Chapter 51

The rumors about the lightning mage in Sector 49 spread quickly.

It was probably because the scream of the collapsing large gang, the Sieger Band, was so loud.

It's only natural that the way people look at Renock has changed.

Until now, only a few people knew about the promising freelancer, but now it seems more people recognize Renock's face. Is this just an illusion?

Considering the piercing glances stabbing his back, it doesn't seem to be.

"That's him."

"He doesn't look particularly special..."

"The brokers who have worked with him praise him a lot. It's not just empty fame."

"He's been scouted by mercenary agencies several times... He might be more picky than we thought."

"........."

Until now, the residents of Sector 49 seemed to show no interest in him, but occasionally they turn their heads to confirm Renock's face.

As if they were trying to memorize it.

Some look at him openly from close by, while others cast faint, almost invisible glances from afar.

Amidst this, there were those who had more information than just the gossip and were having serious conversations.

"....He's not an ordinary lightning mage."

"He's used other elemental attributes as well."

"There's a good chance he belongs to the ancient Mystic Tower."

"Can we pry any information out of him?"

Instead of being surprised or afraid at the appearance of a talented newcomer, they were calmly assessing the pros and cons and calculating what they could do as business partners.

If Renock were to work with other freelancers in the future, he would likely end up collaborating with these people from time to time.

While thinking this, Renock naturally headed towards Jenny's bar.

"Here. I'll get you a whiskey, just wait a moment."

Jenny, who had her head buried in her laptop and couldn't even lift it, and Jordan, who was silently shaking a cocktail shaker beside her, were now a familiar sight.

Renock took a seat across the bar and asked Jenny.

"You look busy."

"Who do you think it's because of?"

From her curt tone, it was clear what was going on.

Renock smiled wryly.

"If you hadn't turned down all the requests that came in, this wouldn't have happened, right? Your laptop is practically bursting with inquiries from the Deep Web."

"........"

She didn't say anything, but it was evident that she was unhappy with Renock turning down requests at a time like this.

Renock understood her feelings, though.

If the rewards from this operation weren't so significant, Renock would have at least pretended to look over the requests.

But the insights and research notes he gained from the battle with Eden were a stroke of luck he had never anticipated, and he had no intention of letting this fortune slip away.

Now that he had confirmed he could extract the essence of unique spells without learning them, what Renock needed to do was not to be swayed by immediate money, but to reassess his own abilities.

Once all his work was completed, he wouldn't even need to row against the current.

It didn't seem like it would take long to create his own current.

"What about the materials you mentioned?"

"Here they are."

Jordan handed Renock a thick file folder.

".....Thank you."

"I don't know why you suddenly started taking an interest in necromancers, but be careful."

Jordan replied quietly.

"They have deeply ingrained themselves in society through long-term compromises, but fundamentally, they are people who use the manipulation of life's origins as their driving force."

".........."

"From the few times I've worked with them, I've felt their mindset very clearly. If you can't understand their way of thinking at all, you might be fine, but if you can, you'll be tainted surprisingly easily."

"Don't worry too much."

Renock said with a wry smile.

"I don't plan on quitting this job anytime soon."

"Right. I won't say more."

Jordan really said nothing more and closed his mouth tightly.

He knew that talking too much would only lead to unnecessary chatter.

Once again, he proved to be a man worthy of running a business alongside the impatient Jenny.

'After all, with this body, I can't just go somewhere else.'

Although he hadn't felt it much while dealing with warriors who relied on physical combat, the battle with Eden reaffirmed it.

Renock's talent is dangerous.

Like a bomb that could explode at any moment, his overflowing intuition and inspiration would surge out uncontrollably when met with strong stimuli.

How many unique spells did Eden have?

What mage in this world could see an opponent's unique spell and immediately replicate it on the spot?

If other mages knew about his talent, would they bless his abilities and sanity purely?

Or would they try to uncover his secret by any means necessary?

Although he still couldn't claim to know much about the world, the answer to this question was obvious.

If he couldn't trust someone completely, it was best to keep it hidden as long as possible.

At least until Renock had the power to match his talent.

Wasn't this the reason he was working step by step to become stronger, to overcome this fear?

While thinking this, Renock put the materials Jordan handed him into his bag, and suddenly the outside became noisy.

If it were just the usual terminal noise or gunshots, no one would have paid attention.

But the faint sound of boots from the entrance of the bar was enough to catch everyone's attention.

It even stirred up some unnecessary memories for Renock, who had never had anything to do with the military.

"........"

"What's that noise?"

They weren't trying to enter the bar, but it was clear that a group was passing by, which was a rare occurrence.

Everyone knew that gathering in groups in this area was dangerous.

If they were doing this despite knowing the risks, they must have had the arrogance or the qualifications to do so.

Renock raised his mana significantly and quickly extended it outside the bar.

His mana control, greatly improved from the battle with Eden, now dominated a range of several kilometers, relaying every piece of information to his senses with crystal clarity.

Dozens of people passing by the bar were visible, their bodies encased in bulletproof vests, faces obscured by helmets, and rifles slung on their backs.

However, their steps were quite unstable, and their breathing was irregular.

Renock nodded upon recognizing the emblem of the Balkan City Government on their chests.

"City government officials."

"Officials?"

What could bring government officials here?

Fortunately, he had a clue. Didn't Evelyn, whom he met at the market, give him some information?

"I heard rumors that the city government is conducting inspections in the outer sectors. This might be part of that."

"Inspections...."

Jordan's face was unusually serious.

"They're targeting mages who operate businesses without permits. I don't think it will affect this bar much."

Of course, Jordan didn't ask about the source of Renock's information, but his expression didn't lighten up.

After a long moment of contemplation, a heavy voice came from Jordan.

"It seems the city government is determined this time. This will give us a lot to think about."

"....Is it that serious?"

Renock, who didn't know the extent of the inspections, took it in stride, but for Jordan, the very idea of government officials patrolling the outer sectors was unprecedented.

"During my decades of work here, this has never happened. It must be the result of strong will from the city council. Whatever they're after, they definitely want something from this sector."

Indeed, the officials, despite the sharp gazes of the residents, not only didn't back down but even quickened their pace.

Judging from their direction, they were heading towards Sector 44.

"........"

It's almost been a year since Renock started his work in Sector 49.

The environment around him had changed, little by little but surely.

He thought he had finally found some stability, but things never go as planned.

The only option was to adapt, as always.

If he couldn't stop the changes, he wanted to at least be in a position to lead them.

With this thought, Renock slowly turned his gaze to Jordan, who had a complex expression, and Jenny, who had stopped her work and was looking outside.

Speaking of which, did the young blood mage from Sector 44 manage to evacuate?

If he hadn't ignored Renock's advice, he would have been able to wrap up his business and escape at the right time.

After that, it wasn't Renock's concern anymore.

Renock thought this and tried to erase the boy from his mind.

Until he confirmed the boy's presence in the mana field he had extended.

The same sullen expression, the thick bag slung over his back.

Renock realized the boy's steps were heading directly towards this bar and let out a hollow laugh.

"........"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's nothing."

Renock turned his gaze to Jenny.

"Jenny."

"What?"

"Prepare to receive a guest."

".....What?"

The sound of someone descending the stairs could be heard.

Renock smiled.

"Right. I think... a glass of milk should be enough. Let's put it on my tab."

Higher.

Late at night.

In the new apartment complex in the 30th district that Renock had arranged.

Someone was reading a book under the dim light of a small lamp, their head not lifting.

The research lab he had set up after moving in.

The strange vibration sound from the rotating mana filled the room.

The visual information, as vivid as if he were seeing it directly, flowed into his mind, and he saw the dozens of people passing by the bar.

Bulletproof vests encasing their bodies, helmets obscuring their faces, and rifles slung on their backs.

However, their steps were quite unstable, and their breathing was irregular.

Renock nodded upon recognizing the emblem of the Balkan City Government on their chests.

According to the journal, Eden was a fairly good student in the Magic Tower, but due to his lack of background and the limits of his potential, he eventually received a notice of expulsion.

The stable handwriting until then became scattered and disorganized after he left the Magic Tower, giving a clear indication of his mental state.

Eden continued his research on magic even after being expelled from the Magic Tower, but he soon hit a wall.

The last page of the journal revealed his despair and confusion.

[The thunder I was considered a symbol of a 6th-level military mage in the Magic Tower... I reached the end of the 5th level through consistent research, but I can't find a way to go beyond.]

[The transformation of lightning's nature, which I heard about repeatedly in the Magic Tower, is incomprehensible. How is it possible to change a notion already imbued with mana? I resent my master...]

[The only method I found was to pour mana to its limit and force the lightning's firepower to the next level. If the temperature can surpass the nature of lightning, then a partial transformation might be possible.]

[First, I need to increase my mana. I'll need more money.]

[A lot more.]

"........."

Only after finishing the journal did Renock understand the reasons behind Eden's actions.

Why he took the risk to enter the arms business.

Why he installed so many amplifiers in the power plant to face Renock and his team.

And why he desperately lashed out at the [Brainwave] Renock used at the end.

It wasn't a pleasant feeling.

Exploring the life of a dead opponent only left a lingering sense of gloom.

Suppressing the rising, useless thoughts, Renock slowly raised his mana.

Crack!!

The bright blue current formed between his index fingers.

Renock had been able to handle elemental properties like this for quite some time, without having to call each common lightning spell individually.

Lightning spells were particularly easier for him because he had favored them so much.

Powerful, swift, and intuitive.

A spell worth investing effort in, and one that had never disappointed him.

He decided to take a step forward.

Renock dramatically increased his mana.

Crack, crack, crack, crack!!

As he poured mana, the amount of lightning between his hands increased sharply, resembling a bright blue beam.

The room was filled with a brilliant light that dwarfed the small lamp, but not a single strand of the current escaped from between Renock's fingers.

Perfectly controlling the magic he created was now a matter of course for Renock.

With an indifferent expression, Renock looked down at the mass of mana and slightly twisted his fingers.

What is a notion?

Until now, Renock had only thought about the strong will to use magic, and that alone had driven him forward without any hindrance.

But to change an already activated spell, did he need to change the will within it?

'I can't agree with that.'

Eden seemed to have thought this and become frustrated, but Renock didn't think the notions he created were so worthless.

He was different from other mages from the start.

He knew very well how absurd his talent was and how close he was to the limits of existence.

The indestructible quality he had obtained despite numerous penalties.

The notions and wills he created and assembled were not something that could be discarded just to achieve more powerful magic.

Renock couldn't predict the immediate future, but he knew he could observe himself objectively when it came to magic.

What he needed was not a purer notion or a higher level of will.

Just a small trigger to break through ignorance would be enough.

Crack, crack, crack, crack!!

At that moment.

The bright blue wave of lightning between Renock's hands split as if shedding its skin, revealing a white core inside.

Like a drop of ink in a glass of water, the white current grew rapidly from within, consuming the blue mana light and covering Renock's hands in a dazzling glow.

The threshold that Eden had struggled and despaired over for his entire life.

Renock stepped onto the stairs leading to a higher realm without any hesitation.

A faint smile finally appeared on Renock's lips.

Up, higher.

The path ahead was still long.