Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 112

The fire ability user beside him exhaled a burst of flame, engulfing the collapsed tents.

Though the team members winced at the added heat in the already scorching desert, Lennox didn’t even flinch.

Oblivious to his team’s internal grumbling about his cold demeanor, Lennox immediately channeled his magic power, unleashing three purple whips.

Whirr!

The whips, as if drawn into the tent he’d previously scouted, instantly ensnared three of the organization’s members, yanking them to Lennox’s feet.

Lennox, dropping them like he was placing one each before the young man, the giant, and the woman, stated,

“Each of you grab one and get the interrogation done quickly. There’s information we can only get from those working directly on-site. I’ll finish my business in the meantime.”

He entered the tent before anyone could reply.

Freelancers who rely on physical combat should have a rough idea of how to make someone talk.

It wouldn’t matter much even if they didn’t get any significant results.

Inside the tent was an array of electronic equipment.

The data within was the core of this operation.

‘Let’s get this done quickly.’

First, he approached the military computer furthest inside and pulled a USB drive from his pocket, plugging it in.

As the hacking program activated, dozens of characters and numerical sequences flashed across the monitor screen.

Lennox, having already plugged the information-gathering tools Hina had given him into the other devices, didn’t waste time. He immediately swept the nearby maps and papers into his bag.

“So sloppy….”

If it were Lennox, he would have destroyed all the data the moment he realized the base was under attack.

The reason they hadn’t was likely their desire to avoid responsibility for the data loss and the naive hope that the commotion would pass without incident.

As a result, the organization members managing this tent were robbed of information without any resistance.

Of course, all of this happened because the base’s leader, Daron, whom they had mentioned, was absent…

‘Given that the operation was timed for now, the agents must know about the base commander’s absence.’

“…..Hoo.”

Without going into the details of the operation, they don’t skimp on support and investment in necessary tasks.

In many ways, they were clearly a more capable partner than Dyke, but he shouldn’t be mistaken.

There was no guarantee that their information-gathering abilities and excellent judgment would continue to benefit Lennox.

Lennox knew well that in this world, a capable ally could turn into a dangerous enemy in less than half a day.

The data extraction was almost complete.

Lennox, having removed the USB drives that had finished hacking and put them in his pocket, began to scan the books on the bookshelf during the remaining time.

He had given up on taking them all due to their weight, but if there were any useful magic books, he could take two or three.

However, it didn’t take long for Lennox’s brow to furrow as he looked around the bookshelf.

“Artificial intelligence… and materials related to necromantic formulas. Is this what Daron is involved in?”

No, that wasn’t it.

Only after muttering those words did Lennox realize there was still information he hadn’t uncovered here.

In Lennox’s mind, memories of the past flashed by upon encountering those two keywords.

The Palmer Research Institute, which researched artificial intelligence.

The massacre of the affiliated black magic users there.

And the necromancer of the practical faction who carried out the massacres.

Finally, the temporary base of the terrorist organization Falchion, which held a wealth of such information.

The man named Daron was not a necromancer.

The information they were collecting through the temporary base included artificial intelligence and necromantic formulas.

“………”

Lennox’s eyes turned cold as he realized the unexpected fact.

Artificial intelligence and necromantic formulas.

Why were they collecting data in two seemingly unrelated fields?

Considering their cooperation with the black magic users of the practical faction, the reason was likely related to the mysterious pillars they had installed.

While he was pondering, the data extraction finished.

Lennox stopped his thoughts and immediately turned towards the tent entrance.

Rather than speculate on the reason here, it was more important to find out where the black magic users cooperating with Falchion were hiding.

Lennox’s goal was to find clues about this world he didn’t know through the legacy [referring to knowledge or artifacts left behind by a previous civilization or powerful figure].

He had to find out even a little bit about the meaning behind the words left by Cheon-gyeon, Madrea Falshier.

When he came out of the tent, the organization members he had handed over to his team were already in tatters.

The expressionless woman glanced up at him and shook her head.

“It’s no use. They don’t know anything.”

“…..It doesn’t matter. I didn’t expect much anyway.”

Lennox said that, grabbed his revolver, and channeled his magic power.

[Three-round burst]

Ta-ta-tang!!

Lennox, having instantly ended the lives of the three, brushed past his team members, putting away the smoking muzzle.

When he tossed the data and materials he had gathered into his bag, the team members received them without a word.

“Our work here is done. Let’s move quickly.”

[You timed it perfectly.]

Chen’s voice came through Lennox’s earpiece.

[The chaff is gone. If communication with the outside is restored, the person in charge who was away from the base will start to return.]

He, too, seemed to have gathered information that the base commander’s position was vacant while fighting.

The members of Squad 2, who had heard the communication through their earpieces, also quickened their pace.

Bang! Bang!

After dealing with the organization members who appeared and tried to stop them, they immediately rejoined the main force.

They reversed direction and headed out of the base.

Although the formation was the same as at the beginning, this time, Squad 3, which was closing the rear, was bearing the risk.

And now, even if the light green-haired man had other intentions, the risk to Squads 1 and 2 was not great.

Whether he had noticed that fact or not, Squad 3’s expression wasn’t good, but they were following instructions.

[—The chaff is over.]

And as Chen said, as if the effect of the chaff [referring to a type of electronic countermeasure] that was interfering with communication had ended, Hina’s voice began to be heard through the earpiece.

[Hurry. The base commander Daron, who is in charge of the temporary base, is a very impulsive criminal. If you get caught, even for a moment—]

Kwaaaang!!!

No sooner had she finished speaking than a fountain of sand erupted from the other side of the base.

Chen shook his head as he saw the sight.

“It seems like what you say comes true.”

[…..It’s not my fault, though.]

“Okay. Escaping is the priority now. If we can just gather at the place where the vehicles are, it won’t be difficult to escape.”

He said that and turned his gaze to the light green-haired man who was leading Squad 1.

“Dave. There will probably be pursuit from behind. Mark them appropriately, and when you think you’ve bought enough time, retreat and join the main force. Got it?”

“……..No problem.”

“………”

Unlike Chen, who nodded, Lennox chuckled as he saw Dave’s expression subtly waver for a brief moment.

It was obvious that he wasn’t thinking clearly about the situation.

He could see what that guy was thinking.

Well, he was the last squad following behind, so there was no need to worry too much about it right now.

He moved the sand under his feet and increased his speed, escaping out of the base.

However, the speed of something chasing after them, continuously bursting through the sand, was faster than expected.

Du-du-du-du-du!!

Something was speeding through the sand dunes with a stinging noise like a machine gun firing.

The moment the distance closed, it grabbed one of the team members running at the very back and pulled them straight down into the ground.

“Sa, save me!!”

The freelancer disappeared under the sand dune in an instant, leaving only a single scream.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!!

Only awkward bloodstains on the sand hinted at their end.

Immediately after, a huge shadow bounced out from under the desert and revealed itself under the bright sunlight.

Kwaaaah!!!

A middle-aged man with a sturdy physique. His upper body, which was bare, was covered in bizarre tattoos, and his head was cut in half, showing his brain through a glass tube as if directly revealing the inside.

A strange-shaped machine gun attached to his left arm, and blades hanging all over his side.

And a huge tail, nearly 2 meters long, growing along his spine.

A truly grotesque appearance.

It was the result of repeated illegal human modification to the point where one could not lose their humanity.

He glared at Lennox’s group as if to kill them and roared in a voice mixed with mechanical sounds.

“You bug bastards dare—!!!”

Daron.

Woo-woo-woong!!

That alone caused a huge echo to reverberate in the empty desert, stimulating all the eardrums in the area at once.

“Touch my base?! Not a single one of you will survive!!!”

‘Fast…!!’

He had modified his entire body into a shape close to a scorpion, and was speeding along, wriggling as if swimming through the desert.

Each time he flicked his tail, sand dust burst out, and his huge body sped forward.

The other freelancers, who had confirmed his vicious appearance, channeled their magic power and ran for their lives, but Daron freely moved in and out of the sand dunes, quickly closing the distance and swinging his arm.

The moment the head of a Squad 3 team member was slightly grazed.

Crack!

Their head burst like a balloon, and a fountain of blood erupted.

They had been protecting their body with magic power, but they were instantly killed. Everyone silently turned their gaze away.

Already, two of the Squad 3 team members had died without even being able to resist.

Everyone was just looking ahead and running with all their might, not even thinking about anything else.

Du-du-du-du!!!

To make matters worse, about a dozen presences were running out from the back of the ruined base.

They were riding beasts similar to camels, covered in steel armor, and were running at a speed similar to horses even on this sand.

They were probably the reserve forces who had gone out to receive supplies with Daron.

The organization members riding the iron camels did not bother to follow Daron, but spread out widely to the sides, reducing the direction of escape and beginning to form an encirclement.

At this rate, even if they managed to escape Daron’s pursuit, they would eventually run out of stamina and be caught by the iron camels.

Chen, who was running ahead, spoke through the earpiece.

[Dave. Can you buy some time with Squad 3? At the current rate, even if we reach the place where the trucks are, it won’t mean anything. We need to buy time to get out of this Sato area at least.]

[Is that something you can say now…!]

Dave, who was trembling and suddenly became angry, suddenly closed his mouth with an expression as if he had thought of something and turned his back.

While everyone was unable to guess his intentions due to the sudden change in attitude.

“Surrender! I surrender!”

He put down all the weapons he was equipped with and raised both hands high, saying,

“I’ll tell you where they’re heading, so save me!! I’ll reveal all the information!!”

“………”

[Hoo…..]

Lennox shook his head at the betrayal that was so quick and absurd, and Chen let out a soft sigh.

He had thought that he might cause trouble, but he never imagined that he would change his mind so quickly.

He must know that he could be at odds with the great city of Balkan and be unable to live as a freelancer in this city, but the fact that he was doing such a thing meant that he thought there was a high probability of dying on the spot.

It wasn’t wrong. Already, two of his team members had turned into a bloody mess and were probably lying somewhere in the desert.

“Hmph!!”

Daron glanced at him and then turned his body as if passing by.

The moment his massive body passed by, Dave turned his head with an expression of certainty of survival.

Thwack!!

His head was blown off by the huge metal tail that flew in from behind.

While swinging his tail, from which brain fluid and blood were dripping, Daron roared loudly.

“Who said you could surrender, you bastards!!”