The Road to Rank 4
The Road to Rank 4
Meredith unlocks the metal box.
Inside, there was a syringe and a glass bottle that seemed to be about 5ml, with a diagonal lattice pattern decoration on one side of the glass bottle.
Ellen, who had been watching from beside Max, recognized the item at once. Her face showed a hint of surprise.
"It's a gift from the Association President-nim to an association member who has solved difficult requests in succession."
"What is this?"
"It's an enhancer called Diamond Spike."
"This is the first time I've heard of an enhancer with such a grandiose name."
"Heulheul... It's certainly not a common item."
It was an item outside Max's knowledge. Meaning it's not an enhancer circulating in the market. He didn't know its effects or its value.
"That's a question you'd ask a child, but since our young friend is a mage, you know well where magical power accumulates."
"The heart."
"That's right. This is a liquid metal that coats that heart to expand its capacity and increase magical power. It's a shame that using it consecutively after the coating is complete has no effect."
The fact that it cannot be used multiple times on the same person was the same as the Genesis Bio Solution that Max had purchased through a broker.
Above all, the mention of increasing magical power piqued his interest. Because that was the area where Max's thirst was greatest.
"It sounds like a precious item just from hearing about it."
"Of course, of course. Ellen Clements-nim will know this item well. Would you like to see if it's genuine?"
Ellen approached and picked up the item without hesitation. She turned it this way and that to inspect it, and infused it with magical power to check the reaction. Finally, she touched the holographic lattice pattern to verify the unique number.
"It's genuine."
"Heoheo, as expected, your appraisal is quick."
"Halbae. Where did you get this?"
"When you live to this age, you'll have opportunities to obtain such items."
Ellen stopped pressing and sat down. Because a Magic Family like Clements possesses such items in large quantities. For now, she just intended to watch between Max and the Association President.
"Now, it's a gift for our mage friend."
The Association President pushed the bag for him to take it, but Max didn't reach out. Because accepting something like this in Haze without caution would be insane.
"Association President-nim. I have already received full payment for the job. Is this truly just a gift?"
"Is it too heavy?"
"If you had given me just 1 credit in the same manner, I would have asked the same question."
"Kkeulkkeul... Good attitude. Mercenary is your true calling."
"And there are still things to discuss, aren't there? I thought your main job at the Association President-nim was as a fortune teller."
"Seeing the outlines of fate is merely a hobby. In the upper districts, you can't even buy a meal with 10,000 credits."
"If you gather customers by pointing a gun barrel, you might earn quite a bit..."
When they revealed their acquaintance, Ellen and Meredith rolled their eyes.
The Association President laughed heartily and continued the conversation.
"At that time, I wanted to somehow hold onto your leg. I became greedy and used rough methods."
"Why did you want to hold onto me?"
From the perspective of a regressor, this was a very important issue. If it were his previous life, he would have lightly ignored it, but now he couldn't help but be concerned about a person who spoke as if they knew everything about the outlines of fate.
"First, let me make one thing clear: meeting you that day was a coincidence. Fortune telling has similarities to magic; if you keep your hands off it for too long, it fades away. So I tour various districts and periodically play the fortune teller."
"I'll ask again. Why did you hold onto me then?"
When Max showed an attitude of pressing the Association President, the bodyguard Ludwig twitched. The Association President raised his hand to stop him. Far from being displeased, he found Max's attitude amusing.
'He's not bluffing by relying on the background of Clements or Crimsonhowl.'
Beyond his skill of having reached from 1st rank to 3rd rank in such a short time, his mental state was interesting. Having served as Association President, he had met all sorts of people, and while mages have their unique aspects, this type was a first.
"There was an energy hanging loosely that was corroding and gnawing at the life thread, yet the path ahead was brilliantly open. The contradiction was so bizarre that I couldn't take my eyes off it. I wanted to see the face of what kind of guy you were."
Max did his utmost not to show any expression.
'This old fortune teller... He's no quack.'
It seemed good to show ignorance with an ambiguous attitude. At moments like this, there's no better shield than ignorance.
"It's hard to understand what you mean. I don't like vague expressions because I'm not bright."
"This old man also finds it difficult to explain further. I merely recite what I see."
"According to your words, does that mean I have a death face?"
"No. From the first time we met, you were forcibly holding onto causality that should have been severed. It seems your fate is tougher than a whale's sinew—a great providence tried to devour you but was broken by its own nature and left."
Is that how a regressor looks in the eyes of a genuine fortune teller?
Max's curiosity continued unabated. Because he didn't think he was the only special one.
"Are there any cases like mine?"
"It's the first. There hasn't been anyone even similar until now."
"Well... I'm not one to believe in fortune or fate, but your kind words make me feel good. Being a mercenary is a job where toughness is important."
"Indeed! That's right."
"Then, was it also you, Association President-nim, who nominated me for the Gaia Food job?"
"It wasn't entirely my own intention, but I was the one who made the proposal."
"Why?"
"To you, who says you don't believe in fate, if the visible flow was like that, can you accept it?"
"Umm..."
Max didn't answer readily and closed his mouth. Because he detested being asked to accept something with words that had no evidence to prove it.
The longer the conversation that required focus went on, the more he felt the urge to bite on a lollipop.
A timely assist followed.
"Oppa. Say aah~"
As if his expression had shown it, Ellen peeled a lollipop and pushed it into his mouth.
The Association President's party was startled and frozen by Ellen's action. The fact that Ellen Clements would do such a thing caused cognitive dissonance.
But from Max's perspective, what a perfect move this was. Even if it wasn't polite behavior, if Ellen fed him, no one could say anything.
Plus, melon flavor? Insane sense.
"Thanks to you, I've risen to 3rd rank, so I'll accept it."
"...Good, good. The progress is fast."
The Association President, having put Ellen's action out of his mind, nodded in satisfaction and picked up a paper cup. He drank water to chase away dryness and got to the main point.
"Returning to the main point, my intention in giving you this item is simple."
"Please, tell me."
"Half is my position as the Mercenary Association President who wants to sponsor a mage with a bright future. The other half is a request to prioritize future nominated requests over others. Of course, I'll also provide reliable personnel to support you."
The content was insufficient to erase Max's doubts. Even if his mouth watered over the gift, he shouldn't accept it until he understood the beginning, development, and conclusion.
'What's fortunate is that Ellen is listening alongside me.'
If Ellen had heard, the Association President couldn't go back on his words later. He kept feeling that he had hired one good employee.
"The request you spoke of that needs prioritization... Is it something connected to Gaia Food?"
"Heuheoheo! You're very quick on the uptake."
Ellen, who had been listening quietly, flicked a small spark from her finger and interjected.
"Halbae. Is this story okay for me to hear? I hate talk about politics or tightrope walking."
"Of course, it's fine."
"You speak so refreshingly it's annoying."
"I would be grateful if you accept it as an expression that the Bohemian Mercenary Association has no intention of going against the Magic Family Clements."
"Hmm..."
Ellen waved her hand, telling him to continue the story.
The Association President bowed his head in thanks, then focused on Max again.
"Actually, I thought supporting with money would be ideal, but with current strength, the future isn't easy. And in Haze, even if you have money, the items a mercenary can obtain are limited."
"..."
"I'm valuing your growth speed very highly. Not to mention what follows a large-scale request."
From Max's view, the Association President was joining hands with an unknown client and targeting some corporation. Making such moves while asking to prioritize certain requests meant that he should belong to the same faction as the Association.
'Did I earn quite a bit of credit through the Gaia Food work?'
Max's mind quickly listed the information.
The fact that he wasn't hiding the conversation from Ellen, who was affiliated with Clements, and that Clements belonged to the founder of the Megacorp called Genesis Bio.
From the immediate information, it seemed that the enemy he had to deal with was not in this direction.
'There must be a mountain of things he hasn't told me yet. Even considering that...'
Of course, he didn't fully trust the current conversation.
But to the question of whether it would be okay? The answer came quickly.
'If there's any lie in what was said to Ellen, or if they try to antagonize Clements, the Bohemian Mercenary Association will be struck by lightning and disintegrate.'
The only 100% reliable information was that the Bohemian Mercenary Association had existed intact before the regression. Even if it was unknown internally, externally they hadn't done the insane act of creating friction with a Magic Family. Plus the fact that Ellen, like Flora, was a rare good-natured person in Haze.
"..."
He searched his memory thoroughly to see if he had missed anything.
Max, who had repeated his doubts to the point where someone opening his head would call it excessive, reached a conclusion.
'Even if the information has gaps here and there, there's a point it reaches.'
He accepted the metal box placed on the table.
"I will use it gratefully."
An unexpected opportunity.
The path to the 4th rank opened faster than expected.