Chapter 17

Time passed, and another day went by without any trouble.

There were no more signs of the gang or any other people.

People, excited about receiving the promised commission from the pharmaceutical company, gradually left.

Since it was such a significant amount, they didn't care who the client was.

Just as Renock was about to leave after the others, he suddenly stopped when he saw the Grime's cane, which he had discarded the night before.

"......"

A very slight suspicion. Inferring the subsequent actions and reaching the cause in an instant.

By the direction of his gaze alone, Renock quickly found the answer.

'...Ah.'

Renock's expression changed instantly, and he smiled faintly.

"Did you enjoy the show I put on last night?"

"What do you mean?"

"I made sure to set off some fireworks for those watching from afar. You must have been waiting for me because you liked it, right?"

Renock calmly met his gaze.

"Councilor."

"......"

This time, it was the old man's turn to be silent.

Seed

Renock slowly took out Grime's cane from his back and stuck it in front of the old man.

"I'll return this."

Looking at the cane embedded in the garden soil, Renock said,

"You must have cherished him. I'm sorry."

Recognizing Grime's cane, and knowing that Renock would come to the patent office, the old man, who could freely enter and exit this street under the pretext of exercise, was likely the only person standing on the opposite side of Renock in this matter.

If the old man had approached Renock, it wasn't just because he needed a companion.

Renock, who believed in his own talent and will, thought it was too early to get entangled with people in power.

At least, not in a way that involved face-to-face conversations.

What method could he use to slip out of this conversation without leaving a strong impression?

'I'm not very good at talking...'

Renock glanced at the old man.

He was still looking at Renock with an unwavering gaze, but Renock's sensitive perception noticed that his gaze was slightly off.

More precisely, it was directed at the cane on Renock's back.

"......"

A very subtle suspicion. Inferring the subsequent actions and reaching the cause in an instant.

By the direction of his gaze alone, Renock quickly found the answer.

'...Ah.'

Renock's expression changed instantly, and he smiled faintly.

"Did you enjoy the show I put on last night?"

"What do you mean?"

"I made sure to set off some fireworks for those watching from afar. You must have been waiting for me because you liked it, right?"

Renock calmly met his gaze.

"Councilor."

"......"

This time, it was the old man's turn to be silent.

Renock acknowledged that the old man was an extraordinary person, regardless of his current position.

The old man's greed for things not his own, such as money, honor, and power, and even for talents he couldn't acquire, was rare.

Such a person would likely have been greedy even with the pharmaceutical company in his district, trying to get his hands on their patents.

However, Renock had no intention of putting a leash on himself here.

"Is that so?"

Renock said with a smile.

"You might want me, but I have no reason to need you."

"Are you refusing my offer?"

"Even if I really need it, there's no particular reason to seek you out."

There were plenty of people closer to the core of the city.

If Renock really needed the help of someone in power, there were many more influential people he could turn to.

Frankly, the value didn't match.

Renock was already a recognized magician, but the old man was just a councilor of one district.

The old man seemed to understand the meaning of Renock's words and fell silent.

Renock thought,

'This should be enough.'

There was no need to embarrass someone who had come to him out of desire for his abilities.

The old man, despite his greed, was a troublesome adversary to make an enemy of.

Even if he didn't want to cooperate, it was better to maintain an ambiguous relationship.

Looking at the old man, who was nodding his head, Renock continued in a soothing tone.

"But if you help me, I might be able to repay you someday."

"....What do you mean?"

"We're not close, but there's no reason to remain on bad terms, right?"

Renock thought as he watched the old man's eyes light up.

The old man, who had been looking at the cane stuck in the ground, seemed to understand.

"Grime. He was a terrible magician but a good friend. He devoted himself to assisting me from the moment I decided to become a politician."

"......"

"Can you understand why I came to see you after losing such a friend?"

"Revenge?"

Renock replied, but he instinctively knew it wasn't the right answer.

The old man's gaze was distinctly different from hatred, disappointment, or anger.

It was closer to a very intense greed.

"Let me be brief. Come work for me."

"......"

"A talented and capable magician like you working alone is a loss for the entire city. When I saw the lightning in the cloudless night, I was certain."

He continued,

"I will continue to rise, and I can make you rise too. In that lofty forest of skyscrapers... I can secure a place for you."

With every word, the old man's intense ambition was evident.

Renock acknowledged that the old man was an extraordinary person, regardless of his current position.

His greed for things not his own, such as money, honor, and power, and even for talents he couldn't acquire, was rare.

Such a person would likely have been greedy even with the pharmaceutical company in his district, trying to get his hands on their patents.

However, Renock had no intention of putting a leash on himself here.

"Is that so?"

Renock said with a smile.

"You might want me, but I have no reason to need you."

"Are you refusing my offer?"

"Even if I really need it, there's no particular reason to seek you out."

There were plenty of people closer to the core of the city.

If Renock really needed the help of someone in power, there were many more influential people he could turn to.

Frankly, the value didn't match.

Renock was already a recognized magician, but the old man was just a councilor of one district.

The old man seemed to understand the meaning of Renock's words and fell silent.

Renock thought,

'This should be enough.'

There was no need to embarrass someone who had come to him out of desire for his abilities.

The old man, despite his greed, was a troublesome adversary to make an enemy of.

Even if he didn't want to cooperate, it was better to maintain an ambiguous relationship.

Looking at the old man, who was nodding his head, Renock continued in a soothing tone.

"But if you help me, I might be able to repay you someday."

"....What do you mean?"

"We're not close, but there's no reason to remain on bad terms, right?"

Renock thought as he watched the old man's eyes light up.

The old man, who had been looking at the cane stuck in the ground, seemed to understand.

"Grime. He was a terrible magician but a good friend. He devoted himself to assisting me from the moment I decided to become a politician."

"......"

"Can you understand why I came to see you after losing such a friend?"

"Revenge?"

Renock replied, but he instinctively knew it wasn't the right answer.

The old man's gaze was distinctly different from hatred, disappointment, or anger.

It was closer to a very intense greed.

"Let me be brief. Come work for me."

"......"

"A talented and capable magician like you working alone is a loss for the entire city. When I saw the lightning in the cloudless night, I was certain."

He continued,

"I will continue to rise, and I can make you rise too. In that lofty forest of skyscrapers... I can secure a place for you."

With every word, the old man's intense ambition was evident.

Renock acknowledged that the old man was an extraordinary person, regardless of his current position.

His greed for things not his own, such as money, honor, and power, and even for talents he couldn't acquire, was rare.

Such a person would likely have been greedy even with the pharmaceutical company in his district, trying to get his hands on their patents.

However, Renock had no intention of putting a leash on himself here.

"Is that so?"

Renock said with a smile.

"You might want me, but I have no reason to need you."

"Are you refusing my offer?"

"Even if I really need it, there's no particular reason to seek you out."

There were plenty of people closer to the core of the city.

If Renock really needed the help of someone in power, there were many more influential people he could turn to.

Frankly, the value didn't match.

Renock was already a recognized magician, but the old man was just a councilor of one district.

The old man seemed to understand the meaning of Renock's words and fell silent.

Renock thought,

'This should be enough.'

There was no need to embarrass someone who had come to him out of desire for his abilities.

The old man, despite his greed, was a troublesome adversary to make an enemy of.

Even if he didn't want to cooperate, it was better to maintain an ambiguous relationship.

Looking at the old man, who was nodding his head, Renock continued in a soothing tone.

"But if you help me, I might be able to repay you someday."

"....What do you mean?"

"We're not close, but there's no reason to remain on bad terms, right?"

Renock thought as he watched the old man's eyes light up.

The old man, who had been looking at the cane stuck in the ground, seemed to understand.

"Grime. He was a terrible magician but a good friend. He devoted himself to assisting me from the moment I decided to become a politician."

"......"

"Can you understand why I came to see you after losing such a friend?"

"Revenge?"

Renock replied, but he instinctively knew it wasn't the right answer.

The old man's gaze was distinctly different from hatred, disappointment, or anger.

It was closer to a very intense greed.

"Let me be brief. Come work for me."

"......"

"A talented and capable magician like you working alone is a loss for the entire city. When I saw the lightning in the cloudless night, I was certain."

He continued,

"I will continue to rise, and I can make you rise too. In that lofty forest of skyscrapers... I can secure a place for you."

With every word, the old man's intense ambition was evident.

Renock acknowledged that the old man was an extraordinary person, regardless of his current position.

His greed for things not his own, such as money, honor, and power, and even for talents he couldn't acquire, was rare.

Such a person would likely have been greedy even with the pharmaceutical company in his district, trying to get his hands on their patents.

However, Renock had no intention of putting a leash on himself here.

"Is that so?"

Renock said with a smile.

"You might want me, but I have no reason to need you."

"Are you refusing my offer?"

"Even if I really need it, there's no particular reason to seek you out."

There were plenty of people closer to the core of the city.

If Renock really needed the help of someone in power, there were many more influential people he could turn to.

Frankly, the value didn't match.

Renock was already a recognized magician, but the old man was just a councilor of one district.

The old man seemed to understand the meaning of Renock's words and fell silent.

Renock thought,

'This should be enough.'

There was no need to embarrass someone who had come to him out of desire for his abilities.

The old man, despite his greed, was a troublesome adversary to make an enemy of.

Even if he didn't want to cooperate, it was better to maintain an ambiguous relationship.

Looking at the old man, who was nodding his head, Renock continued in a soothing tone.

"But if you help me, I might be able to repay you someday."

"....What do you mean?"

"We're not close, but there's no reason to remain on bad terms, right?"

Renock thought as he watched the old man's eyes light up.

The old man, who had been looking at the cane stuck in the ground, seemed to understand.

"Grime. He was a terrible magician but a good friend. He devoted himself to assisting me from the moment I decided to become a politician."

"......"

"Can you understand why I came to see you after losing such a friend?"

"Revenge?"

Renock replied, but he instinctively knew it wasn't the right answer.

The old man's gaze was distinctly different from hatred, disappointment, or anger.

It was closer to a very intense greed.

"Let me be brief. Come work for me."

"......"

"A talented and capable magician like you working alone is a loss for the entire city. When I saw the lightning in the cloudless night, I was certain."

He continued,

"I will continue to rise, and I can make you rise too. In that lofty forest of skyscrapers... I can secure a place for you."

With every word, the old man's intense ambition was evident.

Renock acknowledged that the old man was an extraordinary person, regardless of his current position.

His greed for things not his own, such as money, honor, and power, and even for talents he couldn't acquire, was rare.

Such a person would likely have been greedy even with the pharmaceutical company in his district, trying to get his hands on their patents.

However, Renock had no intention of putting a leash on himself here.

"Is that so?"

Renock said with a smile.

"You might want me, but I have no reason to need you."

"Are you refusing my offer?"

"Even if I really need it, there's no particular reason to seek you out."

There were plenty of people closer to the core of the city.

If Renock really needed the help of someone in power, there were many more influential people he could turn to.

Frankly, the value didn't match.

Renock was already a recognized magician, but the old man was just a councilor of one district.

The old man seemed to understand the meaning of Renock's words and fell silent.

Renock thought,

'This should be enough.'

There was no need to embarrass someone who had come to him out of desire for his abilities.

The old man, despite his greed, was a troublesome adversary to make an enemy of.

Even if he didn't want to cooperate, it was better to maintain an ambiguous relationship.

Looking at the old man, who was nodding his head, Renock continued in a soothing tone.

"But if you help me, I might be able to repay you someday."

"....What do you mean?"

"We're not close, but there's no reason to remain on bad terms, right?"

Renock thought as he watched the old man's eyes light up.

The old man, who had been looking at the cane stuck in the ground, seemed to understand.

"Grime. He was a terrible magician but a good friend. He devoted himself to assisting me from the moment I decided to become a politician."

"......"

"Can you understand why I came to see you after losing such a friend?"

"Revenge?"

Renock replied, but he instinctively knew it wasn't the right answer.

The old man's gaze was distinctly different from hatred, disappointment, or anger.

It was closer to a very intense greed.

"Let me be brief. Come work for me."

"......"

"A talented and capable magician like you working alone is a loss for the entire city. When I saw the lightning in the cloudless night, I was certain."

He continued,

"I will continue to rise, and I can make you rise too. In that lofty forest of skyscrapers... I can secure a place for you."

With every word, the old man's intense ambition was evident.

Renock acknowledged that the old man was an extraordinary person, regardless of his current position.

His greed for things not his own, such as money, honor, and power, and even for talents he couldn't acquire, was rare.

Such a person would likely have been greedy even with the pharmaceutical company in his district, trying to get his hands on their patents.

However, Renock had no intention of putting a leash on himself here.

"Is that so?"

Renock said with a smile.

"You might want me, but I have no reason to need you."

"Are you refusing my offer?"

"Even if I really need it, there's no particular reason to seek you out."

There were plenty of people closer to the core of the city.

If Renock really needed the help of someone in power, there were many more influential people he could turn to.

Frankly, the value didn't match.

Renock was already a recognized magician, but the old man was just a councilor of one district.

The old man seemed to understand the meaning of Renock's words and fell silent.

Renock thought,

'This should be enough.'

There was no need to embarrass someone who had come to him out of desire for his abilities.

The old man, despite his greed, was a troublesome adversary to make an enemy of.

Even if he didn't want to cooperate, it was better to maintain an ambiguous relationship.

Looking at the old man, who was nodding his head, Renock continued in a soothing tone.

"But if you help me, I might be able to repay you someday."

"....What do you mean?"

"We're not close, but there's no reason to remain on bad terms, right?"

Renock thought as he watched the old man's eyes light up.

The old man, who had been looking at the cane stuck in the ground, seemed to understand.

"Grime. He was a terrible magician but a good friend. He devoted himself to assisting me from the moment I decided to become a politician."

"......"

"Can you understand why I came to see you after losing such a friend?"

"Revenge?"

Renock replied, but he instinctively knew it wasn't the