It has been three days since Lennok returned to Vulcan.
While maintaining regular communication with Jenny, Lennok was organizing both the mental and material achievements he had in the autonomous region.
Among them, the personal achievements he could gain included the unique flame-specific magic of the Blaiver Magic Tower and the creation magic that Lennok had developed himself.
Regarding the creation magic, he had only outlined a rough framework so far, with the only practically usable magic being the gravity-based [Ten Thousand Miles Pulling Chain].
Basically, it is a hastily created system to elevate frequently used common magic to the level of unique magic, so the foundation is still poor.
Of course, he had already determined the direction for further development, but to advance further, he felt that more comprehensive data collection and continuous theoretical research would be necessary.
However, it’s a different story for Lightning magic.
In the realm of managing electrical discharges, Lennok possessed an abundance of expertise and knowledge.
His journey began with the magic of the Thorban Magic Tower, specializing in unique Lightning magic. However, after undergoing dozens of property changes, the lightning had evolved into something entirely his own.
While he could likely fill hundreds of pages explaining the know-how and principles of improvement he had gleaned through the direct use of magic, Lennok opted for restraint, at least for the moment.
‘Externally, I’m known as an Elemental Mage, so I have to pick a theme that can be appropriately tied to Davi’s abilities.’
With this decision firmly in his mind, Lennok’s fingers sprang into action.
His long, slender digits danced across the keyboard—or at least, that was the intention.
‘Damn it, does my poor motor skills really apply here too?’
Each attempt to increase his typing speed even slightly resulted in inevitable slips of his fingers, leading to numerous typos.
Growing frustrated, Lennok began to press the keyboard keys meticulously, one by one.
Davi, who had been curled up next to the laptop, raised its head to gaze at Lennok and flicked its tail.
[Should I start creating an auto-writing algorithm now?]
“… I didn’t want to use mana for something like this, but I need it right now.”
Given the knowledge within Lennok’s mind, crafting a thesis of more than twenty pages would be a simple task. However, with his painfully slow typing skills, it would be an unnecessary waste of time.
Davi, now occupying Lennok’s place on the keyboard, remarked, [Compared to creating an auto-flight algorithm, this is trivial. It’ll be done in three minutes. You can think about the file title in the meantime.]
“The title…”
Lennok lost himself in thought while observing Davi’s wagging tail.
“Let’s go with ‘Algorithm Structure for Electronic Network Interference Using Lightning Property-changing Magic.'”
[Isn’t it better to just openly put my name in front of the thesis with a title like that?]
“Sure, let’s also attach a large photo of you on the cover.”
[…]
Though he had no intention of following through with such an idea, Lennok intended to compose a thesis examining the synergy between the physical world and the Lightning realm, drawing from the knowledge he had acquired while working with electrical spirits.
With his newfound understanding of how computational power and finely tuned Lightning magic could influence Vulcan’s system, there were plenty of fascinating topics to explore.
And so, Lennok and Davi toiled tirelessly through the night, both hunched over the laptop.
It took approximately ten hours to complete a roughly 180-page thesis, which was subsequently sent to the academic conference’s email inbox. It just barely met the deadline, bearing the name of Aris’s lab instead of Evan’s.
It didn’t take even two days for the academic world to be set abuzz.
***
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other’s faces. How have you been?”
“I’m not sure.” Lennok replied, taking a seat opposite the other individual.
They occupied a leisurely café terrace on this afternoon.
In a space already devoid of many patrons, they had chosen a table that was perfectly concealed from prying eyes.
The skill of arranging such covert meetings was a mark of someone well-versed in this clandestine world.
“If you’re meeting agents often, you’re probably not doing well.”
“Oh, you’ve improved your sense of humor. Even saying things you don’t mean.”
She sported short hair that reached her shoulders, and her deep green eyes exuded an air of determination.
Her mana, cold and tightly controlled, belied her relaxed demeanor.
Despite the passage of time since their last face-to-face encounter, there wasn’t a trace of change or a hint of faltering.
Agent Evelyn Marcia.
Known as the city government’s “hunting dog” and operating under the alias “Missile,” the archer sipped her coffee with the same poise as ever.
“Ah, right. I’ve been growing celery these days. Want to try some? It’s really good for dieting. It’s full of magical energy, so it should be good for your body.”
“…I’ll pass. Are you still running a vegetable store?”
“Of course. I’ve been traveling all around the Vulcan, doing business diligently. The profits have been quite good lately, so much so that I could quit my main job.”
Lennok sighed, observing Evelyn’s mischievous smile.
“Stop saying things you don’t mean. Unless you want to give the media a juicy story.”
Agent Evelyn occupied a significant position in an elite unit, renowned even among the city government’s upper echelons. Leaving her role would require overcoming substantial opposition.
“Speaking of the media, have you seen this?”
Evelyn pushed a newspaper toward Lennok on the table.
“Rabatenon University just published a paper that’s shaking up academia.”
“…”
“It proposes a new paradigm on the application of lightning magic. I’m curious about your opinion.”
Evelyn grinned, her eyes fixed on Lennok, who remained silent.
“I want to know what the most powerful lightning mage I know thinks.”
“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Lennok grimaced as he picked up the newspaper.
“I learned magic in back alleys, I’m basically illiterate in theory. Even if I look at papers like this, I barely understand what’s going on.”
“Oh… Is that so?”
Evelyn murmured as if she were committing every word Lennok uttered to memory, a touch of obsession in her demeanor.
Lennok purposefully averted his gaze and concentrated on the newspaper.
Evelyn’s questions may have been evaded, but Lennok couldn’t feign ignorance.
Thanks to this paper, his inbox had been inundated with five times the usual number of messages from Aris. It was inevitable.
He had been taken aback when Aris called, expressing her emotional trust in him.
Never did he imagine that a paper on applying lightning magic to electronic devices would create such a profound stir.
According to Aris, the academic community was astounded because a researcher had accomplished something in a field that had seen countless attempts but no successes.
The ripple effects of Lennok’s tangible results, which not only prevented mana leakage but also improved compatibility with potent computational devices, had led to a succession of derivative papers.
According to Aris, citations of Lennok’s paper were soaring at an unprecedented rate.
Fortunately, thanks to Aris’s foresight, Evan’s identity and personal information remained well-guarded, but the unintentional fame left Lennok feeling utterly perplexed.
‘My head is already hurting…’
He wondered how he would explain himself to undergraduates and fellow researchers who would undoubtedly bombard him with questions upon his return to the university.
“I should take another look at Aris Richellen’s judgment. I’ve heard rumors that she’s focused on nurturing successors, but I never thought she would produce results like this. Is it because she’s a genius?”
“…I’ve also heard of her. Isn’t the achievement of the lab paper also the achievement of that genius?”
Lennok swiftly interjected to acknowledge Aris’s contribution.
“True. It’s unbelievable to aim for Level 7 at her age. How she can achieve such heights while also juggling her professorial duties… I understand why Sinclair Magic Tower wants to bring her in so badly.”
Evelyn appeared somewhat persuaded by Lennok’s words.
Even someone as skilled as Evelyn, who defied common sense, held a certain level of admiration for Aris’s exceptional talent. Given that Grisha, a Level 7 sorcerer, held Aris in high regard, it wasn’t surprising.
While the world at large referred to Aris Richellen as a genius, it seemed that those with unconventional abilities recognized this even more keenly.
“So, is that all you wanted to say? I’d like to get to the point.”
Lennok had indulged Evelyn’s conversation until now, but he hadn’t come here for casual chatter.
If she, who typically exchanged only occasional banter, had summoned Lennok, there was a high likelihood that it wasn’t an ordinary errand. Given the current state of Jenny’s bar, her words likely pertained to…
“Cartel. You already suspect, don’t you?”
“…”
Evelyn set down the glass she held in her hand, and with a touch of her fingertips, a surge of mana radiated outwards, forming an imperceptible barrier.
In an instant, she shielded their surroundings from prying eyes and intrusive noises. She fixed her gaze intently on Lennok and continued.
“It’s too big of a risk. Give it up.”
“Give up what?”
“Whether it’s the business you are running or the bar. Or even that woman.”
Lennok fell silent.
“The executives of the Cartel are monsters that even we can’t easily touch. All of them have been in this field for decades. Do you think you can take them on?”
“…”
“I’m advising you based on your abilities and potential. Personally, I think you might be a genius who’s not inferior to that Aris Richellen. I don’t want to see such talent squandered on just running a decent business.”
“So, if you’re so worried, why don’t you help?”
Lennok chuckled, but Evelyn’s expression remained serious.
“If I could, I would, but… The situation is different from when Craig Tillian was wreaking havoc.”
Craig Tillian, a Necromancer, had carried out aggressive and effective terrorist acts, but they didn’t align with the intricate web of interests in Vulcan.
That’s why Evelyn had no problem using her agency’s resources to independently investigate the financial sources of Reisen, a council member.
However, the Cartel was an entirely different matter.
An organization born from the consolidation of companies with origins in the underworld, the Cartel had established an infrastructure, connections, and organizational cohesion that even agents found difficult to penetrate.
“It’s an organization that’s directly involved in the cash flow of the underworld. If the Cartel collapses, the economic system of the underworld could also collapse, blurring the boundaries between freelancers and outlaws. It’s a difficult problem to intervene in unless you act from within.”
“So maintaining the status quo is the best option?”
“At least until an organization of similar stature appears… you’d answer like this, wouldn’t you?”
Evelyn let out a deep sigh after uttering those words.
Lennok smiled.
“You knew from the beginning, didn’t you?”
It wasn’t for naught that Jenny remained composed even after the Cartel’s attack.
From the outset of their venture, it was clear that there would be resistance from other entities. However, the opposition had turned out to be far more formidable than anticipated.
To ascend the ranks in Vulcan’s hierarchy, he would eventually have to confront such challenges.
“I have no intention of ending up as just a freelancer. Nor do I like the idea of working under someone else.”
To be precise, due to certain circumstances, Lennok was averse to affiliating with an organization, but he kept that to himself.
“So, I have no choice but to directly grab the hand of someone unfortunate and climb up. This is just part of that process.”
The reason he had chosen Jenny as a partner wasn’t arbitrary. Finding someone as capable and ambitious as her, and who also had a need for Lennok, had been no small feat.
While he hadn’t foreseen the involvement of a heavyweight from the underworld, it also meant that if the Cartel were to collapse, Jenny’s business could swiftly step into its place.
He had no intention of surrendering before even making an attempt.
“Ah… If I knew you were this ambitious, I should never have gotten involved.”
Hearing Evelyn’s regretful words, Lennok finished the remainder of his coffee.
He didn’t typically consume coffee as he can’t sleep after just one cup, but given today’s agenda, it didn’t matter.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Wait.”
As Lennok prepared to rise from his seat, Evelyn retrieved a note from her pocket and placed it on the table.
