Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 47

Panoa’s eyes lit up, as if she had been waiting for that moment.

Lenok noticed how she casually touched the wristwatch on her left wrist as she spoke.

“Since entering the weapons business, we’ve been constantly seeking opportunities to expand our market. The areas in the 40s and 50s… the residents outside of those areas also have significant potential to become our customers.”

‘Outside,’ huh. It seems that’s what they call the place where Lenok works, ‘inside’.

“I’m not good at sales.”

“I know. That’s not what we’re looking for. We need a highly skilled freelancer who can operate outside. Someone exceptional, but not yet widely known… a contradictory profile like that.”

There was no need to guess who she was referring to.

Panoa’s intense gaze was already fixed on the answer.

“Since the Deep Web reopened after the Ascender’s visit, you must have received many inquiries, mage. But we were the most eager, and the fastest.”

“……”

“A truly rare, skilled mage who works alone. Moreover, the requests you’ve completed are all significant. If you survived against the old guard of the Demon Realm, there’s no doubt about your skills. Other clients must be eager to hire you.”

“What do you want?”

Whether she was excited or trying to persuade Lenok, she was talking too much.

Up until now, he had been holding back his response, considering the position of the large corporation, Dyke, but if he didn’t interrupt her here, it seemed like endless, meaningless praise would continue.

He could see Panoa’s eyes slightly glinting behind her glasses.

She was probably instantly assessing Lenok’s personality through this exchange and adjusting her approach accordingly.

Lenok was well aware of this, but he gave her time to think and waited.

If a company as large as Dyke was this eager, the compensation they would offer Lenok would be substantial.

Especially considering that their contact was made immediately after the Deep Web opened.

Perhaps, through them, Lenok could get his hands on at least one of the items he wanted….

A brief silence passed, and then Panoa spoke again.

“I’m planning to reorganize the board to expand our business in the 40s area.”

“……”

“In simple terms, there are a few obstacles that need to be removed to sell our products in that area. I would like the mage to help with that task.”

Decision.

Panoa made a bombshell statement with a calm face and quietly waited for Lenok’s answer.

Lenok, who had been deep in thought, slowly opened his mouth.

“I don’t understand.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t understand why a company like Dyke, which shouldn’t lack military resources, would make such a request. Especially with the planning team leader speaking directly in person.”

The plan to push out those who currently dominate the weapons market in the 40s area was understandable.

However, the fact that they were trying to enlist Lenok’s help in the process was a completely different matter.

“There are two reasons.”

Panoa answered immediately.

“One is that you, Mr. Ban the mage, are a skilled freelancer who has built a career unusually quickly, even outside, and you are a mage.”

She began by saying that she wouldn’t need to explain how difficult it was to find a skilled mage, and continued.

“Secondly, we can gain some justification by using a freelancer who is active in that area. In fact, this is the biggest reason.”

“Justification, huh.”

“If we deploy our forces in the outer areas under our name, we would likely face all sorts of checks and balances and not even break even. But if we indirectly control that direction through Mr. Ban the mage, our competitors won’t be able to complain, at least not openly.”

The 40s area is close to a lawless zone that operates under the city government’s permission, but it adheres to the unwritten rule that it operates strictly according to market principles.

If large corporations started to interfere, the order of the ‘outside’ would collapse, and the profit structure would be ruined.

And that was definitely not the outcome that the higher-ups in the city government wanted.

“……”

Lenok nodded, looking at the cold smile on Panoa’s lips.

In short, they were going to use Lenok as an agent to eliminate business rivals in the 40s area.

They intended to eliminate the illegal arms dealers, gangs, and violent organizations that were intricately intertwined in the back alleys and take over the remaining market share.

It was a very bold plan, and one that was impossible without taking risks.

Dyke wouldn’t be the first company to have this idea.

But such circumstances were not something Lenok needed to worry about.

The most important question remained.

“What can you give me in return for doing all that?”

Panoa turned on the screen next to the office without saying a word.

“I know that you are looking for several very rare items, mage. You have a very discerning eye, as befits your outstanding skills.”

“……”

Lenok was silent, not expecting to hear such words from the planning team leader working for a large corporation like Dyke.

“But our desire to work with you is genuine. You will understand when you see this item.”

The screen quickly turned on, and a photo appeared.

Five pencils, so old that they were almost worn away, preserved to the point of being yellowish.

Stored in a very thick glass case, they were kept tightly bound with pale fluorescent chains.

Even so, they were emitting faint waves in all directions, unable to overcome the power emanating from within.

The moment Lenok saw them, he immediately recognized that they were extraordinary items.

Panoa’s explanation followed.

“These are ‘Enakphil’s Five Fingers,’ which were put up for sale at a VIP auction sponsored by the Central Council. They are known to be a safety product with five evasion magic spells granted by the Maladis School, and are only given as a gift to VIPs who deal directly with the school.”

She glanced at Lenok and said,

“It’s definitely not an item that you can get just by having money, and it’s even less likely to be seen at an auction.”

“……”

“Five times. If you work with us on exactly five requests that we want, we promise to obtain and hand over this product to you. In addition, we will pay additional compensation based on the Deep Web’s market price for each successful request.”

At the same time, the screen switched, and a contract appeared. The compensation written there was not an amount that even Lenok could ignore.

She seemed to have prepared very meticulously for this moment.

“What do you think?”

A confident smile. Confidence that she had accurately understood what Lenok wanted.

Was all the lengthy explanation and unwavering confident attitude based on this?

But it was undeniable.

An artifact imbued with magic. Moreover, a consumable item that could make up for Lenok’s biggest weakness, mobility.

Whether it was a coincidence or not, it was the most helpful equipment for him right now, and a clue to research the imbued magic.

After confirming its existence, Lenok couldn’t possibly refuse.

All he could do was ask for time to think.

#

“Did he leave?”

“Yes.”

Unlike before, Panoa quietly looked down at Lenok, who was walking out of the 10s area, through the glass window.

He looked like someone who had never hit a person, but the records on the Deep Web and countless testimonies did not lie.

The amount of information Panoa had collected to prepare the most reliable card was enormous.

Ban the Electro Mage. He was a newbie with less than 10 requests completed so far, but his skills were definitely real.

The judgment she felt on paper, and the conviction she felt in person.

It was rare for one of the two to be wrong, but it was never the case that both were wrong.

He was a talent that needed to be secured.

“But does it have to be that guy? We have mages on our side too.”

As Killian said, it wasn’t like Dyke didn’t have any useful mages.

In the past, skilled mages used to hole up in the Magic Tower, but recently, they have been joining various organizations one by one, moving to fulfill their own desires.

Dyke was one of the many companies that benefited from this trend.

But if you asked if they had the skills Panoa wanted, the answer was definitely no.

“Killian, you. Can you hold out against a Kraken Asilus for even a moment?”

“……It’s not easy.”

Ignoring his ridiculous bravado, Panoa continued.

“That mage did it on his first request. And with only one decent vanguard.”

“……”

“In the first place, it doesn’t make sense that a mage has been working alone until now. It’s strange that other companies haven’t approached him yet. He’ll be the most cost-effective card among the freelancers we can control. I’m sure of it.”

Panoa took out a cigarette from her pocket and lit it.

Originally, no matter how much Dyke wanted to expand its business, it would not have touched the 40s area.

The power structure was more complex than imagined, and those who held such profit relationships were not easy to deal with.

There were countless people who had fearlessly entered that market and failed to break even.

But despite that, Panoa decided to reorganize the board in the 40s area this time because of the agreement with the Pilenom Autonomous Territory two days ago.

Eventually, Balkan would have to prepare for war. In line with that, the weapons industry would enter its golden age.

To prepare for that time, they needed to increase production in advance, and they needed new customers to absorb the increased weapons production.

Moreover, since the city government’s attention was focused on the agreement with the autonomous territory, the pressure would be relatively less, so the timing was almost perfect.

“If we move well, we can monopolize the flow of military supplies in one go. It’s not impossible to go further ‘inside’ either.”

The world is changing.

You have to carefully assess the surrounding trends and your own abilities and respond accordingly.

However, someone who moves boldly might get more than their share.

Panoa smiled sharply.

“Enough with the small talk. Send them in.”

“Who?”

“…I told you to bring the next candidate.”

“Ah, so that’s what you meant by securing the resume? I just picked one from the emails and brought it.”

“……”

Panoa sighed involuntarily at Killian’s face, who was scratching his head with a blank expression.

Was it a mistake to ask for his cooperation on this project after hearing rumors that he had a good sense?

Werewolves were definitely not suitable partners for office work.

#

Lenok briefly summarized the conversations he had with Panoa and told Jenny.

Since he had been receiving requests through her anyway, it was difficult to avoid cooperation in this matter as well.

“It’s big.”

Jenny concluded simply after hearing the whole story.

“The risks and the benefits are equally big.”

“……”

“I have a rough idea of how much ‘Enakphil’s Five Fingers’ is worth. I heard it’s one of those consumable artifacts that high-ranking political figures can’t get enough of. And if they offered such an item as compensation, the risks they’re asking of you, Ban, will be considerable.”

Jordan, who had been listening quietly, said.

“I can guess why Dyke had a separate talk with Ban.”

“What is it?”

“Wouldn’t it be their intention to minimize the grudges that will be created by this request? It would be complicated if they knew that they were directly involved. They’re trying to set up the board with the minimum number of variables. At least, Dyke seems to be serious.”

“They offered a deal through the Deep Web, would they have faked it? I didn’t doubt that part from the beginning. The important thing is this.”

Jenny said that and looked at Lenok with a serious expression.

“If you accept this request, it will be difficult to easily get out of this business.”

“……”

“Until now, you’ve been working against organizations or plans, but what Dyke wants is to create a board where they can benefit by taking down someone. It’s inevitable that grudges will arise.”

“…I guess so.”

The content was different from the requests he had done so far.

Jenny was subtly putting that fact into words.

Lenok understood.

Until now, the requests he had carried out, whether in the light or the dark, had simple objectives or did not have a significant impact as a result of the request.

Even if he got caught up in a big incident, the fire would not spread so much that it would harm Lenok.

But this time it was different.

What Dyke was trying to touch was the drug dealers in the 40s area, and this would certainly account for a significant portion of the complex profit structure of the ‘outer’ areas.

Anyone would be angry if their money source was threatened.

It was clear that the possibility of retaliation or getting caught up in a deeper power struggle was higher than just completing the request and getting paid.

“Ban, are you ready to take the risks to get what you want?”

“……Ready?”