When you stir up an ant hill, it's natural for ants to come swarming out.

The factory that had seemed so quiet from the outside now had quite a few people rushing out after one big shake.

"What's this? When did your magical power grow so much?"

Casey's interest was actually caught by the magic Rudger had just shown.

He blew away the factory door with pure magical power in one strike.

Though it looked like a shabby factory door from the outside, anyone could tell it had all sorts of reinforcements on the inside but Rudger destroyed it all as if such things meant nothing.

"There's been some progress."

"What, did you find and eat some legendary elixir or something?"

"I ate something similar. Have you heard of the World Tree's fruit?"

"That's an interesting joke. How could such a thing exist in this world?"

‘That's right. I didn't know such a thing existed either.’

Rudger swallowed those words and gazed at the enemies with a sunken look.

Though their outward appearance was no different from nearby factory workers, their sturdy builds and distinctively fierce gazes told a different story.

"Can you see it?"

"No."

"There are too many to catch and question one by one."

"See that? The man with the hat slightly in the back?"

"I see him."

"He seems to be the highest-ranking one here."

"Why do you think that?"

"Look at the cigar ash on his clothes. If someone's smoking expensive cigars alone among this rough crowd, it's obvious."

"That's a reasonable deduction."

Rudger took a step forward as if saying he would handle this and Casey stayed still.

If Rudger said he would take care of it, there was no point in interfering and potentially getting in the way.

'Besides, since their hideout was attacked, other guys will be moving.'

The enemies wouldn't have expected their hideout to remain undiscovered forever.

Naturally, they would have prepared double and triple safety measures in case of discovery.

Even for a medium-sized country, those operating in the capital would have that much capability.

'Found it.'

Casey's sharp senses keenly caught an anomalous trace.

Something glinted on the rooftop of a building overlooking this factory.

‘Not a sniper, probably binoculars to observe this side.’

As Casey quietly moved toward the target, Rudger was already engaged in battle.

Rudger aimed his staff and fired a magic bullet.

Some of those trying to dodge the attack were swept up and rolled on the ground.

Their reaction was quick, but the explosion's power was too great to avoid properly.

However, no one was completely retired.

The corner of Rudger's eye curved slightly.

'Their response is faster than expected.'

It was quite remarkable how they moved in unison despite being ambushed, and how they remained calm and responded steadily even against a magician.

It meant they had anticipated this kind of situation from the start.

"Looks like this was the right place."

Something like a metal canister flew from afar.

It fell around Rudger and released white smoke with a whoosh.

An intense cloud of smoke arose instantly.

It wasn't ordinary smoke.

Given the strange irritation on the skin, it was clearly tear gas.

'Good counter. Guns won't work against a magician, and rushing in for close combat would just make them easy prey.'

So they used tear gas to block vision first, while simultaneously making it difficult to form magical formulas.

-Whoosh.

Through the hazy tear gas, three figures wearing gas masks rushed at Rudger.

They swung their knives targeting Rudger's vital points from different directions.

The knives weren't ordinary ones used by knights either so they were more suited for dismembering than cutting.

They were truly nothing but human butchers.

"You lot should be working at a butcher shop somewhere, what kind of conspiracy is this?"

Rudger lightly ground his foot.

Then, along with intense magical power, wind arose and pushed the tear gas outward.

The three who had rushed in were startled but didn't stop.

Rudger raised the staff in his hand to deflect the attack of the one coming from the front to the side.

As the opponent leaned forward with a "huh," Rudger used that force in reverse to throw him at the one coming from behind.

As the two collided and rolled on the ground, the remaining knife strike aimed at his flank was deflected into the air by Rudger's knee strike.

The eyes behind the gas mask showed clear shock.

It was unbelievable that a magician would engage in close combat, moreover showing the skill to deflect a swinging knife with his knee.

Rudger swung his staff to strike the person's face.

Simultaneously, he created magic bullets to quickly subdue the two tangled on the ground.

Sensing the situation turning strange, one man from the gathered crowd could be seen quietly slipping away to the back.

It was the man Casey had mentioned earlier, the one who had been smoking.

"Where to?"

Rudger chased after the fleeing man with lightning speed.

All sorts of thugs tried to cling to Rudger to stop him, but it was useless.

‘One magic spell per person.’

Magic using source code was fired with millisecond intervals and everyone who rushed in was completely subdued.

'It's a bit troublesome having to control my power.'

No one had been killed.

First of all, this was a foreign country, and he was a teacher at Theon in terms of status.

Killing everyone indiscriminately would make the aftermath difficult to handle but that didn't mean subduing them was difficult, it was literally just troublesome.

"Y-you crazy monster!"

The fleeing man entered inside the factory and pulled an unidentifiable lever.

With clicking sounds, machine gears inside the factory turned and meshed together.

A trap installed on the ceiling was activated and a deep shadow was cast over Rudger who was pursuing.

-Kuung!

Massive steel masses crushed down on Rudger.

The man who had pretended to flee while luring Rudger smiled with satisfaction.

"Hahaha! That's what happens when you follow so obediently! You idiot!"

He confirmed that the trap had properly crushed him.

He would probably not even maintain human form under there.

"Damn it. Still, to think he'd chase all the way here. I told them to clean up properly but they left a trail to follow?"

The man took out a cigar from his waist and lit it with a match.

"The sniping failed too. This is why dealing with black magicians brings bad luck in many ways."

"That's quite an interesting story."

Just as he was about to take a puff of the cigar, a voice that shouldn't be heard rang out.

The man looked around in bewilderment.

Eventually his gaze turned to the floor where the voice came from, more precisely, to his own shadow.

Someone suddenly rose up from within the shadow.

The cigar in his mouth dropped to the floor at that unbelievable sight.

"H-how..."

He clearly saw him get properly crushed by the trap, but the man couldn't finish the thought he had in mind.

Rudger, who had risen from the shadow, stared at the man with cold eyes.

"No one can escape from shadows."

The moment the man tried to reach for his waist.

Rudger's staff piercing between his eyes was faster.

* * *

Not long after Rudger swept through the scene, the police rushed in.

Marias Selmore, who came with the police, dismissed them and met with Rudger privately.

"Did you find him?"

"I've captured him here."

Rudger gestured slightly at the unconscious man.

The man, bound not with rope but with wire cable, still had his head deeply bowed.

"Judging by his reaction, he seems to be the sniper himself. And he also mentioned dealing with black magicians."

"That seems right. He must have been acting under their instigation."

"They were quite bold fellows. To think they would dare attempt to assassinate a member of the Selmore family."

"They might have been that desperate, or there might be an even bigger figure behind this."

Rudger also agreed with that point.

Though they were connected with black magicians…even black magicians cannot carelessly mess with the Selmore family.

Even if they weren't targeting Marias herself, who would dare provoke a magician bearing a [Colour] title while sane?

To attempt such a thing means they must be confident they could at least put up a fight even if Marias became enraged.

'A black magician group of that level.'

At minimum 5th rank, possibly even 6th rank black magicians.

'There are many organizations besides the Black Dawn Society after all.'

The Black Dawn Society merely exercised influence evenly across various countries throughout the continent.

When it came to specific regions, there were plenty of organizations with even greater actual power than the Black Dawn Society.

"This is surprising. I didn't expect to find him this quickly."

"I received a lot of help from your sister."

There was no need to show off here, so Rudger credited Casey with the find.

Perhaps thinking it was modesty, Marias let out a slight laugh.

Of course, even with such behavior, it was difficult to properly gauge her true thoughts due to her narrow eyes.

"Not only skilled, but modest too. Though she's my sister, she really met quite an exceptional man."

"Thank you for the compliment, even if it's just flattery."

"Oh my. It's not flattery at all. How disappointing. How about me instead of my sister?"

"That's quite an excessive proposal, but I already have Casey."

"How unfortunate."

‘What's unfortunate about it?’

Rudger thought that he couldn't let his guard down against Marias behavior of subtly testing him.

Though it was a beautiful woman's proposal, how could he trust someone whose true intentions were so unclear?

Rather, showing firm resolve in situations like this was better.

"More importantly, what do you plan to do with this man?"

"Hmm. Are you curious?"

At Marias attitude of slightly asking while placing her index finger on her cheek, Rudger shook his head.

"It would be better not to hear."

That man probably won't formally stand in court.

He won't be locked in a holding cell, nor will he go to prison.

Instead he'll be taken to a very quiet and secret place where no one's gaze would reach, a place where only violence exists, with no law, justice, or mercy.

That man will probably spill everything about his life from birth until now just before death.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, we caught him much faster. Originally it would have taken several more days."

"I merely did what needed to be done. Rather, it's my honor to have been able to help."

"Still, since I received help, it would hurt my reputation to just let it pass. People would talk behind my back if word got out. Saying the Selmore family doesn't know gratitude. I don't want that, so if there's anything you desire, feel free to ask."

"The limit is..."

Rudger asked as if he had been waiting for that answer.

"Are you not setting any?"

At that provocative question, the smile on Marias lips grew even deeper.

It seemed almost like she was asking "See?"

"Usually when I make this kind of offer, people are all surprised or rather become wary."

"Perhaps spending time with your sister has made me quite bold as well."

"My my. I was hoping you wouldn't take after that aspect. Ah, the answer to the question from earlier is 'yes.' I'm not setting any limits. Ask for anything."

It was truly a generous offer but Rudger knows that those words themselves are a kind of trap.

The discretion varies depending on what is requested.

If one requests something excessive without knowing their place, it clearly shows that person will eventually face ruin.

Ambition is good, but it means they failed to recognize their own limits.

Conversely, if one requests something too small, they become a fool who couldn't properly grasp the given opportunity.

Though she said there were no limits to the reward, this was actually the most difficult part because one needed to state a reward exactly matching the level of success achieved this time.

'Just the right amount. If I think about the exact standard of benefit she gained from this incident.'

Rudger smiled lightly and said.

"I have one condition I want this time."

This time?

Just as there was a strange sense of dissonance in Rudger's words Rudger stated what he wanted.

"If we return to the mansion, please prepare a separate room for Casey."

"......"

Marias eyes narrowed into slits, it was a very subtle change in expression.

Though she didn't show it outwardly, Marias mind was racing quickly.

'Wow. What an interesting person.'

She inwardly expressed admiration.

Depending on what request is made, it becomes a vessel showing what kind of man Rudger Chelici is.

Is he an ambitious person who doesn't know his place?

A common citizen who can't even grasp given opportunities?

Or someone who knows exactly how to play the game?

Usually it was just these three options but surprisingly, Rudger was none of those three.

If anything, Rudger was the type that existed outside such frameworks.

Yes.

He was the same type as herself.

'Though it seems like a light request at first glance, taking it lightly would be no different than dismissing Casey. But if I consider it an excessive request, that would rather call into question my dignity as the head of the family.'

The justification was perfect too.

Instead of seeking rewards for his own self-interest, he went with looking after Casey, his fiancée.

'How interesting.'

Originally Rudger, who was on the cutting board of evaluation, transferred the subject to herself with one question, it was a masterstroke.

Marias nodded readily with a bright smile.

"By all means."

"Thank you for accepting my stubborn request."

"Stubborn request? Actually, I was planning to give her a separate room even without such a request."

"Oh my. It seems I did something unnecessary then."

-Huhuhu.

-Hahaha.

Rudger and Marias laughed while looking at each other.

"I'm back."

Casey, who had just arrived at the scene after catching the observer, looked at Marias and Rudger and shuddered.

"...Ugh, you two are really creepy."