Chapter 103

Gunshots echoed through the air.

[Swift Reload]

In an instant, the cylinder of the revolver was loaded with six bullets, and it was swiftly raised.

Three unidentified figures charging towards Lennok were swiftly brought down by the sudden burst of gunfire, tumbling into the sewer on the opposite side.

"Haa..."

A request from the mercenaries' office indicated that there was unfinished business that needed attention.

But what awaited Lennok was more than just a mere task.

There were bodies discarded in the sewer, accompanied by unidentifiable machinery.

Their presence exuded deep deceit and resentment, empowering the lifeless corpses and animating the dormant machines.

As a result, the ghosts haunting the sewers were grotesque enough to unsettle even Lennok's rationality.

One approaching figure swung its decaying arm, barely moving in the cold air...

Merely glimpsing something resembling a ghoul was enough to induce weariness.

Even the use of mana felt like a futile effort.

Pushing their heads away before they came too close to the shield resulted in those creatures vanishing into the depths of the sewer, never to return.

"At this point, it should be detectable..."

As Lennok delved deeper into the sewer, the spacious tunnel gradually transformed into a cylindrical shape.

The only constants were the frozen sewage flowing in the middle and the narrow walkways on either side.

With each step, the sewer branched out into smaller passages, and the main path lost its form, resembling a tangled mass of tree branches.

The 55th district was one of the widest areas within the 50s districts, primarily due to its breadth.

Although Lennok continued his search based on the 4th sluice gate, there was a strict limit to the range of his mana detection.

While it was unimaginably vast for an ordinary wizard, if something lay beyond Lennok's reach, it could pose a problem.

Lennok couldn't believe that he had strayed so far yet couldn't find anything .

Lost in contemplation, Lennok slowly turned around and retraced the path he had taken.

'There are two possibilities.'

Lennok's mind raced, considering the potential outcomes of the current situation.

'It could be concealed by a powerful invisibility spell, or someone else might have taken the pillar.'

The possibility that another mercenary or interested party had noticed the pillar and seized the opportunity while Dray was unconscious couldn't be dismissed.

Lennok had already entertained this possibility from the beginning, but now it needed to be directly verified.

However, if a security spell strong enough to incapacitate someone like Dray had been placed, it was likely still concealed within the sewer.

The notion that it remained hidden within these tunnels seemed more plausible than the possibility that it had been retrieved.

'I'll have to check the sluice gate again. If I don't find it this time, I'll have to report it to the agents.'

If the matter of the pillar was urgent, it would be necessary to search all the nearby sluices. However, there was no appropriate time to invest in such an endeavor.

Tracking the location using disguised data intertwined with the encryption key.

The first and second operations based on those findings were scheduled for a week later.

Considering that the operations were to commence outside the city, there were numerous preparations to be made.

Lennok pondered these matters, silently gazing down at the massive torrent of water rushing through the fourth sluice gate.

Kwaaaaaah!

Water from countless channels, easily numbering in the hundreds, merged together, piercing the humid air and cascading downwards.

Despite the chilly atmosphere of the underground passageways, the flow of water prevented freezing.

Although no significant developments had occurred, District 55's underground waterways continued to receive wastewater from various sources in Vulcan, tirelessly flushing the waste outside the city.

Considering the accumulation of contaminants in uninhabited and undeveloped areas, it was not an uncommon phenomenon. Problems that remained hidden from view were often pushed aside, and the situation gradually worsened while being quickly forgotten.

'Hidden... it's hidden...'

In the midst of a series of thoughts, Lennok suddenly snapped out of it and waved his hand.

[Aqua Control]

A basic magic spell used to manipulate a small stream of water.

However, with a few modifications, Lennok significantly increased its magical capacity and the amount of water he could control.

As a result...

Kwaaaah!!!

The rushing sewage water parted to both sides, revealing the riverbed beneath.

Despite achieving such a feat with his bare hands, Lennok maintained a calm expression.

Swiftly, Lennok's gaze scanned the floor near the sluice gate, fixing on the edge of the exposed riverbed.

Only when Lennok spotted a bright silver stake did his expression finally relax, forming a smile.

Zhezhezhek...!!

As Lennok's eyes fell upon it, the incomprehensible characters engraved on the surface of the stake vanished with a strange sound.

Simultaneously, the negative mana contained within the stake surged out explosively, dampening the entire sewer.

Sssssss...

'It was just a hunch, but it turned out well.'

In certain types of magic or rituals, the more complex the conditions, the more exponentially powerful the effect becomes.

The party that installed this stake must have enhanced the hidden ritual by utilizing "invisibility" as a condition and evading mana detection.

Lennok had entertained the possibility that the Krimgal Mercenary Office might have relocated instead of retrieving the stake after leaving their previous location, and the result was now clear.

'There weren't many choices left, but... this will suffice.'

Koong!!

Lennok used shock magic to dig into the ground and lifted the stake into the air using magnetic control.

Its shape resembled more of a stake than a column.

However, the densely engraved characters and the intricate magic circle on its surface made it evident that this was no ordinary iron stake.

In simpler terms, it could be considered dark magic. And it undoubtedly served some purpose that needed to be carried out within the city.

While Lennok's insight might allow him to interpret the stake on the spot, he believed it would be more efficient to hand it over to Evelyn and search for other stakes.

There was no guarantee that there was only one stake like this.

Based on Lennok's knowledge of magical theory, rituals that involved such tools often encompassed a wide range of subjects or large-scale processes, requiring significant preparation.

If this was indeed the result of collaboration between a dark wizard and a terrorist organization, it would not be surprising to find similar stakes hidden throughout the city.

'Fascinating.'

As someone with extraordinary resistance to fixed rituals, curses, and the like, Lennok remained unaffected by their effects.

Therefore, Lennok was purely intrigued by the plans they were concocting to challenge the Vulcan City Council, an authority that seemed insurmountable.

If they had made such a bold declaration, they must have possessed a certain level of belief and believed they had at least some chance of success, which motivated them to begin their operations.

Personally, Lennok hoped to learn something from their methods of action.

After all, Lennok had never considered the Vulcan City Council as a reliable ally.

Having found the stake, Lennok's immediate task in the underground waterway was complete.

Once he handed it over to Evelyn, the agents would likely investigate it and follow the leads left at the scene.

Lost in these thoughts, the moment Lennok turned his head toward the exit of the waterway...

A powerful presence suddenly entered Lennok's range of senses.

In an instant, flames seemed to materialize out of thin air.

[Lulu lulu~ Lalala~ Ulululu~.]

Simultaneously, a relaxed humming drifted from the depths of the darkness.

Tak Tak.

With deliberate footfalls, someone emerged, piercing through the sounds of water and the eerie silence.

A lone sword hung from his hip, incongruous with the loosely fitting suit he wore.

Pale skin peeked out from beneath the folds of his garments.

But what stood out the most was the android-like joint where a human head should be.

The visor covering his eyes emitted a faint red glow, offering a glimpse of his line of sight.

The robot-headed swordsman, humming as he walked, halted his steps upon spotting Lennok.

A mechanical voice, almost human-like, flowed from him.

[Ah, I sensed an unusual mana and returned, only to find a new visitor.]

He spoke and nodded his head in satisfaction.

[I'm truly grateful. I've been scavenging through this dump for half a day without a bite to eat. I never imagined it was hiding right beneath the water gate. Thanks to you, my workload has diminished.]

"Has it now?"

[Yes, my client tasked me with retrieving that thing. They're throwing so much money at me, even for garbage. They left me in this filthy, frigid neighborhood and expected me to handle it alone. Quite a bunch of jokers.]

"......"

[But faithfully providing the service the customer desires can be seen as the professional spirit of Manson. In that sense, I'll take that pillar.]

This individual is rambling in a way that seems slightly off, considering his head is made of steel.

Lennok didn't respond immediately, lost in thought before recalling something.

"By any chance, are you the freelancer known as Mad Manson? I believe I heard your name alongside Striker."

[Mad? What on earth is 'mad'? Who would attach such a crazy nickname to their name?]

"......"

[Hmm.]

"Isn't that the case?"

[Well, my name is Manson.]

He wasn't just your average lunatic.

Indeed. The accomplished freelancer mentioned by the man at the bar, Mad Manson, must be this person.

Lennok glanced up at the pillar hovering above him and said,

"Unfortunately, that pillar already has an owner. I don't think I can give it to you."

[Oh, really? This is the first I'm hearing of it.]

"Of course. Did the person who roamed this waterway for half a day before I found it inform you?"

As Lennok smiled subtly and began gathering his power,

"It's a shame you came here in vain, but it would be best if you left now."

It was clear that he asserted ownership over the pillar as though he had left it there.

This freelancer, calling himself Manson, was more akin to an outlaw who did as he pleased.

It wouldn't be surprising if he drew his sword at any moment.

As Lennok realized that a fight in this spot was inevitable, his words lacked politeness.

[Hmm... I find it hard to agree with that.]

The freelancer, Mad Manson, pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

Taking a step forward, his hand instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword at his hip.

[It's only natural that the stronger one becomes the owner.]

By the way, Evelyn had asked Lennok about this before.

She inquired whether he was prepared to kill a fellow freelancer.

It was a pointless question.

Why would he hesitate to eliminate thieves who adorned their faces with steel plates and tried to snatch away the accomplishments of others?

"Well, then."

Fizzle...!!

As Lennok chuckled, a blue light radiated between his fingers.

"I am the owner. Can't you comprehend my words?"

(TO BE CONTINUED)