City of Witches Chapter 280

What images typically come to mind when one thinks of Mexico?

Drugs, gangs, unstable public safety, slums?

These are largely accurate impressions.

Like most Latin American countries, Mexico has corrupt politicians and cartels possessing power and armed force surpassing that of the central government.

Based on smuggling operations that bring in drugs produced in places like Colombia and Venezuela, they have built their own kingdoms.

They brutally execute rival organizations, politicians, journalists, military, and police without distinction, laying the foundation for a reign of terror.

Even ordinary citizens, if critical voices are heard, are cruelly executed, their corpses sometimes laid out on the streets.

Taking the border city Ciudad Juárez, located in the region bordering the United States, as an example, the drug war causes about 10,000 casualties annually, and due to the worst public safety conditions, the annual murder rate reaches about 200 per 100,000 people. Thus, the common perception that "Mexico is dangerous" originates from here.

However, this story of intense conflict between various cartels and the war on drugs is limited to the heated border regions. The story changes somewhat as one goes down to Mexico City, the largest city in the south.

Mexico City, where the federal government and embassies are concentrated, is an area even cartels hesitate to touch rashly, so it has achieved considerable stability and prosperity.

Especially if one comes as far as Polanco, the heart of Mexico City, 16th-century European-style architecture and statues blend naturally among skyscrapers, showcasing a prosperity that makes it hard to believe this is the dangerous Mexico.

At the center of this city stands a lofty building that even the notoriously severe smog cannot reach.

In the top floor of the hotel 'Saint Rey Mexico City,' which overlooks a beautiful nightscape like a cluster of stars blooming in the darkness, a meeting of Witches began.

The total number of participants was four.

Although it was not an official meeting but a personal summons, it was less than half of even half the number compared to the days when the public enemy group 'Cliptoth' was at the peak of its power.

It was inevitable, as countless public enemies lost their lives during the invasion of Gehenna in 1883.

"I wonder how long it's been since we gathered like this? Was it 20 years ago?"

Although not all the invited had arrived, the 'Witch of Desire, Bianca Bellili,' confirming the passage of time, twirled a lock of hair beside her temple and smiled.

Her abundant, sunlit white hair flowed elegantly over her shoulders, and her jade-green pupils shone brightly even in the dim lighting.

"Why are you in the seat of honor?"

Even as a Witch pointed this out in a sharp voice, Bianca answered leisurely.

"You all came to my city, and I'm the host, so isn't it natural for me to take the seat of honor? 'Kleh Asmode.'"

"I find that unacceptable. Either move the chair immediately or bring out more splendid wine. Who do you think you're offering this cheap stuff to?"

Except for Kleh, who voiced her dissatisfaction in a shrill voice, no one else objected.

It was none other than Bianca who started by unifying Mexico's large-scale cartels and the scattered minor cartels in every corner of the provinces into a single force.

Having placed her throne atop mountains of tens of thousands of tons of drugs and corpses a hundred times that number, it's hard to think her words are exaggerated.

However, the reason Kleh expressed dissatisfaction was because the two were sworn enemies.

To be more precise, it was Kleh who unilaterally disliked Bianca.

Kleh was the owner of a Colombian drug production plant, and in the process of distributing drugs to North America, she had enormous amounts of money extorted by the greedy Bianca, so it was impossible for any good feelings to arise.

After all, Magic research requires no small amount of money.

"Are you going to fight as soon as you meet after so long? The little one is always full of energy~"

A Witch in a nun's habit, who had been leaning back comfortably, smiled and spoke teasingly.

Although the design of her garment was somewhat loose, it seemed difficult to conceal her voluptuous figure.

"Shut up, you big-titted bitch."

"That's too harsh. Who do you think supplies weapons for your war games?"

Kleh immediately picked a fight, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

By any measure, the atmosphere was not amicable.

It couldn't be helped.

The Witches gathered here were public enemies belonging to the notorious 'Cliptoth,' and among them, Great Witches possessing particularly strong authority and Magic.

They were the worst public enemies who had avoided the Purge by Duke Keter and Duke Tiferet, had countless enemies, yet each had formed their own power.

Bound by interests, they occasionally cooperated when forced to share the same boat, but fundamentally, they were hostile to each other.

Considering that as soon as the Witch of Aquarius, who had been a member of Cliptoth, was confirmed dead, all her interests and power were torn apart and disintegrated, it was only natural for them to be wary of each other.

"I want to ask the reason for this temporary summons."

A dry, calm voice cut through the commotion.

It was a Witch with hair as black as if painted with ink.

Her cool, ashen-gray pupils showed a demeanor that seemed unwilling to waste even a second on meaningless time.

"Isn't it obvious? Everyone must have been watching this situation with keen interest."

"Your feigned innocence is fucking disgusting."

Everyone ignored Kleh's sarcasm toward Bianca, and the conversation proceeded naturally.

"The Cowardly Witch?"

"Yes, that's right."

The Cowardly Witch was a Witch with no connection to Cliptoth.

Unlike the four gathered here, she did not shoulder any particular power and wandered alone, and her objectives were completely different from the start.

Thus, she was a public enemy who had no particular need for cooperation or consultation, nor any need to mediate conflicts or disputes.

Nevertheless, they had been watching the Cowardly Witch because she had played the role of a test subject splendidly.

"She caused a disaster with casualties in the four digits in one of the world's top cities and conducted a Magic experiment right in the city center where massive casualties were inevitable. But Keter did not move."

"Just as the Witch of Whispers said."

"Since it was information leaked from the Oracle, its credibility was high from the start."

"I don't like that sneaky bitch."

The Witches here, despite possessing great power and authority, had operated covertly underwater, never revealing themselves to the world.There's no need to even ask where that restraining power originated from.

It would be undeniable that it was due to the existence of Duke Keter, whom all Witches revere.

"Looking at the incident with the Cowardly Witch, you can see the prophecy wasn't wrong, right? Keter isn't 'not moving.' She's 'unable' to move."

"But to be that certain~ the risk is too great, isn't it? It's not like Lilith has lied and wandered around just once or twice."

"She has also told the truth. It's also true she helped Cliptoth in various ways. Though she can't be trusted."

"Are you all insane? You know what kind of bitch she is? It's laughable to be talking about trusting her or not at this point."

Kleh's sneering laugh, as if finding it absurd.

But putting aside Kleh's openly sarcastic tone, her words themselves were valid.

Lilith was by no means a Witch who could be trusted.

The Witch of Whispers, whose motives no one could discern, yet who went around sowing all sorts of chaos and confusion.

She was someone who couldn't be given even the bare minimum of trust as a collaborator.

To the point that no one even knew what her Witch Name was.

"If you called me here to babble on after listening to that bat-like bitch, I'm out. Not even worth hearing. How foolish."

"Same here~ I still want to watch and see?"

"Now, now, don't be like that. Listen to me."

Bianca claps her hands, settling the restless atmosphere that seemed ready to disperse any moment.

Under the focused gazes, Bianca calmly laid out her provocation.

"Aren't you all tired of living in fear of Keter, trembling? Frankly, it's ridiculous. In the past, there was no concept of being a public enemy or anything. It was natural for a Witch to do anything for Magic. The very one who pushed us into this constraint and oppression is remaining silent, but do you plan to cower forever, scared of that shadow?"

"That is a repetition of the same argument. I still cannot believe the 'prophecy.'"

"Right, I know you're saying one case isn't enough. That's why I gathered everyone like this."

Bianca began to lay out her main point.

"If you still can't trust the Witch of Whispers, I'll be the second guinea pig. I'm offering to cross the stone bridge everyone fears in their stead."

"That sounds good? I hope you drop dead."

While spewing venom, Kleh seemed intrigued and sat back down.

"I'll prove the prophecy once more."

"Nobody would hold a chalice that might have poison smeared on its rim with bare lips, aha~ so that's it."

"In return for taking the risk, I'd like you all gathered here to guarantee me some conveniences."

That's right.

What Bianca was saying now was this:

In exchange for verifying the prophecy that Duke Keter could no longer move, she wanted to secure various interests.

The Witches gathered here were all individuals directly or indirectly connected to Bianca's side businesses.

"If you show me modest goodwill, I will do my utmost to deliver plausible results."

"......"

The moment they grasped Bianca's intent, the other Witches also began tapping away at the calculators in their heads.

For the public enemies, Keter's existence was akin to an anti-tank mine buried beneath their feet.

For now, they were tiptoeing around cautiously, but ultimately, it was a shackle and a wall that could explode at any unknown moment.

The prophecy from the 'prophetic organ' delivered by the Witch of Whispers was not something to be taken lightly.

It was an organ that had delivered prophecies without a single miss for over a thousand years of history.

Of course, Lilith was a completely untrustworthy Witch, but what if, on a whim, she had conveyed an accurate fact?

What if they could freely conduct the magic experiments and businesses they had been too burdened to undertake?

Moreover, if someone else took on that life-risking trial and error for them?

It became an enticing offer they couldn't readily refuse, one they were willing to pay a sufficient price for.

"I'm in~"

"I agree as well."

"If you die, I'll gobble up your puppets too."

"That was quick."

Everyone accepted Bianca's proposal.

If a few more people had gathered, she could have squeezed out more, but Bianca was satisfied here.

After that, things proceeded smoothly.

Bianca requested something modest compared to the cost of risking her life, and even promised to receive about half of the compensation only after a definitive experiment.

It was a negotiation that ended with such a low posture it made the other three Witches wonder.

"Alright, it's not like we're on such cozy terms to sit face-to-face and chat amiably, so shall we wrap it up here?"

"I don't want to hear your disgusting voice any longer either, you know?"

"......"

"Don't be so harsh~ We've known each other for quite a while now~"

"Well then, see you next time."

-Clap!

As Bianca clapped her hands again, the commotion subsided.

The dimly lit hotel's entire lighting turned on, revealing the transformed conference table.

"Ggguh... Ggrrglg...!"

The three Witches who had noisily, quietly, leisurely occupied the table were no more.

Instead, Bianca sat calmly before three humans dying, frothing blood from their mouths and eyes.

The magic of divorce through a proxy body.

The other Witches, excluding Bianca, had not made the long journey to Mexico City on foot but had attended this place through magic.

Of course, there was no way an ordinary human body could withstand the vast knowledge and magic power of a Witch.

The poor sacrificial lambs would die with their brains crushed the moment the Spell Formula ended, but that wasn't particularly important.

"Haaah...!"

Bianca suddenly let out a hot sigh.

It was because someone, unseen by the Witches sitting at the other table, had been crawling into the space between Bianca's skirt hem from a hidden corner, licking her secret place throughout the entire meeting.

"Phew, I almost couldn't hold back. That's enough now. Come out."

Someone hesitantly crawls out from between her spread legs.

Short hair cut off below the shoulders, a pitiful, flower-like body line.

Ruby-like eyes, as if steeped in blood, look up at Bianca Bellili with fear.

The pitiful face, flawless in a way only a non-Witch could possess, was smeared thickly with sticky love juice and saliva, looking utterly vulgar.

"You've gotten quite skilled lately, haven't you? Our Ea."

"...."

The pet Bianca had taken in not long ago, the one everyone thought was dead.That Witch's true identity was Ea Sadalmelik.

She was the infamous Witch of Aquarius.