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, you must have gone through a tough time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar didn’t respond and merely gave a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Oscar had indeed suffered, but claiming it as his own experience felt complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll report this to the Imperial Court. We need to investigate whether it was the act of a jealous mage, a faction, or perhaps even demons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you do that, I’d be grateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know why I visited today, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it’s because of the incident in the Vince territory, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nebula elaborated further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you know this isn’t your first encounter with demons?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I had no idea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Cadena Flu that spread in Vince was also a case where demons were involved. Since they can’t act directly in the continent, they likely…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relied on the Black Fingers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. And planting the Heavenly Silkworm Egg in the Magic Power Plant was also their doing. The traces match those of a Black Finger operative we’ve been tracking, so we’re 100% certain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s brows furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Fingers were proving far more active than he had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would they betray humanity to side with demons?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our investigations suggest it’s to become what they call the ‘New Humanity.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New Humanity… A Black Finger operative I dealt with in Vince said the same thing. What is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simply put, humans transformed to resemble demons. They call it a blessing and collaborate with demons to achieve this state. We call them ‘Demonic Humans.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That sounds impossible…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We think so too. For now, it’s just a rumor; no evidence has surfaced yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nebula’s gaze deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, over the years, demons have been conducting various experiments using monsters. We suspect their ultimate goal is to mass-produce Demonic Humans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the atmosphere in the room grew heavy, Nebula skillfully changed the topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our organization has a significant interest in you, Mr. Oscar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Although your level is low, your encounters with demons have been abnormally frequent. Recently, you even survived an indirect encounter with the Nightmare Baron.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether by design or coincidence, every case he touched seemed to be connected to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For this reason, His Majesty has issued an order to reexamine the drug cartel, Happy End. He suspects they may not be just a cartel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, surely not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar laughed awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were true, it would mean every incident he’d been involved in since arriving here was tied to demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I agree it sounds far-fetched. But you never know. If they’re connected to the Black Fingers, you might be caught in a whirlwind of destiny far greater than you imagine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those enigmatic words, Nebula checked his watch and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s getting late. I should take my leave. One last piece of advice, out of personal goodwill—focus on building your track record.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My track record?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, your record with the White Tower. Without more accomplishments, you might face difficulties during the White Night Festival.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was undoubtedly a warning about the “Expulsion from the Four Towers” motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s expression hardened as he nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for the advice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, even without my advice, you’ll soon find yourself in a position to build those accomplishments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A position to build accomplishments?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar wanted to ask more, but Nebula tore the Pact Scroll and gave him a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, I’ll take my leave. We’ll be watching.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would that gaze hold only goodwill?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, after lunch, Oscar was summoned by the Deputy Tower Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room, as always, was filled with the crisp scent of phytoncides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really like pine needle tea, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The scent is pleasant, and it helps clear the mind. I drink it often.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a soft pour, Deputy Tower Master Hamel filled a cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How was your meeting with the Imperial envoy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you knew?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, they were meeting a White Tower mage, so we received a report.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, the discussion went well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good to hear. Did they say anything about accomplishments?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Imperial Court sent an official directive. Each Magic Tower is to establish a new department.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a hunch about the department’s purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it to counter the Black Fingers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s part of it, but it’s not the sole purpose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Tower Master smiled faintly as he continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The official name is the Special Operations Department. In short, Special Ops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Special Ops… What would they be tasked with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ll handle incidents in the northern territories, including Sirin. Think of it like the Magic Power Plant incident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, a department for handling all the messy, miscellaneous tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a suspicion crossed Oscar’s mind, and he asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you telling me this because…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Tower Master nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Imperial Court specifically requested that you, Oscar, lead this department for the White Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>",1866,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","253b01c3a9ed3f76ed0f0d2c4d71b96467c9a073085af7ae27579302dabd0260","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-77","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-75",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]