“No, it’s more like…,” Lennok paused as he inspected the three guns he had reduced to keychain size using his reduction spell.
“I’m curious about how committed you are to this. To be honest, phrases like ‘the sky is opening’ sound overly dramatic.”
His intense gaze was fixed on Grisha.
“Let’s be realistic. If you continue to pursue your goals, you’ll eventually clash with the Pandemonium organization. What do you stand to gain by going that far?”
Lennok was no longer the inexperienced rookie he once was; he now had a rough understanding of the formidable power that Pandemonium possessed.
From the moment he first encountered Croken, he comprehended why Dylan had been so desperate.
And he recognized just how extraordinary it was to even contemplate challenging them.
Despite being a criminal organization that operated freely across the entire continent, there was very little concrete information available about them.
In Vulcan, the eastern continent’s most expansive and advanced city, Croken, a high-ranking member of the organization, roamed without restraint, further demonstrating their significant influence.
Both Croken Asillus and the dark wizard had displayed martial prowess deserving of both fear and respect.
On whose side did Pandemonium stand?
What were their true intentions in this seemingly boundless world?
As the world’s ideologies diverged, and the moment to choose a side drew near, Lennok realized the need to hear both perspectives before that decisive moment arrived.
Had Lennok’s words struck a chord? For a brief moment, Grisha’s expression stiffened.
“You’re young but acting brave,” she remarked, chuckling bitterly before falling into contemplative silence, her fingers tightening around her pipe.
“Spellcasters like me aren’t smart enough to weigh the pros and cons. I’m simply helping Lapis to wrap up what I’ve seen and experienced.”
“What you’ve seen and experienced?”
“No one entangled with Pandemonium can ever truly break free,” Grisha stated in a cold tone.
“They either oppose, resent, become victims, or ultimately become one of them.”
“That is…”
“To prevent that, I’m traveling across the continent to find others who have undergone similar experiences.”
Essentially, she served as the recruitment officer for the ‘Eye of Blue’, identifying potential candidates.
Her immediate confrontation with Lennok upon meeting him and Lapis’s lack of discouragement were both part of this role.
“Evan. Join ‘Eye of Blue’.”
“……”
“The world is changing ever since the ‘Genocide Order’ incident attempted by dark wizard Craig Tillian. Boundaries are blurring, and monsters roaming the high seas are becoming active. We need to stop those who are inciting all this resentment before the sky opens and hell descends.”
Grisha continued, “People as capable as you are gathering under a single banner. The young lord of the Bellaha family, the archer of Green Gem, and Arveloa’s Hound… Some towers and research centers have also promised to cooperate with us.”
“……”
“The ‘Eye of Blue’ will continue to consistently strengthen its forces and will not reject anyone with talent and ability. You could be one of us.”
Her gaze was unwavering, bearing a certainty that surpassed mere faith.
The resolute look in her eyes, contrasting sharply with her usual bitter and apathetic demeanor, left a profound impression.
Only then did Lennok realize why Lapis had brought Grisha along on this mission and couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.
She had claimed to be traveling across the continent for similar purposes.
All along, she had been recruiting him for their organization.
“As I said before, it’s difficult to give an answer right away,” he said, rising to his feet with deliberate slowness.
While Grisha’s unshakable conviction did have some influence on Lennok, he had no intention of being easily swayed.
“I plan to judge and act on the situation based on what I’ve personally seen and felt. It’s too early to move just by listening to what you guys say.”
With a grin, Lennok added, “How would it be if the organization you lead turns out to be not much different from Pandemonium?”
“… How are you so sure that what you’ve seen and heard is correct?”
“Who knows? I’ve never really thought about it.”
In response to Grisha’s question, Lennok gazed down at the cliffs below, where strong winds whipped around. Despite the biting gusts against his skin, the structure of the autonomous government below remained clearly visible. Just like what Lennok was striving for, no matter how precarious it appeared, he had never forgotten his goal.
“I’m just working for what I want… We’ll have to see whether the deal I had with you guys helps in that decision.”
“Damn, I tried to feel the mood, but you’re quite steadfast, aren’t you?”
Grisha appeared disappointed by Lennok’s steadfast response and let out a sigh.
“Fine, if you came in now, I could have given you a really good position. Ignore an adult’s advice, and you’ll see. Don’t regret it later.”
“I wonder how old you are, claiming to be an adult.”
“I lost count after a hundred.”
“…”
Lennok glanced up at Grisha with a bemused expression. Although Grisha’s appearance was that of someone in their twenties or thirties, it was astonishing that someone of her age would act so childishly.
Typically, Lennok held respect for the elderly, but that sentiment didn’t extend to Grisha.
With a deep sigh, Lennok looked up at the darkening sky.
“It’s getting dark. We’ll set off when the moon rises.”
According to Lapis, there was a pre-arranged meeting with the Relic Division, but it was impossible to simply walk in and out of their secure location. It made sense to meet during the less guarded night and swiftly retrieve the item from the safe.
Grisha muttered as she observed Lennok, who was closing his eyes to rest until then.
“The world works in funny ways. A worn-out wizard like you happens to be in Aris Richellen’s lab…”
“… Speaking of which, Lapis did mention Professor Richellen. Do you know something?”
“Ho?”
Grisha grinned, as if she had stumbled upon something fortunate.
“Opening your mouth if it’s not about the organization, huh?… So, do you have a secret you want to know?”
“A secret I want to know?”
Lennok chuckled. While he did wonder why Aris was interested in individuals without magical talents like himself or why she hadn’t returned to Sinclair Tower but stayed at the university, it didn’t bother him much. After all, he wouldn’t be in the same position as her.
Grisha seemed to discern Lennok’s response and let out a soft snort.
“Well, it’s not such a big deal, so I’ll tell you. We had our eyes on her for recruitment. Sinclair Tower is known for its high nose, but we thought there was a possibility with her focusing on nurturing successors and refusing to return. I was personally attracted to Aris Richellen’s talent too.”
“And then?”
“I made a few contacts through our connections… And I got a rather meaningful response. I was personally quite surprised. I had never thought she would be such a strong-willed person…”
“…”
Seeing Lennok’s face remain expressionless, Grisha chuckled softly.
“From here on, let’s save the story to tell Evan who joined the ‘Eye of Blue’.”
“You… have a natural talent for getting people worked up.”
“Hehe, just joking. It’s not actually that important. Just that I found out how much that professor cares for her people? That also piqued my interest…”
Grisha said this with a meaningful glance at Lennok.
Lennok lightly furrowed his brow and shook his head.
“… I’m telling you… if you say even a word to Professor Richellen, you should know that a map will arrive before Pandemonium.”
“You think I would do something so cowardly? Do you understand what I am saying?”
Looking incredulous, Grisha let out a gentle laugh.
“Hehe… I really don’t like you. Both your thoughts and personality seem completely different from mine.”
“Then it’s better for both of us to keep our mouths shut and wait. But why do you keep talking?”
Grisha responded with a subdued chuckle.
“To be honest, it’s a bit fun. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked with someone like you. Your informal speech, it’s quite entertaining.”
Lennok remained silent.
Truthfully, he was also looking forward to it.
It was the first time Lennok would be in the field with a sorcerer of this caliber.
At the very least, a level 7 sorcerer who had engraved the scenery of her own Domain.
He had known powerful individuals before, but he had never worked with any of them like this.
Of course, Grisha had followed Lennok to persuade him, and it would be preferable for this matter to conclude quietly…
What would it be like to work with such an unpredictable sorcerer?
Time passed.
Without even glancing at his wristwatch, Lennok, who had been resting with closed eyes, stood up.
His internal sense of time was finely honed.
“Let’s go down.”
“Alright.”
Both sorcerers leaped off the cliff simultaneously.
Whoosh!
Just before landing, they cast an anti-gravity spell to hover in the air, and simultaneously activated Nick’s badge to conceal their life signs.
No one would be able to detect them now.
Grisha also calmly channeled her mana, applied it, and began walking ahead.
The patrolling guards around the government building remained entirely unaware of their presence.
Could it be a sensory interference spell?
Just as he pondered this, a chilling voice emanated from the deep shadow of the government building wall.
“I would like to ask you both something.”
“…”
“It won’t take long. I have no intention of wasting your time.”
The young man who emerged from the shadows had strikingly deep red hair, easily distinguishable even in the dark night.
He possessed a traditional yet out-of-place aura compared to the surroundings but exuded an air of refinement.
Calm and composed, not even the sound of his breath could be heard.
The young man regarded the two figures without a word and offered a gentle smile.
“I had no intention of disturbing the night guests, but seeing both of you, I couldn’t just ignore it.”
Lennok and Grisha met his gaze, maintaining their silence.
Considering Lennok’s Nick’s badge and Grisha’s sensory interference spell, along with their magical and mana manipulation abilities, an ordinary sorcerer shouldn’t have been able to discern their presence.
The fact that this young man had approached them indicated his high level of skill as a sorcerer.
Lennok exchanged a glance with Grisha and thought swiftly.
The probability of him being more powerful than Lennok or Grisha was low, given that he hadn’t detected Grisha’s abilities.
However, his cautious demeanor differed significantly from the wizard Byzen from the same tower.
Lennok responded with a polite smile.
“Go ahead. If it’s something we know, we can answer.”
“Good. I am actually looking for someone, and he’s so immature and foolish that I’m embarrassed to say I have to ask around personally.”
The young man slowly withdrew his smile.
“His name is Byzen. Do you have any idea?”
