Chapter 921: The Summit (4)

That afternoon, the day the necromancer had mentioned for the summit.

Adamant Thunder’s Magic Tower, deepest within the lowest floor zone.

Lennok and Davi were gathered around a large tablet, deeply engaged in a discussion.

“Master. Will this really work?”

“Yes.”

“No matter how I think about it, there are going to be too many bugs…”

“I’ll drastically lower the access authority and reduce the performance. If I limit the information processing speed, the function itself should still be usable.”

“Hmm, I see. Oh, like this…”

A giant fox bustled busily in the underground cavern, exclaiming in strange admiration.

Lennok silently watched Davi’s back as she concentrated on her work, wagging her six tails.

The Ars Nova search engine, which he had obtained from the Deep Web through an Obaekro match.

It had overloaded and broken down while he was searching for information on the Director and the Pontiff, but Lennok had not given up on it.

Recovering the search engine through the Deep Web administrators, including Raktasha, and restoring it using Davi’s abilities had proceeded smoothly.

However, the problem that truly troubled Lennok was not the search engine itself, but something else.

‘Kundara’s orbital period…’

The [Veil] that blocked the path to the central city.

The fact that this impenetrable barrier, which no one had ever breached, was in fact the creation of the Outer Tribulation City.

It was not difficult to guess why Olivera had told Lennok this fact.

She must have somehow realized Lennok’s intention to visit the Outer Tribulation City and decided that this information could be used as a bargaining chip.

Moreover, she had even sold other information about the Outer Tribulation City, tying it to the Central Front, which still made him marvel at her resourcefulness.

Nevertheless, he could not deny that the series of upfront payments she had provided contained useful information for Lennok.

Olivera Ron Maize, once a wizard who traveled across the continent, devoted to the exploration of magic and truth.

Only she would know how many secrets the head of the Cartel, who settled in a mega-city after a long journey, truly harbored.

‘I think I know why she specifically calls it an orbital period, but…’

But if Lennok’s conjecture was correct, the very existence of a city like Kundara in this world would become an anomaly.

Just thinking about the attempts the long-lived inhabitants of the Outer Tribulation City were making to avoid destruction was astounding.

To turn conjecture into certainty, he would eventually have to agree to Olivera’s terms.

Above all, he needed to confirm what the Cartel’s chairman dreamed of and why she sought the causality of Anathema.

What was the reason the person most deeply involved in the Black Consumer Project was now trying to adjust causality again?

Lennok thought so and raised his gaze.

“So, do you think you can do it?”

“Hmm, when I first heard the explanation, I thought it was some kind of absurd nonsense…”

Davi took a step back and lay on her back, looking up at Lennok.

“Starting with reduced performance makes it much easier than I thought! With this, it can be operational today.”

“Let’s start right away.”

Lennok said so and immediately pulled up his magic.

Flash!

Davi’s Domain was layered and deployed in the Magic Tower’s underground cavern, constructing the tower’s domain into a physically materialized cybernetic space.

Lennok, pulling down the tail of the giant fox floating gracefully within the Dream-Thought Virtualscape, stood before a massive cybernetic screen.

“Address setting. Ethereal network construction. Spell-Word Circuit engraving.”

“Yap, yap, yap.”

Following Lennok’s words, Davi rubbed her front paws over the screen, and in an instant, a site was created on the Deep Web network.

A simple design with only a blank screen and a single white input box floating in the middle.

“Good.”

Lennok nodded in satisfaction, confirming the site where only a cursor slowly blinked, waiting for words to be entered.

“This should be enough. The portal site utilizing Ars Nova’s search engine is complete.”

The search engine software had overloaded and broken after he searched for information on the Pontiff and the Director.

But Lennok had not discarded or forgotten the search engine even after he was done with it.

He had set Davi as the AI managing the search engine, restored its algorithms, secured its authority, and then created a Deep Web site embedded with the search engine.

“Although its performance has been limited to prevent overload, it’s an item with more powerful search capabilities than any community or site that existed on the Deep Web.”

Lennok said, looking at the completed site with a satisfied expression.

“If its performance becomes known through word-of-mouth, users will gather, and if it goes well, we might even be able to secure big data from Deep Web users.”

Although he had made contact and familiarized himself with the Deep Web administrators, Lennok had no intention of relying on them to find or collect information.

Since he had acquired and was storing the search engine’s authority, there was no reason to leave it idle.

Lennok intended to operate the search engine himself and attract Deep Web traffic and users.

“Alright. Then let’s test it right away—”

Though the site was complete, he needed to confirm if the search engine was working properly.

As Lennok said this and was about to summon a remote keyboard to enter a search query into the portal site’s search bar, a series of search history entries suddenly appeared below the search bar.

“…Hmm?”

[Cute Spirit Voting Rankings] [How to Mass Vote for Fox Spirits] [Spirit Beast Community]

Unfamiliar keywords that Lennok had never searched for.

[Spirit Body Cruise Package Companion Travel] [What Pets Do to Distract Their Owners] [Rebatenon Fox Spirit Sighting Compilation]

“…”

Just as Lennok was about to scroll down the search history with a strange expression, Davi furiously waved her front paws in front of Lennok’s eyes.

“Whoaaa! Whoaat!!”

Davi writhed, letting out strange screams, unable to speak properly.

“Whoaaaaa!! Whoaaaaat!!”

“…”

Lennok, realizing who the owner of this search history was, cleared his throat and subtly stepped back.

Watching Davi furiously scratch at the portal site’s search history with her front paws to erase it, Lennok said,

“Ahem, that… it wasn’t intentional.”

“Hooah, hooah!!”

“Now that I think about it, a spirit body package tour might be good for a break some time—”

The giant fox, panting heavily, whipped her six stiffly erect tails around and stared at Lennok.

“It’s nothing.”

“What?”

“I said, it’s nothing.”

“…Right. My apologies.”

The search history Lennok had just seen was nothing.

Davi’s diligent ego-searching records on the Deep Web would now remain in no one’s memory here.

Lennok, having thus conceded, hurriedly looked at the now-clean portal site’s search bar and changed the subject.

“Anyway, by extracting and organizing the high search volumes on the Deep Web, we can immediately grasp real-time trending topics and trends in Vulcan.”

“Oh, I see.”

Lennok calmly explained, pretending not to notice Davi’s forced response.

“Once we properly secure search data, it will be a great help for future business and information acquisition.”

“If users flock to it, we could get lots of ads and make money!”

“No, I hadn’t thought that far…”

Lennok cleared his throat and nodded at Davi.

“Of course, we can’t just sit around and wait for customers. I’ll ask you to actively promote it.”

“Master. Don’t worry.”

Davi, suddenly enthusiastic, confidently placed a front paw on her head.

The moment Lennok chuckled, recognizing it as a gesture mimicking a human salute,

“In about three days, there won’t be a single organism on the Deep Web who doesn’t know about our search engine!!”

“Right. For that part, I’ll entrust it to you… hmm?”

Upon reflection, Davi’s method of causing a ruckus on the Deep Web was…

Thinking that far, Lennok hastily retracted the deployed Domain in the cavern and walked out.

Sometimes, for the greater good, one must turn a blind eye.

Ignoring Davi’s magnificent sight of logging into Deep Web communities with dozens of accounts simultaneously, he headed towards the tower’s back gate.

‘Remaining time… about three hours.’

Considering the scheduled time for the summit, he would have to leave the tower and depart in a few hours.

He had spent two days preparing various things for the summit after concluding his deal with Olivera, but one last task remained.

Clang, clang!!

A massive temporary workshop, built with steel frames, located at the back gate of the Magic Tower.

The sound of metal being violently hammered echoed, accompanied by intense heat.

The shimmering heat made his skin feel not just hot, but as if it were cooking.

Lennok, having cast a simple common spell over his shield to protect his skin and face, immediately walked into the workshop.

“Palmer?”

“Hey, Wizard!!”

Clang, clang, clang!!

A middle-aged man with a bushy beard and a bulbous nose, reeking of strong oil, hammered furiously as he replied.

Each hammer blow sent sparks showering like a waterfall, yet he wore no protective gear.

The craftsman, Palmer, who was taking the flying embers full in the face, shouted,

“What do you mean by showing up now after calling someone?”

“My apologies. I was a bit busy with something.”

“Well, I do like the workshop you’ve set up here.”

Palmer confidently tossed his hammer over his shoulder and said,

“I’ll be using this for a while. No complaints, right?”

“Since I asked for your help with this task, I don’t mind. Did you fight with Dyke Corp. again?”

Palmer was a blacksmith Lennok had known for quite some time, a craftsman he had become acquainted with while fulfilling commissioned work for Dyke Corp.

However, he had a pattern of working with Dyke Corp. only to leave due to conflicts, then return, only to quit again.

It was not unusual for Palmer, who had outstanding talent in modifying and fabricating firearms and industrial tools, to attempt collaboration with Dyke, who was venturing into the weapon business.

“It’s not that this time.”

Palmer replied gruffly.

“It’s been a long time since you asked for my help. I’m just out for a temporary excursion.”

“I never imagined Master Palmer would have such a warm heart.”

“Of course not. When else would I get to impress a Grand Wizard?”

Palmer puffed out his chest and shouted at Lennok’s absurd reply.

“Working with high-level wizards is so easy. They have plenty of rare materials and pay generously, and their standards are low, so they’re satisfied even if you just slap something together!!”

“…”

“After a few hammer blows, you just add some flashy tricks, and they fall head over heels and become regulars. Hehehe, I miss those days…”

“I’m starting to not miss Master Palmer’s skill, though.”

“Just kidding, kid.”

Palmer chuckled and clapped Lennok on the shoulder.

“Anyway, the modifications you wanted are done, so take a look. It’s an Akinshuerger Corporation custom ego sniper rifle, the Gespenst.”

Click!

A deep black barrel, faintly wreathed in ghost-like will-o’-the-wisps.

In terms of size alone, it easily surpassed Lennok’s upper body, and the entire streamlined firearm felt incredibly smooth and sleek, as if it might slip from his grasp.

It was an item modified to be loaded by pulling a lever, with automatic shell ejection and reloading occurring immediately after firing.

Its unique feature perhaps was the deeply indented area where the scope lens should have been.

“It’s made of Gryeom V Alloy, so there won’t be any barrel distortion from recoil. The built-in Elber Spring Condenser is one of Gearside’s parts, designed to compress and release magical power to its limit.”

Palmer explained, lifting the rifle with both hands.

Clatter! Click!

“The rifle’s barrel has been modified with the magical isomer ‘Thorium,’ allowing the muzzle width to be freely adjusted according to the bullet caliber. The particle crystal used for the trigger, extracted from the gallbladder of the beast-demon Hyeokgwi, is highly praised by enthusiasts for possessing both hardness and elasticity simultaneously.”

As he casually touched the rifle, every component rapidly disassembled and reassembled, revealing its structure.

A wondrous feat, disassembling and reassembling the entire rifle in his hands on the spot.

During this process, his dexterity, which prevented any magical power from leaking from the loaded magazine, was surprisingly delicate for Palmer.

“Crucially, the rifle’s built-in Retinal Tracking Motion-Sensing System is Akinshuerger’s masterpiece, what brought them to their current standing. While the system’s performance depends on the scope’s accuracy, only three types of firearms across the entire continent, including this one, can provide aiming correction even after the trigger is pulled.”

Thud!!

Palmer placed the heavy rifle on the workbench and asked,

“I’ll admit your foresight in picking this item and asking for its modification, considering you had no interest in the firearms industry… but what exactly do you intend to use this for?”

“Are you only curious about that now?”

“It makes me wonder why a Grand Wizard would now be looking for imported firearms.”

Palmer said indifferently, crossing his arms.

“Though I shouldn’t say it myself, it’s not cost-effective. If you’re going to modify and use a rifle, wouldn’t it be more efficient to just pour magic into it from the start?”

“That’s exactly what Master Palmer shouldn’t be saying.”

“If you’re someone born with a talent for firearms, then maybe, but no matter how I look at it, you’re not a born Magic Gunner.”

Palmer’s eyes suddenly turned serious as he looked at Lennok.

“You don’t have the obsession of those who stake their lives on a single bullet. You merely play with a toy you like, purely out of your overflowing talent.”

“That’s surprising. Is that what you thought of me?”

Lennok chuckled.

Even after becoming an 8-level Grand Wizard, Palmer’s attitude towards Lennok hadn’t changed much.

Perhaps it was because, in his eyes, Lennok was still a greenhorn who struggled even to modify an old pistol.

But precisely because of that attitude, Lennok occasionally visited Palmer, entrusting him with the repair and modification of his firearms.

“I won’t deny it.”

Lennok said, reaching for the rifle Palmer had already modified.

“Unless one has the talent of a Magic Gunner, firearms ultimately rely heavily on materials and components. It wouldn’t be strange if Master Palmer saw it as me wanting a toy.”

“…”

“But doesn’t that also mean that the better the materials and components, the more honestly the performance increases?”

“What?”

Ignoring Palmer’s retort, Lennok took out a small orb from his pocket.

Something as small as a human eye, surrounded by a pure white radiance, glowing faintly.

A strange artifact, shaped as if mimicking a human eye carved from a dazzling jewel.

“You…”

“And I have plenty of preparations to make up for my lacking talent.”

As Palmer’s face hardened, instantly recognizing that it was no ordinary item, Lennok raised his hand.

Into the space where the scope lens should have been embedded, he placed the eye-shaped artifact.

Click!

With a crisp sound as the components fit together perfectly, the eye artifact rotated smoothly on the rifle’s barrel.

“…You’re out of your mind.”

Only then did Palmer mutter with a dumbfounded expression.

“That’s a relic-class artifact, isn’t it? And you’re going to use something like that as a rifle scope lens?”

The Eye of the Wellspring.

A Spell-armament directly used by the Ascendant Heavenly Sight, Madria Falcia.

It was a gift Lapis had given him before leaving, in exchange for retrieving the fifth Lighthouse’s authority.

Although its appearance had been slightly altered to deceive Palmer’s eyes, its capabilities remained intact.

The form of an eye. A Lighthouse Keeper’s Spell-armament. A relic-class artifact.

Transcendent performance as a scope component, going beyond mere seeing to induce specific visions.

“I have a lot to do at this summit, you see.”

Lennok smiled.

“This level of preparation seems necessary.”

“Who are you going to kill with this kind of preparation?”

“Rather than going to kill someone… it seems there’s someone I need to meet.”

There was little time left until midnight.

This firearm modification would be the last preparation he could make before the summit.

But Lennok had not left this task until the very end for any other reason.

Lennok’s eyes, as he caressed the sleek barrel, deepened.

“I wouldn’t want to carry embarrassing equipment in front of a true Magic Gunner.”