Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 867

The Eye That Sees Fate (4)

The day after Lapis Palshier arrived in Balkan.

Lenok had taken Lapis to the core district, located in the very center of Balkan.

“It’s fortunate there were no additional attacks overnight. Though, it was to be expected, considering I chose the hideout myself.”

“Those unnecessary remarks and boasting. Are they really necessary to say to Lady Lapis?”

“Pa, Patisha. You should thank him first.”

While spending the night, Lenok had heard Lapis’s explanation about ‘seeing fate,’ but Lenok, who had already met the Heavenly Eye, was aware of the concept.

Ultimately, the important thing was whose fate Lapis needed to see in this matter, but the city council had not yet made a statement on that part.

‘There are a few senators I suspect, but…’

Unless he was certain, there was no reason to explain it to Lapis first and cause unnecessary confusion.

More than that, there was one thing that bothered Lenok about this deal.

“We haven’t even discussed how to contact the city council…”

“…The council said they would announce a way for me to connect with them in advance, but there’s been no signal yet.”

Unlike what was initially discussed, there was no information given to Lapis other than the appointment time.

As soon as Lenok grasped this while exchanging information about the agreement with Lapis, he had taken her to the very center of the city the next day.

Balkan District 5, the Central City Hall Plaza.

Even though it was early morning, there were a considerable number of people moving around the plaza.

The fact that there were so many people around the city hall even before work hours was proof that the area where the city hall was located was a key downtown area within District 5.

“There are so many people…”

Lapis, who had pulled her dark hood down to hide her noticeable hair and face, muttered, seemingly a bit flustered.

“It’s one of the most watched places in Balkan. But that’s why it’s also the safest place for outsiders like us.”

Since they didn’t know when attackers might come, like in the undeveloped district, they needed a place where they could meet the city council and be safe.

That’s why Lenok had skipped all other procedures and had Lapis sit in the middle of the plaza, waiting for the city hall to open.

In such an open plaza, it was impossible to even attempt an assassination, let alone show any suspicious movements.

Even if someone tried to do something to Lapis, they would be immediately stopped the moment they were spotted by the numerous administrative staff and police around.

“Yes, but still…”

Even while sitting near the plaza to wait until the time came, she seemed strangely restless.

“If there are so many people with business at the city hall, we might not get our turn today.”

“…What?”

Lenok, who had been observing the people coming and going around the plaza with his eyes closed, asked in an absurd tone.

“Well, the other officials at the city hall don’t know me very well.”

Lapis replied with a slightly awkward look.

“If we send a message through an external channel, wouldn’t it take some time to reach the council?”

“…”

It was a ridiculous thing to say, but it wasn’t an entirely unreasonable concern.

From the moment they came to the city hall hiding their identities, she was thinking it would take a long time to meet the council.

“I know what you’re worried about, but you don’t have to worry about it.”

Lenok smiled, closed his eyes again, and put a cigar in his mouth.

“There’s no way you’re the first outsider to visit the Balkan City Council with a case like yours. There must be a channel prepared to receive VIPs who want to meet the council while hiding their identities.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. If I had to guess, I’d say there’s probably a high-ranking official among the desk staff-”

Tap.

Just as Lenok was about to turn his head while saying that, someone approached the bench.

A sturdy man in a guard uniform was glaring at Lenok with a grim expression.

“…Hmm.”

The man’s reaction, staring intently at Lenok’s face as if uncomfortable. Judging by his uniform, he must be a member of the plaza’s management staff.

However, unlike Lapis, who seemed strangely anxious, Lenok was not shaken by this situation where he was suddenly being suspected.

The disguise on his face would last for about three days even if all his magic was depleted, and he was suppressing the fluctuations in his magic pattern and presence.

In this central area of the city, he had deliberately reduced the range of his magic detection to be cautious, limiting his senses.

All measures were perfect. There was no reason for anyone to suspect Lenok in this place.

Just as Lenok was about to ignore the manager’s gaze after making his judgment, the man, who had been staring intently at Lenok’s mouth, spoke.

“The city hall plaza is a non-smoking area.”

“…”

“The smoking area is located at the back gate parking lot, so could you please move there?”

“I’m sorry. It’s become a habit.”

Lenok obediently lowered his head and put the cigar in his pocket.

“I won’t smoke it, so could you please let it slide just this once?”

“No, I can’t. You’ll have to pay a fine, so please give me your phone number.”

“…”

In the end, Lenok obediently paid the fine to the city hall staff.

As he shook his head and returned to the bench, Lapis and Patisha were looking at Lenok with surprised expressions.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just that… well…”

Patisha muttered, as if speaking for Lapis’s hesitant feelings.

“He doesn’t look like the kind of person who would pay a fine so willingly.”

“Ah, is that what it was?”

“Pa, Patisha! That’s not it!”

Lapis, flustered, hugged Patisha’s neck and rubbed her face against it, while Lenok chuckled and sat down next to Lapis.

Patisha, who was being hugged by Lapis, asked with a calm expression.

“You’re surprisingly a citizen who abides by social norms. I’m surprised.”

“I told you I didn’t want to hear lectures about human laws from a spirit.”

While Lenok and Patisha were bickering, Lapis said with an awkward smile.

“Haha, well… I think I misunderstood Evan because I’ve only seen him in dangerous situations. Of course, he must be an excellent law-abiding citizen normally.”

“It’s just that I don’t want to cause a commotion. I’m ready if necessary.”

Lenok gestured, looking at the city hall building where the lights were turning on in the distance.

“If it takes too long to meet the council, as you’re worried, I’m thinking of causing a scene around here.”

“D-Don’t touch the civilians-”

Lapis raised her voice slightly in surprise, then quickly lowered it, noticing Lenok’s gaze.

“If it’s not absolutely necessary, could you please refrain from doing that?”

“…I didn’t say I was going to kill citizens. What do you think I am?”

When working for the Eyes of Azure, she never seemed to get so worked up, but in Lapis’s mind, Evan’s treatment was close to that of a very extreme extremist.

Considering the things Evan had done to help Lapis under his identity, it was understandable that she thought his methods were cruel…

“Of course, I’m planning to handle it in a way that doesn’t cause casualties, but draws enough attention that the city council can’t ignore it.”

Lenok looked at the people coming and going in the city hall plaza with a strange smile.

“A big fireworks display in the plaza should be enough. People will surely like it.”

“…”

“You have a knack for making things sound very ominous and unlucky, even when you’re just talking.”

Patisha muttered, slightly turning her head, and Lapis pursed her lips with a strange expression before choosing to remain silent.

Lenok, lightly ignoring the two’s rebuttals, shook his hand and got up from his seat.

“It seems the city hall has opened, so let’s move. If we’re unlucky, we might have to stand in line.”

“Ah, yes!”

Just as Lapis was about to get up energetically and follow Lenok with Patisha, she heard a voice.

“Wait a moment.”

The same staff member who had fined Lenok earlier grabbed Lenok’s shoulder again.

He looked at Lenok up and down with a stern expression, then pointed behind Lenok this time.

The staff member, pointing at Patisha standing behind Lapis, said,

“Pets are not allowed in the city hall.”

“…”

* * *

In the end, Lenok had to take Patisha somewhere else and disguise her appropriately before they could enter the city hall.

Patisha, who had covered her body with a pure white cloak below her neck, grumbled.

“A demi-human with an animal head on their head can walk around just fine, but I don’t understand why they discriminate against spirits like me.”

“That’s not something you should say just anywhere. Watch your mouth.”

Lenok looked back at Patisha with a pathetic expression.

“You lecture me about etiquette, but you have no respect for other species, do you?”

“You don’t understand. Etiquette is created for those who deserve to be treated well in the first place.”

Patisha replied calmly.

“There aren’t many rules of etiquette that we, as subordinates, need to follow.”

“…”

Apart from her seemingly high self-esteem, her words seemed to subtly belittle herself.

“Ah, Evan. It’s our turn.”

Lapis, who had been waiting with a nervous expression, holding her queue number tightly in her hand, pointed to the electronic display on the lobby ceiling and got up.

She quickly ran towards the desk staff member who was gesturing towards them.

Who would think that the person who leads the Eyes of Azure would look so desperate, as if someone might cut in line?

As Lenok thought this and got up to follow, Patisha quietly muttered.

“Lady Lapis might be trying to give up something through this ritual.”

“…”

“There isn’t much a mere beast like me can do. Neither stopping her nor persuading her is allowed for me.”

Patisha said.

“So, I ask you. If there comes a moment when you have to make a choice…”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lenok, cutting her off, got up and said as he approached Lapis.

“That’s something I’ll see and judge for myself. That’s unnecessary meddling.”

“…I suppose so. I misspoke.”

With those words, Lenok took Patisha, who didn’t say anything else, and followed Lapis to the counter.

Lapis, sitting on a simple chair, was explaining something diligently to the staff member behind the glass window.

“So, you’re saying you’ve come to Balkan after completing negotiations with the city council.”

“Yes, that’s right. I want to meet a council member to discuss specific details with the Central Council…”

“It seems there’s been some misunderstanding. I’m sorry, but the Balkan City Council does not negotiate with specific individuals.”

The staff member sitting behind the counter replied with a smile.

“If you have made a personal appointment, that’s a matter related to the council member’s private life, so we can’t help you.”

“It’s not a personal appointment. Can’t you at least pass on my name through the council’s channel?”

“Our city hall does not report directly to the Central Council. It will take some time, is that okay?”

“Ah…”

Having heard that explanation, Lapis looked back at Lenok with a somewhat dejected expression.

A faint disappointment that things had turned out as she had initially worried.

Lenok shook his head and stepped forward.

“They’re trying to refuse by beating around the bush. Nothing will come of waiting.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about-”

“I know you don’t have the authority, so can you call your superior?”

There was no point in arguing with the staff at the desk.

It would be better to use the means that would work best with the city hall staff here.

Even without resorting to harsh methods, Lenok had collected over a dozen city council member business cards.

Just as Lenok was about to create an atmosphere by taking out any random senator’s business card, a familiar voice came from behind the glass window.

“Yujin, would it be okay if I took care of these people?”

Among the staff members who were busily moving around near the desk, an old man who looked particularly old.

He stood behind the staff member, supporting his stooped back with a small cane in one hand.

His face was hard to characterize except for his intense gaze.

However, the staff member who turned to look at the old man jumped up from his seat as if propelled by a spring.

“C-Councilman…!!”

“Shhh.”

The old man, smiling and placing his hand on the staff member’s shoulder, shook his head.

“There’s something I need to handle quietly. Just remove these people’s names from the entry list.”

“Ah, I understand…”

While the staff member, looking very nervous, quickly searched the database, the old man walked out into the lobby through the door on the opposite side of the desk.

The old man, who had walked leisurely to Lapis, slowly grasped the cane he was holding with both hands and slightly lowered his head.

“It is an honor to meet the Lighthouse Keeper who has inherited the great mission.”

“…”

Lapis closed her mouth with a blank expression, and Lenok stared at the old man with a strange expression.

Lenok also knew very well who this old man who had just appeared from behind the desk was.

The old man, who had raised his gaze with a simple gesture, turned to Lapis and smiled kindly.

“I am John Mayer, a senator of the Balkan Central Council. I intend to guide you to the agreed-upon location from now on, would that be alright?”

* * *

“This way.”

Mayer took the three of them out of the city hall as soon as the entry passes were issued.

A new black sedan that had been waiting in front opened, and the group naturally got into the car.

“We’re going to the hospital in District 10.”

Mayer, sitting across from Lapis, naturally explained their destination.

“I plan to explain how the terms of our deal will be established there.”

“…”

Lenok silently watched Mayer’s complexion as he leaned weakly against the car seat.

The last time Lenok had met Mayer, he had given the address of a medicinal chef to him, who was in poor health.

After that, Lenok had contacted the medicinal chef to scout her, but he had never heard any news about Mayer.

Had Mayer received any meaningful help from the medicinal chef to improve his health?

“I didn’t expect a senator of the Central Council to be present at a place like this.”

Lapis’s voice, facing Mayer, had become calm.

She took off the hat and hood she was wearing, and her blue hair flowed down, reflecting her sky-blue eyes.

Lapis, staring at Mayer with a deeply sunken gaze, said,

“Considering the eyes that are watching, wouldn’t it have been better to have a more definite method of contact?”

“It wouldn’t have made much of a difference.”

Mayer shook his head quietly.

“Rather, it may be because we didn’t set a method that you were able to arrive here safely.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Near the undeveloped district, you were already attacked once, weren’t you?”

“…”

“The information is leaking not from the Eyes of Azure, but from our council. It was obvious that this would happen from the moment it was decided that the access rights to District 19 would be transferred to you.”

The wrinkles around Mayer’s eyes twitched faintly.

“The information about the closed district is extremely taboo even within the Central Council. Even I, as a senator, have not yet obtained proper authority.”

“…That’s strange.”

Lapis, who had been listening quietly, asked back.

“Even though the inviolability treaty of the Philemon Dominion was set as a condition, are you saying that you can transfer the authority that even a senator of the Central Council has not yet obtained to me?”

“Huhu, you point it out right away. You could have just asked and moved on if you thought it would benefit you.”

“…”

Mayer smiled.

“It was precisely because there was a part where our agreement coincided that you were able to receive an invitation from our council.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“It would be much faster to show you directly than to explain it in detail.”

Screech!

At the same time, the black sedan stopped in front of the huge hospital main gate.

The Municipal Central General Hospital, located in the center of District 10.

It was one of the seven largest municipal hospitals in Balkan, and the second largest among them.

Over thousands of patients receive treatment here every day, and the emergency room is always crowded 24 hours a day.

In terms of busyness alone, it was even more bustling than the city hall where the group had been just a moment ago.

“This way. It’s not far, so let’s walk from here.”

Mayer got out of the sedan without hesitation and led the three of them to the VIP private ward located deep within the hospital ward.

An ivory tower with a beautiful structure, built relatively close to the sanctuary of treatment located in the center of the hospital.

Inside and outside the tower, hundreds of guards patrolled the ward entrance and corridors, politely greeting everyone who passed by.

“Councilman Mayer. It’s been a while since you’ve come.”

“Councilman. I was indebted to you during the last audit. If there’s a chance next time, I’ll…”

All the patients and doctors who encountered Mayer in the ivory tower corridor greeted him, but Mayer only nodded lightly to them and immediately passed by.

They quickly took the elevator to the upper part of the ivory tower.

They had barely received their entry passes, but since the senator was with them, they didn’t even have a chance to show them.

Following Lapis, who quietly got on the elevator, Lenok looked out the window and muttered unconsciously.

“The isolation between the floors is…”

“Hmm, did you see something?”

Mayer, who had heard Lenok’s mutter, turned his gaze with a rather intrigued expression.

“Don’t hesitate to speak if you feel anything. I’m curious to know the insight of the mage who is in charge of guarding the Lighthouse Keeper.”

“Insight?”

“Among the mages I know, there’s one who’s very sharp in this area.”

Mayer said with a wry smile.

“His eye for detail is so sharp that even though we’ve worked together for a long time, I’m afraid to bring him to places like this.”

“…”

“When I first met that friend, I thought all mages were like that, but after coming this far, I realized that wasn’t the case. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.”

He seemed to be enjoying talking about that friend, and suddenly he seemed to have become a bit more talkative.

Lenok remained silent because he somehow knew who the mage he was talking about was.

Lenok, who had been looking out the window silently, shook his head and replied.

“This ivory tower. It’s not a physically separate space. Each floor of the tower is arranged in different spatial coordinates, and this place is just a relay point for meeting.”

“…Hmm.”

Mayer’s expression, which had been relaxed all along, suddenly stiffened subtly.