Chapter 34

As the time Diyu had promised passed, Renock quickly got dressed and headed to Diyu's headquarters. This time, there was no limousine to greet him, nor was there Killian to guide him, but the situation was completely different from when they first met. Despite his ambitious plan to change the dynamics of the 40s district, their operational capabilities were revealed to be woefully inadequate, and due to the aftermath of internal politics, they were severely understaffed. It was absurd that they had not taken control of the situation. The minimum compensation agreed upon with Jenny beforehand—if they failed to meet this standard, there would be no further collaboration with Diyu. With this resolve, Renock knocked on Panora's office door.

"You've arrived. Please take a seat."

The office looked the same as before. However, Renock did not miss the small screen in the corner of the room, cleverly hidden from view. Without a word, he sat on the sofa, and she calmly placed a cup of coffee in front of him before sitting opposite him.

"......"

He was carefully choosing his words. Panora was well aware that if she failed to secure Renock, everything would fall apart. The first thing she needed to do was clear.

"I apologize."

Slowly, she bowed her head.

"I presented an unrealistic plan to a half-mage and failed to manage the situation. It was all my fault."

"......"

"I acknowledge that all the inconveniences during this operation were due to our company's mistakes. I will pay you the compensation as agreed, and I promise to delegate the success bonuses of the other team members who failed their missions to you."

Her apology was straightforward, and her tone was calm and unwavering. It was clear how much she had suffered from the bitter failure and the mindset she brought to this meeting. However, this alone was far from enough to buy Renock's time, especially if they intended to continue with their initial plan without wavering.

She glanced down and then slowly spoke.

"I believe you've noticed what's been happening inside our company over the past week."

"......"

Renock's gaze shifted slightly, caught off guard by her unexpected words. She had brought up the internal affairs of Diyu, which he had considered their weakest point, right from the start. Panora clearly had no intention of being silenced by mere money.

"Let me be honest. Despite the capital invested in this project, the number of high-level personnel available within the company is extremely limited. Even those who are helping me will likely have to leave the company if this plan fails."

"Get to the point."

Panora flinched at Renock's cold tone and bit her lip. The reversal of their positions in less than a month must have felt bitter to her. However, instead of being consumed by petty emotions, she had prepared a much more rational approach and persuasion.

"......I want to borrow your power, no matter what. This is a sign of my commitment."

With that, she retrieved a black security bag from behind the sofa. She unlocked the sturdy lock and entered the password, and the bag opened. A dense aroma of magic wafted out, along with a pair of small rings.

"These are the rings of Phryaice, the artifacts I promised to the shadow mage for the complete success of the last operation."

"......"

"Though they fall short of the compensation I promised you, they are valuable artifacts equipped with shock-resistant magic that can protect the wearer."

Panora's eyes were burning with intensity. Even if she said it in words, the rings must have been of considerable value, given that they were offered for the complete success of the plan. The magic contained within them was clearly not of low quality, but Renock did not change his expression as he replied.

"You know what I want."

The minimum conditions agreed upon with Jenny. Both of them believed that the delivery of the artifact should be expedited, no matter how lacking. If Panora tried to buy time with a pair of artifacts, the deal was off.

As if sensing Renock's thoughts, she quickly continued. The main point was about to be addressed.

"The bidding for the item you wanted at the VIP auction has ended, and it is now in the delivery preparation stage. I promise that the artifact will be in your hands by the end of the next mission, not after five missions."

Each word was filled with sincerity. The certificate of purchase from the auction house, which she presented to Renock, clearly showed her determination to persuade him.

"......"

As Renock remained silent, her words became increasingly urgent.

"I will establish a command structure that prioritizes the half-mage's judgment in all future operations and delegate the selection of team members for the plan. If that's not enough.....!!"

Panora's increasingly aggressive tone abruptly stopped when Renock picked up the pair of rings. He carefully observed the flow of magic emanating from the artifact, nodded, and stood up.

"Mr. Mage....?"

Considering the internal affairs of Diyu that he had learned from Sebastian, the compensation she offered was likely the maximum she could offer. With the purchase certificate in hand, there was no need to listen to unnecessary talk.

"Put everything you've said in writing and send it to Jenny. We'll discuss the detailed schedule afterward."

Panora's face relaxed slightly upon understanding the meaning of his words, but it stiffened again as Renock turned to look at her.

"I'll let this slide this time, but there must be no more mistakes. You're not the only one taking risks."

"......"

"I've proven my worth and believe I deserve better treatment."

".....I understand."

"What we're doing is based on mutual interests, not one-sided assistance."

Holding the doorknob, Renock muttered.

"Maintain the balance. There are many things that can't be solved with money alone."

Ironically, the words Renock threw at Panora were more fitting for himself.

But in this situation, even such a distraction was a luxury.

*Bang!*

"......"

Alone in the silent office, Panora silently lowered her head. Her face was filled with an indescribable fatigue. Renock, who had confirmed her state as if looking through the door, silently turned and left the building.

*Proposal*

'This confirms it.'

Renock thought as he was politely escorted out of the building by Diyu's staff.

'Bold, but too inexperienced.'

Panora appeared to be a rational and decisive person at first glance, but compared to Jenny, who handled things with such confidence, she was vastly different. Offering a rare artifact and delegating command in the current plan was not a bad decision, but she couldn't easily shake off the losses incurred in the process. This likely led her to doubt Renock's decision and try to raise the stakes.

This was because Panora did not truly trust Renock.

"......"

He could understand.

It's hard to feel at ease when entrusting a significant task to someone you've just met. However, in this line of work, once a deal is made, there should be no further complaints.

In that sense, Panora was not well-suited to this world.

'I need to get out as soon as I've done my part. It won't be easy, considering the value of the artifact...'

Renock glanced inside his coat. He didn't need to hear how much effort Panora had put into obtaining the Phryaice rings.

Artifacts.

To Renock, who understood the difficulty of imbuing magic into objects, they were treasures worth a fortune. While he didn't have the five fingers of Enakfil yet, obtaining an enchanted artifact was a tangible achievement. Even if it didn't lead to immediate progress, the opportunity to see how magic was imbued and operated in an artifact was rare.

'If I can achieve tangible results soon, that would be great, but I need to be patient.'

For Renock, who could freely use shield magic, the protective magic embedded in the ring was significant. Unlike simple shield magic that merely mitigated external impacts, protective magic could protect the user in various ways.

Of course, he would need to analyze the ring's effects thoroughly, but it likely included magic to dissipate impacts on internal organs and bones, and to block various harmful substances that a simple shield couldn't handle. This was certainly not a bad thing for Renock, who had relied heavily on shield magic for defense.

Initially, his extreme focus on safety had driven the development of his shield magic, which was otherwise inflexible. In this sense, the protective magic in the ring would serve as excellent insurance for Renock.

He slowly calmed his slightly excited mood and took out his phone. Renock quickly dialed a number from his contacts and disappeared into the crowd. Unaware of the complex gaze watching him from above the building, he moved on.