Chapter 266: Palgung Fortress (1)

He had already finished a month’s worth of potion production for his business, and all preliminary work for time-consuming research was complete.

He had ample ammunition equipped, and the prepared cigarettes were also enough to last for more than half a month.

There was no small amount of work he had to finish beforehand for this task, but once he deliberately invested the time, it wasn’t as burdensome as he thought.

Perhaps it was because all of Lennok’s attention was focused on the destination he was about to reach.

Finally, after checking the functionality of the artifacts and relics he always carried, and summoning Davi who was curled up in the fuse box, preparations were complete.

[Are we going to a place without electricity again?]

“…I can’t guarantee we’re not.”

[Hmph.]

It was understandable, given the commotion he caused at Rebatenon recently.

Listening to the digital spirit’s grumbling, he left the house and blended into the crowd.

As he alternated between crowded thoroughfares and quiet streets, Lennok’s face and mana pattern rapidly shifted, as if frames were skipping.

He wasn’t merely switching directly between Lennok and Van’s faces.

Unlike the days when he lacked mana and resources, he now had ample preparation and reserves.

As Van’s reputation and prominence grew, Lennok also continued to strive to maintain his three identities.

He prepared over 20 different faces and mana patterns, selecting them randomly and altering their sequence to disguise and transform himself.

If Van’s appearance always materialized where Lennok’s face vanished, it could arouse suspicion from someone meticulous.

Of course, all of this was possible thanks to the intricate manipulation of mana patterns that even an 8th-level Archmage couldn’t detect.

If not for the meticulousness of changing Lennok’s face the moment he left the house, and slightly varying the disguise order and faces used every half-month.

Lennok would not have been able to perfectly conceal his identity until now.

Only after roughly 18 changes of disguise and mana patterns, emerging onto the street as Van, did Lennok head straight for the meeting place.

…

He used to feel uneasy just being exposed to such a bright bustling street, but a considerable amount of time had passed since then.

It had been over two years since he drifted into this city, he wondered.

It was enough time to grow accustomed to things in the ceaseless flow of time.

He had experienced all sorts of twists and turns during his time in the megacity, but most of them were victories Lennok had personally chosen and seized.

As a result, he had survived all that conflict and violence to get here.

He hoped this task would also turn out the same way, and simply do his best.

Lost in thought, as he aimlessly walked the street, he began to smell a refreshing scent nearby.

He wasn’t particularly good at smelling or remembering scents, but the moment Lennok tilted his head at that recently familiar smell.

Someone appeared beside him and tugged at Lennok’s sleeve.

“After waiting this long, shouldn’t you have noticed by now?”

“…My apologies.”

Neat black hair falling to her shoulders and deep green eyes.

Even her slightly furrowed brow was charming.

Evelyn glanced around subtly, then immediately pulled Lennok and began walking down the street.

As Lennok naturally cast an invisible barrier to block out prying ears, Evelyn opened her mouth.

“It’s the first time since then, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“After telling me something like that, you brazenly contacted me first? Do you have any conscience?”

Evelyn grumbled with a pout.

“You should have given me time to think, shouldn’t you? Huh?”

“Did you tell Lapis?”

The fierce battle fought with the White Lion Turan at Blaiver Tower.

The moment they parted after resolving the situation, Lennok confessed that he was the same person as Evan, who had cooperated with the Eyes of Blue.

As Pandemonium’s activities intensify going forward, the Eyes of Blue would also begin to move more in response.

This was based on the judgment that it would be difficult to hide the overlapping activity areas of Van and Evan from Evelyn in such an unfolding situation.

Evelyn Marcia was an acquaintance Lennok had known since he started this work, and a responsible person who would offer a helping hand even to strangers.

Rather than worrying about concealing Van and Evan’s dual identities from her, it would be more efficient to tell her some truth and ask for her cooperation.

What was important was not revealing all three of Lennok’s identities.

As long as it wasn’t discovered that Lennok, Van, and Evan were the same person, he could change and conceal his identities at any time.

“…No, I won’t.”

Evelyn replied with a slightly darkened expression.

“It seems the Eyes of Blue have also become very busy since they started getting involved in the central front. There’s no need to add to their worries.”

“I see.”

“Haa… I thought it was strange when I heard the news. I figured I couldn’t possibly not know a wizard skilled enough to defeat a drug lord, but I never imagined things would turn out like this.”

Lennok subtly avoided her gaze at Evelyn’s deep sighs.

“My apologies. But perhaps you should choose your words more carefully?”

“And to think you’re even working as an assistant professor for Aris Richellen… so all those things you’ve done until now were just the escapades of a prestigious graduate student?”

Evelyn shook her head repeatedly and continued.

“I’ve seen many sorcerers in my time, but it’s been a really long while since I’ve met one as strange as you.”

…

He had clearly anticipated hearing such complaints, so he had avoided contacting her for a while, but he had no choice.

Even if it was just because of the information he obtained about the Guido Cult members at Rebatenon, he ultimately had to ask for Evelyn’s help.

Evelyn walked down the street, pouring out everything she wanted to say, before finally sighing and getting to the point.

“You want to enter Palgung Fortress?”

“…Yes.”

After returning to Vulcan, he tried not to pay much attention to it, but after encountering clues about the Guido Cult multiple times, Lennok had no choice but to change his stance.

The Pandemonium leader’s words that the Guido Cult held clues about spatial-temporal magic.

Moreover, the cult’s sudden movement of starting missionary work in Vulcan.

Even the fact that the bishop whose main body had turned the Necromancy Department upside down was hidden in Palgung Fortress.

Unless there was no way to access Palgung Fortress right now, there was no need to hesitate when he held a method of entry.

Among the items he received in exchange for helping Evelyn at Blaiver Tower, wasn’t there a ticket to participate in Palgung Fortress’s auction?

It was only natural to hear the explanation directly from Evelyn to properly use that item.

She sighed deeply and asked.

“What did the broker say?”

“She said she didn’t recommend it much.”

Naturally, he had informed Jenny of his destination beforehand.

The three titans entrenched in Vulcan’s underworld. It was impossible to leave without revealing his visit to the most reclusive organization among The Triad.

Evelyn, hearing Lennok’s words, immediately nodded.

“I feel the same way. The timing definitely isn’t good.”

Although Palgung Fortress outwardly reigns as a single organization in Vulcan’s underworld, its inner workings are vastly different from other organizations.

No matter how much underworld organizations rampage like outlaws, they fundamentally maintain a system to operate as an organization, and typically establish order around a leader.

However, Palgung Fortress was known as much for its external reclusiveness as it was for being a chaotic region plagued by ceaseless internal strife.

This was probably because they maintained their identity as another city built within the city, rather than functioning as an organization.

“Since the Fortress Head who represented Palgung Fortress died two years ago, internal strife within the Fortress has been ceaseless.”

Evelyn explained.

The deceased Fortress Head was said to be quite moderate among the successive Fortress Heads, adept at suppressing internal dissatisfaction while actively communicating with the outside world.

Since that Fortress Head’s sudden death from an unexpected accident, the struggle to inherit the position was still ongoing.

Originally, the conflict started among the high-ranking officials and spread to the Fortress residents, and quite some time had passed since the atmosphere within the Fortress turned grim.

“The problem is that as the power struggle among the high-ranking officials intensified, the number of people bringing in mercenaries from outside has recently increased.”

“Meaning it’s a perfect time to be mistaken for a mercenary, in one way or another…”

Lennok rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

While disguising his identity wasn’t difficult, it meant that any outsider entering the Fortress at this time, regardless of their identity, would be perceived as a mercenary.

Evelyn said, crossing her arms.

“If you go into the Fortress now and draw unnecessary attention, you’ll easily get caught up in troublesome affairs. You don’t want that, do you?”

…

“…Right?”

“Well…”

He remembered the location of Walter’s true body when he glimpsed into his Mind Imprint then.

An antique high-rise building with tiled roofs. And a particularly spacious balcony there.

Combining the explanations heard from Jenny and Evelyn, it wasn’t hard to guess what it meant for Walter to occupy such a place as an outsider.

There’s a possibility that the Guido Cult has intervened in Palgung Fortress’s internal conflict.

“It’ll be impossible to judge without seeing it directly.”

However, instead of telling Evelyn about these suspicions, Lennok held his tongue.

Not only could he not clearly explain to her why he was suddenly tracking the cult’s traces, but he also didn’t want the Agents to notice the cult’s existence and intervene.

“And that’s why I came prepared like this today.”

Lennok and Evelyn’s steps halted in a secluded alleyway in Vulcan.

At first glance, it looked like a messy construction site, but there was one sight that definitely differed from an ordinary street.

A massive concrete wall, towering as if to pierce the sky.

Below that fortress wall, which stretched endlessly left and right like the wall of a giant castle, hundreds of people lined up, waiting their turn.

On top of that immensely high wall, easily over ten meters tall, dense trees and bushes grew, making it impossible to glimpse the scenery beyond.

Another city built within the city.

One of the two passages connecting Palgung Fortress to the megacity.

“Haa…”

Evelyn sighed softly, but didn’t say anything more to Lennok.

She also knew well that Lennok wouldn’t easily change a decision once he made it.

Instead, Evelyn brought up a completely different topic.

“Are you aware that the Eyes of Blue have been extensively scouting for talent recently?”

“Roughly.”

“As Pandemonium started activities here and there, the number of people burning with eagerness to fight them greatly increased. Among them, capable individuals are seeking to entrust themselves to Lapis, who stands in opposition to Pandemonium.”

…

“Currently, Lapis is too busy to pay attention, but considering the increased number of observers, a summons will likely be issued at some point.”

So, this is a different movement than the situation he heard from Grisha.

“Make sure you think carefully about which identity you’ll use when the summons comes. After all, the number of observers curious about the identity of the wizard who single-handedly defeated the drug lord seems to have increased greatly.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Lennok chuckled, then pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and dangled it.

“So, aren’t you going to explain how to use this now?”

The ticket Evelyn had paid him as compensation from the last Magic Tower incident.

It was an admission ticket to the highest-tier auction house inside Palgung Fortress.

Lennok had precisely three goals when heading to Palgung Fortress this time.

To pursue the Guido Cult’s bishop.

To find traces of time magic within the Fortress.

And to participate in the highest-grade auction held under the Fortress Head’s initiative.

When he first received this ticket as compensation from Evelyn, he had requested it after hearing that time flowed slowly in the ancient ruins inside the Fortress.

There was no better reason to convince Evelyn than this.

“Here.”

…

“Why aren’t you taking it? I bought it nearby while waiting.”

Vegetable sticks in a clear glass cup. Hard vegetables sliced lengthwise, easy to chew.

As Lennok took it with a reluctant expression, Evelyn happily picked out the sticks one by one and ate them.

“I never imagined there’d be a place selling such good quality snacks around here. I should drop by often.”

“…I don’t know much, but usually, they give you sauce to dip these in, don’t they?”

Lennok said, lifting the glass cup, and Evelyn replied naturally.

“Oh, of course, I asked them to leave it out. I’m eating this for health, it’d be terrible if some strange sauce got into it.”

…

Cucumbers and carrots, tomatoes and celery. Bell peppers.

There were quite a few vegetables that easily divided opinions, but Lennok also took a stick to his mouth without much complaint.

When he first arrived in this city, there was a time when he went to great lengths just to ensure nutritional value in his diet.

Such health food, prepared in this manner, was familiar to Lennok.

Evelyn probably offered this without hesitation because she knew what Van used to eat back then.

It was undeniable that he had quickly built a rapport with her in the process.

Evelyn, who had been looking up at Lennok happily as he chewed the vegetables, leaned her back against a nearby wall and spoke.

“Palgung Fortress was established by eight families who gathered and agreed to form an organization. Its inner workings are quite complex, but you could consider it a type of confederation.”

Evelyn said, watching the throng of people steadily gather and enter the Fortress.

“The eight families who contributed to establishing the Fortress are granted privileges and benefits. Naturally, the selection of the Fortress Head also occurs within these eight families.”

“I see.”

It was such an obvious background that Lennok had nothing to say.

It’s common for founding contributors who helped establish an organization to divide all sorts of positions and privileges among themselves.

Occasionally, a leader surpassing the organization’s power might appear, dispose of the founding contributors, and establish new order, but it seemed such a person didn’t exist in the Fortress.

“The problem is that only the eight families can participate in the highest-tier auction held inside the Fortress.”

Lennok, immediately understanding the meaning of her words, furrowed his brow.

“…Wait, does that mean…”

“It means that to enter the Fortress’s highest-tier auction, you fundamentally have to participate as a representative of one of the eight families.”

…

Evelyn tilted her head slightly and said.

“The ticket you’re holding, Van, is a type of invitation directly issued by the Oryun Family, one of the eight families. To be precise, it’s something they created to secure their own representative.”