Chapter 246
Chapter 246
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: Aftermath (2)
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Thud thud thud.
Brown powder sifted onto the floor with every step Oliver and Wallace took.
The brown powder was none other than blood.
It was what they'd been drenched in after falling into the pool of blood.
"...We look a mess."
"Yeah."
Wallace, who'd forcibly recovered some stamina, glanced at himself as he spoke. Oliver agreed. He wasn't fussy, but he did prefer cleanliness.
Before long, a massive metal door loomed ahead.
The sole entrance to the Chimera Lab. A closer look revealed a lever on the inside.
Entry required placing a hand on the metal door for fingerprint and mana flow authentication. Fortunately, exiting just meant pulling the lever.
Lucky. We can dodge a sticky situation.
Oliver scanned the crowd gathered outside through his black mage's eyes as he thought that.
Wallace placed his hand on the lever.
"One last check before we open. The World Tree—no issues?"
"Yes... At least from what I saw."
Oliver answered, recalling the moment he'd accessed the World Tree.
As the female black mages had said, the secret lab within the institute had been sealed off from the World Tree's gaze. The other floors had also been rigged not to leave records.
All but one.
One of the artificial Root Nets had secretly lurked, recording everything in the institute. Oliver had wiped it clean.
Within the scope of his abilities, traces were virtually nonexistent.
"Of course, my skills might've missed something."
Wallace paused, tilting his head in thought before replying.
"Well, could be... The World Tree's a young thing historically, so total mastery is impossible. But don't sweat it too much."
"Something tells me you wouldn't overlook a thing."
These weren't empty words of comfort—Wallace meant them sincerely.
No real basis for it, but he was convinced. Oliver found himself nodding, swayed by that certainty despite himself.
"Thanks."
"Alright, door's opening. Remember our lines?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
With that confirmation, Wallace yanked the lever. A heavy grinding rumble echoed as the massive metal slab split apart left and right. Fresh morning sunlight poured into the lab.
Followed by startled voices.
"What the fuck is this..."
***
In front of the Chimera Research Institute under the Life School.
Around twenty people had gathered there.
All mages—staff from nearby institutes.
They rarely mingled much, save a few exceptions, so gatherings like this were unheard of. But the inexplicable commotion last night had drawn them all here.
"What're you lot doing here?"
"Last night's racket. We're from the lab up top."
"Ah..."
"Felt like an earthquake. You guys didn't?"
"We sure did. That's why we're here."
"Damn. What the hell's going on in this backwater?"
"Tell me about it... Hey, no sign of that professor from the Magic Tower?"
"Professor? Didn't you hear? They sent a proxy staffer instead."
"Proxy? What the..."
Not close friends, but the confined space of Mountain Face fostered familiarity. Add the shared resentment of being sidelined in the Magic Tower's promotion game, and conversations flowed easily.
Most talk revolved around gripes and the previous night's disturbance.
And it hadn't been ordinary.
Earthquake-like shocks. Fierce rumbles from deep underground.
Hard enough to brush off on a normal day—especially coinciding with the missing persons reports. Each lab director had reacted sharply.
Hence dispatching junior staff to investigate.
Not that only juniors had come.
Sophie, director of the Herb Research Lab, had shown up personally.
"Hoo... Knight, what's your business here?"
She addressed the truck driver, who was hunkered quietly in the corner like a piece of furniture. A pipe spewing smoke dangled from one hand.
"Wil... No, at Mr. Xenon's request."
Xenon—the proxy for Kevin. Sophie remembered him.
"Request?"
"Yes. I dropped him off here last night."
Sophie caught the odd phrasing.
"You dropped Xenon here?"
"Yes."
"But you just arrived."
"He said he'd left something behind and asked me to fetch it. It was late, so he told me to crash overnight and come in the morning."
"So. Xenon stopped here last night. Dropped you off."
"Yes."
"Hmm... What item?"
As her questions turned probing, the driver hesitated—right when the groan of massive machinery sounded.
All eyes naturally turned. The crowd in front of the Chimera lab fixed their stares.
No response on the pagers—what had happened?
"What the fuck..."
One man blurted it out upon seeing the blood-soaked pair emerging from the parting doors.
Rude, sure. But given the sight, somewhat forgivable.
Suspicious researchers murmuring. Some prepping spells.
Oliver addressed them calmly, politely.
"We are absolutely not suspicious individuals."
Suspicious. Way suspicious.
Everyone thought it.
Just as someone seemed ready to act, Sophie cut in from her chat with the driver.
"You're Xenon, right?"
She stepped forward, puffing her pipe.
Everyone knew her—made way. Tension deflated.
Oliver, sensing the shift, greeted her warmly.
"Ah, yes. Director Sophie. Pleasure to meet you."
"I'm the surprised one. Thought you'd headed back to the village."
"I did. Ran into a Chimera lab researcher on the way—came here late."
"Fair enough. World's full of coincidences... But drenched head to toe in blood? That's no coincidence. Care to explain? Make it convincing?"
Researchers nodded agreement, eyes on Oliver.
Fair question. Highest rank here. She'd seamlessly become spokesperson.
More surprising: she'd orchestrated it.
No malice, though. She's trying to help.
Oliver, reading her emotions, thought.
Tap.
Wallace nudged his back—signal to proceed.
Oliver snapped to, focusing on the moment.
"Um... Explanation's a bit long. That okay?"
"Of course. You don't seem in a rush..."
Sophie replied. Consensus rippled. Oliver began.
***
"Crazy. No way..."
A researcher muttered midway through Oliver's tale.
He recoiled from the words, but Oliver stayed impassive.
"Sorry, it's the truth."
"Bullshit!"
Another yelled.
"Magic Tower—no, Life School lab—raided by one black mage? Cut the crap!!"
They rejected it outright. Absurd. Humiliating.
Understandable, in a way.
Self-mocking backwater or not, this was Magic Tower turf.
A lone black mage seizing it undetected? Beyond their reason, their pride.
To them, black mages were laughable posers.
I used to think the same...
Oliver pondered calming the agitated bunch when Sophie raised a hand, quieting them.
"Easy, everyone... Xenon. Proof? Black mage snuck in, took over the Chimera lab?"
"Yes."
The unflinching reply stunned the fired-up researchers into glares.
"Show you?"
"If you can."
Oliver produced a pocket watch-like device. Mana hummed faintly— no ordinary trinket.
"Ilmarinen Workshop recorder? Logs surroundings?"
"? Ah, yes."
"Valuable stuff. Impressive."
Sophie eyed him sharply. Oliver felt the edge but let it slide.
Instead, he deftly activated it. Silently, it dispersed mana particles, projecting a massive 3D hologram.
Could capture meters to dozens around the user—impressive range.
[Alright... Bite!]
The footage: right after Oliver and Wallace entered the Chimera lab.
A woman in outdoor gear spoke. Shadows fell. Guards around them roared beast-like, charging.
Researchers gasped names in shock.
"...Lena?"
"Reiss...?"
"Louis? Damn, what..."
Visibly rocked.
Obviously wrong.
Climax: Wallace's flaming longsword sheared off researcher Lena's arm.
Lena horrifically ripped her own shoulder free to douse the unquenchable blaze—then forged a new arm from blood.
Nothing mage-like. She even confessed her nature.
[Quick for a black mage. Any later, and you'd be toast.]
[No ordinary fixer, are you?]
[Lizard-tail regen... You're no run-of-the-mill black mage. Blood-based? Bathory Family?]
[Think we're black mages?]
[Nah. Filthy soul-sellers to devils. Heard the rumors—didn't expect to meet you here. Come to steal mage research data?]
[Heh. Heh. Clueless fool... [Lightning Chain]]
Researcher Lena—no, the black mage in disguise—admitted it. Footage cut.
Silence. Oliver scanned them.
"Anyone want another look?"
***
Afterward, Oliver recounted the rest of the Chimera lab events.
Skipping touchy bits like the Life School-Bathory Family collusion and secret experiments.
He credited Wallace with taking down Bathory.
Wallace's idea—truth would mean headaches. Oliver agreed.
Thus, he concealed his identity smoothly. No loose ends.
Researchers marveled at the fixer's feats but never suspected Oliver. Evidence had primed them.
Persuasion felt like dominoes. Nail the first, and the rest topple—even if shaky.
Not always.
"Impressive. Dropping Bathory solo. Underlings too."
Sophie eyed him ambiguously—Wallace? Oliver?
"Luck."
"More than luck."
Another barb from Sophie. No ill intent—she didn't press.
Others similar. Less courtesy, more ignorance of Bathory's rep.
Makes sense. Mages specialize. Research, combat, teaching...
A researcher cut in.
"Hey, fixer."
"Yes?"
"Which broker? Affiliation?"
"Why?"
"This ain't minor. Life School lab hit—big deal."
Sincere emotion. Wallace bored.
"...Point?"
"Need to verify you're legit. No offense—"
"—You're offending anyway."
Wallace sliced through. Pressure mounted; tension spiked.
"To answer: freelance fixer. Northin community mostly."
"Northins sticking together?"
Sophie tentative.
"Yeah. Need types like me. No guarantors there."
"Th-then—"
"—Won't wait for Magic Tower verification either."
"Why?"
"Simple. Free man. No right to stop me."
The researcher faltered.
"W-we hired you?!"
"He did. Not word games."
Wallace jabbed at Oliver. All stared—say something.
Oliver's reply was set.
"Job's done. Contract expired."
Cool as ice. Hands tied.
Wallace approved with a point, strode off.
Key moment now.
Prideful researchers blocked—then shrank under his gaze.
Wallace: true warrior. They: lab rats.
Some pleaded eyes at Sophie.
Accomplished mage?
Oliver watched her.
She shrugged.
"He's right. No right, no duty to stop him. That's your job."
Pointed Oliver.
Obvious truth. Pride blinded—now they parted. Wallace walked free.
Gazes shifted to Oliver.
"How'd you hire him?"
"Will disclose in Magic Tower report."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Courtesy to locals so far—no further obligation."
"Fair."
Sophie smiled, unperturbed.
"Gonna need a detailed report."
"Thanks for the concern."
With that, Oliver bowed slightly and departed. Time to head back to the Magic Tower.