Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 89

Black magic.

As a technique rooted in negative power, it possesses a diversity that transcends attributes and systems, along with a unique specialization not found in other techniques. Delving into one system makes it difficult to learn others, making it a unique and heterogeneous group of techniques strangely grouped under the same umbrella of black magic. This is because black magic is a collective term for magic groups created solely to harness the power of the negative.

The power of the negative is a residue that grows by feeding on the negative imprints of humans. When used in general techniques, it’s merely a low-efficiency, poor-quality fuel. However, when used in black magic, it transforms into an excellent power source with overwhelmingly high fuel efficiency.

In this city, where corpses are hauled away by the truckload every day, how difficult could it be to obtain the power of the negative?

It was only natural that black mages were treated as an inexhaustible resource.

Until the city government strengthened its inspections and swept away their hideouts.

“Data extraction complete.”

While Lennox was lost in thought, Jenny brought her laptop and sat next to him.

As she swept back her slightly damp hair, a subtle fragrance wafted over.

She immediately turned the laptop screen, displaying photos and phone numbers.

“You know that the research institute was working with Palmer’s Corporation to advance artificial intelligence research, right? So, it seems they’ve been in constant contact with Palmer’s Corporation officials.”

“Palmer’s Corporation, huh…”

He knew they dealt with AI, but it was a company he had never paid much attention to beyond that.

In this world where magic exists, dealing with artificial intelligence goes beyond mere technology, and there’s a line that civilians can’t cross in its handling. Artificial life forms used for military purposes, or very expensive artificial intelligence products, weren’t something Lennox was greatly involved in.

“Anyway, with the help of that company, I managed to track down the whereabouts of other black mages. When I mentioned your name, they cooperated more readily than I expected, you know?”

Jenny, with a playful smile, pressed the enter key, and the screen immediately switched to a back alley.

Colorful billboards and dazzling neon signs.

People milling about in brightly colored clothes and lights illuminating the damp streets.

The loud music seemed to reach even beyond the screen.

It was a whole new world that Lennox had never seen before.

“District 40. It’s a street that has grown mainly with clubs, pubs, and entertainment venues, creating a huge commercial district.”

“A club?”

“It’s a place of escapism that was created at a subtle intersection where the residential area of District 30 and the outer area of District 40 overlap. It’s a bustling street frequented not only by the people here but also by the city’s residents.”

Jenny continued.

“The black mages who were chased out of District 44 are hiding here.”

“…It certainly seems like a good place to blend in with the crowd.”

It was obvious even from the photos.

People swaying outside the club with glazed eyes. Passersby who couldn’t overcome their intoxication and fell asleep on the floor, and a crowd so dense that there was no room to step.

It was the perfect environment to hide from prying eyes.

“I was wondering why they hid so deeply, even though they only lost their business due to the inspections and the city government wasn’t actively tracking the mages… But if it’s because of the conflict between the two different factions, it makes sense.”

“So, they found a place they can’t easily touch.”

“If something happens in District 40, where civilians are also mixed in, the city government will have no choice but to react sensitively. They must have thought it would be difficult to touch them rashly.”

“What’s the exact address?”

“I’ll send it to your phone.”

Lennox, having checked the message she sent, got up from his seat.

Now that he knew that the practical faction was targeting the black mages of the granting faction, he couldn’t hesitate.

He wasn’t particularly interested in the safety of the black mages, but at least until he got his hands on information that could be a starting point, he had to move quickly.

He came out of the office on the upper floor of the bar, seeing Jenny off.

It was something that didn’t help her at all, but he was grateful that she was cooperating so willingly.

As he came down to the main hall of the bar, gazes immediately turned towards Lennox’s face. He was getting used to it little by little now.

He was about to ignore the blatant stares and leave when a man sitting near the entrance spoke to him.

“A toast to the divinity of District 49.”

“…”

Lennox chuckled at the absurd remark.

The man, seeing that Lennox’s reaction wasn’t so bad, asked what he was curious about as if he had been waiting for it.

“There isn’t a single freelancer in this area who hasn’t heard your name. Are you aware of that?”

“Roughly.”

“You’re already being compared to crazy guys like Striker and Mad Manson, and I’m curious about what you think about it.”

Striker, Mad Manson…

Lennox had heard those codenames of famous freelancers at least once or twice while passing by.

Apart from the talented individuals who had established their own businesses and become independent, like Plato or Antares, they were among the most famous active freelancers who had secured fame beyond their districts.

Regardless of Lennox’s skills, it was proof that his reputation was soaring at this point.

The impact of wiping out a gang as a corporate representative was that strong.

“I’ll think about it when I meet them in person.”

“…Please tell me later, no matter what.”

Lennox turned his back on the man’s gaze as he raised his glass and left the bar.

District 40 was fortunately not far from here.

Lennox took out a cigarette and immediately started walking.

Club Learta.

Bba-ba-ba-bang!

Loud music that seemed to burst his eardrums. The rough drum sounds that forced his heart to beat.

Colorful lights that shone so brightly that he couldn’t help but frown.

A street of entertainment optimized to blow people’s minds.

There was no place without lights in sight, and only cheers filled his ears.

Even while frowning at the pungent smell of alcohol, Lennox silently pushed through the crowd on the street and walked to the address Jenny had given him.

It was said to be a commercial district that had grown mainly with clubs and bars, and the surrounding buildings also had bizarre designs and shapes.

A pub shaped like a giant beer mug, or a club built like a broken guitar or with a speaker turned upside down.

Lennox stopped in front of a huge club shaped like a long disc and checked his phone again.

No doubt about it.

Learta, one of the most famous clubs in District 40.

It was a huge club that could accommodate over 6,000 people at once, and there were hundreds of people entering and exiting the entrance right in front of Lennox’s eyes.

“……..”

The thought of pushing through those people alone made him sigh.

Lennox crushed the cigarette he was smoking in the trash can with a complicated expression and jumped into the crowd.

Fortunately, he wasn’t bumped into by people because of the shield, but the inside of the club was even more chaotic, making it hard to come to his senses.

People dancing like crazy in the lights that illuminated the dark space.

The main stage and lounge were divided, but there were so many people that there was no such distinction.

Lennox didn’t hesitate for long and immediately spread his magic detection widely.

He began to pick up the life reactions of well over thousands of people in his sensory range, but the important thing was what kind of magic they possessed.

It didn’t seem like he would be able to find the person Lennox wanted in the lounge and main stage on the second basement floor, so it would be better to look around the VIP zone on the first basement floor.

And as Lennox expanded the range of his magic detection and reached out towards the VIP zone, he stopped abruptly, shocked as if his heart had fallen.

“Ha…”

It was as if he had been waiting for Lennox to look this way, and he felt a sharp gaze that was precisely watching him.

The magic contained in the gaze itself wasn’t very powerful or large, but Lennox had never forgotten the sensation of that magic for even a single moment.

More than this strange power source called magic, the owner of that imposing body remained like a brand in his mind.

He had thought that he would meet him again someday, but he never imagined it would be in a place like this.

Lennox, turning his creaking head, met the gaze that was slowly looking down at him.

Those clear reptilian pupils.

A huge crocodile giant grinning, revealing dozens of teeth.

Croken Acilius.

The old mercenary of the Demon Realm, a monster with a body that transcended humans, was there.

#

“Long time no see, kid.”

“…….Yeah.”

Despite the rough music that was deafening, his voice penetrated Lennox’s eardrums very clearly.

It had been a long time since they had met again, but the thrill he had felt back then had never faded for even a single moment.

He had fought countless battles since meeting Croken, but the more he did, the more he realized how absurdly monstrous this giant was.

If he was careless, it wouldn’t be strange if his head was blown off while he was still alive.

He was planning to raise his shield with all his might so that he could prepare for an attack at any time.

Croken stared at Lennox for a while with his unique vertical pupils and then spoke.

“Your aura has changed a lot. You’re completely different from when I saw you with Dylan.”

“……”

“Did you have some kind of enlightenment? Well, you wouldn’t still be alive if you hadn’t.”

The old mercenary chuckled, muttering something eerie as if it was nothing.

If that monster was saying that, it seemed that Lennox had indeed made visible growth compared to when he first came to this world.

Lennox slowly calmed his fear and sorted out his thoughts.

What should he say here?

The sight of the crocodile giant sitting alone, occupying half of the VIP room, and lounging with dozens of bottles of liquor around him, gave Lennox a terrible sense of incongruity.

The indescribable pressure he had felt at the factory was nowhere to be found, and only a greasy laziness was slowly flowing through his scaly body.

Croken, noticing Lennox’s gaze, chuckled with a gurgling sound in his throat.

“That’s how mercenaries live. Didn’t Dylan tell you that?”

“I heard about it.”

Come to think of it, Dylan had mentioned Croken, saying that he spent his days buried in alcohol.

He never imagined that he would run into him in the middle of such a noisy club.

“I know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t a place where I come to play and drink in the first place.”

Croken replied slowly, and as he opened his mouth wide, a young woman sitting next to him hurriedly brought him a snack.

“I just stopped by for a while because I had some business to take care of.”

“…Does someone like you do business?”

At first, Lennox had no choice but to go up to the VIP room with a lot of tension, but Croken didn’t seem to have any ill intentions even after seeing him.

He was flustered, but soon understood quickly.

In the first place, encountering him was simply a matter of a request. After the matter was resolved, there was nothing left, no grudges or anything.

The mercenary’s gaze, which moved only by money.

Lennox was now somewhat used to it.

Croken laughed as if he was amused by Lennox’s words, who had quickly calmed his mind.

“Kid. You seem to have potential, so let me give you some advice.”

Croken said, flashing his yellow vertical pupils.

“For people like us, just moving around is a business. As the scale of money moving around grows… you’ll get caught up in unnecessary things even if you don’t want to.”

“………”

“If you don’t want to be used unnecessarily, you’d better use your head well. In the end, if you don’t understand how the game is played, you’ll have no choice but to lose.”

“Is that from experience?”

Croken nodded slowly.

“That’s also why I came to the Demon Realm.”

…It felt like he had heard something very important, but Lennox forcibly ignored it and changed the subject.

Talking to this unpredictable monster for a long time would only worsen his mental health.

He was showing goodwill to Lennox right now, but strictly speaking, the other party was a member of an international criminal organization.

If you were to judge by good and evil, he was closer to an evil person, and if you were to judge whether he was an enemy or not, he was clearly someone he should avoid right now.

But there was one reason why he didn’t end the conversation and get up from his seat right now.

He suppressed his fear with strong reason and asked.

“I’m looking for black mages. I know they’re staying here.”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“I thought your business might be related to them.”

“…You’re a sharp kid.”

Goo-oong!!

As Croken stood up, a heavy roar echoed from the wide circular sofa he had been leaning on.

It was a vibration that was enough to surprise not only the woman sitting next to him but also the guards standing guard.