Not only was she aware that he was a wizard, but she openly discussed his magic patterns.
Lennok's head whirled as he swiftly arrived at a solution.
‘The barrier was the issue.’
Having become adept at various common magic, Lennok had developed a habit of constantly casting a barrier spell whenever he went outside, and the pattern of magic flowing from it had caught her attention.
Was it conceivable for one to read magical patterns beyond mere observation of the use of magic?
This suggested that she possessed a unique natural ability or wielded great power as a wizard.
Regardless of the circumstances, the encounter left Lennok feeling unsettled.
Casually holding the cigarette in his hand, Lennok offered a response. "Yes, I'm fairly new to this city."
"I had a feeling," she said.
"How did you know?" Lennok inquired.
The response was nonchalant. "Oh, don't worry about it. It's just something I do."
“…..”
Upon satisfying her curiosity, she raised her head slightly, indicating that she had lost interest in Lennok. Then, she subtly recommended onion-like vegetables to the customer who had just approached from behind him.
For a moment, Lennok was bewildered by her actions before ultimately departing from the market.
"Phew…"
The vastness of the city harbored an array of peculiar individuals. Little did he anticipate that the simple act of procuring vegetables would induce such tension.
"I should focus more on magic."
As he employed his magic, his mana reserve surged naturally, and his casting speed exponentially quickened. Despite possessing the capacity to cultivate his magical aptitude with ease, he had been remiss in advancing his knowledge of magic.
He had thought that he lacked nothing when he could use almost all the common magic he knew, but he was proven wrong by a woman he had just met.
While immediate mastery of new magic was implausible, Lennok could enhance his magical efficiency and technique through strategic utilization of his existing repertoire.
Upon returning to his hotel room, Lennok wiped the sweat from his brow and stored the newly purchased ingredients in the kitchen. After briefly resting to recuperate from the strain of venturing outdoors, he washed and refrigerated the items before selecting the necessary components and laying them out on the cutting board.
"One spoonful of flour… two spoons of sugar…" he recited as he consulted a cookbook from the library.
On days when he did not frequent Jenny's bar, Lennok often sought refuge in the library, perusing its vast collection of books and data. There, he quietly amassed knowledge of this world and its intricacies, as well as magic. For this endeavor, he borrowed a cookbook that promoted healthy eating.
Despite his lack of experience in cooking, Lennok approached the task with the utmost gravity. He was well aware that maintaining his physical health demanded an effort beyond the ordinary, given his initial selection of lackluster physical attributes and the penalties he had incurred to enhance his magical proficiency. Though he could not immediately rectify these penalties, he remained optimistic that a solution might present itself through magic.
Lennok slowly and methodically wielded the kitchen knife in his hand. "First, I must establish a legitimate identity and bank account," he thought aloud. Though the squash-like vegetable on his cutting board was unevenly sliced, he paid it no mind. He knew that success required more than raw talent alone. "Once I have secured a safe location to store funds, I can begin earning and devising a plan."
Despite the many obstacles that lay ahead, Lennok felt prepared to confront them. He recognized that his unfamiliar surroundings posed a constant threat, making it imperative to not only survive but to prepare for the unexpected. With a determined spirit, he reached for the third vegetable, his blade poised to carve.
As the sun began to set, Lennok continued his culinary pursuits with unwavering resolve.
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
"A new job?" questioned Lennok at Jenny's bar in District 49, a location he had visited on numerous occasions.
As he sipped on the whiskey Jordan had handed him, he repeated Jenny's proposition.
"Yeah, you didn't just come here to chase bounties forever, did you? Honestly, there are way better places to become a bounty hunter if you're looking for better conditions."
"Hmm…"
"I know you're passionate about this gig, but unless you catch some big-time criminal with a death sentence, the rewards are already set. Are you really into going after those crazy dudes?"
"That's not my goal," Lennok replied.
While the Vulcan government offered substantial rewards for the capture of the most heinous criminals, it was not Lennok's priority. Those who could evade city-wide tracking and continue to engage in criminal activities were likely to possess formidable and powerful skills, rendering it difficult for Lennok to face them head-on. At present, there was nothing he could gain from confronting such adversaries.
As Lennok displayed a faint inclination to listen, Jenny seized the opportunity to continue her monologue.
"I'm not gonna push you into doing something you're not into. But last time you mentioned needing a bunch of money to get a new identity, right?"
Lennok remained silent.
"If it's your expertise, there are lots of ways to make some serious cash. You're not still hung up on my small suggestion to test your skills, are you?"
As Lennok listened to Jenny's words, a smile inadvertently spread across his face. Her talent for persuasive communication was noteworthy. Though her attempts to lure Lennok into more lucrative assignments were evident, he was not offended by her remarks, which blended compliments and provocation. From her standpoint, she too would prefer work that garnered greater commissions.
After contemplating the proposition, Lennok finally nodded his head. "Alright, so what kind of job do you have in mind?"
In truth, he required more funds to expand his horizons and elevate his status beyond the 20 million cells needed for his current status. Eventually, he would need to secure a place to reside, and there would be expenses associated with maintaining his physical health.
Thus far, he had performed the same tasks in District 49 to acclimate himself to the surrounding environment and avoid attracting undue attention. He needed to proceed with caution. If he let his guard down and committed an error, his talents would immediately become apparent, drawing unwanted attention.
While it was gratifying to be recognized for his abilities, it was a challenge he needed to undertake only once he had the strength and preparation to safeguard himself. As of yet, Lennok could not guarantee his safety in District 40s, where numerous types of criminals roamed.
Jenny beamed at Lennok's acceptance of her offer. "Awesome! Do you know how many jobs in this world need a wizard? Just pick whatever you want."
As she spoke, she promptly led Lennok to a concealed area behind the bar.
It was not a place intended for comfortable conversation.
It was the massive joint he had discovered when he brought Taylor Evans' body.
After seating themselves at a secluded table, Jenny produced a file and unfurled it in front of Lennok. The report was filled with small lettering and presented in a format wholly distinct from the typically wanted posters. Lennok swiftly perused it.
As his eyes rapidly scanned through the documents, Jenny commenced speaking from across the table.
"So, there's this new cosmetics factory in District 42 run by the Charlotte company. They got a ton of government money, like 80% of the construction cost, which has led to some accusations of shady business. And on top of that, there are a bunch of rumors floating around that they did a bunch of human testing to make their skin lotion."
"Human experimentation?"
"Yes. Refer to page 8, where it's detailed that during the fourth review stage, they peeled off people's faces to generate the optimal environment for regenerating dead skin."
As Lennok perused the report, his eyes unconsciously narrowed at the sight of not only the text but also vivid photographic evidence.
"Isn't that already public knowledge? What else is there?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Jenny's reaction was not what Lennok had anticipated.
"Well, even if it's out there, the company's not gonna stop just because people are grossed out. They're getting a ton of government money to run the place, so they don't really care about rumors."
"……."
"Actually, it wasn't the government who hired us for this job. It was the Baritz company. They're trying to take down Charlotte, their competition in the cosmetics game."
Baritz.
Even Lennok, who had only recently arrived in Vulcan, was aware of the company's name.
One could observe Baritz's wing-shaped logo on products at markets, stores, and even on the vehicles driving down the street.
They were undoubtedly a significant company in this metropolis.
"Baritz reached out to us through a middleman and gave us two jobs. One is to completely wreck the factory, and the other is to get the secret recipe for the lotion they make. They'll pay us fifty million cells for the first job and three hundred million for the second."
Combined with the success fee, it amounted to 350 million cells, a vast sum that was inconceivable as compensation for a single job.
But Lennok easily grasped the implicit meaning.
"So, we'll get paid even if we only do one of the jobs?"
"Correct."
"…… The second one is basically impossible to do."
"Nice job, you got it. Just as I expected from a wizard with a sharp mind like yours."
The discrepancy in payment between the two success conditions for a single job was massive.
If the client were to assess the discrepancy between the reward offered and the job's complexity, infiltrating Charlotte's security would be considerably more difficult than destroying the plant.
Jenny shrugged as she handed the file back to Lennok.
"To be honest, the idea of getting that data is insane. It would mean we have to sneak into the factory's system management room and break through Charlotte's firewall, which would cost over 500 million cells to hire a hacker or engineer with the necessary skills. Baritz is just trying to trick us into hiring a hacker for cheaper."
"Do hackers usually get paid that much though?"
Regardless of their proficiency, Lennok was astounded that a hacker's compensation could exceed 500 million cells.
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