Chapter 146

"The Drug Lord, huh."

To Lennok's surprise, he recalled having heard this name before.

He had encountered it during his collaboration with Dyke Corporation.

Dominic Cabaro had been the one who financially supported the Cigar Bang Gang. Paul Auckerman, a notorious drug dealer, had been one of the Drug Lord's close associates, expanding his influence within Vulcan.

Even though Lennok had resolved the issue by eliminating Jude Russell, the vampire knight who had been escorting Auckerman at the port, the tales he had heard about Dominic Cabaro continued to linger vividly in his memory.

No, the reason this name had left an impression on Lennok's memory... must be because Cabaro was one of the newly recruited members of the Pandemonium.

"Juice Master..."

[Do you know him?]

Observing Lennok's reaction, Yakson's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

But Lennok, instead of an immediate response, gazed at her in silence.

Though she attempted to conceal it with a composed demeanor, her eyes betrayed a darkness when he mentioned the Drug Lord.

Recognizing the emotion in her gaze, Lennok couldn't help but question her true intentions.

"Do you want me to kill the Drug Lord?"

[....]

Yakson remained wordless.

Her silence conveyed enough.

Lennok rose from his seat.

"This is an incompatible proposition."

Killing the Drug Lord as the condition for receiving treatment from Yakson? Considering the power Lennok had amassed, confronting him directly might not be impossible. Still, it was not a proposal he would accept readily.

After all, the Drug Lord was a member of the Pandemonium. Putting aside his abilities and background, one could only imagine the layers of protection surrounding this affluent magnate.

What would become of drug distribution across the continent if the Drug Lord were to meet his end? How would the ensuing chaos be managed?

Unless he could ensure that the deed could be done in complete secrecy, it was a task he wouldn't even contemplate.

Yakson quickly relented.

[I apologize. It was a momentary mistake. Please, sit.]

Ignoring her words, Lennok peered down at her with narrowed eyes.

Regaining her emotional composure, Yakson continued.

[Back in the day, when I was actively working in this city, he approached me.]

"......"

[He said that my medicinal skills would be a great asset to his business. I rejected his offer, and he harmed my family.]

Her hand began to tremble.

[I had no choice but to heal my family myself. And then... I forgot all about my husband and children.]

Did the Drug Lord exploit the limitations of Yakson's abilities in the most malicious way possible?

This could very well be one of the direst consequences for Yakson Anushka Greenway.

In a disheartened tone, she whispered.

[Once a relationship is severed, it never returns. Even if it is barely reconnected, it becomes something entirely different. I couldn't even remember who my old family were.]

"......"

[I blame myself for this curse. For my foolishness that led to all of this... and for everything he did to me.]

Now, her emotions of hatred were impossible to conceal.

[You should know as well. Those high-level wizards who limit themselves in the hopes of reaching a higher plane... Those who endlessly push themselves for ascension, will eventually crumble under the chains they've made.]

"......"

[So that this foolish cycle can be avoided.]

Restrictions and chains.

Lennok considered that her inability to speak might be linked to her circumstances, but he refrained from pressing for further details.

Yakson had offered him that advice to instill caution due to his exceptional talent, but Lennok deemed such counsel meaningless.

The concept of sacrificing something to gain something else was all too familiar to Lennok.

Even before he opened his eyes to this world, hadn't he predetermined all the penalties and constraints he would have to bear?

In the grand scheme of things, he was no different from Yakson or any other high-ranking wizards.

Yet, if there was one distinction, it was that Lennok had not surrendered, unlike Yakson, who had already succumbed to her limitations.

Instead of expressing such sentiments to Yakson, Lennok spoke calmly.

"I will get Malabest from the Drug lord's warehouse. We can discuss the payment for the treatment later."

Yakson nodded in agreement.

[I won't accept payment. The fact that Jenny came with you must mean that.] Yakson added, indicating her willingness to help without expecting compensation.

Could this matter be related to Kaiser? Regardless, it wasn't a loss for Lennok. He had essentially shifted the debt from Yakson to Jenny.

Although Yakson's tragic story had initially piqued Lennok's interest, he quickly lost it. While it might serve as a cautionary tale for high-ranking wizards who imposed limitations on themselves, it held no significance for Lennok. He never dwelled on the past; he had no regrets.

From the beginning, Lennok's path was predetermined. He would steadily increase his abilities, hoping to one day reach his desired goal. Even feeling pity for those who had given up was a luxury Lennok couldn't afford.

Would there come a day when Lennok would reflect on the advice given to him? Before that moment arrived, he would already be moving forward.

Having said all that needed to be said, Lennok left Yakson's house without hesitation, with a strong feeling that Jenny, who had been sleeping near the lake, would soon awaken.

It was time to address everything he had overlooked in order to meet Yakson.

*****

"Malabest..." Jenny muttered, shaking her head with a pained expression.

Back in Jenny's pub, away from Yakson's mountain range, Lennok summarized his conversation with Yakson for Jenny and Jordan.

Conversations about his body remained a secret shared only by Yakson and Lennok. Merely mentioning the need for the drug Malabest, and the possibility of having to acquire it from the Drug Lord's vault, was enough.

"I've heard the name before." Jenny replied.

"It's definitely not easy to obtain." Jordan chimed in.

"Jordan, do you know something?" Lennok inquired.

"It's considered a legend that has passed in that industry. Since the purification of the collapsed island, the practical ways to obtain new drugs have completely disappeared, and more efficient drugs have been developed, so it's natural." Jordan explained.

It seemed that the supply of Malabest had essentially been cut off, but there was no major issue as the demand for it was extremely limited. Unless someone had rare symptoms like Lennok, there was no reason or necessity to acquire it.

"There's no need to rob the drug lord's vault," Lennok declared.

"Do you mean we could also deal with Juice Master?" Jenny asked.

"After all, all we have to do is get Malabest from him."

Lennok had no personal knowledge of Dominic Cabaro's character, and if he wasn't directly involved with Lennok, it would be best to avoid any conflict.

Upon hearing Yakson's words, Lennok's thoughts shifted from breaking into the drug lord's vault to obtaining the item through trade.

If Lennok could offer something enticing to Juice Master, it might be possible to request a trade for the drug he needed.

"We have to make sure before we go in," Jenny warned with a stern expression. "As soon as we show interest in trading with the drug lord, it's obvious that his focus will shift to his vault. If we try to rob the vault after a failed trade, the difficulty will be much higher than before."

Jenny's concern for Lennok's business was evident, but for now, he needed to focus on the immediate issue. She was right—handing over the initiative to the other party from the start was not advisable.

Jenny had a clear understanding of the type of work Lennok preferred.

"We could use both methods at the same time," Jordan suggested.

"When we bring the drug lord to the trade table, his vault security will naturally loosen. How about using that opportunity to rob his vault?"

Lennok shook his head firmly in response.

"The risk is too great. If anything were to happen during the trade, both incidents would naturally be linked. Stealing Malabest, the very item we intended to use for trading? It's a method we should only consider if we're ready to sever all ties with the drug lord."

Lennok had the advantage of being able to avoid close scrutiny due to his ability to change his face and resist tracking magic and curses. However, the same couldn't be said for Jenny and Jordan. Even if they assumed new identities, they might still struggle to escape the scrutiny of tracking magic.

Lennok smirked as he rejected Jordan's suggestion.

"But both of you seem to understand well what Juice Master would think."

Jordan and Jenny exchanged awkward glances.

"Haha, did it show?" Jordan muttered, and Jenny gave a hesitant smile.

While they proposed different solutions, all of their alternatives operated on the assumption that the drug lord wouldn't engage in a fair trade. If these two well-informed individuals were speaking so indirectly, there was no need to elaborate on the drug lord's character.

"I didn't want to say this because you don't seem to think that badly of the guy, but if you know him even a little, you wouldn't think of successfully trading with him,"

"......"

"The man who reached the pinnacle of the lowest drug industry. No need to say what it means that he has never lost once in a political arena where betrayal and collusion happen as naturally as breathing. If we simply go for a trade, there's no chance it'll end smoothly."

If even Jordan expressed such sentiments, it was nearly impossible to expect a favorable outcome from dealing with the drug lord.

"The best course of action would be to find Malabest from somewhere other than the drug lord's vault, but... if we absolutely must lay hands on the drug lord's goods, we'll have to sneak in through the back door—"

"And do it without anyone noticing. That would be the next best option," Jenny added.

"Fortunately, Van, you are one of the most competent wizards I have ever met. If other freelancers were involved in this, I would simply advise giving up, but it's worth trying if it's not a head-on confrontation."

Tap tap tap!!

She began tapping her laptop keyboard, causing the deep web screen to flicker as she continued.

"First, I'll prioritize finding other locations for Malabest. Then, based on the public schedules and the location of the vault, I'll gather data."

"How long will it take?"

"I can only gauge it once I start, but at most, it should take two weeks."

Considering that Jenny was not only assisting Lennok but also collecting information from various sources, this timeframe seemed reasonable.

Lennok nodded, finished his drink, and rose from his seat.

"Then I also have other things to take care of in the meantime."

"What?" Jenny asked.

Looking at Jenny with a smile, Lennok replied, "Compassion of the archangel. I can't just leave it like that."

While dealing with the drug lord was a priority, Lennok had no intention of neglecting the valuable multicolored gem he had acquired. The exploration team would undoubtedly do everything in their power to recover this piece of the ancient artifact, and conflict was inevitable.

Irina Pheffield, who held the 'compassion of archangel' in high regard, wouldn't simply back down. If a confrontation was inevitable, Lennok intended to take the initiative.

"I'll settle things with the exploration team and retrieve the remaining artifact from Irina Pheffield. There's a mountain of things to do."

By tracing the final bidder for the artifact at the auction, it could potentially lead to Irina Pheffield.

Once he took a stand, there would be no hesitation in his actions.

Lennok was determined to see Irina's face personally.