Chapter 333: Remnants of Time (2)
Jenny’s bar.
The bar’s subtly lit interior was just as Lennok remembered it.
For the first time in a while, Lennok drank with Jenny and Jordan.
He had been too busy lately, only able to exchange messages instead of visiting her bar.
Jenny also seemed subtly pleased with Lennok’s proposal.
“The Black Consumer Project…”
Hearing the conversation Lennok had with Meyer, Jenny’s expression became uneasy, and Jordan’s face subtly darkened.
“Sounds like that old geezer spouted some nonsense to you. If you want to know about that, you’d get more accurate info from the big shots who’ve been around this scene for ages.”
Jenny scoffed, tossing her twisted hair behind her back.
“Even just the Chairman of Cartel, she’d have been directly involved in that project.”
“Jenny and I, as much as we had strong ties with Kaiser, deliberately kept our distance from anything related to that project.”
Jordan said, sipping his drink.
“Given the clear indications that Kaiser’s death was connected to the project, there would be those who’d try to stop us from even attempting to access that information.”
So, they’d avoided gathering information about the Black Consumer Project to survive.
It wasn’t hard to understand.
For Jenny, Kaiser’s direct descendant, to survive as a broker in this scene, she must have had to give up a lot.
It was obvious how many people would be wary of Kaiser’s bloodline, given he had wielded the greatest influence in this underworld.
Lennok looked at the drink in his hand, then gently set it down.
The brown liquid rippled, spilling slightly over the rim of the glass.
“Jenny.”
Lennok’s voice was quite faint, swallowed by the boisterous noise of the bar.
“Do you want to reclaim Kaiser’s legacy?”
“…”
Lennok’s casually dropped words.
Jenny and Jordan both fell silent.
They both knew exactly what Lennok was thinking when he spoke those words.
The wizard sharing drinks with them now was not someone who spoke carelessly.
A 7th-level superhuman who had survived in this world where failure meant death, and risen to his current position.
He was someone who understood the weight of his own words better than anyone.
What did it mean that Lennok, who had consistently heard about Jenny and Kaiser’s circumstances but never shown interest, was now posing this question to Jenny?
“…No.”
After a long moment of thought, Jenny shook her head.
“I’m not interested in my grandfather’s legacy.”
“…”
“I was able to survive all this time precisely because I considered it not mine and forgot about it. There’s no need to borrow your power to reclaim it now.”
Was she saying she didn’t need it if it was done out of goodwill or as repayment to her? Lennok secretly admired Jenny’s firm stance.
Even as nearly four years had passed since they first formed their partnership and began working together, she was still striving to maintain boundaries.
It was proof that Jenny herself regarded Lennok as a valuable partner.
She knew well that because he was someone she wanted to work with for a long time, she needed to be more careful and considerate in her dealings with him.
Could Jenny’s past, wandering for a long time after leaving Kaiser’s care, have shaped her this way?
Lennok wasn’t confident enough that he knew her well enough to ask that yet.
“I see. But I didn’t necessarily bring this up just for you, Jenny.”
He simply steered the conversation in another direction.
“The last of The Triad, DeadRise… I heard mention of them, so I did a little research.”
Lennok turned his gaze and met Jenny’s eyes.
“DeadRise’s core leadership. Weren’t they once trusted lieutenants who broke away from Kaiser?”
“…”
“Even if it doesn’t concern you now, as your business expands, you’ll eventually encounter them.”
Palgung Fortress, one of The Triad, had fallen, and organizations were still struggling to claim its vacant spot.
But conversely, that meant the authority of The Triad itself had not diminished at all.
Cartel, a monolithic corporation with thousands of subsidiaries straddling the border between Vulcan’s shadows and its legitimate sectors, and DeadRise, considered the most uncompromising and radical armed group.
Wasn’t it because the power and scale of these two organizations were so immense that they ranked among the most powerful in the city’s underworld?
For now, Jenny’s company, backed by Cartel and with a foot in the legitimate world, might have been able to feign ignorance, but the company’s growth, devouring scavenger’s underground distribution networks and swelling in size, was extraordinary.
Before Jenny and Lennok’s business completely swallowed the underworld’s distribution networks and infinitely expanded its influence, the other side would surely intervene.
“That’s…”
Seeing Jenny’s troubled face, Lennok stood up.
The fabric of his shadow coat swayed heavily, obscuring her view like a veil.
“I’m not asking you to decide right away. I also have business in the Northern Continent, so I’ll be away.”
“The Northern Continent.”
Jordan, who had been quietly sipping his drink, spoke up.
He looked up at Lennok thoughtfully and nodded.
“Some of my old friends have been moving to the Northern Continent recently too. It seems something is happening there.”
“I haven’t heard the full details myself yet…”
At Lennok’s words, Jordan touched his neck, then pulled off a necklace strung with a thin chain and offered it.
A scalpel handle adorned with green emeralds. It was an object without a blade.
“If someone recognizes this item, you might be able to get some help. Take it with you.”
“Are you sure it’s alright to lend me something like this?”
“What object could I not give to someone who saved my life?”
Jordan smiled quietly, patted Lennok’s shoulder, and disappeared behind the bar.
“Just make sure you come back healthy.”
“…”
As Lennok silently held the necklace and watched Jordan’s retreating back, Jenny spoke.
“You know Jordan was a doctor, right?”
“…Roughly.”
“It seems he wandered near the Central Front from a young age, learning medicine. He only started working with my grandfather after he turned forty.”
Jenny shrugged, looking at the necklace in Lennok’s hand.
“He might think you’ll cross paths with someone from the Central Front era, Van.”
“I’d be lucky if I don’t meet them as enemies, but…”
Lennok forced a wry smile, set down his drink, and turned his back.
“I’ll come back before I leave the city. It won’t take long.”
“No, I’d rather you make that business trip not take too long.”
Leaving Jenny, who was waving her hand with slightly tipsy eyes, Lennok immediately exited the bar.
“Hmph…”
After meeting Councilman Meyer and spending the entire night at the bar, it was already dawn.
Having chatted with the two and chain-smoked, his mind was clear, but he could already feel his body drooping.
This was despite resting for at least three days without leaving the house after his last job.
He lightly patted his cheeks with both hands and stepped out onto the street.
There was still a lot of work to be done.
The battle with Treffen. Davi’s growth. Sorting out rewards from requests, spoils, and incentives.
Reflecting on past events and refining himself had always been the driving force behind Lennok’s rapid and continuous growth.
The wizard in his coat vanished instantly into the foggy street.
“So, additional modifications focused on increasing power are difficult?”
“Are you going to make me repeat myself?”
The workbench in his home laboratory.
Palmer’s loud voice poured out from the phone he’d tossed in one corner.
“It’s possible to increase the firepower of the rechargeable shotgun itself, but then there’s no telling when the stabilization work would be finished!”
“Hmm…”
Click, click.
Even as he mumbled a reply, Lennok’s hands moved ceaselessly across the workbench.
At the same time, brilliant azure magical light bloomed like dazzling flowers in various places, then vanished.
Boom!!
As the noise grew louder, Palmer’s voice also gradually rose.
“This shotgun is a custom-made item, called a masterpiece even in my hometown. The power itself might have limits, but its performance, prioritizing efficiency, is perfectly suited for its purpose. I don’t know how you sweet-talked Mauser into getting your hands on this thing… Damn it, it’s really loud!!!”
“My apologies. I can’t exactly cast a noise-dampening spell on the phone network.”
“Then stop that damn work and talk on the phone, you arrogant brat!!”
The shouting echoed loudly through the phone, but Lennok continued his work without batting an eyelid.
Palmer, knowing that Lennok knew Mauser, a craftsman from the Machine City, would have no choice.
He felt sorry for Palmer, but Lennok didn’t have much time; he had to handle several tasks simultaneously.
Davi, draped loosely like a scarf over Lennok’s shoulder, mumbled.
[Master… How long do I have to do this…? Yawwwn…]
“Just a few more times, please. Bear with it for a moment.”
Since returning to the megacity, Davi had been sleeping much more.
More precisely, ever since she awakened her spirit domain and her tail grew to three.
Normally, she’d force herself awake and move with Lennok, but once they returned home, she’d burrow into her little house and purr, and Lennok never bothered her.
Lennok knew that Davi’s somewhat excessive sleeping was related to her growth.
It was likely her mind processing and accepting the rapidly increased spiritual presence and vessel.
Yet, there was one task at this moment where he needed her help, even if it meant waking her.
[Generating temporary space in 3 seconds… 3… 2… 1…]
Crack!!
With Davi’s slow words, the pile of carapaces on the workbench split apart with clean cuts, like a watermelon.
Dazzling magical light bloomed and then vanished, and the split carapaces fell to either side of the workbench, emitting heavy thuds.
Thud!!
“Aargh!! Seriously!!”
Against the backdrop of Palmer’s annoyed shouts, Lennok continued trimming, organizing, and manifesting temporary space.
Lennok was currently focused on processing the carapace chunks extracted from Apostle Walter’s body.
Until now, there had been no way to process these carapaces, which wouldn’t even crack under normal impact, so he’d just haphazardly summoned them as shields. But now, it was different.
Faint cracks had formed on the exterior of the carapace pile from the battle with Croken.
He was using the temporary space manifestation technique, stolen from a Gearsight combatant, to push out the cracks in the carapace, space and all.
No matter how sturdy the armor, resisting the force of space being pushed out from within was impossible.
He meticulously traced the direction and roots of the faint cracks, then delicately pushed temporary space into them, splitting the carapace along the desired direction and grain.
Though it cracked under Croken’s power, it essentially meant it was a material sturdy enough to withstand anything less than that level of monstrous strength.
The apocalypse floating in the dark sea beyond the world. The body of an Apostle granted that power.
How much bizarre power and principle was contained within this strangely durable material, he couldn’t yet determine…
Using it from a distance, like this, was enough.
Even damage sustained from the aftermath of battle could, when considered differently, become a potential new tool.
Lennok had no intention of letting this incredibly sturdy item sit around as a useless burden.
“This isn’t bad.”
Lennok took a light breath, looking at the countless processed pieces piled on the workbench.
Ten layers of carapace shields that could be added to an existing shield. Twenty spear shafts for throwing. And dozens of fragments large enough to be processed into bullets.
It would be difficult to carry all these items, but it was possible to engrave summoning seals and use them as all-purpose offensive and defensive weapons.
It was undoubtedly a move that would significantly increase Lennok’s combat endurance beyond his current limits.
“So, what are you going to do? Just repair the worn-out parts?”
“Just a moment, please.”
Lennok relayed that message and began the final process of splitting the carapace fragments.
If increasing the rechargeable shotgun’s power was possible, but it couldn’t be efficient without parts that could withstand such power and recoil…
Couldn’t Lennok just create those parts and bring them?
While making useful shields, Lennok also intended to replace all the shotgun parts with carapace fragments, significantly increasing its power.
“I’ll finish preparations and head over in three hours.”
“Do whatever you want. I’ll be drinking, so don’t forget to bring some snacks when you come.”
Lennok, who had cut off the blacksmith’s call as if running errands were the most natural thing, casually picked up a remote control.
The process of identifying cracks in the carapace and splitting it along the grain was almost complete. All that remained was the simple task of sizing and squaring.
Turning on the TV to fill the silent lab with some white noise, news poured out as if it had been waiting.
[Discussions to lift the Prohibition Edict are accelerating in the City Government Central Council. It is the first time in nearly 20 years that a matter consistently raised in the lower house has begun to be formally debated in the upper house-]
“…”
At the news he couldn’t ignore, Lennok stopped his hands and listened intently.
[Amid growing concerns from citizens regarding urban security, the Council plans to announce its official stance within a few days-]
It was natural for Vulcan citizens to show resistance.
Since the fact that the Defense Force had staged a coup was resolved in strict secrecy and buried, most people wouldn’t understand why the Prohibition Edict was being lifted.
What reason would the City Council present to justify the current situation?
It would be a lie to say Lennok wasn’t curious, but unfortunately, it seemed he wouldn’t be able to witness the process and outcome directly.
Clack!!
Having processed the necessary parts for the shotgun’s modification and repair, Lennok quickly packed his things and left the workshop.
The rechargeable shotgun, which amplified its power by preheating mana, had been of considerable help to Lennok so far.
No matter how much his personal mana and magic level increased, Lennok had no intention of giving up this efficient firearm.
Just as he picked up Davi, who was nodding off, to tuck her into his coat.
[Master.]
The little fox lifted her head.
Simultaneously as her three tails twitched slightly, Davi spoke.
[Your phone. A message came.]
“What?”
Davi, who usually didn’t pay much attention to anyone but Lennok, wasn’t one to readily announce message notifications.
Lennok immediately pulled out his phone, realized the reason, and broke into a cold sweat.
“…It’s come.”
[The moment to pay the price for overworking me has come.]
Lennok lightly squeezed Davi’s arrogant snout to make her shut up, then slowly began to prepare himself.
A very familiar name and message appeared on his phone screen.
[Aris: I have something to say. Can we meet briefly?]