Drug-Eating Genius Mage – 56



Inside the small room.

An older man took Lennok into a room filled with simple artifacts and clothes and offered to shake his hand first.

“My name is Raoul.”

“It’s half. “I’m doing freelance work.”

When Lennoc calmly revealed his name Raoul’s eyes quietly lit up.

“…I’ve heard that name before. “I heard that you are a wizard who has been rapidly gaining popularity recently.”

“I was lucky.”

He said something condescending that he didn’t really mean but Raoul didn’t fall for it.

“No a wizard’s skills are only proportional to his or her own enlightenment and courage. “If it is not false it is proof that his qualifications are definitely extraordinary.”

When Raoul found out that Van was still a somewhat well-known person his guard seemed to have eased considerably.

Still if it’s someone who is well-known to the public it may be because there is trust that they won’t openly harm them.

Certainly fame was not necessarily a bad thing.

“So you said you had something to say about the Falmouth Research Institute.”

“yes. “Do you know what happened?”

“no. I didn’t hear about it. But seeing as you came here in person… it’s definitely not good news.”

As Raoul said that he rested his chin and slowly closed his eyes.

“I will listen.”

“…….”

It’s a feat of mental strength to be able to keep your composure while guessing what happened there.

Is it possible to persevere like this even though you know that you could be the target of that massacre?

Lennok expressed his small admiration for that fact and clearly described what he had experienced.

It didn’t take long.

It would be enough to tell you about the massacre that occurred in the lab and the ending of the battle with the same warlock you encountered there.

“I see….”

No matter how much you expect it you can’t beat the shock of hearing it firsthand.

Raoul unable to hide his mixed feelings slowly opened his eyes while shaking his shoulders.

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After being silent for a long time he suddenly opened his mouth.

“Although we are grouped as the same warlock we are quite different from them.”

“……..”

“To put it in the extreme there is nothing in common except for the use of negative magic power. The only thing that made it possible for us to communicate occasionally was the fact that we were helping each other in business in District 44….”

At a time when the business is on the verge of extinction due to city government inspections such a relationship no longer has any meaning.

Raoul’s helpless words were implicitly repeating this.

“Anyway thanks for letting me know. “Now that we have confirmed that they are acting so aggressively we must prepare in our own way.”

Raoul who forced himself to shake off his sadness looked at Lennok and asked.

“So what do you want? Please don’t tell me the absurd story that you came to me to tell me this in person. “I know very well what kind of people freelancers are.”

“……..”

“Everything even if done with good intentions requires a price. “I may be old but I understand the rules of this street.”

“Then I will not decline.”

Lennok who realized that it was Raoul’s consideration to make it easier for him to speak took out the items he had brought with him from his arms.

An obsidian brooch received from the warlock of Pandemonium.

An item that he said he would need when he wanted to know the truth referring to the word “frozen world.”

Wouldn’t other warlocks know the origin of this item?

That was the only clue Lennok had in mind from the beginning.

“I don’t know if you will recognize this brooch. “I want to know the secret behind this thing.”

“…Where did I get this…?”

“I received it from an unknown warlock. With words that could never be ignored.”

Raoul looked at it for a while and then opened his mouth with difficulty.

“It’s not like there aren’t parts to guessing. “But it’s difficult to give a proper answer right now.”

“…….”

“The emblem engraved on this brooch belongs to a very old wizarding family. “Now it has already become extinct and only its legacy is occasionally passed down through clans.”

Although Raoul did not say it the wizard family was probably one that focused on black magic.

So was the man in the Pandemonium also related to the family that Raoul mentioned?

“Is there a way to save those legacies?”

“Well I do have one of those…”

It would be difficult to readily hand it over to Lennok. Lennok also understood.

It seemed difficult to receive such a valuable gift just by telling them what happened at the research institute.

“If there are any items or conditions you want I’d like to hear them.”

“Uhm…..”

Raoul hesitated for a long time hesitant to speak.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hand over his inheritance but rather that he had something he wanted but couldn’t easily say it.

Instead he suddenly started mentioning another topic.

“Actually the practical faction sent me a message.”

“yes?”

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“They said they were planning to make an official protest outside the Balkans to stop the city government from checking. “In a rather rough way.”

“…….”

It’s an official protest but if you just listen to the words isn’t it the same as saying that you intend to commit terrorism?

“We asked for cooperation and we refused. “I thought I would pay the price but I never thought my friends at the lab would suffer before me…”

Raoul closed his eyes for a moment and looked straight at Lennok and said.

“I won’t say it back. “I hope you take action to stop them from harming civilians.”

“…..are those your conditions?”

“exactly. If things go as they intended the reputation of our magicians will surely fall to the ground. “The pragmatic faction plans to push ahead even at the risk of conflict with the city government but our position is different.”

For the Necromancer faction’s warlocks if things don’t work out they can just leave the city but for the Buyeo faction which mainly produces artifacts and items it was a problem that could not be ignored.

“I don’t want to irreversibly ruin the already bad reputation of black magic. “We still need this city.”

“……..”

Not yet….

There was a strange resonance to what Raoul was saying but I wouldn’t let Lennok delve into it.

However whether to accept the conditions he said was another issue.

Now that Lennok’s fame and salary have increased significantly the price and amount of money he can earn while working as a freelancer will be incomparable to before.

Is it really helpful to confront the combat-oriented warlocks in order to inherit the legacy that Raoul talks about?

It is difficult to blindly accept the deal because of Raoul’s favor.

At the very least there had to be conditions and restrictions commensurate with the price.

‘The most certain thing would be the way it was done with Dyke.’

Lennok who was pondering slowly opened his mouth.

“Let’s set an upper limit.”

“The upper limit?”

“Exactly to what extent should that condition be met? “It is difficult to waste too much time without knowing how much value that heritage has.”

To put it in the extreme it doesn’t matter if Lennok isn’t one of them.

As long as it was confined to the same category of black magic it was not impossible to go to the Practical Sect and ask about the origin of the brooch.

Of course I have to resolve the issue of killing one of the warlocks in the lab… but I guess I have to endure that much trouble.

“…twice. “Assuming that the other side really starts to move we can prevent two terrorist attacks or come up with an alternative that is acceptable to both sides.”

It was a proposal made for further negotiations but Raoul listened to Lennok’s words and nodded as if there was no need to worry.

“Let’s do that.”

Was it possible to read the truth in Lennok’s attitude that there was nothing to regret?

It was a skillful choice.

“Then the specific schedule…..”

“Now Elder..!!”

Just as we were about to further discuss the transaction a young man suddenly opened the door in a huff and came in looking for Raoul.

“……Isaac. “Aren’t you talking to a customer right now?”

“This is not the time! “Now those crazy people are on the streets…!!”

“…!!”

Did he even feel something from those words?

Raoul as if fascinated picked up the remote control that was lying on the table and immediately turned on the TV in the corner of the room.

The sight of the city turned into chaos was clearly visible to the eyes of the three people.

Burning streets. People running away like crazy. Holes and collapsed buildings here and there and craters on the streets.

Beyond the thick smoke about a dozen people walk out at once.

They wear black robes that cover their entire bodies and cover their faces with hoods pulled down.

The only thing that was clearly visible was an older man with a tall physique standing in the middle of the crowd.

Fierce eyes and a bushy gray beard.

Impressive with the shape of tree roots engraved under his eyes he looked around with a stern expression and slowly approached the camera as if he had made a promise.

Lennok noticed right away and said:

“It’s staged.”

It is impossible for a relay camera like that to be placed at the scene of an accidental terrorist attack.

From the beginning I made a plan to announce this to everyone.

“But the person who died there probably wasn’t a director.”

Raoul muttered in a heavy voice.

“……”

Perhaps because he represents the bestowal magic faction he is too humane for a warlock that Lennok knows.

It’s unclear whether this will be helpful in the future or not but… I didn’t like Lennok that much right away.

Meanwhile the man crouched in front of the camera and brought his face closer.

[Reisen and we made a promise.]

A heavy and thick voice came out.

A tone with enough weight to attract attention even on a crowded street.

[Not to interfere with each other while we try to blend into this city.]

As he said that he stretched out his hand and grabbed the collar of the person who was lying nearby.

The man muttered as he grabbed the young man’s head which was hanging weakly behind his thick forearms that were clearly visible even through his collar.

[But you guys broke your promise. In that case we would no longer have any reason to respect the order here.]

Woooo!!

Sticky black magical energy boils and flows steadily into the young man’s nose and mouth.

It was not difficult to guess what would happen next.

“this….”

Raoul turned his head with a helpless sigh.

[And this…]

Ugh!!

The young man’s head which had passed out inflated like a balloon and then burst.

[This is our answer.]

The man slowly closed his eyes as he was hit without even avoiding the blood and brain fluid flowing out from inside him.

A cruel and disgusting execution. However it was entirely the power of the man that made that moment not look ugly.

There was a dead silence in the room.

And the same goes for other people who are probably watching this moment from somewhere else.

[I don’t think we can take everything from the Balkans.]

A calm man’s voice rings out one after another.

[But you could destroy something you cherish.]

[Reisen.]

The man who appeared to be shedding bloody tears brought his face closer to the camera and spoke.

[Please wait.]

Kwasik!!

Eveline Marcia

A bar in the middle of the day.

A quiet time when there are not many customers.

In keeping with Jenny’s taste the bar is filled with a strong scent of coffee.

Lennok never said anything to her but he liked this wasted time.

“Whoa….”

Jenny briefly placed her lips on the carefully brewed Americano and sighed in satisfaction.

Jenny feeling the eyes of the two men looking at her spoke slowly.

“There will be no official response from the city government.”

Dylan replied sullenly.

“It’s not surprising.”

As Dylan said has the city government ever actively responded to any of the incidents that have occurred so far?

Unless something happened of their own volition like this inspection the city government never reacts according to the intentions of others.

Lennok was also able to calmly tip his mug because he now had a general idea of ​​what kind of stance the Balkan city government maintained.

“And to be honest it’s not that it doesn’t work.”

A huge city where all kinds of crimes occur every day.

Although the inner area is relatively quiet it would not be an understatement to call the outer area where Lennok works as a freelancer a hotbed of conflict of interest.

What should the city government do to stabilize citizens in such a place?

Comforting people with lip service handing out relief goods and strengthening security by releasing police forces… There are many ways but the city government has chosen one method.

Refrain from making active comments or responding under any circumstances and hide any outward signs of agitation.

Citizens who have already given up on security and stability to some extent feel reassured by the fact that the city is not shaken and suppress their agitation.

It is safe to say that they are just giving up but in reality they are stabilizing public sentiment with the lowest cost.

Moreover the area where the black magicians carried out the terrorist attack this time was area 43.

Although it is located near District 40 where the clubs are located it is not common for ordinary citizens to go there.

An external area that is almost half-abandoned in the city government’s urban development plan.

Since the incident occurred in such a place it was natural that it did not affect the public well regardless of the anxiety they felt.

“Do they have the will to solve this problem? “I don’t know.”

Dylan asked resting his chin on the bar and leaning his upper body against the bar.

After the power plant operation Dylan became more frequent at Jenny’s bar.

In the meantime he didn’t stop flirting with Lennok so he got beaten up by Jenny more than once but he didn’t seem to care.

Rather is this a way of putting the other person at ease by doing something blatantly revealing?

If it was intentional it could be said that he had quite deep feelings but… Lennok did not believe at all that a man who was honest about his desires would make such a plan.

However Jenny’s answer was quite different from before.

“You’re probably going to try to solve it no matter what?”

“what?”

“You saw that warlock calling Reisen. “Then it’s obvious.”

“Reisen…isn’t he a senator from the city council? “I think I’ve heard of it.”

As Dylan said the name Reisen is quite famous in the Balkans.

This is because among city government members they are the ones who frequently appear in the media and make efforts to communicate with citizens.

Unlike members of the House of Representatives who appear relatively frequently senators rarely appear even once a year making them stand out even more.

Aristocrats who were born with the upper hand of this enormous city’s power.

Amidst all the bizarre rumors that citizens do not think of themselves as the same people he is bound to stand out as he is a person who continually strives to communicate.

Lennok also remembered hearing that name often while browsing news sites.

Instead of answering right away Jenny looked around.

Lennok understood the gesture and immediately placed soundproofing magic around the area.

As if she still wasn’t relieved she lowered her head slightly and whispered to the two in a low voice.

“There is a high possibility that the warlocks know where Reisen’s money is hidden.”

“You want me to give you money?”

“Every city council member has at least one hole where kickbacks can come in so I guess they did this to target that.”

“You’re stealing the senator’s secret money…”

Dylan muttered seriously and grinned.

“It’s an attractive proposition just by imagining it.”

“……..”

“Even if it’s your foolish delusion the problem is how the city government will come out.”

“Haven’t we already declared that there will be no official response?”

If Jenny was going to make such an assurance it would have been normal to have sent out an official document.

“yes. But unofficially it will be completely different. “I wanted to tell you that in advance.”

“hmm…..”

In the end it’s just a wait-and-see approach and isn’t this saying that there will be some kind of intervention in this matter to protect the senator’s money?

The visit of the Dominion and the death of the Ascendant. This was followed by inspections by the city government and terrorism by black magicians.

Events that have a causal chain that is too clear to be considered just a coincidence.

….Maybe the mainstream of this world already started a long time ago?

While Lennok was sobbing in worry someone sitting next to him suddenly opened his mouth.

“The young lady has considerable insight. “It’s just as you said.”

A clear voice that penetrates my ears even though I didn’t raise my voice.

However the concentration of magical power mixed in between is by no means ordinary.

Lennok realizing something was strange turned his head and slightly opened his mouth.

Short black hair. Dark green eyes.

He has a sophisticated appearance wearing a shirt and slacks with a black blazer draped over his shoulders as if he were going out to some business.

A young woman with calm yet expressionless beauty was lightly shaking the glass in her hand.

It’s only a few times that I’ve seen him face to face but I can’t forget his impressive appearance.

Agent of the city government. Eveline Marcia.

Here was a Gein with a unique sense who could have a conversation with Croken Asillus from the front and also runs a vegetable shop as a hobby.

Dylan who finally recognized Evelyn’s appearance was scared and jumped up from his seat.

“Agent….!!! “Since when have you been here!!”

“……”

Jenny as if she didn’t know Evelin’s face quickly calmed her surprised expression and glared at her.

At that brief commotion attention was instantly focused in this direction and all the guests who recognized her cowered in horror.

“Fuck… what is that?”

“It’s the tongue Hyeon-gung (玄弓)… Hyeon-gung is here.”

“Since when have you been here?”

“Did Jenny make a deal with the agents too?”

In that brief moment Lennok picked up the sounds coming from around him without missing them.

Hyeongung… That is most likely a reference to her fighting style or symbolic abilities.

Considering the power she showed at that time it wasn’t at all strange that she had a plausible nickname.

However Lennok was more interested in her ghost-like hiding ability the existence of which he had not noticed at all rather than her other name.

‘I definitely knew someone was sitting next to me. And yet you don’t even notice that it’s Evelyn…’

It’s not like Evelyn completely fooled Lennok’s magic sense and sat next to him without his knowledge.

Lennok clearly knew that the customer who came into the bar sat down next to him and ordered a drink.

However it was undoubtedly her own skill that prevented her from noticing that the guest was Eveline Marcia.

In addition it was no different from saying that she was a superhuman who could perfectly fake her own magic patterns.

The atmosphere in the bar instantly turned cold at the appearance of an unimaginably powerful superhuman.

No one knew that the woman sitting at the bar leisurely shaking her drink was a monster that could not be compared to anyone else in the room.

Jenny who regained her composure in an instant despite the chaotic atmosphere slowly opened her mouth.

“I never thought I’d see such a famous person at my bar.”

“okay? That’s surprising. “We know brokers like you well.”

“……”

“Moderately competent moderately quick-witted moderately popular and moderately ruthless. This is a very suitable attitude to survive on this floor for a long time. “I guess I learned a useful lesson from Kaise.”

“I don’t know why you’re trying to provoke me.”

Jenny who didn’t even blink after hearing that name smiled.

“I want you to tell me why you were listening to our conversation like a rat. “Agent you probably didn’t come here to enjoy a trivial fight right?”

“……..”

There’s obviously no sound but it feels like sparks are flying everywhere.

It is not enough to say that the disparity in power between the two was overwhelming but Jenny was responding to Evelyn’s words as if she were ready to die at any moment.

It was so bad that Dylan was shaking and tearing Jenny’s shoulder.

“Hey Jenny. “Did you put any strange medicine in today’s shaker?”

“Don’t be scared Dylan.”

Jenny said in a firm voice.

“Why would a city government agent come all the way here? “At least they don’t want to get involved in this case themselves so they’re looking for a useful freelancer.”

“……”

“And there’s no way a person like that would vent his anger just over an argument like this. On the contrary it doesn’t matter if you spoil as much as you like now.”

“You know very well what public officials do.”

Evelyn responded with a bitter smile.

If people who knew her had seen this they might have been surprised to see a rare expression.

But she was really the only one who came here now.

Lennok checked once again the soundproof barrier that had been unconsciously placed around the area.

Evelyn was clearly not within the range of the barrier but she was naturally conversing with Jenny as if that was no problem.

In the end Lennok sighed expanded the range of the noise magic a little more pulled Evelyn in and asked.

“Is what Jenny said true?”

“It’s unfortunate but it’s accurate. “Do you have very sharp senses?”

“Even though you are aware of the problem why don’t you take action as an agent?”

“Because the higher-ups don’t want that.”

Evelyn answered in a flat tone but the moment Lennok saw her expression he knew that no further answer could be expected.

You can tell just by looking at his faint smile but his extremely inorganic gaze.

She was here not as a woman with a unique hobby of running a vegetable shop but as a public servant.

“Come to think of it this is the first time since I saw you at the factory right?”

“……..”

“Honestly I was a bit surprised. “I never thought I would see the faces of the two kids who were cornered to death by that old man again like this.”

Flat tone. However the meaning of the words pierces Lennok’s heart sharply.

“Especially you. Did you say half? It seems like the price has increased rapidly recently. He’s a monster who almost took down the gang all by himself. “It was certainly impressive how he held on without being killed by the old man.”

Evelyn’s gaze became more explicit as she continued saying “That’s why I remember you.”

“But you two. “Don’t you think you owe me something?”

A moment of silence.

Dylan scratched his beard-covered chin with an embarrassed expression.

“I can’t say that there isn’t one.”

“Dylan.”

Jenny called his name in annoyance but Lennok somewhat understood how he felt.

She doesn’t know what a monster Croken Asillus is.

No to be precise I don’t know how scary the death he presents is.

If Evelin had not intervened at that moment the two people would have truly died on the spot.

That’s why the two people couldn’t easily ignore what Evelyn said.

It is not because of unreasonable loyalty.

This is because she knows that if she does not return the favor received from someone as talented as her in time she will have to pay a higher price.

You must repay what you received. Whether it is favor or resentment.

If he rejects Evelyn’s offer here he may have to pay her a bigger price someday.

Whether it was Lennok or Dylan they knew that fact very well without even having to say it.

entrance into school

Even without Lennok isn’t he in a situation where he is stepping into this case?

Hearing Evelyn’s words Lennoc calmly calculated the profits and losses and realized that the proposal she had just made was not a loss at all.

‘There is no reason to refuse. It would be more beneficial if I could pay off the life debt I owe to Evelyn here.’

Of course there was absolutely no reason to tell her that so Lennok calmly acted like he couldn’t help it.

It was only after Jenny looked at Lennok’s expression that she realized that the two were thinking the same thing and sighed.

“Ban… You are already part of this group.”

Jenny shook her head as if she had lost and took a step back to pick up the shaker.

A faint smile appeared on Evelyn’s lips again as she realized the meaning of the gesture.

“Then I will formally submit a request to Wizard Ban and Dylan O’Casey here.”

“Leave me out.”

Dylan said raising his hand.

When Evelin looked back at him with a displeased expression he shrugged his shoulders and said.

“You know our office right? “It will be difficult to engage in outside activities for the time being.”

When she heard those words she let out a small exclamation as if she had finally realized it.

“Oh you….. That’s right. good. “I need to talk to Antares separately.”

“……”

Lennok looked at Dylan who was slipping away right in front of him with disapproving eyes but he did not avoid his gaze and shook his head with an expression that said he could not help it.

From the looks of it there seems to be something I can’t talk about right now.

Since the goal is to pay off the debt owed to Evelyn Dylan’s existence itself doesn’t really matter… Lennok let out a small sigh and said.

“Tell me the specific purpose and price.”

“I don’t want this case to be completely resolved by just one freelancer. According to the rumors I hear it seems like he has that kind of ability but… I can’t handle things like that and then report to the higher-ups.”

The wine glass in Evelyn’s hand rotates slowly.

After quietly looking down at it she drank the rest of her drink in one go and stood up.

“I will relay the details through the princess of Kaise.”

“……..”

“Then see you later.”

Just like when she first appeared she walked out of the bar at a very leisurely pace.

Lennok followed her with magic sense until the end but as soon as he left the bar he realized he had missed her and laughed.

This is because he recognized that even with his recently rapidly increased magical power detection ability he was still unable to follow her movements.

I thought I had come a long way but there was still a long way to go.

“jenny.”

“Ha… I’ll gather related information.”

Although it was not intentional since the request was received the work the broker had to do was determined.

Contact the agent gather information inform them of what needs to be done and how much you will be paid and then begin the operation.

It started because of Lennok’s personal goals but ironically as he moved around this was where he eventually returned.

“If you can I’d like you to gather information about her as well.”

“You mean Hyeongung?”

“okay. “My career my fighting style my background my personality… anything is fine.”

Any information that might be of some help in dealing with her.

I slowly swallowed the last words and turned my head.

Lennok had no intention of sitting idle while working with such a monster.

Since he had no idea what kind of person Evelyn Marcia was as an agent Lennok had to be well prepared for any unexpected situation.

As soon as I finished thinking I immediately stood up.

“Are you going?”

“It won’t give you long time to prepare.”

Lennok answered as he took his coat that was hanging on the side of the bar.

“It’s better to hurry now.”