/
The atmosphere felt tense, and Lennok couldn’t ignore the nervousness in Jenny’s voice.
“………”
“Van, come this way,” Jordan said, leading him toward an inner office.
It was the same room they used for dealings with Amnac Pharmaceuticals.
Inside, two individuals were seated in plush chairs, facing the entrance. Jenny was one of them, and there was a man in a suit with his back turned to Lennok.
Strangely, the man had dyed his hair a bright neon green and adorned his ears with multiple earrings.
As Lennok entered the room, the man turned around and waved.
“Ah, you’re here.”
Despite his impeccable suit and polished shoes, he exuded a relaxed aura.
There was no visible mana emanating from him, but Lennok knew better than to underestimate him. Many individuals in this world don’t display their mana openly.
Whether it was due to a congenital condition like Maoren or a difference in power level like Ascension, it was difficult to discern.
Taking a seat next to Jenny, Lennok observed as Jordan quietly closed the door and disappeared down the hall. He preferred to avoid unnecessary involvement in such matters.
Both seated now, the man remained silent for a while, his gaze fixed on Lennok.
There was a strong curiosity in his eyes that piqued Lennok’s interest.
“First time seeing a wizard?”
“Yeah. My first time.”
An answer beyond imagination.
The man chuckled, a peculiar smile spreading across his face, almost reaching his ears.
He emitted an air of sharpness and intrigue, a demeanor that didn’t match that of a typical client.
“Fascinating, truly fascinating,” the man remarked.
“………”
“I’ve come across a few formidable solo workers before, but encountering a wizard is a first for me. And not just any wizard, but a genuine one.”
Lennok, with a blank expression, interjected, “Hey.”
“Huh?”
“Do you know me?”
The man seemed taken aback by the question.
“….What?”
“I don’t understand why you’re acting so familiar with someone you’ve just met.”
Huuuuung!!
Lennok swiftly stood up, channeling his mana to its maximum capacity. The power of his mana surged, exerting a physical pressure on the man in front of him.
Lennok’s mastery of mana control had developed to the point where it could manifest as a tangible force.
As the man’s face paled, Lennok slowly retrieved his laser cutter from his pocket. The cutter sparked with electricity as he held it up, bringing it closer to the man’s eyes.
Ziiing…!!
In a calm, soft tone, Lennok spoke, “If you want to hire me, speak directly. Don’t attempt to provoke me subtly while assessing my abilities.”
Although unfamiliar with dealing with such individuals, Lennok had a general idea of how to handle them. They were the type to constantly gauge whether their opponent was stronger or weaker, and once the hierarchy was established, they maintained that stance until the end.
Rather than passively observing the other party’s actions, it was best to assert dominance from the beginning to prevent any resistance.
And Lennok possessed the ability to do just that.
Jenny remained silent since Lennok stood up, observing the scene.
Lennok glanced down at the man, releasing the mana that had constricted his throat in an instant.
Huuk—!
With a quick, upward glance, the man, who had been gripping his neck, nodded at Lennok.
“….Alright, I apologize. You have a more volatile temperament than I had heard.”
Despite having been choked just moments ago, he displayed neither fear nor intimidation. Instead, a smirk formed on his face.
It was a response that was more agreeable than Lennok had expected, but he chose to ignore it.
This man was qualitatively different from people like Dylan.
The fact that he had come here to place an order and exhibited such an attitude indicated that the line between enemies and allies was blurred.
At a glance, he seemed more akin to a beast than a human.
‘A beast…’
As Lennok’s thoughts reached that point, he had a rough idea of the man’s identity.
Just as Lennok was about to resume his seat, the man began speaking again.
“But that cutter, did you have it modified by Old Man Tang? I thought he had kicked the bucket a while ago, but it seems he’s still alive and kicking.”
“What?”
“If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to. Just pass on my regards later. Let him know our head of security is eagerly anticipating him.”
The man winked and pulled out a business card from his pocket, placing it on the desk.
“Now that the situation has come to this, I suppose I should introduce myself. I’m Killian, part of the support team at the company that manufactured the cutter you were just holding.”
Lennok involuntarily glanced down at the cutter he still held, surprised by the unexpected remark.
Dyke.
The elegantly engraved logo on the cutter glowed vividly.
The man observed Lennok’s reaction with amusement before speaking again.
“Dyke Headquarters wishes to directly hire your services. So, how about it? Are you willing to hear the conditions?”
Traveling in a sedan, they made their way through District 10, where scattered high-rise buildings dominated the landscape.
The familiar sight brought back memories of the day when Lennok had confronted The Great Seer in this very area.
The encounter had been brief, but the words exchanged had left a lasting impression on Lennok’s mind.
If there was such a thing as the embodiment of Ascendant’s dignity, she would have been the closest person to achieving it.
Lennok couldn’t easily forget the warning issued by Madria, but he also struggled to find the answers he sought.
Alcaid. Despite searching through his phone, visiting libraries, and even seeking Jenny’s assistance, he had found no information about that word.
The fact that an Ascendant herself had advised caution indicated that it was not an ordinary matter. However, the shroud of mystery surrounding it made it even more elusive.
To avoid the impending danger, Lennok knew he had to unravel the secret eventually.
But he also realized that this was not something he could accomplish solely as a freelance wizard.
Driving along the spacious and well-maintained road, they soon arrived at the Dyke headquarters building.
Beneath the towering skyscraper, an expansive underground parking lot welcomed them.
Killian promptly exited the car and gestured for Lennok to follow.
“Do you have a general understanding of what our company does?” Killian asked.
Lennok replied, “Roughly.”
From the laser cutter he wielded, Lennok could infer that Dyke Corporation had expanded from its origins as an industrial tool factory.
Currently, the company was well-known for its involvement in the weapons business, leveraging its considerable capital to diversify beyond industrial equipment.
Lennok had heard rumblings about tensions between Dyke Corporation and Achilles Co., a manufacturer of various military products and security equipment. However, it wasn’t a crisis big enough to cause the closure of either business.
They exited the parking lot and swiftly took an elevator to an upper floor.
As the elevator ascended, Lennok experienced a slight sensation of weightlessness.
Beyond the transparent glass doors, the sprawling forest of buildings in District 10 unfolded before his eyes.
“If you know, then the talk will be faster. Our planning team leader wants to hire you. That woman will discuss the details, but if it goes well, you’ll be working temporarily as a part of the support team.”
“I haven’t heard a word about what I’ll be doing yet.”
“That’s what you’re going to hear now, hence, I’m taking the wizard like this.”
Ding!
The elevator doors opened, revealing a neatly arranged corridor that lay ahead.
With its immaculate interior, a plush rug adorning the floor, and a gentle warm breeze permeating the space, Killian strode confidently down the corridor and swung open the conspicuously large glass door, entering the room.
“Panua, I’ve brought him. This is the one.”
“…I specifically instructed you to contact me before entering.”
Panua, a woman wearing glasses and engrossed in her monitor, slowly turned her head and replied.
She exuded a calm demeanor, but her lips were firmly set, radiating a sense of determination.
She calmly scanned Lennok from head to toe and gestured for him to take a seat.
“You must have faced difficulties to get here. Please, have a seat.”
As soon as Lennok settled onto the sofa positioned beyond the desk, Panua tapped her keyboard a few more times before promptly rising and approaching him.
With deft movements, she prepared a cup of tea-like beverage, handed it to him, took a seat across from him, and observed him silently.
“Am I allowed to leave now?” Killian, who had been watching them with a blank expression, spoke up, but Panua didn’t turn her head as she replied.
“I’ve sent four other resumes via email. Check them all and prioritize accordingly. I’ll call you later to confirm.”
After Killian grumbled and left, closing the office door behind him, Panua extended her hand to Lennok.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Panua Bellucci, the leader of the planning team at Dyke.”
“Likewise.”
Following a brief handshake, Lennok inquired, curiosity evident in his tone.
“I’m curious.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“What level of influence does the planning team leader hold within the company?”
“I would like to know why you’re curious about that.”
“I want to understand the scope of the position you’re hiring me for. To be honest, I haven’t received a detailed explanation thus far.”
With a slight nod towards the glass door, he continued.
“It seems challenging to expect much from that werewolf.”
Perhaps his words caught Panua off guard, as her response was slightly delayed.
“…You’re aware that Killian is a werewolf. Did he tell you?”
“No.”
Lennok replied.
“I gathered a rough idea after killing one myself.”
“……….”
After a moment of silence, Panua spoke up.
“Power conflicts within the support team are strictly prohibited.”
“I’ll make that decision after hearing your story.”
From that statement alone, Panua could sense some tension between the two.
“…… It seems Killian has acted rudely. I apologize on his behalf.”
Panua was quick-witted and devoid of unnecessary pride.
“So, what’s the answer to my question?”
“Just understand that I can directly influence the company’s business direction. Hiring you, a wizard, is part of a project I personally proposed to the board.”
Panua’s eyes sparkled, as if she had been waiting for this.
Lennok noticed her excitement and observed her absently fiddling with the wristwatch on her left hand.
“Since entering the arms business, we’ve been seeking opportunities to expand our customer base. The 40s and 50s districts… even the residents outside hold the potential to become our customers.”
“I’m not confident in sales.”
“I know. That’s not what we’re after. We’re searching for an exceptionally talented freelancer who can work outside. Someone outstanding, yet not yet widely known… A paradoxical worker.”
There was no need to question whom that referred to.
Panua’s intense gaze had already zeroed in on the answer.
“With the reopening of the Deep Web after the Ascendant’s visit, you must have received numerous inquiries. But we were the most eager and the fastest.”
“………”
“A truly rare and capable wizard working alone. Moreover, the requests you’ve fulfilled have all been significant. If you could survive against the veteran of the Goblin War, there’s no doubt about your skills. Other clients are probably equally eager.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Whether consumed by excitement or attempting to persuade Lennok, she spoke at length.
Up until now, Lennok had held back his answers, considering the position of a large corporation like Dyke. However, if he didn’t intervene now, she would continue to shower him with meaningless praises.
Through her glasses, he caught a faint glimmer in Panua’s eyes.
She was likely analyzing Lennok’s disposition through their conversation and adjusting her responses accordingly.
Although Lennok had a clear intuition about this, he waited, giving her time to ponder.
If a corporation as substantial as Dyke was this eager, the compensation they could offer Lennok wouldn’t be trivial.
Especially considering their contact came right after the reopening of the Deep Web.
If there was a chance, he could obtain even one item he desired through them…
After a brief silence, Panua spoke again.
“We are considering restructuring our business in District 40s.”
“……….”
“In simpler terms, there are a few obstacles we need to overcome in order to sell our products in that area. We would greatly appreciate it if you could assist us in that endeavor.”