I Am A Wizard Who Can Travel Between Earth And The Other World-Chapter 32 - 34 The First Encounter with a Mage

Gin sifted through the data his information-gathering patterns had collected. Among the three targets inside the warehouse,

two were ability users. Their mana reserves were slightly below Anderaine, the leader of the Fishmongers Guild. However, the third figure was different.

It was a mage—a novice, clumsy, and raw, with an almost laughably weak core.

"Can something like that even be called a core? How is it even functioning?"

The question wasn't unwarranted. The mage's core had an incredibly low mana density, so much so that Gin questioned if it should even be considered functional. Intrigued, he focused more closely on the oddity, delving into the mechanics of this so-called core.

Unlike Gin's core, which was a stable and intricate construct, the mage's core was cylindrical and rotated slowly.

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"Rotation alone shouldn't stabilize it. My own system relies on rotation as part of a larger process, but I still need to dedicate mental focus to maintain it."

Clearly, something else was at work here.

"Wait—what do you mean there's a mage in there?" Jay interrupted, his face still pale with shock.

Gin held up a hand to silence him, his focus fixed on the mage's core.

"Fascinating. The structure itself is inherently stable, even with such low density."

Though it lacked density, the gathered mana clumped together just enough to remain cohesive. It was crude, but it was still a core—a foundation for magic. However, its unusual size caught Gin's attention. The cylindrical core was almost as large as the mage's torso, but its sparse mana density left it feeling hollow.

"What could he possibly achieve with something like that?"

Yet Gin knew better than to dismiss it outright.

Magic wasn't about the size or strength of the core but rather the ability to precisely control mana and the depth of one's understanding of spells. Still, a solid core served as a strong foundation for any mage.

"Perhaps the unstable mana in this world forces cores to form in this strange way," Gin mused. "But a core like that wouldn't generate its own mana."

A proper mage's core didn't just store mana—it produced it, allowing spells to be cast even in mana-devoid regions. If this mage stepped into such an area, he'd effectively become powerless.

After analyzing the core, Gin shifted his attention to the mage's magical artifacts. Five artifacts stood out: a bracelet on each wrist, a wand in his hand, enchanted boots, and a small rod tucked inside his inner pocket.

The rod piqued Gin's interest. "That must be Astra's stolen recipe," he thought.

Unfortunately, identifying the properties of the other artifacts wasn't as straightforward.

They were shielded by robust security enchantments, far more sophisticated than anything Gin had seen recently, even the enchanted silver bracelet Odysseus had acquired.

"At least this feels professional."

"What are you mumbling about?" Jay asked, his frustration bubbling over.

"It's something you wouldn't understand, even if I explained it," Gin replied flatly.

Jay threw up his hands in exasperation. "Fine, whatever."

Gin ignored him and began walking toward the warehouse. His observations were complete—it was time to act.

"Stay here and—" Gin started, but then he paused mid-sentence, his sharp gaze flicking to a point behind Jay.

"What?" Jay asked nervously. "Should I just wait here?"

"We're being watched," Gin said.

"What?" Jay's eyes widened in alarm. "By who? Are they with the mage?"

Gin frowned slightly. "Unlikely. If anything, I'd guess they're from Astra, but I can't be certain."

"So what's the plan? Do we take them out first?"

"No. The mage comes first," Ban said decisively.

"And if those guys decide to target me instead?" Jay asked, his voice rising in panic.

"Don't worry. I'll handle it. Just follow me."

Setting the Trap

Gin led Jay to a nearby abandoned building, choosing the darkest and most secluded corner of the structure.

"Stay here," Gin ordered. "Don't move. Don't speak."

"What?" Jay protested.

"Stay put until I come back. Even if someone finds you, pretend you don't see them. Understand?"

Jay stared at Gin, dumbfounded. The instructions made no sense, but Gin was already weaving magic.

Threads of mana flowed from Gin's core as he cast a series of spells. First, he cloaked Jay in a distortion field to blur his presence. Then he layered on soundproofing and mana-blocking barriers. In the dark, isolated space, Jay's distorted figure blended seamlessly into the shadows.

"As long as you don't move, this will hold. If you step out, I can't protect you. Keep that in mind," Gin said before walking out.

Left alone, Jay fidgeted nervously, his mind racing. He was a broker, not a fighter—what was he even doing here?

"Damn it, why am I stuck in this mess?"

Lorien Vareth sat comfortably in the warehouse, sipping a steaming cup of coffee. Despite the worn-down exterior of the building, the interior had been carefully prepared. The mage had all the essentials: a coffee machine, a fully stocked refrigerator, and a cozy bed and sofa.

From his seat, Lorien glanced at the two mercenaries engrossed in their smartphone games.

"You're taking this a little too easy," Rolf said with a smirk. "You know Calden's mercenaries are coming for us, right?"

One of the mercenaries didn't even look up. "Relax. We already have intel on the guys they hired. There are only two of them, and I could handle both on my own. You've got nothing to worry about."

Despite their casual attitudes, the mercenaries treated Vareth with respect. After all, a mage was a mage, no matter how novice.

"Fine. As long as you're confident," Vareth muttered.

This location wasn't the primary target, after all. The real battle was meant to unfold elsewhere, where Astra's security team was headed.

Everything had been orchestrated perfectly, even the theft of Astra's recipe. It was all part of a grander plan. Lorien's benefactor, Merentil Pharmaceuticals, the second-largest pharmaceutical company in West ham, was plotting to absorb Astra into its operations.

The first step in their plan was simple but brutal—eliminate Astra's security team. A trap had already been set, and within a few hours, Astra's forces would walk straight into it.

Lorien reached into his inner pocket, his hand brushing the stolen recipe. His lips curled into a small smile.

The game was already in motion.