The unusual concept of including the adversary responsible for substantial financial losses in the executive team.
Nevertheless, Lennok had a strong feeling that her choice was grounded in an exceedingly rational and unemotional assessment.
Moreover, due to external oversight, Olivera couldn’t readily take any actions herself.
Now, in a situation where Lennok’s full potential has yet to be put to the test—having single-handedly eliminated both the executive director and the execution squad—it is unclear how to mitigate the threat to the organization.
If she could assume that risk as her own, there would be no issue.
For Olivera, the distinction between friend and foe held no significance.
As Lennok fixed a piercing gaze upon Virgil, who was positioned discreetly in the corner of the stage with his hands tucked behind him, a wry grin played across Virgil’s lips.
From Virgil’s standpoint, he had not reneged on the commitment he had made to Lennok.
He had shouldered responsibility and aided in the resolution of this matter. Most importantly, the Cartel no longer regarded Lennok as an adversary.
Initially, he had considered Lennok an unreliable ally, but he had never anticipated this turn of events.
“I can’t watch this anymore…”
Lennok shook his head and withdrew his phone.
He had a hunch as to why Olivera had taken this course of action.
If her fascination with Lennok’s talent and capabilities were genuine, she would have reached out to him privately, not during an executive board meeting.
However, her public announcement, made before thousands and under external scrutiny, conveyed a different message.
Her intent appeared to be redirecting attention away from internal strife and toward a new contender.
It seemed she aimed to portray everything that had occurred as mere internal power struggles within the Cartel, rather than a display of its vulnerability.
“Antares.”
If ever there was a moment for making promises and requests, it was now, as each party tugged at the chains binding them.
If they tried to manipulate Lennok into their scheme, he could easily introduce a new player.
“Ready. Just set the timing.”
As Antares made his entrance, Lennok resolved to decline the chairman’s offer and employ Enakphil’s five fingers to make a discreet exit from the hall.
Negotiations with her should not take place in such a public setting but rather in secret, away from prying eyes.
The crucial element was summoning the new ally.
To bring matters to a smooth conclusion without the chairman’s interference, he needed to think strategically.
“……”
As he rose with his phone in hand, he sensed the intensifying scrutiny of those around him.
Just as Lennok was about to make his way toward the stage.
“Who decides that?”
A dark streak descended from the sky above the colossal stadium.
Zzzzzzt-!!
The streak struck the center of the stage directly, instantly enveloping the stadium in a massive black wave.
As if lifting a shadow, a young man materialized from the heart of the wave.
His age was indeterminable, and his speech and demeanor carried an air of unruliness.
His disdainful attitude was unforgettable to Lennok.
There was no doubt about it.
He was the formidable dark wizard Lennok had encountered after the battle with the Cigar Bang Gang and after dispatching Eden.
A member of the Pandemonium had suddenly materialized.
“……!!!”
There was no time for hesitation.
As he reached for Enakphil’s five fingers, Lennok sharpened his senses, feeling a profound sense of unease.
The chaotic emergence. Such a dramatic entrance was certain to cause a commotion.
Yet, eerily, everything around Lennok fell silent.
‘This is…….’
The people surrounding him were frozen, their expressions serene, unaffected by the abrupt appearance of a Pandemonium member.
However, they were moving, albeit at an incredibly sluggish pace.
Lennok realized what was happening.
‘Speeding up the consciousness within the space, slowing down the surrounding time…….!!’
In that brief moment of the black flash, he had created a realm of consciousness disconnected from the time outside.
The fact that the surroundings hadn’t come to a complete standstill but had slowed considerably was a result of this effect.
Without a special mental resilience, one would be unable to perceive this moment and would remain excluded.
‘Then……!!’
As Lennok redirected his focus to the stage, he witnessed precisely what he had anticipated.
In that suspended reality, only Olivera and the young man remained, locked in a confrontation.
They appeared untouched, even in this accelerated realm of consciousness.
With a slight tilt of her head, Olivera gazed up at the young man, her tone exuding dissatisfaction.
[Fame… It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that face.]
‘So he is called Fame…’
How did these two appear in the eyes of someone who had mastered their Domain?
For Lennok, it was a scene challenging to comprehend in the present moment.
Rather than responding to Olivera’s words, Fame simply stared down at her.
Beyond Olivera’s enigmatic facade, he twisted the corners of his mouth.
“Ha, I thought the real deal was here, but it’s just a phantom. Utterly boring.”
[What’s the occasion here? As I said before, I have no intention of joining your meaningless endeavors. If you’re seeking attention, you’ve come to the wrong place.]
“I have no interest in a grumbling old-timer either. I thought your ‘research’ was over.”
“……”
“Don’t bother with that one.”
[That one?]
“Yeah, that one.”
Fame nodded toward Lennok.
Olivera’s eyes flashed with depth.
[Oh, I see. Even in Pandemonium—]
“Don’t get greedy, old lady.”
A chilly smile crept onto Fame’s lips.
“You get what I’m saying, right?”
[……Absurd.]
Finally grasping Fame’s intent, Olivera released a hollow chuckle.
He had no interest in her or her situation. His presence here was merely a pretext.
Don’t attempt to keep Lennok tethered to the Cartel.
Fame had come here in person solely to caution her against doing so.
[I knew you had a liking for talented wizards, but to this extent? Is he really worth that much?]
“Who knows?”
With an enigmatic smile, he slowly turned his back and departed.
“But it’s too precious for you to have all to yourself.”
“……”
“I don’t care about any position in the Cartel. But if you dare to meddle in annoying affairs for such a paltry organization…”
As he spoke, his gaze locked onto Lennok’s, forming into an elongated grin.
Before they could decipher the meaning behind that smile, he dissolved into the black wave and vanished.
“Better look forward to it.”
His parting words reverberated throughout the stadium, reaching only the ears of those who had just regained their senses.
Virgil, sensing that something was amiss, glanced up at the chairman.
“Chairman, this is…!”
[A distinguished guest has come and gone,] Olivera remarked, crossing her arms and slowly gazing upward at the sky.
The stadium’s scoreboard.
At the distant end of the field, a woman in a black suit observed this place.
The green light in her eyes, merging with the cold air, pierced through her visor.
Sensing the sharp and covert malice in that gaze, she sighed softly.
[I should have maintained a delicate balance… As expected, things don’t go as planned. Any longer here and I’ll face a backlash.]
“Then…”
[The meeting is adjourned. The unfinished story… it seems better to hear it directly from that child.]
Olivera’s gaze finally settled on Lennok.
Lennok gazed silently at her, tucking his phone away into his pocket.
It appeared there was no need to contact Antares.
* * *
The Cartel’s meeting, attended by thousands of executives, concluded with radical declarations and actions.
The unexpected guest had completely altered the dynamics, although few may have recognized it.
The method employed by the Pandemonium dark wizard was as precise and sharp as his unruly demeanor.
He had conveyed a message to Olivera while simultaneously demonstrating his resolve through a show of force.
The question lingered: did he know that Lennok had overheard their conversation?
Whether Fame had intended for this outcome remained an immediate mystery to Lennok.
Lost in contemplation, events swiftly unfolded.
After dismissing all the Cartel’s executives, Olivera summoned Lennok directly to her inner sanctum, along with the four members of her presidential team.
Kansoa was the first to appear, wearing a sly smile, followed by Merilda.
“So this is the guy they call Van.”
Merilda wore a deep frown as she scrutinized Lennok.
“It smells bitter here… Are you growing some kind of herb?”
“……”
Lennok was mildly taken aback by the sight of the girl pinching her nose and shaking her fluorescent hair.
He had been occupied with mixing medicines just before coming here, never anticipating that the scent would be detected. Usually meticulous about leaving no trace, Lennok even ensured his own scent was entirely eradicated.
This suggested that she possessed sensory organs capable of detecting more than just odors, which was an intriguing revelation.
Before he could delve deeper into this mystery, Virgil made his entrance.
Virgil immediately shifted his gaze to Lennok upon making eye contact, offering a wry smile.
“I wish you wouldn’t look at me like that. I kept my promise. After today, the Cartel won’t interfere with your business.”
“And you say this now?”
“Isn’t it a good thing for you? You know how powerful being a president of the Cartel is.”
“……”
Lennok remained silent, prompting Virgil to lower his sunglasses and smirk.
“If the chairman hadn’t taken a liking to you, none of this would have happened. Though the others seem reluctant…”
With a click, the wide door swung open, revealing the final president, Parden McQueen. Despite the hostile glares from the other presidents, McQueen confidently moved to a secluded spot.
Then, in the spacious office, a woman materialized, seated amidst a pile of books.
[Everyone’s seated. I took time out of my schedule for our unfinished discussion.]
At Olivera’s gentle words, all the presidents bowed their heads, except Lennok, who narrowed his eyes at her.
‘Another illusion…’
Where was her true location, concealed behind this façade?
Perhaps, this was the most crucial secret of Olivera Ron Maze.
Maybe even the key to understanding all her recent actions…
As he continued to muse, Olivera spoke once more.
[As I said at the meeting, I planned to entrust Cartel’s subsidiary management to the 49th District’s wizard.]
With that statement, she lifted the veil from her face, revealing her delicate features.
A woman with fine, delicate features.
An ageless appearance, a remarkable feat for someone who had lived for centuries. However, what truly stood out was the radiant brilliance of her Mystic Eye, a harmonious blend of seven colors.
“……!”
Despite her being an illusion, all the presidents averted their gaze.
[I intended to get your answer there, but things don’t always go as planned. So, I ask again.]
[Will you take over McQueen’s position and work under me?]
“……Huh.”
Rather than responding immediately, Lennok released a small sigh.
Inquiring about his intentions only after Pandemonium’s direct intervention.
Her haughty disposition, indifferent to the opinions of others, was characteristic of a being who had existed for centuries.
It wasn’t entirely surprising.
The fact that she had only appeared after the situation had escalated, moving only when one of the presidents had betrayed her, revealed much about Olivera’s nature.
She even calmly summoned the traitor to her office for his input.
A person beyond the comprehension of ordinary individuals.
Given these circumstances, there was no compelling reason for Lennok to acquiesce.
With his arms crossed, Lennok responded in a composed manner.
“I have no interest in managing Cartel’s corporations.”
All the presidents turned their attention to Lennok.
“This arrogant bastard…!!”
Merilda growled, baring her teeth.
Ignoring their penetrating gazes, Lennok continued to speak.
“From the beginning, the current situation started with McQueen intervening in my business. Having identified the main instigator of the situation and provided witnesses related to the betrayal, I hope that punishing the responsible party will bring this to a conclusion.”
He had no desire to engage in a protracted feud with the Cartel and settle their grievances.
Originally, this was a corporate alliance comprising numerous affiliated firms.
Despite bearing the collective name of the Cartel, the sense of unity among these organizations is rather deficient.
The reason Lennok could easily dismantle the partner businesses is precisely due to the lack of coordination between these organizations.
Taking everything into consideration, the damage inflicted upon the Cartel far exceeds what they have sustained.
Furthermore, if the Cartel’s leadership were to truly collapse, the ensuing turmoil would introduce unpredictable variables into Lennok and Jenny’s business.
Perhaps this was the case at the time the incident occurred, but now, with their business expanding at an astonishing rate due to Lennok’s newly developed potion, the situation has altered significantly.
Lennok is well aware that he neither has to nor can he immediately topple this colossal entity.
Yet, even as Olivera listened to Lennok’s words, a faint smile graced her lips.
“It’s not difficult, but… are you sure?”
She understood that many coveted this wizard and that she couldn’t monopolize him on her own.
The fact that the enigmatic dark wizard had personally intervened implied that numerous individuals were closely monitoring the situation, apart from him.
However, if she leveraged the remaining gratitude and obligation, it was entirely possible to forge connections.
“If you don’t settle your obligation with McQueen, then I plan to continue to utilize him as a President.”
“……”
“There’s no guarantee that I’ll be there to handle it if McQueen causes a similar incident again.”
Uncontainable joy was evident in Olivera’s unmasked expression.
Her countenance seemed to convey that continuing the conversation with Lennok was incredibly entertaining.
Lennok easily discerned her intentions from her demeanor.
Rather than leaving an uncertain risk and leaving the matter unresolved, settle this obligation here and now.
Olivera’s plan was to provide Lennok with the opportunity to eliminate McQueen and, in return, transfer the President position to the wizard known as Van.
