26 – Project (1)
“…”
Lian slowly lifted his eyelids. A unfamiliar ceiling. Judging by the syringe in his arm, it seems he fell asleep in a sickroom.
“If you’re going to pull it, do it in 5 minutes.”
Lian turned his head towards the direction from which the voice came. A middle-aged man in a doctor’s gown was approaching this way.
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“I prescribed a medication to slow down blood circulation. You might feel dizzy, but it shouldn’t cause any problems in your arms or internal organs.”
“…Is that so?”
“That’s one thing, but your overall nutritional condition seems seriously compromised. It’s at a level not much different from the street urchins roaming the back alleys. I know mercenaries tend to be tough on their bodies in general, but you seem to be quite extreme.”
“….”
He thought he was taking care of himself fairly well. Apparently not.
The doctor, staring at Lian with a dry gaze, spoke.
“I’ll recommend a few easily consumable nutritional supplements.”
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks. After all, I’m doing this for money.”
Lian didn’t ask who he received money from.
In the spacious hospital room, there was only one patient – Lian. Even though it’s located in the outskirts, it didn’t make sense to have so few patients.
The meaning behind this was clear.
“Is this hospital being operated secretly?”
Thinking back to Muller’s words, who was well-liked in the La Place Mercenary Unit, he probably lobbied for a considerable amount of money to manipulate the doctors.
“It might be a private hospital, for all we know.”
Either way, considering the status of the La Place Mercenary Unit, it wasn’t a strange affair at all.
*Squeak.*
“The treatment ends with this. Whenever you have time, discharge yourself.”
The middle-aged man disappeared after delivering his message.
His attitude, not showing more than a certain level of interest in the patient, was gladly welcomed by Lian.
It was akin to wanting to erase what happened in the hospital from memory.
“I understand why mercenaries favor it.”
There must be a few mercenaries with unusual constitutions or those wanting to conceal personal information.
After five minutes, Lian, who had removed the acupuncture needle, moved his arm, repeatedly making a fist and opening it. As if confirming that there were no side effects, there was no slightest sense of discomfort.
Wearing his clothes hastily, Lian immediately stepped out of the hospital.
Heading straight to 7th Street where the antique shop was located.
He suddenly stopped.
“…”
The crowd bustling as if in the lawless eastern sector.
In the midst of it, he sensed a burning stench.
[Would you like to board?]
Lian released his hand from the unmanned taxi handle and walked into the crowd.
“I couldn’t believe it, but that deadlock crumbled overnight.”
“…How many gangs have been destroyed just this month?”
The words of onlookers brushed against his ears.
Lian listened to such conversations and raised his gaze.
There, a completely ruined building stood. It seemed the fire had not long ago engulfed it; the building still emitted dense smoke.
“It’s an extremely high-level heat magic. I don’t know who it is, but it’s a chilling skill.”
“The losses of the Partisans won’t be insignificant.”
“…It’s a war. That’s for sure. Some crazy bastard has declared it.”
Among the passersby watching, there were also discerning mercenaries.
The Partisans. It was a name that Lian, who had only opened his eyes in this world less than a month ago, had heard of before.
Were they one of the large gangs that dominated the outskirts sector?
Partisans, Red Moon, and Black Society.
They were the forces that divided Tulas’ underworld into thirds.
“So they’re fighting for power.”
The gangs in this city operated differently from the large gangs they had faced in their past lives.
The government even had to tolerate them, to the extent of relinquishing control over the outer wall zone.
“It’s something unimaginable in my past life.”
It meant that the power the large gangs possessed was so strong that it couldn’t be controlled by the authorities.
Lian didn’t know about other things, but he understood that there would be frequent power struggles under the guise of escort requests.
Quietly, Lian bit his tongue. It was because he didn’t want to get involved in such a big game immediately after being recognized as an official member.
After watching the scene for a while, Lian headed straight to the junk shop.
*****
Temporary branch of the La Place Mercenary Corps.
Three men and women were sitting in a circular formation in a place that seemed like a meeting room. There were many vacant seats, but no one showed any sign of leaving.
“We will conclude today’s officer meeting here. Does anyone have anything else to say?”
In response to Jason’s question, a man in a black robe silently raised his head.
Assassin-like attire.
The various scars on the man’s hands immediately revealed the life he had lived.
-Swish.
Haram, without a word, stared at the man rising from his seat with a sidelong glance.
“Just leaving? Didn’t come to join us?”
[…I was originally just a messenger.]
“Well, if you had plans to join, you would have come with the commander from the beginning.”
Haram chuckled and patted the man’s shoulder.
“Take care. Send regards to the commander.”
[…Will do.]
With that, the man spoke and concealed himself in the shadows.
Tsutsutsu…
A strange sight of a human body being sucked into the shadows. But no one was surprised.
To be astonished at this level, everyone had seen and experienced too much.
‘I wonder if I can’t rely on the commander’s help this time either.’
Jason inwardly clicked his tongue.
While he had expected Laplace’s absence, hearing the fact directly still left a bitter taste.
Even if he had just expressed his intention to participate, the odds would have significantly increased.
Of course, it wouldn’t have been a problem. From the start, the operation was planned under the assumption of Laplace’s absence.
“Jason, I have something I want to ask.”
“Speak.”
Harang, staggering, sat across from Jason.
“Well… there’s Lian, you know. Do we really have to involve him in this operation?”
“…What’s this all of a sudden?”
Lian had completed all the procedures to become an official member after finishing the mission with Muler.
Even considering Harang as a sniper, it was an overly rapid pace. Rumors circulated among the members that the officers favored Lian.
Of course, Jason’s inquiry wasn’t merely due to such a reason.
Lian.
Literally, a physically gifted individual who had reached the 4th rank in the blink of an eye.
A boy who had penetrated the true intentions of the La Place Mercenaries in a hideout even large gangs couldn’t discover, coming with news in an instant.
His insight was eerie enough to see through the opponent’s emotions. Not only that, but he also saw through Jason’s weaknesses, unknown even to other officers.
“I’ve been introduced by Dionne.”
If they had sent a high-ranking ability user, it wouldn’t have been this frustrating. Suppressing with force would have sufficed.
However…
Instead of sending a high-ranking ability user, they sent a young boy.
At the tender age of 10, a genius who had reached the 4th rank.
A presence destined to take on significant responsibilities someday.
“I won’t directly interfere. My main purpose is to observe how the project progresses.”
That was why Jason avoided interfering with Lian as much as possible.
If things went awry, the entire project could collapse, and the mercenary corps could face annihilation.
“I’m not suggesting excluding them altogether. I’m well aware of the nature of the mercenary industry.”
“Just get to the point.”
“So… let’s redirect it in a direction that presents other requests. Not dealing with large gang factions.”
After a brief pause, Jason spoke up.
“…Did Lian ask you to say that to me?”
“What?! Why would I say something like that based on nothing?”
“Never mind then.”
Watching Jason exhale a shallow sigh, Harang clenched his jaw.
Certainly, there was something else he didn’t know, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
‘Even if I ask, he won’t give me an answer.’
That’s just the way Jason is.
“I understand your opinion for now. However… it’s probably best to hear the person’s opinion first.”
“…He’ll definitely agree to it.”
“Well, it’s still uncertain.”
Although he said that, Jason was halfway convinced.
Lian would definitely participate in this project.
Whoosh! – At the same time, a familiar magic power registered in Jason’s magic detection ability. It was Lian.
“It seems he just arrived.”
“…….”
Harang’s gaze naturally drifted outside the door.
What should she do?
“…I can’t just leave it to Jason.”
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After a moment of contemplation, she abruptly stood up. In the first place, she wasn’t the type to groan and complain in one spot.
Just plunge ahead.
Determined, Harang rose from her seat.
“You wait here. I’ll handle the explanation.”
“What’s this all of a sudden-.”
Before the sentence could finish.
Thud!
Harang closed the conference room door and vanished.