Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 863

Takeover (32)

“Lapis Palcier. Head of the Azure Eye. A direct descendant of the Ascendant, Madrea Palcier, the Heavenly Eye. A level 7 Saint-level ability user. Specific spell system unknown.”

In Jenny’s bar, located in Sector 49.

Under the soft glow of the bar, only Jenny’s voice echoed quietly.

“Began activities immediately after the death of the Heavenly Eye. After facing the drug lord Dominic Cabaro in the Philemon Autonomous Territory, rapidly expanded her power, entering the Central Front in just a few years.”

“…….”

Jenny flipped through the papers, explaining.

“Aside from the conflict with the drug lord, she has rarely appeared on the front lines, but her recent appearance is said to be to showcase her Saint-level abilities. Considering how much she cares about her public image, she must understand the importance of legitimacy even at a young age.”

“It wouldn’t be easy to establish a foothold by squeezing into the entrenched Central Front.”

Felix, the bird-headed giant, shook his head as he listened to the report with his arms crossed.

“It seems she had trustworthy people by her side.”

“That’s the key point.”

Jenny pointed at Felix as if he had explained it well.

“She formed an organization by recruiting powerful, unaffiliated superhumans, and surprisingly, there’s been little internal division or rebellion. She must have exceptional talent in managing an organization and gaining people’s trust.”

“That means she’s likely a very charismatic person? I’d like to meet her sometime.”

Dylan, who was gulping down whiskey like water, said with interest.

“Where is our captain wandering around? It’s hard to even see his face once every few months now!”

“Dylan, don’t be like that. Still, according to what Antares told us recently…”

“What did Antares say?”

A young man’s voice naturally joined the group’s conversation.

Recognizing that it was a very familiar voice, a dozen people turned their heads at the same time.

At the far end of the wide bar, a mage who had neatly taken off his coat was leaning back, holding a cigarette.

“Ban!!”

“You, you bastard. Where have you been all this time…!!!”

Dylan jumped up, knocking over a chair that slammed into Mila’s knee, and an enraged Mila kicked Dylan in the back.

Crash!! Bang!!

Dylan, with blood streaming from his nose through his mask, jumped up and yelled.

“Damn it, is that how you want to play it!!”

“Who are you to say that, you idiot!!”

“I’m so tired of this. Are you fighting again?”

In the bar that had instantly become noisy, Wei An shook his head, and Tatiana, who was sipping her drink in the distance, chuckled.

“Calm down. Ban has returned after all this time, are you going to start throwing punches?”

Felix grabbed Dylan and Mila by the scruff of their necks and hung them on the coat rack on the wall.

The twins giggled and sneered at the mercenaries dangling in the air, and Manson, holding his phone, captured their disgraceful behavior on camera.

“Don’t take pictures, you tin can!”

[Don’t touch it. If Ban is in the shot, it won’t record properly, so you need to adjust the angle.]

“Eek! Eek! Eek!”

“Haa…….”

Jenny sighed deeply as she approached Lenok, watching Mila, who was screaming like a pterodactyl, trying to interfere with the filming.

Lenok smiled as he politely accepted the cocktail that Jorden had made for him.

“Even after a long time, this place hasn’t changed. Right?”

“No. It’s changed a lot.”

Jenny sat down in front of Lenok, looking indifferent, and retorted.

“First of all, everyone seems to lose their intelligence when you come around. It’s a very serious problem.”

“An interesting hypothesis.”

“It’s been over a week since you came back, right? What have you been doing all this time?”

Jenny asked, glaring at Lenok with narrowed eyes.

“That’s-”

“Ah, you don’t have to explain about the Balkan stuff. I’ve heard everything about you running around the underground arena, the research lab, and causing chaos everywhere.”

“…….”

Certainly, recently, Ban had rarely been conscious of other people’s gazes.

Considering the meeting with Evelyn, it wouldn’t be strange if Jenny knew everything Lenok had been doing in Balkan.

“There were many things. It’s true that I was a bit busy.”

“I’m sure you were. Do you even know how much this area has changed, or how noisy the Magic Tower’s business is?”

As if she had been waiting for this, Jenny began to complain to Lenok in a rapid voice.

“Do you know that half of the Magic Tower’s affiliated businesses were replaced due to accounting fraud? Or that me and the kids spent all night chasing people around the city during that process? Or that Antares had to step in to resolve the constant nagging from the Technical Advisory Committee? Or that Baritz Corporation has formed a new item brokerage division?”

“It sounds very interesting to me.”

Lenok, who had been listening quietly to Jenny’s words, smiled and replied.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t see it together. I’m sorry.”

“Ha! What insincere words…”

Jenny scoffed, but then glanced at Lenok and asked.

“If I ask what you’ve been doing… you won’t tell me, will you?”

Lenok looked at Jenny, pretending to be surprised, and asked.

“Did you just realize that?”

“…….”

Jenny didn’t say anything, but her lips twitched, showing that she was annoyed.

Lenok brought his glass to his lips and said.

“I was doing some personal research.”

“Research?”

“I haven’t had much time lately, so it was difficult to travel far. There were things I had to finish when I had the chance.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I know. I didn’t say it expecting you to understand.”

“…Ban. Are you going to keep playing word games with me?”

Just before a vein popped out on Jenny’s temple, Lenok gave a proper explanation.

“I was investigating the Black Consumer Project.”

“…….”

“I found a connection to the Legion and it took some time to dig into it. It’s nothing to worry about.”

He couldn’t explain what he had done in Yorta under Victor’s identity, but he had to tell Jenny about his purpose.

Jenny’s eyes flickered slightly, as if she understood what Lenok was trying to say just from that.

However, instead of asking more about what Lenok was planning, she quietly lowered her gaze.

“…I see. So that’s it.”

She knew that saying she was okay, or that it was dangerous, or that it was meaningless, would be pointless to Lenok.

That’s why, instead of clinging on, Jenny downed a shot of strong whiskey and changed the subject coolly.

“Oh, right. We were just talking about the Azure Eye, are you interested?”

“Azure Eye?”

As Lenok pretended not to know and asked, Felix, who had approached unnoticed, naturally sat down next to Lenok.

“Ban. You came at the right time.”

Thump!!

The bar lobby shook lightly just from the bird-headed giant’s heavy body taking a seat.

“There have been a mountain of incidents in Sector 49 while you were gone. You’ve heard the explanation from Jenny, but you should at least know the progress, right?”

“Felix, it hasn’t even been five minutes since Ban came back. How could he have heard the explanation in that time?”

“What, so he doesn’t know anything yet?”

Dylan, who had appeared behind Lenok without even thinking about wiping the blood from his nose, asked.

“You haven’t even heard a word about how much we ran around this city to protect the Magic Tower?!!”

“…Okay. I understand, so calm down. I’ll listen to it later.”

Lenok understood that there had been several disturbances regarding the Magic Tower while he was gone to Yorta.

It seemed that Jenny and the members of the Antares Mercenary Group had gone through some eventful adventures.

“More than that, I want to hear about what you were talking about just now.”

Lenok said, pointing to the projector that Jenny had set up on the bar wall.

Numerous phrases and source notations were densely written on the screen. A single photo appeared in the center of the screen.

A woman, holding down her fluttering blue hair with one hand, stood on a vast hill.

An emotionless face and a detached, otherworldly atmosphere.

It was someone’s photo that was in Lenok’s memory, yet felt quite unfamiliar.

That was probably because the gap in time felt between the girl Lenok remembered and the woman in the photo was that significant.

However, without showing any of these feelings, Lenok asked.

“Why were you discussing the Azure Eye?”

[Oh, Ban. Do you know the Lighthouse Keeper?]

Manson asked from behind Lenok with interest.

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know about the secret society that entered the Central Front?”

Lenok replied calmly.

“It’s a force that’s become too famous to be called a secret society anymore. I’m aware of the Heavenly Eye’s granddaughter.”

“Hmm.”

At those words, the other colleagues looked at each other and nodded in understanding.

“Well, Ban is an Archmage, after all. It’s not strange that he knows about the Ascendant’s bloodline.”

“In the first place, there are hardly any Ascendant’s bloodlines. It’s not a talent that’s usually passed down through blood.”

“Ah, come to think of it, in the Central…”

Tatiana stopped speaking as if she had remembered something.

“No. It’s nothing.”

“Ah! Why did you stop talking?”

The people who had briefly focused on the topic turned their gazes towards her and protested vehemently.

They had been focused on the topic for a moment, but the mercenaries quickly started chattering among themselves.

“The first way to make someone angry is to stop talking mid-sentence, and the second is…”

“Damn it, Belber, I told you not to do that.”

“He’s always learning strange sayings from investment advisory sites, it’s driving me crazy.”

“Am I your mother that I have to install an internet access blocking app?”

“Ban, look at this.”

Jenny leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed and muttered, looking disgusted.

“I think it’s true that the kids’ intelligence drops when you come around, right?”

“…….”

“Tatiana, what were you going to say? If it’s something you can’t say, tell me in advance.”

“No, it’s not really related to the current topic…”

Tatiana glanced at Lenok at Jenny’s urging. She was fidgeting with her fingers in a strange way.

When Lenok threw her a cigarette from his pocket, she quickly accepted it, lit it, and smiled.

“Thank you. I kept thinking about it.”

The witch said, exhaling smoke with satisfaction.

“There was a rumor that there was an Ascendant’s bloodline in Pandemonium. It was not long ago.”

“Pandemonium?”

Wei An’s eyes widened as if he didn’t expect to hear that name here.

“No, it’s not strange that monsters gather in criminal organizations, but… an Ascendant’s bloodline joined there?”

“It was a rumor without evidence, so it was quickly buried, but I remembered it because it came from the Cabahim side.”

Tatiana said, shrugging her shoulders.

“It’s rare for useless words to come out of that kingdom. Especially if it’s information that’s not related to the royal family.”

“Hmm…”

“Forget it. I just mentioned it in case you might know something, Ban.”

Tatiana smiled with a cigarette in her mouth.

“I also wanted to smoke this after a long time.”

“…You have a very peculiar taste.”

“Ban, what do you think? Do you have any guesses?”

“I don’t know.”

Lenok answered, pouring whiskey into his empty glass.

“Whether it’s true or not, it wouldn’t be very meaningful to dig into it.”

“Huh, why?”

“You can tell by looking at Lapis Palcier.”

Lenok said, turning his gaze.

“Even after building such a large organization on her own, she’s still called the Heavenly Eye’s granddaughter, isn’t she?”

“…….”

“If there was an Ascendant’s bloodline in the Demon Realm, they would become very famous just by announcing that fact. If they wanted that, they would have revealed their origin long ago.”

Lenok smiled, looking at the mercenaries who had become slightly serious.

“So, if the rumor is true, wouldn’t it mean that the person doesn’t want to mention that fact?”

“Hmm, did they commit murder to make the rumor disappear?”

“That’s a plausible deduction.”

“No, but Ban, you really know quite a lot about the Azure Eye.”

Jenny tilted her head slightly over the bar, as if surprised, and asked.

“Or have you been listening to my briefing since earlier?”

“Let’s forget about the story about Pandemonium and hear why we’re gathered here. It feels like the topic keeps going around in circles.”

Lenok nodded his head.

“Why were you giving a briefing about the Azure Eye here?”

“…….”

Jenny and Tatiana briefly exchanged glances, and Felix nodded.

Jenny, who had quickly exchanged opinions, whispered in a low voice.

“The Central Council has made inquiries to top brokers. It seems they want to borrow their power to gather information about Lapis Palcier’s visit to Balkan.”

“…….”

“It’s said that the opinions within the council are divided regarding the upcoming meeting with the Azure Eye.”

Jenny muttered, glancing at the screen.

“And at this point, the only point of contact between the council and the Azure Eye is the non-aggression treaty signed with the Philemon Autonomous Territory.”

“So you were investigating Lapis Palcier’s identity to confirm its authenticity?”

“The non-aggression treaty with the Autonomous Territory is a matter that involves a lot of interests for Balkan as well.”

Jenny gave a wry smile.

“The Heavenly Eye made the deal herself, but it was originally a much more complicated and uncomfortable issue. There’s fierce conflict over the special environment of the Autonomous Territory and the Sea of Understanding [a region with unique magical properties].”

“…….”

“And now that the Heavenly Eye has died and her granddaughter has inherited her rights… it’s only natural that things are getting tangled up again like this.”

Jenny, leaving Lenok who didn’t answer, stood in front of the projector again and continued the briefing.

“The important thing is that the Azure Eye requested the non-aggression treaty-related transaction. So, the main force of the Azure Eye won’t enter Balkan, and Lapis will visit directly with only two or three watchers.”

“The reason why Lapis Palcier is trying to renegotiate the non-aggression treaty. Finding this out is included in the additional reward for the request.”

Jenny, who had finished her explanation quickly, turned to look at Lenok.

“Ban, so if you’re interested, your name will be first on the request list-”

“I don’t know.”

Lenok, who had finished the remaining whiskey, replied.

“I’m not sure. If there’s someone who wants to do it, it’s better to let them decide on their own.”

“No, if you showed up at this timing, weren’t you obviously here to take the request?!!”

“What do you think of me?”

Lenok sighed and shook his head.

“I have things to think about. I don’t plan to get involved right away.”

Even without that, due to recent events, he was thinking about how to move regarding Lapis’s problem.

At this point, when he hadn’t made up his mind yet, there was no reason to bring it up first.

“Considering Ban’s position, it would be difficult to intervene rashly.”

Felix, who had been observing the surrounding atmosphere, reached out to the tuna sashimi placed in front of Lenok and muttered.

The bird-headed giant, ignoring Jenny’s glare, turned his body towards the other mercenaries sprawled in the lobby.

“That’s a perfectly understandable fact. But…”

“But?”

“I’m planning to meet Lapis Palcier separately from this request.”

Felix said, turning to the mercenaries with a firm voice.

“The Azure Eye is currently the most watched force in the Central Front, and the watchers who belong to it are not to be underestimated. Lapis is rumored to be a person of great charisma and deep trust, so if we owe her a favor here, it will be helpful someday.”

“A favor?”

Tatiana frowned slightly.

“You don’t know what kind of beings the warlords of the Central Front are. Do you think the leaders of large forces have conscience or trust?”

“Tatiana.”

Suryeon stepped in to stop the sharp words of the witch, looking slightly stiff, but Tatiana didn’t stop.

“I don’t know what you think of Lapis Palcier, but she’s not as soft as you think. If you’re hoping for a reward without a price, wake up from your dream.”

“…….”

There was no one among those gathered here who didn’t know why Tatiana was saying those words.

She was also someone who had suffered for a long time under her master, the Magic Tower Lord, and had to endure sacrifices and pain without compensation.

Tatiana knew better than anyone how ruthless the big shots of the Central Front were in demanding harsh devotion.

“Maybe so.”

However, Felix shook his head with a calm expression.

“But I don’t think the Azure Eye is a warlord who entered the Central Front in that way. If they were, their actions would have been much more aggressive than they are now.”

“…….”

“Don’t worry, Witch of the Flame. I’ll try to end it with just me in the worst case.”

“Ha… you’re impossible to talk to.”

Tatiana frowned and shook her head.

“Do as you please. You weren’t going to listen anyway, were you?”

The atmosphere instantly became sharp, and a quiet silence flowed from all directions.

At that moment, when Tatiana, who was nervously puffing on her cigarette, was about to get up from her seat and storm out of the lobby.

[Gyaoo~]

A very loud cry echoed from under the ground, shaking the entire bar lobby.

Thump!!

“What, what is it!!”

“It’s a monster! A monster has appeared!!”

The mercenaries, who had jumped up in a daze, were running around drunk.

Lenok, as if he had just remembered, put down his glass and nodded.

“Ah, it seems it’s awake.”

“…Awake? What is?”

“The guardian spirit has hatched from its egg. I put it to sleep for a while, but it seems it woke up in the meantime.”

“…….”

Lenok nodded, looking at the other mercenaries who had lost their words and opened their mouths wide.

“It should still be in the underground chamber of the tower, so how about we go see it since it’s come to this?”

Crash!! Bang!!

The people who had knocked over the tables and chairs in the lobby rushed out of the bar.

“…You should have told us that sooner!!!”

“Let’s go down quickly!!”

“Tatiana, you come too!!”

“No, I…”

The witch, who was looking around awkwardly with an awkward expression, just like the conflict earlier.

However, Jenny grabbed Tatiana’s shoulder and immediately ran towards the Magic Tower first.

“You’re managing the Magic Tower system, what are you trying to do? Come on quickly!!”

“Ah, I understand, so let go of me and talk!”

“…….”

The mercenaries, who were shouting excitedly from all directions, rushed out of the lobby.

Felix, with a bitter face, was picking at the remaining tuna sashimi, but then got up from his seat as if he was going to follow them.

Lenok’s voice was heard from behind Felix as he walked out into the hallway.

“Why don’t you eat what’s left?”

“…….”

“It’ll go bad quickly if you leave it at room temperature.”

“Ban.”

Felix, looking at the plate of tuna sashimi in Lenok’s hand, smiled bitterly.

“Jenny will give me a look if I eat it all.”

“…How much have you been eating all this time?”

Lenok, slightly surprised, threw the package he was holding to Felix.

The bird-headed giant, who looked depressed but accepted the tuna sashimi, said.

“I’m sorry for showing you such a mess after you came back after so long.”

“It’s okay.”

Lenok leaned against the hallway wall and lit a cigarette.

“You’re not the type to act impulsively just because you like someone or like the organization.”

“…….”

Lenok said, leaving Felix in silence.

“Is there a problem with the mercenary group?”

“That’s…”

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. It’s not something you have to tell me.”

Lenok got up, exhaling smoke above his head.

“However, make your position clear to Tatiana. Just like you, she has a reason why she has to say that. It’s natural that she doesn’t trust the Lighthouse Keeper [a reference to Lapis Palcier].”

“…No. It’s entirely my fault.”

Felix shook his head.

“I shouldn’t hide it from you, even if I hide it from others. It’s purely my personal wish.”

“A wish?”

“Lapis Palcier is the granddaughter of the Heavenly Eye, and she is a user of the Heavenly Eye’s ability to see further than anyone else.”

Felix explained.

“It’s said that that eye sees beyond the present, into the past and the future, and even reaches the end beyond that.”

“…Don’t tell me.”

“If Lapis Palcier has inherited the Heavenly Eye’s ability, wouldn’t she be able to observe the future of a predetermined seer differently?”

Only then did Lenok’s expression change slightly as he realized what Felix wanted.

“Antares doesn’t have much time left.”

Felix muttered painfully.

“I’m going to ask Lapis Palcier if she can change Antares’s ending… I’m going to ask her that.”