Into the Shadows

Although his head was spinning after waking up and he was starting to feel short of breath, Leo suppressed the urge to smoke a cigarette.

"I have to endure it."

If he started making it a habit to put cigarettes in his mouth right away because it was hard, there'd be no way to prevent his body from being destroyed in the long run. Besides, once he started smoking cigarettes now, there would be a time limit before the side effects kicked in.

If it wasn't urgent, he had to refrain from smoking as much as possible and move around with a clear mind.

Leo turned his head as he watched hundreds of people milling about in the shadows. He had no idea where to go, but as he sat down, he started to get a feeling for where he should head.

"It's over there."

In the city center, where countless life reactions intersected, Leo's natural talent caught hold of a faint strand of magic—a damp, sticky smell rising from a corner of the city.

Although it was a sensation he had never felt before, Leo instinctively realized this was the magic of those who lived in the darkness. The magic of criminals who thrived off the blood of others in the shadows, parasitizing the city.

It was a place that suited Leo perfectly.

Following the Trail

Following the trail of magic, the place he arrived at was a messy street filled with a huge entertainment district, gambling dens, street vendors, and abandoned construction sites. On the street corner, a sign reading "District 49" was discarded like trash.

Neon signs and flashy lights, painful to the eyes, surrounded him. Pungent perfumes and acrid smoke stung his nose, rising from every corner.

Even in broad daylight, the street was covered in thick shadows, filled with people avoiding eye contact. Leo wasn't particularly surprised by the completely different atmosphere compared to the bustling downtown area of Balkan.

There was no need to try to understand the side effects and harmful effects behind the growth of a large city that had developed by embracing all kinds of industries and capital. As flies flocked to money, this was a common occurrence in any big city Leo had known.

The attitude of thorough disinterest and mutual distancing was apparent everywhere.

Occasionally, small groups gathered to chat in secluded spots, but most simply disappeared into buildings of unknown purpose.

For Leo, though, there was a way to eavesdrop on their conversations. He sat down in a corner of the street and drew up his magical power, focusing it on his ears. Even without anyone teaching him, the whole process felt natural.

In an instant, his hearing sharpened, picking up sounds from all around.

Leo leaned against the wall, paying attention to the sounds coming from inside the buildings.

"They're looking for an agency to lobby for the construction zone contracts. Split the land eight to two."

"Palmers' AI engineer went missing during testing. Hiring a replacement soon."

"A druid's needed for the greenbelt reduction plan. Planning to steal one of the T9 endangered species."

Many of the conversations were dangerous and lucrative, but Leo had no intention of getting involved in situations he didn't fully understand. He quickly brushed aside unfamiliar words and expanded his search.

As Leo's senses spread, the entire street came into his sights, drawing in every sound.

He skipped over stories that seemed too dangerous or conversations that were overly complicated. Occasionally, spaces were completely blocked by barriers that his magic couldn't penetrate, but he ignored those.

He needed something simple, something he could handle—something quick to make money without leaving a trace.

In a damp alley where the street and sewer intersected, Leo heard what he was looking for:

"I told you to bring me the stolen money quickly. Can't you hear me?"

"Found it." Leo's eyes sparkled as he quickly headed toward the alley.

Confrontation in the Alley

The alley was a narrow gap between factory walls, damp with dripping water and heavy with the scent of old smoke. Two men stood over another, kicking him mercilessly as he lay on the floor.

"What did I say?" The lead thug lit a cigarette with shaking hands. "I told you, no problems if you did the job right. But now you're saying you lost the money?"

"It's not a lie," the victim groaned, his face bloody. "It really disappeared… I swear."

Boom!

The man's head snapped to the side from another brutal kick.

The second thug shook his head. "There's no answer. We'll need to cover the debt somehow this month."

"This is the third time." The lead thug's voice trembled with frustration. "We're going to need to sell his organs."

"I agree," the second thug grinned, their eyes gleaming dangerously.

The victim paled, his face contorting in terror.

Before they could act, both men suddenly convulsed, foaming at the mouth. They collapsed to the ground, twitching uncontrollably.

Leo stepped out from the shadows, cigarette in his mouth, hands crackling with blue electricity.

"It works well enough," he muttered, blowing out a puff of smoke.

Even though it was the most basic bolt spell, it was more than enough to knock them out.

Ignoring the victim's stunned expression, Leo rifled through the unconscious thugs' pockets. He pulled out cash, watches, and jewelry without a trace of guilt.

When his fingers found a hard, metallic object in the lead thug's jacket, he held it up.

"What's this?" Leo asked, inspecting the pen-shaped device.

The victim gasped. "That's a Dyke laser cutter. It can slice through steel!"

"Hmm." Leo considered its usefulness, then slipped it into his jacket.

He looked down at the victim, who trembled beneath him.

"I'm looking for work," Leo said coldly. "Think you can help?"

At the Library

Leo watched the man scurry away, disappearing down the alley. He had considered killing him, but Leo wasn't a senseless murderer. The supervisors at the factory had been different—they had earned their fate.

Instead, he pocketed the business card the man had handed him, should any complications arise later.

He counted the money he'd taken from the thugs.

"Not bad," he murmured. The stolen cash would cover his expenses for a few days.

Leaving District 49, Leo wandered into a clothing store and purchased a plain shirt and jeans, blending into the city's crowd. His current outfit was too conspicuous.

Satisfied, he made his way to a nearby pharmacy, buying sleeping pills to combat his insomnia. They were expensive, but necessary.

By the time he reached the large public library, his body screamed for rest, but Leo pressed on. The towering ten-story building housed books and data that might hold the key to survival in this world.

He needed information—about magic, about this world. Leo took a seat in the library, grabbing every introductory book on magic he could find.

"How to feel magic, how it's stored, the dangers of control…" He skimmed through page after page, already far beyond the basics. His focus was on survival, and his only path was to push his magical abilities to their limits.

Leo knew the clock was ticking. His body was burning through its limited time, and magic was his only hope.