Several days had elapsed since Aris's encounter began to take on a new significance.
True to their promise, Panua not only handed over the artifact to Lennok but also granted him nurous benefits due to their failure in the operation.
A substantial amount of money had poured into Lennok's account, which had previously held a re 20 million cells, sufficient to acquire another Stemmonia.
Lennok desired to purchase another one as a backup imdiately, but things did not unfold as he had hoped.
Even with an abundance of wealth, it is futile if the items are not available at the auction.
Ultimately, he must strive for a higher position than the current one to avoid squandering that fortune.
A week later, Lennok returned to the Dyke headquarters where the negotiations had taken place.
"Hello, my na is Manya House, and I have been assigned to assist Mr. Van for this operation," greeted a remarkably youthful-looking officer with an impassive expression.
"As you may have heard from Team Leader Panua, there will be a test today to select the mbers of this project. During this process, Mr. Van, you will evaluate and filter out candidates who are deed unqualified."
She presented Lennok with a small shopping bag, holding it out with both hands. Upon inspecting its contents, he found an ordinary suit that officers might typically wear.
"It's not custom-made, but the size should fit you well enough. It should enable you to blend in naturally with the other officers."
Lennok compliantly changed into the suit, concurring with Manya's assertion that there was no need to stand out.
He unfastened the top button of the tight shirt and loosely adjusted the narrow necktie, but Manya made no comnt about it.
"This suit is directly distributed by the company and is highly elastic and durable, so it serves as a form of self-defense. Unless you have any particular aversion to it, I recomnd matching your attire for future operations."
"Because I shouldn't draw attention?"
"Because the other team mbers selected this ti can potentially be replaced for your life."
Manya nonchalantly uttered these unsettling words and turned away.
Despite her youthful appearance, she possessed a sharp and pragmatic mindset.
Lennok smirked and promptly followed her lead.
They boarded a fast-moving elevator, descending to the basent of the building.
They traversed the underground parking lot designated for employees and executives, descending further still.
Manya began to speak while gazing into the pitch-black darkness reflected beyond the glass window.
"A significant amount of lobbying money was allocated to the city governnt to secure the basent space at the headquarters. Great efforts were made to secure the route that should have been taken by the subway."
"What?"
"We have already determined that we unquestionably require the assistance of Mr. Van, the wizard, to succeed in this project. It wouldn't be a bad business move if we can address the criticisms and gain trust."
Manya's unflinching response bore a resemblance to the rational wizards in certain aspects.
Was Panua aware of her nature and deliberately assigned her to Lennok?
As these fleeting thoughts crossed his mind, the elevator halted, and the doors opened.
They proceeded through a hallway illuminated by cold tallic light and crossed an arch-shaped bridge, revealing a colossal cavity below.
A rough-hewn structure resembling an expansive space had been excavated, with lighting fixtures affixed overhead.
The floor was paved with solid concrete, and a podium had been set up in one corner. Apart from construction equipnt, the empty space only housed several individuals bustling about, bringing and arranging various topographical features.
By observing Killian, who was overseeing the work at the forefront, Lennok's eyebrows twitched.
"What is all this?"
"They are establishing a temporary facility to assess the candidates. Killian personally took charge and brought the necessary materials."
"Killian?"
He had always perceived Killian as a troublemaker who instigated fights everywhere, but now he realized that Killian was capable of such work as well. Moreover, the structures they were installing appeared remarkably well-crafted, which was even more surprising.
Upon hearing Lennok's comnt, Manya, sensing the sentint behind his words, glanced back at him and spoke again.
"Killian holds a high warrior rank among the Werewolves. As such, he is well-versed in evaluating warriors through physical training. This physical test falls entirely under his jurisdiction."
"Warrior rank, huh…"
Lennok knew that werewolves lived in tribal societies during their early years, but he never expected to encounter that terminology here.
He looked down at the lively green-haired man with newfound curiosity. The ntion of his rank implied that Killian possessed a purity of werewolf blood that surpassed even Guile's.
As they conversed, they descended the spiral staircase and reached the bottom of the cavity, approaching Killian.
Killian, who had been maneuvering structures with other staff, turned his head upon noticing Manya's presence.
"The esteed wizard is here. Have you cooled down a bit?" he asked.
"As much as you guys ssed up," Lennok replied coldly, causing an imdiate hush to fall over the scene.
The other Dyke employees were also aware of Lennok's identity and quickly beca discreet.
Killian, with a wry smile, failed to engage in an unnecessary argunt. "You truly don't miss a beat. I also regret what happened with the operation."
Silence hung in the air as Lennok remained silent.
"But isn't the fact that you're here an opportunity for us to work well together? To prevent such mishaps from occurring again, we're making efforts on our end too."
"I'll have to see that for myself."
"Of course. What we're preparing here… you could say it's the minimum requirent. To safeguard our wizard, don't we need a good setup?"
The ongoing test was the result of restructuring the project around Lennok.
Lennok keenly felt that Panua had steeled her resolve and placed her bet.
It seed like a way of handling the project, entrusting its direction entirely to Lennok's abilities.
The display of power Lennok had shown at the port seed to have left a significant impression on the Dyke employees.
‘It doesn't matter. Such thoughts are not important.'
After a brief conversation with Killian, Lennok took a seat at the edge of the cavity, observing the unfolding situation.
Without uttering a word, Manya stood behind him, silently observing the scene below.
Once the structures designed to test various situation-handling abilities were in place, Panua appeared in the cavity.
She was engrossed in her phone, glancing around as she spoke.
Spotting Killian, she approached him imdiately, firing off words that made him awkwardly scratch his chin.
The other employees following her efficiently set up a tent nearby, erected a fence, and brought in various asuring equipnt.
Later, the elevator doors opened, and a group of individuals led by more employees started entering the cavity.
These must be the candidates personally selected by Panua for this plan.
Lennok keenly observed the group of approximately twenty people.
His emitted mana carried a distinct direction, exerting pressure on the candidates' shoulders.
Whoooom!
At the sa ti, his gaze swiftly scanned the surroundings, observing those who reacted.
Four people turned their heads in surprise, while five seed to have noticed sothing.
And exactly three individuals turned their gaze toward Lennok.
‘There are at least three decent mana users… Not bad.'
Panua had indeed selected candidates of higher caliber than Lennok had anticipated.
A faint smile appeared at the corners of Lennok's mouth.
"…Mr. Wizard, are you already starting?" Manya asked, belatedly realizing the activation of Lennok's mana.
"Hm?" Lennok turned his head slightly in surprise.
"Did you notice?"
"I could sense that you were using mana."
Manya lowered her head slightly with an awkward expression.
"I would appreciate it if you refrained from influencing the candidates before the completion of the physical test. We have very strict confidentiality conditions here, and they are likely to be quite sensitive."
Lennok nodded vaguely at Manya's words, but that wasn't what surprised him.
He was astonished by Manya's responsiveness, as she belatedly noticed the energy of his mana that he hadn't directed towards her and checked its direction.
Considering that none of the other candidates moving around had noticed Lennok's mana until it pressed down on their shoulders, it was undoubtedly a rare talent.
"Have you learned any specific magic or rituals?" Lennok asked out of curiosity.
"I am not participating in the combat part of the plan…"
"I'm just curious."
Reluctantly, Manya replied, "I've learned a little bit of color-sensing magic a long ti ago. It won't be of much help now."
"I see…"
‘Color-sensing magic, huh…'
Encountering wizards with such abilities always reminded Lennok of the face of the "Great Seer."
The clue to the word "Alcaid" that the Great Seer had ntioned still eluded him.
For now, he had made progress in his conversation with Aris, so he should cautiously approach the topic using her connections.
But that was a matter for another ti.
anwhile, the candidates had lined up in front of the stage, and Panua, standing at the front, began to speak.
"Nice to et you. I am Panua, the head of Dyke's planning team. We've already had individual interviews once before."
Silence greeted her words.
Panua continued without expecting a response, "As I ntioned earlier, this test is conducted to select the most suitable personnel for the company's projects. We will provide an advance paynt and success fee to those selected as team mbers."
The eyes of the candidates imdiately shifted as the topic of compensation arose.
If the freelancers gathered from various backgrounds had such reactions, it ant that Panua had endured significant losses without looking back.
"We plan to select mbers through two stages: a physical test and a personal test. Killian will oversee the physical test, while a wizard we have contacted will handle the personal test."
As Panua spoke, Lennok felt the surreptitious glances directed toward him from those in the audience.
Sharp and sensitive emotions flowed through without filtration.
It was a direct projection of their displeasure towards the examiners evaluating them.
Unlike Killian's savage aura, Lennok appeared as an ordinary young man on the surface, making it sowhat natural.
If he intended to hide his mana, no one here would notice.
As Panua finished speaking, other employees swiftly guided the candidates.
From the looks of it, all the test processes had already been designed, and the procedure would incorporate the opinions of Killian and Lennok to so extent.
The first stage began with a light assessnt of basic physical abilities.
Strength, agility, stamina, mana quantity and responsiveness, and control ability were asured, with other employees standing nearby recording the values.
As Lennok observed the process, his gaze beca fixed on one particular woman amidst the candidates.
She had an air of ticulousness, with tightly tied back black hair.
Externally, she appeared ordinary, but Lennok sensed sothing peculiar in the mana emanating from her during the mana asurent.
There was an eerie artificiality to her cold mana, devoid of human warmth… It was undoubtedly the sa kind he had encountered sowhere before.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Reviews
All reviews (0)