Chapter 84

As Evelyn moved quickly, the tension in Raizen's movements, who had received the information, was no less intense.

It was as if the lie that he had been lying low until now was exposed, as he sent out dozens of individual troops almost daily beyond the city.

Freelancers, mercenary groups, gangs, and martial artists.

He didn’t care who they were as long as they could be hired with money and their loyalty could be guaranteed with a price.

There was even a pretext of searching for the terrorist organization's base, making it all the more perfect.

Renock was receiving detailed reports on all these movements through Hina.

[Actually, it’s not that difficult to observe Raizen’s movements from the side.]

“Sure, just hire a few freelancers and slip them into the ranks.”

[.........]

Hina, who had been momentarily speechless after Renock quickly figured it out, closed her mouth.

“Raizen and his secretariat won’t be unaware of this. The key will be to find the real base of Balshion among the mixed location information.”

Squeak...!!

While lighting a cigarette, Renock continued.

“The problem is that once Raizen sweeps through the temporary bases, he will start to suspect that the information about Balshion’s main base was intentionally omitted.”

[I believe you didn’t secretly listen to our meeting.]

It seemed that after working together for some time, Hina had learned how to make jokes.

With a chuckle, Renock replied to Hina’s jest.

“So, you’re taking the lead this time.”

Click...!

As she spoke, three men in black suits appeared behind Renock.

Hina O’Neill, who wore a longsword at her waist; a woman with blue pigtails who was blowing a bubble gum; and a thin middle-aged man with thick glasses.

Despite wearing the same uniform, each of them had a uniquely distinctive appearance.

To become an execution officer of the agency, did one need to have such a strong personality?

While Renock was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected visuals, the woman with pigtails walked up to him, chewing her gum.

“Hey, nice to meet you.”

“......”

“I heard you’ve been making a name for yourself in the back alleys lately. I’m Chaysha Arwell, from the Enforcement Division.”

“Niro Cohen.”

The man with glasses pushed them up and said.

“I’m a long-term sleeper. I hope we can work well together.”

As Renock stared at Hina, she finally sighed and said.

“I’m Hina O’Neill, temporarily transferred from the Planning Division. I’ll be participating in this operation directly.”

“I remember hearing that you didn’t perform well when we worked together last time.”

“It’s not a lie.”

Hina said this while rolling up her sleeve to show her thin, pale forearm.

Innumerable hieroglyphs, which even Renock couldn’t read, were densely etched around her wrist.

“At that time, I had no choice but to make some strange excuses, but now I can properly explain to Mr. Ban, who has come in as an external advisor.”

“......Wasn’t that a useless title Evelyn came up with on a whim?”

Hina lightly ignored Renock’s comment.

“Due to a congenital illness, I can’t work in harsh environments for long. That’s why I use a charm to bind my magic power and release it periodically to use it at work. This is why I frequently change departments.”

While she might think this was her first confession in this setting, Renock had already heard it from Evelyn, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

He was just surprised that she had decided to participate in this operation directly.

“To be honest, I still don’t understand.”

Niro, who had been looking at the two with a sullen expression, said.

“To treat just one magician so well... Is the title of external advisor so easily given?”

“.........”

“Old man, what the hell are you talking about?”

Even as Chaysha wiped her nose, Niro paid no attention.

“Anyone who has worked with us once must clearly define their stance. Either work comprehensively for the city, or swear never to interfere with our work... This man hasn’t done either.”

“Niro, that’s something Team Leader Marcia will decide.”

Niro shut his mouth at Hina’s sharp words but turned his head away, clearly displeased.

“Fine. Since you’re the ones who will be directly involved in the operation, I won’t stop you.”

Swish...

As he spoke, Niro’s body slowly blended into the surroundings and disappeared.

“I will only fulfill my duty as the vanguard.”

“..........”

Renock stared at the empty space where Niro had been.

The skill to erase not only his appearance but also his presence from Renock’s sight, who was constantly using magic detection, was too peculiar to be just a simple magic manipulation.

Perhaps it was a natural ability Niro Cohen was born with, or a special technique or device he had mastered.

Chaysha, who had been making a face, patted Renock’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much. He’s been working in the field for a long time, so his mind is a bit all over the place.”

If one had worked as an agent in this city, where countless human crowds were directly confronted, for a long time, it wouldn’t be strange to develop a distrust of humans.

However, Renock didn’t show any of these thoughts and silently stood up, shaking off his coat.

“Alright.”

Vroom!!

At the same time, a rough engine sound came from below.

At the foot of the hill where Renock had been sitting, dozens of freelancers on motorcycles were looking up at them.

The agency had arranged individual transportation for this operation.

“Ban! It’s time to go!”

At Chen’s shout, with her face wrapped in a muffler, Renock silently nodded and turned around.

The collaboration between the agency and the black magician against the terrorist organization.

The fourth operation, which he hoped would be the last, began.