Inside a midday bar, the atmosphere was calm with only a few customers present. The air was filled with the rich aroma of strong coffee, pleasing Jenny’s senses. Lennok, without explicitly expressing it, found solace in these quiet moments passing by.
“Hmm…?”
Jenny took a small sip of her meticulously brewed Americano, releasing a contented sigh. Sensing the gaze of two men fixed upon her, she spoke slowly.
“We shouldn’t expect an official response from the city government.”
Dylan responded matter-of-factly, “That’s hardly surprising.”
As Dylan pointed out, it was rare for the city government to actively address incidents unless they were the instigators themselves, like the recent inspection. They were never inclined to react in accordance with the perpetrator’s intentions.
Understanding the stance maintained by the Vulcan city government, Lennok calmly tilted his mug.
“And to be honest, it’s not entirely ineffective.”
Vulcan was a metropolis plagued by all kinds of crimes on a daily basis. While the inner districts were relatively less affected, the outer districts, where Lennok worked as a freelancer, were hotbeds of power struggles. Describing them as such would be an understatement.
What could the city government possibly do to reassure citizens in such a place?
They could offer soothing words, provide assistance, deploy additional police forces for enhanced security—there were various approaches they could take. However, the city government had chosen a different path.
In any situation, they refrained from active statements and responses, concealing their apparent actions. The citizens, having already resigned themselves to a certain degree of insecurity and instability, found solace in the fact that the city remained steadfast, suppressing their anxieties.
From one perspective, it may seem like neglecting their duties, but in reality, they were maintaining public sentiment at the minimum cost.
Furthermore, the recent terrorist act committed by dark wizards took place in District 43, which was adjacent to District 40 where clubs were located. However, it wasn’t a district frequented by ordinary citizens. It was a peripheral area that had been semi-abandoned in the city government’s urban development plan. It was only natural that citizens would feel less impact from an incident occurring in a place separated from their sense of insecurity.
“Do you think they have the will to resolve this? I’m not so sure,” Dylan asked, leaning on the bar with his chin resting on his hand.
Ever since the power plant operation, Dylan had been visiting Jenny’s bar more frequently. Even amidst all that, he continued to tease Lennok, often earning himself a scolding from Jenny. Yet, he seemed unfazed by it all. It was possible that this was a tactic to openly display his intentions and reassure the others. If it was intentional, one could say he was quite shrewd… However, Lennok couldn’t bring himself to believe that this straightforward man had such elaborate plans.
Nevertheless, Jenny’s response differed significantly from before.
“Will he really make an effort to resolve it?”
“Huh?”
“You saw that dark wizard summoning Reisen, didn’t you? It’s obvious then.”
“Reisen… Isn’t he a senator from the city council? I think I’ve heard of him.”
As Dylan mentioned, the name Reisen carried considerable fame in Vulcan. He was one of the city government members who frequently appeared in the media, actively engaging with the citizens. Unlike lower house members who made more frequent appearances, senators rarely showed their faces even once a year, making them stand out even more.
Amidst rumors that the nobles, who held the reins of power in this vast city, didn’t consider the citizens as equals, someone who consistently communicated stood out.
Lennok also recalled coming across Reisen’s name frequently while browsing news sites.
Rather than responding immediately, Jenny looked around. Recognizing her gesture, Lennok swiftly cast a soundproofing spell around them. Still not feeling entirely secure, she lowered her head slightly and whispered softly to the two of them.
“The dark wizards probably have knowledge of where Reisen’s hidden money lies.”
“You mean his source of funds?”
“Yes, since all council members have their own loopholes for obtaining secret money, that’s likely what they’re targeting.”
“They’re stealing a senator’s secret stash…” Dylan muttered with a serious tone, a mischievous grin appearing on his face. “It’s quite an enticing proposition to imagine.”
“While your foolish fantasies may find it attractive, the real concern is how the city government will respond.”
“Didn’t they already declare that there won’t be an official response?”
If Jenny’s claim was accurate, there would have been a formal letter sent out.
“True, but unofficially, it will be a different story. That’s what I wanted to warn you about in advance.”
“Hmm…”
In the end, despite their proclaimed neutrality, the city government would likely intervene in some way to protect the senator’s money.
The visit of the autonomous region, the death of the ascendant, the city government’s inspection, and the dark wizards’ terror—these events were too interconnected to be mere coincidences.
…Perhaps the underlying current of this world had been set in motion long ago.
Lost in his thoughts, Lennok muttered silently, contemplating the situation. Suddenly, the person sitting next to them spoke up, catching their attention.
“Young lady, you have quite the perception. You’re exactly right,” a clear voice pierced through their ears without raising its volume.
However, the voice carried an extraordinary concentration of mana.
Noticing something amiss, Lennok swiftly turned his head, his mouth slightly agape.
The person next to them had short black hair and deep green eyes. Dressed in a stylish outfit consisting of a black blazer, a shirt, and slacks, she exuded a calm and expressionless beauty. She shook a glass of alcohol in her hand.
Despite having only met a few times, her distinct appearance was unforgettable.
It was Evelyn Marcia, an agent of the city government.
Evelyn, a peculiar character who could confront Croken Asilus head-on and had a hobby of running a vegetable shop, was present.
Dylan also recognized Evelyn, jumping up from his seat in surprise. “An… an agent…!!! When did you get here?!”
Even Jenny, who seemed to recognize Evelyn’s face, quickly regained her composure and glared at her.
In an instant, all eyes turned toward them due to the brief commotion, and those who recognized Evelyn recoiled in shock.
“What… what’s going on?”
“Oh, it’s Missile… Missile is here.”
“When did she arrive?”
“Did Jenny make a deal with those agents?”
Lennok caught snippets of conversation from the surrounding patrons in that brief moment.
“Missile”… It seemed to be a nickname referring to her combat style or a symbolic ability.
Considering the power she had displayed in the past, it was not surprising for her to have such an apt moniker.
However, what intrigued Lennok more was her ghost-like stealth ability. He had been completely unaware of her presence until now.
‘I was aware that someone was sitting next to me. But how did I fail to realize it was Evelyn…?’
It wasn’t that Evelyn had flawlessly deceived Lennok’s mana detection and sat next to him unnoticed. Lennok understood that a customer had entered the bar and ordered a drink beside him. However, he had failed to recognize that the customer was Evelyn Marcia, which was undoubtedly due to her own skills.
Moreover, she possessed the ability to perfectly mimic her mana pattern, making her practically a superhuman.
The atmosphere in the bar swiftly grew cold with the appearance of this incredibly powerful individual, beyond anyone’s imagination.
The woman calmly swirling her drink at the bar was a formidable presence, unmatched by anyone else in the establishment. No one was oblivious to that fact.
Amidst the tense ambiance, Jenny, who had quickly regained her composure, spoke up slowly.
“I never thought I would have such a celebrity in my bar.”
“Really? That’s surprising. We’re quite familiar with brokers like you,” Evelyn responded calmly.
“You possess the right competence, quick wit, valuable connections, and enough ruthlessness. It’s the perfect mindset for survival in this place. It seems you’ve learned some useful lessons from Kaiser.”
“I’m not sure why you’re trying to provoke me,” Jenny responded, unfazed by the mention of Kaiser’s name and sporting a sly smile.
“I wish you would explain why you were eavesdropping on our conversation like a rat. I highly doubt you came here just for a petty fight, Agent,” Jenny added, her words filled with a sense of defiance.
Although no audible sound could be heard, it felt as if sparks were flying in all directions. The power gap between the two women was immense, yet Jenny stood her ground, ready to defend her position with unwavering determination.
Dylan, feeling the tension in the air, nervously attempted to calm Jenny down. “Jenny, you didn’t put anything strange in today’s batch of whiskey, did you?”
“Don’t worry, Dylan,” Jenny reassured him firmly. “Why would a city agent be here? Obviously, they don’t want to be directly involved in this case, so they’re seeking a reliable freelancer.”
“And such a person wouldn’t vent their anger through a mere verbal fight. We can mock as much as we want; it won’t matter,” Jenny continued, her voice filled with a sense of confidence.
“You know well what civil servants do, Miss,” Evelyn retorted with a smirk, an expression that would surprise anyone familiar with her.
However, in this place, she truly stood alone.
Unconsciously, Lennok checked the soundproof barrier he had erected around them once more. Though Evelyn was outside the boundary of the barrier, she effortlessly conversed with Jenny as if it posed no issue at all.
Finally, Lennok sighed and expanded the range of his sound-masking magic slightly, encompassing Evelyn. He then asked, “Is what Jenny said true?”
“Regrettably, it’s spot on. Her intuition is sharp,” Evelyn replied in a flat tone. But by observing her faint smile and unnaturally mechanical gaze, Lennok knew that further answers were unlikely to come.
“By the way, this is our first meeting since I saw you at the factory, isn’t it?” Evelyn remarked.
“To be honest, it caught me off guard. I didn’t expect to encounter the faces of those two kids who were nearly killed by that man again,” Evelyn continued in her detached tone, her words cutting sharply into Lennok’s being.
“Especially you, Van. You’ve been amassing quite the fortune lately, becoming a virtual monster who has practically taken down a gang single-handedly. It was truly impressive how you managed to survive and defy death at the hands of that man,” Evelyn added, her tone carrying a mix of surprise and something else.
And then, her gaze changed even more distinctly as she continued, “But you two, don’t you think you owe me?”
A brief silence hung in the air. Dylan scratched his bearded chin, wearing an awkward expression.
“I can’t say… that we don’t owe you…” Dylan finally responded, his words laden with uncertainty.
“Dylan,” Jenny interjected, her voice tinged with annoyance. But Lennok understood Dylan’s sentiments to some extent.
Jenny didn’t know the true nature of Croken Aislus, the monster he was. Or rather, she didn’t grasp the sheer terror his presence brought.
If Evelyn hadn’t intervened at that crucial moment, Lennok and Dylan would have undoubtedly perished. They couldn’t easily dismiss what Evelyn was saying.
It wasn’t out of a misguided sense of loyalty, but rather because they understood that failing to repay a favor from someone as skilled as her would come at a much higher cost.
You have to repay what you receive, whether it’s a favor or a grudge.
If they declined Evelyn’s proposition here, they might find themselves paying a greater price to her in the future.
Lennok and Dylan were well aware of this fact, even without needing to articulate it in words.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
