Chapter 223: Negotiation (2)

“What?”

“We tell them there’s a traitor among them. The information Girard has provided so far is sufficient. If we hand over that fact, along with Girard, their attention will turn to the traitor.”

“…”

“It would be best if the Chairman’s wrath is directed not at us, but at the internal traitor. Even if not, it doesn’t matter if we can cause internal strife within the Cartel. The important thing is to buy time to expand our business to a scale the Cartel can’t easily touch.”

Originally, Lennok had intended to conceal the information about the internal traitor and try to talk to them, but as the war reached a lull, his thoughts changed.

Being dragged around by the Cartel’s will was inefficient.

It was preferable to indirectly control the organization’s movements, prompting them to reveal their hand first.

“The idea itself isn’t bad, but…”

Jenny said with a flustered expression.

“After fighting such a reckless war of attrition until now, is there really a way to make them agree to talk?”

Instead of answering, Lennok took something out of his pocket and set it down.

An executive-level cadre he had encountered during Jordan’s kidnapping incident.

It was Virgil O’Reiden’s business card.

Two days later.

Rumors quickly spread through the underground that the wizard from the 49th district had resumed activities.

“Crazy bastard… seems like he never gets tired.”

“Is he really going to finish off the Cartel?”

“It’s truly rare for them to withdraw first, but it won’t end until someone dies.”

It was not easy to forget the sight of the wizard riding a motorcycle and scattering shotgun blasts; by now, there was no one on this street who didn’t recognize the sound of that engine.

The fact that the ambitious prototype prepared by Autoble Company was enjoying tremendous advertising effects wasn’t even very important.

Those who had directly witnessed the sites Lennok had decimated were worried about this war escalating.

Indeed, many people in the underground also anticipated a full-scale war breaking out after a long time.

“Perhaps we might even see an executive-level figure make a move for the first time in 10 years.”

“If they want to suppress the situation decisively, it’s not impossible.”

“Who are the executive-level figures not currently under a warrant?”

“Certainly not Merlida. The memory of that crazy woman decimating a military unit 10 years ago and getting shackled is still vivid.”

“Now that I think about it, even that’s a memory. It wasn’t this frustrating back then…”

“Are you insane?”

They were outlaws accustomed to the smell of blood, gunpowder, and the stench of sewage.

Just as many wished for things to pass without incident, a considerable number also longed for the city to become noisy again.

But the news that those who desired conflict had been waiting for did not come.

The 30th district. Only the rumor that Van visited a small business, not even widely known as a Cartel branch, handed over a business card, and disappeared, was heard.

Most lost interest in the unexpectedly mundane news, and only the extraordinary few pricked up their ears, but no information leaked out.

Only the red-eyed man understood Lennok’s intention and began preparing a reply.

“Are you sure this is okay to eat?”

“How many times do I have to tell you?”

At Lennok’s indifferent remark, Weian, holding a small glass bottle, made an inexpressible face.

Quite some time had passed since Jordan was rescued from his kidnapping, but Weian still had his arm in a cast.

Mana rigidity caused by Eolara’s Demonic Eye magic. The single strike permitted while his sensitivity was paralyzed still left after-effects.

Jordan seemed concerned about it and had been continuously checking Weian’s injury, but it appeared progress would take time.

Naturally, Lennok didn’t want to see such a valuable asset idle, so he had bought various potions for him, but there had been no improvement.

But everything changed after Lennok started taking Yakson’s pill.

Due to a significant awakening that occurred within Lennok, the magical systems that had gathered in his inner world, disorganized, began to coexist properly, becoming orderly and refined.

And that was no exception for alchemy, a World 1.0 technique Lennok had newly acquired.

Until now, he had simply focused on making medicine for himself, but if he shifted his perspective slightly, he could use it on others as much as he wished.

Lennok’s focus was on low side effects that wouldn’t strain the body, and immediate efficacy that allowed use even during combat.

If he could combine the basic efficacy of potions while maintaining these two advantages, he could expand the business, which he started under Lennok’s name, even further.

Once the idea took hold, there was nothing to stop him.

It wasn’t difficult to leave no trace of alchemy, and there were plenty of techniques for creating new medicines, so he could simply blend it in.

The important thing was to pursue overwhelming cost-effectiveness and above-average efficiency compared to other medicines.

It didn’t need to attract excessive attention in the market, but if it was enough to threaten existing products, it would be a great help to Jenny.

“Drink it quickly. A potion made by the wizard himself… Aren’t you curious how far his talent reaches?”

Dray, who was grinning beside him, urged.

“Why do you have to experiment on my body, of all things…”

Weian grumbled, his lips sticking out, but no one paid attention to his words.

Since it was something Lennok recommended, no one thought he wouldn’t care about Weian’s safety.

“It’s an item made focusing on personal recovery and cell activation. Since it’s been diluted twice, the efficacy might be a bit strong, but once its practical effectiveness is roughly proven, we can start mass production.”

By using Davi to create an algorithm and imbuing Lennok’s mana into the pharmaceutical tools, it’s possible to produce potions even when Lennok isn’t present.

In essence, it’s following exactly what the Drug Lord used to do, but with the difference being that he’s making and selling things like potions, not drugs.

“Injecting it directly into the bloodstream would be more effective, should we try that first? I made it drinkable for use during combat, but with just an ampoule, injection is also possible.”

“Oh, no… I think it’s better to just drink it and decide. If it feels bad, at least I can throw up.”

Weian, muttering with a sour face, tightly closed his eyes and poured all the contents of the glass bottle into his mouth.

Everyone watched as the clear blue liquid inside the glass bottle flowed directly down Weian’s throat.

Even Mad Manson, who usually clung to strange things like a madman, was focused on this.

“Uhm, hmm… Surprisingly, the taste isn’t… bad?”

It didn’t take long for Weian’s face, as if savoring a delicious taste, to brighten considerably.

“Oh, oh…!! My arm…!!”

“Your arm?”

“It’s super itchy!!”

Weian said that, then threw off the bandage wrapped around his arm and vigorously scratched it.

“…”

“No, my whole body is so itchy, what’s happening?!”

Everyone’s gaze turned towards Lennok.

Lennok, with an expressionless face, pointed at Weian again.

The first to notice something was amiss was Kidel, an executive of the Krimgal Mercenary Office.

“Weian. How… are you scratching your body?”

“Huh? Oh?”

Weian, who was somehow moving his broken arm freely, widened his eyes in surprise.

“The full-body itch is probably because your skin is rapidly regenerating from within as your cell regeneration is activated. In other words…”

Lennok said, stepping slightly back.

“You’re essentially scratching off dead skin cells in the middle of our bar right now.”

“What did you say!!!”

Jenny, who had been watching the noisy crowd with a sleepy expression, shot up from her seat.

With a furious expression, she rushed over the bar and whacked Weian’s back with a broom she held.

“Get out now, you brat!!”

Weian shrieked with the most unjustly aggrieved expression.

“No, wait!!! This isn’t my fault!!”

It was only natural that the people watching the spectacle, which was no different from a comedy, burst into laughter.

Velber subtly approached Lennok, who was watching the scene with satisfaction, and spoke.

“As expected, you don’t disappoint. That was an amazing effect.”

“No, well, I didn’t necessarily mean for it to be this funny…”

Lennok scratched his cheek with an awkward expression.

“The effect is a bit stronger than I expected. It’s good that the medicine spreads evenly throughout the body, but usually, in cases like this, it tends to be more prominent in the extremities. I definitely need to adjust this.”

While it’s good that enhanced cell regeneration leads to stronger efficacy than existing potions, it should only be used for injury treatment or health improvement.

If Weian’s skin regenerated so rapidly that dead skin cells were falling off, it’s highly likely that his fingernails and toenails would also grow rapidly.

Such side effects are mostly useless, so Lennok might have to personally intervene and make some adjustments.

“Furthermore, even after diluting it twice, there was a symptom of body paralysis immediately after consumption. With such a side effect, it would be difficult to use it fully in urgent combat situations.”

Lennok did not miss that Weian’s limbs, even as he was being beaten on the back by Jenny, had become somewhat stiff.

A common side effect that appears when strong potions are consumed. Lennok also couldn’t completely eliminate it during the manufacturing process.

But Velber shook his head, listening to Lennok’s words.

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“What?”

“Certainly, if you dilute the potion concentrate you made and incorporate it into Jenny’s business plan, you could seize control of the underground material distribution network much faster than now. But its true value doesn’t stop there. I felt endless possibilities in the potion you created.”

What kind of nonsense was this money-crazed bastard going to spout now, holding back like this?

Velber, oblivious to Lennok’s sour expression, muttered, immersed in his own words.

“I definitely saw it. Weian’s hair was just a little bit longer than usual…!! Your potion definitely affects not only the body’s extremities but also hair growth!”

“…”

“Let’s quit being mercenaries right now and start a hair growth business together!! With just your potion, we can rule this world…!!”

WHACK!!

Velber’s head, which had been passionately spouting rhetoric with a somewhat unhinged look in his eyes, suddenly plunged beneath the bar.

Jenny, holding a sack behind him, looked down at Velber with icy eyes.

“You too, get out.”

“…Alright.”

With Velita’s contemptuous gaze on her twin brother behind him, Velber disappeared out of the bar, and Dray chuckled lightly.

“It’s amusing, but its performance is certainly not to be taken lightly. To think it could make Weian move his arm so quickly without any major side effects…”

“They said that kid’s bones were completely shattered. So, one potion not only regenerated muscles but also reattached the bones?”

Everyone only then understood the value of what Lennok had created, at the fact Killian stated with a click of his tongue.

Potions used for treating injuries generally have a very high production cost, are expensive, and critically, are prohibited from being consumed multiple times within a short period.

This is because frequent potion consumption can easily lead to resistance to their effects, and even increase the likelihood of adverse reactions or addiction.

Therefore, the use of potions requires considerable caution, and there are even people who constantly seek out those who practice healing magic to prevent developing resistance.

Vulcan’s medical technology is quite advanced along with the development of magic, but its cost is so prohibitive that even freelancers struggle to afford it.

If the potion Lennok created truly possesses the effect of not only healing simple injuries but also directly rejoining bones, it won’t just end with the appearance of a new competitive product in the market.

Lennok, feeling the gazes naturally converging on him, subtly frowned.

“…It still needs more adjustments, so it’s hard to give an accurate assessment. Let’s experiment and talk about how much effect remains after dilution.”

This is a potion using the Drug Lord’s alchemy, which didn’t build resistance no matter how many drugs he poured into himself.

Lennok decided not to mention here that his potion might not cause resistance.

He had intended to resolve Weian’s injury immediately and improve the performance based on the prototype, but due to the side effects, he might actually have to reduce it further.

Unless it was about completely changing the drug’s performance, maintaining its performance while adjusting its output as desired truly required consistent time investment to test dosages and concentrations.

As Lennok let out a small sigh at the thought of having to invest a considerable amount of time, he saw Manson in the distance, lost in thought.

The mechanical mass that usually sparkled at random times was calmly settled, and even the excited mana was quiet.

Though he couldn’t tell why, it seemed certain that the potion Lennok had shown had stimulated his inner self.

“…”

Lennok was not foolish enough to dismiss this sense of déjà vu as merely a feeling.

Manson wasn’t a difficult opponent, and if there was something bothering him, it would be best to check it immediately.

Just as he subtly moved through the crowd towards Manson, Weian, who had been chased out by Jenny, reappeared.

“Uh, um… Van?”

A face ambiguously distorted, difficult to describe.

At that face, as if he didn’t know what expression to make in the current situation, Lennok stopped.

“What is it?”

“A guest has arrived… someone you know.”

“Let them in.”

“No, but…”

Weian, stretching his body out near the stairs, couldn’t say anything and just stuck out his tongue.

“Why are you standing there like you need to take a dump? Who arrived that made you like this?”

When the bald giant, Ike, chided him, Weian stepped back with an helpless expression, and Velber, who had also been chased out, subtly slipped back into the bar.

Absurdly, Velber’s expression was similar to Weian’s.

“Is this person really a guest Van called?”

“…”

As Weian reluctantly opened the way, a person simultaneously walked down the stairs into the bar.

A familiar suit. A woman with fierce eyes and neat hair.

Eolara, the Cartel executive who had kidnapped Jordan, stood there.

“Long time no see.”