Chapter 155

“There are three things we need to do.”

Woosh!

With a swift motion, the holographic representation of the mansion splits apart, unveiling its intricate interior structure in great detail.

The interior appears as charming as a miniature dollhouse.

Disregarding the two mercenaries who are playfully teasing each other upon witnessing the meticulously crafted furnishings, Lennok speaks resolutely.

“First, cut off all external communications. I’ll handle this part myself, so you two don’t need to worry about it.”

“And then?”

“Second, verify the identity of Irina Pheffield and secure her as a top priority. You understand what this means, right?”

From the moment they step into the mansion, it is as though a countdown has commenced.

Essentially, Lennok is taking the initiative here, so as soon as the opposing side begins to react, variables will come into play.

It’s of utmost importance to swiftly neutralize the enemy’s leader before the situation becomes chaotic.

“Lastly, if there are any patrons like Vincent Mayblack within the expedition team, suppress them with minimal injury.”

Their objective is to conclude this without causing harm to anyone other than members of the expedition team.

Unlike the expedition team itself, which harbors animosity towards Lennok, the patrons supporting them are deeply entwined with Lennok, managing businesses or organizations.

Engaging with them could make it impossible to extricate themselves from this situation cleanly.

At this juncture, Lennok must exercise caution regarding further assignments.

“I’ll share the list of patrons Sebastian got for us. Memorize them and make sure not to inflict any serious injuries.”

As he conveys this, Lennok shares a photo file through his phone.

“If things wrap up quickly enough, the patrons will likely give up on the expedition team. We have no reason to take on unnecessary risks.”

“Understood.”

“Looking at them, they all seem weak. Once we get inside the mansion, it won’t take long to identify them.”

The two mercenaries swiftly commit the faces to memory and set aside their phones.

Though they may appear nonchalant, they are seasoned mercenaries who have thrived in this industry for years.

Their sharp intellect, extensive training, and magical abilities far surpass those of ordinary freelancers.

The Antares Mercenary Office stands as one of the most systematically organized combat groups in this turbulent industry, teeming with both novices and veterans.

Sensing that the operation is about to commence, the two begin inspecting their weaponry and loosening their muscles.

Clink, clink!

They verify their prearranged firearms, sharpen their protective gear and blades, and ensure everything is in working order.

With deft hands, they secure knives on their thighs, heavy armaments on their backs, and secondary weapons around their waists before slowly rising from their seats.

“Let’s aim to secure routes to both the rooftop, which has a retractable ceiling, and the underground garage connected to the parking lot. Our target is to simultaneously check the most inner secret room of the mansion.”

“What if Irina isn’t in the mansion?”

“We’ll capture and interrogate the highest-ranking officer and continue the chase. At the very least, we’ll incapacitate the expedition team’s forces by today.”

While expressing this, Lennok casually inspects his own weaponry.

There is a multitude of tasks to complete.

He harbors no intentions of prolonging this endeavor in hopes of a flawless resolution.

Lennok’s abilities, refined through countless experiences crossing boundaries, were now gradually pushing the boundaries of human limitations.

In such a scenario, he no longer needed to adhere to the norms of other mercenaries or freelancers in his approach to handling matters.

Mila, who grasped the essence of Lennok’s words, shook her head in amazement.

“I did think you were weird when we were eradicating the contaminants, but now it’s like your thinking is no different from a monster. You plan to finish something of this scale in a single day?”

“...........”

Well, ever since he mastered the concept of domain expansion during the skirmish with Craig and ascended, the world around him seemed to transform.

Perhaps it was because, upon understanding his dominion, he solidified his command over mana and was no longer solely bound by combat.

As his repertoire of skills expanded, and as he executed existing abilities flawlessly, he grew increasingly detached from the act of combat.

Fear and curiosity, excitement and dread toward adversaries faded away... Only reason remained as his driving force.

Could he emerge victorious or not? That was the sole consideration.

And the answer had already been determined for this occasion.

Disregarding the two individuals exchanging hushed comments, Lennok extended his hand toward the undergrowth and channeled his mana.

“Let’s start.”

Pop!

As he uttered those words, the gun-shaped charm hanging from his wrist abruptly expanded, morphing into a full-sized sniper rifle.

Releasing the shrinking enchantment, he now held the lethal sniper rifle known as Sightglass-992 in his grip.

With familiarity, Lennok deftly loaded the weapon and assumed a firing stance while kneeling on the ground.

“Okay.”

“I’ve been crouching for half a day; my body feels so stiff.”

The two chatty mercenaries promptly rose to their feet and advanced toward the villa.

Dylan unsheathed his longsword, and Mila effortlessly loaded her shotgun with one hand as they moved forward.

“It’s been almost half a year since we worked together, hasn’t it?”

“Please give good support.”

“Don’t worry.”

Lennok replied, shifting his gaze through the scope.

“If it’s something a wizard should do, I’ll do anything.”

Fizzle!

[Aim correction]

Dylan’s sword, loosely gripped, grazed walls and ceiling as he raced along the second-floor hallway.

Defying gravity, he moved nimbly through the narrow space, eliminating the obstructing members of the expedition team. He kicked open doors, rapidly inspecting each room.

Meanwhile, Mila in underground triggered another shockwave, and the sound of a garage being dismantled reverberated.

Having confirmed that the two mercenaries executed their roles according to the prearranged plan, Lennok slowly stood up.

“Phew...”

He retrieved a cigarette, placed it between his lips, and channeled mana into both hands.

Crackle!!

As he released a surging wave of electricity into the ground, the coursing current, resembling a living entity, surged across the surface, incapacitating those who pursued Dylan and Mila.

Boom!!

“Arrrrgh!!”

“It’s electric magic!”

“He’s here! It’s him!!”

Clearly, the exploration team had received prior information about Lennok, as their expressions shifted upon witnessing the azure streaks of electricity.

Were they forsaking the pursuit of Dylan and Mila to focus on this new threat?

Ignoring them, Lennok advanced and unleashed his magic.

[Soundwave]

Boom!!

A colossal sonic shockwave erupted, shattering every window in the villa.

The opulent chandeliers hanging from the ceiling disintegrated, and shards of broken glass rained down.

“Ahhh!! My ears, my ears!!”

“Damn it, sound magic of all things...!!”

The team members divided into those who suffered bleeding ears and collapsed and those who resisted the pain and charged toward Lennok.

Raising one hand, Lennok confronted the dozen or so expedition team members brandishing their weapons.

[Wind Lattice]

The distinct wind magic, witnessed during his confrontation with Archiwood at the academy, manifested once more.

Whoosh!!

A potent vortex descended from the heavens, drawing in countless glass fragments and transmuting into a tempest of razor-sharp blades.

Slash!!

“Aaaargh!!”

Those unable to defend against the minuscule blades found their flesh torn to shreds in an instant.

‘I’ve nearly scanned all the life signs within the villa. What remains are...’

A sudden uproar erupted from the villa’s second floor.

“This damn pig...!!”

“Hahahaha!! Where are you running off to!”

A portly man wielding a hammer the size of a car was in hot pursuit of Dylan, forcibly driving him back to the first floor.

Although the second-floor corridor was anything but narrow, the marble flooring crumbled as though it were mere tofu being crushed beneath the relentless swings of the colossal hammer.

Screech!!

Closing in on Dylan with a ferocious momentum akin to a bulldozer, the rotund man swiftly approached Lennok’s location.

Rather than evading, Lennok erected multiple shields before him and unleashed an impact spell.

Collision.

Boom!!

A powerful shockwave surged through the now thoroughly shattered villa’s foyer, dispersing the surrounding dust and splattered blood.

Amidst the tumult, the man regained his footing, enduring another assault from Dylan before speaking. His voice, surprisingly composed and sharp, seemed incongruous coming from his robust frame.

“I had suspected you were more than just a brute with strength when I heard Brook was taken down, but I didn’t expect you to move this quickly.”

“.........”

“Irina’s intuition was right. The one we least want to face is indeed the culprit, possessing both formidable power and difficult judgment.”

The hefty hammer-wielder muttered, “I must kill you here.”

Observing the man’s earnest expression, Lennok slowed the pace at which he gathered his mana. The unchanging demeanor on the rotund man’s face, despite the substantial number of expedition members Lennok had dispatched, indicated a deliberate reason for his composure.

Considering that Lennok had mostly cleared the interior of the villa with [Wind Lattice] and remained unharmed, and considering Irina had yet to make an appearance, perhaps...

“Were you waiting for us? Or were you preparing for some unforeseen possibility?”

“Hahaha! Too late!”

He proclaimed, swinging his hammer forcefully against the villa’s wall.

Crack, crack, crack!

Simultaneous with his words, the stout villa walls began to disintegrate like fragile glass.

Amidst the crumbling walls, a radiant aura, akin to a halo, ascended vertically.

There, wielding a lengthy greatsword, stood Irina Pheffield, leader of the Arasha Expedition.

“You’ve bitten the bait.”

She bridged the gap in an instant, falling into Lennok’s grasp, her cold gaze dispersing as she spoke.

“To think you would play hard to get and make a move in just a day. Thanks to you, our losses are considerable. Don’t you have any shame?”

“Is shame used in a different context from what I understand?”

Crack!

Lennok grinned as he parried Irina’s greatsword with his shield.

“I have absolutely nothing to hear from someone who nagged about trying to kill me. It’s time to settle this.”