A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 147: The Shadow Assembly (5)

“Mmph! Mmmph!”

Bergen, bound head to toe, struggled violently against his restraints.

“An intruder, here of all places. I suppose you do live long enough to see everything.”

“Indeed, haha!”

The black mages merely exchanged amused glances, sneering at his pointless resistance.

“How odd. I designed the security for this place myself. And now we have an intruder?”

“......”

“Never mind the damage to my pride—what I really want to know is how it happened.”

With her eyes gleaming darkly, the Shadow Witch broke the silence.

“How did he learn the location? How did he disable all those barriers and magical traps? And how, in a room full of powerful people, did he erase his presence?”

Whitney had been deliberately avoiding the question, but as she tilted her head curiously, the Shadow Witch suddenly changed her tone, an intrigued smile forming on her lips.

“...No, wait. One mystery has been solved.”

“Khk...”

“That man—he carries the power of the Demon King.”

At her words, a vein visibly bulged on Bergen’s forehead. Judging by the look in his eyes, he likely wanted to shout, “Don’t talk like you know me, you damn black mage!”

“Of course, the Demon King is known for overwhelming power—but sometimes, even a beast must conceal its fangs.”

“Mmmph...”

“Even a lion hides in the grass before pouncing on prey. He must have inherited that kind of ability. I’d wager the medium is something in his legs or feet.”

But with his mouth sealed, Bergen could only emit muffled grunts of frustration.

“...But how did you catch him?”

“Haha! Just a simple rope spell!”

As Whitney muttered the question while staring at Bergen, the Jester answered cheerfully beside him.

“I’m full of little tricks, you see. Like—”

“...No. I meant, how did you detect someone hiding his presence with the Demon King’s power?”

Whitney cut him off mid-sentence. The Jester scratched his head for a moment before shrugging.

“Just a hunch, I guess.”

“......”

“Haha! The rest is a trade secret!”

Whitney gave up on questioning him further and turned his attention back to Bergen.

“......”

For a brief moment, their gazes locked in a wordless, weighty exchange.

“...Everyone, quiet, please.”

The moment passed, and as Whitney’s voice echoed through the chamber, the previously buzzing hall fell silent.

“Though this uninvited guest has stirred the waters, the gathering must go on.”

“......”

“However, we can’t proceed with him here. So I will now issue a directive.”

In the deathly quiet that followed, Whitney’s voice rang out—low and resolute.

“We must interrogate him. How he learned of this place’s location. How he broke in. And most of all, what it means that he carries the Demon King’s power.”

“......”

“...Escort the intruder to the Research Facility.”

The Great Shadow had never used the term “Research Facility” before, but everyone present understood what he meant without clarification.

Because there was only one place where powerful individuals—aside from Demon King candidates—were taken for experimentation.

“The Tower of Magic?”

“Yes. I believe that’s a sound decision.”

“Shall we contact the Tower Lord?”

The black mages, cautious and measuring their words, gently inquired to confirm they had understood the Great Shadow’s intent correctly.

“Please do.”

Whitney gave a calm nod to their question, glancing briefly at Bergen being dragged toward the exit.

The Tower?

Behind his perception-dampening spell, Whitney’s expression shifted in surprise.

So they’re not just allied with the black mages—they’re conducting experiments?

He had assumed their labs would be in some abandoned asylum in the wastelands, under the sea, or near a volcano. But the idea that they were using the Tower of Magic—the most respected among the Empire’s three autonomous territories, alongside the Academy and the Duchy of Embergreen—was beyond shocking.

“......”

And Bergen—who had ceased resisting after receiving a subtle signal from Whitney—was equally stunned.

“...Ha.”

Ever since discovering his daughter was alive, he had scoured every back alley and underground den he could find.

But the Tower of Magic? Of all places?

A weary expression flickered across his face before he quickly shook it off.

The plan had gone awry, yes—but now he knew where his daughter was. That alone was enough.

And while he had been captured, Bergen had a wealth of experience in escaping and evading. If he could just get there, he’d find a way.

Besides, no matter how he’d managed it, Whitney had clearly infiltrated the black mages—and would no doubt help him.

...Right?

He shivered slightly at Whitney’s cryptic smile—one that pierced through the illusion spell.

But it was too late. The die had been cast.

Still... what’s with that guy?

Just before he was dragged out completely, Bergen turned his gaze toward the man who had captured him—the Jester.

I’ve never been this perfectly exposed before.

Yes, Bergen had been cornered or nearly caught a few times. The Godfather of the Backstreets, for instance, had almost nabbed him once.

But in every case, it had been due to Bergen’s own misstep, coincidence, or an opponent who already knew he was coming.

Today was different. Someone had detected him flawlessly, while cloaked in stealth, and captured him outright.

And something’s off.

There was one more thing that gnawed at him.

Why does he look... familiar?

There was something about the Jester that nagged at Bergen. A strange sense of familiarity.

Which was odd, because Bergen had few acquaintances and remembered even fewer faces. It was rare for anyone to leave such an impression on him.

But before he could examine that face any closer, the door to the gathering hall slammed shut.

***

“...Now then. Let us move on to the final agenda item.”

With the recent chaos settled, Alfred—with a weary expression—proceeded to introduce the last topic of the gathering.

“The subject is—”

“I’ll take this one. It’s simple, but important.”

The Shadow Witch stood from her seat and cut him off mid-sentence.

“It’s time to decide the time and place for the Demon King’s resurrection.”

The mood in the hall grew heavy at her words.

The resurrection of the Demon King—hope and purpose to all the exiled, cursed beings of the underworld.

This agenda was the true reason the Shadow Gathering had been convened. Every person present had dropped all else to be here.

“Isn’t it too early?”

Just then, a low voice from the executive seats—the Death Knight.

“It hasn’t even been a month since the candidate was confirmed...”

“...No. In fact, now is the perfect time.”

Though her tone was laced with concern, the Shadow Witch replied with unwavering certainty.

“We’ve already finished internal selection. There’s only ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) one candidate left, after all.”

“......”

“I didn’t expect the last candidate to resolve the entire succession war in one move, but... well.”

The Great Shadow had always remained hands-off when it came to internal strife. So, unsurprisingly, each faction had worked to elevate their own chosen candidate.

But those days were over. The candidate personally brought by the Great Shadow had eliminated all others in one fell swoop.

Naturally, none of the other executives—aside from the Shadow Witch, who hadn’t backed any candidate—were thrilled about this.

But none dared object in the Great Shadow’s presence.

“The Empire and the Theocracy have started moving. They even have the Hero. If our plan has leaked—”

“Then we must act faster.”

The Death Knight was clearly trying to be diplomatic, but the Shadow Witch’s rebuttal left no room for argument.

“If our enemies know... the longer we wait, the worse it gets.”

“......”

“Just look at today’s intruder. We can’t afford to give them more time to prepare.”

Only someone of the Death Knight’s rank could even raise such concerns.

Anyone else speaking up would’ve risked vanishing by sunrise.

“Still...”

“We’ve waited long enough.”

“......”

“Now it’s time to choose our moment.”

And with that, the Shadow Witch turned a subtle, expectant gaze toward Whitney.

“...So, when and where shall the Demon King’s resurrection take place?”

She was fully aware that the one sitting there wasn’t the Great Shadow himself, but Whitney.

Still, since he had been designated as the direct representative of the Great Shadow, she assumed he knew the answer.

...What am I supposed to say to that?

At that moment, Whitney’s mind went completely blank.

I managed to bluff my way through the other agenda items—but this one? I actually have to decide?

With Bergen’s exposure and all the recent mental gymnastics, Whitney’s brain was fried.

And now, he was being asked to deliver the final answer to the black mages’ ultimate goal.

“Uh......”

His eyes glazed over, and he trailed off mid-sentence.

“So, I mean...”

“......?”

“...Hmm.”

Everyone in the room blinked in confusion at his sudden behavior.

The lower ranks held their breath, anxious to hear the Great Shadow’s decree—who seemed even more menacing than usual tonight.

The executives eyed Whitney nervously, unsure if they could trust his words or still find a chance to influence the outcome.

And the Shadow Witch, who knew the full truth, watched with unconcealed delight and growing excitement.

“...Before we make that decision, there’s something I need to do.”

At last, Whitney found his voice.

“Maier. Did you come with your fiancée today?”

“...Y-yes.”

“Where is she?”

Maier, who had kept his mouth shut until now, broke into a cold sweat at the question.

“W-why do you ask...?”

It sounded dangerously close to heresy—but Whitney’s next words swiftly erased the offense.

“...Bring her here.”

He hadn’t meant to stir the pot like that.

But nonetheless—this was the moment.

For the first time ever, a command was issued to summon the Demon King candidate—whose face not even the executives had seen before—by someone other than the Great Shadow himself.