Chapter 273: A Spectacular Beginning (4)

Boom!!

Only then did Lennok let out a sigh, retracting the mana threads he had bound Chen with.

“Ugh…!!”

As soon as the mana threads were released, sweat poured down Chen’s face as he grimaced and slumped to the ground.

Though he had done his best within limits that wouldn’t strain his body, it didn’t mean it didn’t consume his stamina.

Rather, the muscle aches that coursed through Chen’s body, as a result of pushing himself to his limits more than ever before, must have been unimaginable.

As his physical abilities were forcibly amplified and his senses sharpened through the [Remnant Thunder Body], the ensuing backlash was inevitable.

But ultimately, thanks to Chen’s hardship, Lennok was able to conserve mana to the extreme during his battle with Paldun.

One fully overcharged double-barrel shotgun blast, pre-charged over several days.

And with only mana thread manipulation, which consumed almost no mana, he had succeeded in directly defeating one of the Eight Families.

Lennok lightly patted Chen’s shoulder as he sat slumped.

“You worked hard.”

“Damn it… I don’t know whether to say thanks or be annoyed.”

Though his whole body ached, Chen knew that the experience gained from this ordeal was immeasurably important.

How many people could have directly experienced the property transformation of mana, which they hadn’t even learned yet, with their own bodies?

Just clearly grasping the concept of property transformation was a huge gain for a physical ability user like Chen.

Chen sighed deeply and lay down on the ground.

“Since we’ve gone this far, you two can handle Samyeong yourselves.”

“That’s great.”

Manson interjected, his robot head gleaming.

“Van, what you were doing looked really fun. Do it for me sometime, huh?”

“It’s too much for now. If I manipulate a Commander Wizard who’s learned Property Transformation, my control will go wild.”

Lennok felt the same regret.

If he had known it would be this efficient, he would have tested it on others earlier.

Among those who hadn’t yet properly mastered Property Transformation, individuals with good senses or sensitivity would undoubtedly show even better efficiency than Chen.

‘Weian or Hina would have been good test subjects… but it’s impossible for now.’

The key was whether they could follow the ideal movements and motor skills Lennok envisioned in his mind to a certain extent.

With Weian’s sensitivity, matching Lennok’s will would be no problem, and Hina, who had an exceptionally good compatibility with Remnant Thunder Body, would respond flexibly to bio-electric current manipulation.

If he tried a few more times, he might even be able to react to mana corruption from Property Transformation during mana thread manipulation… but there was something he had to do first.

At the center of the half-destroyed mansion, amidst the debris caught in Lennok’s charged shot.

The family head, whose arms were broken by Manson’s grip, lay collapsed.

His face looked as if he had aged rapidly in that short time. The arrogant confidence that had filled his face was gone, replaced only by a blank despair dripping from his eyes.

“So there was a reason Paldun wasn’t even considered among the five families.”

Lennok met the family head’s gaze and said with a calm expression.

“They probably never thought a force like yours would pose a threat to seizing control of the Fortress.”

Even without the charged shotgun, the outcome wouldn’t have been different.

Although other warriors belatedly moved to attack Lennok, they didn’t even possess the skill to touch Lennok’s true self.

Ho-jeo was somewhat noteworthy among them, but ultimately, when Lennok used Chen to tie him down and then attacked the mansion directly, didn’t it crumble?

These people had boasted they could capture Lennok before he even cast a spell, but in the end, they showed nothing in action.

There was no need to take in or kill such useless individuals.

It was highly likely that the other families, led by Ilwon, thought the same.

A dry cough escaped the family head’s lips.

“Cough! Hah, hah… you talk a big game.”

After countless emotions flashed across the family head’s face, only a sneer remained.

“You act as if everything’s over just because you trampled our family. Do you really think the Fortress will fall into your hands?”

“That doesn’t seem to be your concern.”

Manson, dragging the unconscious Ho-jeo from behind Lennok, threw his large body in front of the family head.

Boom!!

“…!”

The family head’s expression twitched upon seeing the unconscious Ho-jeo’s mangled state.

His face changed color when Manson inserted a blade between Ho-jeo’s neck.

Lennok calmly watched the change in expression and spoke.

“As promised, I’ll take Paldun’s qualification as a proxy. You agree, don’t you?”

“Ugh…”

Lennok, meeting the family head’s complicated gaze directly, carefully drew out his mana.

He observed the intricately tangled and twisted mana flow within the family head’s body, tracing the imprints of his [Mind Imprint] within.

If his emotions were shaken and his mind disturbed to this extent, it wouldn’t be difficult to look into his inner world.

The important thing was to confirm who among the Eight Families had allied with the [Guido Cult].

Lennok extended his mana into the family head’s heart the moment he wasn’t even aware of it.

As Lennok’s eyes turned violet, the family head’s lips reluctantly opened.

The news that Oryun and Yukryeong had joined forces to overthrow Paldun spread throughout the Fortress in an instant.

Van and Manson. And even Chen’s name, rapidly rising as a new proxy, would quickly become known to the Fortress residents.

It rendered the previous information restrictions meaningless, but if the cost was gathering the proxies of three families in one place, it didn’t matter.

The four families led by Ilwon, the three families centered around Van, and Samyeong, who observed the situation alone.

Regardless of the specific details and circumstances, wouldn’t this three-way struggle be enough to reignite the tension within the Fortress?

Furthermore, the fact that Yukryeong’s proxy, who had sided with Ilwon, had now joined Oryun, would be considered a significant development by the other families.

Indeed, the scattered members of the [Oryun Family] were once again gathering under Soo-ryun’s name.

They repaired the ruined mansion, restocked disappeared food, purchased weapons, and gathered troops, preparing for war.

Lennok watched the scene with Soo-ryun, a cigarette in his mouth.

“It’s much different than I thought… which makes it even stranger.”

“What do you mean?”

“The proxy system itself is like that.”

Lennok replied, exhaling smoke.

The family head could choose a proxy, but couldn’t arbitrarily revoke that qualification.

Transferring that qualification was only possible through a [Proxy Battle].

“A system that seems to have been created solely for internal power struggles within the Fortress. But who maintains the rules to ensure it runs properly?”

“…”

“If everyone is fielding proxies and participating in the struggle, someone needs to act as an arbitrator and ensure the rules are followed.”

Deciding the [Fortress Head] isn’t a sport with spectators and rules.

Rather, isn’t power and status something desperately desired, even if it means readily breaking regulations?

From Lennok’s perspective, having grown up in the shady underbelly of Vulcan where rules and order were nonexistent, this proxy war within the Fortress was difficult to understand.

“If I were the family head of Ilwon, instead of doing all this bothersome stuff, I would have just made my move once I had won over the other four families. It wouldn’t be hard to find a plausible justification once you have the majority consent of the Eight Families.”

The situation was clearly different from the [Cartel], another of [The Triad].

The reason the Cartel maintained its internal hierarchy was because an absolute leader, [Olivera Ron Maize], held the center.

But for [Palgung Fortress], having lost its leader, the Fortress Head, to maintain organizational order and rules was extremely awkward.

“If they’re meticulously following formal procedures, there’s only one reason.”

Lennok’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“The leader of the family alliance is interested in something other than the Proxy Battle itself, something that will arise from it.”

And the one who designed that plan was likely [Walter Martinez], the Bishop of the [Guido Cult].

What exact purpose was he pursuing within this Fortress, and were his actions related to time-based magic?

Lennok’s tasks were clearly defined.

Having succeeded in securing the minimum justification to avoid being swept away by the situation, it was now time to make direct contact with the key figures of the Fortress.

“Samyeong, responsible for the Fortress’s outer defenses. Their family head is known to be a Superhuman who completed his [Hierarchy].”

He mumbled, cigarette in mouth.

“That man, who has remained silently observing the situation until now, might hold other information.”

Soo-ryun looked up at Lennok’s face and muttered softly.

“I think I understand why Chen rated you so highly. You’re definitely a different kind of person than me.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not easy to have convictions that aren’t swayed by circumstances. That’s something decided deep within one’s heart, regardless of one’s inherent ability.”

Before Lennok could reply, Soo-ryun silently turned her head.

“I couldn’t. I thought I could never escape this Fortress, even as my father drowned himself in the pleasures he created.”

“…”

“Perhaps, when Chen told me to run away together, I should have taken his hand instead of making flimsy excuses?”

She muttered, sweeping back her long, slender hair.

“If I had lived freely outside with other people, could I have changed too?… I sometimes think about that.”

Soo-ryun said that and gave an awkward laugh.

“Haha… I said something useless. What am I even talking about to someone I’ve only known for less than a week…”

She said that, trying to casually gloss over her inner feelings, but Lennok didn’t laugh, listening to her rambling with a calm expression.

Soo-ryun’s words just now weren’t because she felt comfortable with Lennok or trusted him.

She was hoping.

Wondering if this wizard could truly break the tangled connections of this tiresome Fortress.

Because she wanted to know if he possessed the ability and wisdom to do so.

Lennok replied.

“I’m not as great a person as you think.”

Meeting Soo-ryun’s gaze, Lennok continued with a humorless face.

“But one thing I know clearly.”

“…”

“Act according to choices that satisfy yourself. Pride and honor, profit and loss, are all secondary matters.”

“That’s…”

“If you know that, then even if you make mistakes or do wrong, you won’t regret it for long.”

Soo-ryun gave a weak laugh at Lennok’s words.

“Is there no way not to regret at all?”

“Well. I don’t know that far.”

Knowing how far his own talent could reach, Lennok didn’t bother to suppress or control himself to fit the environment.

What took precedence over everything else was overcoming his limits and grasping the edge of his talent.

This was possible because he knew better than anyone what he wanted and desired.

Lennok reached into his pocket, looking down at her pensive face.

“But the very fact that you awakened Property Transformation while struggling with such thoughts… proves your potential.”

Unlike Chen, who had experienced all sorts of hardships directly traversing [Vulcan]’s underworld and was only now getting a grasp on mana’s Property Transformation.

What did it mean that she, who had focused solely on spear techniques within the Fortress, had reached the [Commander Wizard] realm?

The two half-siblings’ talents developed in distinctly different directions, but in terms of martial aptitude, Soo-ryun’s talent far surpassed Chen’s.

So much so that Lennok himself coveted her skill.

“Contact me if you need to. Even if it’s not within the Fortress, there are good opportunities everywhere.”

“…”

Soo-ryun held the business card Lennok gave her, staring at it for a long time.

Inside a dark room.

Two people faced each other, separated by a bamboo screen.

“It’s not surprising.”

A calm voice spoke.

“It was already foreseen since the Yukryeong proxy disappeared with them.”

“[My apologies.]”

“But I never imagined they would side with Oryun, attack Paldun, and consolidate three forces. No, it’s not even a consolidation. In fact, they’ve just gathered three proxies and barely seized one justification.”

“[….]”

The voice was not wrong.

It was illogical, not a rational move that they could have anticipated, which was why they couldn’t predict it.

Even if they gathered the proxies of three families in one place, what meaning would it have if they couldn’t actually leverage the power of those families?

Yukryeong’s proxy was taken, but the family still obeyed Ilwon, and Paldun was half-annihilated.

Through this, the Oryun proxy gained one justification.

Only one: that the Fortress Head determination battle would begin without the majority consent of the Eight Families.

Could that wizard truly intend to overturn the internal power struggle of the Fortress through battles between proxies?

“Interesting. But foolish.”

Rustle.

The shadow beyond the bamboo screen slowly rose from its seat.

Stepping forward, parting the curtain strung with jade beads, was an elderly woman with silver hair.

The sharp-featured elder, whose intensely cold eyes were striking, muttered.

“Given they’re focusing their efforts on the Proxy Battle, they probably don’t even know who our collaborator is. There’s no need to pay them any mind.”

“[But other families have contacted us, saying they’ll take action first. They say things will get troublesome if Samyeong enters the fray…]”

“Fools…”

There was nothing but frustration for the ignorant who didn’t know the truth, but it couldn’t be helped.

The secret held by the old woman was too private and sordid to share with the heads of other families.

Given her current position, where she still had to be mindful of external gazes, it was difficult to overtly stop them.

The old woman sighed and nodded.

“Fine. But forbid them from fielding proxies. Things will get complicated if more proxies are taken before the determination battle even begins.”

“[Understood.]”

Just as the dark figure said that and started to rise.

The old woman’s hand, flying from behind, gripped his head.

Thwack!!

“That wasn’t meant for you.”

“[Gasp…!!]”

The figure began to tremble violently, as if struck by lightning.

The old woman looked down at his frightened form and muttered coldly.

“I can tolerate letting the Yukryeong proxy escape, but gathering information only after Paldun was subjugated isn’t a matter of attitude or conduct.”

“[Forgive… me, please!]”

As the old woman clenched her hand, dark red veins bulged from her arm, and in an instant, the figure’s head was crushed.

Crackling!!

The figure’s brains splattered onto her crimson arm, creating a gruesome scene.

The old woman looked at her hand with an indifferent face, then casually flicked it clean.

“I won’t say it twice.”

“[I heed your words.]”

Behind her, another dark figure had appeared at some point, kneeling.

“You should not ruin things with careless actions, but those who persist in passive responses will not live longer than I.”

“[….]”

“Remember, I tolerate laziness and negligence, but I do not forgive incompetence in results.”

The old woman stared blankly at the liquid flowing on her hand, then slowly licked it.

Her face, as she closed her eyes and savored the human traces, had completely transformed into that of a young woman.

The alien vitality overflowing her entire body was proof that her outward appearance was not merely an illusion.

It was proof of a miracle, of overturning the hourglass of life that was inexorably running out.

Despite the chilling and bizarre signs of rejuvenation, the old woman’s face was filled only with endless languor and satisfaction.

“…A good taste. Not a bad feeling.”

After a long while, the old woman’s mumbled words contained an eerie sensibility that could no longer be considered human.

“This much should be expected, shouldn’t it? For me, who has dedicated so long to the Fortress, this much…”

Behind her, as she endlessly muttered to herself as if drunk, a gigantic root pattern silently overlooked her from the wall.