Chapter 12

Renewed with a new ID, Renock immediately went to a bank near the 30th district and opened an account. The bank, eager to attract customers, verified his ID and promptly opened an account after Renock mentioned he would deposit 20 million cells right away. Renock also obtained a cash card to access the funds in his account. He then deposited the 10 million cells he had stored in his hotel room and visited a mobile phone store to activate a new phone. Using a number he had reserved, he contacted Jenny, who answered immediately.

"You might work only when you want to, but you're the first person to activate a phone after just a month in this city."

"Hmm, what about the vagrants living in the 50th district?"

"Can you even call them people?"

At Jenny's somewhat cruel words, Renock shook his head. The cold rationality of a mage had already acknowledged the truth in her words. Jenny then gave Renock various pieces of advice now that he had officially opened an account and activated a phone.

"I don't know much about mages who isolate themselves for training, but when you work here, it's good to have a legitimate source of income. If money keeps flowing into your account without any apparent work, it might raise unnecessary suspicions."

"Are you suggesting I get a part-time job?"

"Since you've officially opened an account with a regular bank, there's a low probability, but you might get caught in an unnecessary tax investigation. As we continue to work together, the amount of money we handle will increase, so it's better to be prepared."

"Hmm..."

Renock hadn't yet decided if he would continue working with Jenny, but he pretended to listen attentively. He had realized that it wasn't bad to have her arrange jobs for him until he understood more about the city's dynamics. She had maintained a considerate attitude towards him, which was helpful given his lack of knowledge about the world. However, he knew not to place complete trust in her. Her continued kindness suggested she had high expectations of him.

'She must have heard from Dylan that I used freezing magic, yet she hasn't mentioned it at all.'

Even though she knew he was a lightning mage, she hadn't questioned his use of freezing magic. After hearing the details from Dylan, the two of them had realized Renock was not just a simple lightning mage. It was impossible for them to miss the nature of the [Frost Horn] he used to stop the Kraken. They knew he could use at least two attributes, but this fact alone didn't surprise them much. The world of magic was vast and deep, and there were systems that could handle multiple attributes. What was important was the exceptional and perceptive skill of a mage who could hide their magic. And whether he still intended to work with them.

"Anyway, this job will spread the word that a mage is looking for work here, so you might start getting named requests."

"Is that so."

"Your skills might match well, and the pay could be much better. Look forward to it."

"......"

Renock looked down at his phone after the call ended. Was she planning to stab him in the back, or was she willing to keep his secret and continue to cooperate? It was impossible to know without revealing his hand, but he wasn't going to wait idly. Clutching his phone, he returned to the hotel with a crooked smile on his face.

---

"Did it go well?"

As soon as Jenny put down the phone, Jordan, who was standing beside her, asked. She shook her head, indicating it didn't go as expected.

"He showed no signs even when we talked in person."

"Hmm..."

Crossing his arms, Jordan pondered. Jenny then asked, "Do you think Dylan didn't see it?"

"It's unlikely. Most mages are meticulous, even with the smallest possibilities. They worry a lot. But he didn't say anything about his disguise being exposed, which is unusual. I expected him to try to cover up his mistake."

As Renock had guessed, the two of them had heard the details from Dylan and realized Renock was not just a simple lightning mage. It was impossible to miss the nature of the [Frost Horn] he used to stop the Kraken. They knew he could use at least two attributes, but this fact alone didn't surprise them much. The world of magic was vast and deep, and there were systems that could handle multiple attributes. What was important was the exceptional and perceptive skill of a mage who could hide their magic. And whether he still intended to work with them.

"Damn, I want to keep him around."

"Are you tempted by his abilities?"

He's a mage who survived against the Kraken of Pandemonium. The fact that he survived the clutches of that brutal mercenary has already made many people inquire about Renock's background, making the Exorcist's reputation strong in this field.

"His abilities are one thing, but his personality is perfect. Have you ever met a mage who communicates so well while working alone?"

"......I see what you mean."

While there are mages more skilled than Renock, they are usually affiliated with organizations or groups and are treated as valuable assets. There are freelance mages like Renock, but most are either difficult to work with or demand astronomical fees. Collaborating with a mage, who is considered the most professional and adaptable in all of Balkan's professions, is not easy. Meeting a mage who has recently come to the city after training is even rarer.

Jordan easily understood Jenny's point and nodded.

"Ultimately, all we can do is arrange good, well-paying jobs that suit him. Pushing further might backfire."

"Damn, I know."

Jenny turned on her computer and connected to the network, starting to look for suitable jobs for Renock.

"Corporate jobs are probably the best to recommend. They tend to be cleaner."

Sweet Home

Jordan clicked his tongue and poured himself a whiskey.

"Will Renock think that way after this incident?"

"Ah... you're right."

It would be fortunate if he doesn't have a bad reaction to reptiles for a while.

"For a while, it's best not to recommend corporate or syndicate jobs. They have vast resources, and something like hiring a Kraken could happen at any moment. It's better to look into gang or mercenary jobs."

Gangs roaming the 50th district and freelance mercenaries in the 40th district. While their job rates are lower than those of corporations, they are closely tied to the city's dynamics and can be helpful for Renock. Finding a job that offers decent pay without being too dangerous would be ideal. Gangs are straightforward but dirty, while mercenaries are clean but brutal. The decision was quick.

"Gangs... might be a bit much, but mercenaries are better. He can blend in well. I'll contact some relatively mild ones."

While mercenary agencies don't often lack personnel, the situation is different if the personnel are mages. Just the fact that Renock is a mage would be positively received by all organizations. Not only does it open up networking opportunities, but if he is skilled, they might offer better treatment to secure him exclusively. Renock, having worked with a skilled mage like Dylan, would likely have less resistance to the idea of being a mercenary. Watching Jenny pick up the phone, Jordan sighed.

"I'm helping your business at Kai's request, but remember, I can't always watch your back. You're smart and perceptive, but you tend to skip over other options due to your impatience."

"Hello? Drey, it's me."

Jenny winked as if understanding and immediately began talking to the person on the other end of the line. Jordan shook his head silently and started wiping glasses with a towel. It was almost time for the bar to open, and he needed to prepare for customers.

At an unnamed franchise burger place, Renock ordered a burger set, immediately unwrapped it, and took a bite. The burger, with a thick meat patty between the buns, was familiar, but the sauce and name were different. Even in a world with magic, people's desire for fast food seems to boil down to bread and meat. Renock pondered this for a moment but quickly forgot it and became engrossed in his newly activated phone.

"Hmm."

Thinking about it, it had been over two months since he had paid attention to his phone. Even when he was obsessed with games on Earth, he usually kept his phone nearby. But in his efforts to survive, he had been so focused on various considerations and magic research that he had forgotten about it. With his phone activated, he could now use not only calls but also network functions, allowing him to search as he had with a smartphone on Earth.

News, society, sports, economy, magic engineering, research... As Renock's fingers moved slowly through unfamiliar words, they suddenly stopped.

[Explosion at a manufacturing plant in the 42nd district causes difficulties for Charlot's new product launch... Evacuation orders issued for a 2km radius, but no significant damage reported]

"......"

Renock immediately clicked on the news article to check the details, but it only mentioned an explosion caused by an unknown gas leak. There were no photos of Renock or the Kraken, nor any mention of unidentified attackers. While the article didn't reveal any facts or truths, Renock could easily guess the underlying interests from the gaps.

An unspoken message that those involved with the factory wanted to dismiss the explosion as an accident. The city government, which had invested a large amount of money in the factory, had effectively lost that investment, but with the incident covered up, no one would investigate the truth.

'Do things usually work this way when working with corporations?'

While they assigned him the reckless task of blowing up a