After Lee Jong-hak left, Joanna turned to Lukas, who was organising his thoughts.
“What are you going to do now?”
“…what would you like to do?”
Joanna made a sour expression before replying.
“You always do that.”
“Huh?”
“You like to answer questions with questions. It’s not very polite to do that.”
“…”
Was that true?
He’d never realised it, but he didn’t think she was wrong.
While Lukas pondered about this, Joanna’s voice sounded again.
“First of all, I think we need to gather more information. Hmm. We’ll be staying in the Gray Sun’s base for a while, so if these people ask for help, we’ll have to assist them.”
After saying that, Joanna paused for a moment before suddenly jumping up.
“But what about our truck?”
“Ah.”
It was only then when Lukas remembered the military truck that they’d used to get there.
It was probably in the hands of the residents of Zinga now. They wouldn’t have destroyed it, but it probably wouldn’t be easy for them to get it back.
“Ugh. I can’t believe we forgot about it.”
Joanna held her head in despair.
She couldn’t believe that she’d completely forgotten their most important means of transportation, regardless of how the situation had changed. She was upset at her own absentmindedness.
Of course, she didn’t like the thought of continuing to use it because it had been borrowed from Destin, but it couldn’t be helped.
…It was truly a stroke of luck that their target, Kran, who was originally in Egypt, was coming to them on his own. That eliminated the need to traverse the African continent.
In other words, even if they didn’t have a vehicle, it wouldn’t be a major hindrance to their mission.
“…let’s get some sleep. I’m so tired I feel like I’m gonna die.”
Joanna, who had been agonising for a while, let out a sigh. She couldn’t be certain because they were underground, but it was probably close to dawn already.
It was no wonder she felt so tired. A lot had happened today, and she hadn’t been able to disperse the fatigue that had accumulated from the day before.
Lukas nodded, and they rested for the rest of the day.
—And so, three days passed.
Nothing special happened during this time. Joanna focused on recovering to her peak condition, and she seemed to look better compared to three days ago.
The sewer base was a boring place, but it was perfect for relaxation.
From time to time, Kaisa or Lee Jong-hak would come to deliver some information before leaving again. Kaisa mainly updated them on Kran’s location while Lee Jong-hak focused on the situation in Zinga.
Lukas spent most of this time meditating.
At first, it was simply to stabilise his mind and body, but now, he was doing it for a specific purpose. Of course, he couldn’t tell anyone about it at this stage, but in a way, it was something that had higher priority than any other situation.
It was only on the fourth morning when something changed.
On this day, Lee Jong-hak and Joffrey visited them at the same time.
“He will be on the road today.”
“He?”
“The Vampire Duke’s double.”
Lukas’ eyes brightened slightly.
“Are you sure?”
“It’s highly likely. A chaotic aura has enveloped the entire city, so we think he will be going on an inspection.”
“That’s a great opportunity.”
If an inspection was his goal, it was inevitable that he would go to some secluded places. If they were able to find a good location to launch a surprise attack, they might be able to capture the double more easily than they expected.
“Demons and Hybrids are currently roaming the city, looking for the Gray Sun. So there is a high chance that we’d be discovered if we move in large numbers. So we will move in a small group.”
Lee Jong-hak turned to look at Joanna.
“Archmage Joanna, we really need your help.”
“Of course I’ll help.”
“Thank you. So the group will consist of me, Archmage Joanna, Gray Sun executive Joffrey, and the last person…”
Lee Jong-hak spoke slowly.
“She’s not here, but it’s Ms. Camilla. She’s also an executive.”
Joanna’s heart jumped slightly at his words.
“Huh?”
“Is there something you don’t like about my selection?”
“Of course there is. Why didn’t you mention Frey?”
Lee Jong-hak turned to look at Lukas.
“Pardon my rudeness, but how strong are you?”
“Enough to play my part.”
Joanna almost burst into laughter at the words that were so similar to what she’d heard in the past.
But in direct contrast to her, Lee Jong-hak spoke in an increasingly serious tone.
“…this is a very important mission. Can you kill Demons if necessary?”
Lukas answered this question without hesitation.
“No.”
“…”
A subtle hint of disappointment flashed in Lee Jong-hak’s eyes, and Joanna turned to look at Lukas with a blank expression.
The same was true for Joffrey who was standing beside them.
He recalled the conversation he’d had with Elijah before he came.
‘Don’t provoke that man named Frey.’
‘Huh?’
‘He is dangerous.’
Joffrey had been unable to hide his astonishment at those words.
Elijah Kipatosh was the Big Boss of the Gray Sun.
Until now, there had only been one other person whom Elijah had directly called ‘dangerous’.
And that was the Strongest Hunter, Kran, one of the Top Three.
Did this mean that Elijah thought that this guy was on the same level as Kran?
‘I’m thinking too much.’
Joffrey shook his head.
It was advice from Elijah, whom he admired more than anyone else, but he could only assume that he was trying to think too deeply.
He was confident in his own eyes, and according to what he could see, this man was not dangerous at all.
Although he claimed to be a Wizard, compared to Joanna, who constantly exuded mana, his body was like a desert.
While Joffrey was lost in his thoughts, Joanna awoke from her daze.
“We have to take Frey!”
“Why?”
“Th-… that…uh… Frey is very quick-witted and calm, and he knows a lot of strange, useful spells like the Alarm spell. A-, and…”
While Joanna floundered for words with an embarrassed expression, Lukas nodded and said.
“I understand. I will defend this place.”
Joffrey burst into laughter at those words. What did he mean by defend?
“H-, hey? Why would you agree to that?”
Joanna said that, but Lukas didn’t think this was a bad situation.
He just needed the time to move alone—
“…”
Lukas’ expression suddenly hardened.
With a startled expression, he looked up at the ceiling. Of course, all that could be seen on the ceiling of the sewer base were a few water spots. The outside wasn’t visible at all.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Lukas shook his head at Joanna’s expression, but his expression didn’t relax.
A ‘special aura’ that could never be mistaken had suddenly entered the range of his senses.
Lukas thought of someone with a complex expression on his face.
‘Sedi.’
She should have been in Northern Ireland, so why was she here?