Chapter 63

"Is it about Raycen's downfall?"

In Evelyn's office.

Despite the rather luxurious environment, it was evident that proper management was lacking, as clutter could be seen everywhere.

What particularly caught the eye were the vegetable patches sporadically planted around the office.

It seemed that Evelyn didn't particularly restrain her hobbies even in her official capacity.

"Yeah."

In response to Renock's words, Evelyn naturally reached out her hand to the desk.

Picking up a carrot from the scattered vegetables, she began to chew it raw.

Renock tried hard not to look in that direction, but the smell of onions that wafted to his nose was unavoidable.

"Want one? I grew it myself. It's a personal hobby."

"....No, thanks. I'd rather hear the details first."

He had thought she was extraordinary, but he hadn't expected her to harbor such thoughts.

Moreover, he hadn't anticipated that she would openly discuss such plans with him.

Renock had long felt that his teammates' abilities were lacking, but working with someone for the first time was different.

It was natural for the amount in his account to increase, but it was somewhat surprising to see Evelyn there.

He had expected as much when she first approached him, but it was rare for someone of her caliber to be involved in such a minor reward distribution process.

This indicated that Evelyn Marcia highly valued Renock's abilities, but frankly, it wasn't a pleasant feeling.

"Part of the reason I'm telling you this is because the enemy we face in this operation might not just be terrorists."

"What do you mean?"

"I was involved in this operation, and as a result, a disciplinary committee was convened. Our authority will be significantly reduced, and Raycen will likely start taking action in response."

Evelyn's green eyes turned to Renock.

Her transparent gaze made him tense up, even though he knew her altered magic pattern was perfect.

"Renock, are you prepared to kill other freelancers?"

Felix

"Before we start, I want to confirm this. Surprisingly, many people in this line of work can't answer this question."

"......I do feel hesitant about killing partners."

Renock answered with a blank expression.

"But it's only a concern that it might affect future tasks. If the justification is on our side, it's not a big issue."

"Oh, what do you mean by that?"

"I'm worried that Raycen might interfere with the operation. He'll likely hire private forces, and it wouldn't be strange if mercenaries or freelancers were involved."

I understand what she's worried about.

Senator Raycen would certainly want to retrieve his slush fund before the agents could achieve their goals, and it wouldn't be surprising if he tried to disrupt the operation she was currently running.

At first, it was just a guess, but her decision to call him in and discuss this suggested that it was more than just a concern.

"........."

"Before the operation ends, just leak the situation to the brokers. That way, even if the people working for Raycen die, it won't be a big problem."

"Hmm......"

In response to Renock's words, Evelyn put down the carrot she was holding and began to look at him with a meaningful expression.

Renock, who was repulsed by her overtly intentional gaze, subtly turned his head.

"Why are you doing that?"

"It was summer when we met at the factory, right?"

"........."

"You seem quite different from the person I remembered."

Evelyn smiled for the first time as she looked at him.

"I like your way of thinking. Have you ever considered becoming an agent?"

"What?"

"I had a 4th-level mage with a rather peculiar personality in mind, but someone like you could immediately contribute to our side."

"......Let's just talk about the job."

For some reason, Renock felt he knew who that 'peculiar 4th-level mage' was.

A slight shiver ran down his spine when he realized that Evelyn still remembered his original face from the vegetable shop, but he didn't show it.

Evelyn, who had been observing Renock's face, shook her head as if there was no other choice.

"That's a shame. With your judgment, you could have taken over some of my responsibilities in the field. I have various reasons that make it difficult for me to act directly."

"Isn't Hina O'Neil supervising the operation?"

"Hina is certainly an excellent agent, but she has a congenital weakness that makes it hard for her to work for long periods. Especially in harsh environments like the Extra District, her condition can flare up, making it very difficult for her."

"Congenital weakness...."

Renock recalled their conversation when he heard this.

She had mentioned that her combat abilities were somewhat limited, and it was due to her condition.

Despite this penalty, she must be a specialist with a clear strength.

However, there was one piece of information he couldn't ignore in her words.

"You're really beating around the bush about the next operation being in the Extra District."

"Oops, did I say that?"

Seeing Evelyn's shameless expression as she tilted her head, Renock stood up from his seat.

"Did you trace the encrypted key with dummy data to this place? Call me again once the specific operation details are set. I have a few personal matters to handle."

"Looks like the successful mage is indeed busy. I'm not sure if you can spare time to work with us."

"That's not a concern."

Renock muttered as he gripped the doorknob.

"I'm not jumping into this just to repay a debt of life."

"......There will be about two weeks before the next operation. Take your time to prepare, and we'll see each other then."

Black mages and terrorist organizations.

And Raycen's schemes to interfere in between.

Even as the situation became more complex, the problem in Renock's mind remained clear.

The key was to prioritize and not get confused.

It was crucial not to forget why Renock had gotten involved in this.

He would uncover the clues left by the Heavenly Eye through the inheritance Raoul mentioned.

Once he started moving, even if he couldn't uncover all the truths, he at least needed to find the right direction.

Thud!

Evelyn watched Renock's empty seat with an unreadable expression as he closed the door and disappeared.