Chapter 508: Mid-Term Settlement (9)

Lennok slowly imprinted his will as he gazed at The Idol’s clenched fist.

Wooong!!!

Through an 8-stage causality adjustment, information from the Old World was re-outputted.

Though it claimed to settle any desired information for the recipient, Lennok had already grasped the blind spot The Doctor hadn’t mentioned.

‘It’s not just any information you want that can be settled.’

The Idol’s ability doesn’t directly read the causality of a world that has already perished and extract information from it.

Rather, it returns a portion of the data extracted from Old World artifacts or information that Pandemonium has collected so far, back to its members.

Given that they’ve adopted this method of settlement from the start, it’s certainly true that the accumulated Old World data, technology, and information are truly immense.

Naturally, Lennok had to consider the possibility that the information he desired might not be in The Idol’s database.

‘In the worst case, I might not get the information I want, and my purpose alone could be conveyed to The Doctor.’

Information that Lennok needed immediately, and that Pandemonium was highly likely to have obtained through their past work.

Yet, a theme useless for deducing or inferring Lennok’s true identity.

At the same time, a secret valuable enough to fully utilize the enormous 8-stage adjustment.

From the moment he heard the word ‘settlement,’ Lennok had already made his decision.

Whoosh……!!

As his desired will was transmitted to The Doctor through The Idol, The Doctor let out a faint murmur.

“Oh, this is… how did you…”

“If it’s difficult, we can try something else.”

“……No, it’s fine. But to think, at this point…”

The Doctor, who had been contemplating alone, finally nodded.

“However, this settlement might be reported to the Director later. If you’re fine with that, I’ll permit it.”

“Is that even a question?”

Lennok chuckled.

“At least talk after you’ve contacted the Director.”

“……If you know that much, then it doesn’t matter.”

The Doctor, who had let out a strange laugh, twitched, and at the same time, a faint light emanated from The Idol.

Kiiing……!!

Simultaneously, The Idol’s tightly clenched hand slowly opened, and from within, an old book enveloped in a mysterious magic circle appeared.

Dozens of wrinkled pages, appearing as if they would crumble at any moment, were densely inscribed with an unknown array of magic circles and ancient characters.

Even the name on the very first page was so faintly written and distorted that it was barely legible.

But Lennok casually glanced over it and, without a moment’s hesitation, tucked it into his pocket.

Because he knew that the fact that this item had been properly settled was virtually impossible at this point.

And that no other member should ever notice that fact.

‘Libra of Fate, Five Ultimate Arts.’

An item Lennok remembered as a legendary arcane grimoire in WORLD 1.0.

It was famous as a top-tier magic textbook said to contain the profound secrets of five different systems, but very few players actually used this grimoire.

For wizards who found it difficult to master multiple systems simultaneously, the Libra of Fate grimoire, which contained only the profound secrets of five systems without a specific curriculum, was not very effective.

There were even rumors that the Five Ultimate Arts grimoire itself was a mimicry of the ultra-transcendental unique magic system, Ten Laws of the World, which only existed in the lore. As such, despite its power and unique content, its value had already plummeted by the time WORLD 2.0 was released.

However, Lennok chose the content of this grimoire, which had low utility despite its fame, for another reason.

‘Among the grimoires I remember from the game, this is the only one that simultaneously possesses the themes of time and space.’

What Lennok needed to focus on wasn’t merely spatial manipulation magic.

Perhaps it was another opportunity to reach out to the concept of time-based unique magic, which might solve Lennok’s fundamental problem.

He might have been able to demand a time-based unique grimoire from The Doctor, but it would have been useless without a grasp of the concept of time itself.

It was more rational to choose a grimoire that contained both spatial and temporal themes, delve deep into the concept of space, and then set a stepping stone to transition to the concept of time.

Moreover, if it was a famous grimoire in WORLD 1.0, it must have been famous in the real first world as well.

Lennok believed that such information would surely exist as causality among the Old World information collected by Pandemonium.

The Doctor looked down at Lennok with a strange gaze, then sharply turned his head.

“Let’s continue the settlement. Those who wish to participate, step forward.”

At his words, Vernon, who had not yet participated in the settlement, tilted his head, clinking his liquor bottle.

“Victor, what do I need to bring? Time’s almost up.”

“……”

“If you hesitate too much, it’ll be over quickly. If my share disappears because you dragged your feet, what good would a filter or anything be?”

“The names and personal details of famous martial artists from the first world.”

Lennok replied to Vernon’s words.

Lennok’s eyes, hidden behind the mask, gleamed coldly.

“Or ask The Doctor for anecdotes related to them.”

Originally, he wanted to focus on magic musketeers, but that theme might be too easily pinpointed.

If he obtained such an item with an 8-stage adjustment, then information that could be reasonably requested with half of that, a 4-stage adjustment, would suffice.

Now that he had obtained the items needed for Hierarchy and spell research, it was time for Lennok to uncover the secrets left to him.

Behind Vernon, who walked toward The Idol with a tilted head, Sabrinah signaled towards the theater exit.

“Is it alright for you to come out to a place like this?”

“It doesn’t matter. What are you worried about?”

In the secluded parking lot behind the theater’s back exit.

Sabrinah, who had been waiting in a corner where the cold night air swirled, smiled.

“The Doctor can’t leave until the settlement is over anyway.”

“That’s not just due to an unwritten rule or organizational discipline, is it?”

“Of course, it’s a form of Geas.”

Sabrinah nodded nonchalantly.

“After all, The Idol’s ability itself was created by borrowing the power of forbidden magic.”

“……”

“I added some of my Word Curses and The Clown’s illusions, but it’s essentially The Doctor’s masterpiece.”

Sabrinah chuckled.

“To embed a system that exchanges Old World causality into an object weighing less than tens of tons… The Doctor is indeed a monster. A very smart and extraordinary one at that.”

“I see…”

Lennok somewhat agreed with her words.

Even after personally injecting magic into The Idol and activating the system, he couldn’t grasp its principles or operating mechanism.

Perhaps The Doctor created an entirely new system or set of rules solely to independently manage the laws of the Old World.

Sabrinah seemed to have some inkling of this fact.

“Anyway, what I want to say is this: if you have any useful information, I want to exchange it.”

Sabrinah said.

“Since you came in on Myeong’s recommendation and even visited the Well of the Codex, you must have seen and heard quite a lot.”

“……”

“As I said earlier, I need highly important yet volatile information.”

“Is it because you need to use it urgently elsewhere?”

Sabrinah nodded at Lennok’s words.

“Yes. Just as you said, the news that Amrita died and Apostle spells are temporarily unusable… something like that would be perfect. Tell me if you know anything.”

“What’s the price?”

“I’ll tell you some information we already know, one by one. How about if you feel it meets the standard, we make the exchange?”

Lennok involuntarily laughed at her words.

For someone suggesting an information exchange, the terms were overwhelmingly favorable to Lennok.

“You must be quite urgent.”

“There’s an important meeting scheduled. Information about Amrita alone isn’t enough.”

“……”

“The reason I’m telling you this first is because I first heard about Amrita’s death from you. Considering that, let’s try to make a deal.”

Lennok nodded.

“Go ahead and talk.”

“……Alright. Since there’s a mega-city nearby, shall we start with information about that?”

Before he could react, Sabrinah spoke.

“Deadrise, the PMC called one of The Triad of Vulcan’s underworld. Their headquarters, which advanced to the central front, will return to Vulcan soon.”

“……”

“The front lines have quieted down due to the truce between the Order Alliance and The Cult. They’ll likely take about half a year to rest and then return to the front.”

Deadrise, one of the super-large organizations alongside Cartel and Palgung Fortress, known as The Triad in the underworld of the mega-city Vulcan.

Did this mean the private military company, which had only been the subject of rumors with no movements, was finally returning to the mega-city?

He knew their main forces were operating outside the city, but he hadn’t known they had advanced to the central front.

Did they grow their power in the city’s underworld and even extend their business to the central front with that strength?

He had wondered why news about them had been strangely scarce, but he never imagined it was for that reason.

However, Lennok showed no sign and adjusted his mask.

“Continue.”

“Still not enough? Then how about the information that Ascendant Jinwa has found a new method to achieve Ascension?”

With Lennok silent, Sabrinah continued.

“There were rumors that he was trying to imitate the demise of the Outer Sea, and the symptoms seem to be getting worse. It’s a serious problem for Word Sorcerers like us.”

“……”

“Should I tell you more about the central front? Thorben Magic Tower is withdrawing from the front. There’s intense tension with the Order Alliance over related matters.”

Sabrinah began to subtly gauge Lennok’s reaction.

“I’ve brought out what I consider the latest information… Is it still not enough?”

“……No, let’s stop here for now.”

It would be troublesome to extract too much from Sabrinah and unnecessarily invite suspicion.

“Since we started with a mega-city theme, I’ll do the same.”

Lennok naturally shifted the topic back to the mega-city, which he knew best, and opened his mouth.

“The Vulcan City Council is preparing a new project to succeed the Black Consumer Project.”

“……!!”

“It’s already gone through one trial and error and is in the detailed planning stage.”

“Is that reliable information?”

“It’s what I heard directly from a City Council official.”

Since it was a story he heard directly from Madrich Onnion himself, it was not incorrect.

“Some of the development personnel who participated in the Black Consumer Project are involved, and people from the Military City are also related.”

“Wait a minute… This is too sensitive.”

Sabrinah said with a stiff face.

“No. I’m sorry, but I can’t use this information. It could cause a war between cities.”

Lennok smiled coldly.

“Do I need to consider such things when speaking?”

“……”

Sabrinah pondered for a long time before shaking her head.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it. Instead, I’ll give you a few more pieces of information from our side, so let’s talk about something else.”

Sabrinah then spoke about the central front, the movements of the Eyes of Blue, and the civil war in the Western Continent Republic.

Lennok listened quietly, then spoke again.

“The Cult seems to have found a new way to achieve Ascension. Rumor has it they’ve already finished clinical trials.”

“Ugh…”

Sabrinah’s face turned slightly pale.

“No, how do you… What kind of work are you doing outside of Pandemonium?”

When Lennok didn’t answer, Sabrinah quietly put a little distance between them.

Her face was tinged with faint fear.

“……There was a reason you participated in the Ascendant operation. You must be a person of very high status, aren’t you?”

“……”

“These are all pieces of information that you absolutely couldn’t know without such conditions backing you up. Don’t tell me, the Director or Myeong directly…”

Lennok shook his head at Sabrinah, who was starting to make ridiculous assumptions.

He had given her an adapted version of the facts he knew, but it seemed to her that the risk was excessively high.

However, both pieces of information he just mentioned were burdens Lennok could afford to leak to the outside world.

The City Council’s new project, The Cult’s new Ascension.

Both were more likely to turn the tables in Lennok’s favor the more actively they were known to and checked by outside forces.

That was why Lennok could talk about these things without hesitation, even knowing that others were eavesdropping on this conversation.

Thinking so, Lennok turned his gaze towards the alley behind Sabrinah.

“This Word Sorcerer says so, what do you think?”

“……Neither the Director nor the King of the Underworld would do such a bothersome thing.”

Soryu, who appeared from between the alleyways with a cold expression, said with an emotionless face.

“If you have something you want to do while avoiding our gaze, there’s no need to wear a mask. It’s purely a misunderstanding.”

“Soryu…!!”

Sabrinah gnashed her teeth and spun around.

“You heard everything, you rat bastard!!”

“That’s an odd thing to say.”

Soryu replied without batting an eyelid.

“Willfully acquiring necessary information is a rational act. There’s no reason to be blamed.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?! We came out separately because we had something to discuss among ourselves!! No, more importantly, how did you get in when I set up a Word spell?!”

“Are you talking about this?”

Crackle…!!

The unknown character array in Soryu’s hand was frozen solid.

Sabrinah saw it and foamed at the mouth in surprise.

“How did you…!!”

“If you materialize magic and leave it behind, the effect is powerful, but it also becomes easy to interfere with.”

Soryu, who shattered the frozen character formation with one hand, walked closer and said.

“You should be cautious against a superhuman who understands the concept transformation of attributes.”

“This…!!”

Soryu passed Sabrinah, who was about to go wild, and stood before Lennok with a subdued gaze.

Two superhumans faced each other, with the cool night air at their backs.

Soryu stared at Lennok’s mask and spoke.

“When we met in Kaiushyu, you showed no inclination to participate in the Well operation.”

“……”

“If it was decided after you left the city, it’s not surprising that Hylaea didn’t know. That’s not the important thing.”

Did he already have some idea of how Lennok came to participate in the jungle operation?

Soryu, who dismissed what had happened in a few words, asked.

“Was the Director there?”

“……If you heard about the jungle incident, you’d know.”

Lennok tilted his head slightly.

“The Clown led the operation, and I merely assisted. I didn’t see the Director.”

“Agneta said you took on the most important role at the end and succeeded.”

Soryu replied coldly.

“I’m asking if there was any help or arrangement from the Director in that process.”

Only then did Lennok realize that what Soryu was referring to was not the Director himself, but the stake that had been driven into Kebaek’s body at that time.

The last Geas slumbering in Kebaek’s body.

The stake that activated the command to challenge Ascension once again. An item the Director himself had created and handed over.

Soryu was speculating that there must have been an arrangement by the Director at the end of the jungle operation and was asking about its inner workings.

“I understand what you mean.”

Lennok nodded.

“But there’s no reason for me to tell you.”

“……”

The surrounding air instantly turned chilly.

Even without Soryu drawing out his magic, the air in the vicinity was turning cold with just a faint hint of killing intent.

This was proof that Soryu was not only proficient in ice-type attributes but had also become one with his ability.

As Sabrinah, watching from the side, frowned and stepped back, Lennok spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“You could just ask The Clown or Freya, but since you haven’t, it must mean there’s something you want to hear from me.”

“Ohh…”

Sabrinah, who let out an involuntary gasp, subtly closed her mouth, and Soryu’s gaze turned icy.

“Should I really tell that to someone who was just eavesdropping on our conversation?”

“What do you want?”

“The skull staff you intended to use against Gapseon in Kaiushyu. Or the restraining artifact you submitted for this settlement.”

“……”

Lennok smiled, looking at the silent Soryu.

“Prince of Kabahim. I hear you possess many precious artifacts, don’t you? If you hand over one of that caliber, I’ll consider it.”

An excessive demand for merely hearing about the jungle incident.

However, it was appropriate for an opponent who arbitrarily eavesdropped on their conversation and demanded information about the stake without properly clarifying his intentions.

If the conditions were this strong, the opponent was bound to react in some way.

Lennok intended to deduce Soryu’s reason for wanting the Director’s information through that reaction.

Until Soryu, who had been listening quietly, immediately nodded.

“Good.”

“……What?”

“I didn’t know you were interested in the Kabahim Dynasty’s heritage.”

Soryu, who touched and activated the symbol etched on his wrist, said.

“I’ll open the vault, so choose one thing you want. Then we’ll talk.”

“No, wait a minute. Are you really giving it away?”

Sabrinah’s eyes widened, and she shot her hand up.

“No, if you’re going to act like that, you should at least give me financial compensation, even if it’s less than Victor! The information I just blabbed about has a certain value…”

“I will do that. Wait your turn.”

“Damn it, I knew it… What did you say?!”

“……”

Could it be that this ice-wielding superhuman standing before him simply didn’t know how to say no?

Considering that when they met in Kaiushyu, he immediately intended to go all the way to Vulcan to confirm Lennok’s identity, perhaps his way of thinking was simply different from that of ordinary people.

The moment Lennok, feeling his impression of this incredibly cold prince completely change, looked at Soryu’s fingertips with a slightly bewildered expression.

Kiiing…!!

A very faint sound, like a string snapping, echoed in his ears.

“……!!”

At the same time, the presences of Sabrinah and Soryu, who had been conversing, sharply flared for a fleeting moment, then instantly returned to normal.

A faint and subtle sense of incongruity, so subtle that only Lennok, who was observing from close by, could have noticed.

But Soryu immediately formed a hand seal as if nothing had happened, and pulled out a dagger from his sleeve.

A jet-black, sharp dagger, like ink. The dark aura flowing from the blade was striking.

Soryu unhesitatingly gripped it in a reverse grip and extended the hilt towards Lennok.

“The incident in Kaiushyu. You still remember it, don’t you?”

“……”

Soryu’s words were full of profound meaning. But Lennok, as he said, still remembered that dagger.

The dagger Soryu used in Kaiushyu to stab and subdue Je-byeok Yanikus Barbaria.

What did it mean for him to suddenly choose a dagger and hand it over, after just telling him to choose a treasure?

There’s someone who needs to be stabbed.

“I see. So you prefer this method?”

Lennok nodded, took the dagger, and swung it directly at Sabrinah.

Whoosh!!

“Wait, what…!!”

Lennok activated Translocation right in front of Sabrinah’s face as she rapidly stiffened and backed away.

The dagger, which had Translocated behind her head, plunged into empty air and stopped there.

[Gaggh…!!]

At that moment, a figure appeared as if space itself was shattering, then stumbled backward.

The dagger was embedded directly in the front of a thick helmet, oozing a stream of black aura.

Soryu appeared behind the swaying, falling opponent and ruthlessly kicked their lower back.

Crash!!

The fallen opponent slammed into a corner of the parking lot, letting out a loud roar.

Soryu dusted his hands with an expressionless face, and Sabrinah got up with a slightly pale complexion.

“Hey, if you’re going to do something, at least tell me first!!”

“When is there time for that?”

Lennok replied indifferently, turning his gaze.

“We’re already surrounded. Their skill is considerable.”

At the end of the parking lot, above a bent streetlamp. Below the shadow of a car split in half.

Through the gap, figures wearing colorful visors appeared one by one, quietly watching them.

They wore black full-body suits, with various colored lights streaming from their visors.

They exuded an aura and pressure of a completely different caliber than the person Lennok had just killed.

A dozen or so superhumans quietly looked down at them without a word.

“We also shouldn’t leave this place until the settlement is over.”

Soryu said, picking up the dagger from the ground.

“First, we’ll inform The Doctor and handle it.”

“Sabrinah, make the call.”

“No, you guys don’t even carry communicators?”

The moment Sabrinah grumbled and was about to pull out a device from her pocket.

[There won’t be any need for that, Pandemonium.]

The superhuman on the far right, wearing a green visor, spoke.

[The preparations are already complete.]

“What?”

At that moment, Sabrinah’s mouth slightly parted as she turned her gaze towards an unknown roar from above.

Kugugu…!!

A massive black meteor, as large as a house, was falling onto the roof of the huge theater they had been standing with their backs to.