Chapter 102. Action of All Parties
After settling on their course of action, time flowed steadily onward.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Throughout those three days, Alhaitham quietly carried out his operation.
Taking advantage of Futsu Mitama's earlier confrontation with Azar and the others, he gradually worked his way into the periphery of the God Creation Project.
During that meeting, both Dottore and Futsu Mitama had inadvertently revealed the existence of the project, making it impossible for the Akademiya to continue pretending that nothing was happening. As a result, Azar had little choice but to involve Alhaitham—at least to a limited extent.
Even so, the Great Sage never truly trusted him.
Alhaitham had joined their faction too recently.
Although the Scribe had repeatedly demonstrated both his ability and his loyalty, the God Creation Project had already entered its final phase. At such a critical moment, Azar refused to take unnecessary risks.
Instead of granting him access to the experiment's core, Azar assigned him only miscellaneous duties around the project, carefully keeping him at arm's length from its most closely guarded secrets.
Alhaitham showed no dissatisfaction with the arrangement.
On the contrary, he accepted every assignment without complaint, even openly declaring that serving the Great Sage was both an honor and a privilege.
With that, Azar became extremely satisfied with Alhaitham.
On more than one occasion, he even hinted that once the God Creation Project was completed, there would be no need for Alhaitham to remain a mere Scribe. Such a lowly position, he claimed, was unworthy of someone with Alhaitham's talents.
Naturally, Alhaitham expressed his gratitude.
He repeatedly stated that he would treasure this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and devote himself wholeheartedly to the Akademiya's future.
Outwardly, his performance was flawless.
Inwardly, however, he found the entire matter rather amusing.
If he truly wished to leave the position of Scribe, there were countless ways to do so. The reason he had remained in the role for so long was not because he lacked ambition, but because he genuinely appreciated the convenience and freedom the position provided.
After several rounds of courteous exchanges with Azar, Alhaitham finally secured an opportunity to become involved with matters surrounding the God Creation Project.
Using the excuse of handling miscellaneous assignments, he gradually uncovered a crucial fact.
The project's experimental facility truly existed beneath the Akademiya.
Its exact location had already been narrowed down considerably, but reaching it would still require taking considerable risks.
After all, his current role was still little more than that of an errand runner. His authority was nowhere near sufficient to grant unrestricted access.
More importantly, the entrance to the facility was guarded by numerous Fatui elites.
Azar's caution was evident.
He trusted neither the Thirty nor the Matra.
Instead, he had chosen to place his faith in the Fatui.
That alone was enough to confirm that Futsu Mitama's intelligence had been accurate.
The central figure of the God Creation Project was indeed the Fatui Harbinger, Scaramouche. To ensure Scaramouche's safety and guarantee the success of Dottore's plan, the Fatui had established an airtight security perimeter around the facility.
Not even a fly was allowed through—literally.
Alhaitham knew this quite literally.
At one point, he had used his Vision to manipulate a fly and send it ahead as a scout.
Unfortunately, before the insect could even enter the restricted area, an Electro Cicin Mage stationed at the entrance casually struck it down.
The Fatui had truly achieved the feat of preventing even a fly from entering.
The result left Alhaitham somewhat helpless.
Still, he remained patient.
He did not believe any defense was flawless.
As long as people existed, weaknesses existed.
All he needed was a single opening.
While Alhaitham quietly pursued his investigation, events elsewhere in Sumeru were progressing as well.
Using the Teleportation Scepter, Nahida transported Faruzan directly to Tighnari's location.
What surprised everyone was that Tighnari was not in Gandharva Ville.
Instead, he was already preparing to depart for Vimara Village.
Had he not been wearing an Akasha Terminal, allowing Nahida to track his location, Faruzan and Kuki Shinobu would likely have arrived at Gandharva Ville only to immediately set off in pursuit of him.
When Faruzan finally met Tighnari, the Forest Watcher was visibly surprised.
He had not expected Senior Faruzan to seek him out personally.
What surprised him even more was learning that Lesser Lord Kusanali had successfully left the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
The moment he saw her, Tighnari immediately offered a respectful salute.
Afterward, the four of them sat down to discuss their next course of action.
With Nahida and Kuki Shinobu present, the situation within the Akademiya and Futsu Mitama's objectives were quickly explained.
Faruzan did not hide her stance.
She admitted that she had never intended to interfere with the God Creation Project at first.
However, Azar and the other Sages had gone far beyond acceptable limits.
Their so-called pursuit of wisdom had become an experiment built upon the suffering and lives of innocent people.
Even worse, the project itself lacked any legitimate justification.
If Sumeru had truly been without a god, then perhaps sacrifices, however tragic, might have been viewed as unavoidable.
Both Faruzan and Tighnari understood the significance of a nation possessing an Archon.
A nation with an Archon and an Archonless nation were fundamentally different.
But Sumeru already had a God.
No matter how little influence Lesser Lord Kusanali possessed, she still existed.
Yet Azar and the other Sages had chosen to blasphemously create a new god, cooperate with the Fatui, and sacrifice the people of Sumeru City in the process.
This was no longer a pursuit of wisdom.
It was a complete disregard for human life.
For that reason, Faruzan resolved to expose everything. She wanted the scholars of Sumeru to see clearly what the Akademiya had become.
Tighnari fully agreed.
In truth, this was the very reason he had left Gandharva Ville and begun traveling elsewhere.
Nahida also stated that if the situation required it, she would publicly appear as Lesser Lord Kusanali and reveal Azar's crimes herself.
Kuki Shinobu stood quietly to the side, observing the discussion.
The scene felt strangely familiar.
Back in Inazuma, when she learned that Raiden Makoto still existed and that both Electro Archons stood behind the Resistance, she had already known the outcome.
The Resistance had won before the battle was even over.
After all, how could the Shogunate surpass an Archon(former)?
Sumeru felt no different.
No matter how powerful the Akademiya appeared, it could never surpass an Archon.
More importantly, the Akademiya was not united in the way the Tenryou Commission once was.
Cyno.
Tighnari.
Faruzan.
Alhaitham.
One after another, influential figures within the Akademiya chose to oppose Azar the moment they learned the truth.
The Akademiya's authority had already begun to crumble.
The Great Sage's position might have been lofty, but in the end, he remained a mortal beneath the Archons of Sumeru.
The moment he convinced himself that he had become a creator of gods, people like Cyno would inevitably remind him why such taboos should never be touched.
After exchanging information and finalizing their plans, Tighnari and Faruzan officially began their campaign.
They started contacting scholars across Sumeru on a large scale while openly exposing the actions of the Great Sage.
At the same time, they asked Nahida and Kuki Shinobu to relay a message to Futsu Mitama.
For now, they requested patience.
Once enough scholars had gathered, they would publicly confront Azar and demand an explanation.
Only if the Great Sage failed to provide a satisfactory answer would the next stage begin.
Neither Nahida nor Kuki Shinobu objected.
This was a task only Tighnari and Faruzan could perform.
They represented the scholars of the Akademiya.
If they were the first to raise their voices, the institution itself would still have a chance to preserve some measure of dignity.
When the time came, responsibility could be placed squarely upon Azar and the other Sages rather than upon every scholar in Sumeru.
—
Meanwhile, after completing her task, Nahida returned to Futsu Mitama's side together with Kuki Shinobu.
Originally, Shinobu's purpose had simply been to ensure Faruzan's safe arrival.
Now that Faruzan and Tighnari had successfully joined forces, her escort duties were no longer necessary.
And if Dottore or Signora truly chose to move against them, Nahida could immediately use the Teleportation Scepter to summon reinforcements.
Within Sumeru, she possessed complete awareness through the Akasha System.
Combined with the Teleportation Scepter, she could move anywhere she wished.
As far as Nahida was concerned, possessing such a miraculous artifact without making full use of it would be a waste.
After all, if the God of Wisdom could not properly utilize a tool like this, who could?
Though privately, she still felt that title belonged more naturally to people such as Maha Rukkhadevata, Morax, and Raiden Makoto.
Compared to them, she believed she still had much to learn.
As for Futsu Mitama and the others, the past three days had been remarkably peaceful.
The Thirty, the Matra, and the Fatui all kept them under discreet surveillance.
Yet none dared approach openly.
They would simply happen to pass by. Or purchase food from nearby vendors and linger within sight. Or wander through the area repeatedly while pretending to be lost.
The methods were clumsy enough that even children could see through them.
Futsu Mitama naturally noticed.
He simply did not care.
Their purpose in Sumeru City was to attract attention in the first place.
Most of their time was spent near the Grand Bazaar.
Watching Nilou dance.
Sampling local food.
Strolling through the streets.
Living leisurely lives.
Ironically, this behavior greatly relieved Azar and the Akademiya.
To keep Futsu Mitama occupied and prevent him from causing trouble, the Akademiya unexpectedly began supporting the Zubayr Theater.
They even encouraged Nilou to perform more frequently.
The change was so sudden that even Mr. Zubayr himself had no idea what was happening.
Nilou was delighted. She genuinely believed the Akademiya had finally acknowledged the value of art.
The rest of the theater, however, remained skeptical.
After years of suppression, such a drastic shift could not possibly happen overnight. Everyone suspected that some major event had occurred within Sumeru City.
Or perhaps an important figure had arrived and happened to favor the theater.
Whatever the reason, they decided not to question their good fortune.
Meanwhile, Futsu Mitama's group continued their routine of eating, shopping, watching performances, and resting.
Three entire days passed without incident.
The calmness was so unnatural that even Signora and Azar grew suspicious.
Deep beneath the Akademiya, within the God Creation Project's hidden facility—
"What's going on?"
Signora listened to the latest reports from her subordinates, her brows furrowing slightly.
She could not understand it.
Why was Futsu Mitama being so quiet?
After learning what she had done, he should have been causing chaos throughout Sumeru City.
To bind the Akademiya and the Fatui together, she had invested considerable effort into ensuring that both sides would become inseparable.
Her objective had been simple.
Force the Akademiya into becoming Futsu Mitama's enemy.
And yet, aside from a brief disturbance at the beginning, he had done nothing for three days.
It was completely out of character.
Could it be that he was secretly preparing something?
"It's a good thing if he behaves himself."
Standing nearby, Azar's attention remained fixed upon the colossal figure before him.
A feverish light burned in his eyes.
"We are on the verge of creating a god. Once our creation is complete, even he will be powerless against us."
"Hahahahahaha!"
The sight of the nearly finished Shouki no Kami filled him with overwhelming pride.
In that moment, Azar genuinely believed he had surpassed every Great Sage who had come before him.
He would be remembered forever.
He would become the greatest figure in the history of the Akademiya.
After all—
He had created a god.
That achievement alone eclipsed anything his predecessors had ever accomplished.
The reason he had been so eager to appease Futsu Mitama was simple.
He needed time.
Just a little more time.
That was why he had ordered support for the Zubayr Theater after learning that Futsu Mitama frequented the Grand Bazaar.
As long as the critical phase passed, nothing else would matter.
Soon, everything would be settled.
Signora watched him in silence.
Disgust flickered across her face. Because in her eyes, the Akademiya's contribution was laughably small.
Dottore had conceived the plan.
Scaramouche had volunteered as the vessel.
The Electro Gnosis supplied the power.
The Fatui had overseen the operation from beginning to end.
And yet Azar spoke as though the entire achievement belonged solely to the Akademiya.
It was absurd.
The old fool could not even see the limits of his own accomplishments.
Worse, he genuinely believed this creation would allow him to stand against Futsu Mitama.
For a brief moment, Signora felt that calling Sumeru the Nation of Wisdom was almost an insult to wisdom itself.
The nation certainly possessed brilliant minds.
Unfortunately, people like Azar—fools convinced of their own brilliance—seemed to be everywhere.
And perhaps the greatest irony of all was that she herself had once studied here.