Genius Wizard Takes Medicine

“It’s been a while, Van,” Evelyn said as she entered the bar, dressed in a lightweight suit. She was holding something in her hand.

“I was wondering what to bring as a congratulatory gift for your opening… You know?” she continued.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” replied Lennok, who was seated at the bar on the first floor, tilting his drink and shaking his head.

“Is that something someone who brought a basket of vegetables should say? It hasn’t changed at all from before.”

“It’s something I grew myself, so rest assured. It’s very healthy,” Evelyn assured him.

“……”

Upon closer inspection, it was apparent that the composition of the vegetables was exactly the same as the pile Lennok had received and cared for the day before.

Evelyn, wearing a somewhat proud expression, took a seat beside Van and uncorked a bottle of whiskey. Despite her striking presence, she seamlessly blended in with the crowd, as if it were second nature. For a first-class archer, it wasn’t so challenging to become inconspicuous.

“About the incident last time. I have something to say.”

“It’s not something to talk about here. Let’s find a more private place… Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your glass hasn’t moved at all.”

Upon hearing Evelyn’s words, Lennok realized that he had been sitting motionless, his left arm immobilized.

“……It’s nothing. Just something on my mind,” he replied, concealing his concerns about whether Evelyn had uncovered his true identity.

However, observing her actions, it seemed that she was more preoccupied with something other than exposing Lennok’s secret. If she hadn’t discerned it yet, that was a relief.

Quickly regaining his composure, Lennok stood up and guided her to an improvised office space. It was a location he frequented after the Cartel’s assignments to stabilize the magic core, and it had collected a bit of dust over time.

After shutting the door and hastily tidying up, they were ready for a private conversation. Evelyn reclined in a chair by the window and turned her head at a sound from outside. In the bar’s backyard, Dray and other office employees were engaged in a sparring session among themselves. It appeared that following the Weian and Manson sparring match, they had developed an interest and turned it into an annual event.

Evelyn observed them attentively and offered a soft smile. “It’s nice to see. We do something similar. It’s effective for assessing the members’ skills and boosting their training enthusiasm.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course, I’ve never missed being first.”

“……” Instead of acknowledging her trivial comment, Lennok lightly tapped the desk.

A substantial wave of magical energy quickly enveloped their surroundings, drowning out all external noise. Lennok produced a slender cigarette, lit it, and fixed his gaze on Evelyn.

“So, what do you want to talk about that you’re beating around the bush?”

“……”

“Since I started working in this field, I’ve known you for not a short time. The only time you came to me directly was when you had a bounty request.”

He recalled their previous conversation when he sought information on Parden McQueen. In recent times, an agent’s duties had expanded significantly, making it challenging to find an opportunity to meet. She had expressed difficulty in assisting Lennok further due to her struggle with situations outside Vulcan. The fact that she sought him out now implied that the circumstances were far from ordinary.

However, instead of addressing Lennok’s inquiry, Evelyn began talking about something else, her gaze slightly averted.

“Do you remember the day we first met, Van?”

“……It was a hard day to forget.”

How could he forget the day he encountered that colossal crocodile while demolishing the factory with Dylan? The transcendent strength that surpassed human limits remained vivid in Lennok’s memory even after more than two years.

“Yeah. Even when I saved your lives that day, I never imagined you’d become like this.”

“……”

“Others might think you were hiding your skills, but I know. There’s a vast gap between you then and you now. And that you have the talent to make such unbelievable growth plausible.”

Evelyn rested her chin on one arm, her head bowed, her black hair cascading down to obscure her expression.

“Back then, I saved your life, so I have the right to know,” she asserted, her green eyes glistening with an unsettling coldness.

“That the potential I thought I pulled out of the swamp of Pandora… hasn’t walked into that swamp on its own.”

“Evelyn, you……”

“Van.”

Evelyn cut Lennok off with a frigid tone.

“What’s your relationship with the black wizard of Pandemonium?”

“……”

Lennok extinguished his cigarette and regarded Evelyn in silence.

It wasn’t unreasonable for her to suspect a link between Lennok and Fame. When Fame had unexpectedly appeared and hastened the discussion with Olivera, Evelyn, who had arrived later at the scene, might have noticed his presence. Even Lennok hadn’t anticipated Fame’s appearance to assist him during the executive committee meeting, and this would be even more surprising to Evelyn, who had supported Lennok in various capacities. In fact, the fact that Evelyn had sought out Lennok only after everything had been resolved spoke volumes about her patience and her approach to dealing with Lennok.

Lennok couldn’t fathom all the thoughts swirling within her.

“He invited me to join Pandemonium.”

Lennok responded honestly, both for his own sake and for hers.

“He asked if I had made my decision and said they needed a wizard like me.”

“……”

“I refused, and he accepted it. But he said others might be different… That’s all.”

“……How can I believe that?”

“I don’t know.”

Lennok closed his eyes.

“But I haven’t forgotten the value of the life you saved back then.”

“……”

“At least I think I’ve been honest with you to that extent.”

A profound silence enveloped them.

What thoughts were racing through Evelyn’s mind in response to Lennok’s disclosure? In the worst-case scenario, Lennok might need to directly confirm whether she possessed knowledge of the enigmatic organization known as ‘Blue Eyes’.

The faint green light that had shimmered amidst her hair gradually dimmed.

Evelyn, lifting her head once more, displayed her usual composed countenance, characteristic of an archer.

“Fine. If what you’re saying is true… there’s one thing you need to do.”

“One thing?”

Was she referring to a bounty request?

Curiosity caused Lennok to slightly tilt his head, but Evelyn retrieved a stack of papers and placed them on the desk. It was a newspaper that had been lying around the bar. Among the articles, one stood out.

[Blaiver Magic Tower, Finally Heading Towards Normalization.]

[Leaving an unexpected trouble behind and returning to the forefront of the steel industry.]

[The spokesperson for the Magic Tower avoided commenting on the recent conflict.]

“After the nerve-racking standoff between Blaiver Magic Tower and Pandemonium, the tower went silent, causing problems in the nearby steel industry.”

“……”

“Soon after, the Magic Tower resumed normal operations, but nothing was known about what happened to Pandemonium. The Magic Tower refuses to acknowledge the conflict, keeping tight security about its internal affairs.”

“So?”

“The upper echelons of the city council suspect that the Magic Tower and Pandemonium might have reached a compromise after the conflict.” Evelyn remarked, her eyes narrowing with intensity.

“In other words, there might be evidence of negotiations with Pandemonium inside the Magic Tower, or maybe some of their members are still there. That means…”

“The city can subjugate the Blaiver Magic Tower using its collusion with Pandemonium as a weakness?” Lennok sat up straight, intrigued by the concept.

Targeting the Magic Tower’s collaborators rather than confronting Pandemonium directly to maximize gains seemed like a sensible strategy. Pursuing every Pandemonium member individually would prove highly inefficient for the city government.

The reason why individuals like Croken, who were known to roam the city streets, were left undisturbed probably stemmed from the potential casualties that could result from attempting to apprehend them.

“Yes. As you know, the Blaiver Magic Tower, specifically its West Continent branch, is located in a remote volcanic area. We don’t need to bear the damage caused by pursuing Pandemonium.”

“I see……”

“The two cities have reached an agreement, and the city council has already issued the directive. A few agents working on the field and I will form a team and move in. And Van, I want you to participate in this operation as an external consultant to the agents.”

A raid on the West Continent branch of the Blaiver Magic Tower.

Lennok now comprehended why Evelyn had sought him out. Even though his role as an external consultant to the agents was largely honorary, finding a wizard of his caliber would have proven challenging. At a time when a thorough investigation of the Magic Tower was imperative, and magical expertise was required, it was evident who the most valuable wizard for the job would be.

Lennok had never anticipated that the sequence of events in the autonomous region would culminate in this situation, but he found it intriguing.

In fact, it all began with Lennok, disguised as Byzen, incapacitating the drug lord and attempting to shift suspicion onto the wizards of the tower, including Byzen. However, he had never imagined it would work so effectively.

Nevertheless, one thing continued to gnaw at him…

“If you suspect me of being part of Pandemonium, you shouldn’t be offering me this operation at all.”

“……”

“If there really is something wrong with the Magic Tower, and I betray you in the process of discovering it, the operation itself would be… Ah, I see.”

Lennok ceased speaking, and it dawned on him what Evelyn was truly getting at. He chuckled.

“You never thought I was part of Pandemonium from the start. Was this long introduction just to suggest this operation?”

“Well, not exactly.” Evelyn replied, her smile mirroring Lennok’s.

“If you’re not part of Pandemonium, then you can prove it in front of them.”

“……”

Even though she said that, if she genuinely harbored no doubts, she wouldn’t have come to him directly. Lennok contemplated whether she was using this operation to leverage his abilities while also confirming his lack of ties to Pandemonium. Alternatively, given her role as an agent, she might have received additional directives from higher authorities.

Lennok set aside those thoughts for the moment and nodded.

“Alright. It’s true I’m in a suspicious position, and I am interested in this operation.”

The Blaiver Magic Tower served as a veritable haven for Lennok and his unique thermo-magic abilities. Even without delving into the topic of Pandemonium, a mere visit to the tower held the promise of invaluable magical insights and inspiration. Given the remarkable potential of Lennok’s recently awakened Domain, amassing diverse experiences to expand the ‘branching points’ was an imperative pursuit.

However, this did not imply that Lennok intended to provide his services gratuitously.

“However, you’ll need to offer me something worthwhile if I’m to leave my current position.”

Though his business was gradually finding stability, departing from the city carried inherent risks. Having recently assumed a position on the Cartel’s board of directors, unless he desired to antagonize the Trident, no one would dare to meddle in his affairs. Nevertheless, Lennok was not inclined to blindly follow Evelyn based solely on her assurances.

“Don’t worry about the compensation. Almost all the budget I requested from the higher-ups for this operation has been approved, so we can meet most of your demands with that funding.”

“Good. Then…”

Lennok proceeded to outline his conditions to Evelyn. She accepted the majority of them, yet she frowned momentarily, seemingly perplexed by the final condition Lennok proposed.

“……You want that?”

“It’s essentially my biggest demand.” Lennok responded, his arms crossed. “I think this opportunity won’t come again if not for this operation.”

“Haah…”

Evelyn heaved a profound sigh before nodding hesitantly.

“I knew you weren’t a typical wizard… Fine. Anyway, it’s a request I can handle.”

“A deal, then.”

Lennok smiled and extended his hand.

“I’m counting on you for this operation.”

And so, the two reached an agreement on a meeting place and time before parting ways.

Lennok’s initial request as an advance payment was an entry permit to an exclusive society known as the “Palgung Fortress,” affiliated with the Trident. Additionally, he requested a quantity of various elixirs, sufficient to replenish what had been expended during the confrontation with McQueen and then some. He also sought a copy of alchemical formulas stored separately by the agents, a supply of catalysts used in crafting and maintaining magic circles, and a personal favor tied to Evelyn herself.

The scope of the contract was substantial, such that, regardless of the operation’s outcome, Lennok could claim artifacts or relics from the agents’ treasury afterward.

Following Evelyn’s departure, Lennok gazed intently at the object resting on his desk. It was a tattered piece of paper bordered with diagonal gold lines – a temporary ID granting access to the heart of the Palgung Fortress.

Among the Trident, this fortress was among the most enigmatic and impenetrable organizations, a place where even Jenny’s influence struggled to infiltrate. In a sprawling metropolis defined by a web of interwoven interests, it stood as a unique enclave where unlawful activities and corruption thrived, beyond the reach of the city’s authorities. It was akin to a slum, almost a microcosmic nation within the city, swiftly amassing power and expanding its territory around a cluster of unauthorized structures.

While individuals affiliated with the Palgung Fortress occasionally ventured beyond the city’s boundaries, entering the fortress itself was nearly insurmountable unless one adhered to their stringent protocols. Yet, precisely due to these restrictions, rumors circulated of unusual items, rarely found within the city, circulating there. Whispers even spoke of forbidden zones within the fortress where time flowed at an abnormal pace compared to other archaeological sites.

This was precisely what Lennok had set his sights on. Artifacts or relics procured from such a place undoubtedly held facets that would prove advantageous to Lennok.