I Am A Wizard Who Can Travel Between Earth And The Other World-Chapter 37 - 39 The Second Mission

"Did you really just leap at the offer without thinking?" Desmond's voice cut through the air, sharp and unimpressed.

Jay's face contorted with indignation. "What was I supposed to do? Say no? Do you think opportunities like this fall from the sky?" His voice carried the defensiveness of someone desperately clinging to their pride.

"Are you even a proper broker?" Desmond asked, his tone as calm and piercing as a blade.

Jay straightened his back, pride now shining in his expression. "Of course, I am! I've been in this business for over ten years. There's no one in this field who knows the ins and outs better than I do!"

"And yet, someone like you jumped at their bait like a starving animal.

Anyone could see Astra Pharmaceuticals is the one desperate here."

"What?" Jay's indignation turned to confusion, and then a flicker of realization crossed his face.

"No matter how good the offer is," Desmond continued, his tone cold but deliberate, "you don't show your hand too early. You make them wait. That's how you seize control of the negotiation."

It took a moment, but Jay's expression darkened as understanding dawned. He had realized his mistake. Desmond watched him with a nod, noting how quickly Jay acknowledged his error. It was a rare trait to admit fault so readily and use it as fuel for growth.

"I got carried away," Jay admitted. "I won't let it happen again."

"Good. Now, what's the job?"

"They want to meet first," Jay said.

Desmond leaned back, his sharp gaze softening into one of contemplation. Three days had passed since he arrived in this mirrored world. He needed to decide soon when to return to his original world. Staying here indefinitely wasn't an option, but something about this world lingered in his mind—a pull he couldn't quite explain.

At first, it had been mere curiosity. Now, it was something more—a sense of purpose tied to this place, something waiting to be unearthed.

The ruins, perhaps? Whatever it was, it seemed inextricably linked to Astra Pharmaceuticals. For now, working with them would provide him the opportunities he needed.

"When's the meeting?" he asked.

"Whenever we want. Just call ahead and head to their headquarters," Jay replied.

"Call them."

"Right now?" Jay blinked, stunned by the sudden decisiveness. But when Desmond nodded, his face lit up with excitement.

He snatched his phone with an energy that made him feel as though he'd just been promoted several ranks.

---

Joseph maintained a neutral expression, though the man sitting before him made that a challenge. Desmond was nothing like Jay. While Jay had eagerly seized the opportunity he'd offered, Desmond remained reserved, unreadable.

His calm yet piercing gaze seemed to dissect every word, every gesture.

"Wouldn't a long-term contract be more beneficial for both of us?" Joseph suggested again, his tone measured and diplomatic.

But Desmond shook his head, rejecting the offer once more. "I can't stay in one place for too long. My circumstances don't allow it. I prefer to work on a case-by-case basis."

Joseph opened his mouth to respond, but Desmond's eyes suddenly sharpened, locking onto him with an intensity that sent an unexplainable chill down his spine.

His body stiffened, an instinctual reaction to the unspoken pressure emanating from the man before him.

"And I need accurate information," Desmond added, his voice low but commanding. "I won't tolerate surprises or ambushes caused by half-truths."

Joseph found himself nodding, almost involuntarily.

It wasn't just the subtle intimidation in Desmond's words—it was also the memory of their prior dealings. The insufficient information Joseph had provided during the last mission had nearly cost them dearly.

He wouldn't make that mistake again, not with this man.

"Fine," Joseph said, exhaling slowly. "The mage you captured—he's connected to Merentil Pharmaceuticals."

Desmond's brow furrowed at the unfamiliar name, prompting Jay to explain. "They're the second-largest pharmaceutical company in West ham," he said.

Desmond nodded and turned back to Joseph. "Why would they do this?"

"They're trying to absorb us," Joseph said, his voice bitter.

Desmond tilted his head, skeptical. "A company as large as yours? Wouldn't that be impossible?"

"In normal circumstances, yes. But our security team's recent losses have created a vulnerability." Joseph sighed heavily, frustration etched into his features. "If they resort to force, we might not be able to stop them."

"But there are plenty of mercenary guilds," Desmond pointed out. "Couldn't you contract one of them?"

"Merentil anticipated that," Joseph replied with a bitter smile. "They've already bribed or intimidated most of the guilds we could approach. The few who are available are... unreliable at best."

Joseph explained that Astra's remaining options were slim, forcing them to focus their resources on defending their most vulnerable operations.

His assignment was to secure the supply of critical potion ingredients—materials essential to their business.

"Merentil has two ways to target our potion supply," Joseph explained. He raised a finger. "First, they could sabotage our large-scale cultivation facilities within the city." He raised a second. "Second, they could disrupt the collection of rare ingredients gathered outside the city."

Desmond considered this, his expression pensive. "How many gatherers are we talking about?"

"About two thousand go out each day. But Merentil likely won't target them directly—it would hurt their own supply chain as well," Joseph said.

Desmond nodded. "Then they'll target the warehouses where the materials are stored."

"That's a possibility," Joseph said, "but my focus is on the transportation of those materials. We transport about ten days' worth of supplies in a single trip.

A few successful disruptions, and we're in serious trouble."

The timeline made Desmond frown. Protecting shipments over the span of several months was a commitment he couldn't afford. He needed a faster solution, something definitive.

After a moment of deliberation, Desmond turned his sharp gaze toward Joseph. "Wouldn't it be easier to strike first and seize their transport rather than focusing on defense?"

Joseph's eyes widened in shock, though skepticism quickly clouded his expression. He shook his head slowly. "That might be even more difficult. Merentil Pharmaceuticals has not one but two mages at their disposal."

"Stronger than the one we just captured?" Desmond asked, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.

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"Far stronger," Joseph admitted gravely. "I thought I mentioned this earlier—Lorien , the mage you captured, was a novice, just beginning to grasp his craft. The two mages Merentil employs are both third-circle sorcerers."

Third-circle? The unfamiliar term piqued Desmond's interest. He surmised it might refer to the structure of their cores—three cylindrical layers, perhaps? His curiosity burned brighter. He wanted to face them, to test their strength and unravel the mystery of what third-circle magic truly entailed.

"That's my concern to handle," Desmond said, dismissing the notion of difficulty with an air of finality. "If I take their transport, it wouldn't matter if they stole your resources afterward, correct?"