Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Magic Genius with Korean Patch 39
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While Jeon was away in Silvermont.
Celleron had been directly managed by the Empire for over three months before the territory was granted to the Haswell family.
In the process, the city's name was changed to Haswell, and many aspects of the city underwent changes as well.
Changing leaders meant the entire structure, which had revolved around the previous one, was turned upside down.
Numerous factions that made up the city either collapsed from failing to adapt, or new ones emerged that adapted well.
Among them, the most representative figure who succeeded in adapting was Bolton.
During that turbulent time, he actively rallied small and medium-sized merchants into an alliance.
Leveraging the scale he built, he successfully brokered numerous deals, growing his influence and securing his position.
However, while some seized opportunities and rose quickly like that.
Others made rather extreme choices just to hold onto their existing positions.
The most prominent group among them was the Pentagram Mage Guild.
Right at that time, their guild master fell ill, shaking the guild's central pillar.
To somehow maintain their influence and size, they decided to recruit all sorts of riffraff into the guild.
As a result, they succeeded in preserving a certain scale and influence, but the quality of guild members plummeted.
Consequently, the guild's image hit rock bottom.
'That's why I kept rejecting their offers to keep working together.'
For that reason, Bolton had rejected and ignored the Pentagram Mage Guild's proposals to continue their partnership.
But right now.
Mages from that guild were kneeling in a row before his desk.
Of course, the one they knelt before, gazing up at, wasn't Bolton.
Standing in front of them was Jeon, a tall but still boyish teenager in his mid-teens.
"So, you're saying someone else deliberately planted you lot in the guild to trash its image even more, and you treat that guy like your big boss?"
"Y-yes, sir! That's right!"
"And that guy's currently acting like the owner of the guild?"
"Y-yes, sir! That's correct too!"
"Hmm. Tell me in detail about this big boss of yours."
Watching these hulking, fierce-looking thugs freeze at Jeon's words and answer his questions diligently, Bolton inwardly clicked his tongue in amazement.
'I knew he was impressive, but...'
When Jeon had left the merchant company.
Bolton had been inwardly worried.
Just in case, even though Jeon had refused, Bolton planned to use his connections to ensure the Pentagram Mages wouldn't bother him.
But the mages had moved far faster than Bolton's preparations.
'To think he'd subdue six mages all by himself.'
Yet Jeon proved far stronger than them—and even Bolton's expectations.
As Bolton inwardly admired Jeon.
Jeon focused on beating info about the guild out of the thugs.
"So, to sum it up, he's a mercenary from a wandering knight background, a lunatic who's hooked on booze and boys?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"You lot actually want to serve a psycho like that as your big boss?"
"W-well, he did get us into the guild and all..."
This big boss guy was more unhinged the more they revealed.
A former wandering knight turned mercenary, blowing every coin he earned on liquor and debauchery.
And not just any debauchery—he was into boys, a full-blown maniac.
'Why the hell did the Pentagram Guild accept a guy like that?'
No matter how dire the guild's situation.
Why had they taken him in? It reeked of something shady.
"What a total mess."
"Y-yes, sir. Exactly! Our guild's in a complete shitshow right now."
"Is that something you should be bragging about?"
"S-sorry!"
Having thoroughly interrogated them, Jeon turned to Bolton.
"The city's pretty chaotic these days, huh?"
"Yeah, seems so. It's been a while since the Haswell family took over, but plenty of places haven't settled yet."
"Full of lowlifes crawling around, then."
"But they're probably the only ones brazen enough to act like outright thugs."
In a chaotic city, riffraff inevitably flocks in looking for scraps.
But these guys were particularly rotten even among them.
"And hearing that someone inside the guild is making decisions in place of the guild master is news to me."
Even worse, they were exploiting the guild master's illness to trash the guild's built-up influence and image on a whim, even playing owner.
"Who knows. The guild master's collapse might even be their doing."
"...You're saying these guys might have targeted the Pentagram Guild Master too?"
"Just a possibility. Just maybe."
He added "maybe," but.
Jeon couldn't shake the ominous feeling.
'Ruin Church.'
They wouldn't miss this chaotic time.
Even if Ivy and her Celleron family fell, the Ruin Church's power remained intact.
They might have targeted the Pentagram Mage Guild as one foothold to reestablish themselves.
And the problems didn't end there.
"What do you plan to do with these guys, Mr. Bolton?"
"Hmm."
"Not just me, but these guys were originally gunning for you."
Their real target had been Bolton, not Jeon.
Without Jeon, they'd have come to trash the place today.
Bolton had suspected they were trying to pick a fight.
But he hadn't expected outright rampage.
"I did think the Pentagram side was deliberately stirring trouble. I planned to counter by digging up their corruption or weaknesses."
"If we grab their dirt or weaknesses, can we take them down?"
"Before granting the territory to Haswell, an imperial official was dispatched from the capital to manage the city. He's still here for handover. I happen to know him slightly."
"Reliable guy?"
"Yes. He's someone the Fifth Prince—himself a victim of the terror—personally selected and sent."
If the Fifth Prince picked him, no Ruin Church ties.
And if Bolton trusted him, he'd handle things cleanly with solid evidence.
The issue was getting that evidence.
"Got any materials you've dug up so far?"
"I know they've been causing trouble everywhere, but no solid proof. I was holding off, worried vague evidence might let them off easy. Didn't expect them to go this extreme..."
Meaning they were even more vile than Bolton thought, yet careful not to leave blatant evidence.
'They're walking that fine line skillfully.'
Everyone knew the city was chaotic.
Factions clashing somewhat was natural.
Sure, they could punish every little thing.
But the city's new owners were the Haswell family.
If they didn't care, Bolton's connections couldn't touch it either.
Without decisive proof, he couldn't mobilize them.
Thus, these guys had been threading the needle perfectly so far.
'Whether that big boss has a knack for it or someone's backing him, who knows.'
To Jeon, leaving them alone spelled nothing good.
Tied to Ruin Church or not, trouble either way.
'Daring to target my investment?'
Targeting Bolton, who generated money effortlessly, was their mistake.
So, Jeon decided to crush them.
"So, with solid evidence, we can take them down?"
"Yes, but."
"Good. That's all I need."
"Huh?"
"If there's no obvious evidence outside, we'll go in and find it."
Saying that, Jeon glanced at the still-kneeling thugs.
Their twisted, broken limbs—they were desperately trying to kneel without drawing Jeon's ire.
They looked terrified enough to betray their big boss if Jeon suggested it.
"What do you mean...?"
"Can you contact that guy today?"
"Perfect timing. We're set to meet late tonight."
Timing was ideal.
"Then tonight, visit the Pentagram Guild with him."
"But? We can't just force a search because we show up..."
"It's fine. By then, the evidence will jump out at you."
Jeon's eyes gleamed faintly.
A solid plan had already formed in his mind.
"This is really gonna be okay?"
"Of course. Worst case, you just play dumb like you knew nothing."
"True, but..."
After finishing with Bolton, Jeon headed straight out with the thugs toward the Pentagram Guild.
"Shut up and walk faster."
"M-my leg muscle's twisted... hurts to walk."
"I fixed it roughly. Keep whining, and I'll twist it again."
"S-sorry!"
Harsh words, but.
Jeon was carefully blending in among the thugs, moving stealthily.
He'd even bought a veil on the way.
To others, it looked like the thugs escorting a woman.
A infiltration ploy exploiting the boss's taste for boys.
Anyway.
After cautious travel, they reached the Pentagram Guild.
A guard out front greeted them.
"Hey, where you all coming from?"
"Uh, just handling some business."
"Yeah? Who's the veiled one? A girl?"
"Ahem... Brought 'em for Big Bro Jack."
"Oh, a boy, not a chick? Go on in."
Short exchange, and the guard waved them inside without suspicion.
Safely in, Jeon followed the thugs upstairs per their lead.
They arrived at the guild master's office.
"What? That Jack guy's using the guild master's office?"
"Yep. Far as I know, he's used it since joining, saying no vacancies."
A stray rock acting like the owner.
Jeon let out a scoffing laugh, then nodded to the thugs to start.
Knock knock.
Cardon, catching the signal, knocked lightly.
Soon, a thick, slurred voice drawled from inside.
"...What?"
"Big Bro Jack, it's Cardon. May I come in?"
"Huh? Cardon? Hmm, come in."
With permission, Cardon and Jeon entered.
Even among thugs, there was hierarchy—the rest stayed out.
The office was no office: desk cleared, just a massive bed at the end, more bedroom than anything.
Jack, lounging on it, frowned at Cardon.
"What? Weren't you going to smash that merchant punk today?"
"Uh, y-yeah... but..."
Caught off-guard by the blunt question, Cardon stammered.
Jeon subtly stepped forward.
Jack's gaze shifted to him.
"Hmm? What's that next to you?"
"Ah! Found this outside recently. Thought you'd like 'em, so I brought 'em."
Cardon, recovering, delivered the prepared line.
"Hmm... really?"
Jack eyed Jeon's form.
But the veil obscured details.
"Take it off."
"Yes, sir."
Cardon removed Jeon's veil as ordered.
"Oho."
Seeing unveiled Jeon, Jack's face lit with interest.
His tall-but-boyish build, blond hair framing delicate, handsome features—perfect for Jack.
"Cardon, good job. Now get out."
"Y-yes, sir."
Lust surging, Jack forgot to ask about the merchant, waving Cardon out.
Cardon scurried away, leaving Jeon and Jack alone.
"Come here."
Jack beckoned Jeon from the door, tossing off his blanket invitingly.
Seeing the lecherous glint in Jack's eyes and his exposed naked body beneath.
"Ugh, disgusting. Makes me wanna puke."
Jeon spat curses straight at the maniac.