Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 194

“I don’t even know where to begin this story…”

Jenny said, letting out a deep sigh.

“You can tell just by looking, right?”

Renok clicked his tongue at her nonchalant expression.

His worries on the way to the bar were for nothing; she didn’t have a single scratch on her body.

The bar, which had occupied the entire three-story building, was barely recognizable.

The office on the second floor was completely wrecked, as if it had been hit by a bomb, while the first floor was littered with blood and dust.

The only thing that remained somewhat intact was the bar in the basement.

Even that was half-destroyed, with broken tables scattered everywhere, creating a bizarre scene.

What was even more absurd was that there were still customers drinking and giggling among themselves.

“People who come here in this state must be out of their minds.”

Renok clicked his tongue, and Jenny laughed, a cigarette dangling from her mouth.

“There are more than a few guys who wouldn’t be surprised to die tomorrow.”

Renok took the glass she offered and pulled a cigarette from his pocket.

“Okay, explain it to me. I was just going to hear a brief summary and then rest, but what is this mess?”

“The cartel started to get involved.”

Cartel.

While it generally refers to a faction or group, the cartel mentioned in the megacity refers to only one thing.

One of the criminal organizations that dominate the dark side of Balkan, and one of the three underworld giants known as the ‘Three Heads’.

It was originally formed by corporations involved in illegal businesses, but eventually, it became a massive criminal organization. Among the Three Heads, it is known for being the most sensitive to profit and the fastest to act.

“It was good that we put up a sign and changed the name… but the interference came too quickly.”

While Renok was away in the Autonomous Territory, Jenny, as she had mentioned to him, began her business in earnest. She attracted several sponsors and managed to create a decent setup in just ten days.

The theme she wanted to start her business with was distribution.

She intended to take over the logistics distribution business in the underworld, which was currently in the hands of the scavengers.

“I was planning to quickly establish myself by gathering connections I made while working as a broker and those who were feeling disillusioned with mercenary life, but it seems the cartel guys were also eyeing this area.”

If the daughter of Kaise, who once dominated the dark side of Balkan, started to step forward, the market structure would be greatly shaken.

The quality of her connections was enough to bring out the big shots who had retired from the front lines, so the cartel was worried that the existing power structure would be shaken.

However, it was difficult for the cartel to justify directly intervening just because she started a business.

Therefore, the cartel left a warning by smashing the bar while she was away.

“They didn’t bother us when I was focused on brokering, but now the situation is different, I guess.”

Jenny said, puffing out smoke.

“We can’t keep working in this state, so I’ve sent all the other freelancers except for you to Sebastian or Madam. If I want to get customers back later, I need to leave it to the guys I know.”

“Why did you exclude me?”

“Well, because you’re the one who set up the company under your name.”

“…”

Jenny handed Renok a document, leaving him speechless.

A business registration certificate.

The names of Ban and Jenny were listed side by side as the representatives.

Well, it wouldn’t matter now whether she got his consent or followed the proper procedures.

He could only admire Jenny’s skill and drive in naturally squeezing Ban’s awkward identity into the business registration certificate.

“For reference, this is the amount of investment we received before starting the business.”

“Hmm…”

“This is the amount set for the CEO’s annual salary. Additional negotiations are possible at any time if needed.”

Renok nodded.

“Let’s start working right away.”

They say the best way to make money is to be a businessman, and the second best is to be an investor who funds that business.

Looking at the numbers on the calculator, his worries quickly disappeared.

It was something that had already been agreed upon before he left for the Autonomous Territory.

Ultimately, if he couldn’t gain significant influence in the dark side of Balkan, Renok would never be able to access the rare magic and elixirs he desired.

The time to cower under the guise of a freelancer was over.

Now that he had gained another confirmation of his abilities in the Autonomous Territory, it was time to actively expand his position.

* * *

[I’ve heard the news.]

The magic flowing from the Herbalist trembled as the transmission came through.

[The story of the guy who was hiding in the Republic falling into a coma has even reached this old man’s ears.]

“…”

Of course, Ban’s name was never mentioned in the process of the drug lord’s downfall, but there was no way someone like the Herbalist wouldn’t notice what Renok had done.

She looked at Renok with unreadable eyes, then quietly accepted the Malabes roots he handed her.

[I, who had given up on everything, have no right to say anything now… but I still want to say this. You fulfilled my wish.]

“I only tried because I thought it was something I could do. I can only say that I was lucky to succeed.”

Renok honestly revealed his feelings.

It might be dangerous for the details of the battle with the drug lord to leak out, but it didn’t matter in front of the Herbalist.

After today’s meeting, she wouldn’t remember anything anymore.

[Between people as skilled as you and the drug lord, nothing happens by chance.]

The Herbalist firmly denied Renok’s words.

[How can one blame luck and chance among superhumans who interfere with the laws of nature? I, too, am saddened by my own inadequacy, but I do not resent it. However…]

Contrary to her words, which seemed detached from the world, human attachment does not easily leave the earth.

Renok and the Herbalist both knew that fact well, even without saying it.

[I will also do my best to respond to your wish. Leave it to me.]

The Herbalist’s eyes, as she picked up the dark-colored roots, were shining more clearly than ever before.

[This might open up a possibility for your absurd nature.]

Watching the Herbalist disappear after closing the door of the small hut, Renok silently descended the mountain.

Sorcerers who have reached their limits impose restrictions on themselves to explore the realm beyond.

The triggers used by shamans like Grisha were also restrictions that worked on a similar principle.

How far could Renok, who had been imposing a penalty on himself since the moment he opened his eyes in this world, go?

When Renok finally got the answer he wanted, would he be able to remain the same person he was at the beginning?

It was an unknown matter.

Even sages like the Herbalist had been devoured by the shackles they had created for themselves due to a moment’s mistake.

Renok also had to constantly be on guard so that he wouldn’t end up like that.

After handing over the Malabes to the Herbalist, Renok finally finished his necessary errands and returned home.

Since the conflict with the cartel had ended with a warning for now, he and Jenny had decided to wait and see, so he needed to rest first.

He put down the luggage full of items he had brought from the Autonomous Territory.

He lay down on the faintly dusty bed without even washing up.

“Cough.”

He coughed involuntarily, but Renok just lay there blankly with his eyes closed.

The drugs and painkillers he had taken continuously in the Autonomous Territory, along with the accumulated fatigue from not being able to rest.

He had rested enough to move around at the lighthouse, but it couldn’t compare to the relief of returning home.

Even though it was still an unstable place, and one that could disappear at any moment.

It was a sanctuary that Renok had built with his own hands.

“Hoo…”

He felt like he would fall asleep right away, but there was one last thing he had to do.

His phone, which had connected as soon as he returned to Balkan, had quite a few messages piled up.

He left a message for Aris, who was angry that he wasn’t answering his calls, saying that he was back from vacation.

He sent a reply to Ivelyn, who wanted to see him, politely declining.

He even replied to Dylan’s message, who was making a fuss about not seeing him at the bar lately, saying that he had closed up shop. Only then did Renok turn off his phone and lie down.

The moment he closed his eyes, his consciousness sank deeply.

Soon, only a soft breathing sound filled the quiet room.

* * *

“Ban is back?”

“Yes. It seems that smashing the bar directly had an effect. Considering that he showed up in less than three days, it’s possible that he was observing the situation from somewhere out of sight.”

“Hmm… the woman I know wouldn’t want to see our reaction by smashing her own bar.”

A woman with a somewhat husky voice retorted, flaring up at the man’s indifferent reply.

“It doesn’t matter whether you know her or not. What are you talking about when things have already turned out this way?”

“Calm down, Iola. I’m just saying that’s how I remember it… So, how is the business that Janice is trying to start going?”

“It seemed to falter for a moment on the day the bar was smashed, but they resumed operations in just one day. Since they started working again before Ban even reappeared, it’s safe to say that they didn’t care about our movements from the beginning.”

“Hmm…”

“If we hesitate, we won’t be able to stop anything. I don’t know how they did it, but they’ve secured a large number of investors, led by an old man named Vincent, who used to lead intercity trade, and are receiving supplies and capital. They’re a bit different from the businessmen we’ve been backing in Balkan, so it’s not easy to put pressure on the investors.”

“So, are you saying we need to deal with Janice again?”

The woman didn’t answer the man’s unreliable words, but it was practically an agreement.

“…Should we contact the boss one more time? Our old man also received a lot from Kaise, didn’t he?”

“Virgil. Do you still want to talk about that? Get a grip. The boss said it’s okay to kill Janice right away.”

“…”

“It’s only old-timers like you who remember Kaise, isn’t it? It’s time to forget that name and cut off the bud of a seemingly capable competitor.”

Virgil didn’t answer.

The woman sighed, confirming his stubbornness from his sulky face.

“So, you don’t want to get your hands dirty, is that it? Fine. Then I’ll do it myself.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“If they don’t listen after one warning, then next time, we’ll have to cut off their limbs.”

The woman’s eyes gleamed coldly as she said that.

“There are plenty of ways, aren’t there? Leave it to me. I’ll not only finish the job perfectly, but I’ll also get a clean estimate of that magician Ban’s skills.”

* * *

-Renok. I don’t mind, but the university administration is quite dissatisfied.

Aris said, clearing her throat slightly as if embarrassed.

“…I’m sorry.”

-Please understand that this is the level it has decreased to after Renok revealed that he is a spiritist. I don’t mind if Renok doesn’t do anything in the lab, but it would be nice if you could at least show your face.

“Yes, yes. I’ll try to go to work right away starting next week. I won’t be taking such long vacations in the future.”

After ending the call, Renok unknowingly straightened his back and sighed.

He never imagined that Aris would call him directly the morning after receiving his message.

In fact, Renok had no excuse for this, so he was unilaterally indebted to Aris.

Despite Aris’s efforts in recognizing Renok’s talent for theoretical research and recruiting him to the lab, Renok had never made any remarkable achievements.

Aris seemed not to care even if Renok was just eating in the lab, but he couldn’t really do nothing.

It was something he had accepted with the idea that he could and should balance his life in both the light and the dark, but it wasn’t easy.

‘It would be good to write a paper on the properties of electricity later…’

If Aris was putting it this way, he could roughly guess what his reputation was like within the university.

The students in the Department of Elemental Studies, whom he directly faced, had become friendly with him by using Davi’s face, but to the students who wanted to join Aris’s lab and the administrative staff, he must have seemed like a complete delinquent.

Even for the sake of the other researchers in the lab, whom he had not yet met, Renok needed to produce something decent.

“Should I at least start…”

Renok muttered to himself, turned on the laptop that was placed on one side of the lab, and sat down.