Miserable Reincarnation

45 – Request for a Mission (1)

The 5th level.

As someone who had recently survived several close calls, Lian couldn’t just let it go.

It was a way to surpass the level of mere survival in this world and raise his own value.

Of course, he had realized some clues through Joltan Pashur, but it would be better to seek help from researchers than blindly dive in.

Of course, you’ll only know once you delve deeper.

“I would like to hear a more detailed story.”

“Sure.”

As if she had been waiting, Berta flipped the monitor screen on the desk.

Shortly afterward, numerous data spread out in all directions like holograms.

“The research Michelangelo is conducting is titled ‘Changes Occurring with the Rise of Hierarchy.’ The purpose of the study is to quantify the changes, internally and externally, when humans advance to a higher level.”

Rian looked up at Berta with a narrowed forehead. It was because he couldn’t understand what it meant at all.

However, Berta seemed to interpret Rian’s expression differently and casually switched the screen.

“Of course, what you’re curious about isn’t this kind of content.”

Beyond the screen, a vial emitting a green light revealed itself.

Even to Rian, who was ignorant in the field of pharmacy, it looked like a fairly convincing potion.

“It’s a reward offered by Michelangelo. A top-grade potion directly produced in Sichuan. It may not have much effect on mages, but it’s excellent for those with physical abilities. There have been reported cases in academia where hierarchy has risen, as a matter of fact.”

Sichuan, a prestigious business operated from the foundation of the Eastern Continent.

I never thought I would hear that name again here.

Rian opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

“… It seems like it would exceed tens of millions, even at a glance.”

“So, when selecting a subject, one must be more careful than anything else. There’s only one potion.”

“Aren’t you overestimating me too much?”

“Then let’s overestimate.”

Berta curled one corner of her mouth.

“You’re not an adult yet, are you?”

“….”

I could sense some anticipation in their eyes, but I didn’t expect them to come at me like this all of a sudden.

“At first, I was confused, but I roughly understand now when I concentrate.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Bloodline.”

The pathway through which magic flows.

At some point, Berta’s pupils began to shine with a purple light.

“It’s unbelievably pure. Even if you say you replaced the entire bloodline with top-grade implants, it’s impossible to maintain that level of purity at all times. In the end, there are only two possibilities. Either you’re a master who has achieved the legendary status of reverse aging, or you never became an adult in the first place.”

The former is unlikely, so the answer was already predetermined from the beginning.

“Can mages who have reached such a level see that kind of thing?”

Rian remained silent.

To be able to roughly estimate someone’s age.

In other words, revealing one’s talent to high-ranking mages could also be a great danger.

It would allow them to directly perceive the level of Rian’s talent.

“….”

It was fortunate that they realized it now.

If Berta had realized that they were just a ten-year-old child, they wouldn’t have been able to maintain their composure like this.

They probably saw them as being in their mid-teens.

Of course, even if Rian’s appearance was well taken care of, they still looked like they were in their early teens at best. But the common knowledge that it was impossible to reach such a level at that age clouded their judgment.

Actions that did not befit one’s age would have bolstered his judgment.

As the silence lingered, Berta slowly spoke up.

“There’s no need for your identity to be exposed. Michel is a thorough researcher. As long as he can directly observe the changes that occur during the rise in hierarchy, he’ll accept almost any conditions, even if they are unfavorable to me.”

“…”

“If you’re genuinely uneasy, I’ll personally vouch for you. Strange to say this, but I do have some influence in the magical community.”

Berta’s teacup was now showing the bottom.

“It might not be a bad experience for you. The Academy of Turas is a ‘proper’ educational institution even acknowledged by the high-and-mighty mages. It wouldn’t be a bad future, mingling with aspiring researchers.”

It was a statement implying that the future, bright with diligent researchers, held no harm.

“Take your time to think, and if you decide to proceed, get in touch. But I hope you’d contact within three days; that friend isn’t known for their patience.”

*****

“Lian, sir!”

Someone called out to Lian as he was about to leave the building.

It was the female employee who had recommended watching the public recruitment at the reception desk.

She had rushed over, fixing her disheveled hair.

“Is there something wrong?”

“A request for your presence came in just now…!”

A request for presence.

As clients nominate and request a specific person, the amount and difficulty of such requests were incomparable to regular ones.

In a way, receiving a nominated request was a testament to one’s own skills.

“…Are you talking about me?”

Certainly, Lian’s reaction was far from calm, to say the least.

Except for the mercenaries, there wasn’t a single person who truly knew Lian’s capabilities.

‘Even among the mercenaries, there might be a few who do.’

As if sensing that, an employee tilted their head.

“We have no one else in our mercenary group with the same name as Lian. And… most importantly, there’s clear evidence….”

“First, calm down.”

“Oh, yes.”

After catching her breath for a while, she slowly spoke.

“First, would you come with me for a moment?”

“Yes.”

Lian followed her upstairs. Unlike the first floor, most of the people on the second floor were mercenaries.

“It seems that choosing this as the reward for this mission would be… “

“Are you okay with starting a targeted mission at a minimum of two million cells?”

From Noble mtl dot com

Employees dedicated to each mercenary for selecting missions, employees explaining the industry to clients….

There were only dozens of such individuals.

‘Entering a place like this was sheer luck.’

Lian realized how fortunate he was at times like this.

“You can sit here.”

Thinking that way, Lian sat in the seat pointed out by the employee.

“Would you like to see the details of the mission first?”

Rian, who had checked the request, slowly opened his mouth.

“Bodyguard… a request?”

“Yes. In fact, bodyguard requests often proceed as named requests. Since entrusting my life is involved, the required specifications are quite high.”

It wasn’t a false statement.

In his previous life, Rian had indeed carried out quite a few bodyguard requests.

‘So it’s mostly politicians or businesspeople with many enemies.’

That’s why there was even more doubt.

No matter how much he thought about it, in this life, he hadn’t been involved with such giants. Even if he unintentionally got involved, there was no reason for them to hire him. If they were that influential, there would be talents much superior to Rian around.

However, all of Rian’s doubts faded away the moment he saw the client’s name.

“Valentino Yudis…?”

“Yes. The client you first worked for.”

The rescue request that he had carried out with Harang.

‘The name of the one we rescued back then was… Riley Yudis, wasn’t it?’

Considering the identical last names, there was no doubt that it was Riley’s relative.

Rian, who was reading through the documents, narrowed his eyes.

‘…Five hundred million cells for the request fee? Wasn’t he just an executive at a large company?’

Even if Deccard was the leading defense industry company, this seemed a bit excessive.

“Is this a legitimate request?”

“Yes. Just to be sure, I cross-verified through the cyberspace, and the request from your side is confirmed. The identity is clear, and there are no issues to be concerned about.”

“…….”

So, it’s getting weirder.

What in the world makes someone entrust security to a ten-year-old kid?

“If you don’t want to, you can refuse… but from what I see, it’s better to accept.”

The employee said so, pointing somewhere on the page.

“It’s not the client; it’s the client’s daughter who needs protection. It seems she’s worried because of the kidnapping incident last time.”

“Even if that’s the case, people don’t usually burn fifty million cells for security.”

If they just hired a regular security company, even with a quarter of that amount, they could get top-notch protection.

“…….”

As if struck by a realization, the employee fell silent.

So, there’s only one possibility left.

Borrowing the client’s name, someone wants to meet Lian.

‘Even if it means burning fifty million cells into the air.’

Lian smiled faintly and opened his mouth.

“What’s the client’s contact information? I’d like to meet them once.”

*****