Chapter 199

“I have traveled the world for a very long time,” Antares remarked.

His eyes glistened gently in the dim starlight.

“After meeting countless people and passing by numerous deaths, I finally realized. All the events that I had casually passed by were, in fact, the struggles of those who had awakened to the truth before me.”

“......”

“The moment an individual’s consciousness transcends its limits and awakens, humans somehow construct their own worlds. But at the same time... you end up comparing the world you’ve created to this one.”

Whether they are wizards wielding magic, superhumans solely focused on physical enhancement, or spellcasters employing curses—it matters not.

It’s referred to as Domain, the inner world, or microcosm, but fundamentally, it entails projecting one’s own psyche onto the world.

To project is essentially to make comparisons.

Those who have elevated their perspective and standards to a level where they can weigh the world eventually come to this realization.

“Whose mind did this world truly originate from?” Antares inquired.

“Could it be that this world, which I have seen and felt and remembered countless times while traveling, might not be the first?”

Lennok found himself without an answer.

Antares, who had been an integral part of this world, seemed to be drawing closer to the fragments of truth with greater precision than Lennok ever could.

However, as Antares observed Lennok’s expression, he offered a faint smile.

“I can guess what kind of dilemma you’re in. Still undecided about the direction of your heart? A vessel capable of choosing the direction of your talent... is quite overwhelming. That’s why it’s an exceptionally wise choice.”

Lennok responded, “I don’t understand what you mean,”

Antares lowered his head slowly and locked eyes with Lennok.

“It’s a qualification.”

“......”

“Unlike us who naturally project the sceneries we’ve held in our hearts since birth, you have the qualification to draw the world you wish. Don’t you understand what that means?”

Antares gazed into Lennok’s wavering eyes, nodded, and stood up.

“It’s a long story. But you should be able to understand it fully. The moment of choice comes to everyone, and a world where each person’s answer becomes everything arrives.”

Lennok sensed something in Antares’ profoundly composed response and raised his head.

At first glance, it might have seemed like detachment, with ambiguous words whose intent was unclear. Yet, beneath the surface lay unwavering determination.

Not the resolve of someone who had given up, but that of a warrior confronting a battle.

“Antares, you... have already made your choice.”

“I understand what people like Pandemonium are trying to do. I can somewhat sympathize with their ideology. However, the monsters descending from the sky after the heavens open... are not in the realm of human understanding. How can a person discuss order when the laws of the world are being distorted entirely?”

Antares gazed up at the distant night sky.

“I don’t think the world as it is now is absolutely right. Especially the ‘immortality’ that the old folks in the Vulcan want—it makes me sick to my stomach... Ascendants fail to fulfill their purpose and decay, and everyone seems to be rushing towards an end, but...”

“......”

“I think it’s right to accept an ending that I have chosen for myself.”

He said this and fell silent for a lengthy moment.

Lennok, too, remained quiet, uncertain of what to say.

It was a complex conversation, but Antares had undeniably conveyed his own response.

The unsettling truth interwoven in his words made it difficult for either of them to speak easily.

After a prolonged pause, Lennok finally spoke.

“So a ‘Stagnant world’... had that meaning.”

“Understanding that phrase alone signifies that you, too, must give an answer,” Antares declared as he slowly rose from his seat.

“It seems that both of us came to ask each other the same thing.”Finnd new chapters on nove/lbin(.)com

“......”

“I won’t stop my comrades from cooperating with you. Seems like there are quite a few guys who like you... I don’t need to interfere. If you want, go ahead and employ them.”

To the best of Lennok’s knowledge, there were more than a few mercenaries within Antares’ Office who would be eager to work alongside him.

Individuals like Felix, who viewed this matter favorably, could easily be recruited for the job with the promise of reasonable compensation.

Antares’ willingness to cooperate was, in essence, a declaration of alliance. It appeared as though he didn’t view assisting Lennok as a significant issue.

“Does this mean the Cartel is not that important in this matter?” Lennok inquired.

“Well... who knows?” Antares replied, gazing down at Lennok.

“Those who have realized the truth are not few... But have you ever thought about why the high wizards and superhumans who are entrenched in this mega-city haven’t moved so far?”

“Divide the forces.” Lennok quickly decided.

“Dray will stay here and guard the bar with the mercenaries. If too many forces are concentrated on rescuing Jordan, then this place could be targeted again.”

“That makes sense.” Dray agreed.

“Killian, Weian, and I will each disperse and look for traces of Jordan. Fortunately, no one here has forgotten Jordan’s magical energy,” Lennok said, pointing to the map of District 49 spread out on the table.

“The goal is to expand the search around District 49 and locate any remnants of Jordan’s magic.”

“Can just the three of us manage?” Killian asked.

“Van. You don’t need to talk about your senses, but that young guy and I don’t have such a broad range of senses. Even if we spread out the distance so that our ranges do not overlap, the radius won’t be that wide.”

“That can be solved with the guys who have just arrived.”

“What?”

Almost immediately after Lennok’s words, the bar door swung open, and a calm voice was heard.

“Antares office. I came in place of the absent Dylan and Mila. Where’s Zenith? I would like to receive the down payment first.”

“Brother, calm down. Shouldn’t we first greet the client?”

Entering the bar were a pair of male and female twins with identical faces.

A stern-looking man and a woman with a gentle smile waved casually.

“Nice to meet you~ Jenny? If you’ve seduced our leader, how about revealing that negotiation soon?”

Their behavior, which could be easily perceived as unconventional, was indeed quite extraordinary.

Killian glanced at them and chuckled, “I’m not fully convinced by fools, but it’s better than having none.”

***

The reinforcements sent from the Antares office were the Vel twins, mercenaries who operated as a pair. The man’s name was Velber, and the woman’s name was Velita.

Both had distinct personalities, but there was no time for introductions beyond their names at the moment.

Lennok and his team of six began to move, each heading in a different direction.

Dray, though regretful that he couldn’t take direct action, understood his role. He was essentially the only one capable of commanding the Krimgal mercenary troops at the bar, their base, so it was better to have organized forces concentrated there.

Starting from the alley where it was presumed that Jordan had been abducted and his guards slain, they meticulously divided their search areas into five sections and began tracking.

The magical energy traces disappeared from the point where Jordan had lost consciousness, but if he had regained consciousness at the abduction site, traces would inevitably be left behind.

‘If they try to hide Jordan’s presence with tricks, it would actually make things easier for me...’

Lennok recalled all the magical flows around District 49.

The moment they attempted to employ tricks to conceal their presence, Lennok could promptly detect any inconsistencies in his memory.

The real question was whether the cartel possessed the foresight to plan to that extent and how to counter them if they did.

By the time they had eliminated the guards and abducted Jordan, any potential agreement with the cartel had already become irrelevant.

Their direct actions, rather than merely issuing a warning, meant that even Jordan’s life was no longer assured.

‘They might keep him alive to use as a hostage, but I must prepare for the possibility of torture.’

Jordan was an elderly man.

While he may have maintained his physical condition to some extent, being a member of this district, enduring torture could take a significant toll on his aged body.

The concern wasn’t solely about mental strength; his aging body might not withstand prolonged pain.

The only solace lay in the fact that Jordan possessed substantial knowledge in the field of medicine.

The likelihood of complications arising from minor bleeding or injuries was relatively low.

The rest depended on Lennok.

The faint traces of magic that manifested at the presumed abduction site of Jordan.

Although others might not perceive it, Lennok, with his highly sensitive magical senses, could discern it.

No matter how one tried to avoid leaving traces, erasing the magical energy emitted by a living person was a challenging task.

Especially when the person was forcibly kidnapped.

If they had employed something like a seal to prevent the leakage of magical traces, it would have been a different matter. However, it appeared that the cartel lacked the resources to prepare such equipment.

Lennok’s expression hardened as he confirmed this.

‘...They’re not far.’

It was certain that they hadn’t ventured far from this vicinity.

Once Lennok and his comrades decided to pursue them, rash movements would easily expose their presence.

They were still concealed within District 49.