Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 332

Jenny’s bar.

The dimly lit bar was just as Lenok remembered it.

It had been a while since Lenok had spent time with Jenny and Jordan, sharing drinks.

He had been so busy lately that instead of visiting her bar, they had only been in contact through messages.

Jenny seemed to be secretly pleased with Lenok’s suggestion.

“The Black Consumer Project…”

Jenny’s expression turned sour after hearing about the conversation between Meyer and him, and Jordan’s face darkened slightly.

“That old geezer seems to have been spouting nonsense to you. If it’s about that, it’d be more accurate to ask the big shots who’ve been in this business for a long time.”

Jenny scoffed, flicking her twisted hair back behind her.

“Even the chairman of the Cartel would have been directly involved in that project.”

“Jenny and I have deliberately distanced ourselves from anything related to that project, as much as we were connected to Kaise,” Jordan said, sipping his drink.

“Given the clear circumstances that Kaise’s death is related to the project, there will be those who will try to prevent us from accessing that information.”

So, they had been avoiding gathering information about the Black Consumer Project to survive.

It wasn’t something he couldn’t understand.

Jenny, as Kaise’s direct descendant, would have had to give up a lot to survive as a broker in this world.

It was obvious how many people would be wary of Kaise’s bloodline, who had once held the greatest influence in this world.

Lenok looked at the glass he was holding before quietly putting it down.

The brown liquid sloshed, slightly spilling over the rim of the glass.

“Jenny.”

Lenok’s voice was quite soft, buried in the noisy chatter of the bar.

“Do you want to reclaim Kaise’s legacy?”

“…”

Lenok’s words, spoken as if in passing.

Jenny and Jordan both fell silent.

They knew very well what Lenok meant by those words.

The mage who was sharing drinks with them was not one to speak carelessly.

A level 7 superhuman who had survived in this world, where failure meant death, and had reached his current position.

He was someone who knew the weight of his words better than anyone.

What did it mean that Lenok, who had consistently heard about Jenny and Kaise’s situation but had never shown any interest, was now asking Jenny this question?

“…No.”

After a long moment of thought, Jenny shook her head.

“I’m not interested in my grandfather’s legacy.”

“…”

“I’ve been able to survive until now because I’ve forgotten about it, thinking it wasn’t mine. There’s no need for me to borrow your power to get it back now.”

Was she saying that if it was something done out of favor or repayment for her, it was unnecessary? Lenok was inwardly impressed by Jenny’s firm attitude.

Even after almost four years of their partnership, she was still trying to maintain boundaries.

That was proof that Jenny thought of Lenok as a valuable partner.

She knew that she had to be more careful and cherish him because he was someone she wanted to be with for a long time.

Did her past, wandering for a long time after leaving Kaise’s side, make Jenny like this?

Lenok wasn’t sure if he knew her well enough to ask that yet.

“I see. But I didn’t bring this up just for you, Jenny.”

Instead, he changed the subject.

“Since we’re talking about the last of the Three Heads, PMC Deadrise, I did a little research myself.”

Lenok turned his gaze to meet Jenny’s eyes.

“The core leadership of Deadrise. They were Kaise’s confidants who broke away from him, right?”

“…”

“Even if it doesn’t matter now, you’ll eventually run into them as you expand your business.”

One of the Three Heads, Palgwang Fortress, had fallen, and the power struggle between organizations to take its place continued.

But that also meant that the authority of the Three Heads itself had not diminished at all.

The Cartel, a conglomerate with thousands of subsidiaries on the border between the dark and light sides of Balkan, and Deadrise, known as the most hardline and violent armed group.

Wasn’t it because the power and scale of the two organizations were among the strongest in the dark side of this city?

For now, Jenny’s company was backed by the Cartel and had a foot in the light, so they might have been ignoring it, but the company’s growth, devouring the scavenger’s underground distribution network and swelling in size, was no ordinary thing.

Before Jenny and Lenok’s business swallowed up the entire underground distribution network and endlessly expanded its influence, they would surely intervene.

“That’s…”

Seeing Jenny’s troubled face, Lenok stood up.

The fabric of his shadow coat swayed heavily, veiling her gaze like a veil.

“I’m not saying you have to make a decision right now. I have some business in the Northern Continent, so I’ll have to leave for a while.”

“The Northern Continent, huh.”

Jordan, who had been quietly sipping his drink, opened his mouth.

He looked up at Lenok and nodded.

“Some of my old friends have also moved to the Northern Continent recently. Something must be happening there.”

“I haven’t heard the details yet…”

At Lenok’s words, Jordan fiddled with his neck, then took off a necklace with a thin chain.

A scalpel handle adorned with a green emerald. It was an object without a blade.

“If there’s someone who recognizes that, you might be able to get some help. Take it with you.”

“Is it okay to lend me something like this?”

“What wouldn’t I give to someone who saved my life?”

Jordan smiled quietly, patted Lenok on the shoulder, and disappeared behind the bar.

“Come back safe and sound.”

“…”

As Lenok silently held the necklace and watched Jordan’s back, Jenny spoke.

“You know Jordan was a doctor, right?”

“…More or less.”

“He seems to have wandered around the Central Front since he was young, learning medicine. He started working with my grandfather after he turned forty.”

Jenny shrugged, looking at the necklace in her hand.

“Maybe he thinks you’ll run into someone from the Central Front.”

“I’d be glad if we didn’t meet as enemies…”

Lenok smiled wryly, put down his glass, and turned around.

“I’ll come back before I leave the city. It won’t take long.”

“No. I’d like you to make that trip not take too long.”

Lenok, leaving behind Jenny who was waving her hand with slightly drunken eyes, immediately left the bar.

“Hoo…”

After meeting with Councilor Meyer and spending the whole night at the bar, it was already dawn.

He had been chatting and chain-smoking with the two of them, so his mind was clear, but he already felt his body drooping.

Even though he had rested for at least three days without leaving the house after the job, he was still like this.

He lightly patted his cheeks with both hands and stepped out into the street.

There was still a lot to do.

The battle with Trepen. Davi’s growth. The settlement of the request’s reward and the spoils and incentives obtained.

Looking back on the past and refining himself was always the driving force that had accelerated Lenok’s growth.

The figure of the mage in the coat quickly disappeared into the misty streets.

* * *

“So, are you saying that additional modifications focused on increasing power are difficult?”

-Are you going to make me repeat myself?

Inside the laboratory workshop in his home.

Palmar’s loud voice poured out of the cell phone thrown in one corner.

-It’s possible to increase the firepower of the rechargeable shotgun itself, but then we don’t know when the stabilization work will be finished, you know?

“Hmm…”

Click, click.

Even as he gave a rough answer, Lenok’s hands were constantly moving across the workbench.

At the same time, bright blue magical light bloomed and disappeared like dazzling flowers in various places.

Thump!!

As the noise gradually increased, Palmar’s voice grew louder.

-This shotgun is a custom-made masterpiece even in my hometown. The power itself may have limitations, but the performance, focused on efficiency, is complete for its intended use. I don’t know how you persuaded Mauser to get your hands on this thing, but… Damn it, it’s really noisy!!!

“I apologize. It’s impossible to cast noise magic even on the cell phone network.”

-Then stop that damn work and talk on the phone, you arrogant bastard!!

The shouts echoed loudly through the cell phone, but Lenok continued his work without even raising an eyebrow.

Palmar, who had learned that Lenok knew the master craftsman of the Machine City, Mauser, had no choice.

It was a pity for Palmar, but Lenok didn’t have much time, as he had to handle several things at once.

Davi, who was draped over Lenok’s shoulder like a scarf, mumbled.

[Master… How long do we have to do this…? Huuam…]

“Just a few more times, please. Bear with me for a moment.”

Since returning to the megacity, Davi had been sleeping more often.

To be precise, it should be said that it had been like that since she awakened her spirit domain and her tail had grown to three.

Normally, she would force herself to wake up and move with Lenok, but as soon as she returned home, she would curl up in her burrow and snore, and Lenok didn’t bother to disturb her.

Lenok knew that Davi’s behavior of sleeping excessively was somewhat related to her growth.

It was probably the process of her mind accepting and accommodating the rapidly increased spirit presence and vessel.

But even so, there was one thing that required her help at this moment.

[Temporary space generation in 3 seconds… 3… 2… 1…]

Crack!!

Along with Davi’s slow words, the pile of carapace on the workbench split with a clean cut, like a watermelon.

A dazzling magical light bloomed and disappeared, and the split carapace fell to either side of the workbench, emitting a heavy impact sound.

Thump!!

-Kyak!! Seriously!!

Against the background of Palmar’s annoyed shouts, Lenok continued to refine, organize, and implement temporary space.

Lenok was now focused on processing the carapace chunks extracted from the body of the Apostle Walter.

He had been using this carapace pile, which couldn’t even be scratched by ordinary impacts, as a shield by roughly throwing it with summoning magic, but it was different now.

The faint cracks on the outer edge of the carapace pile from the battle with Kraken.

Using the temporary space implementation technology stolen from the Gearsides combatant, he was pushing the cracks in the carapace with space itself.

No matter how hard the armor was, it was impossible to withstand the force of space pushing from the inside.

He delicately cut the direction and roots of the faint cracks, and skillfully pushed the temporary space into them, splitting the carapace in the desired direction and grain.

Cracks had formed because it couldn’t withstand Kraken’s power, but if you think about it, it meant that it was a material that was sturdy enough to withstand it if it wasn’t for that level of monstrous power.

The end that floats in the dark sea outside the world. The body of the apostle who was granted that power.

He couldn’t yet determine how strange power and principles were contained in this bizarre level of durability, but…

It was enough to use it from a distance like now.

The damage caused by the aftermath of the battle could, in another sense, be a possibility for use as a new tool.

Lenok had no intention of leaving this hard object as a useless thing.

“This isn’t bad.”

Lenok took a light breath, looking at the results piled up on the workbench.

Ten layers of carapace shields that could be added to the shield. Twenty throwing spears. And dozens of fragments of a size that could be processed into bullets.

It would be difficult to carry all of these items, but it was possible to engrave summoning seals and use them as weapons that could both attack and defend.

It was definitely a move that could greatly increase Lenok’s combat sustainability.

-So, what are you going to do? Are you just going to repair the worn-out parts?

“Please wait a little longer.”

Lenok said that and began the process of splitting the last of the carapace fragments.

It was possible to increase the power of the rechargeable shotgun itself, but if it was impossible to achieve efficiency without parts that could withstand that power and recoil.

Then, Lenok could just make those parts and bring them over.

In the process of making a useful shield, Lenok was planning to replace all the shotgun parts with carapace fragments to greatly increase its power.

“I’ll finish the preparations within 3 hours and head over there.”

-Do whatever you want. I’ll be drinking, so don’t forget to bring snacks when you come.

Lenok, who had hung up on the blacksmith who was ordering him around as if it were natural, naturally picked up the remote control.

The process of identifying the cracks in the carapace and splitting them along the grain was almost complete. All that remained was the simple task of measuring the size and adjusting the angles.

He turned on the TV to fill the quiet laboratory with white noise, and the news came on as if it had been waiting.

[The discussion on lifting the Gold Restriction Ordinance is accelerating in the City Government’s Central Council. It is the first time in nearly 20 years that an agenda that has been consistently raised in the Lower House has begun to be discussed in the Upper House-]

“…”

Lenok stopped his hand and listened carefully to the news that he couldn’t ignore.

[As the voices of citizens concerned about the city’s internal security grow louder, the council will express its official position within a few days-]

It was natural for the citizens of Balkan to show resistance.

Since the fact that the Defense Force had staged a coup was secretly resolved and buried, most people wouldn’t understand why the Gold Restriction Ordinance was being lifted.

What reasons would the City Council use to try to convince the current situation?

Lenok would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious, but unfortunately, it seemed difficult to watch the process and results directly.

Click!!

Lenok, who had processed the parts needed to modify and repair the shotgun, immediately packed his bags and left the workshop.

The rechargeable shotgun, which amplified its power by preheating magic, had been of considerable help to Lenok.

No matter how high his own magic power and magic level became, Lenok had no intention of giving up this efficient firearm.

Just as he was about to pick up Davi, who was still dozing off, and put her inside his coat.

[Master.]

The little fox raised her head.

At the same time as her three tails slightly shrank, Davi said.

[Cell phone. You have a message.]

“What?”