Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 023
Chapter Title: Bloodline
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Only then did Joseph snap out of it and bark out orders.
"Request the CBRN decontamination team from headquarters right now. No rushing into the hideout until the decon is complete."
"Yes, sir!"
The gas was probably heavy enough that everywhere except the lower floors was safe, but they couldn't take chances.
Meanwhile, Joseph was busy swallowing the chill surging up inside him.
'No way... multiple elements...!'
If that bizarre spell that obliterated the chimeras was a wind-element one, then Kyle Clark was a mage wielding lightning, fire, and wind—three attributes in total.
On top of that, he had the skill to control mana at a deadly poison level.
'He really is from the Magic Tower...!'
But it couldn't be just that.
No matter how powerful the Magic Tower's hidden strengths were, multiple elements beyond dual ones was a whole different story.
Right then, that photo from before flashed through Joseph's mind.
'...Mary Fleetwood.'
He recalled how Kyle Clark had made contact with the Magic Tower Lord's granddaughter while undercover not long ago.
'And as far as I know, the only one confirmed to handle three or more elements at the Tower is the Lord himself...'
The moment that thought hit him, goosebumps prickled across Joseph's skin.
'No, no way. I suspected, but...'
He stared at the screen filled with static noise.
'Is he really of the Tower Lord's bloodline?'
Of course, even Joseph had to admit that was a wildly presumptuous assumption.
The once-in-a-generation genius who inherited the Tower Lord's talent, wandering the 8th Special District before ending up in a penal unit? What nonsense was that?
Yet nothing else explained his abilities.
Joseph let out a quiet groan.
'But if by some slim chance it's true...'
What the hell had happened at the Magic Tower for the Lord's own blood to abandon it and wander the mortal world?
As his hidden curiosity deepened, Lyn Yenitz was reeling from a different kind of shock.
Kyle's impressive magic skills were shocking enough, but that wasn't all.
'...This confirms it.'
The reason he'd survived inhaling mana at lethal poison concentrations without dying.
Victor Menshov seemed to think he'd simply controlled the high-density mana exposure, but Lyn saw it differently.
'It's just his anti-mana constitution making it ineffective...!'
With a body that resisted external mana, toxic gas like that wouldn't faze him.
She pressed her forehead.
'I've been denying it because it seemed too absurd...'
But if that was the only explanation, she had to accept it.
Take that Marshall Family butler, for instance.
'Why else would a butler from there care about prisoner 43471?'
If he was a bastard of the Luther Family, it all made sense.
Otherwise, there was no reason for the Luthers' close allies, the Marshall Family, to single out one convict for sponsorship.
Still, questions lingered.
'...Why did Luther abandon his own bloodline in the 8th Special District?'
Because he was a mage?
Current Mayor Luther certainly despised the Magic Tower—hated it, even.
Despite their immense power and indifference to worldly affairs, the Tower was protected within Dun City's walls solely because they'd helped build the city long ago.
Naturally, he wasn't fond of magic either.
'But that's a weak reason.'
Kyle Clark had learned magic, after all.
And no matter how genius he was, Lyn doubted he'd awakened such advanced spells without the Tower's help.
That meant Luther had sent his bloodline there at some point.
'Yeah, no way the famously bloodline-obsessed Luther would discard his heir over something like magic.'
Hell, he'd probably just seal off their magic instead.
'If he'd truly abandoned him, would the Marshall Family even bother helping Kyle Clark?'
She shook her head.
No way.
'...There's some political reason outsiders can't know about.'
A political motive forcing him to hide his Luther bloodline under the alias Clark.
Lyn's eyes narrowed.
'What the hell is going on in the Luther Family?'
Right then—clap! Clap! Clap!—applause echoed through the command room.
Everyone turned to see Councilman Martin Rockton leaning back in a fancy chair, clapping leisurely.
"Excellent. Truly excellent."
He clapped a couple more times before standing.
"Captain Joseph. You were holding back an ace like that?"
Joseph and Yenitz exchanged quick glances.
He cleared his throat softly and replied.
"We always have a Plan B."
"Hahaha! There was a moment I wondered if we'd fail, but... this makes our historic first sweep a success, right? Congratulations, Captain."
"Thank you, sir."
Rockton approached and placed a hand on Joseph's shoulder.
"I don't know much about magic, but I hear multi-element mages are pretty rare."
"...Yes, they are."
"And you put a collar on one that skilled."
"......"
He pulled Joseph aside and continued.
"But... don't heretics like that usually get sealed in special prisons instead of penal units?"
"Well..."
Joseph swallowed hard.
"We didn't know he was a mage at first recruitment. It only came out after transfer procedures were done."
"No, no, I'm not blaming you. It's not strictly legislated anyway. Just... most can't be controlled even with bomb collars. Plus, there's the Tower to consider."
Not every inmate could be used in a penal unit.
As a rushed project, it had tons of restrictions, and the Audit Bureau prioritized controllability over combat prowess.
That was why 141 was ultimately just cannon fodder.
In that sense, Kyle Clark was exceptional.
Skilled, no notorious warrant, and mentally stable per eval.
"So how'd you get him so cooperative?"
"We didn't do much. He just strongly desires citizenship..."
"Ho ho. Interesting. A heretic mage that powerful wants Dun City citizenship."
With his skills, he could live comfortably anywhere in the 8th District.
Rockton's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Even with citizenship, settling into a proper admin district takes resources. You handling that side?"
Joseph glanced around before nodding.
"Yes. We're helping set up some financial groundwork for smooth societal integration post-citizenship."
"My, my. Will that suffice? He has a long road ahead. Doesn't he deserve better treatment?"
Joseph tried reading Rockton's intentions.
'Wasn't Councilman Rockton skeptical about this project from the start?'
He'd favored deploying the military to raze the 8th District outright.
He'd only acquiesced due to Luther's push.
"Sorry, but what do you mean...?"
"Straight to the point."
Rockton clicked his tongue briefly.
"No alternatives left to fix the 8th District besides this project."
"Pardon...?"
"Border situation's gone south."
"...!!"
Joseph flinched.
"Get it? Even Parliament's dropped the military deployment talk for the 8th. No more leeway. But to keep society running—and a strong army—we need astronomical magic stones."
He pulled out a cigar in frustration and stuck it in his mouth.
Joseph quickly lit it with his lighter.
The councilman exhaled thick smoke and continued.
"Magic stone prices will skyrocket from the second half of this year. Imports drop next year. But Dun City needs more than now. Understand?"
"You mean..."
"Cooperative powerhouses like him are crucial now."
"!!"
Rockton patted the captain's shoulder.
"Expect bolstered support for your team. Discussions on beefing up 141's forces too. Hm, task force centered on him wouldn't be bad."
The councilman pointed at the main monitor with his cigar.
"He's a role model, so keep close tabs. Find out his post-citizenship plans. Improve his accommodations. We'll fund whatever he needs."
He flicked ash and emphasized.
"Intel Agency'll move soon to accelerate the project. You'll need more from him and similar inmates then. Got it?"
Joseph nodded gravely.
"Yes, sir."
Rockton patted his shoulder with a smirk.
"And... let's set up a private meeting sometime."
"...Pardon?"
The councilman blew acrid smoke.
"For the project, I've got the perfect job for him."
"!!"
That afternoon, after decon wrapped up.
After handing over the unconscious Menshov and barely escaping the hideout, I boarded the chopper back to the cell block.
That's when the usual messages popped up before my eyes.
+ All Stats +Additional Boost
I waited for one more message.
If I was right, another one should pop up here.
After a brief silence, the words I'd hoped for appeared.
'Yes!'
I clenched my fist without thinking.
As expected, even if it wasn't an enemy magic artifact, dying from using it raised the related skill's comprehension.
'Now the issue is getting magic artifacts more easily...'
But that wasn't solvable by worrying now.
'Right, new skill first.'
I focused on the lightning skill tree floating before me.
Since acquiring [Bolt Pulse] last time, it split into three branches.
One was [Electric Barrier].
A defense spell using an electric field—seemed like a defense tree.
'Not much use for me.'
Another looked like traps.
'Useful, but not urgent.'
True, it wasn't top priority right now.
'Honestly, I need ranged skills most.'
All my acquired skills—[Lowest Bolt], [Bolt Pulse], [Flame Ring]—had ended up close-range somehow.
Causing all sorts of inconveniences.
So I eyed the final branch.
It was ranged, exactly what I wanted.
But what really caught my eye was the "additional mana charging increases" part.
'...Doesn't this mean I can charge it infinitely?'
I didn't have much innate mana, sure.
That was why [Bolt Pulse] twisted my guts and drained life force.
'But I'm immortal.'
A tiny mana pool, but I could pour it out endlessly.
Die and revive, everything reset.
'Theoretically, I could launch an extra-large thunder spear.'
It worked with Baal's Minor Curse, so probably here too.
I selected [Thunder Bolt].
[Thunder Bolt] Acquired
[Lightning Mana Comprehension Increased]
[Lightning Stake]
After charging, slams down a powerful lightning stake. Longer mana charge boosts armor penetration and power.
'Oh, another charge-up skill.'
I wondered if lightning magic favored these types when—
"Kyle Clark?"
I turned at the pleasant alto voice and froze.
Standing at the open hatch was a stunning woman with short hair that suited her icy demeanor perfectly.
Instinct nearly made me step back as I asked.
"Uh... who are you?"
"Nice to meet you."
She brushed hair behind her ear with a charming eye smile and offered her hand.
"I'm Lyn Yenitz, Grade 3 Inspector from the Central City Hall Administrative Audit Bureau."
Meanwhile, as Lyn Yenitz and Kyle Clark shook hands.
The officer who'd boarded the chopper with me silently closed the window.
At a glance, a utterly ordinary face with a jaw beard.
But as he entered the cockpit, it morphed into another man's entirely.
Pale, bloodless skin. Crimson eyes.
And razor-sharp fangs.
He muttered into the air.
"Yes, Gamlong."
His serpentine gaze slid back to Kyle Clark.
"Found the bastard."
Far away, Gamlong of the Baal Cult—wearing a wooden mask—curled his lips.
"Prepare yourself. I'll grant it personally."
To the false proxy the priest had created.
"The most horrific, agonizing... death curse in this world."
His repulsive laughter echoed into the darkness.