Chapter 10

It is without a doubt that the testimonial level of the Scavenger members was not discernible from that of the common population. However, it was unwise to underestimate its value on certain occasions. Thus, Jordan displayed his ingenuity by creating a backdoor into the Scavengers' network. Even though the testimony of the members was not remarkable, it held significant importance.

"Wow..."

As Jenny replayed the brief 3-second video, she couldn't help but be amazed. The footage captured a rare spectacle of the dry sky splitting apart and being consumed by blazing lightning. It was a sight that not many had been privileged to witness.

Dryly chuckling, Jenny asked, "So, this is the handiwork of that fellow?"

"He claimed to be a wizard of the lightning element himself. It's highly likely," replied Jordan.

Though they both lacked practical magic skills, knowledge of it was a prerequisite in their field of expertise. They both knew the difficulty of summoning lightning from the dry sky.

The elemental magic system is unique in the sense that it is purely manipulated by thoughts and mana, without requiring a specific medium. This aspect of the system has made it renowned for its difficulty. Unlike modern magic, which has been developed for user convenience, the elemental magic system takes a significant amount of time to master, resembling the traditional magic that has been utilized for centuries.

Releasing mana into the air and summoning lightning requires extensive time, effort, and talent. Jenny muttered as she continued to observe the video, "Even if I underrate it, it appears to be at least Level 4."

A Level 4 magic user is a wizard who has gone beyond the mere learning and application of magic, reaching a complete understanding through rigorous practice. Wizards of this caliber are capable of fulfilling their roles without compromising on modern firepower and are widely regarded as researchers in addition to being wizards. This level represents the minimum hierarchy required to study and master the self-taught magical system, with immense potential for growth.

Furthermore, Level 4 or higher wizards under the purview of the Vulcan City Hall can claim the city's pension at any time and receive rewards for their research accomplishments.

"It's possible that he's Level 5 or higher," Jordan mused.

"It doesn't make sense. Why would someone as talented as him work here and settle for a bounty? If he showcased his abilities elsewhere, he'd have no shortage of job offers."

As Jenny spoke, Jordan shook his head.

“Perhaps not in other factions, but it's possible if he belonged to that faction."

Jenny's mind raced as she considered the possibility. "Could he be a member of the ‘Thorben' faction?" she wondered aloud, immediately dismissing the thought as if it were a mere passing shower.

"Perhaps," Jordan responded thoughtfully, hoisting Taylor Evans' lifeless body into a bag and slinging it over his shoulder.

His eyes glinted with a faint light as he peered toward the underground incinerator.

"If he truly is a member of those war entrepreneurs... he could make an excellent partner."

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Lennok wasted no time in leaving Jenny's bar and making his way toward the orchard she had mentioned. Along the way, he recalled Jenny’s words about the city's districts, which piqued his curiosity.

As the city expanded, each district had a distinct atmosphere, depending on its creation order. The 0-9 districts were responsible for the city's core operation and economy. The 10s districts were a forest of various businesses, including big corporations, while the 20s districts were where most of the citizens lived and worked. The 30s districts were home to large city facilities, such as amusement parks and harbors. The 40s districts were notorious for being utilized by unauthorized organizations, and the 50s districts were filled with undeveloped areas and criminals.

The orchard that Jenny mentioned was located in District 31, which was also home to the largest botanical garden in Vulcan. The garden was one of the many citizen facilities in the low-numbered areas of the 30s district. After buying a ticket, Lennok entered the garden.

Despite the hefty ticket price of 10,000 cells, Lennok had just received a substantial bounty and had a well-lined wallet, making the cost insignificant.

Once inside the botanical garden, Lennok was met with a vast jungle composed entirely of plants, illuminated by an artificial sun shining down. He was immediately captivated by the unique and stunning plants and flowers that surrounded him, such as the giant peaks capable of harvesting human shadows and the flowers with a myriad of colors that momentarily stopped him in awe.

Lennok also noticed trees that walked like living animals on the plains and seedlings that resembled umbrellas with thin membranes floating in the air. However, he quickly regained his composure and headed toward the direction that Jenny had given him.

As he walked, a wave of fatigue began to weigh heavily on his body, making it increasingly difficult to continue.

Upon hearing the old man's critical analysis of the cigarettes, Lennok replied glumly, having already heard the same from Jenny.

"...I had no other option," he explained.

"To lower costs, impurities are intentionally added to create a low-quality product that is highly addictive. Although it appears to have a decent antipsychotic effect, it's only to give the impression that it's effective. It's not a product that can be recommended for long-term use," the old man explained, tossing the finely chopped cigarette into a nearby trash can.

"So, you're looking for something with fewer side effects, even if it's more expensive. How much are you willing to pay?" he inquired.

Lennok pondered for a moment, considering the drug he was seeking as a minimum investment for his future plans.

He needed something that would alleviate his pain and fatigue while working, at least until he could move his weak body like a normal person.

However, reducing side effects while using such a product was crucial. If he experienced intense side effects every time he used the drug, his body would not be able to endure it for long.

It was not the time to be frugal.

"...Two million cells," he responded firmly.

He had just received a bounty of 2.7 million cells and planned to invest all of it in buying better quality medicine, leaving only enough for living expenses.

"Hmm."

The old man nodded, got up from his seat, and started rummaging through the shelves behind him. After a while, he came with a sealed pack in his hand, and when he opened the pack, something elongated inside poured out. It had the shape of a cigarette and was a bit thicker and longer than the ones Lennok used to smoke.

As he weighed them one by one, the old man spoke, "If you were simply looking for narcotics, your budget wouldn't have allowed for anything worthwhile," the old man explained, gesturing towards the cigarettes in his hand. "But if you're after something with pharmaceutical benefits, I have just the thing within your price range."

He placed thirty neatly packaged cigarettes on the counter, labeled "Cash Burn-C107."

"It offers powerful pain relief, boosts energy and mental clarity for up to six hours, with a slight stimulant effect. The initial intake may cause paralysis and dizziness, and the subsequent side effects may include headaches, seizures, and vomiting."

The side effect didn't appear favorable to Lennok, but the old man continued explaining.

“However, it's a relatively safe product with low addiction potential and minimal long-term accumulation in the body due to its pharmaceutical modifications.”

“Is that a small side effect?”

"It's the least side effect you can buy with the money you have."

The old man emphasized, "Reducing the drug's side effects raises the price significantly. If you want to find something better than this, it will be difficult to buy even 20 with that money. And just so you know, I don't sell less than ten at a time."

In other words, there were items that cost from hundreds of thousands to millions of cells per cigarette.

Lennok shook his head with mixed feelings and picked up the Cashburn cigarette that he had just purchased.

By simple calculation, a single cigarette was a little less than 70,000 cells. In terms of price, it wasn't too bad either.

For Lennok, who had never bought a pack of cigarettes on Earth, the price made his hands tremble.

In the end, Lennok knew he had no choice but to invest in the Cash Burn-C107 cigarettes, even though the price was steep. This was a necessary step to ensure his future success. He paid the two million cells and took the cigarettes the old man gave him.

"Come again. All the people who use my orchard end up coming back," the old man said as he nodded his head and quickly disappeared into the smoke.

Lennok quickly left the botanical garden and headed back to his hotel. He had obtained thirty cigarettes, but he couldn't use them in real situations without testing their effectiveness firsthand. He needed to be sure that the side effects were manageable and that the drug would have the desired effects.