Chapter 73

In the dimly lit basement, rusty water dripped from the ceiling, and the hinges creaked in the gusts of wind. Inside this secluded corner, Renock and Hina were silently watching a man who was bound and groaning.

“Where’s Evelyn?”

“...Are you calling the team leader by such a friendly name? You’re quite bold.”

Hina shook her head in disbelief.

“She’s probably busy with a tug-of-war with the city council. Even if they reduce our authority, it’s still a problem if they cut our budget.”

“Wasn’t that part agreed upon beforehand? I don’t understand that.”

“Well, even a mere dog would go berserk once it realizes its position is in danger.”

In summary, does this mean that Raysen, having realized the suspicious movements of the agents, is acting on his own to cut their budget?

Hina’s words seemed a bit exaggerated compared to Renock’s thoughts, but it was clear she harbored some resentment towards Raysen.

Instead of delving into the details, Renock shifted his gaze to the scene before him.

“So, what do you plan to do with this guy?”

The operation that took place at the trade center. The man sitting there is the shock mage that Renock captured personally during that operation. He had been knocked out and handed over to the agents, but it seemed they hadn’t killed him yet.

“The preparations for the operation are all done. All that’s left is to gather the team members we hired at the operation site.”

Hina answered calmly.

“However, I want to get a final confirmation from this mage.”

“You need a cross-verification.”

“Yes. We’ve subjected him to various interrogations, but his mental barriers are quite solid. It wouldn’t be a big problem to kill him now, but I’d like to clear up any lingering doubts.”

“Hmm...”

I can understand that mindset. The way she handles matters, wanting to leave no room for doubt when dealing with life-and-death situations, is quite familiar to Renock.

However, it’s clear that Hina O’Neill is openly suspicious of Renock, likely because he kept this mage alive.

He’s being tested to see if he can interrogate the mage directly.

If Hina O’Neill had a proper understanding of Renock’s surface-level reasons, she wouldn’t have done this. After all, the reason Renock agreed to collaborate with the agents was to use their resources to find Craig. On the surface, he owed Evelyn a life debt, not because of the grand organization called the Agents.

Considering her ignorance, Renock decided to play along with her intentions just this once.

After confirming Hina’s expression, which had clearly shrunk in fear, Renock turned his head. He took out a cigarette and kicked open the door to the small room.

Bang!!

Even with his eyes covered and his limbs tied to the chair, the mage could still hear the noise.

The mage’s movements became more violent upon hearing the disturbing sound, but there was no real resistance.

Renock quickly removed the blindfold from the mage’s eyes and met his gaze.

The mage blinked a few times, looked around, and then, recognizing Renock, winced slightly.

“...Damn, it’s you again.”

“It’s been a while.”

“F*ck, I thought you’d kill me quickly. What’s with all this dragging around? Do it properly.”

Renock chuckled at the mage’s unchanged tone.

A cold indifference, as if it wasn’t his own business.

But the heart beating in this place is undoubtedly his own.

The ability to maintain composure even in a desperate situation is undoubtedly a part of his nature.

If they had met elsewhere, he might have become a much better mage.

That’s why Renock smiled and said to him,

“Listen, I don’t hate guys like you who are so indifferent...”

“...What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m saying, let’s make this easy. I can kill you easily, you know.”

No matter how the situation changes or becomes murky, Renock never loses sight of the core issue.

The mage tied before him is merely a member of the terrorist organization, Palsion. He has likely killed dozens of innocent people, plundered, stolen, and destroyed without a second thought.

Renock’s conscience isn’t thick enough to feel guilt or responsibility towards such a scoundrel.

“Why... why are you... ugh!!!”

Bang!!

No further response was needed.

Renock cast a shock spell from below, striking the mage.

The mage’s body, which flew like a piece of paper, slammed into the wall, splattering blood.

“Cough, cough...”

Watching the mage gasp for breath, Renock lit his cigarette leisurely.

“Tell me where your boss is hiding. Where is Zayun Odysseus?”

“Cough, cough...”

The mage burst into a sinister laugh and spat.

“F*ck off, you little s**t.”

Bang!!

With those words, the mage, who had been powerless until now, suddenly unleashed his magic and lunged at Renock. He had been conserving his magic until this moment, but upon confirming Renock’s attitude, he had completely given up on surviving.

A highly inefficient decision for a mage, but Renock admired his spirit.

[Helix Wind]

Crack!!

An invisible, intangible whirlwind pierced the mage’s abdomen from the air. The flesh twisted inward, squeezing out his organs and blood.

The mage, still screaming silently, reached out to Renock with his hand, but a shadow from the darkness caught his thin arm faster.

Bang!

“Gah...!!”

The mage, hanging in the air with one arm raised, was drenched in blood in the blink of an eye.

“Last question.”

Renock asked.

“Zayun Odysseus. Where is he?”

“Hah, hah...!! Kill me!!”

“...”

What mattered wasn’t the mage’s sarcastic retort, but the eyes that were desperately accepting death. Confirming the resolute determination in his gaze, Renock nodded.

This is enough.

The mage clearly didn’t suspect that the encryption key they stole was fake. The operation won’t go wrong.

Exchanging a glance with Hina, Renock sighed.

“Sigh... Alright.”

An inefficient stubbornness, but Renock understood his decision.

He didn’t know what kind of life the mage had lived. The mage’s strong mental fortitude, his cheerfulness, and his solemn attitude even in the face of death might be possible only because he was part of a terrorist organization.

Renock could accept that such a life and such values existed, but he had no intention of respecting them.

Hum!!

He channeled his magic power and thrust it into the mage’s mouth. The intense, unbroken stream of magic power penetrated deep into the mage’s body, making his blood-soaked face tremble.

He grabbed and twisted the source of the magic power flowing within the mage’s body.

It had been a long time since he used magic interference. This time, he was interfering with two streams of magic power simultaneously.

His powerful magic manipulation skills, honed through steady research, and his incredibly high magic perception reacted simultaneously, giving Renock complete control over all the mage’s magic power in an instant.

Theoretically, this was like holding a person’s entire existence in his hand.

Regardless of the growth of the magic Renock used, his magic manipulation skills were reaching a realm he himself couldn’t fully understand.

A vague confidence in distinguishing what he could and couldn’t do, and a growing belief in what he could accomplish.

His dominance, built on innate talent, was now entwining even the roots of mages at a similar level.

“Ugh, ugh...”

The mage’s magic power, essential for his existence, was completely seized.

He must feel as if his entire being, from head to toe, is in someone else’s hands.

The mage’s eyes, wide open in disbelief at what was happening to him, met Renock’s gaze.

While his vision blurred, the mage’s eyes searched for Renock’s face. Renock spoke softly.

“Have you lied since you entered this room?”

“...”

“Now.”

A moment of silence.

And then, the flame of life burning brightly at the threshold of death.

With a clearer gaze than ever, the mage slowly nodded, looking up at Renock.

“This... was magic.”

“...”

“Ah, Master...”

Renock closed his eyes.

Crack!!

A shadow shook violently, and another life fell to Renock’s hands.

Adjusting his coat, Renock left the small room and said to Hina,

“The next contact will be after the assembly point is set.”

“...Of course.”