Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1527  The Climax

”Have all preparations been completed?”

Shaw Jidu asked with a grim look on his face.

At another secured location within the Brotherhoodʼs headquarters, the rest of the Councilors had gathered.

Berger sat in the chair, calmly smoking from his pipe. ”Should be done soon.”

”How soon?” Carlton Yates asked, his expression solemn. ”Todayʼs the Sovereign Conclave. If weʼre going forward with the plan, we wonʼt get a better opportunity than this.”

The Conclave was a grand event that drew the representatives from every member state within the Sovereign Union. As a result, security within and around the city was at its highest level.

That also meant something else.

Brotherhoodʼs operatives who would normally be scattered across distant regions on missions were now recalled to Springdale. Or at least, most of them were.

The city had become a focal point.

If the traitors within the organization were to be dealt with in a single, decisive move, then today was the only viable moment.

Waiting any longer would only give them time to scatter again, hide deeper, or strike first. Time really was of the essence. Acting now meant containment, control, and the chance to expose and eliminate everyone involved before they realized the net had closed on them.

However, Berger and the others could not strike until they had their hands on the complete list of compromised operatives. So far, they only had information relating to the Acolytes and the Agents. The traitorous Councilors were a given.

All that was remaining was the intel on the Wardens…

Berger exhaled a plume of smoke into the air. He then turned to Yates and said in an even voice, ”Whatʼs the point of thinking about whatʼs beyond our control? Iʼve already tasked my Agent with uncovering the list. The rest is up to him.”

Carlton Yates, who was usually soft-spoken and distant, couldnʼt even begin to understand where the gnomeʼs sense of confidence stemmed from.

”Do you trust him to come through?” He couldnʼt help but ask.

”I guess weʼll see,” said the gnome.

He then turned to Shaw Jidu and asked, ”Youʼve informed the rest about the Council meeting, yes?”

Jidu nodded. ”In less than one hour, we will all have gathered in the meeting chamber.”

He paused for a moment, his eyes flickering with unease, ”If by then your man hasnʼt come up with the list…”

”Have you prepared the room?” Berger asked.

Jidu glanced at him and nodded. ”Yes.”

”What about their control over the building?” Berger pressed. ”Did you manage to override their authority over it?”

”No, that is impossible.” Jidu shook his head. ”I already told you. Doing so would have instantly alerted them. But they will have no control over the meeting chamber.”

Berger nodded calmly. ”I see. Well, we can work with that.”

He paused for a moment, then added, ”What about all the operatives?”

”Theyʼll be gathering at the main hall at the same time the council meeting begins,” Jidu answered in a grim voice.

With the vast majority of the Brotherhoodʼs operatives gathering in one single place, it was the perfect opportunity to deal with all the traitors hidden among them.

However, that would only be possible if the list of Wardens was unearthed on time.

”Berger, just tell me who youʼve ordered to decrypt the list,” Shaw Jidu pressed. ”Let me send some men to help them. We donʼt have much time!”

Because of how sensitive and important the matter was, Berger had not disclosed the identities of those working to decode the list to anyone else — not even his allies.

The gnomeʼs list parted, but just as he was about to speak, a faint knock sounded at the door.

Bergerʼs eyes narrowed. He turned to the side and sent a Mind Whisper to one of the guards outside to let the person in.

The doors creaked open, and a haggard figure rushed inside. Dark circles hung under his eyes, his hair was unkempt, and he waved a thick stack of documents as he hurried forward.

”Lord Berger! Lord Berger!”

Lebuʼs voice rang out in the chamber, filled with triumph.

”We did it! We fuckinʼ did it!”

Shaw Jidu and Carlton Yates abruptly rose to their feet, their eyes gleaming with shock as their gaze locked onto the stack of papers in the ginger-haired Agentʼs hand.

Berger, on the other hand, remained seated. His lips curled into a wicked smirk.

Bam!

Lebu slammed the papers on the table. He ignored all decorum, for he did not care about it at that moment. He was simply too ecstatic at what he — and his Agents — had achieved.

Not even bothering to greet the other two councilors, he gazed at Berger with bloodshot eyes.

His breathing was ragged, but his vibe was filled with hope and anticipation.

”Thatʼs it,” he said eagerly. ”The names of all the bastards who betrayed us!”

Berger finally turned to the Agent and displayed a wide grin.

”Well done, boy!”

He then looked at Shaw Jidu and Carlton Yates, who still couldnʼt believe they had finally managed to root out all the snakes hiding within the organization.

His lips parted, and he declared in a cold voice:

”Today, we cleanse the Brotherhood of all its filth.”

***

The High Ward was crowded early in the morning, locals and visitors filling the streets as the Conclave festivities began.

Carriages rolled past, vendors set up stalls, and groups of people moved through the broad avenue in a constant flow.

The wandering Magus Nilrem walked down the main road at an easy pace.

His blue robes, red cloak, and velvet beret topped with a peacock feather made him stand out, drawing glances as he passed through the crowd.

For the current play he had orchestrated, the exposition had been complete, where he introduced the setting, the main characters, and the central conflict set to take place in the great City of Everlasting Warmth.

Over the months, as the play continued, tension rose through complications, revelations, and escalating stakes, all the while he puppeteered the events from behind the curtains, guiding the characters with his unseen hands.

And now, the turning point of the play had arrived.

The climax!

It was the moment of the highest tension, where the core conflict of his play was going to be confronted.

Nilrem curled the tips of his mustache nonchalantly as he slowly walked towards the northern gates.

One moment, he was a wandering Magus.

The next moment, he was a downtrodden youth with a gaunt figure.

Then a kind old woman.

Then a middle-aged man.

One step after another.

One face after another.

By the time he reached the northern gates, his appearance changed one last time, until finally…

A figure in dark robes passed through.

He had no name.

He had no face.

Only a silver mask.

Slowly, he pulled his hood up, his dark eyes gleaming with a mischievous light beneath the Faceless Mask.

He looked north, in the direction where he would soon have to face a great enemy.

The strongest he had ever faced.

But there was no fear in his heart.

Only laughter.