Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1137

[It’s been a very long time since humans started being traded as ‘goods’ in Tokerphz.]

Despite Pandemonium’s terror, the downtown area of Tokerphz regained its vibrancy in just a few days.

Luxury sports cars lined the streets, and people in extravagant attire emerged from everywhere.

Numerous billboards lit up the night sky. Lavish buildings were designed to resemble slot machines and advertising balloons.

Strange-looking trees resembling palm trees were erected throughout the streets.

[As a city well-known for gambling and entertainment, there were many who squandered all their wealth and went bankrupt here.]

[It was only natural that people with nothing left to pawn would end up being sold as goods at auction houses.]

While listening to Highlea’s briefing, I walked towards the entrance of a lavish theater.

Customers were lined up in pairs everywhere, and merchants were soliciting customers.

I handed a card to the guard blocking the door, and the guard, who was wearing sunglasses, slightly lowered his lenses.

The guard, with a deep gaze, looked down at the name written on the card, nodded, and stepped aside.

“This way.”

Squeak!

The door, decorated with high-quality leather, opened, revealing a wide-open hall inside.

Dazzling lights poured down from the incredibly high ceiling.

On both sides of the hall, there were rows of ornate glass display cases.

Inside the hundreds of display cases, all sorts of extravagant and bizarre artifacts were on display.

[The Infamous Mask of the Badanoa Tribe]

[The Cursed Crown of the Fallen Yousef Dynasty]

[The Fission Heart of the Synthetic Beast Trionion]

A large, grotesque gray mask that seemed to cover the entire face.

A beautiful crown with no gaps, as if carved from transparent crystal.

Even a heart-shaped mechanical device pulsating with hot steam inside the display case.

Rare collectibles and valuables from all over the continent flowed in, becoming both commodities and collateral here.

A huge pawn shop and auction house for those obsessed with gambling and entertainment.

However, it wasn’t just these rare and bizarre artifacts that caught Victor’s interest.

“Interesting.”

[Victor?]

“There are more than one or two artifacts here that could kill everyone gathered here, and they’re just displaying them openly in this auction house.”

Lenok gave a cold laugh.

“Either they’re confident in how they handle these artifacts, or they just don’t care if the customers who come to the auction house die.”

[……]

A mask that steals people’s faces. A crown that sucks souls. A beast’s heart that is essentially a nuclear bomb.

Most of the items collected in this exhibition are things that would cause immense disasters if released into the market.

Even with the slightest carelessness, damage comparable to the terror Lenok caused could easily occur.

“Syndicate, was it? Either way, they’re a very interesting organization.”

The act of displaying otherworldly artifacts like cheap jewels, the careless response of not caring about the safety of the surroundings.

However, Lenok soon realized that this was the true nature of this city called Tokerphz.

Not just gambling with money or chips, but the pleasure of treating even human lives as commodities.

The true face of the entertainment city where the most tangible assets in the Western Continent are traded.

Is this the auction house of Tokerphz, where everything in the world is used as collateral and sold off?

[Victor. I’m sorry, but there’s no time to be distracted.]

Highlea said.

[The meeting place we were given is further inside. And perhaps, inside there… there will be more things you’ll like.]

A thick blackout curtain that divided the ornate glass display cases.

The moment Lenok passed the two guards blocking the entrance of the curtain and went inside.

Lenok stopped in his tracks as he faced the head of a boy placed in a display case.

A grotesque figure with only the head fixed on a stand, eyes wide open as if still alive.

“……”

Around it, there were also withered hands, organs, or even entire upper or lower bodies on display.

An atmosphere that felt completely opposite to the artifact exhibition hall he had just passed, gloomy and even ominous.

It seemed that a human auction house wasn’t just a place that treated living humans as commodities.

Lenok, who was about to pass by the display case where the boy’s head was exhibited, stopped in his tracks as he looked into its eyes.

“…This is.”

The light emanating from the dead boy’s eyes felt strangely familiar to Lenok.

Only after reading the description written below the display case did Lenok realize the reason.

[Tri-Chromatic Magic Eye. Unextracted. Head Included. Grade 1 Preservation.]

“……”

The name or alias was slightly different, but there was no mistake.

The light felt somewhat similar to the magic eye possessed by Oliviera Ron Maze.

What this boy possessed was a magic eye that was close to a lower-tier version of the Seven-Colored Treasure [a rare and powerful type of magic eye].

While Lenok was silently looking at the magic eye, a polite voice came from behind.

“It seems you are interested in the Tri-Chromatic Magic Eye.”

A young gentleman, who had approached from the side, was smiling at Lenok.

“It is by far the highest-grade item among the goods that have entered the auction house this month. You have excellent taste.”

“……”

“Although it is displayed in a way that it can be seen first on the way into the auction house, surprisingly, not many people recognize its value.”

A young man who appeared to be about the same age as Lenok on the outside. However, a strange dignity and discipline could be felt in his movements.

“As you know, magic eyes that contain more than two colors receive special treatment. Not only is the color beautiful, but it is also solid proof that different abilities coexist within a single eye.”

The young man spoke with a strangely proud tone.

“But this magic eye is made up of three primary colors. The most fundamental of fundamentals. It has the value of a treasure that cannot be measured in money and can only be paid for through exchange.”

“…I see.”

“Magic eye collectors are waiting for this item to be auctioned as soon as possible, but the organizers will try to show this magic eye to as many customers as possible to get the highest price.”

The young man said, adjusting the brim of his hat.

“Well, it might not catch your eye if you’re from Pandemonium.”

“……”

Only after hearing those words did Lenok turn his gaze towards the young man.

The perception-blocking magic was still in effect.

No one inside this auction house had recognized Lenok’s appearance normally.

The reason why the young man had approached Lenok and kindly explained and guided him about the magic eye.

It must be because this young man was a possessor of such powerful perception abilities that he could see through Lenok’s perception-blocking magic.

“Oh, I apologize if I was rude. As a customer who also frequents this auction house, it’s been a while since I’ve met someone who recognizes such an item.”

The young man took off the hat he was wearing and bowed politely.

“My name is Aoshu Spero.”

“…Spero?”

At that moment, Lenok inadvertently repeated the name.

“Aoshu Spero?”

Because he had definitely heard that name before, which had a somewhat unique feel to it.

The young man also seemed to sense Lenok’s reaction and gave a strange smile.

“Oh my, have we perhaps met somewhere before?”

“……”

“That’s unlikely. There’s no way I wouldn’t remember a unique sorcerer like you. This is a first.”

“I see.”

That tone. That attitude. Lenok, realizing the identity of the other party, adjusted his mask.

“A psychic from Machina… why are you here?”

After the decisive battle against Hermes Orokneer in the mechanical city of Machina.

Lenok had met a bigwig from the dark side of Machina in the process of cleaning up the mess.

A level 8 psychic, Aoshu Spero.

A psychometry user and mind controller known as the Mastermind.

A person who called Maiya Lenslit, the executor of the mechanical city, his older sister, and because of that, had shown favor to Lenok.

He had helped Lenok find traces of Kaise, but conversely, he was a crazy psychic who said he wanted to extract Lenok’s brain fluid.

“Ah, now that I think about it, if you’re affiliated with Pandemonium…”

At that moment, the young man gave a gentle smile.

“Could it be that you heard about me from my older sister Maiya? I can’t think of any other reason.”

“……”

“Could you tell me what my older sister said about me?”

“I have never heard anything about you from Maiya Lenslit.”

Lenok tilted his head.

“However, I had heard that name outside of Machina. They said you were an extremely rare psychic in the entire continent.”

“Ah.”

The young man drooped his shoulders with a dejected look.

“I see. That’s a shame. I wanted to know if my older sister was doing well.”

“……”

When Lenok met Aoshu Spero in Machina under the guise of a guest, he had also mentioned Maiya and expressed his gratitude.

It was certain that the Mastermind had worked for the mechanical city with Maiya Lenslit a long time ago.

However, Lenok had no idea how Maiya remembered Aoshu Spero.

In the first place, that executor was not the type to reveal her own stories, and Lenok was not particularly interested in her past either.

“I don’t know why a psychic from Machina is here. Did you join hands with the Syndicate?”

Aoshu Spero was a monster who controlled dozens of humans without revealing his presence even when they first met.

A strongman who was mentioned as someone to be wary of, along with the superhuman called Chungryeong, whom the 2nd Apostle had met at the Duris Workshop.

Why was the monster, who was thought to be holed up in the dark side of Machina, showing up in Tokerphz?

“I’m just a customer of this auction house.”

Aoshu Spero said, slowly turning around.

“Many brains of powerful or unique ability users flow into this place. I participate in the auction regularly to consume them.”

“…Consume them?”

“The reason why psychics are rare. You just said it yourself.”

Spero chuckled and turned his gaze away.

“That’s right.”

“……”

He didn’t bother to add reasons or explanations for what he was doing.

He didn’t make excuses or justifications, nor did he express his feelings about it.

Was it Lenok’s delusion that his calm and unhesitating attitude made him seem even more dangerous?

“If you want to meet the Syndicate, you have to go further inside.”

The young man smiled and pointed to the darkness inside the auction house.

He waved his hand and slowly passed by Lenok and disappeared.

“If we have the chance, let’s meet again next time, Pandemonium.”

“……”

The Mastermind is a psychic who is skilled at manipulating or controlling the minds of humans.

Perhaps the young man Lenok had just met was not his real body either.

Lenok, realizing that there was no more point in talking to him, turned around silently.

He passed the display cases where human heads and body parts were exhibited and headed deeper into the auction house.

A long corridor shrouded in darkness. Inside the blackout where even the shapes were blurry to the naked eye.

However, Lenok could feel that he was still walking between display cases where something was exhibited.

Even the fact that something ‘alive’ was exhibited inside those display cases and was looking at him.

“……”

The moment he subtly activated his magic detection without being noticed, he could tell.

A bird-man with skin as beautiful as a jewel, different from humans.

A mutant test subject with disgusting eyeballs embedded all over its body.

A famous politician or singer who seemed to have been seen on TV.

The direct descendants of a powerful superhuman who was known to have died a long time ago.

Men and women with purely dazzlingly beautiful appearances.

In addition, various and diverse humans with ‘uses’ were being sold as commodities in this auction house.

The sight of customers wearing masks to cover their faces, walking around the auction house hidden by blackout curtains.

Only then did Lenok understand why the mayor of Tokerphz was able to conduct human trafficking in the middle of the Alcantara Hotel.

A similar scene to the human trafficking that the mayor had attempted was openly taking place right here, in the basement of the downtown area next to the hotel.

Whoosh!

At that moment, Lenok noticed a shimmering haze in the darkness and moved his feet.

The moment he took a step forward, an illusion occurred where the scenery he was standing in was completely flipped.

Whoosh!

Before he knew it, Lenok was standing in a very large room that overlooked the auction house.

A stately space designed like an office.

Inside the room, which was decorated neither too lavishly nor too simply, a man with a stylish mustache was sitting.

“Welcome, Manipulator of Pandemonium.”

A light shirt and shoes, a cane in his hand, and a monocle on his eye.

A middle-aged man with a noble impression, overflowing with dignity, was looking at Lenok.

The man, leaning on his cane with both hands, looked at Lenok and slowly shook his head.

“Since Tokerphz was established in the Western Continent, it has been a very long time since such chaos has spread throughout the city.”

“……”

The man, with a calm expression, stroked his cane and said.

“So I wanted to see your face in person. I was curious to know what kind of person a manipulator who could match the power of an Apostle of the Order was.”

“You talk too much.”

Lenok’s eyes flashed red behind his mask.

“I heard that the clown is in this auction house. Guide me to where he is.”

“There’s no need to rush. The clown’s safety will be ensured.”

The man turned around, limping, leaving the silent Lenok behind.

“But the preparations are not yet complete. Until then, why don’t we talk for a while?”

“What preparations are you talking about?”

There was no particular murderous intent or hostility felt from the man in front of him who was welcoming Lenok.

This meant that the current situation itself was not a trap or encirclement aimed at Lenok.

However, even so, Lenok did not let his guard down as he looked at the man limping with his cane.

Kugugugu…!!!

An unknown, intangible pressure emanated from the man with a dignified impression.

A strong sense of weight was felt, as if one’s consciousness was being suppressed the moment they faced him.

A strange sense of incongruity, as if the man’s mind itself was endlessly heavy and sinking into a deep slumber.

He was clearly a strongman who had reached a transcendent level, though he did not bother to reveal it because he was not the type to show off.

Considering his unique and powerful mental waves, his ability was the most versatile among innate abilities-

Thud!

At that moment, the office where Lenok and the man were facing each other slowly began to move.

A bizarre phenomenon where the vast office overlooking the entire auction house moved without any power or device.

A psychokinetic psychic who relied on pure mental power, without using any magic or spells.

The moment Lenok was certain of that and faintly raised his magic power.

“Even if he has weakened, there’s no way we could forcibly detain such a great illusionist here.”

The man standing at the end of the moving office pointed below the glass window.

“The fact that he was staying here was purely of the clown’s own will.”

“…What?”

Kugugugung…!!!

The office moved past the auction house and into a secret room with several complex rooms intertwined.

A huge operating room with white-painted walls, visible below the transparent glass window.

All sorts of equipment placed between the operating tables, and a surgical chair placed diagonally in the center.

“Ouch, ouch!”

The clown, whose whole body was torn to shreds, was sitting on that chair and screaming.

“Ouch!! No, I’m sorry, but I really feel like I’m going to die.”

The clown, who was screaming every time a blade moved across his skin, rolled his eyes.

“You said he was a very famous surgeon. Can’t you be a little more gentle?”

“It was you who said that anesthetics and hallucinogens don’t work on you.”

At that moment, the man who was cutting with a scalpel in front of the operating table opened his mouth.

“Do you think I’m happy to be operating on a patient who is sober?”

“No, I mean, the reason I entrusted the surgery to you is-”

“Quiet.”

The suture surgeon, who had taken off his surgical cap, looked down at the clown with an indifferent gaze.

“It’s my first time performing surgery with ‘this body,’ so bear with it. Sit still and enjoy the pain.”