The blood that had oozed from his side had congealed and formed a scab, while his hands and feet had taken on a purplish tint from being bound for an extended period.
“Oh…”
He drew a twisted dagger and skillfully severed all the ropes that had restrained the man, then gently shook his shoulder.
Jordan’s eyelids fluttered, and he struggled to open his eyes.
“Jordan, you need to get up.”
“Va, Van…”
Jordan managed a weak smile.
“A useless old man has become a burden… I have no face to show you.”
“Let’s save such talk until after we’ve made it out alive.”
Lennok said this as he retrieved a medical kit from his pocket.
It was an emergency medical kit he had acquired as a reward after the deal with the agents.
It was the latest model used by combat unit agents, capable of injecting a potion concentrate directly into the bloodstream via a liquid injection, instantly revitalizing the body.
He had never expected to use it in such circumstances when he had kept the kit after dealing with Craig.
Jordan also recognized the item and immediately shook his head.
“This is… an agent’s tool. Keep it for yourself.”
“I’ve received more than ten similar items from Evelyn Marcia. Please, keep one for yourself.”
“…”
Since Lennok insisted, Jordan no longer declined.
Lennok tilted Jordan’s bruised and bluish neck and injected the potion into his collarbone; the potion concentrate flowed directly into his body.
Seeing Jordan’s complexion rapidly improve, Lennok quickly got up.
“Sorry, but there’s no time to rest for long. While Weian is stalling for time outside, we need to make our escape.”
“Of course. I understand.”
Jordan took a deep breath and forced his body to stand.
Even after using the medical kit, his limbs had been immobilized for over half a day.
Jordan’s limbs trembled, but he clenched his teeth and showed no sign of weakness.
He was determined not to be a burden in this situation.
Lennok admired his strong will.
As they left the infirmary, Jordan’s face tensed upon encountering the pervasive stench of blood in the hallway.
“Let me do whatever needs to be done. What should I do?”
“Can you jump out of the window?”
“If it’s your word, I can do it right now.”
Lennok pointed to one of the hallway windows.
Without hesitation, Jordan sprinted down the hallway and leaped out of the window.
Whoosh!!
“…”
Lennok hurriedly reached the window and cast a floating spell on Jordan’s descending body, halting his fall.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Jordan land safely on an old flower bed beneath the corridor, then swiftly followed suit.
“You don’t even question what I say.”
“I’ve considered myself a dead man since the moment I was kidnapped by those scoundrels.”
Even as Lennok looked astonished, Jordan remained composed.
“In a situation like this, if I don’t trust you, who will I trust?”
“…”
On the surface, it appeared to be a reasonable decision, but in reality, it showcased an incredible determination. Even though he understood it intellectually, Jordan’s immediate compliance to jump out of the window with trembling limbs spoke volumes about the trust he placed in Lennok.
Certainly, Jordan’s life’s path was far from ordinary.
“That’s the most flattering compliment I’ve ever received.”
“It’s not flattery. Now, what’s our plan?”
“It’s not difficult,” Lennok replied, gathering his mana.
Crackle…!!
[Remnant Lightning (余身雷)]
A bolt of pure white lightning extended from his fingertips and surged into Jordan’s head.
“When I give the signal, sprint across the field with all your might and make your way out of the old school building.”
“This, this is…!!”
Feeling the power rapidly filling his body, Jordan looked at his limbs in astonishment.
Even with his extensive experience, it seemed like Jordan’s first encounter with such a body-enhancing form of magic.
However, Jordan didn’t hesitate for long.
As soon as Lennok gave the signal, Jordan propelled himself from the flower bed and dashed across the middle of the old schoolhouse.
Tatatat!!
A surprisingly swift sprint for an older man with limited mana.
Jordan’s full-speed sprint showed no signs of hesitation.
Despite being well aware that other members of the cartel were likely behind the old schoolhouse and even suspecting that Lennok might be using him as bait, he rushed into the enemies’ line of sight without a second thought, following Lennok’s instructions.
[The hostage is escaping…!! Block his path…!!]
The urgency in their voices caused them to reactivate the communication they had previously agreed to cut off, making a frantic call.
As a burst of magical light emanated from beyond the old schoolhouse, a barrage of attacks rained down behind the rapidly moving Jordan.
Flash!!
Next to Jordan, Weian appeared and swiftly lifted him, leaping out of the old schoolhouse.
“You are…?!”
“You’ve had a tough time, let’s go home now!!”
Weian, carrying Jordan and moving at an incomprehensible speed, grinned confidently.
Just as Lennok was about to nod in approval after seeing the two of them move away from the old schoolhouse, a brilliant streak of light, like a painting in motion, struck Weian right next to the school gate.
Boom!!
The powerful impact even altered Lennok’s expression as he watched.
The two figures, seemingly on the verge of escaping from the old schoolhouse, were forcefully pushed back and slammed into the school building.
It was evident that magic was involved, but there was no apparent systematic structure to it.
Physical enhancements were at play, suggesting the presence of a top-level warrior among them, blocking their way.
“Cough…!!”
“Weian, come to your senses…!!”
Despite the chaos, Weian managed to draw his tonfa from his waist and deflect the initial blow.
His instinctive response to the surprise attack when he lifted Jordan was remarkable, but it didn’t mean he escaped unscathed.
Holding his abdomen, he struggled to rise and retrieved the other tonfa, using it to shield Jordan.
His blurry vision gradually cleared, and only then did he see the figure of the person who had struck him.
A woman in a suit regarded him calmly as she lowered one raised leg.
Her sharp gaze and a burn scar that covered half her face were striking features.
Her tightly sealed lips and fierce expression added to her determined demeanor.
“This is the first time we meet face to face.” she declared to Lennok, who was approaching Weian’s side.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Eolara.”
“…”
“Van of District 49. I’ve heard rumors about you for a long time. In less than two years working as a freelancer, there’s no one who doesn’t know that name.”
“What do you want to say?”
Lennok retrieved a cigarette from his pocket, and Eolara’s lips curled slightly.
“That’s a question that doesn’t fit the current situation. We have already conveyed all we wanted to say.”
“…”
“If you are a person of many talents and savvy, you should know to live within your means. Why overreach with your insufficient abilities?”
“Greed.”
“One wizard. And one broker thought up quite a plausible business. That’s why we drew the line. We thought that one dying old man wouldn’t need to be crippled to understand our message.”
Was the lack of security around Jordan due to their lack of genuine interest in him? It seemed like they believed it would be more effective to keep him alive as bait to lure Lennok out directly.
Lennok listened to her words, pretending indifference while slowly assessing the situation around him.
Eolara stood before the old schoolhouse, flanked by two others whose presence was significant, though not as commanding as hers. Perhaps the plan had always been to resolve everything within the school grounds.
“I won’t speak at length. Hand over the entire business infrastructure you have and return to the life of a freelancer and broker.”
Eolara stated this casually, her hand resting on her shoulder as she turned her neck.
“Our boss is a very generous person. Even the actions of your friends gathered at Jenny’s bar right now can be overlooked as youthful rebellion.”
Simultaneously, remaining members of the cartel inside the old schoolhouse descended en masse, forming a circle around the playground.
Lennok now understood why the cartel was so keen on confronting him in this manner; they weren’t just aiming to stop Jenny’s business—they intended to take control of her entire prepared business plan.
Did they perceive Jenny’s underground distribution business as that lucrative?
Eolara’s words inadvertently confirmed for Lennok the promising business prospects that Felix had described.
Instead of responding, Lennok simply lit his cigarette and took a deep drag.
Eolara’s eyebrows raised, and Lennok chuckled.
“So, after trashing the bar, you pretend to extend a hand?”
“…”
“It’s clear you’re quite greedy for the business we’re about to start. But if you think I would quit over such paltry threats.”
The next words came from behind Eolara.
“We wouldn’t have even begun in the first place.”
[Soundwave]
Boom!!
The words Lennok whispered transformed into a powerful shockwave of magic that swept over Eolara.
The explosion was so intense that the spot where she had been standing was completely obliterated, sending concrete debris flying in all directions.
Eolara emerged from the billowing dust, calmly brushing off her suit, seemingly unharmed by the direct hit, a testament to her considerable skill.
She wiped soot from her face and cast a slight smirk in Lennok’s direction.
“Exactly. I didn’t think such petty threats would work either.”
“…”
“But procedure is quite important, isn’t it? Before an organization moves, there are a lot of things that need to be done. Consider this just part of the process.”
With that, Eolara advanced, closing the distance and leaving no room for escape, a potent mana surging from her, sealing off all directions without a hint of disorder.
As Lennok prepared to take action, Weian suddenly rose up from behind and positioned himself in front of Lennok.
“…Weian?”
“A wizard like you would struggle against such a brute warrior.”
With that, Weian spat out the blood that had been pooling in his mouth.
“Just protect Jordan. I’ll carve out a path.”
While speaking, Weian drew two blades from his waist.
Ssshhhhing!!
He adjusted his grip on the blades—one held conventionally in his left hand and the other in a reverse grip in his right. Then, he crouched low, poised to charge at Eolara.
Just at that moment, someone descended from the sky and forcefully crashed down on Weian.
Crash!!
“Ugh…!!”
“Young man, it seems you’re not quite grasping the situation.”
With his blades crossed in his hands, Weian blocked the strike from above. Staring down at him was a man with a hunched back.
A scruffy beard. Greasy eyes. A posture that seemed unsteady.
“Our Sister says she wants to play with that wizard of yours. As quick-witted intellectuals, we should make ourselves scarce.”
“Intellectuals, you say?”
Weian gritted his teeth as he looked at the blade wielded by the scruffy man.
A double-edged blade with two split edges.
The same type of wound that had been inflicted on the guards protecting Jordan.
“You bloody murderer, what are you saying…!!”
“Oh, did you catch on?”
The scruffy man, revealed to be Devon, grinned and stepped back, while Eolara spoke with indifference.
“Devon, don’t interfere and get lost. Why provoke such a kid unnecessarily?”
“Heh… Sister, let’s not rush and wait a bit. Wasn’t this whole thing initially to set a price? It may be impossible to kill that wizard here, but the others seem feasible.”
Now identified as Devon, he caressed his blade with his scruffy hand.
“While Sister marks the wizard, if I kill this young one, it’ll be quite a sight… I desperately want to see that face.”
“…You have five minutes. Finish it within that time.”
“You heard her?”
Devon chuckled maliciously, shifting his gaze to Weian.
“No matter how skilled that wizard is in one-on-one combat, he won’t be able to protect you while also looking after that old man. Earlier I just cut off limbs due to a lack of time… but this time, I’ll take my time peeling off the skin from your face.”
As Devon spoke with apparent delight, Lennok sent a message infused with magic to Weian.
[How long can you hold him off?]
“…”
[I’m not in the best condition. I need some time to prepare to finish this in one go.]
The back-to-back doping hadn’t made Lennok feel physically weak, and his mana was running low.
While he had rushed over due to the urgency with Jordan, Lennok had just emerged from an intense battle with Antares.
The aftermath of consuming numerous magic-related potions to face Antares and the expenditure of mana in deploying his Domain had undoubtedly affected his fighting capabilities.
Lennok already had a plan to turn the tide with his remaining mana, but it required some time.
‘If it comes to it, I’ll have to use the artifact of Enakphil, but that should really be a last resort…’
“There’s no need to hold on for too long.”
Weian muttered as he tightened his grip on the hilts of his blades.
“I’ll kill this murderer myself.”
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