Chapter 236 Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely
"Odysseus," Daniel called out, a hint of impatience in his voice, and he continued, "If we need more time to weaken the Hightower's authority, devise a plan to keep their situation in turmoil. Prevent them from stabilizing too quickly." Daniel issued his directive to Odysseus in a more measured tone, trying to maintain the advisor's dignity.
Odysseus fully comprehended Daniel's message. It had been over nine hours since the incident in 1.21 the previous night. Daniel was convinced that the Hightower, despite being cunning, would have formulated strategies to stabilize their predicament. He didn't want their operation to falter due to the Hightower's success in regaining control or maintaining their authority.
"Cough... Anyway, I apologize, my lord. Sometimes, I can't restrain myself," Odysseus feigned a cough, attempting to save face. He glanced at Penthesilea, who was stifling laughter at his scolding by their leader, much to his irritation. Nevertheless, Odysseus quickly refocused on devising a plan to buy them more time.
"Daniel," Envy interjected, "If you intend to prolong this state of chaos for the Hightower, ensure it doesn't blatantly reveal the Curtained World. Organizations like the Hightower are still necessary. We have approximately 48 hours before the Hightower completes the restoration of their magic circle controlling the Grand Magic Ritual for the world-wide memory-altering spell." Envy shared this crucial information and reminder with Daniel.
"All right, everyone, you've heard her. Let's assume we've lost a 10-hour head start for launching an operation against the Hightower. I want to stretch these precious 34 hours as much as we can without blatantly exposing the Curtained World. Any ideas?" Daniel's commanding tone filled the meeting room as he turned to Odysseus.
"My lord, I have a plan. However, it requires extensive cooperation from Ms. Greed, so..." Odysseus trailed off, gazing at Daniel.
"You want me to approach her, right? Very well, I'll assist. What's the plan?" Daniel inquired.
"First, the simpler approach is to utilize reporters and hire protesters, claiming that the government is concealing a dangerous experiment or weapon near their capital. This should be relatively straightforward, given the incident's proximity to many people's homes.
And secondly, my lord, I understand you have a somewhat close relationship with Ms. Greed. Could you ask her to encourage Congress to press the British government to reveal the secrets of the London lab? They can even fabricate news about the British government hiding a nuclear bomb under London, for all I care. Anything to keep the news in the public eye on a global scale is advantageous," Odysseus concluded his explanation.
"No, that would only increase the pressure on them, and at best, it would buy us just one more week. They could easily divert people's attention by spending more money to influence the media or calling in favors to downplay the situation, redirecting public focus to other, seemingly more important matters. The key is to delay their ritual as much as possible," Envy interjected, shaking her head and sharing her perspective.
"Here's a confidential piece of information you might not be aware of: the Hightower's mana font has already been depleted. So, even after repairing the magic circle, they can't immediately use the spell. They'll need to borrow mana from the French and German Hightower branches, as they're the nearest and easiest sources," Envy clarified for Odysseus.
"Thank you for that insight, Ms. Envy. Let me check something." Odysseus accessed his tablet to review data on mage clans, families, and factions stationed in the relevant regions. He mumbled to himself, "No, not this one, they're too weak. This clan won't do." Finally, his gaze settled on Vlad, and he smiled.
"Mr. Vlad, would you like to reclaim your glory? There are numerous Vampire clans in France and Germany. How about you go there, stir up some trouble, and secure those mana fonts for the Vampire Clan? I'm sure they would respect a legend like you."
Vlad responded with a defiant smile, proudly displaying his vampire fangs.
"No, Mr. Odysseus, I've long moved past my quest for glory. Besides, I'm simply my master's loyal hound." His voice conveyed disdain, despite his words that seemed to diminish himself. The hidden message in his statement was that, apart from Daniel, his master, no one else could command him.
"Count," Daniel's tone turned cold as he fixed his gaze on Vlad. "Follow my strategist's plan, and I also need you to establish a foothold in Europe. That way, when similar incidents occur in Europe, we can respond immediately," Daniel stated firmly, making it clear that he expected compliance.
Vlad's satisfaction was evident as he smiled and bowed toward Daniel. "As you wish, my master," he accepted the mission. However, just as he was about to vanish into the shadows and teleport away, Daniel halted him.
"Wait!" Daniel raised his hand, pausing Vlad's departure.
"What do you require, master?" Vlad inquired with an aristocratic smile.
"You can be as reckless as you like, create as much chaos as possible. If the Vatican were to intervene to help the Hightower, that would be even better. It would expose the Hightower's incompetence," Daniel said with a daring grin, fueled by his anger at the Hightower for betraying Envy, his dear friend and family.
"Are you sure, master? There will be a lot of bloodshed and carnage if I unleash my full power," Vlad warned, his smile belying the hidden bloodlust and monstrous nature that lay beneath his elegant facade.
"No friendly fire and keep it within the Curtained World; that's my only request. Aside from that, you have my permission to eliminate all the mages in those two branches and reduce their facilities to ashes," Daniel stated with a cold and vengeful undertone.
Daniel's anger at the Hightower for their betrayal of Envy was evident in his tone. Envy was not just a friend but he also counted her as a family to him, and their actions had deeply hurt him.
"Yes!! As you command, my master!!" Vlad accepted the mission with great enthusiasm. His insatiable hunger and monstrous nature were kept in check only in Daniel's presence. Now, with a direct order from his master to unleash his full power, Vlad was more than willing. He saw this as an opportunity to get back at the Vatican for killing him during the war in Wallachia in the 14th century.
Vlad's figure sank into the shadows, disappearing into a dark corner of the room, leaving everyone in the room stunned by Daniel's ruthless command.
After Vlad disappears Envy quickly voices her opposition.
"What are you doing!? You've just unleashed the most powerful vampire in history onto Europe! Vlad is a pure monster who will wreak havoc to satisfy his own amusement if you allow him!" Envy urgently voiced her concern. She despised the two Grand Councilors, but she didn't want to see her anger directed at mages who had no part in her betrayal, especially those still in Europe. They were innocent.
Daniel didn't deny his ruthlessness; instead, he shared a piece of information with Envy. "I've heard that all the members of your faction have already relocated to this city and to the USA, likely at the behest of your butler."
"What!? He did that!?" Envy was shocked by this revelation. She had believed that Harry hadn't carried out her orders before his betrayal. She had thought his betrayal was a result of careful consideration, but this information changed her perspective.
"You seem surprised," Daniel remarked, a hint of confusion in his tone. "It appears his betrayal to you was driven more by anger and frustration than a calculated decision," Daniel explained, leaving Envy with mixed feelings. However, she quickly regained her composure.
"Even so, the mages in those two branches are from different factions. They had no involvement in this," Envy argued.
"I know, but I don't care. They are not my people," Daniel declared, stating this as an indisputable truth.
"Hitler also didn't see the Jews as his people," Envy retorted, her shock evident. She was taken aback by Daniel's ruthlessness. " 'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.' It appears Lord Acton's words have proven true after all," she added before leaving the meeting room in disappointment.
Author's Note: The quote "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" is often attributed to Lord Acton (John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton), a British historian, politician, and writer, in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887. This quote reflects on the corrupting influence of power, suggesting that individuals who possess power, especially absolute or unchecked power, are more likely to engage in corrupt or unethical behavior.
After Envy left the room, a heavy silence settled in. Odysseus and Penthesilea exchanged worried glances, fearing Daniel's reaction. However, Daniel let out a sigh. He felt a twinge of regret for the command he had given to Vlad, but he recognized the necessity of bloodshed from the Hightower's side for the next phase of his plan.
It wasn't merely an outlet for his anger; it was a crucial part of a broader strategy. He concealed his feelings and chose to proceed with the meeting. They hadn't finished discussing their plans, and delaying the Hightower was only the initial step.
"Let's continue the meeting," Daniel instructed the people in the room, and they resumed their discussions.
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