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Originally, he had never been inclined to become embroiled in such affairs.

The recent events were nothing more than a series of coincidences that unfolded at the auction house.

His choice to pursue freelance work that allowed for meticulous risk assessment and strategic planning was not a matter of chance.

Throughout his time with Dyke and the agents, while the process might have carried inherent risks, the core of his work revolved around meticulously planned operations.

Handling unexpected incidents was not something that aligned with Lennok’s preferences.

However, upon hearing Lennok’s response, Sebastian shook his head in disagreement.

“On the contrary, you’ll encounter more of such situations.”

“What?”

“You jumped into this game with some purpose, didn’t you? There’s something you want, and the chances are extremely low that you’re the only one wanting it. Rather, you’ll face countless competitors, just like now.”

“……….”

“Ordinary freelancers simply choose the projects they want and work as laborers. But you’re not just a freelancer anymore, are you?”

Sebastian’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“You’re now working for an item you want, not just money. You’ve become not only a freelancer but also a client.”

His tone was casual, as though it were a minor detail, but Lennok couldn’t deny the truth in his words.

Upon reflection, even in the current situation, Lennok had become a client, entrusting Sebastian with a task.

Working with Jenny and relying on a broker might have seemed natural, but Sebastian viewed it from a different perspective.

“You’re not wrong.”

“You seem conflicted; shall we continue the conversation about the job?”

Sebastian glanced at Lennok’s face and smoothly shifted the conversation.

Jenny shared this keen insight; these brokers were remarkably perceptive.

“Anyway, speaking more about Vincent Mayblack, the trade business he runs isn’t exactly an above-board operation. It’s practically unknown among civilians, and even the atmosphere between departments within the company is said to be hostile. It’s not uncommon for people in this city to operate like this.”

As he spoke, he poured fresh wine into his glass and swirled it gently.

His gaze remained fixed on the swirling wine, but his sharp eyes indicated he hadn’t lost his focus.

“He maximizes business profits while walking a fine line between legality and illegality. He probably strictly divides tasks among departments, keeping them ignorant of each other’s activities.”

“Is the trading business that murky?”

“Of course. If you dig deep, there’s no end. Issues at customs, taxes and inspections on goods, fees extracted by various agencies, fighting off thieves who covet treasures… there are more than one or two things that run smoothly when maintaining shady connections.”

Especially in a world teeming with superhumans, Sebastian chuckled grimly.

It was clear that from the moment he considered the auction house, Sebastian had the upper hand in this line of work compared to Jenny.

Perhaps due to his dealings with the wealthy, businessmen, and those who had amassed considerable wealth, his network and information resources were formidable.

Unlike Jenny, who had connections in various obscure fields, he was a broker who specialized in clients from a specific sector. However, that specialization afforded him certain advantages.

The keyword “elderly gentleman who won the artifact at the Teyna auction house” alone was enough for Sebastian to swiftly uncover a person’s background, a fact that even surprised Lennok.

“Well, these pieces of information are just a fraction of what I’ve researched. I’ll organize it in an easy-to-understand format and send it to you within three days.”

“How much do I need to pay you for this?”

While he had previously secured Sebastian’s assistance for a request when time was more abundant, Lennok now felt the urgency of obtaining information from Sebastian to locate Irina Pheffield.

If a fair commission was offered, so be it, but it would be preferable if he could settle this with monetary compensation…

As Lennok contemplated, Sebastian, who had placed the file down, interjected, his hands moving deftly.

“Speaking of which, there’s something I’d like to say.”

“What is it?”

“About this job. Can I join in too?”

“I don’t understand. Wasn’t it more or less agreed upon that you would gather information about Vincent Mayblack?”

“That’s not what I mean. The Arasha Expedition Team is famous for excavating many ruins and revealing the relics within, but they also notably don’t reveal every truth hidden inside. I’d like to be part of uncovering that truth.”

In essence, he aimed to profit from this expedition too.

Lennok briefly considered the feasibility and practicality of this idea but eventually shook his head.

“If the expedition team had that many artifacts or relics, they would’ve used them when fighting against me. I think the rumors might be overblown.”

If that weren’t the case, it would imply that Irina was the sole carrier of these artifacts, which seemed implausible.

“…Hmm, thank you for your honest answer. However, even if that’s not the case, there’s meaning in getting involved in this job. ‘Compassion of Archangel,’ the artifact possessed by Irina pheffield… if I can introduce my clients to deal with that artifact, it will greatly help my business.”

As he spoke, Sebastian poured more wine into Lennok’s glass.

“I don’t have to be the main person in charge. It’s fine if Jenny leads, and I just make an appearance.”

“Are there that many people who want that artifact?”

According to Jenny, its value was relatively low compared to other powerful artifacts. Still, Sebastian’s words indicated that it might be worthwhile to participate in this job primarily for the staff.

“The abilities possessed by ‘Compassion of Archangel’ are admittedly far removed from combat, which leads to it being undervalued. However, the abilities encapsulated in such a high-grade artifact operate in a manner entirely different from modern spells based on mana.”

“In what way?”

“Uh… I’m not a wizard but a psychic, so it’s difficult to explain, but the abilities are quite different from the principles of near-modern spells represented by mana.”

Sebastian adjusted his posture to provide further clarity.

“To give you a more understandable example, there’s the artifact ‘Clarisse’s Extravagance’ owned by Kaeda, the leader of the Agares faction. When the user puts in their mana, it converts it precisely into double the output. It’s a famous item among wizards for this reason.”

“………”

“Is it understandable? It’s inconceivable to transform a specific force into something completely different, let alone doubling the amount of that energy. This is something beyond the principles of mana.”

“You mean to say you expect something similar from ‘Compassion of Archangel’.”

“It’s not about expectation. ‘Compassion of Archangel’ is higher up on the scale than artifacts like ‘Clarisse’s Extravagance’. It’s a complex system that combines more than five attributes, has extensive and powerful auxiliary mana, and it’s definitely a scratch-off lottery ticket with yet-to-be-revealed abilities.”

“Hmm…”

Sebastian spoke as if Lennok were about to obtain the artifact immediately, but Lennok remained skeptical.

His immediate concern was to swiftly eliminate the remaining members of the expedition team to avoid loose ends.

Recovering Irina Pheffield’s artifact could be considered later, but only after accomplishing his primary objective.

If he were to entertain Sebastian’s request in the current situation, the priorities would become muddled.

Lennok needed to make it clear what took precedence.

Upon hearing Lennok’s explanation, Sebastian nodded without hesitation.

“I also don’t think things will be resolved easily. The Arasha expedition team has a reputation and skills that come with several sponsors, who wouldn’t want the team’s annihilation either.”

“Good. If you can accept that part, I can discuss it with Jenny.”

With that, Lennok rose from his seat.

He assigned matters related to the drug lord and Malabest to Jenny, and issues concerning the Arasha Expedition Team to Sebastian. Lennok made judgments based on the information gathered from both sources.

The initial problem to address was the expedition team, but the priority remained the drug lord and Malabest issue.

There was no time to rest; he had to keep moving forward, but the sequence of actions couldn’t be confused.

Following their discussion, Lennok and Sebastian delved into identifying the remaining members of the expedition team, their sponsors, and Irina Pheffield’s possible whereabouts.

Sebastian’s expertise lay in specific fields, and there was a noticeable knowledge gap in areas beyond his specialization. In contrast, Lennok possessed substantial knowledge, particularly in profitable enterprises, which allowed him to gain valuable insights during their conversation.

“So, let’s wrap it up here. If you set aside roughly three days for preparation, the timing should be right.”

“Sounds good. I need to catch up on the work that has been piling up.”

Lennok stood up from his chair, stretching his stiff neck.

His recent meetings with Aris had become less frequent, so unexpected calls on his cellphone weren’t unusual.

As an assistant professor, there were no tasks he could afford to delay, and he still had responsibilities as her research assistant. From a research perspective, Lennok needed time to formulate and present ideas.

It was exhausting, but it couldn’t be helped.

Balancing a life in the shadows and one in the spotlight wasn’t optional; it was a necessity.

Lennok unlocked his phone, located Aris’s contact, and exited Sebastian’s office.

******

“…..Evan.”

Late in the afternoon at Rabatenon University.

Lennok was engrossed in reading a book at the back of the classroom when he heard his name called.

The blue-haired student at the desk in front of him turned around and addressed him.

“I told you to call me assistant professor.”

“It doesn’t matter, does it?”

“We’re in the middle of a class.”

“……”

Priscilla didn’t reply and simply pouted.

In the lecture hall, nearly a hundred students were focused on Aris’s lecture, but the students around Lennok were stealing glances at him.

Aris was an excellent lecturer who made her classes both practical and engaging, but today, she seemed to be struggling to hold the students’ attention. She likely refrained from pointing it out due to the earlier commotion.

Understanding the cause, Lennok silently sighed.

As expected, Priscilla took the opportunity during a short break in the lecture to initiate a conversation with Lennok.

“Quick, show it one more time.”

“……”

“Everyone’s watching anyway. Just show it once and it’ll be fine.”

Priscilla wasn’t the only one; many other students had their eyes on Lennok with eager expressions.

It seemed like Priscilla had taken the lead in requesting this moment.

“….Just once.”

If he were on a part-time job, he wouldn’t entertain such absurd requests, but Lennok was, after all, an assistant professor at Rabatenon University.

Managing his reputation among students was also part of the job.

Crack…!!

A small electric spark crackled from Lennok’s hand, revealing a tiny elemental spirit hovering between his palms.

“How adorable!”

“I didn’t know elementals were so lively!”

“So pretty….!!”

Both female and male students were captivated, unable to take their eyes off Davi’s graceful movements.

Lennok felt the entire classroom’s attention focused on him for a moment but decided it was best to dispel the attention during the break.

He gave a command to Davi and placed it on top of his head.

Thump Thump!

Davi, who had seated itself on Lennok’s head, created quite an impression.

“Aaah!”

“Oh, It climbed up!”

“Me, me too…! Just once!”

“Wait! Let us look a bit longer!!”

Davi, bathed in envious glances, spoke proudly.

[Being worshiped by humans doesn’t feel so bad.]

“……”

Perhaps it was developing an unusual philosophy.