[Let’s not get the wrong idea.]
Evelyn responded, clutching something in her hand.
It was a stalk of celery. Apparently, she had recently taken up vegetable gardening.
[I must say, your contribution to this case has been quite impressive.]
“What?”
[If it weren’t for this incident, it would have taken us a while to discover the existence of the pillar, which could have posed a threat to the city. In that regard, we will compensate you as agreed upon for this operation.]
The ransom equivalent to Lennok’s value alone amounted to tens of millions of cells.
From Lennok’s perspective, it was not bad to receive full payment for information acquired by chance.
[But let’s set that aside for now and share some of the information we’ve gathered from this incident.]
As she spoke, Evelyn waved a report over the hologram.
[The spell cast on the pillar you obtained from the 55th district is indeed dark magic. Specifically, it’s a method of extracting large amounts of energy from the land by connecting it to the ley lines or water lines in the area.]
“……’
[It seems this method is used for various types of spells, not just dark magic. It provides an easy way to gather the energy needed for large-scale rituals, with few drawbacks apart from the time required. However, it could be a problem for agricultural land.]
“So, it’s not a major concern?”
[That’s not the case. We cannot ignore the fact that the dark wizards are using these pillars to drain energy from Vulcan’s ley lines. After receiving your report, we hired freelancers to search the outskirts of the city and discovered three more similar pillars.]
“Three… that’s hardly any progress.”
Jenny’s words may have dampened the spirits of the ongoing work, but she wasn’t wrong.
The true extent of the dark wizards’ installations on the outskirts of this vast metropolis was unknown, but considering the nature of the spell that siphons power from ley lines, there must be at least five pillars.
Despite the early stages of the operation, the results were disheartening.
[We don’t have much choice. Your suggestion implies that most mercenaries or freelancers could be cursed merely by touching these pillars. Can we risk using such high-level personnel for this task? All we can do for now is scout suspicious areas and report anything unusual.]
It was a compromise based on the limitations of what realistically could be accomplished, and Lennok agreed.
The 40s and 50s districts alone were several times larger than the entirety of Vulcan’s other districts combined.
Covering such a vast area in search of the pillars would require considerable labor, time, and cost, which even the agents might find hard to accept.
[We will take the minimum necessary measures and focus our efforts on apprehending the mastermind behind all of this.]
“Is that a feasible choice?”
[Let’s consider it a matter of priority.]
Of course, if the pillars had spread into the 30s district, Evelyn would not have been so casual in her approach.
Her somewhat relaxed demeanor indicated that security and defense in the 30s district were well-established, especially for the core forces based in the city.
Causing trouble within the city, eluding the watchful eyes of the influential figures who may move slowly but have far-reaching vision, would prove challenging.
[Alright, let’s move on to the next topic.]
It appeared that pressing Evelyn further would yield no further information.
In any case, he had no regrets since he had confirmed the removal of Dray’s curse by deactivating all the spells on the pillar.
There was still much more to learn.
[Mad Manson? Your guess was correct. We have confirmed that Reisen hired him.]
“Out of all people, he chose that insane lunatic…”
Jenny rubbed her temples as if she had a headache.
True to her outgoing nature, it seemed she had some connection with Manson.
Lennok understood Jenny’s sentiments, but he was surprised to see Evelyn frown slightly as if she, too, found it difficult to digest.
Manson may have been skilled in swordsmanship, but only among the ranks of superhumans who could wield magic.
He was far from being a true monster that transcended humanity.
After all, Evelyn, who shook the city’s night sky with her tremendous power, was the embodiment of a force to be reckoned with, wasn’t she?
[With that body, yes.]
“Body?”
[That crazy guy controls eight bodies with one mind. He’s a master of body manipulation. The one you encountered this time was likely a body used for reconnaissance.]
“You mean he can do that even without being a robot?”
Jenny tapped her temples and replied.
“Did you notice his head replaced with a can? He intentionally relies on AI for certain thought processes to avoid mental exhaustion. Moreover, each body has distinct roles and combat abilities… No wonder he’s considered one of the top freelancers in action.”
So, that’s what he meant when he said he would come dressed differently next time.
Lennok had never fathomed the existence of a person capable of utilizing multiple bodies with a single mind, not even considering multiple personalities.
Perhaps that’s why Manson could maintain such a nonchalant attitude despite his body being on the verge of destruction.
While Lennok was lost in thought, the conversation swiftly moved forward.
Evelyn finished her explanation and outlined the plan for the operation.
[We have tracked down the location through the dummy data concealed in the encryption key. The place is far beyond the undeveloped lands. If we consider the distance alone, it’s practically outside the megacity.]
“Is that where the dark wizards’ headquarters are?”
[We have confirmed a significant stockpile of supplies, indicating that it’s likely a temporary base set up for a city invasion. If we can uncover its secrets through this operation, it will be more than sufficient.]
Evelyn extended three fingers as she continued her explanation, revealing her surprisingly small hand.
[The operation will be divided into three teams. Team 1 will enter and create a diversion, while you, Van, will lead Team 2 to gather information during that time. Once the information is secured, Team 3 will seal off the area and buy us some time.]
“Sounds complicated.”
This operation involved freelancers hired by the agent, not experts like Evelyn.
Unlike Teams 1 and 3, whose main concerns were entry and exit, the key part of the operation was entrusted to Team 2, led by Lennok.
As Lennok caught on to this, Evelyn averted her gaze and muttered under her breath.
[The command structure is based on the demonstrated capabilities in the last operation. I will ensure that Teams 1 and 3 also respect your judgment in the field.]
“…It may not be of much use, but I’ll keep that in mind.”
The tall and expressionless woman from the previous operation had also initially questioned Lennok’s skills and qualifications.
Regardless of his name or reputation, suspicions about him never seemed to disappear.
Even as he continued to successfully complete missions and grow, there were always those who regarded Lennok with skepticism.
Lennok understood that as a stranger in this city, he would have to keep enduring such scrutiny.
Although it was tiresome, Lennok had grown accustomed to the process of continually proving himself.
[Anyway, you’ve done well this time. Additional schedules and operation details will be shared through your associate.]
***
As soon as Evelyn’s hologram disappeared, Jenny immediately focused on her phone.
“The same amount as last time has been deposited into the account. It seems they genuinely consider this mission a success. That’s to be expected.”
Since they had discovered the involvement of dark wizards in the city, it was not surprising that the agents held this viewpoint.
Moreover, they likely regarded Lennok, who willingly cooperated with the operations even without being asked, as an excellent collaborator.
Lennok didn’t need to explain to Evelyn how he had become involved with the pillar.
“So, we’re following your method of information sharing?”
“That’s right. It’s an open secret that both the city government and agents use the dark web. Utilizing the main network of the city government and unused resources should provide optimal security.”
Jenny took a drag from her cigarette, exhaling smoke as she glanced at Lennok.
“But are you okay with this?”
“What do you mean?”
“When you first started, did you anticipate things would escalate to this extent?”
“……”
“I thought it wouldn’t be too burdensome if it was just about chasing the legacy of dark wizards, but it’s different when a terrorist organization gets involved. Especially Facon, they’re among the worst… extremely brutal, if you catch my drift.”
She frowned and trailed off, “You won’t have an easy time.”
A faint cloud of smoke lingered in the air of the office.
“If you want, you can still back out.”
“Jenny.”
Lennok chuckled.
“If you were worried about that, you should have stopped me when I first came to this bar.”
He understood why she was expressing her concerns now.
Many things had changed since Lennok first set foot in her bar.
Now, Lennok was clearly one of the most successful freelancers there, highly skilled in both combat and magic—a coveted individual.
His continuous battles with key figures of various gangs had gained him a reputation for defeating numerous skilled fighters in almost one-on-one confrontations.
Over a year had passed since he started frequenting the bar.
Now, Lennok’s name was spreading beyond the 49th district to other districts.
Setting aside personal feelings, Jenny also felt the need to manage the risks to ensure that such a powerful asset as Lennok wouldn’t go to waste.
“Don’t worry too much.”
Lennok extinguished the cigarette he held in his hand in the ashtray and stood up from his seat.
“I’ve been working until now to avoid situations like these.”
“Hmm… Many people who have a say think the same way, but I still can’t quite grasp what you’re thinking.”
She might have felt that way, watching him willingly dive into the conflicts involving dark wizards and terrorist organizations without a clear sense of his true intentions.
But Lennok had his own calculations, believing that this stance would benefit him in the long run.
Actively intervening in the dark wizards’ conflict merely through Raul’s request would be ambiguous, but the situation changed when agents like Evelyn became involved.
Agents were among the city government’s sharpest weapons.
If Lennok could make an impression in front of them, his scope of influence in the city would continue to expand.
Through his collaboration with Dyke, he had already established himself as someone capable of negotiating directly with corporations, going beyond being just a freelancer lurking in the shadows.
A close collaboration with the agents would likely yield even greater synergies than Lennok had initially anticipated.
Jenny probably hadn’t actively discouraged him so far because she had a rough understanding of this.
It was a testament to the tremendous power held by someone with the name “Missile” Evelyn Marcia.
Jenny could offer advice to Lennok, but she couldn’t change his decision.
Because Lennok had always chosen what he wanted and what he believed he needed to do.
That was a fact that had never changed since he found himself in this world.
(To be Continued)
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