Information warfare (2)
‘Deus ex machina… Does that mean the god of machines?’
It seems that some condition has been met through this fight in the electronic world.
Well, it was thanks to a bit of trickery that we were able to defeat such a formidable opponent and achieve victory.
‘Winning itself is nothing short of a miracle.’
I had been quite confident in electronic warfare using hacking while performing various activities, but the doctor I faced this time was so overwhelming that it completely destroyed my confidence.
Even thinking about it now gives me goosebumps, the sight of them quickly encroaching on this area while destroying all resistance.
“···But in the end, I was the one who won.”
Even though he secretly stabbed me with a knife while we were exchanging fair blows, he still won.
After confirming repeatedly that the signal from the other side was completely cut off, Hesperon let out a short sigh.
I couldn’t immediately see what had happened to him, but seeing as the curse had been properly activated, it was clear that he wasn’t all that bad.
At least for the time being, it would be safe to say that he has completely retired.
‘Thank goodness. Not only was the operation challenging, but the strength expended to break through their thick defenses was also considerable. As expected, it’s a curse left behind by someone who once ascended to the rank of Demon King, so the effect is certain.’
Also, the seal I made this time must have been quite helpful.
He resealed his throbbing arm from the excessive use of force, quickly regaining the stamina he had lost during his fight with the Doctor, and checked his newly acquired skills.
If I were to summarize the roughly understood power of “Deus Ex Machina” in one sentence, I could summarize it like this.
An overwhelming superior correction to all elements derived from technological civilization.
It didn’t matter whether it was hacking or not, it could be anything from surfing the Internet to piloting a space ship.
Hesperon could sense it instinctively.
That you could become an ace pilot right away, even if you were to board a fighter jet you’ve never seen before.
And of course, of course.
The new skill was also applied to the “Machine Eye: Calicas”, aka ‘Havis’, who was connected to him.
Thanks to that, the process of recovering the damage and searching through the sea of information that was the battlefield to collect the loot I wanted was completed in a much quicker time than I had expected.
Even if I fight the Doctor again, I probably won’t be so helpless as I was before.
Since all the updates to address existing vulnerabilities have already been completed, this time they might be able to compete properly.
‘You’re giving me this skill just because I won one battle in electronic warfare?’
Hesperon tilted his head slightly with a strange expression on his face.
For an Awakened Person to acquire a new skill, appropriate karma was required.
The most representative method is to accumulate the relevant karma through repeated training.
Or there was a way to get your hands on the possibilities tied to it by satisfying very special conditions···.
“···Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s not a bad thing for me.”
He shrugged his shoulders slightly.
Right now, the other side’s story was more important than yours.
“Ha! As expected. You’ve been working very diligently.”
Hesperon twisted the corners of his mouth after checking the information that Harvey had neatly organized.
Of course, not all the information was there.
In this world where all kinds of supernatural powers are prevalent, there are plenty of ways to exchange information.
But just as every method has its own pros and cons, in this modern society, the overwhelming convenience of connection via the Internet network is one of the means that cannot be left out.
Perhaps the doctor’s confidence in his perfect security all this time also played a part.
‘There’s a world of difference between having a clue and not. Even if there’s just a small clue, it’s easy to just go up there and catch the tail.’
It was easy to do before, but what about now that Harvey’s performance has improved by leaps and bounds?
While I was quietly analyzing the information and putting it in my head.
At one point, Hesperon’s face twitched slightly.
“Ha, I really didn’t expect that.”
Hesperon, who had been closing his eyes tightly, opened them again and sighed.
And at this very moment, he sent a message to all of his subordinates who were diligently gathering information.
‘···I guess verification is necessary.’
Unlike before, it won’t take that long since the direction of the investigation has been decided.
But one thing was certain.
‘If this is true···.’
It is possible to completely blow away the schemes of the Bancheonhoe that have been active in the Pantheon all this time.
***
The meeting between Heinrich and the Pantheon leadership took place quietly, as if the noisy incident that had occurred only a short while ago had not yet taken place.
“Come on, brother. I am truly sorry about what happened before.”
“The Quiladia Order has had its fair share of problems since long ago. We would like to apologize once again on behalf of the Pantheon.”
Regardless of the public’s attention, it was true that they had been rude to the guests who had visited them, and the Pantheon did not want the attention to grow any further.
However, it is true that there was a commotion, so the mindset of the steering committee members who showed up for this meeting was bound to be a little different from before.
As if to prove it, no fewer than nine committee members were present to meet Heinrich.
Considering that one of the 12 committee seats is still vacant, this means that only two people were absent.
Considering how busy the leadership of a religious alliance that spans the world must be, it would not be an exaggeration to say that everyone, except for those with truly unavoidable circumstances, came.
‘I guess they were impressed by me causing an accident as soon as I arrived. I heard that I would only be able to meet three at most.’
Heinrich smiled softly as he met the gazes of each and every person in his colorful attire.
“I caused a fuss for nothing, but thank you for your hospitality.”
As expected of those representing a religious group, they all possessed powerful divine powers.
If Earthlings are at that level here, then in the original world they would have been of a much higher status than expected.
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Considering that most of the Awakened who became high priests chose to live a settled life and never return to Earth, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were the pinnacle of Earth priests.
The fact that he has maintained that level of divine power even after returning is proof of his great faith.
‘Well, no matter what anyone says, I’m the most amazing person here.’
That was an undeniable fact.
Just look at those who are looking at you right now, don’t you see surprise in their gazes?
Of course, there were quite a few impure emotions mixed in, such as jealousy and wariness.
“Wow, you are truly amazing. How strong must your faith be···”
“As expected, he is a saint, and he really lives up to his reputation.”
Their conversation began with mutual compliments and flowed smoothly.
The original purpose of inviting Heinrich was to recruit him to the Pantheon, as he had demonstrated unprecedented divine power since his debut.
After all, in order to maintain the reputation of being the largest religious alliance on Earth, it was necessary to have someone with that level of ability.
Of course, things were a little different now that it was revealed that he was not an Earthling but a person from another world.
Although they worship different gods, they are all people who walk the path of faith.
It was natural to want to have even a word of conversation with this man who was called a saint.
“Oh, by the way.”
But that friendly atmosphere didn’t last long.
The chairman of the 12th committee, a man with an impressive thick moustache and sideburns, opened his mouth with a slightly hardened expression.
The remaining members of the committee who were present also withdrew their smiles one by one and looked at Heinrich.
“There have been some suspicious movements within the Pantheon recently.”
Eyes looking at him with a serious expression.
Heinrich could tell what they were trying to say.
‘Oh, no. I guess I got caught.’
Actually, it was strange that it didn’t get caught.
Who would not suspect that the priests of Auterica, who had met him separately, would be busy wandering around here and there right after that?
Didn’t he even beat up a saint from another sect and hospitalize him as soon as he arrived at the Pantheon?
“I don’t know if you know, but our Pantheon is very sensitive to encroachment on each other’s territory. After all, each sect has a strong sense of independence.”
“Since various religions are gathered under one roof, the rules themselves are not that strict. However, they are very strict about acts that violate the ‘must-watch’.”
That is why the Quiladia Church, which had its reputation damaged after one of its high-ranking saints was beaten and brought in, was lying flat on its stomach without saying a word.
Even though it would have hurt his pride, he went so far as to apologize first.
“Coincidentally, at the same time, we confirmed observations of the Pantheon by external forces.”
“That was also quite large, wasn’t it? It must not have been easy to see through this holy place. It was as if someone was helping from the inside.”
No matter how weak the solidarity among its members may be, the Pantheon is in name only the largest religious union on Earth.
Because it was an organization that should never be taken lightly.
It wasn’t for nothing that the Buncheonhoe used such a complicated method.
“After looking into it separately, it seems like an organization called ‘Masquerade’ is in action. It’s not a very well-known name yet.”
“Considering the scale of this incident, it is not a small one. Europe, Southeast Asia, and East Asia moved all at once.”
A familiar name came out of their mouths as they chatted away.
I thought he didn’t notice because there was no reaction during that time, but it seems he had noticed it a long time ago but was deliberately hiding it in order to investigate more closely.
‘You figured it out? Indeed, maybe I was too greedy.’
Now that I think about it, I feel like it was a bit too much to say that suspicious circumstances had been captured.
But even now, I don’t regret that decision.
Because we moved so quickly, we were able to properly catch the traces of the Buncheonhoe before they cut off our tails.
“It could be just a coincidence that all these things happened at the same time. But we can’t help but be suspicious of the circumstances.”
“···It’s a sensitive time right now. The vacancy in the committee, and the recent suspicious movements of Pandemonium.”
It seemed that the nine members of the committee were not there simply to talk to him.
It would be more to pursue external interference in the Pantheon.
“So let me ask you.”
As soon as the sharp-eyed chairman opened his mouth again, everyone looked at Heinrich with heavy expressions.
“Saint of Auterica, Heinrich St. Landgard. You are accused of colluding with an outside force and manipulating your priests to leak information from within the Pantheon. Do you admit it?”
The conference room suddenly turned into a hearing.
Suddenly, heavy air enveloped the surroundings.
A completely separate ability, completely different from divine power.
‘Is it a unique skill?’
I could instinctively feel what kind of ability it was.
The so-called ‘Room of Truth’ was the identity of this space.
A special law has been added that states that you cannot lie and are forced to tell only the truth.
‘Of course, I can ignore it as much as I want if I want···.’
If you do that, the caster will notice it right away.
At this moment, Heinrich was no mere guest.
In the current situation where suspicion is being raised, that was clearly a poor option.
As if they were wary of this side’s capabilities, the other side also prepared thoroughly throughout the conference room.
Here···.
“I have not joined hands with any outside forces.”
It was best to avoid suspicion by telling only the truth.
‘Because it’s my organization that I created.’
The entire Masquerade is entirely yours.
There was nothing to do but hold hands and sleep.
“We did not pass on any inside information to anyone else.”
Those who investigated were simply following his orders, and the final destination of the information collected was always themselves.
I’m not saying I overlooked that.
“But it is true that I tried to move those who followed me to investigate the interior of the Pantheon.”
Of course, he did not deny all the charges.
This is something that cannot be hidden, and should not be hidden.
Of course, the ‘followers’ included not only the priests of Outerica, but the entire Masquerade, but of course the committee members were unaware of that fact.
“···Why?”
All verdicts are true.
The chairman, unable to hide his bewilderment at the slightly different development from what he had expected, cautiously opened his mouth.
But since you admitted that you wanted to investigate the Pantheon privately, if we dig into that part…
“Let me get straight to the point. I noticed something suspicious, immediately started investigating, and eventually confirmed that my concerns were true.”
“What are you talking about?”
“There are traitors planted by Pandemonium in the upper echelons of this Pantheon.”
“yes?!”
“Huh!”
Pandemonium.
They were a group of priests known as the ‘followers of the evil god’, and they were so extreme in their ideology that even the Pantheon, which tries to embrace everyone to a certain level, could not bear to accept them.
As it was an organization originally created to oppose Pantheon, it was an adversarial relationship that clashed with them from the very beginning.
‘Most of the religious sects there are even less cooperative than the Pantheon, so they often fight among themselves.’
Once they got together, there was so much friction that it was almost inevitable, so in reality they were just a bunch of organizations gathered under the same flag.
It was clear that their ‘heresy hunt’ targeting the clergy of the Pantheon had so far resulted in enormous casualties.
“The followers of that evil spirit?”
“That’s true… umm.”
How many comrades have been sacrificed to them so far?
Since there were growing suspicions that Adeline Schneider, the now vacant first secretary of the 12th Council, had also been affected by them, Pantheon could not just ignore the mention of her name.
Moreover, isn’t this conference room a space where only the truth is permitted thanks to the chairman’s unique skills?
“and.”
But Heinrich didn’t stop there.
‘This is actually an opportunity.’
Hwaaaaak—
A dazzling light appeared behind him, and beautiful wings of light sprouted.
A platinum aura that burns fiercely as if setting the entire body on fire, and a halo that floats behind the head and shows off a subtle presence.
“It has been confirmed that another force is involved behind them.”
The bodies of the priests present froze as they were struck by the transcendent presence that began to emanate with him.
The only emotion that wells up in my heart is pure awe.
In the current situation, it didn’t matter that the gods we worshipped were different.
“Beoncheonhoe.”
It is the name of the ‘enemy of the world’ that we warned about earlier.
“They are the ones who created Pandemonium and are the real culprits behind the countless sacrifices that have taken place up to now.”
