Crossroads of Choice

Leo calmly organized the books piled on the desk, put them in the return box, and left the library. 

The sun that had been hanging high in the sky was setting, and the edge of the sky was slowly being dyed in a crimson glow. 

I stared blankly at the sky, lost in thought. 

"… … … " 

The kindness that Alice Richellen shows to Leo is not entirely unacceptable. 

She seemed to have a strange affinity for those who had no talent but could not give up their passion for magic, and Leo, who was always sitting in the library, just reading books, seemed like the perfect candidate for such a career. 

It was not surprising that a young wizard who had risen to the position of university professor had circumstances that matched his talent. 

But it was a different matter entirely for Leo to give in to that insistence. 

'... ... Once every two weeks. If only I could listen to what she had to say thoroughly.' 

The minimum risk Leo can psychologically tolerate. 

And the advantage of being able to become friends with the professor emeritus of the Magic University. 

Weighing these two was quite a difficult task, but Leo couldn't help but ponder it. 

If you become friends with her, you may be able to find a job in Yangji without much difficulty. 

Hearing about the work of the wizards of the Sun and their society would be of great help to Leo now. 

If it's just that much. If it's just that much. 

In this city where there is nowhere to lean on, wouldn't it be a good idea to create at least one scheduled event? 

Leo chuckled as he thought about that. 

I found myself laughing at the thought of having to worry and be so careful just to make an appointment with one person. 

And it's sad. 

Another day ends with the fading light of the new year. 

It's time to make up for the cigarette he blew away. 

I had to start looking for my next assignment. 

# 

"Your name will be registered on the deep web." 

"What?" 

Leo, who was about to drink his whiskey, stopped at Jenny's sudden words. 

"What does that mean?" 

"Because Ban did such a good job, the annoying procedures started to be processed quickly. This kind of thing sometimes happens when the client is satisfied." 

As she spoke, Jenny began to mix the cocktail with her skilled hands. 

I had no idea because I always saw Jordan mixing drinks, but she seemed to be quite skilled as a bartender. 

"By the way, where did Jordan go?" 

"I used to be away from work once every two weeks. I think I used to do something, and I'd come by to help out for a little while." 

It was something he had done before… Leo recalled the memory of the first time he had caught a criminal and handed him the item. 

Considering how he was able to extract all sorts of information from a mere glance at the body, Jordan's job probably wasn't all that easy. 

"It's a pretty regular schedule; I've known about it since Nana Jordan, and I opened the bar. Thanks to that, sometimes I have to… ... do things like this." 

She sighed deeply, quickly finished her work, and tossed the cocktail down to the guest sitting next to Leo. 

"Eat it and throw it away, you idiot." 

"Ooh, it looks really delicious. Hehehe." 

Dylan, a large man wearing a mask over his head, took a sip of his cocktail while laughing sinisterly. 

Deep Web 

Jenny, who had been looking at the sight as if she was looking at a disgusting bug, could not hold back her anger and hit Dylan on the head with the shaker she was holding. 

Kwah! 

"Ugh!" 

Jenny screamed in anger as she watched Dylan bang his head on the cocktail he was holding. 

"You're still drunk after failing that request so foolishly, you idiot!!" 

"I couldn't help it!! What can I do when those fucking clients set ridiculous conditions from the start!" 

Leo secretly sighed as the two people's argument turned the quiet bar into a noisy place in an instant. 

It looks like Dylan has really screwed up the request Jenny arranged, and both of them seem to have a lot to say about it. 

From what I've heard, Jenny seems to be fed up with the high commission, and Dylan seems to have been lured by the equipment given as a reward for the success of the request... Guido?, but it seems like neither of them did well. 

Leo watched the two bicker and argue for a while, then opened his mouth again when Jenny collapsed in exhaustion. 

"So, what happens if you register your identity on this place called the deep web?" 

"There's no particular risk. However, there is an advantage in that many of the requests that had to be handled verbally until now can be sorted out more… neatly." 

"For example?" 

Jenny took a moment to collect her thoughts and then continued her explanation. 

"First of all, your career will be recorded on the network, and when you receive a request, you can specify exactly what you want in compensation or in kind. In addition, if there is a theme for the request you want, you can actively reflect it through the client." 

"Oh, I heard that from our boss too." 

Dylan joined the conversation, wiping the cocktail off his face with his leather jacket. 

"I think it was about a year after I joined the office? From then on, if there was a request, I should tell the connector separately. I knew my name was registered on the deep web, but that was the story." 

"Yes. Normally, it would take at least 10 months for your name to be listed on that network, no matter how fast you try. It's a structure that only allows clients to view freelancers whose skills and credit have been thoroughly verified, so there's nothing you can do about it due to the procedure." 

"But why was I registered unusually quickly?" 

"Yeah. I heard rumours that other clients were the ones who put in requests to the deep web first. Since clients who don't have a direct connection with me have no way to put in requests to you, they're worried." 

"So, you're saying that he wasn't your doctor after all." 

"Of course, we can't ignore someone who asks only the requests our wizard wants." 

Jenny slyly protested at Leo's sharp remark. 

"It can't be thanks to some greedy woman who wants to monopolize the great wizard." 

Leo couldn't help but chuckle at Dylan's indifferent muttering next to him. 

Leo asked again, ducking his head slightly to avoid Jenny, who picked up the shaker again and swung it at Dylan. 

"The very idea of registering your identity doesn't sound good, but aren't there any particular risks?" 

According to Jenny's words, it seems that it was not her intention to have her name listed on the deep web in the first place, but it was still necessary to touch on the dangers. 

"If it's about information leaks, you can rest assured. Since they're using a backdoor to the main integrated network used by the city government, the security level is ridiculous. In effect, it's protected in the same place as the city government's confidential documents." 

"That makes sense… … Ah." 

Leo, who was about to say that if that were true, then the very assumption of creating a backdoor into the main network would not hold, stopped talking as he realized something. 

In fact, if you think about it, it was such a simple story. 

Jenny smiled and answered, understanding Leo's feelings. 

"Yes. It would have been impossible to even attempt it without the cooperation of the city government." 

"… … .." 

It's no surprise. 

The reason why the lawless district in the 40s can remain so intact. 

The reason why this street, where gunshots and blood are heard every day, avoids the eyes of city government agents and police. 

It would be surprising if the Balkan elite were not involved in all this causality. 

As expected, and beyond imagination 

It was a rotten city. 

"So, are there any specific requirements that you can write down when receiving a request? You can write down specific items, or a simple category is fine. Since the name is already registered, it's better to utilize it properly, right?" 

"Umm… …" 

Leo was deeply troubled by Jenny's words. 

Since escaping from the factory, Leo has had a clear goal in mind for himself, but he has rarely faced it head on. 

Although it was always clear what I wanted, I lived hiding my true feelings as I was plagued by life-threatening danger and a sense of vigilance. 

Because he felt that revealing his goals to others would be beneficial, but it would also reveal his weaknesses. 

But is it now time to move forward? 

It's been almost half a year since I settled down in a big city and started tightrope walking between the sun and the shade. 

I always told myself not to rush, but I couldn't just hang on to reality forever. 

I want to do more than just take care of my health and take my medications. 

Leo's wish would not reach anywhere unless he reached out and looked beyond what he wanted. 

As Leo thought about it, words came out of his mouth without him realizing it. 

"… … Unique magic." 

"What?" 

"Please write that you want a unique magic of a very rare series… or an equally valuable relic or elixir." 

I can feel Jenny and Dylan's gaze quietly turning towards me. 

For the first time since he opened his eyes in this world, Leo felt afraid of such gazes. 

It was scary and not easy to reveal what he wanted… ... 

It was something that had to be done at some point. 

Even if someone noticed that this was Leo's reverse scale. 

Leo had to keep moving forward. 

The moment that was meant to come was right now. 

"Is that okay? Offering such items as compensation is… um… even if you're famous right now, it won't be an easy task." 

"That's none of your business, Jenny." 

Dylan said in a low voice. 

"…..what?" 

"I was just being honest because you told me to tell you what I wanted. Do you think Ban wouldn't have thought of something like that?" 

"I didn't want to take on that kind of request in the first place… No, I definitely overstepped. Sorry, Ban." 

A furious Jenny hesitated as she snapped at Dylan, then sighed and shook her head. 

It seemed more like he was looking at Dylan and thinking of something than he was looking at Leo. 

Leo understood them. 

It's a cliché, but everyone has their own circumstances. 

"It's not that I only accept requests from that side, I just set the preferred salary and related theme as such. That's all." 

"Okay, I got it. I'll submit a request to change my registration information on the deep web first… Can you tell me roughly what type of series you're looking for?" 

"… … time or space. Or a very powerful regenerative series." 

"Wow, that's not easy." 

Leo also knows very well. He has already looked up related knowledge to the point of exhaustion. 

Even Dylan whistles for these types of magic, which are so rare that it is difficult to even come into direct contact with them. 

This rare series was so rare that few people were even certain of its existence, let alone the existence of a separate magic tower. 

But even though Leo knew that he couldn't stop. 

Jenny said, tapping a few times on the keyboard on the bar. 

"I've already submitted a request for a change. Requests submitted here tend to be processed a bit late, so it'll probably take about a week. I recommend not carrying out any requests in the meantime." 

"What? Why?" 

"After you've properly registered, the difference in the ransom offered to you will be quite large. Even at the lowest estimate, you will lose at least ten million cells." 

"That…..." 

Leo thought about it, and it wasn't a wrong answer. 

If Jenny and Dylan are right, then just getting your name out there on the deep web can be seen as a step towards gaining some level of recognition as a freelancer. 

However, the problem for Leo, who needed money urgently, was that he could not just wait for the ransom to rise. 

Dylan, who was watching him from the side, asked absentmindedly. 

"Do you need money right now?" 

"… …Because of circumstances." 

As Leo nodded silently to Dylan's words, Jenny's face also became serious. 

If Leo, who rarely talks about himself, is the first to express his opinion, it must not be such a trivial matter. 

Jenny quickly looked at Leo's expression and immediately opened her mouth. 

"No, well… It's not that you should never make a request. If you need money right now, you should accept the request regardless of the price or the amount. However, if the clients find out that the market price is different after they are registered on the deep web, they may file a claim…" 

Dylan, who had been pursuing his lips while watching Jenny mumble something that was almost like an excuse, said as if he suddenly remembered something. 

"Oh, how about this?" 

"What." 

"These days, there's something that mercenaries sometimes do to earn some extra money. What do you think?" 

"… … My allowance isn't enough. No matter how much I save, I need at least 20 million cells." 

"It's okay because it's not a job where the amount is set. If you have the ability, you can pull in over ten million cells in a day. Are you interested?" 

"… … .." 

At this point, it's hard for Leo to ignore Dylan's words. 

Surely you wouldn't lie about something like this. 

Leo sat up straighter, looking at him, and he could feel him grinning behind his mask. 

"You know that outside of the 50s area, there are a lot of undeveloped areas?"