Chapter 129

“I told you, pointless wordplay is not only inferior, it’s meaningless...?”

“You, Mr. Wooshin. Rather, it seems to me that you wouldn’t even know if what we’re giving you is real data or not.”

Hina’s speech unraveled leisurely, her hand finding a resting place on her waist.

“I initially aimed for a smooth resolution, but if your intention is to meddle with our organization’s proceedings...?”

The once-relaxed ambiance suddenly tightened, and those who had silently engaged in a tense standoff now proceeded to silently ready their weapons.

Lennok meticulously observed his body, sensing the gradual surge of magical energy enveloping him.

‘My mana has somewhat regenerated, but... my condition isn’t favorable.’

Even though he hadn’t suffered direct injuries, executing the operation intact had required significant sacrifices.

By infusing mana into his leg during the mission, he had once again succumbed to mana addiction. Coupled with the aftermath of using Feather Fall, his leg was now covered in blood bruises from burst blood vessels.

Lennok retrieved a vial of recovery potion.

Hedlock, a remedy gifted by Dray.

Its taste was so repulsive that it induced nausea, yet there was a certain sense of wellness in its unpleasantness.

This was his second time ingesting it, but despite his determination, Lennok couldn’t surmount the peculiar aversion.

‘Just think of it as a dietary supplement. Swallowing a vitamin shouldn’t taste this awful, right...?’

“......Ugh.”

His attempts to hypnotize himself proved futile.

Taking the potion now wasn’t for immediate relief; it was a form of long-term self-care.

He doubted he’d consider it unless he was in the midst of imminent combat.

With his preparations complete, Lennok began to gather his mana deliberately.

Stepping forward with gradual precision.

Yet, his aura was potent enough to dwarf everyone else in the space.F0lloww new chapters at nov/(e)l/bin/(.)com

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The lesser-experienced freelancers scowled, vexed by the unusual pressure.

However, those who recognized the significance of the magical force were even more deeply impressed.

Lennok’s mana, honed through countless battles on the front lines, carried more than just the intent to kill.

It bore a potent desire for victory, so intense that it resonated with the conviction emanating from Lennok himself.

His determination surpassed mere intent.

“Stop.”

A composed but oddly frigid voice sliced through the escalating tension.

All eyes turned to the short-haired woman who had stepped forward.

Her smile was present, yet seemed somehow strained.

Recognizing her visage, Lennok furrowed his brow slightly.

From the time of the Dyke Corporation’s assignment, she was a member of the Plato Mercenary Office who had confronted Lennok at their headquarters.

Was her name Nicole?

Only upon glimpsing the face of Maoren, who stood hesitantly behind her, did Lennok realize that the Plato Mercenary Office had a role in this affair.

Nicole calmly scanned the assembled crowd and shook her head.

“We shall conclude here.”

“What? What do you mean?”

Upon Manson’s statement, Nicole responded with a smile that radiated through her eyes.

“True, we were tasked with raiding the terrorist organization’s vault. However, nowhere did it mention we’d be tangling with that wizard, did it? This goes beyond our initial agreement.”

Wooshin’s disbelief was palpable.

“A wizard? You’re reconsidering this mission just because of that frail wizard?”

“Yes.”

Nicole’s nod subtly shifted the atmosphere in the room. Her words seemed to suggest that she viewed Lennok more dangerously as an enemy than an agent.

“We had an understanding that we’d give each other prior notice about any matters endangering the office’s interests, didn’t we?”

“......”

“I understood the likelihood of encountering enforcement agents, but there was no mention of this wizard.”

Everyone present was aware that Nicole was seizing upon formalities.

Hina’s faint smile followed Chen’s words.

“When Reisen’s covert funds are divided, your share won’t be meager.”

It was the most radiant smile Lennok had ever witnessed.

“You can look forward to it.”

The operation’s casualties were lamentable, but in a realm where survival demanded relinquishing grief and memorials promptly, performance-based compensation carried high expectations.

With enthusiastic comrades trailing behind him, Lennok gazed back in quiet reflection.

The sky above the labor camp, previously shrouded in somber drapes and heavy clouds, now unveiled a cerulean expanse.

There, he had left behind all the fear and helplessness that greeted him upon awakening in that unfamiliar factory.

Whether by chance or destiny, he returned to that very place to bring one matter to a close.

Either way, it mattered little.

Only Lennok’s resolve to survive was truly his own.

Amidst lingering enigmas and concealed circumstances, he would forsake the illusions that once held his steps captive and forge ahead. Lennok’s trajectory was clear; he would move onward.

That much, he could guarantee to himself.

***

The night following the fall of the labor camp.

All of Falcon’s members had perished or escaped, and even the factory workers had dispersed into the aftermath’s uncertainty.

Here, where Craig’s aspirations crumbled, a man sat amongst the rubble, gazing at the frigid night sky.

Around this man swirled an aura darker than the starry night, an aura in constant motion.

After a brief interval, a faint tremor resounded in the distance.

Gradually intensifying, the noise began to adopt a rhythm akin to footsteps that defied human weight.

Boom, boom!

Echoing like the pound of weighty drums, an entity emerged from the darkness—a colossal creature enveloped in scales.

Sporting a lengthy snout and eyes of luminous yellow, Croken’s form glimmered subtly in the starlight.

Observing this figure, the man chuckled and remarked,

“Reptiles must have their fair share of hardships. Navigating this chill in the air can’t be easy for a cold-blooded being.”

“Heh heh heh... Your ceaseless prattle remains as consistent as ever.”

Accompanied by a subdued laugh, Croken bestowed a fleeting glance upon the man before settling down with a resounding thud.

Kaboom!!

A resolute crash ensued, and dust surged into the air.

The man evaded the dust with a dismissive gesture, finding amusement in something absurd.

“With your bulk, it’s your rear that should be weighty. Doesn’t it seem rather contradictory, just like your endless banter?”

“Let’s get to the point. I’m not in the mood to indulge your chatter for long.”

“Heh heh... Wit doesn’t pair well with a lizard, it appears.”

“Should I bore holes through your ears?”

Whooooom!!

In the dusky remains, the energies of these two entities collided.

The ground quaked in response to their forceful clash, and the stars in the sky seemed to shift, but none seemed to take heed of these cosmic disturbances.

Growing weary of the futile struggle first, Croken interjected.

“So, what did you summon me from afar to discuss?”

A war-hardened mercenary and an eminent dark wizard.

Encounters between members of the Pandemonium, known for their self-driven actions, were rare, yet the duo’s demeanor was as casual as if they’d crossed paths just yesterday.

“There shouldn’t have been many intersections for us in this affair, am I correct?”

Croken discerned that the man standing before him had meddled in the recent events.

Hadn’t he been overseeing the safety of the dark wizards affiliated with the enchantment faction due to his business pursuits?

The artifacts bearing their enchantment symbols served as a pivotal supply chain even for Croken.

Considering the man’s standing within the realm of dark magic, it wasn’t far-fetched to assume that he tacitly allowed the inter-factional conflict to unfold.

The giant’s words garnered a grin from the man.

“My original intention was to remain concealed and merely observe the course of events. However, there’s something I wish to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“If you were entangled in this affair, you must have encountered him. A somewhat haughty wizard?”