Chapter 294 |
"Aren't you underestimating the scale of this operation a bit too much?"
Donovan turned his gaze and quickly scanned her attire before nodding.
"...You're from Cybrid Echo. Do you think I'm wrong?"
"Avoiding risks with a passive response alone isn't enough. We need to think beyond that."
Donovan subtly rose from his seat at her cold words.
The woman continued without paying any mind to his reaction.
"If we successfully wrap this up, we'll get incentives like the Defense Force's military equipment or resources from the mobile fortress as spoils of war."
Only then did the woman turn her head, locking eyes with Renok.
"Are you planning to hand over all those incentives to that one mage?"
Donovan cut in sharply.
"Once it's done, we can negotiate and divide the pie in a way everyone accepts. The important thing is to handle the matter at hand first."
"But it's clearly inefficient."
The woman scanned the faces in the conference room silently before speaking.
"After handing everything over to Kenroe, instead of focusing on our own tasks, we'll start worrying whether he's delivering value worth his share."
"..."
"And what if it fails?"
Her voice alone echoed through the silent conference room.
"Regardless of Kenroe's skill and strength, concentrating the team's entire resources and investment on one person is a terribly foolish choice. At least, that's not how we operate."
"I agree."
A young man chewing gum grinned and raised his hand.
"It's fine if a few sacrifice to encourage participation from top-tier experts, but I wouldn't want that imposed on all of us."
He pointed at the woman in response.
"At least, I'd rather bet on this logical woman than that mage whose thoughts I can't read."
His words drove the point home, and the others began voicing differing opinions one by one.
Just showing up meant they intended to participate. There was no reason to cede all rewards. Why not discuss it after the job was done?
Renok watched the chaotic conference room without responding.
"The situation's getting weird."
Panoa tilted her head toward Renok and whispered.
"Normally, Ban could've taken command without lifting a finger."
"There are more than just Councilor Meyer interested in this."
Renok replied.
"He doesn't want the responsibility, but other councilors eyeing the Defense Force's military power or the mobile fortress itself have gotten involved."
The Defense Force's current arsenal and the mobile fortress were undeniably tempting resources.
Even if not immediately obtainable, fabricating a pretext to privatize them would make for an attractive prize.
It was only natural for other councilors to approach and influence the people gathered here in advance.
"Is this okay?"
"Actually... I prefer the woman's proposal over Donovan's."
"...Pardon?"
Meyer and Donovan seemed intent on funneling all resources to Renok and having him lead the breakthrough.
But Renok hadn't found the offer appealing from the start.
The priority was resolving this crisis as quickly as possible before Blue Eye's mobilization order arrived. Minimizing wasted time in the process.
Dragging along this disorganized group would be less efficient than handling it alone, where he could accomplish far more.
Frankly, Renok no longer felt ordinary experts provided much help.
Unless they had precise senses or specialized fields, not being a hindrance was already a relief.
Without Asui's level of expertise or the senses and experience of veterans like Manson, Dylan, or Mila, collaboration offered little advantage to Renok.
Of course, those present were battle-hardened underworld veterans, but would coordinating with them yield results much different from Renok working solo?
Given how often Renok's solo efforts outshone everyone else's combined, Meyer's proposal felt meaningless.
[Master.]
As Renok pondered and observed, Dabi softly called from his pocket.
Glancing at his phone per the vibration, Renok naturally stood.
As he reached for the door handle, attendants waiting outside politely blocked his path.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"The restroom."
"...May we accompany you?"
"Sure."
Renok headed to the restroom under everyone's stares.
"..."
The corridor, lined with dozens of guards in heavy silence.
Instead of the restroom at the end, Renok turned toward the emergency stairs.
His attendants followed without protest, seamlessly matching his pace.
11th floor.
A small rooftop garden. The attendant escorting Renok stepped back naturally.
"Over here."
Meyer, seated between shadowed wooden benches, waved at Renok.
Renok sat beside him casually and chuckled.
"Isn't this a bit too old-fashioned for a secret summons? The others must've noticed by now."
"Doesn't matter."
Meyer replied leisurely, chin rested on his hand.
"In fact, I'd prefer they do."
A small wireless earpiece dangled from Meyer's ear.
He'd likely been eavesdropping on the conference room through it.
When things turned sour, he'd immediately called Renok to the roof.
"You picked too honest a stool pigeon."
"..."
"Instead of Donovan White, recruiting the gum-chewing guy would've been better."
"Did you see that far ahead? I suspected, but couldn't fool you for long."
Meyer shook his head slowly.
"Even with preparations, it'd end like this. Too many councilors interested in this operation."
"..."
"Better they reveal their influence bit by bit. My priority is succeeding no matter what. That's all."
His tone carried unusual urgency for a private chat. Renok stared silently before asking.
"Are you gambling?"
Meyer nodded, brow faintly furrowed.
"Something like that. To minimize city government losses and shoulder all blame, I secured my councilor seat..."
"..."
No wonder his rise to councilor seemed suspiciously swift.
Separate from Meyer's abilities, a councilor position required matching connections and backing—untouchable without them.
To outmaneuver rivals and claim it, Meyer had resorted to an extreme deal.
"Approaching core council factions this way is impossible. Better to gamble on this crisis."
"Don't you think it's reckless?"
"I can endure hitting rock bottom."
Meyer's eyes sharpened.
"Once I've touched it, I'll challenge again and again. Until I reach this city's pinnacle, I won't stop."
"Not a bad mindset."
Renok smirked.
He knew John Meyer wasn't a good man.
But his intense greed, burning through an aging body, and his staggering resolve—enough to surprise even Renok—weren't to be dismissed.
A man pursuing the city's top so desperately, ignoring pride and honor, might actually reach it.
If curiosity about his endgame wasn't keeping Renok in touch, he'd be lying.
That relentless pursuit, heedless of his situation... felt familiar to Renok.
"By now, everyone knows I called you out on purpose."
Meyer said.
"Reset the board from there. If you want to handle this solo, Ban, put Donovan in charge of forming the team."
"That's fine... but I need to vet the background checks more carefully."
Renok fiddled with a cigarette in his pocket.
"If other councilors can't be kept out, more plants might be mixed in. They could go even more extreme than now—"
As Renok turned, an alien presence suddenly emanated from above.
"..."
He'd ignored it outside the district, but it was closing in.
Not a normal life sign. Heavier, more ponderous...
Renok looked up.
"Does the council use helicopters for councilor protection?"
"Hm? Yes. They hover to reduce wind and noise, providing close firepower support. How'd you know?"
"It's descending from above."
Meyer tilted his head, following Renok's gaze skyward.
"That's odd. In urban areas, protocol keeps them in optical cloaking below a certain altitude unless it's a major emergency..."
"..."
Meyer's voice trailed off. They rose simultaneously, eyes meeting.
Whirrrrr!!
Something plummeted, blocking their path in an instant.
Releasing optical cloaking, a large, matte-black aircraft emerged.
Instead of top rotors, wheel-like hovering engines flanked its streamlined fuselage.
The thick muzzle below the engine gleamed ominously.
Through the window, the pilot's eyes were rolled back, whites only. Meyer swallowed hard.
As other attendants shouted and rushed, the aircraft fired first.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!!!
Renok yanked Meyer's shoulder with one arm, hurling them backward without hesitation.
Thud!
"Urgh!!"
Ignoring Meyer's panicked cry, Renok maxed his sensory domain.
The advancing aircraft's barrel heated repeatedly. Renok swiftly erected a shield behind them.
Bang-bang-bang-bang!!
Hundreds of rounds halted as if hitting an invisible wall.
Bracing against the reverse wind, Renok tapped his coat.
"Ready?"
[Of course.]
Screeech!!
He cast levitation on the coat section, halting their momentum.
The shadow-woven coat absorbed mana, unfurling like black wings.
Beneath, a black monster bike emerged as if on cue, catching them.
Boom!!
"Huh, huff...!!"
Meyer, in the rear seat, looked back in soul-shaking terror.
As Renok twisted the throttle, the bike rocketed forward.
Vroooom!!
With a heavy roar, it veered from the crowded road center.
Regaining composure, Meyer gripped Renok's shoulder in alarm.
"Wh-where are we going?!"
"Somewhere without people, escaping."
Renok replied calmly.
"Downing that aircraft isn't hard... but then identifying the plotters behind this would be tougher, right?"
"That's..."
"If I bolt like I've been waiting, they'll call in more to check motives."
With focus, he could've caught and returned the barrage.
But fleeing without destroying it was to draw out the masterminds.
"They're stirring chaos by tampering with councilor security. They didn't plan for it to end here."
Shifting gears fluidly with riding assistance magic, Renok sped out of the Districts 10s.
Screeech!!
The bike's thick tires skidded, leaving marks.
Ducking slightly, Renok's eyes chilled.
"And confirming the target fleeing without hesitation... they'll follow to verify intent."