Agent047
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726 - A Call from the Organisation
🕑 Added 2024-09-14 09:33:05 +0000 UTCAs the AI began sorting through the flood of requests for the star system's coordinates, ensuring only those who promised aid within the set timeframe were considered, Xalthar’s communicator buzzed. The heads of his organization were contacting him with remarkable speed, a clear sign they were far from pleased with his recent actions.
Despite this, Xalthar remained unfazed. His circuit-like veins, once pulsing with anger, shifted color to a calmer hue as he accepted the call without hesitation. He showed no signs of concern, confident that he wasn’t going to be on hot waters by the end of the conversation with him.
"WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE?!" The voice on the other end wasted no time, launching straight into the core of the matter. There was no greeting, no room for Xalthar to show the customary respect as the caller was not just his superior in rank as the leader of the organization but also in strength, two levels beyond Sage. If it came down to it, he could easily crush Xalthar without breaking a sweat.
"WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU MAKE SUCH AN ANNOUNCEMENT ACROSS THE CONCLAVE WITHOUT INFORMING US FIRST?!" the voice thundered, dripping with fury. "WE COULD HAVE USED THAT KNOWLEDGE TO HELP YOU, AND THE ORGANIZATION WOULD HAVE BENEFITED IMMENSELY! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND, PANICKING OVER YOUR LIFE THAT YOU DON’T THINK BEFORE ACTING?!”
The tirade continued, relentless and scathing, as the leader berated Xalthar’s reckless choices. He emphasized everything Xalthar had cost them—an opportunity to elevate the organization into one of the most powerful in the Conclave. Instead, Xalthar had just handed that potential power to random factions, all for the sake of saving his own skin.
Throughout the outburst, Xalthar remained silent and respectful, his expression unwavering, as though he were carved from stone. Even his mana circuits, usually responsive to strong emotions, stayed steady. He listened attentively to the tirade from the organization head, a man known for his calm demeanor—someone who rarely raised his voice.
The irony wasn't lost on Xalthar, but in his eyes, this reaction was expected. If the head had remained calm during such a moment, that would have been unsettling. This outburst, though uncharacteristic, was completely natural under the circumstances.
“Have you already exchanged the information?” the organization head demanded, his tone still sharp, though he had stopped firing questions like bullets, finally waiting for a response. The fury was still clear in his expression.
“Not yet, but the process should be completed soon,” Xalthar replied promptly.
“Good,” the organization head responded, his tone softening just a bit, though it remained authoritative. “Halt all communications with others immediately and send us the information. We will handle the negotiations on your behalf.”
The subtle shift in tone carried a clear message: Xalthar might have made a mistake, but the organization would now take control of the situation.
“Unfortunately, I can’t do that,” Xalthar replied, his tone remaining calm and respectful.
The organization leader, upon hearing Xalthar’s response, became eerily calm, a stark contrast to the earlier outburst. “You’d better have a good reason for that,” he said, his voice steady, but with a dangerous edge. “I’m sure you understand the consequences of refusing, don’t you?”
Xalthar recognized the shift, knowing this was the moment before the storm. It was like a star in its final stage of contraction before going supernova—an explosive fury waiting to erupt if he made the wrong move.
Knowing he had no time to waste, Xalthar immediately responded, “Yes, I have a good reason not to give you the information, and I can explain it fully.”
Without pausing, he dove into his explanation, speaking as quickly as he could. “The information I’ve sent out is completely false. I’m doing all of this to attract enough forces to come and help me.
But announcing it under the organization’s name would have looked foolish or blatantly obvious as a trap. You could have let me die and then used the information to secretly conquer the star system without anyone knowing and reap the benefits. Given these circumstances, it makes perfect sense that I had to do this on my own to ensure my survival, despite the risk of retaliation from the organization.
And through the mana oath, I’ll ensure my safety when they discover the news is false. I’ll also include the organization in the oath, so it appears I’ve devised a way to earn forgiveness by providing a period during which no organization will attack or hinder it. This compromise will seem minor compared to what the winners will gain, but it’s something valuable enough to warrant the organization’s forgiveness for the loss. It will also grant you power to avoid retaliations and similar threats.
Furthermore, only the top fifty have the technology to create wormholes, and many of them can’t bear the costs alone. They’ll likely seek alliances with other nations or organizations in exchange for a share of the star system. This will spark significant cooperation among them, as they’ll need a united front to avoid being annihilated by the top ten superpowers in the Conclave when they arrive on the other side of the wormhole.
While they’re occupied fighting over the star system, and under the protection of the mana oath, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to seize control of the organizations left vulnerable. With many of their powerful forces dispatched to this conflict, their remaining factions will be significantly weakened, allowing you to move in and take over their operations with minimal resistance.
"It will take a considerable amount of time before any agreement or victor emerges and before they realize there were no mana stones. By then, they will have endured significant losses. As they have sworn the mana oath only in exchange for the coordinates and nothing else, they will be bound by it, even as they return empty-handed. Many of them will lack the resources to open another wormhole for their return, which will make their journey back prolonged and arduous.
This delay will provide you and the organization ample time to consolidate your gains. With the resources and time at your disposal, you can use the new assets to compensate and appease the top ten superpowers for their losses. This strategic move should fortify your position, ensuring that others are deterred from challenging you."
Xalthar went on, meticulously explaining how his announcement wasn’t a reckless decision, but a calculated move. He showed how this plan wasn’t just about saving his own skin but about creating a massive opportunity for the organization to rise in power at the expense of weakened competitors.
“...........”
Silence filled the void on the other side after Xalthar finished his explanation. Xalthar maintaining his silence waited patiently for a response.
“We’ll see if things unfold as you’ve planned. If they do, and the results are favorable, we’ll lend further legitimacy to your actions by staging attacks on your family’s territory. This would create the appearance of retaliation for you sharing information without consulting us first,” the organization leader responded. Without waiting for Xalthar’s reply, the call was abruptly ended. Xalthar was certain he caught a hint of a smile just before the connection was severed.
“Now we wait,” Xalthar said with a sigh of relief. He wasn’t overly concerned about the potential loss of life on his family’s planet, as he trusted that the organization would target only those who were insignificant to him or the random inhabitants of the planet.
