Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 216

Jenny, with Lenox’s help, quickly organized the cartel’s cooperative business schedules they had decoded. They could see, in brief, not only where and how the businesses had scheduled their meetings, but also why they had decided to meet. Girard, to save his own life, had revealed all the core information, including many of the cartel’s management proxies, to Lenox. Lenox was skimming through the schedules when he discovered something and pointed at the monitor. “Jenny, look at this.” “What is it?” “The frequency of schedule changes regarding business ownership is abnormally high. It’s proof that businesses are constantly shifting within the cartel.” At Lenox’s words, Jenny muttered as if she had realized something. “Does that mean they’re in the middle of a factional fight? If so, it makes sense why the cartel hasn’t launched a full-scale war until now…” “That’s probably right. And considering they picked a fight with us first, even though they clearly know there’s a power struggle going on internally, it’s possible they’re trying to use what’s happening now to sort out their internal hierarchy.” Lenox said that, then after pondering for a moment, he spoke again. “Girard deliberately gave me this information first, knowing I wouldn’t miss it… What’s the reason for telling me about the cartel’s internal strife first…” Lenox slowly closed his eyes and quickly recalled the cartel members he had met so far. The words and actions they had uttered. The subtle nuances he had felt in their expressions and the timing of Jordan’s kidnapping. Lenox stopped thinking at the image of Virgil, the giant wearing sunglasses, and raised his head. “Maybe it’s not just a factional fight.” “…What?” “If it were just an internal power struggle, it wouldn’t be strange for the internal factions to unite due to an external problem. But the fact that the chaos within the cartel is accelerating… it’s proof that there’s a traitor inside.” “……” Jenny slightly opened her mouth and looked up at Lenox. “And Girard gave this information to a faction that wouldn’t retaliate against him… In other words, he’s on the side that betrayed the cartel.” Lenox, having thought that far, immediately got up from his seat and said, “Find out which executive-level manager was most closely connected to Girard. It’s unlikely to be Virgil O’Rayden, at least.” “…What are you planning to do after finding the executive-level manager who betrayed them?” “That depends on how he reacts. Judging by the circumstances, it’s likely the traitor’s faction that attacked us first… I’m starting to see how things will end.” Lenox’s eyes gleamed coldly. “Once the cross-verification of the information we got from Girard is complete, we need to start by disrupting the cartel’s business meeting on the 14th.” * * * After verifying the truth of the information Girard had given through cross-verification, there was no reason to hesitate. After that, Lenox focused on dismantling the cartel’s businesses with two or three colleagues, excluding the personnel needed to guard the bar. They had to act proactively before the other side realized their information was being leaked. As befitting the cartel’s identity as a corporate alliance, the organization’s size itself was immeasurably vast. Conversely, it was possible because there were so many limbs that felt numb even when they were cut off. “There hasn’t been any significant movement from their side since Girard.” KWAANG!! Kilian, transformed into a wolf over 2 meters tall, said as he kicked away a mercenary charging from behind. The mercenary, whose stomach was pierced by the kick that was like a horse’s, died instantly. At the end of that, Lenox, in the lull of the battlefield, raised his magic power. FZZZZZZT!! Lenox, who had succeeded in securing the last remaining business owner alive, erased the traces and replied. “That was probably a solo act by that guy. And it’s not strange that they’re being cautious after a skilled person like that was defeated.” “That’s hilarious. You’re the one who caught him, and you’re saying that?” Kilian grinned, baring his teeth, but Lenox ignored him and continued. “Besides, considering your Dyke Corporation and the Antares Mercenary Group, they’re probably thinking it’s ambiguous to start a full-scale war right now… Especially, they’re very likely to be paying close attention to Antares’ movements.” There was no need to mention how much prestige and skill Antares had in this world. Although they had not yet officially sided with Lenox, it was clear that the mercenaries under their command were leaning towards Lenox. It wouldn’t be strange if they thought they would be vulnerable to Antares if they moved rashly. Lenox had confirmed that Antares’ skills were on par with the cartel’s executives. “Are you saying they’re worried about the connections you have… That’s interesting. Do people usually talk about that so casually?” “……” POW!! After hitting Kilian’s long snout with a clump of magic power, Lenox spoke again. “It’s probably because it’s well known that I’ve been working with the Agents for a while. If they think Evelyn Marcia might get involved in this, it’s understandable that they’d want to see our hand, even if it means taking losses.” “Hmm, we don’t want to see that woman’s face either…” It wasn’t that Lenox didn’t understand Kilian’s sullen muttering. Unlike Antares, who had never shown off her skills, Evelyn Marcia had fought against numerous formidable opponents as an Agent. Considering her nature of not backing down even against Kraken Asillas, the cartel might also be more reluctant to get involved with the Agents, just like Kilian. Lenox, having erased all traces left behind, turned around, dusting off his hands. It was a measure to avoid giving them any possible leverage, but there hadn’t been any problems so far. “Or it could be that they’re focusing on finding the traitor within the cartel, which is delaying their administrative processing. In the worst case, they might be waiting for an opportunity to move a skilled person beyond our expectations… If that’s the case, we’ll have a lot more to do.” They were currently causing losses of over billions of cells [currency] by dismantling the cartel’s businesses, but Lenox had never forgotten that the situation could change at any time. The cartel was not an organization connected by a strong bond. Strictly speaking, it was a corporate alliance. A huge organization created by powerful affiliates. The executives were loyal to the chairman and managed the large affiliates, but the connections between each affiliate were weak. One of the few weaknesses of the cartel, which had grown to an extreme size and reigned as one of the three underworld leaders. The direction in which that gap could be used was entirely up to Lenox’s judgment. “…I hate complicated things. Why do you have so much to worry about?” Lenox sighed softly at Kilian’s words, who was shaking his head. “You’re telling me. I’m dumbfounded too.” If they could just launch a full-scale war against the cartel with all the forces they could mobilize, there would be no need to weigh and consider everything… But that was impossible as long as the head of the cartel was still standing strong. A businessperson called an old fox who had not appeared in public for decades, who had divided and seized control of the shadows of the mega-city into three parts. It was difficult to grasp the specific circumstances because information had been cut off for too long, but the fact that he had been leading this huge organization for decades meant that he was likely a monster. Considering the skills of Virgil, an executive-level manager, the chairman was probably even more skilled. It was dangerous to rashly charge in. They would take advantage of the chaos within the cartel to erode their power as much as possible, while at the same time seeking to expand their own business. At the same time, they would identify the cartel’s traitor, enter into negotiations, and focus on understanding the other side’s power through Girard. This was the best they could do right now. But they had to stop doing this for a while. “I’ll be away for about three days. I might not be able to reply even if there are any special circumstances.” Lenox said. “I’ve already told Jenny and Drey, but if something happens, I’m counting on the others.” Mad Manson was not easy to trust, and Drey was not very strong in terms of individual combat power. Among them, the only ones who satisfied Lenox’s trust and had decent combat power were Kilian and Weyan. Kilian shook his head as he returned to his human form. His tattered rags, torn to shreds when he transformed into a wolf, were noticeable, but he didn’t care and put on the clothes of a person who had fallen nearby. “I don’t understand. Why do you have to leave at such a sensitive time… Is it related to that rumor going around?” Dyke Corporation, Agents, Antares Mercenary Office. There was one rumor that was sticking to Lenox, who was increasingly attracting attention as he became entangled with the cartel, one of the three underworld leaders. That his shockingly outstanding magical abilities and combat sense were not actually innate, but rather a talent that had been thoroughly trained and dispatched to the mega-city. That the conflict between Lenox and the cartel was actually part of a plan to seize control of the underworld, with an unidentified force behind him. Lenox chuckled at Kilian’s sullen expression. Unlike the others who tried to keep a careful distance even while being close to him, this guy was no different from a thug who had no interest in such things and didn’t want to keep them. That’s why he could ask Lenox about the rumors so casually. “No.” Lenox replied. “I need to take some medicine.” “What the hell are you talking about… Who would believe that?” Lenox didn’t answer Kilian’s grumbling and instead slightly raised his head to look at the sky. The moon, which had risen in the evening sky just as the sun was setting, looked close to a full moon. The time for taking the elixir that Yakseon had mentioned was approaching. * * * Lenox’s house, where the darkness had settled deeply. After managing his recently increased assets, he realized that he had the means to move, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the time. He had heard that there were many good officetel [a building with both office and residential units] properties near the 10th district, but he wouldn’t have time until after this matter was over. Lenox was thinking about that as he looked up at the full moon that had risen outside the window. “Not like a werewolf…” This kind of sentimentality was more suitable for Kilian, a werewolf, than for Lenox. But since Yakseon had even set the time for taking it, he couldn’t argue. Above all, she was likely to not even remember that she had given Lenox the medicine. Click. He slowly opened the roughly shaped wooden box that he had hidden and protected with all sorts of barriers and magic. He picked up one of the pills placed on the edge of the twenty pills and closed it again. The aftereffects of the medicine would last for three days. Since Yakseon had directly diagnosed Lenox’s body and stated that, it wouldn’t be worse than that. He still didn’t understand what it meant to stimulate the entire nervous system to improve his constitution, but he would find out when he took this pill, whether he liked it or not. Even though he knew he was at a critical crossroads, he couldn’t stop his hand from hesitating as he picked up the pill. Having come this far, Lenox was agonizing over whether he could trust Yakseon. “…” It was a naive thought. He could feel the convenient excuses echoing in his heart rising above his fear. Wouldn’t it be better to stay as he was? Hadn’t he been doing well so far? There was no need to rely on the help of others. He could do it alone. Putting this dangerous thing, whose effects he couldn’t even guess, into his body was no longer- Gulp. Regardless of the echoing monologue, Lenox’s hand moved. He put the pill in his mouth and swallowed it without chewing. He picked up the water bottle he had prepared and gulped it down. He remembered the day he took the elixir for the first time. He had shared the money he had earned by subjugating the contaminated with Mila, and had barely managed to gather 100 million cells to buy an elixir called Stemonia from an online auction. Even that medicine, which he now sometimes took to recover his condition and remove toxins from the beginning of the year, he had trembled when he first put it in his mouth. Even with the mental strength and reason of a powerful magician, he still repeated the same feelings and fears. He could not hesitate for long because he knew that his humanity still remained within him. Because he knew that he had to move before everything he had built up turned into mere bubbles. PEEING-!! The symptoms appeared soon after. The moment he thought a sharp pain had grazed his temples, Lenox was already burying his head in the ground. KOOONG! “…….!!” A feeling of hot currents running through his entire body, not sparing his arms, legs, hands, feet, internal organs, head, and chest. The sensation transmitted to his convulsing limbs had already gone beyond being a simple stimulus and turned into excruciating pain. He thought he should move his legs, but his fingers twitched, and when he tried to turn his head, his waist twisted. A feeling as if the senses connecting his whole body were completely cut off and then reconnected at random. Lenox’s powerful reason tried to remember and relive even those wrongly connected senses. In the stark disconnect between his mind and body, he could feel a small fox spirit looking down at him with concern. “Hh, hh…” When he tried to twist his waist to the left, his head naturally nodded. Lenox gave Davi a gesture to reassure him and began to accept the effects of the medicine with his whole body again. The first day passed in an instant.