Chapter 139

“So, we’ve roughly got a plan now.”

“Don’t be late. Stop by the bookstore on your way too.”

“Do you suddenly feel like you’ve become a nanny or something?”

Observing Lennok’s departing form, Jenny saw him nod in disbelief before exiting the establishment. She calmly took a seat at the bar and lit a cigarette.

Letting out a soft sigh after attending to her persistently ringing cellphone and addressing pressing issues, she exhaled a stream of smoke.

“Whew...”

Even from their initial encounter, she had assumed he was a wandering individual arriving from unknown origins to engage in independent work, yet her judgment had been entirely off.

Within a single year, he transformed into a figure familiar to every resident of District 49.

If their collaboration persisted, he had the potential to achieve prominence not only within the district but also across the outskirts of Vulcan.

Jenny could easily envision such a future.

The lone uncertainty was whether she would be a part of it or not.

“Will you be okay?”

“With what?”

Jenny responded dryly to Jordan’s casual inquiry.

“If it’s Teyna Auction House, that guy might still be there. Weren’t you deliberately avoiding showing your face?”

“I don’t care.”

She withdrew the cigarette from her lips and lightly tapped it, causing ethereal smoke to ascend and disperse into the atmosphere.

“I can’t be tied to Kaiser forever, you know.”

Jordan sealed his lips upon hearing her mention that name so nonchalantly.

Those familiar with him and with her disliked it when she referred to that name with such ease.

She had once deliberately disregarded this, vexed by the divide, but it took no more than a week to realize that whether an entity was foe or friend, discrimination should not hold sway if it serves a purpose.

“It’s time to stop hearing that I’m a coward who trades on other people’s names.”

Jenny exhaled a plume of smoke and grinned with an air of menace.

She maintained some restraint in Lennok’s presence, yet she was an ardent smoker, much to the extent that Jordan would be taken aback.

Enshrouding a valued client’s visage with smoke would be unwise, hence she had been restraining herself.

“It’s time to decide a sure path. I’ve placed my bets on a wizard named Van. Jordan, what will you do?”

“Are you still clinging to that foolish promise and hoping for what comes next?”

“Don’t be mistaken, Jenny.”

Jordan gently shook his head.

“Kaiser is over. The term ‘next’ doesn’t suit anyone.”

“......”

“I’ve just found a place where I can stop.”

Jenny chuckled as she extinguished the cigarette and rose from her perch.

“I’m going down to the warehouse. Prepare the key.”

***

Late evening– The hour when individuals concluded their day’s toil and retreated to their abodes to unwind, Lennok found himself spending this twilight hour in the company of another, a rarity for him.

“...It doesn’t seem to fit well.”

Seated in the passenger seat, Lennok awkwardly adjusted the inflexible mask that pressed against his face.

Not every one of his deeds has been noble, necessitating this concealed guise to navigate openly, yet hitherto, he has adeptly concealed his identity with a veneer of masking magic.

This marks the first instance of his presence outside being concealed by a mask that wholly obscures his upper visage.

Furthermore, an impeccably tailored monochrome suit to conform to the stipulated dress code.

Shirts and coats have been frequent choices, but donning something so formfitting presents an unfamiliarity in his movements.

Jenny, seated adjacent to him, murmured in a hushed tone,

‘You’ll have to get used to it. My waist is also tight because I brought an old dress from the warehouse.’

Jenny nonchalantly murmured to her companion, her hand sweeping from her forehead, brushing the air, and resettling over her shoulders.

She guided the vehicle, clad in a dress that harmonized with her hair’s hue.

‘We’re almost there. It’s best to get off around here. The streets near the auction house will be too crowded.’

Exiting Jenny’s vibrant red sports car, the duo located a fitting parking space and embarked on a leisurely stroll.

The lanes encircling the auction house were meticulously organized, and the nearby estates exhibited considerable effort in their presentation.

This neighborhood didn’t resemble one inhabited by ordinary citizens.

Walking upon streets bathed in the golden glow of subdued streetlights, the ambiance felt akin to being within an art gallery or concert, rather than an auction house.

“You know me too well, Liam.”

Jenny mustered an awkward smile before articulating her intention.

“Please let me know the bid for one of the items being auctioned on this floor.”

Liam promptly grasped her intent and nodded.

“It seems you’re interested in a product that’s under private auction.”

“Yes. I think it’s unlikely to be snatched away, but I want to eliminate any possible variables.”

“If it’s a favor for you, I must listen. Anything else you want?”

Jenny momentarily hesitated at Liam’s amiable words before offering a smile.

“Please also visit my bar sometimes. It’s in a good location at the intersection of District 49.”

“You’ve grown up, knowing how to make empty promises!”

Liam emitted a hearty laugh, then cast a gaze upward at Lennok.

“Take good care of Jenny. It’s impossible for someone to always look out for themselves. There are times when we have to help each other.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Subsequent to Liam’s departure, Lennok promptly inquired,

“He seems trustworthy, but isn’t it too risky to ask a favor from someone working in an auction house?”

“He’s not an employee. He’s the owner of this building.”

“......”

“He’s also an investor who owns a certain percentage of this area.”

” ... He must be incredibly wealthy.”

Jenny clarified that Liam was a long-established acquaintance who relished observing individuals at the auction hall. She assured Lennok that Liam would swiftly furnish details concerning the private auction’s valuation.

“I never knew you had connections even in a place like this.”

“Well... the assets I had when I started this job were just that. So, I decided to never let go of that.”

Lennok sensed the necessity of delving deeper into the character of Kaiser, a man seemingly more influential than his initial assumptions indicated.

Should he amass additional intelligence independently?

Or might it prove expedient to directly query her and glean insights regarding their association?

Considerable time had transpired since Lennok commenced collaboration with Jenny, yet he still found himself grappling with the challenge of gauging the space between them.

While she could effortlessly engage with individuals like Ryan, recently acquainted, she personified the sort who understood how to create a divide just as intimacy appeared to foster.

Lennok hadn’t been particularly preoccupied with her comportment up to this point, but inevitably, their concealed truths would require disclosure and decisions to be made.

If Jenny were to align with Lennok’s underlying objective, possibly entailing the setting of a snare, he’d be incapable of receiving targeted assistance without unveiling facets of his own enigma.

Would they cultivate a more profound rapport, evolving into unequivocal allies? Or would they retain their relationship confined to employer and employee, concentrated on freelancing?

Ultimately, the choice resided within Lennok’s jurisdiction.

Lost in contemplation, Jenny tugged at Lennok’s arm.

“There’s still time before the auction starts on the third floor, so let’s go and look at the items displayed on the first floor.”

“If what you’re saying is true, wouldn’t there be only worthless items left here?”

“Well, there are still many items that are good enough to be displayed in a building’s lobby like this one. Besides, it’s not strange that items whose value couldn’t be measured in the auction are left here, right?”

Incapable of negating her reasoning, Lennok acquiescently accompanied Jenny in exploring the ground floor.

Given many attendees arrived as couples, the capacious expanse of the initial-floor hall remained in perpetual bustle.

Lennok was perspiring modestly; it had been quite a while since he’d found himself amidst such a throng.

Though masked, his discomposure wasn’t entirely concealed from Jenny’s observation.

“Are you okay?”

“....It’s fine. Keep walking.”

Lennok wielded mana to invigorate the ambient atmosphere, expanding the scope of his shielding to engender some personal space amidst the crowd—yielding a modicum of relief.

They traversed the premises, inspecting the assortment of articles exhibited on the first floor.

Adhering to the auction house’s appellation, the showcased items were variegated and vibrant.

Bound swathes, a dagger, a gilded mask, a gleaming belt. Even fractured mobile phones and automobile keys were obtainable, while the sheer multitude precluded easy access to renowned canvases and sculptures due to the burgeoning multitude.

“How does the silent auction work?”

“Under each displayed item, you’ll see a space to write a number. You write the number assigned to you upon entry, then submit your bid in private. Depending on the auction results, you can buy the item.”

“....”

Although within this auction house these artifacts might be deemed trifling, paradoxically, articles devoid of mana were a rarity.

An assortment of mana forms clashed, emitting wavelengths that mildly agitated even Lennok.

While perusing, Lennok swiveled his head toward an anomaly emanating peculiar magical resonance in proximity.