CH 57

Jenny, wearing an annoyed expression, stood by his side, while Jordan maintained his usual emotionless face. However, what demanded more attention was the demeanor of the other customers in the bar. Previously indifferent to newcomers, they now exhibited subtle wariness toward the man seated at the bar—a slender figure with long legs stretching out near the counter.

Clad in a wrinkled suit, the man exuded a strong fragrance that permeated the air. Numerous unidentified tattoos adorned his neck beneath his shirt. Slowly turning his head upon noticing Lennok’s approach, he spoke with a blunt and dry demeanor.

“Ah, you’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting.”

“………”

His presence left a formidable impression. Large hands gripped a glass that appeared small in comparison. Offering a faint smile upon seeing Lennok, he inquired, “Do you know who I am?”

“No.”

“I see. But from now on, you’ll need to remember.”

Whoosh!

As soon as the man finished speaking, a powerful aura engulfed Lennok. A sharp, determined energy radiated from his mana, creating a vivid sensation. This intensity would have overwhelmed an ordinary person, but it dissipated into nothingness upon encountering Lennok’s impervious shield.

The man chuckled, his expression filled with interest, as he looked at Lennok, whose demeanor remained unchanged.

“Because of what you did this time, many people suffered losses.”

Thump, thump.

Lennok brushed off the mana as if flicking away dust from his shoulder, and countered, “Are you someone who worked with Paul Ackerman?”

“I was a businessman who received investment from that guy.”

“So you’re an arms dealer.”

“………”

Narrowing his eyes, the man fixed a glare upon Lennok. Silence hung heavily in the bar, undisturbed by any noise.

“Are you here for revenge, then?”

It came sooner than expected, but Lennok had already considered this possibility. Disrupting the tightly knit profit network within the 40s districts was bound to draw enemies. He had previously avoided unnecessary conflicts, but Lennok had relinquished his pursuit of cleanliness in this murky underworld. To ascend higher, he needed to seize what they held.

A collision was inevitable.

Could the man discern something from Lennok’s expression? He studied his face for a while before slowly shaking his head.

“……Not today, at least.”

Standing up from the bar with deliberate slowness, the man’s head nearly brushed against the ceiling. He was a towering giant, easily surpassing two meters in height. His exceptional tallness was evident from the moment he sat down.

“But I’ve come to give you a warning.”

“……..”

“Kid, we don’t underestimate our opponents, regardless of age. We may let it slide once, assuming you didn’t know any better. However, if you dare to interfere with our business again, be prepared.”

Whoosh!!

Once again, the man’s overwhelming mana pressed down on Lennok’s shoulders, showing his relentless nature to subdue his opponent’s aura. However, Lennok had no intention of simply enduring it.

Boom!

He unleashed a tightly condensed shock spell, shaped like a fist, directly towards the man’s abdomen—a punch that had instantly shattered Erikson’s waist in the undeveloped zone. Astonishingly, the man only flinched momentarily before quickly regaining his composure, fixing an unexpected gaze upon Lennok.

Undeterred, Lennok met his gaze and calmly responded, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m just giving you a warning.”

“What?”

“If you think you can resolve matters in such a despicable manner, my client won’t remain idle.”

Lennok’s words carried weight that couldn’t be ignored, causing the man’s eyebrows to twitch noticeably. While he may have suspected the existence of supporters, he hadn’t anticipated Lennok’s counter-threat in this manner.

Lennok maintained his calm demeanor, his mind constantly calculating. He was prepared to face danger, but that didn’t mean he had to foolishly shoulder the entire burden alone. If necessary, he was willing to invoke Dyke Corp’s name to divert attention from himself.

Did the man grasp the implications of Lennok’s words? For a brief moment, a malicious gleam flickered in his eyes, but he swiftly concealed his emotions. He realized he was not in a position to throw a tantrum in this setting.

“…Alright. Let’s pretend this never happened. Understood?”

While speaking, he cast a menacing glare at Jenny.

“Jenny, the same goes for you. If we haven’t touched your bar, it’s because of Kaiser’s reputation. If you dare to create trouble over this bastard…”

“Beck, you talk too much.”

“……”

“Get the hell out of my bar.”

Jenny’s sharp retort left Beck with nothing more to say. He gave one last glance at Lennok before departing from the bar. Only when his towering figure had completely disappeared did the tense atmosphere dissipate.

“Haa…”

Lennok let out a soft sigh and took a seat at the bar. Jenny wordlessly poured a glass of whiskey and handed it to him.

“So, who was he?”

“He’s an executive of Cigar Bang, Beck Clinton,” Jenny casually replied. “They’ve been the most active gang in the 48th district lately.”

“So that explains it.”

A gang affiliated with Paul Ackerman and claiming the 48th district as their territory. It was only natural for them to be displeased since Paul had met his demise in the harbor area they controlled.

“The organization boasts nearly a thousand members, and their business operations are substantial. Financially, they rank among the top gangs,” Jenny explained.

“………”

“If you find yourself in conflict with them, it won’t be an easy fight. I suggest you even the odds by seeking assistance from Dyke.”

Gangs… Lennok had undertaken various assignments involving corporations, mercenaries, criminal organizations, and scavengers, but this would be his first encounter with a gang since his time at Amnac Pharmaceuticals. Unlike other entities that adhered to certain rules and fit within the hierarchy of the underworld, gangs were inherently lawless and steeped in the allure of violence.

How prepared should he be to face them? What were the chances of receiving support from Dyke’s side? Regardless of Lennok’s level of preparedness, it was always prudent to anticipate the worst-case scenario and make necessary arrangements. If assistance from Panua failed to reach him and he found himself confronting Cigar Bang alone, he needed to gradually start preparing for unforeseen situations and approach them with a rational mindset. This was especially crucial before embarking on Dyke’s second request.

As Lennok gathered his thoughts and reached for the whiskey glass, Jenny turned a laptop towards him.

“Take a look at this for a moment.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve compiled about five requests, including weapon commissions targeting wizards and named assignments specifically targeting you. Take a look for now.”

Lennok hadn’t intended to take on any new jobs just yet, as he was still recuperating. However, knowing Jenny, she wouldn’t have presented this without reason.

Lennok promptly grabbed the laptop and examined the list of requests she had prepared.

Two requests from the corporate sector, one originating from an office. The first three were typical in this line of work, seeking a wizard’s firepower to resolve common disputes.

The fourth request came from the scavenger side, seeking a proficient wizard skilled in exploration and scouting.

Lastly, Lennok’s attention was drawn to a familiar name for some inexplicable reason, and he quietly looked up at Jenny.

“……”

Sebastian.

The name of the broker who had given him a business card during their previous encounter was written on the list.

Considering it was a named request specifically mentioning Lennok, it seemed to be a genuine offer.

“Do brokers conduct business like this nowadays?”

“Perhaps. But judging by the amount offered, it seems like it’s more than just business,” Jenny remarked.

Sebastian had offered a staggering advance payment of 2.2 million cells to secure Lennok’s services. Such a substantial sum indicated that there was more at stake than a simple transaction.

“I suppose he truly wants to entrust something significant to you. It could be helpful in our current situation, don’t you think?”

“Hmm…”

Lennok fell into deep thought, resting his chin in his hand. However, he couldn’t deny his curiosity about this unexpected client.

According to what Jenny had mentioned earlier, Sebastian’s clientele consisted mainly of affluent individuals rather than organizations. Among these clients, there were likely many who possessed intimate knowledge of corporate affairs.

If Lennok could gain insights into these corporations, particularly the inner workings of Dyke, through his interaction with Sebastian…

It could prove to be a valuable opportunity.

“Are you okay with it?”

“It doesn’t bother me. If you had wanted to work with that man, you would have sought him out already. And…”

“And?”

“My name is already circulating as your designated broker on the Deep Web.”

Observing Jenny’s mischievous smile, Lennok couldn’t help but join her laughter. Despite just having dealt with a tense situation, she was now able to make light-hearted jokes, clearly demonstrating her resilient nature.

Lennok realized that he didn’t mind her personality.

“Very well. I’ll go and meet him.”

“If you submit an acceptance request, he’ll probably contact you. Do you know how much trouble Sebastian gave me when I was summoned last time?”

Had she already set everything up behind his back?

Instead of replying, Lennok just smiled at her and left the bar.

District 45.

It was a small commercial district where Sebastian’s office was situated.

Unlike the more developed areas, the 40s districts received limited support from the government in terms of public order and welfare. However, it wasn’t as desolate as the 50s districts, as people still inhabited the neighborhood, albeit with a questionable sense of ethics.

Sebastian’s office reflected this unique atmosphere and matched the initial impression he had given off. It had a metaphysical design, as if a talented designer had been directly involved, setting it apart from typical buildings.

Sebastian greeted Lennok with a warm smile in front of the building, its smooth curves implying a location more befitting of the 10s districts.

“Welcome. This is our first meeting since the bar, isn’t it?”

“…Is this your office?”

“Do you think I would invite someone to another person’s office? Come in, let’s talk.”

Lennok stepped inside, passing through the fancy lobby reminiscent of an art gallery. As he ascended the spiral staircase, he caught a glimpse of a cozy office adorned with pristine white marble.

A man, who had been waiting in front of the office door, stood up awkwardly and greeted them.

“Ah, nice to meet you.”

He was an older man with grizzled hair, dressed in a worn-out suit. He appeared more like a regular employee than someone associated with their line of work. If Sage from Amnac Pharmaceuticals had aged, he might resemble this man.

The bruise on his lip seemed out of place.

Sebastian introduced the man in a casual manner.

“This is Mr. Madison. He came to my office due to personal circumstances. And this is Van, an incredibly talented freelance wizard.”

It was unclear when they had worked together for Sebastian to make such introductions, but Lennok saw no reason to refute the compliment.

After allowing Madison to enter the office first, Lennok whispered to Sebastian.

“So, the advance payment on the Deep Web wasn’t from you, Sebastian, but from this man.”

“Did you figure it out?”

It was evident since Sebastian had been waiting for Lennok outside the office, while there was already a client inside.

Sebastian had simply wanted to employ Lennok, using this method to work with him simultaneously.

Despite Lennok pointing it out, Sebastian maintained his unchanged expression and skillfully opened the office door.

“It’s a common practice among established brokers. Changing the broker registered on the Deep Web is a hassle, so it’s easier to borrow clients temporarily. After all, we’re just exchanging fees among ourselves, so it’s not a significant issue.”

“I haven’t agreed to the request yet.”

“You can decide after hearing him out, right?”

Sebastian prepared three cups of coffee and took a seat, while Madison hesitantly began to speak.