Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 165

“The chances of this train arriving safely in the autonomous territory are extremely low. I’d like to ask for your cooperation to resolve this issue.”

“………”

Presenting the reward first and then stating the business. Sometimes, it can be a quite effective negotiation tactic, but at least it wasn’t a suitable method for the current situation.

Judging by her lack of skill in this kind of negotiation, it was clear she hadn’t experienced the darker side of things.

She must have prepared various things to say, but it was only natural that Lenok found it somewhat clumsy.

However, what she was saying was something that couldn’t be ignored from the start.

Lenok blankly smoked his cigarette, then sighed deeply and asked,

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Are you implying that this train is about to explode or something?”

“Precisely. If left unattended, something similar might happen.”

Kasia looked up at him with clear eyes behind her mask and replied.

“As of 2 AM today, all drones and reconnaissance forces patrolling the outskirts of Balkan have entered emergency maintenance. If the eyes monitoring the highlands connecting Balkan and the Philemon Autonomous Territory are turned off, the possibility of wanted outlaws running rampant increases. Trains using unofficial routes are bound to become targets.”

“………”

“It’s something Toyna Research Institute did under the guise of replacing the reconnaissance team’s equipment with new models, and I happened to acquire the information… It probably wouldn’t have been easy for you to know.”

Toyna and Vaila Research Institute. Lenok had heard both names before.

One of the major research institutes providing technical support to Lavatenon University. It was no coincidence that he had seen both Vaila’s and Toyna’s names while helping Aris with her work.

Was it a deliberate maneuver by Toyna, a rival, to hinder her movements after realizing them?

Kasia’s attempt to hide it was a bit clumsy, but if it wasn’t Lenok, no one else would have been able to grasp the cause and effect.

“And if there’s a defenseless target moving at that moment, surely…”

There was no need to hear any more.

“Why are you telling me this first, someone you’ve just met?”

“It’s simple.”

Kasia smiled.

“You’re definitely one of the most skilled mages I’ve ever seen.”

Train (2)

Skilled, huh…

It was a modifier that seemed meaningless at first glance, but for Lenok, it was a word he could never ignore.

In a way, it was definitely the word that best described Lenok as a mage.

However, instead of being flustered by those words, Lenok smiled calmly.

He had never been negligent in concealing his true self, not even for a single moment.

Beyond simply changing his appearance and altering his mana patterns, he even changed the texture of his skin and the perfume he used to completely impersonate someone else.

It was impossible for a mere mage from a research institute to glimpse his true nature, which had never been revealed even during life-or-death battles.

If she sensed his extraordinary nature from his appearance, it wouldn’t be because she realized his talent or identity, but because of other factors.

“Interesting.”

Her bold reasoning and audacious behavior sounded almost rude, but Lenok was actually feeling a sense of liking towards her.

Clumsy negotiation tactics and attitude towards people. But despite that, she possessed a mage’s sharp intuition and judgment.

At the same time, her confident attitude of seeking cooperation from a stranger without hesitation overlapped with some of the freelancers Lenok knew.

“Can you tell me why you think so?”

Kasia answered immediately.

“Well, it wasn’t difficult… First of all, the life reaction I’m sensing is quite faint. That’s the first thing.”

“……”

“Even though you’re clearly sitting right in front of me, it’s not easy to sense your presence, which means you’re either a mage highly skilled in mana manipulation, or someone powerful enough to possess such an artifact. It’s obvious just from this.”

“What’s the second?”

“The cigarette you’re smoking.”

Kasia smiled.

“It’s from Plumber’s Orchard, right? I know… Because I’ve been looking into similar things for my own personal reasons.”

Was she saying she had been searching for narcotic cigarettes to find painkillers for her ailing body?

Knowing that Vaila was suffering from a kind of rare disease, it wasn’t surprising.

“And that cigarette is definitely Red Scarlet… It’s a high-end product that the unlucky old geezer always grumbles about being difficult to make. Considering the old man’s personality of being selective with his customers, you must also be quite skilled to have received that item.”

“……”

Plumber’s Orchard… Lenok quickly recalled and understood.

Considering that he had met the Antares Mercenary Office at the botanical garden back then, it seemed that his goods were popular on the market, regardless of whether they were above or below the table.

In that case, it wouldn’t be strange if Kasia was one of his customers.

However, her ability to recognize Red Scarlet and deduce Lenok’s identity was also not at an ordinary level.

Considering the meaningful words that the seemingly lighthearted old man occasionally threw out, the old man in the orchard was probably not an ordinary person either.

He had been thinking that he should talk to that old man separately someday, but that wasn’t the task at hand right now.

Lenok listened up to that point and chuckled.

He took the cigarette out of his mouth and held it between his fingers as he slowly replied.

“You have a very sharp judgment. You certainly live up to your reputation as someone who serves Director Vaila at the forefront.”

“……”

This time, it was her turn to shut her mouth.

She had gone through a lot of trouble to deduce Lenok’s talent, and the expression on her face when her identity was revealed in return was quite a sight.

The corners of her mouth, barely visible below her mask, could be seen trembling.

“I, I’m sorry. I don’t know who that person is…”

She momentarily lost her composure and tried to deny it, but soon realized it was pointless and lowered her head.

Instead, she slowly began to release sharp mana.

Whirring…!!

“…Who are you? Did you come here to target me?”

It wasn’t an incomprehensible reaction.

“I think you’re mistaken about something.”

However, Lenok tilted his head slightly at her sensitive reaction and said,

“If you hadn’t spoken to me first, I wouldn’t have needed to give you this answer.”

“That’s…!!”

“There wouldn’t have been any need to try to probe each other’s identities and then get caught off guard in return.”

After all, it was Kasia who had spoken first and drawn Lenok, who seemed annoyed, into the conversation. What could she say?

Moreover, it was also her who had tried to force the conversation by bringing up her views on talent.

“……”

“Earlier, you said that trains using unofficial routes were bound to become targets, but considering your affiliation, this is ultimately a power struggle between research institutes… And it’s a political maneuver involving Director Vaila’s health.”

Kasia’s face turned pale at Lenok’s words, which immediately hit the mark.

“How did you know that…”

Lenok spoke as if to put an end to the conversation.

“The things you’re worried about won’t happen. The reason I’m heading to the autonomous territory has nothing to do with your personal circumstances.”

“…You’re a much more dangerous person than I thought.”

In the end, it was a matter of order. It was impossible for her to suspect Lenok now, after she had asked him for cooperation first.

Kasia sighed. But her fingertips were still trembling slightly, as if she hadn’t regained her composure.

“Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. I’d appreciate it if you could make a decision as soon as possible. I need to go check if I can ask for cooperation from others…”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Huh?”

“Among the people on this train, the only ones with any decent combat ability are the two of us.”

Lenok had checked all the passengers inside the train and assessed the danger even before boarding.

The only ones here capable of any kind of combat were a cyborg who had replaced his entire body with machines, a gentleman wearing a top hat, and a gunner who was sitting alone in the last car, snoring.

And the mana or aura felt from those three was not very impressive.

“It might be better for you to hand over all the artifacts you brought and ask me to resolve the matter.”

“Hey, I know your intuition is very sharp, but-”

Just as Kasia, who was provoked by Lenok’s indifferent face, was about to retort,

Thump!!

A heavy impact sound echoed from the back of the train.

It wasn’t close enough to directly interfere with the operation, but it was a noise that couldn’t be a coincidence, especially now that they were speeding along the tracks.

“……”

The two mages activated their mana detection at the same time, as if they had made a promise.

Lenok, who first realized the nature of the noise, frowned, and Kasia’s face turned pale.

“This is…”

Lenok sighed and said,

“It seems like the friends you were worried about have arrived.”

Within a radius of several kilometers around the train.

More than thirty presences were approaching at high speed.

Judging by the fact that their approach speed was constant and maintained a uniform average, they were probably pursuing by bike or car.

It was a group action that could never have been shown without knowing that a train was running to the autonomous territory at this time and that the reconnaissance team was absent.

The only people who knew that Lenok was heading to the Philemon Autonomous Territory were Yakson, Jenny, and Jorden, and he had changed his identity long before departure.

Considering that the hunchbacked man who guided the train was also contacted just before the operation, the possibility of information being leaked was extremely low.

If so, the target of those pursuing the train now was not Lenok, but the passenger sitting next to him.

Kasia seemed to have a similar thought, as she trembled with a troubled expression.

Right now, only the two mages with excellent mana detection abilities had noticed, but soon other passengers would also begin to realize that they were being pursued.

Eventually, someone had to step up and resolve the situation.

“Haa…”

It was annoying that he had to get involved in this kind of thing, but in the end, the train had to be safe for him to arrive in the autonomous territory.

Moreover, this train only ran once a month.

If he missed this moment today, he might have to go back to Balkan and suck his fingers again.

It was counterproductive to stand by and do nothing because of Kasia’s circumstances, only to have the train break down.

Lenok rubbed out the cigarette, leaving only the filter, and said,

“First, explain the situation to the engineer and tell them to increase the train’s speed.”

“Yes?”

“Also, tell them not to stop the train no matter what, and then come back and help me.”

Lenok said that and got up from his seat.

“I’ll take care of the rest for now.”

“…Okay. I’ll handle it as quickly as possible and come back.”

Fortunately, she immediately understood the meaning of Lenok’s words and quickly headed to the front of the train.

Lenok didn’t add any more words and instead moved towards the last car of the train.

Creak!!

A vacant, old passenger car.

There was a hairy man, completely oblivious to the commotion, sound asleep.

Lenok, after checking the large rifle case placed at his feet, picked it up without hesitation.

Judging by the fact that he hadn’t woken up yet even though Lenok had deliberately made his presence known, he wasn’t a very skilled gunner.

It would be much better for Lenok to pick it up and use it himself, using it as a way to conceal his identity.

He sat down opposite the hairy man and calmly held the rifle case in his hand.

The security device on the case stopped Lenok, but after calling Davi, he completed the hack in two seconds and opened the case.

“Hmm…”

[Still, he carries some pretty good stuff for a gunner.]

As Davi, who had landed on Lenok’s shoulder, said, the item that appeared inside the case was much better than expected.

It seemed that the item, which was originally only used as a sniper rifle, had been modified for use in urban warfare.

The rifle, equipped with a scope that displayed a screen, a handle with a biometric recognition system, and various types of laser pointers, made it clear how much effort the hairy man had put into his weapon.

Lenok scratched his cheek after checking the elaborate decoration with its custom white ivory finish.

“I was going to use it and throw it away… I guess I should return it nicely.”

Lenok enjoyed using other people’s artifacts or relics, but he wasn’t such a robber that he would steal from someone who had done nothing wrong.

It would be enough to use it for a while and return it.

“Davi, unlock the biometric code.”

[Confirmed.]

The red light that had been appearing on the screen turned green in an instant as Lenok gripped the handle of the ivory rifle.

Click!