/
‘It wasn’t easy.’
Lennok sat there, his gaze distant, releasing smoke as he reflected on the recent battle.
When he accepted the job from Dyke, he had steeled himself, fully aware of the challenges that lay ahead. However, the task had proven to be just as arduous as he had anticipated.
Considering the previous tasks Lennok had undertaken, the caliber of his opponents had been notably high this time as well. Both the bandit-like man and Jude Russel would have posed formidable challenges in any context.
The only advantage Lennok possessed was his unpredictable power and talent, which he could unleash with precision at the most crucial moments.
In the end, that was all it came down to.
In the midst of the ceaseless battle, Lennok had to constantly prove himself. Reduced penalties, greater rewards, and a comfortable life—all of it would be rendered meaningless if he failed to uphold this fundamental principle.
And so, Lennok found himself fully immersed in the battle, setting aside all other thoughts. He had even begun to derive a strange solace from the moments when he had to fight for his life.
“
This is dangerous.”
As he observed the dwindling end of his cigarette, Lennok pondered.
It was akin to being addicted to a drug. Once you started to relish the thrill, it became increasingly difficult to extricate yourself from it.
Rather than trying to escape after stepping into a quagmire, one had to diligently manage themselves to avoid falling into the quagmire in the first place.
It was absurd.
Lennok had believed that he was pursuing his goals with unwavering focus, but it seemed that this very pursuit was gradually becoming a hindrance.
However, it was a path he had embarked upon and meticulously prepared for. He had no choice but to endure it.
Lennok had yet to collapse.
And he would continue to endure in the days to come.
With an undetermined resolution, the scent of blood that permeated the harbor was gradually dissipated by the sea breeze.
“I knew it would be like this.”
Killian, who had been watching everything beyond the screen, clicked his tongue and spoke.
“I told you it’s a hassle when you choose people based on their careers.”
“
 It’s as expected.”
Panua replied with a composed expression.
“Even a traitor appearing?”
“
 “
She bit her lips, silent.
“You need a filter to sift out gems when dealing with people of unclear identity. What’s the use of a great track record? If you put them into operation, they’re just kids.”
At Killian’s stern criticism, Panua turned her head with a hint of annoyance.
“Do you think we could’ve selected team members of this quality if we had said we would test? To appease the disgruntled ones, the remuneration would have to be raised even higher. You’re fully aware of our situation, aren’t you?”
The flaws in their operation had become evident, but Panua had her own challenges to face within the organization. However, she couldn’t make excuses in front of Killian.
Recognizing this, Killian dismissed her excuses with a sour expression. “So, here we are.”
Admittedly, it was a conclusion-oriented statement, but it wasn’t entirely incorrect. Without Lennok’s presence, Dyke’s plan, which had started with a substantial amount of money, would likely have gone awry.
From the start, Panua had no idea that one of the freelancers would betray them.
“
I underestimated the 40s region too much. I thought it would be fine to gather guys who had no major trouble so far
 I didn’t expect them to turn their backs so easily.”
“We are working with criminals with no prior convictions. Some risk should be expected.”
Killian pointed to the other side of the screen with his chin while saying this.
Lennok, who was smoking a cigarette sitting on the messed up dock, was visible.
“So, what’s the plan now? That guy is the real deal. If you want to succeed in your plan, you absolutely need to keep him on board.”
Even Killian, who held no affection for Lennok, recognized his skills as a polished gem. It was difficult to discern the exact magic system he employed, as he handled various attributes. However, what caught Killian’s attention more than his magic was Lennok’s battle sense itself.
The courage to face powerful and brutal enemies without flinching.
The audacity to endure some losses if it meant resolving the situation.
The discernment to effectively utilize the environment and employ precise magical capabilities—enough to send chills down one’s spine.
Lennok’s approach, conserving mana against opponents with superior physical abilities until the opportune moment, then turning the tables and seizing victory, differed greatly from the wizards Killian had encountered.
Simultaneously, Killian sensed something more.
This talent surpassed mere spellcasting proficiency.
The way Lennok suppressed fear and pain with unwavering rationale, piercing vulnerabilities with sharp judgment, resembled that of a natural-born fighter.
Killian knew how to handle individuals with such talent.
Regardless of how events would unfold in the future, they needed to treat Lennok well for now.
“Considering the current situation, we should bring him in for damage control at the very least. If you plan on working with him for an extended period, that is,” Killian suggested.
Panua replied with a troubled expression, “I suppose I have no choice but to allocate a significant portion of the promised success fee from the other four and offer it to him. I can only hope that he’ll be satisfied with that, for now
”
Panua’s expression conveyed her dilemma, but her mind was already calculating the necessary steps.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, recruiting the wizard Van had turned out to be a significant gain. Given the circumstances of their current project, his talent was not something to overlook.
Panua realized that she needed to capitalize on this mistake and establish a foundation for ongoing collaboration with Van, rather than simply brushing it aside.
“If Van continues to participate in our plan, we might be able to settle the situation faster than expected. All we have to do is to expand the board and build a sales network before other companies intervene.”
“We need to gather people again.”
“I’ll ask Manya to reevaluate potential freelancer candidates. This time, we should be willing to spend more money and conduct proper tests, just as you suggested. We shouldn’t have skimped on resources despite the manpower shortage
 I made a short-sighted decision.”
With that, Panua swiftly walked over to her desk and started typing on the keyboard, accessing the company’s internal network. She sent a message to the employees she had personally assembled for this project.
By eliminating drug dealer Paul Ackerman, they had successfully severed a major funding source for the arms dealers in District 40s. Their next step was to intimidate and ensnare the established arms dealers, infiltrate the distribution network, and eliminate competitors.
“Planning with the assumption that it’s a lawless area certainly has its conveniences. I don’t have to worry about the aftermath as much as I thought.”
“And that’s why we end up being betrayed.”
“We’ll need to address that issue internally,” Panua responded, waving her hand dismissively at Killian.
“You can leave now. Oh, and have Manya bring me the list of potential freelancer candidates. Print out their resumes and place them on my desk by tomorrow morning.”
“Damn it
 This isn’t why I’m doing your bidding,” Killian grumbled, but he left the office without further complaint.
Panua continued typing on the keyboard for a while before quickly grabbing her coat and standing up. It was late at night, and she had been working in the office to monitor the operation at the port in District 48.
As she yawned, she used a remote control to turn off the camera of the drone that had been surveilling the harbor and issued a return command.
That’s why she didn’t notice it.
Lennok’s face, precisely spotting the direction of the camera and glancing directly at it.
[The reaction wasn’t so easy.]
Jenny’s voice resonated through the phone as Lennok lay weakly in the center of his small one-room apartment, listening intently.
After pushing himself too hard, he decided to skip the usual bar visit and head straight home to rest. In times like these, he wished he had another dose of the 100 million pill. Unfortunately, all that remained in his wallet was the 20 million cell prepayment he had received for the job.
[It seems like Paul Ackerman was spreading quite a lot of money around. For those who received investment money from him, it must feel like their money line has been cut off overnight.]
An indistinguishable echo, supposedly for anti-surveillance, seeps out from the other end of the phone.
Jenny insisted on these security measures when discussing business over the phone, though Lennok couldn’t quite grasp how playing background noise could prevent surveillance. Nonetheless, he had no choice but to accept it.
[Of course, messing with JuiceMaster’s subordinate must have had some effect, but the drug kingpin wouldn’t budge over such a thing, so the strange atmosphere in District 48 must be because of this.]
“Did Dyke say anything else?”
Lennok inquired, recalling the chaotic events of the previous night. It had all unfolded in a single night—two dead, one escaped, and one traitor. If not for Lennok, the mission would have ended in failure. It wouldn’t have been surprising if the enraged Paul Ackerman sought revenge against Dyke Corporation.
If Dyke Corporation intended to only throw a success fee of 20 million cells and wash their hands of this in such a situation, Lennok would have to reconsider.
When Lennok asked, recalling the drone camera he saw at the time, Jenny immediately answered.
[A long message apologizing for the incident in this operation came in. They must be scared too. They asked you to visit the headquarters once more.]
“What do you think?”
[I think it would be best to ignore them.]
At the answer that was to his liking, Lennok faintly smiled.
[I don’t know how they got into this business, but it’s strange to hope for future cooperation while planning operations like this. It’s not too late to move after confirming the additional rewards they offer.]
“How much do you think we can get out of them?”
Considering the fact that he had salvaged a mission where one of Panua’s directly recruited team members had betrayed them. The compensation he deserved for his efforts should not be insignificant.
As it became apparent that they did not conduct proper tests when selecting team members, it was meaningless to even discuss collaboration in this state.
If there is no substantial feedback on this matter, there’s no need to continue dealing with them.
[They probably know that too, so they won’t let it pass so easily. At the very least, we should be able to make a hefty sum of money.]
“I hope so
”
Lennok responded like this and deeply buried his face in the pillow.
There was still a strange smell of fabric, as it was a new product purchased after changing the entire bedding last time.
[
You seem to have had a hard time this time.]
Although she had already heard an explanation from Lennok, it seemed more realistic to her that Lennok himself was tired, rather than who betrayed and who was killed.
Lennok had never really shown himself struggling before, so it made sense.
From the beginning, Lennok never told anyone that he was physically weak.
Even calling her today was a calculated result to add some color and help her extract as much as possible from the deal with Dyke.
“I am a bit tired.”
[Well, that’s what it’s like being a freelancer. Sometimes you can’t help it. If you’re feeling sick, at least talk to Jordan. I heard he used to deal with meds.]
“
.That’s surprising. Was Jordan a doctor?”
[He said he didn’t officially get a license, but if he can say it himself, he wouldn’t be a quack. I don’t know the details.]
“

..”
Thinking about it, Lennok remembered that when he first brought Taylor Evans’ body, Jordan pinpointed unusual things just by looking at the body in the bag.
At that time, he simply thought Jordan was a man of many talents, but it made sense if he considered him a former doctor.
“When I get a chance.”
[That means you won’t go, right?]
Ignoring Jenny’s sharp remark, Lennok hung up and buried himself in the bed.