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Unexpectedly, they crossed paths again.

“Dray is injured?” Jenny, with a cigarette in her mouth, blurted out as she listened to Weian’s explanation. Even Jordan, who was wiping a glass with a dry towel, turned to look at her in curiosity.

“He got hurt on a mission…?”

“It seemed strange that he hadn’t been in contact for a while. Who did he end up fighting?” Jenny grumbled, prompting Weian to mutter while biting his lip.

“He’s been unconscious for a week. He needs assistance.”

Upon hearing this unexpected news, Jenny fell silent, her mouth closing involuntarily. With a nervous expression, she murmured under Jordan’s subtly reproachful gaze.

“I thought he had a bullet wound or something.”

“How could a mercenary of Dray’s caliber sustain such a serious injury? What happened?”

Although some time had passed since their previous collaboration, Lennok vividly remembered the faces of the Krimgal mercenary office members. Dray Krimgal, in particular, stood out—a young leader with exceptional operational capabilities that left an indelible mark on Lennok’s memory. With a talented group of mercenaries under his command, Dray had impressed Lennok with his meticulous work during their collaboration, leaving a positive impression.

Given Dray’s former military background, Lennok expected him to progress quickly, but he couldn’t believe he had encountered such a situation.

While Lennok and Jenny exchanged incredulous glances, Weian continued.

“The captain’s injuries are critical. We need to find a solution urgently. His condition is deteriorating.”

“Well, it’s only natural if he’s been unconscious for a week,” Jenny shrugged.

“So, why have you been following me until now? You don’t seriously think that by tailing a wizard, he’ll automatically come to your aid, do you?”

“I never intended to act so shamelessly.”

“…”

“But it’s true that I want to hire you. We need the power of a skilled wizard.”

“Hmm…?”

It wasn’t Lennok but Jenny who contemplated the matter, stroking her chin. She had a rough idea of Lennok’s current activities and knew he had limited room to divert his attention elsewhere. If Weian’s situation was resolved quickly, there wouldn’t be a problem. However, if it unexpectedly dragged on, it could interfere with Lennok’s primary work—an outcome neither Lennok nor Jenny desired.

“Listen, Weian.”

In such situations, it fell upon a broker like Jenny to gently persuade and redirect the client.

“Do you remember how long it has been since you last worked with Van? It must have been over a year, right?”

“…”

“Well, you’ve witnessed how formidable Van can be, so I won’t elaborate. Just understand that by now, you should grasp his increased value and reputation without me having to say it.”

“…I’ll pay you handsomely.”

Weian spoke through gritted teeth, but Jenny shook her head.

“That’s not it. There was a promise made first. And a freelancer can’t break that promise.”

“But this is a matter of the captain’s life…!”

The young man stood his ground, refusing to back down, and Jenny’s expression naturally turned cold.

“Don’t get it twisted. There are plenty of people in this world who risk their lives.”

“…”

“If you can’t anticipate such moments while living on borrowed time, in a place where danger lurks at every corner, then it seems I’ve misjudged you.”

Being able to befriend everyone yet display such coldness when necessary was Jenny’s innate ability as a broker. She had a measuring stick to make rational judgments, excluding emotions during critical moments.

Despite Dray’s pitiful situation, Jenny had determined that taking care of Van was a higher priority.

“It’s not that we won’t consider your request. But we need some time due to the schedule. If he’s in a coma, you should take him to the hospital. Why are you looking for Van?”

With her words devoid of any emotion, Weian glanced at Lennok.

Seeing no change in his expression, the young man lowered his head and replied.

“He’s been cursed. I took him to a curse breaker, but they couldn’t find a suitable solution. I thought a talented wizard like you might have some knowledge…”

“A curse?”

“Yes. It was a request to deal with an unidentified artifact that appeared at the Sewer… He was directly exposed to the mana emanating from it, and since then…”

Weian fell silent, unable to continue, and Lennok seemed lost in thought.

Curses, especially those that affect individuals with mana, can be classified into two types.

The first type is curses created by curse wizards, like the one Lennok briefly worked with during his collaboration with Dyke.

The second type is curses transmitted through specific artifacts or items, as Weian had just mentioned.

While curses intentionally cast by curse wizards through rituals are complex and highly dependent on the individual’s constitution and temperament, making both activation and removal challenging, it is possible to infuse curses directly into objects through various magical rituals.

For instance, if Lennok were to perform a ritual that would trigger when an object is touched, it could be considered a curse.

Therefore, by analyzing the mana present at the time of the curse, it’s possible to speculate on the type of ritual used.

While other mercenaries, who are mostly ignorant about mana, may simply perceive it as a curse, Lennok’s highly sensitive mana response…

‘Ugh…!’

Lightly evoking mana, swiftly scanned Weian’s body.

If Dray was cursed while in close proximity, there would undoubtedly be residual energy on Weian’s body.

He meticulously captured and analyzed all the countless traces and hidden mana on Weian’s body without omitting anything.

Lennok’s precise perception, coupled with his formidable intellect and sharp intuition, allowed him to properly interpret the received information and find answers.

After five seconds, Lennok grimaced faintly, realizing the identity of the mana attached near Weian’s left shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

It was a familiar energy he had sensed at the Palmus Research Institute.

Negative mana.

“The work of a dark wizard.”

“What? But in the city right now…”

Jenny understood what he was trying to say.

With the city’s inspection not yet complete, there were hardly any active dark wizards in Vulcan.

Lennok glanced at Jenny, who seemed to have grasped something, as she pursed her lips.

“Maybe that’s the right idea.”

“…Really?”

It was unlikely that the Enchantment Faction, who had just agreed to cooperate with the agent, would engage in such behavior. The answer seemed clear.

The Practical Faction must have been causing trouble in the city.

“Where is it?”

“…District 55. Near the fourth floodgate in the southern sewer system.”

That information was sufficient.

Lennok swiftly grabbed his coat and stood up from his seat.

“I mean…”

Jenny shook her head, as if there were no other options.

Weian, realizing her gesture indicated acceptance, wore a bright smile.

“Curses aren’t my specialty. Even if I were to examine Dray, it wouldn’t be of much help.”

Lennok said as he took a cigarette out of his pocket.

“But I can break the spell that binds the curse to the object.”

Only then did Weian’s face brighten, finally understanding Lennok’s intention.

“…Thank you. Truly.”

Lennok wouldn’t have stepped forward if it weren’t for the traces of dark magic he had mentioned. However, there was no need to reveal the truth to Weian at this moment.

Instead, Lennok chose a different approach to leave a stronger impression in Weian’s memory.

With indifferent eyes, he looked down at Weian’s face, flushed with excitement.

“Your ability to conceal your presence with mana has become quite impressive.”

“R-Really?”

“You have talent. Cultivate your strengths further.”

Even during their previous mission together, Lennok had noticed Weian’s highly developed ability to sense and manipulate mana.

The fact that Weian had concealed his presence from Lennok’s mana detection was likely a result of effectively utilizing this talent.

It was unclear if Weian himself was aware of his own talent, but if he started to realize and harness it, he could aim even higher than his current standing.

“…”

“Wow…”

As Weian turned his head towards the unexpected admiration coming from the side, Lennok noticed Jenny and Jordan looking at him with slightly surprised expressions.

Even Jenny, and surprisingly, Jordan, who rarely showed his emotions.

‘Come to think of it, is this the first time I’ve praised someone’s talent in front of others?’

Lennok, who seldom expressed admiration even while working with top-tier freelancers or superhumans, had suddenly praised Weian’s talent. That, in itself, must have been even more impactful.

However, on the contrary, it proved that Weian’s mana response was exceptional in Lennok’s eyes.

If it had caught Lennok’s attention, and if Weian sincerely pursued that particular talent, he could aim even higher than he currently did.

Observing Jenny’s gaze softening towards Weian, Lennok chuckled and promptly left the bar.

“Sewers…”

He didn’t even want to imagine how damp and cold it would be in that place during winter, but what choice did he have?

First, he would stop by Palmer’s workshop to acquire a shotgun, and then proceed.

That was Lennok’s plan as he navigated through the bustling crowd.

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

District 55. Southern sewer system, fourth floodgate.

Even in the 50s districts, most of which had been abandoned as part of the city’s development plan, the 55th district was meant to be developed as a new water source for the city.

That’s why the area was primarily designed around an extensive sewer system, and even after the development plan was halted, its remnants were still clearly visible.

Lennok followed the neglected waterway, wandering without a clear destination.

After passing through a vacant lot swept by a chilly wind, he discovered the entrance leading down into the sewer.

As he gripped the cold steel ladder with his gloved hand, he felt a faint chill.

The damp sewer, covered in frozen moss.

The ladder was as cold as if it would freeze upon touch, and the cold air pricked at the tip of his nose.

Except for a small opening in the ceiling, there was no trace of light penetrating the darkness.

The only source of light was the dim flame of the cigarette held in his mouth, casting a faint glow on the scene ahead.

Although using mana detection would overcome the limitations of his senses, Lennok decided to wait a little longer for his eyes to adjust to the darkness.

The surroundings were so desolate that it felt more like entering a dungeon than a city.

An ordinary person wouldn’t last a day in such a place, but the convenience of common magic proved its worth in situations like this.

By warming the surrounding air and dulling his senses to a certain extent, Lennok significantly improved his comfort level.

Additionally, he applied a shield to prevent any warmth from escaping.

Thud, thud!

Lennok tapped the sewer floor with the tip of his boot before slowly beginning to walk.

The floor was slippery due to the frozen dampness.

“An unidentified pillar, was it…?”

Reflecting on Weian’s words, it seemed likely that the ordeal Dray had faced was due to some kind of sealing spell on the pillar.

Perhaps it was meant to prevent intruders from hastily touching the pillar, and once a certain action was taken, a person would be chosen to be cursed—something along those lines.

It was undoubtedly suspicious.

The fact that such a pillar emerged at a time when dark wizards were lurking.

And also the fact that a request related to the pillar was made to the mercenary office at this specific time.

Could someone have intentionally leaked the information? Or was it the work of someone wanting to prevent danger in advance?

How would this issue, discovered in the power struggle between the city government agents and the dark wizards, alter the situation?

Mere contemplation wouldn’t provide an answer.

Without personally inspecting the pillar, a decision regarding the next course of action couldn’t be made.

‘I have already contacted Evelyn. If she retrieves and investigates it, we might learn something.’

While pondering this, Lennok slowly drew in his mana and spread it wide.

The mana flowed through the intricate underground waterways, rapidly mapping out the path and imprinting the information directly into his mind.

As he examined the depiction of the sewer appearing in his mind like a map, Lennok took slow, deliberate steps.

Weian remembered where the task was received, but he didn’t know the exact location of the pillar.

Perhaps his memory was muddled due to Dray’s injury and their quick escape from the site.

Of course, Lennok wouldn’t forget anything in such a situation, but he couldn’t expect others to meet his standards.

Instead, it was appropriate to appreciate the dedication of the office’s mercenaries, who safely extracted their team members without further losses in such a precarious situation.

Whether through mana detection or exploration on foot, Lennok had no choice but to find the pillar himself.

[Squeeeeeee……]

[Shaaaaaaaa……!!]

Dealing with the swarm of buzzing insects along the way was also Lennok’s responsibility.

(TO BE CONTINUED)