A complicated expression, completely different from the refreshing impression when first seen.
Lennok could roughly guess what kind of feelings the person, who had been helplessly suppressed by the enemy, had as he spoke those words. Unfortunately, there wasn't much he could say to him.
Although Lennok might appear to be a successful person in Weian's eyes, in reality, Lennok himself was barely getting through each day, focusing solely on his talent.
No matter how hard he tried to adapt and appear calm, Lennok was still a stranger wandering the back alleys of this unfamiliar city.
"Do you want to become a wizard?"
"Well, I used to think that working for this mercenary group was enough… but now, I'm not so sure."
Weian said that while looking at Lennok with a hopeful gaze, but Lennok didn't bat an eye.
Lennok wasn't so clueless that he couldn't guess what the young man, who had just left his boyhood, wanted.
However, he was not in a good enough situation to teach someone else and take them along with him.
With the constant fatigue, headaches, weak physical strength, and insomnia that plagued him, there was no room for leisure in Lennok's life.
Giving false hope would also be nothing more than useless meddling.
Lennok took out a cigarette, lit it with a spark from his fingers, and replied.
"Dray Krimgal seems like a decent guy."
"……"
"At least he could give much better advice than someone like me. It's not easy to start a business on your own."
Lennok let out a long puff of smoke and a bitter laugh.
It was an inconsistent thing for him to say, considering he had only escaped the factory and come to this city a mere six months ago.
However, if Weian was really contemplating his own path, he should seek advice from his trusted leader, not from an ambiguous outsider like Lennok.
"If you decide how to take care of yourself, it might be a good idea to talk to Jenny once. She's not the type to force someone to do something they don't like."
Could Weian change? Or would he want to change?
Whether he could turn his faint determination, whispered to Lennok, into his own future, no one knew.
Feeling like he had said too much, Lennok quickened his pace.
Weian seemed to want to say more, but Lennok no longer listened and headed towards where Dray was.
Everything that had happened on the rooftop while he had gone to scatter the black mana had ended.
The seemingly dead body of a man, slumped in the hands of mercenaries, the busy mercenaries checking the power lines and other equipment.
And those who had closed their eyes in peace after extinguishing themselves in battle.
Dray was busily moving among the mercenaries, quickly organizing the surrounding situation.
"Ah, Mr. Wizard,"
As soon as he saw Lennok's face, Dray stopped what he was doing and bowed his head.
"I'm really sorry for my behavior earlier."
His attitude had completely changed from when they first met.
It was only natural.
In the end, it was Lennok who singlehandedly overwhelmed the enemy and even carried out the confirmation kill.
Kidel, who was standing next to him, also bowed her head quietly when she saw Lennok.
Even though she must have seen the cigarette in Lennok's mouth, she said nothing.
"It's unfortunate that there were casualties."
"Well, it's something that always happens when you work in this field."
Dray said with a bitter smile, but it was clear that he didn't mean it.
Kidel, who was standing next to him, had slightly reddened eyes as well.
They were colleagues who had experienced ups and downs together in the same office. Although they were told not to get attached in order to survive longer, it wasn't something they could control.
Even if they didn't break down in grief, it was natural to feel gloomy emotions.
Lennok silently chewed on the end of his cigarette. There was nothing more he could say about it.
"Is the job finished?"
At Lennok's question, Dray nodded.
"Yes. We confirmed that the main server is safe, and we've called in programmers we hired to do backups. It should be done in about 20 minutes, as long as no more scavengers show up."
Dray said this and kicked the corpse of a man lying nearby.
"According to this guy's background check, he was an executive in the Scavenger's 51st district. They say three branches joined forces for this attack, so he must have been overseeing the operation directly."
"I see. I also tried to extract the mana from the drugs he used, but I didn't find anything significant."
"Well, it's not the first time dark wizards have been involved in this sort of thing. We're just going to dispose of this body separately and wrap things up."
It wasn't wrong to say that.
Dray Krimgal had only been hired as a mercenary to receive payment for retaking the building and protecting the server, not to investigate how the Scavengers were connected with dark wizards.
Lennok wasn't particularly interested in the dark wizards' connections either, but the drugs he used was a different story.
"Great. Can you collect a blood sample from the body before disposing of it and send it to Jenny?"
"Excuse me?"
"I'd prefer to do it myself, but I don't have any tools right now."
As Lennok raised both hands, Dray quickly nodded.
"Oh… of course. If you want it that way, we'll do it for you. And I just realized I haven't transferred the payment yet."
He took out his phone, made a few taps, and Lennok's phone rang.
The message said that 20 million Cells had been deposited into Lennok's account.
"Could you let Jenny know I've also sent her a separate fee?"
As he nodded, Dray finally gave a weary smile and started moving with the mercenaries again.
Lennok sat down in a corner of the rooftop and looked down to make sure there was nothing unusual outside the building.
Although all the Scavengers inside the building had been wiped out, Lennok might have to use his mana again if they sent additional forces.
Silently smoking his cigarette, Lennok reviewed the gains from this job in his head.
‘Successful payment of 20 million Cells… I won't have to worry about living expenses for a while.'
Considering that the factory demolition fee offered by the Baritz Corporation had been 50 million Cells, the Krimgal Mercenary Office had paid a considerable price to hire a wizard for this job.
Jenny had said that they had raised the rate in a hurry to find a wizard, so he probably received a higher payment than average.
But the real reward Lennok gained from this job was something else.
‘The power of the shooting support magic is better than I thought.'
As he slowly exhaled the smoke that had passed through his throat, Lennok smiled.
The revolver he had bought at the firearms store this time proved to be more effective than he had imagined when used with the shooting combo of auxiliary magic.
The minor support magic that hadn't felt very significant in WORLD 2.0 was now greatly helping Lennok's combat abilities here.
Especially auxiliary magic like [Rapid Reload] and [Aiming Correction], which didn't make much of a difference in the game, worked entirely differently in reality.
As long as Lennok was aware and prepared, even if an enemy rushed in close, the tremendous effects of rapid reloading and firing were possible.
Of course, it's hard to expect it to be effective against a fast-moving monster like Croken, but just reducing reliance on high mana consumption magic has significant meaning.
By conserving mana while producing more effective firepower, Lennok's combat sustainability would greatly improve.
It wasn't a bad result for investing a few days. Of course, it wouldn't have been possible without Lennok's experience as a Magic Musketeer.
‘With this, I can invest more in a better firearm.'
The effects of shooting support magic varied depending on the quality of the firearm.
When he first purchased a gun at the gun store, he chose the most reliable product since he couldn't be sure of the effects. But now, it seemed alright to buy a better gun.
Lennok didn't plan to delve back into being a Magic Musketeer since his talent was more focused on magic, but until he acquires satisfactory magical capabilities, this shooting magic could be a great help.
‘If I could find and learn unique support magic, I could increase my power even more… but it's difficult now.'
It would be great if he could just find it by chance, but Lennok had too many things to worry about right now.
For now, he was busy investing time in taking care of his health.
While Lennok was passing the time with various thoughts, someone cautiously approached and spoke to him from behind.
"Sir, we're done cleaning up this side."
Weian, who seemed to have regained some energy, was looking down at him.
After talking with Lennok, he had been helping the other mercenaries.
Weian's expression wasn't very good, but he didn't add any further comments to Lennok.
As Lennok headed toward where Dray was standing, he saw him looking down at the man's body with a complicated expression.
A dull silver dog tag hung around the corpse's neck. It appeared to have been found while searching the body.
"He was from the Viper Battalion."
Dray muttered with an uneasy tone.
"I've encountered that unit a few times on the frontlines, but I wonder how an elite from their ranks ended up like this…"
He clicked his tongue and covered the man's distorted face with a handkerchief from his pocket.
It was an act of respect from one former soldier to another.
"Are there many retired soldiers?"
"The number isn't small. The war with Dellingser hasn't been over for long, right? Those who can stay do, and those who can't return to society."
Dray shrugged in response.
"But this guy couldn't."
Despite being a fellow retired soldier, Dray didn't seem too emotional about his own discharge.
The war with Dellingser. Another keyword to look up later.
While Lennok was remembering that word, Dray nodded at him and spoke.
"The server backup is finished, and the power facility has been restored. Once the client verifies the situation, the request will officially be completed."
Dray took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Lennok.
"I was deeply impressed by your work during our time together. I hope we have the chance to work together again."
Receiving the business card here was a signal that Lennok had no more tasks to do and could leave early.
Lennok obediently took the offered card and replied with a smile.
"If the opportunity arises again."
Dray Krimgal was undoubtedly an outstanding mercenary and businessman.
He possessed a calm command ability, boldness without concern for his own body, high discernment, and prudence. He also managed to resolve issues without much trouble even when fellow mercenaries were replaced.
Being aware that working in this field meant that anything could happen at any time.
It wouldn't be surprising if such a person continued to grow his business instead of being satisfied with a small office. It wasn't a bad idea to keep the connection and maintain contact.
Given the chance, they could work together again. Without any regrets, Lennok turned and walked toward the stairs.
Kidel, watching Lennok’s receding figure, quietly asked Dray.
"Shouldn't we have asked him at least once?"
"What?"
"If he's interested in joining our office…"
At Kidel's words, Dray involuntarily laughed. She still hadn't given up hope.
"Kidel, after seeing that lightning strike earlier, you still had the same thoughts?"
Dray had similar thoughts before seeing Lennok summon lightning to capture the Scavenger's officer, but all hope vanished like bubbles at that moment.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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