In a vast expanse that surpassed any ordinary market, a myriad of firearms and ammunition were densely exhibited. The scene was not uncommon, as customers perused the store carefully selecting their preferred products. It was a world where the purchase of guns and ammunition was considered a norm.
Although unfamiliar to Lennok, it was undoubtedly a part of the world in which he resided. Amidst the ear-splitting rock music, individuals tested the products, examining them closely from one end of the store to the other.
"Dude, the mag on this thing is way too big. It's a pain in the neck when I try to shoulder it."
"This thing's muzzle rises way too fast, man. I need something with better durability."
"The spray is too harsh, and the zeroing is way off."
Various customers, while employing technical jargon, voiced their concerns and complaints. Lennok also joined in, squeezing between the customers and surveying the array of products on display.
Moments ago, Lennok had been deeply engrossed in contemplating the development of his magical abilities, when he recalled the shooting combo magic that he had utilized fervently against Croken in a desperate situation.
Through auxiliary magic, he had managed to augment his shooting ability and had discovered a new direction of potential.
‘I managed to get that monster to react using just four simple handgun auxiliary spells! If I explore this area more, I bet I could create some really impressive results.’
Though Lennok possessed exceptional talent, his mana reserves were limited, and it took time to increase them. Nonetheless, auxiliary magic was relatively low in mana requirement compared to general-purpose magic and served a specific purpose.
By employing shooting auxiliary magic to a decent gun, Lennok could significantly enhance his firepower with minimal mana. However, he had to exercise caution as his talent primarily lay in magic rather than shooting.
Despite the risk, Lennok found the prospect of utilizing shooting auxiliary magic on a firearm too enticing to resist.
Whilst Lennok was engrossed in his thoughts and perusing a submachine gun, a middle-aged man with a bushy beard sauntered towards him and initiated a conversation.
"You've got a killer eye for quality, my friend. That piece in particular is straight-up top-notch. It's made with Achilles Group steel, so it's super durable, and it even comes with a balance stone that eliminates the need for zeroing adjustments."
He proceeded to deftly load the gun and aimed it into the air.
Click.
He pulled the trigger, but nothing was discharged from the empty magazine. The man chuckled and patted his rotund belly.
"If I had to go into battle right this second, I'd go with the PeaceTalk-4."
Lennok merely glanced at the price tag attached to the display shelf and made his decision.
"I'd like to check out some other products too"
"Oh, I see. Maybe submachine guns aren't really your thing, huh? How 'bout this?"
The man perused the shelves and produced a long rifle, which was a class above the submachine gun Lennok had been examining.
"SiteGlass-992. It's a super precise assault rifle that's crazy sensitive, but it's perfectly calibrated for accuracy and hit rate. It's perfect for urban settings."
Lennok scrutinized the price tag in silence and shook his head. The assault rifle that the man had showcased was five times more expensive than the PeaceTalk submachine gun.
All Lennok desired was to explore the potential of the shooting combo augmented through auxiliary magic. So far, he had managed well with a cheap handgun and saw no reason to experiment with expensive equipment.
Furthermore, the heavy firearms with solid barrels were too cumbersome for Lennok's frail muscles to bear during his job.
Carrying a firearm throughout the day was a burden, and though it would be ideal to constantly apply lightweight magic to firearms, Lennok had yet to delve into common magic to that extent.
Upon declining politely, the man expressed his disappointment but did not insist.
"When you're a firearms handler, being picky is just part of the job. If you find something that works for you, swing by the counter, and I'll help you figure out the best ammo to go with it."
The man patted Lennok's back and strode away to attend to other customers.
Lennok rubbed his chilly back, observing the man's departure. His hands were strong enough to activate barriers with ease.
Disregarding the departing salesman, Lennok meticulously scrutinized the firearms on display.
Fortunately, Lennok possessed basic knowledge about firearms due to his experience playing the Magic Musketeer class. Hence, he could deduce the traits and benefits of each firearm with reasonable accuracy.
Before making his selection, Lennok reconsidered the essential features he should prioritize.
‘For the item to work well with mana, it needs to be durable enough to handle having mana poured into it. Alternatively, if it's made of metal, it should have good enough mana conductivity.’
The memory of the gun shattering into pieces after firing with the combo of four auxiliary spells on the supervisor's gun was still vivid in his mind.
Lennok had to ensure that the gun would not break in one shot, even when utilizing shooting combo spells.
‘I'm looking for a gun that's meant for one shot at a time, but it would be great if it's capable of firing multiple shots too.’
Lennok's mana reserves had increased significantly since awakening his mana, but it was still inadequate to use magic freely.
Regardless of the minimal mana consumption of auxiliary magic compared to other forms of magic, casting it multiple times with each shot would quickly deplete his mana reserves.
‘It's not practical to cast spells on individual bullets that are being fired multiple times per second. So, it makes more sense to use auxiliary spells on firearms that require single-shot accuracy. If I'm looking for firearms that are affordable and easy to carry, then I only have two options to choose from.’
Handguns and sawed-off shotguns.
After narrowing down his choices to two, Lennok deliberated for a moment before settling on a revolver.
Despite taking an extended period to reload, it compensated for it with its powerful single-shot ability that could be amplified with auxiliary spells.
Although the quality might not be exceptional for the price, it was undoubtedly superior to the cheap handgun he had procured from the supervisor's room.
Lennok picked up the revolver, labeled "Synox," and headed straight for the counter.
The man who inspected Lennok's firearm chuckled and commented, "You went with a low-budget option, but it's still super durable. Synox is a top-performing product that's crazy popular among the more affordable models."
The man rustled around behind the counter before placing a handful of bullets on the counter.
"The ammo that works best with Synox comes at 500 cells per shot. And when you factor in the cost of bullets, it comes out to 300,000 cells total. Is that all good with you?"
"Seems reasonable."
"Great!"
The man laughed heartily as he swiftly placed the gun in a slim case and packed the bullets before handing them over to Lennok.
After verifying Lennok's ID and receiving payment, the man handed over the packaged product, and Lennok naturally secured it on his back before departing for his residence.
Upon reaching home and checking his phone, he noticed a text message from Jenny. He knew that it was the only means of contacting him.
[Hey, I've got a great job offer for you that pays 20 million cells for just one day's work. This request is from a mercenary office, specifically for a wizard. If you're interested, let's meet up tomorrow.]
"20 million?" Lennok muttered.
Though the compensation offered by a corporate behemoth like Baritz was 50 million, it was still a considerable sum for a mercenary office.
Perhaps it was because it was a request designated for a wizard. Regardless, it seemed worthwhile to attend and explore the opportunity.
"I need to start researching auxiliary spells quickly so that I can test them out on this job," Lennok pondered.
Lennok opened the case and extracted the Synox revolver before carefully imbuing it with mana.
His primary objective was to discover the most potent and effective auxiliary spell combination for this firearm.
The crimson magical aura emanating from Lennok's apartment persisted until the early hours of the morning.
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
"So, the Krimgal Mercenary Office put in a request. They're lookin' to take back a building, and they need a Wizard to back 'em up," said Jenny.
"Is the compensation high because of that?" asked Lennok.
Jenny nodded. "When Baritz placed orders with us, they paid out a flat rate of 50 million cells no matter who took the job. But when it comes to hiring a wizard, it's customary to offer up a higher compensation. It's just how things are – the demand for wizards always exceeds the supply."
Lennok was lost in thought, twirling his glass as he watched Jenny's crooked smile.
A mercenary office… If he were to get involved again, he had expected to end up at the Antares office where Dylan was, but he never thought he would be working with another office so soon.
Lennok thought about it and asked, "I'd like to hear more details. Exactly which building do they want to retake?"
"Okay, so here's the deal. The Scavenger gang is holed up in a shared office space that's used for financial consulting, and they're even using the power generation facilities without permission. The company couldn't shut off the power 'cause they were worried about losin' all their trading info. So now Krimgal's gonna step in and take back the place on behalf of the consulting company."
"So wait, you're sayin' that the mercenaries hired by the consulting company wanna bring me in separately?"
"Yep, that's the plan. Krimgal's a pretty successful private office in this area, and I know they've already got a couple of wizards on their team. But the fact that they're lookin' to bring in more magical support makes me think they've got their own unique situation goin' on."
"I see. What does ‘magical support' mean exactly?" Lennok asked.
"It's not that complicated. Wizards like Van can be super useful in city warfare. You can hang back and cast spells to support the mercenaries. It's way easier than tryna sneak into a cosmetics factory and blow the place up, right?" replied Jenny, shrugging her shoulders.
Lennok hesitated, but he had already made up his mind somewhat after hearing Jenny's words. The difficulty of the job didn't seem to match the generous compensation. Plus, he could use the opportunity to test the auxiliary magic he had been researching.
Jenny noticed Lennok's indecision and handed him another folder. "If you're not interested in working with mercenaries, that's cool – we've got other gigs lined up just for you. Rumor has it down here that there's a wizard who managed to survive a run-in with Croken."
“…….”
Lennok contemplated Jenny's words about the rumors. He couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort, as he knew that he wouldn't have survived without Evelyn's help.
Jenny, who saw Lennok's calm gaze, spoke cheerfully.
"Take your time to decide – no rush. But honestly, I think the Krimgal job is the way to go. Mercenaries are all about the cash, so they usually stick to their promises and get the job done."
“Wait, is not keeping promises common 'round here?"
"Yeah, there are plenty of sketchy dudes in this line of work. Some guys handle things cleanly, but there are plenty of others who resort to cutting off limbs to get their point across."
“……”
"At the end of the day, our job is to prevent those kinds of situations from happenin'. People like us earn our commissions by sellin' trust and safety – to both our clients and the freelancers we work with," she said calmly.
Each time Lennok encountered Jenny, he couldn't help but feel that her words held more weight than a thousand others. Although she ran an employment agency that dealt with the harsh reality of job arrangements and profit-seeking, she never appeared intimidated and always exuded confidence.
Leaning back with a smirk, Lennok nodded his head. "Okay, Krimgal. When and where?"
"District 53. Tomorrow at 11 a.m. I'll let you know the exact location through text."
(TO BE CONTINUED)
