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And that Jenny grew up under the shadow of such a Kaiser.

If she were to embark on a new venture beyond her role as a broker, many would perceive it as more than a mere expansion of her business.

Jordan is dropping hints to him before the formal proceedings commence, before Jenny confirms his intentions.

If he intends to continue solely as a freelancer, it might be wise to take a step back in the near future.

Lennok silently exhaled a long plume of smoke.

The faintly lingering smoke in the dimly lit bar slowly dissipated into the frigid air outside.

The chilly mornings, where each breath brought forth visible vapor, are gradually waning.

Winter is receding, making way for spring.

It’s the first season he has witnessed since entering this world.

If matters in the autonomous territory conclude successfully, perhaps the weather will completely clear up.

It’s an excellent season to embark on something new.

Lennok met Jordan’s gaze and replied, “Referrals from Dyke and the Agents.”

“……….”

“If I hadn’t thought about it, I wouldn’t have started. That’s all there is to it.”

Had he intended to remain solely a freelancer, he would have declined all offers from Dyke Corporation that day.

Wasn’t his decision to collaborate with agents and personally confront dark wizards motivated by something beyond mere notoriety?

Lennok didn’t verbalize this, but through his actions alone, he had already conveyed his intentions to Jenny.

He’s not content yet.

He has plans to ascend higher, to do whatever it takes.

“Is that so…..” Jordan smiled with a relieved expression. “I’m glad it ended as an old man’s worry. I hope I didn’t talk too much?”

“………..”

The relationship between the broker and the freelancer, which started as mere cooperation, has come this far.

One year neither drags on nor flies by.

They can’t lay everything bare and place absolute trust in one another, but they have respected each other’s boundaries and proven reliable in their professional capacities.

They have accrued enough qualifications to become business partners, transcending the customer-client dynamic.

“Let’s discuss the details after I return from the autonomous region.”

Lennok, cigarette in hand, adjusted his coat and gripped the bar’s doorknob.

“Both of us will have enough time to think.”

******

Philemon Autonomous Region.

Just a month ago, he would have shown no interest in this region, but now, things are different.

A few days ago, at a conference, the next lighthouse keeper pledged to meet him in the autonomous region.

It’s a place fraught with the peril of conflict with the sprawling city of Vulcan, where the The Great Seer Madrea Falcia resided, but the reality is likely more intricate.

Did she possess knowledge?

Now, he’s curious about one thing.

The next lighthouse keeper. If she is The Great Seer’s granddaughter, she must have inherited at least some of The Great Seer’s visionary ‘eyes’ capable of glimpsing the future and the end.

To what extent can she see with those eyes?

Does a predetermined future truly exist?

“…..Hoo.”

Lennok, his arms folded, had been gazing out of the window, and he let out a subtle laugh.

It’s a question that shouldn’t be raised and can’t be answered.

In the end, Lennok wouldn’t find satisfaction in any response he might receive.

“What happened?”

“Hm?”

Raul, who was leaning in right beside him, inquired.

He was delicately handling something with his gloved hands.

The iridescent gemstone, once attached to the ‘ Compassion of Archangel’, gleamed brilliantly on the aged workbench.

Davi hovered around it, visibly uneasy.

“Your aura seems quite sharp.”

Raul, oblivious to the spirit’s anxious demeanor, continued speaking as he magically levitated the gemstone.

“As if you’ve killed someone; it’s not a pleasant atmosphere.”

“……”

“A job…”

Lennok responded with a wry smile.

“It wasn’t a big deal.”

“So, you’re thinking about what you need to do next?”

“………”

In District 44’s streets, where dark wizards of the witchcraft lineage had settled, Lennok had sought out Raul to deal with the artifacts he’d obtained from the exploration team.

Before departing for the Autonomous Region, he wanted to sell any worthless artifacts, convert them into funds, and equip himself with useful items after assessing their capabilities.

Lennok possessed a discerning eye, making it easy for him to recognize the abilities of these artifacts. Still, consulting an expert was a wise choice.

As a result, Lennok had acquired an impressive 30 billion Cells, a Nick badge that confused life signs, a ring capable of recharging reserve mana, and a dagger imbued with a curse spell.

Ever since he lost the laser cutter during a warrant operation, he had been lacking in close combat auxiliary weapons. Irina Pheffield’s leftover items came in handy.

‘With this much money, I won’t be lacking in the Autonomous Region.’

It amounted to more than the value of his current residence.

He could even afford top-tier medicines if he decided to purchase them.

However, what mattered most at this moment was the iridescent gemstone in his hand.

Mana gently flowed from his weathered hands as he carefully lifted the gemstone and placed it on the silver staff.

A pair of wings emerged on either side of the staff.

As he meticulously positioned the gemstone in the central hollow, a subtle ripple burst forth, illuminating the room.

Swooosh…!!

A strange wave emanated, where magical energy and various other forces harmoniously melded.

“It must be evidence that the relic created in that era wasn’t made up of a single magical system.”

“Done.”

Raul, who had perspired profusely during that brief interval, straightened his hunched back and let out a deep sigh.

“I’ve completed the adjustments. Judging by the structure of the relic, it seems designed to be detachable. However, whether its original function is fully restored is not something I can verify.”

“Thank you.”

Lennok expressed his gratitude, receiving the staff from Raul and gripping it firmly.

Whoosh…!!

The staff, slightly shorter than his forearm, featured intricate, flowing patterns and wings that fluttered gently in sync with the emanating waves.

Its luminescent, almost living appearance emitted a warm glow that felt nearly reverent.

Raul, who had been silently observing, sighed in admiration.

“It’s an incredible relic every time I see it. Surely, it was a masterpiece crafted by a highly talented artisan who devoted their soul.”

“… Indeed.”

“It’s an extremely rare relic of the Holy Light lineage. I’ve heard it still has many undiscovered abilities, but with your talent, you’ll uncover them soon, won’t you?”

“……….”

Although the staff emitted a divine light, Lennok remained aware.

A tool was merely a tool. Attributing greater significance to it would be a misjudgment.

Irina, who had once effortlessly wielded this artifact after thrusting a magic sword into her unit’s heart, served as a reminder that tools did not select their masters.

Acquiring power beyond mana was advantageous, but one must exercise caution not to become excessively reliant on it.

‘Even so, it’s worth delving deeper into the ability of teleportation… I have no choice but to experiment on this myself.’

With this thought in mind, Lennok slipped the wand inside his coat.

He wore a spacious double coat, perfect for carrying various items, including a revolver.

Since he didn’t possess enough mana to shrink the artifact with reduction magic, he had to tolerate the inconvenience of lugging around the ‘Compassion of Archangel’.

[Hmmm…]

While restoring the artifact to its original state by connecting the multicolored gemstone to the wand, Davi, who had unintentionally dropped the gemstone, flew around with a disgruntled expression.

Lennok chuckled at the sight of its darting around the area his gaze rested upon, as it couldn’t express its complaints directly.

After all, fully unlocking the artifact’s abilities would remain impossible without Davi’s assistance, as it had been up to this point.

If they coordinated well with Davi in the process, using it in combat shouldn’t be too challenging.

Lennok compensated Raul for his services and rose from his seat.

“I owe you one.”

“What are you talking about? I should be grateful if someone like you brings such artifacts. The inspection from the administration has been lifted, but it will take time for the market in District 44 to be revived. It’s good to even have a customer like you.”

Raul escorted Lennok to the store’s exit.

The sky was overcast, and the weather seemed poised to unleash rain at any moment.

It would be wise to return before the rain began.

Lennok was about to turn, his collar raised, when Raul’s gentle voice reached him.

“I’m sorry I can’t help you much, being a dark wizard.”

“That’s alright.”

The Compassion of Archangel was an artifact endowed with potent supportive spells and abilities linked to divine light.

Even without the antiquated notion that dark wizards and holy clerics were natural adversaries, it wouldn’t have been efficient for Raul to provide further aid in this context.

“I have heard of similar artifacts, though. In my past, I’ve heard about a series of ancient artifacts that share the name Archangel. It may not be entirely unrelated to the wand you brought.”

As Raul uttered these words, he gazed down at the Compassion of Archangel.

“Should you wish to delve into the hidden abilities of the artifact, you may want to look into the Church Nation. Though they outwardly act like devout ascetics, there are rumors that they are more sinister than anyone.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

The Church Nation, was it?

Is that the term for a faction primarily comprised of individuals born with innate abilities related to divine light?

While it officially masqueraded as a state, Lennok had heard that it wasn’t fundamentally different from a massive community.

If he recalled Raul’s words correctly, there might be a reason to visit there in the future.

However, before that could happen, it would be ideal if Davi could unlock all of the artifact’s abilities. But in the realm of human affairs, one’s desires did not always align with reality.

After a few more words exchanged with the elderly man, Lennok turned and departed.

The process of liquidating underwater artifacts and equipping what’s valuable is nearly finished. All that remains is to receive the refined data from Jenny and begin the journey.

As he exited District 44, holding his phone, he lowered it due to the intense gazes he sensed around him.

“What’s a wizard from District 49 doing here?”

“Did he have any recent jobs around this area?”

“We should be careful. I heard he only picks big gigs.”

“Check with others in the neighboring districts to see if anything’s happened recently.”

Undoubtedly, there was a significant number of people who recognized and were cautious of him, perhaps because this area was densely populated with dark wizards.

It was slightly irritating, but not a major concern.

From the outset, he had been operating under the alias Van, anticipating situations like this.

If he needed anonymity, creating a different appearance and magical signature would suffice.

In fact, it seemed more beneficial to bolster Van’s reputation in places like this.

As he took a step forward and subtly extended his mana, he felt the people who had been watching him flinch.

Wham!

“Did you see it?”

Judging by the momentary resonance, the nearby sorcerers seemed to vaguely sense Van’s power.

Their faces turned pale, and they quickly averted their gazes and moved away.

“He’s rude.”

“I heard his magic is quite brutal. Better be cautious.”

“You’re an up-and-coming heavyweight among freelancers. We may work together someday; let’s get along.”

People scattered in different directions, while some approached him, drawn by his magical aura.

“I’m Ahmad Langley. I run a small office. Contact me if you need someone.”

“I’m Warren Holland. I’m looking for a capable wizard. Money is no object, so come by the address on my card when you have time.”

The individuals gathered on this street were diverse, each with their own thoughts.

Some were cautious, thinking that establishing a good rapport with Lennok now could lead to future collaborative opportunities.

Others took a bolder approach, believing that leaving an impression on Lennok now might catch his attention later on.

Each person made their own judgments and reacted according to their choices.

Indeed, this was precisely why Lennok didn’t hesitate to venture into this street.

Accepting the business cards handed to him, Lennok lost himself in thought.

In the distance, he heard others expressing their disapproval.

Enough of these complicated thoughts.

Regardless of what he heard from the lighthouse keeper, Lennok would undoubtedly return to this street.

That was the only thing he needed to remember as he left the city.

It was time to head to the autonomous region.