Chapter 85

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“Please place the belongings over there.”

“Understood.”

“The kitchen is in that direction, so you’ll have to bring the fridge separately.”

After enduring an unpleasant incident, Lennok decided to move without delay.

Having accumulated a considerable sum of money from his dealings with Dyke, he saw no reason to confine himself to a single room while dealing with unnecessarily impolite neighbors.

He relocated to the 30s district, a modest apartment complex with just one additional room, which satisfied Lennok.

In the small park across the street, families would take leisurely strolls, and the distant sounds of children playing in a playground signaled that it was a safe place.

Even the laughter of the children beneath the setting evening sky brought him a sense of tranquility.

Although he knew that the peace and relaxation they experienced were not within his grasp,

Even though he was constantly teetering on the edge of danger,

Observing their lives still brought Lennok an odd sense of comfort.

“It’s all finished.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Though he could be stern when wearing the face of Van, there was no need to be so rigid when moving houses as Evan.

Lennok offered each of the movers a drink and expressed his gratitude before bidding them farewell.

“Well, then...”

The large pieces of furniture such as the fridge and desk had already been placed, but the rest of the items were Lennok’s responsibility.Cheêck out latest novels on novel/bin(.)com

With the transition to a larger residence, he had purchased new items like a sofa, TV, and chairs, which added to his workload.

Naturally, with his unsteady arm, he couldn’t do much.

After idling for a while with a cigarette in his mouth, he felt his strength returning, and he became more energized.

“Let’s begin.”

Ultimately, he had moved to a two-room apartment to separate his living space from his research area.

Lennok’s accumulated rewards from various requests, magical materials, various notes and memos he had written during his free time, and Eden’s research journal.

Rather than meticulously organizing everything, he focused on dividing the space and categorizing the items.

By the time he finished tidying up, darkness had already enveloped the outside world.

“Hoo...”

Even when he lived in a one-room apartment, he would often hear various noises when returning home late at night.

Barking dogs, shouts, and even occasional sounds of gunshots were not uncommon in that neighborhood.

But now, even without employing proper soundproofing magic, everything around him was astonishingly quiet.

Lennok felt that moving for this reason alone was a decision he wouldn’t regret.

“However, I mustn’t neglect my guard.”

Though weariness quickly overtook him from all the physical exertion, he couldn’t forget to erect barriers around him.

Soundproofing magic, security enchantments, various traps, and alarms to ward off intruders.

Repeating a task he had done before allowed him to complete it much faster.

Unlike in the past, Lennok possessed a deeper understanding of enchantment magic, rendering the barrier around his house nearly flawless even in his eyes.

Finally, Lennok took a deep breath, had a shower, and promptly went to sleep.

Once again, he found himself gazing at an unfamiliar ceiling.

From the moment he escaped the factory, through the dilapidated hotel, to this place—how much time had elapsed?

And how many events had unfolded?

His unwavering conviction, reaffirmed as he retched into the dilapidated sink, remained steadfast, but Lennok couldn’t help but acknowledge how much he had changed since then.

Change isn’t necessarily a negative thing.

Likewise, Lennok’s evolving demeanor shouldn’t be perceived as a negative either.

Embracing this belief, Lennok easily put himself to sleep by taking a familiar sleeping pill.

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

Rumors about the lightning wizard from District 49 spread like wildfire.

The downfall of a notorious gang called Cigar Bang was accompanied by such terrifying screams that the rumors were bound to spread.

It was only natural that Lennok’s image in the neighborhood underwent a transformation.

Until now, only a select few knew him as a promising freelancer, but it seemed that more people now recognized the face of Van. Or perhaps it was merely an illusion?

However, when he felt the burning gazes on his back, it seemed that it wasn’t an illusion.

“That’s him.”

“He doesn’t look particularly remarkable, though...”

“The brokers who have worked with him speak highly of him. His reputation is well-deserved.”

As he pondered this, he placed the information Jordan had provided into his bag when suddenly, a loud noise erupted outside.

As usual, if it had been a terminal exploding or a gunshot, no one would have paid much attention.

But the faint sound of military boots near the bar’s entrance was enough to set people’s nerves on edge.

Moreover, it stirred a memory within Lennok, one that had never wavered in the face of the military in this place.

“What’s that sound?”

It didn’t seem like they were attempting to enter the bar; rather, a group was passing by, which was a rare occurrence in itself.

Everyone on this street knew the danger of congregating recklessly.

If anyone dared to behave in such a manner despite this knowledge, they were either incredibly arrogant or possessed the qualifications to do so.

Before answering Jordan’s question, Lennok surged his mana and extended it swiftly beyond the bar.

His mana abilities, significantly enhanced after the battle with Eden, grasped a space that spanned several kilometers, surpassing his usual detection range. It relayed every bit of information within that area to his senses.

As if he were directly facing it, clear visual data flowed into the recesses of his mind, revealing the appearance of dozens of people passing in front of the bar.

Their bodies encased in bulletproof gear, faces concealed by helmets, and rifles slung over their shoulders.

Yet, their gait was noticeably unsteady given the level of armament they carried, and their breathing was irregular.

After confirming the emblem of the Vulcan City Administration emblazoned on their chests, Lennok nodded.

“City administration officials.”

“Officials?”

What could possibly bring officials all the way here?

Fortunately, he had a hunch. Hadn’t Evelyn, whom he encountered in the market, provided him with some information?

“I’ve heard rumors that the city administration is conducting inspections in the outer districts. I suppose this is part of that.”

“Inspections...?”

Unusually, Jordan appeared grave.

“They’re targeting unauthorized establishments. It’s unlikely to have a significant impact on this establishment.”

While Jordan didn’t question Lennok’s overly detailed explanation, his expression remained clouded.

After contemplating for a moment, a weighty voice escaped his lips.

“It seems the city administration has devised some plans this time. I have a lot to consider now.”

“Is it something serious?”

Lennok, who was unaware of the intensity of the inspections, shrugged it off. However, the fact that officials were venturing into the outer districts in groups was a new development for Jordan.

“Nothing like this has happened in the decades I’ve been working here. It must be a result of the city council’s strong determination. I’m not sure what their objective is, but they certainly want something from this area.”

Indeed, as he spoke, the officials displayed signs of retreating under the piercing gazes of the local residents, but instead of backing off, they quickened their pace.

If Lennok were to hazard a guess as to their destination, it would undoubtedly be District 44.

Unbeknownst to him, he had started working in District 49 nearly a year ago.

The environment surrounding him was changing slowly yet steadily.

He had believed he was gradually finding stability in his life, but things never go as planned.

As always, the only option was to adapt to the changes.

If he couldn’t halt the changes, he at least desired to ascend to a position where he could drive the changes himself. That was Lennok’s sincere sentiment.

Lennok shifted his gaze, taking in Jordan’s complex expression and Jenny, who had ceased her work and was gazing outside.

By the way, had the blood mage boy he encountered in District 44 managed to escape?

If he hadn’t disregarded Lennok’s words, he would have been able to pack up and flee at the right moment.

What happened afterward was not Lennok’s concern.

He tried to erase the boy’s existence cleanly from his mind while thinking in that manner.

Until he confirmed the boy’s figure within his expanded mana perception range, which he had just extended.

The same rugged expression as when they first met, a hefty bag slung over his shoulder.

Lennok realized with a snort that the boy’s footsteps, weaving through the crowd, were heading directly toward this bar.

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Lennok replied, diverting his gaze to Jenny.

“Jenny.”

“What?”

“You should prepare to serve a customer.”

“...What?”

The sound of someone descending the stairs reached their ears.

Lennok smirked.

“Right. Probably... a glass of milk will suffice.”

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