Nobody move.

It was a tower.

Moreover, the tallest building in the area.

‘A clock tower… I heard it was something artists made during the war following a trend.’

A clock is a tool that moves hands to indicate time.

To make this simple action happen, countless parts must work in harmony, and if even a little goes wrong, the machine won’t function properly.

In other words, a clock is something that can only exist with ‘perfection’ in itself.

The clock tower they were entering now was a work of art created following such trends of the time, and now that the trend has ended, it has become a building outside of people’s interest.

That is, it’s a suitable place to conduct mischief away from others’ eyes.

‘They’re heading up…’

Waden carefully concealed his presence as he moved inside the clock tower and towards the top.

At the entrance he found after walking down the corridor, faint light was leaking out.

Since there shouldn’t be light underground, someone inside must have turned on a light.

“…You’re too late.”

“Oh my~ I’m really sorry about this. It seems my subordinates were a bit delayed in carrying out their operation… We made you wait even longer than planned.”

“If you’re like this before the deal even starts, won’t it lower trust?”

“Rather, we did this to gain trust. The security system of this city is better than we thought… Above all, as we both need to be careful, I hope you can understand this much, but…”

Waden leaned against the entrance to check inside.

At the top of the space, large and small parts were intertwined as if forming layers, but what Waden was really interested in were the two men confronting each other at the bottom.

A man in a black hood with several armed individuals behind him.

And a man in a tuxedo wearing a monocle, speaking glibly and chuckling in front of him.

Behind the tuxedo man were the men Waden had been tailing earlier.

‘Is that man the black market merchant trying to sell weapons in this city?’

For some reason, the back view looked familiar, but…

No, whatever the case, it’s clear they’re up to no good.

Waden, who had temporarily named him the black market merchant, gripped the weapon inside his coat tighter.

Hoping not to draw it, but resolving to draw it at any opportunity.

“…Fine. It’s enough if I just receive the item.”

The man in the black hood replied stiffly to his glib attitude.

The person presumed to be the buyer soon turned his gaze slightly towards what was placed next to him.

“Is that box next to you the item you advertised?”

“Yes~ That’s right. We’ve preserved and managed it perfectly as we took care in excavating it, so you can rest assured.”

The black market merchant said this while instructing his subordinates to put the box on the ground.

The box laid on the ground was wrapped in several layers of black chains, and it was something Waden knew about.

‘A key that changes shape in response to specific wavelengths emitted by mana… It’s a locking device that can only reveal the inside when unlocked using it.’

The key needed to unlock it must be the one hanging on the black market merchant’s finger.

“Can I check the inside?”

The buyer’s stiff voice upon seeing that lock.

It was a natural result, as he came to buy the item but couldn’t even see inside as it was tightly sealed.

“Before that, please pay the price first.”

But the black market merchant boldly demanded payment in this state.

Even though they couldn’t even confirm what was inside despite being cautious.

“…You want me to pay first without even properly showing the item?”

“I’m sorry, but this is unavoidable from our position as well. Coincidentally, we have ‘sealed’ this… The moment the lock is released, it will immediately wake up and turn the surroundings into a wasteland.”

Sealed, he says.

It’s not an expression suitable for a weapon. Not unless it has a power incomparable to the explosion that occurred in the middle of the city earlier.

“Well, from your position of wanting this city to collapse, you might prefer that.”

“That’s for me to decide, not for you to consider. How unpleasant. Does this mean I can’t even check its condition until I buy it?”

“Ahaha~ We’ve been in this business for years, how could we possibly cheat? Rather, if we deceive you here, wouldn’t we be the ones in danger?”

“You never know. You might wash your hands of it after this last deal.”

The buyer was displeased with the glib black market merchant. In response to his attitude, the guards around started to draw their swords.

The subtle aura felt from the blades itself taught that they were high-level swordsmen.

“My, my, do you always have to see blood to be satisfied?”

But the black market merchant wasn’t intimidated by this either.

Rather, he just signaled his subordinates to take defensive positions.

‘Is the conversation not going well?’

Both were in a situation with no way out, conducting an illegal transaction in the middle of the city.

It’s understandable that they’re on edge, but the reason they had to be could also be guessed by recalling their conversation.

‘The black market merchant said. The weapon inside cannot be carelessly opened… There’s a danger of the surroundings turning into a wasteland the moment it’s opened.’

And what the buyer wants is to devastate the area using the weapon of mass destruction inside that box.

If destruction is the only purpose, it would be better to make the transaction site the target.

‘Causing destruction in this city… The ripple effect that would create would be terrifying.’

A place where not only the entire continent is focused, but even wealthy individuals who can manage more funds than royal families are investing without restraint.

If terrorism occurs in such a place, there’s a danger of it leading to an international problem as soon as it can’t be resolved.

‘The war that was barely stopped could break out again.’

A situation that must be prevented at all costs.

While feeling pressure from this, as he was gripping the weapon in his bosom…

“Who’s there?”

Startled by a voice from behind, his head quickly turned back.

A man wearing a black hood, just like those at the scene.

His stiff face showed wariness towards Waden.

“What are you!! How did you get in here…!!”

-Bang!!!

The sound that burst from the weapon reflexively pulled out from his bosom. And a flash.

At that sound, when those at the scene turned their gaze towards the entrance, Waden stepped on the head of the man he had shot down and pointed his weapon at them.

“Don’t move.”

And he shouted.

“Everyone put your hands above your heads. If not, I’ll fire.”

“……”

The reactions of those faced with this were divided into two.

The buyer’s side had faces that couldn’t understand what was happening.

And the seller’s side had stiff reactions.

“…A revolver.”

But there was one person who couldn’t hide his interest even while tense.

The head of the seller’s side.

He looked at the weapon in Waden’s hand and gave a sneering smile.

“I see, a member of the Smith family.”

The situation was enough to identify his identity.

Waden was also bewildered by this, but a sneering smile was still drawn on the black market merchant’s lips.

“The Smith family? Why are they here…”

“Buyer, could you please wait a moment?”

The black market merchant restrained the confused buyer.

His interest was already fixed not on the buyer trying to refuse the deal, but on the heir of the Smith family who had intruded on this scene.

“This will be a story that’s not bad for you either. It would be perfect if we could bring the next heir of the Wesson & Colt trading company into our deal.”

“…Wesson’s? That guy?”

“Yes. Could you allow me a moment?”

“Tch. Finish quickly.”

The buyer’s permission was given.

That shows how much the reputation of Wesson & Colt cannot be overlooked even in their industry.

“Looking at your outfit, you seem to be from Maris’ Disciplinary Committee… Waden, was it? It’s been a long time. Do you remember your uncle’s face?”

The man raised his monocle with a friendly smile.

His appearance in a tuxedo exudes neatness, but Waden found such an artificial appearance unpleasant.

“…I’m sorry, but I’ve never had family like you. Reynold Clock.”

Of course.

The opponent was one of his father’s old business partners.

Unlike his father who quit the industry after the war ended, he was a vile person who still tried to profit by selling weapons to terrorists.

“That gun…”

But even amid such wariness, what stood out in his eyes was what could be called curiosity.

He knew the weapon in this hand.

“It’s nostalgic, your father often talked about it in the past. He said if the practicality of that weapon was proven, it would turn the tide of war.”

It’s not an exaggeration.

In fact, what Waden was pointing was a weapon that allows even civilians who can’t handle mana to respond to mana users.

A single bullet is insufficient to penetrate a shield made by solidifying mana, but if dozens of such bullets are fired in a barrage, it’s possible to secure a chance to kill a skilled magician by disrupting the barrier.

Even if it can’t be said to be equal to mana users, even civilians who haven’t mastered how to handle mana can get a chance to kill mana users.

In other words, if mass production succeeds, it’s a weapon that dramatically raises the ‘lower limit’ of the entire army.

“…Moreover, what you’re holding is not a mass-produced item, but a special make.”

Reynold’s eyes narrowed as he stared at such a weapon.

“It’s quite well-refined. Each part is handmade and the materials are top-grade… Moreover, does it fire bullets by solidifying physical force based on mana?”

Waden flinched and shrank at the continuing analysis.

An even deeper smile was drawn on his lips.

“Yes, it doesn’t just accept pure mana. Through an engineering structure, the process of accepting mana itself has been greatly shortened. Moreover, it’s small enough to fit in your hand, so there’s no problem carrying it… If I were to put a price on it, it would be enough to buy a mansion and have some left over.”

“…Are you not grasping the current situation?”

“I understand very well. How dangerous guns are as weapons… Furthermore, that you, who possess a weapon modified from that, are deeply loved by your father.”

Though he spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal, Waden couldn’t help but feel hatred towards his father at this moment.

To express love only by giving weapons.

Doesn’t it mean that even though he quit the weapons business, fundamentally he’s no different from the man in front of him?

“…Let’s skip the idle talk and get to the point. What exactly is inside that box?”

But such self-loathing is nothing in the face of the greater cause.

This is not the academy, and this situation itself is beyond what he can handle.

If it can’t be stopped without abandoning conscience, he must steel his resolve.

“It’s an ancient weapon that can turn this city into a wasteland.”

Reynold spoke nonchalantly towards Waden, who was making threats.

His gaze, holding out the key in his hand, turned towards the sealed box laid on the floor.

“Ancient…?”

“To summarize… Yes, you could say it’s similar to what you’re holding in your hand.”

Hehe, Reynold smiled.

“Isn’t it fascinating? The fact that remnants of weapons that have only just been developed now existed in the past as well.”

The following words were meant to induce interest and sympathy in himself, but for Waden, such things were outside his interest.

The important thing is that guns are dangerous weapons.

And what’s inside that box is a weapon of mass destruction with a danger incomparable to such guns.

“…War is profitable.”

How it was made long ago, looking into such things can be postponed for later.

Soon, Waden, who had gathered his thoughts, spoke the words he had heard in the past and asked him.

“In the past, that’s what you said to my father. Has that thought not changed even now?”

“…It seems our Waden doesn’t like those words very much.”

“Of course not. We ended it two years ago because everyone wanted it!”

The muzzle in his hand is pointed at his head.

“Reynold Clock. You, are you perhaps hoping for war to break out again? For the sake of making money?”

It’s an obvious story.

That weapons dealers are the ones who most want war to break out.