Chapter 385: A New Project (1)

“Is that… really okay?”

Evelyn, her expression awkward, asked.

“I don’t know much about spell formulas, but constructing a new magic system is something only Grandmasters who have already reached Level 8 or are attempting Ascension can do.”

“It won’t be easy. But…”

Lennok knew that precisely because it was such a difficult task, he had to attempt it now.

To fill Lennok’s vessel to its limit and then make it overflow.

He understood that he had to walk a path entirely different in method and speed from others.

His knowledge of barrier magic, inherited from his conversation with Jindun, only reinforced that conviction.

Knowledge of barrier magic, which systematizes the truths of spell formulas within a framework of barriers, was undoubtedly the most suitable tool for completing a new magic system.

His creation magic, which he had only used to directly manifest necessary spells.

Until now, he had merely put together basic elements and created what he needed on the fly, but now it was different.

Common magic that had existed within Lennok from the beginning.

Innumerable unique spells he had acquired while living in this city.

Ancient alchemy from the Old World, taken from the Drug King, and the barrier magic of the Ascendant.

All those rules and orders, whose forms and principles he had merely borrowed, were now gathered together and arranged according to the laws most suitable for Lennok.

To shed the existing magic system within the Hierarchy and build an entirely new order within himself.

He realized that this was the way for Lennok to reach Level 8 with his talent.

Evelyn, who had been looking up at Lennok for a long time, nodded.

“…I see.”

“If it works out, maybe then I can teach you magic.”

“Ahahaha, me? That’s a truly kind offer.”

At Lennok’s silly remark, Evelyn burst out laughing too.

Lennok smiled slightly at her reaction and shrugged.

“It’s not an impossible notion. If I truly complete a new magic system, it means I can perfectly understand and transmit it… of course, whether you have the magical aptitude for it is another matter.”

“Well, I haven’t particularly thought I needed magic until now, but…”

Evelyn pondered for a moment, then clapped her hands and grinned.

“If you can create magic that makes vegetables never rot, I’ll consider becoming your disciple.”

“…”

It was almost unnecessary to say it now, but she was certainly a consistent person in many ways.

After that, the two disembarked at a terminal near the mega-city and tidied their luggage.

The bustling railway station. The terminal was incomparably larger and more chaotic than the small town they had just left by train.

Lennok nodded, seeing hundreds of unread messages and call logs appear as his phone, which had been out of service for nearly a month, finally caught a signal.

Hundreds of texts and calls from Jenny. Even a few from Jordan. Contacts from the Cartel, as well as the Fortress and other brokers, had reached out.

Glancing at Evelyn, he saw that she, too, seemed to be experiencing something similar, her complexion not looking good.

Evelyn met Lennok’s gaze and let out a small sigh.

“Looks like we don’t have much time to rest.”

“You too?”

She gave a wry smile, took a light breath, and forced a laugh.

“I’d love to have a whisky with that broker if I could… but it looks like we have to part ways here.”

“…Right.”

Lennok nodded and then quietly watched Evelyn as she turned to leave.

Her flowing black hair swayed as if it would disappear into the crowd at any moment.

Lennok, staring blankly at her retreating back, unconsciously opened his mouth and spoke to Evelyn again.

“I’m grateful for this.”

“Oh?”

Lennok slowly spoke, looking directly into Evelyn’s green eyes as she turned back.

“I know there’s more than one reason you decided to join the Eyes of Blue and become a Watcher.”

“…”

“I thought we’d helped each other out many times while we knew each other, but this time, I owe you. I don’t know how I can repay you, but…”

Lennok’s words trailed off.

Evelyn had already approached him and was looking up at Lennok in silence.

After silently gazing at Lennok for a long time, Evelyn slowly raised her hand.

Thump.

Her hand pressed down on Lennok’s head. Lennok silently bowed his head.

Evelyn smiled and said,

“A simple ‘thank you.’ That’s enough.”

“…”

At the railway station where people came and went. What was Evelyn thinking when she reached out to Lennok amidst it all?

Evelyn, slowly stroking Lennok’s head, lowered her hand and shook her head with a bright smile.

“I’m busy, so I should get going. See you next time.”

She turned without waiting for a reply.

Far away, she brought her phone to her ear and vanished like smoke into the crowd.

Lennok watched her retreating figure disappear into the people for a long time.

[Tsk, tsk, tsk…]

Until a clucking sound came from inside his coat.

Lennok’s mouth twitched as he opened his coat collar.

“…Davi?”

[To forget such an intelligent spirit as myself, while worrying about meaningless human affairs. What happened?]

The small fox, with only its front paws sticking out of the inner pocket of the coat, sharply turned its head to look up at Lennok.

[I thought Master, unlike other humans, was an organism with clear discernment, but I seem to have misjudged.]

“I apologize for that. No, more importantly, how did you… without being summoned?”

[Well, isn’t it because Master was desperately calling for me unconsciously?]

“…So you connected to the network system and loaded data as we got closer to the city? Now you can summon and unsummon freely.”

Lennok clicked his tongue, instantly realizing how Davi had appeared beside him without his will.

Davi had installed backup data on the Vulcan City Government’s network in advance, then used that data information as a trigger to self-summon as a spirit.

While this was largely possible because Lennok and Davi had spent a very long time in this city and became accustomed to the network system,

It was now difficult to gauge the extent of the authority granted to this cyber-spirit, who was growing alongside Lennok’s achievements.

[Davi knows nothing.]

Lennok chuckled at Davi’s act of feigning ignorance and avoiding his gaze.

“Just so you know, I didn’t forget you. I just put it off because if I kept feeding you phone battery, I wouldn’t be able to check the accumulated messages.”

[Then shall we quickly return to our beloved frog… no, our home?]

Davi’s answer revealed his obvious ulterior motive.

But Lennok smiled and slowly shook his head.

“That might not be up to us.”

[What do you mean?]

“What I mean is…”

Instead of answering, Lennok slowly began to walk out of the terminal.

Sunlight poured through the glass ceiling. The warm air hit him as soon as he stepped outside.

But apart from that, the street scene in front of the terminal was truly desolate.

It wasn’t because the development around the terminal hadn’t finished yet.

The bustling commercial and urban areas, which should have been completed long ago, were entirely destroyed and collapsed by some force.

The intense clash of magic power was felt as soon as he exited the terminal.

KWAANG!!

Simultaneously, a long column of water soared thousands of meters into the sky in the distance, then vanished.

Lennok looked up at the sight and let out a light sigh.

“It means I might have to go see Jenny right away.”

A month after the Prohibition Edict was lifted in the mega-city.

The chaos unfolding in Vulcan seemed to be spreading much larger and more boisterously than Lennok had imagined.

The sounds of voices from everywhere as he entered Sector 49.

“Look, it’s Van.”

“Adamant Thunder is back…”

“It’s true. To show up at a time like this…”

“So the rumors were true? If so, does that mean he really intends to participate in the war…?”

Lennok naturally furrowed his brow at the unusual gazes.

“…Doesn’t feel good.”

It had been a very long time since he had returned to the face of Van, or been called Adamant Thunder, but he noticed something different mixed into the gazes directed at him.

Rather than caution or fear, there was strong curiosity.

It seemed as if they were curious about his reaction or attitude.

It didn’t bother him now that his ‘Van’ identity was drawing attention, but it did seem necessary to properly understand the situation.

Thinking so, Lennok immediately headed to Jenny’s bar in Sector 49.

As he opened the door and stepped downstairs, all eyes instantly focused on Lennok.

Jenny, who had been glaring at a shaker with her hands on her hips, jumped up with a startled expression.

“Van…!”

“Long time no see.”

As Lennok smiled faintly and nodded, Jenny quickly approached him and whispered.

“What on earth happened in the Northern Continent…! Do you know it’s been over a month?”

“It’s a long story to explain.”

Lennok replied, pulling up a nearby chair and sitting down, then picked up the whisky Jordan poured him.

“It’s a relief you’re back safely. Jenny was very worried.”

“Is that so?”

While Jordan put away his necklace, Jenny, perched next to Lennok, spoke in a rapid tone.

“Van, do you know that an Ascendant recently died?”

“I know.”

“The Battlefield Labyrinth, Hanghasa Labyrinth, collapsed, but not many people know what happened inside. It’s become a huge topic in this chaotic city.”

“…”

“Perhaps you know something about it, or are involved…”

“Hold on a moment.”

Before answering, Lennok subtly looked around.

Despite the eyes that had focused on him the moment he entered the bar, the customers were now chatting among themselves as if nothing had happened.

But it was obvious that most of them were straining their ears to eavesdrop on the conversation happening at their table.

Even if Jenny had taken measures to prevent the conversation from leaking, this wasn’t a topic to discuss in such a setting.

Lennok raised his glass of whisky and naturally changed the subject.

“More importantly, I’d like to hear about what’s been happening in the mega-city first.”

“Van?”

“I left right after the Prohibition Edict was lifted due to the Defense Force’s rebellion, so I don’t know much news. I’d appreciate it if you could explain.”

Lennok glanced around nonchalantly and lowered his voice.

“Judging by the reactions around, something is definitely going on, but Sector 49 is strangely quiet. In fact, it feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a street this intact.”

Lennok hadn’t felt out of place in Sector 49 for no reason.

Sector 49 was originally one of those lawless zones where fights, explosions, terrorism, and crime occurred day in and day out, leaving it never quiet amidst the debris and fragments.

Naturally, there wouldn’t have been a single building or street nearby that wasn’t utterly devastated.

But now, the restored buildings on this street are all intact, and despite the grim atmosphere, there aren’t many disputes.

Lennok’s magical perception, which had returned to normal after leaving the Ascendant’s snowy plain, accurately discerned the overly quiet situation in Sector 49.

“What’s happening in this city right now?”

“I think I can explain that part.”

It wasn’t Jordan or Jenny who answered Lennok, but the man sitting next to them, drinking alone.

His appearance suggested solitary drinking. A loosened tie and a briefcase abandoned on the floor.

His slightly disheveled hair and a face reddened by alcohol.

“This is my first time seeing Adamant Thunder of Sector 49 in person. You’re very different from what I imagined.”

The man chuckled, hiccuped slightly, and turned to Lennok, smiling faintly.

“Even if there isn’t a single proper photo of you, I’ve been imagining your face just from eyewitness accounts.”

“What do you mean you can explain?”

Lennok scoffed and asked, turning to the man.

“Does that mean you’re one of the parties involved in this?”

“Hmm, I’m this kind of person.”

The man smiled somewhat awkwardly, then pulled a business card from his pocket and offered it to Lennok.

Jenny, who snatched it in mid-air, glared at the man and looked away.

“City Government Secret Management Agency… It’s known as an extra-territorial agency that even the Central Council doesn’t dare touch. Why would an agency that even city councilmen defer to come all the way to our bar?”

Jenny said, tapping the shaker with a sweet smile.

“I heard it’s one of the very few departments that survived after being involved in the failure of the Black Consumer Project, you know.”

“That’s precisely why I came to find Adamant Thunder.”

The man smiled with a weary face.

“In this city, where the Prohibition Edict has been lifted, a new project is about to begin after decades.”