Chapter 429: About What’s Changed (4)

Regardless of what Dean Saiolus Garteanon actually thought of Lennok, it seemed true that the terms Lennok proposed for the second thesis were quite appealing to him.

Indeed, within less than a day, a massive amount of research funding began pouring into Aris’s laboratory.

At any rate, if Lennok could handle this matter himself, that would be ideal. Or perhaps, if he confirmed Evan’s tendency to avoid drawing attention, he considered that sufficient.

“He’s much more proactive than I thought. It seems clear he doesn’t want to report this situation to the Bureau of Technical Management.”

Lennok stroked his chin as he checked the numbers on the electronic ledger in the lab computer.

“Or perhaps, he doesn’t want to give the impression that he can’t properly manage an incident that occurred within the school?”

[…….]

“…Davi?”

Lennok turned his gaze toward the unresponsive spirit.

Davi, who had been squatting in a corner of the desk, subtly glanced at Lennok, then turned his head away.

[Buuuu.]

“…?”

Lennok, staring at Davi who was suddenly refusing to converse, gently lifted the spirit onto his lap.

[…]

Lennok, deep in thought, caressed both cheeks of the cyber-spirit whose ears perked up.

“A second thesis, huh…”

When he first wrote the thesis, he had no idea it would create such a ripple effect.

Who would have known that a thesis, which he thought of as merely an excuse to diligently perform his duties as an assistant professor, would become so famous as to influence the entire magical engineering industry?

Because of that, he felt he hadn’t properly utilized the thesis’s value and fame back then.

This time, Lennok intended to thoroughly assess the thesis’s value and fully control its aftermath in a way that benefited him.

‘If I’m going to publish a thesis under Evan’s name, I need to make sure it’s done properly. I can’t remain in this ambiguous assistant professor position like this.’

Of course, all these assumptions rested on the premise that Lennok’s second thesis would indeed generate such a reaction and ripple effect, but Lennok wasn’t particularly worried.

He possessed the talent to view everything from a different perspective than others, and a deep understanding to theorize it himself.

If he could convey the inspirations and ideas he gained only amidst life-or-death battles, then the result would likely not be disappointing.

Thinking so, Lennok embraced Davi and stood up.

“It’s time. The applicant the Dean promised will arrive. I’ve got a rough idea of how this whole thing went down, so let’s deal with it quickly.”

[Buuuu.]

“…Was the battery you ate today not very tasty?”

[…]

He tucked Davi, who tilted his head as if to say ‘this isn’t it,’ into his coat and walked away.

“So, of all people, you’re the one who came to help me?”

“…I have nothing to say, sir. This was just the first task I was assigned upon returning to the university, sir.”

The young man subtly averted his gaze at Lennok’s words.

On the shoulder of the young man, whose hair was swept to one side, hung a light epaulet indicating he was a direct researcher under a chaired professor.

Pavlen Atwood.

When Lennok first entered the university, he was a noble from a prestigious family in his final year, and now, after some time, he is a wizard formally undergoing the process to become a professor.

He once tried to ruin Lennok, who was acquainted with Aris, but after a close ‘conversation’ risking half of his magic, the problem completely disappeared.

Since then, Atwood never tried to approach Lennok first, and Lennok also never contacted him unless it was related to internal university affairs.

“They said you needed someone to accompany you to investigate a dangerous crime scene. It was the Dean’s request, so it was hard to refuse… sir.”

“Drop the honorifics.”

As Lennok spoke with an expressionless face, Atwood flinched.

“It would look suspicious if Pavlen Atwood acted like that towards a mere assistant professor.”

“Ahem, don’t worry, I have no intention of interfering. I haven’t forgotten your… uh… skill. I just need to keep quiet, right?”

Atwood coughed awkwardly, desperately avoiding eye contact. He tried to act nonchalant, but couldn’t stop his voice from trembling.

He didn’t know much about Lennok, but he had a rough idea of how powerful a wizard Lennok was.

Even with the Dean’s request, the very fact that he decided to accompany Lennok on this matter must mean he trusted Lennok’s abilities to that extent.

And there was likely a calculation that by doing the Dean this favor, it would eventually benefit him.

But instead of answering, Lennok stared at Atwood for a long time, then spoke abruptly.

“…Your magic has returned.”

Hadn’t he personally broken and destroyed half of Atwood’s magic on the plains where he accompanied Aris to the academic conference?

But now, upon glancing into his inner self, the half of his magic that had been destroyed was completely restored.

Lennok himself had no memory of returning the lost magic, and there shouldn’t have been an easy way to restore the magic that was evaporated then.

Thwack!

“Hiiik…!”

Lennok looked into Atwood’s eyes, who gasped as if choked the moment Lennok grabbed his shoulder, and asked,

“I don’t recall taking any special measures. How did this happen?”

Lennok’s magic control ability cannot be assessed within the simple framework of Hierarchy or the Peak of Extremes.

It is the essence of mana interference, allowed by transcendent talent and intuition.

The technique of directly touching another wizard’s body and severing the roots of their magic was one of the arts he freely wielded even before completing his Hierarchy.

If the destroyed magic, not just sealed magic, was restored, it must have certainly been done with the help of a practitioner or healer of extraordinary skill.

And if Atwood could connect him with a healer of such skill, right now—

“It’s, it’s not restored…!!”

Trembling, Atwood squeezed out the words with difficulty.

“My family just… just kept increasing my total mana capacity with their support… Please…! It hasn’t been long since it returned to normal…!!”

“…”

So, he didn’t regain the half of his mana that Lennok destroyed, but rather increased the vessel for his mana capacity itself, thus increasing the mana contained within?

For Lennok, who knew how rare elixirs or artifacts that increase one’s innate maximum mana capacity were, this was unexpected.

Lennok himself had only recently managed to manipulate his own mana capacity through a fortuitous encounter, by absorbing the residual mana from the Hanghasa Labyrinth.

A prestigious noble family like Atwood’s might indeed spend valuable elixirs like water for their offspring.

Lennok, watching Atwood tremble with his eyes narrowed almost shut, calmly nodded.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

“You believe me…?”

“There’s no time to verify the truth. If it’s a lie, I can deal with it later… The Dean made a pretty good selection, all things considered.”

“Oh, r-really?”

If Atwood, who once tried to ruin Lennok, was his companion, Lennok felt no particular guilt.

If the situation became unfavorable, he could just use him as a meat shield to a reasonable extent and then discard him. It wouldn’t matter.

In that sense, someone like Atwood was an easy target for Lennok.

Atwood, unaware of this, wore a strange expression, as if he had just received approval from Lennok.

“Let’s leave before sunset. According to the address the Dean gave, it’s in the 38th District.”

“Hmm, I haven’t been to the 40-something districts much… I might not be of much help.”

“…”

“…Ah, I understand. I won’t complain.”

He headed towards the outer district with Atwood, who was sweating profusely with his mouth tightly shut.

It was about a week ago that the Dean received a report about the misuse of the thesis.

It wasn’t merely because the thesis’s findings were used without royalties, but rather because the university became aware of it through protests from businesses already affiliated with them during the process.

A dilapidated workshop located near the 38th District.

There were testimonies confirming the existence of a business that was imitating and producing similar products within that area.

Upon hearing the rumors, the Dean tried to ascertain the facts through university staff, and thereafter, no one survived.

Naturally, there was a large-scale police investigation, but nothing was found during the search.

Now, a week later, only yellow police tape marked the crime scene, and no one was entering.

This must also be the result of the university’s academic department taking measures to preserve the scene.

Click!

He passed through the tape and directly found the small workshop at the address the Dean had provided.

Inside, the large, pervasive bloodstains had already congealed and adhered, simply decorating the surroundings.

Only the outlines marking where bodies had congealed after death, indicated in the police’s manner, were visible.

“Ugh… the smell of blood…”

Atwood, who entered clutching his nose from behind, frowned intensely.

Lennok turned to Atwood and smiled.

“You have a strong stomach. I thought you’d throw up immediately.”

“It’s not that I lack experience due to my family’s traditions. I’m just… not used to it.”

Indeed, otherwise, he wouldn’t have thought of killing Lennok just because he didn’t like him.

“So, what are you planning to do here now?”

Atwood, who had surprisingly quickly grown accustomed to the putrid smell of congealed blood and flesh, asked.

“It’s been over a week since the police investigation concluded. All major evidence, as well as related case records and witness testimonies, should be stored at the precinct.”

“I’ve already checked the case records, and the witnesses’ alibis as well.”

Lennok said, surveying the blood-stained factory production facilities.

“And the key evidence stored at the police station is also on its way here now.”

“…What?”

He had no intention of spending a long time deducing to find the culprit unnecessarily.

He had already formulated a partial answer before coming here; it was merely a matter of fitting the last pieces of the puzzle and confirming it.

No sooner had Lennok finished speaking than the factory door swung open, and someone quickly walked in.

“Evan, I’ve brought the item you requested.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Cassia.”

“…Cassia? Cassia Rubenil?”

Cassia, who handed Lennok a small, wrapped item, gave Atwood a slightly awkward smile.

“Ah, yes… I just came to help out for a bit at Evan’s request. There aren’t many people aware of this matter, you see.”

“It’s an honor to meet the Senior Researcher of the Carlyle Research Institute in person. I heard that your recent project has been receiving a lot of attention, and it truly is an outstanding achievement. Congratulations.”

“Yes…?”

The project at that very institute was based on Lennok’s thesis, yet Atwood was praising her while Lennok was right beside him.

It was natural for Cassia’s expression to turn slightly awkward.

Lennok also turned his gaze toward Atwood with a slightly amused expression.

‘He still doesn’t know I submitted the thesis under Evan’s name.’

Did he join this despite not knowing that, considering the Dean’s request and Lennok’s true identity?

Whether to call him foolish or naive, it didn’t matter now.

Thinking so, Lennok removed the wrapping from the item Cassia brought and held up its contents.

The item, wrapped in a small piece of lab film that could fit in his fingers, was a small necklace.

The necklace, adorned with unknown embellishments, shone clearly, catching the sunset light streaming through the factory window.