Make them pay

In a government office, a blond man awoke from a nap in an armchair with a deep sigh. As he got up, he rubbed his eyes and looked around. The office was luxurious, filled with paintings—some vibrant and beautiful, others displaying university degrees and academic achievements.

He approached them and read:
"Lemos, Bachelor in International Relations, Harvard."

Glancing around further, he spotted his glass desk, cluttered with various reports and documents bearing different titles:
"The Evolution of QuantumByte," "The Traffic of Magical Weapons," "The Consequences of Magic..."

As he flipped through the papers, a young woman entered the office. She was dressed in a formal suit and wore opaque glasses that concealed her eyes.

"Mr. Lemos, the car has arrived to take you to the meeting," she announced in a serious tone.

"Ah… right," Lemos responded, still somewhat disoriented, choosing to go along with it. "I'll be there shortly."

"Good. Also, please straighten yourself up—you look like you just woke up, with that messy hair and wrinkled suit."

With those words, the woman closed the door and left.

Lemos heeded her advice and walked to a mirror near his desk. What he saw shocked him more than anything he had imagined in his thousands of years of life. He touched his head, then his ears.

"No… they’re gone. My pride as an elf..."

He frantically ran his hands over his head, searching for the pointed ears that had always defined him. But in this world, he was nothing more than a simple human.

"How is this possible…? There’s something those gods aren’t telling us."

For now, Lemos accepted the situation. He straightened his tie, combed his hair, and gathered the reports he had been reading before stepping into the dark car waiting outside. A tall, muscular man wearing dark glasses opened the door for him before taking the driver’s seat.

During the ride, Lemos used the time to go through his reports and understand this world’s situation.

This was a world without magic, relying instead on technology and science to meet its needs. However, there were limits—incurable diseases, resource shortages, natural disasters. That was until two years ago, when the American company QuantumByte, a leader in technological innovation, introduced ExoMagics—crystals infused with stored magic.

With these, new technologies could be enhanced without additional resources, making the impossible possible. Wind magic for flying cars, healing magic to cure diseases, nature magic to accelerate plant growth—the possibilities were endless.

QuantumByte had exported ExoMagics worldwide, yet for some reason, Japan had been left behind, excluded from this technological revolution. However, ExoMagic-powered weapons had been spotted on the black market, suggesting illegal trade.

Today, a meeting was set to take place with QuantumByte’s CEO to negotiate a safe supply for Japan and investigate how these resources had fallen into criminal hands. Among the attendees, one name stood out:

"Well, well… we meet again so soon, Archmage."

After some time, the car arrived at the meeting location—a five-star hotel, the finest in Tokyo. Outside, protesters held signs reading, "QuantumByte Out!" and "Magic Ruins Lives."

Lemos didn’t understand the outrage. If anything, aside from illegal arms trafficking, magic had been saving lives elsewhere. Had he overlooked something in his report? Was this why the goddess had sent them here?

As he stepped out, a massive police officer shielded him from the protesters, escorting him inside. Once through the crowd, he entered the hotel, where numerous suited men stood waiting.

"Lemos! Glad you made it!"

A man approached, shaking his hand firmly.

"You’re the last to arrive. I’ve been waiting for you."

It was Kaito Masayoshi, Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lemos’ superior.

"Hey, did you get your secretary’s number yet? She’s gorgeous—I can’t stop thinking about her," Kaito whispered with a grin.

"Kaito, this isn’t the time for that. Besides, I doubt you’re her type, with that gut of yours."

"Ouch, that hurts! Haha, still as serious as ever. Speaking of women, I have someone I want to introduce you to. She’s part of the meeting—very beautiful. I tried talking to her, but I think she’s more your type."

"Kaito, this isn’t a nightclub."

Despite Lemos’ protests, Kaito pushed him toward a woman with short dark hair, glasses, and a lab coat. Her eyes were strikingly bright.

"Kaito, allow me to introduce you to our magical science advisor, a professor at Tokyo’s Scientific University. Her name is—"

"Roxy Morwynd."

Lemos cut him off.

"It’s fine, Kaito. I already know her. You can go."

"Oh… I see. Well then, I’ll leave you two to catch up. See you inside."

As soon as Kaito left, Roxy smirked.

"Hello, Mr. Ambassador," she said mockingly.

"Drop the formalities, Morwynd. What are you doing here? You don’t seem high-ranking enough in this world to be part of this meeting, judging by your attire."

"It’s a lab coat, genius. When I woke up, I was researching at a university until some mens in suits showed up and brought me here. Apparently, they needed an expert to advise on ExoMagic in Japan for this meeting, and in this world, I’m that expert. Shouldn’t you be happy we reunited so soon?"

"I suppose. So, you already understand this world’s situation?"

"I did some research on the way—on the internet."

"Inter…what?"

Lemos had no idea what she was talking about. Each new term stressed him out more.

"Speak in a language I understand, witch."

"You’ll figure it out soon enough, thanks to the goddess. Speaking of which, it’s odd seeing you without your elf ears. Too odd, I’d say."

"Don’t remind me," Lemos muttered, covering his ears in embarrassment.

"So, what’s your take on all this?"

"At first glance, ExoMagic seems incredibly beneficial and could be well-integrated with this world’s technology."

"Yeah, I came to the same conclusion. But the protesters outside seem to disagree."

"True. ExoMagic has consequences, such as—"

"You don’t want to know, Mr. Ambassador. I doubt a boy like you could handle it—especially working for the enemy."

A new voice interrupted.

A Japanese woman, dressed in a white blouse with a beige coat draped over her shoulders, approached. Her brown hair was tied in a neat bun, her skin pale as snow, and her gaze sharp and mature. The click of her heels echoed as she walked.

"Excuse me, but that’s no way to speak to an elf who has lived for centuries," Lemos said, cold and serious.

The woman stared at him with a strange expression.

Then, realization hit him.

There are no elves in this world.

His face turned red, and he lowered his gaze. Roxy sighed.

But the woman suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Who would’ve thought Lemos had a sense of humor? You made my day!" she said, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Tch. Whatever. Who are you, woman? Generally, people introduce themselves before interrupting a conversation."

"Ah, my apologies. I assumed you’d at least recognize my face. I’m Reina Yotsukura, head of the MWCA, the Magical Weapons Control Agency. A pleasure."

"What brings you here, Yotsukura-san?" Roxy asked cautiously.

"Oh, nothing. I was just drawn to your conversation. So, which side will you take in this meeting? Are you in favor, or will you fight to keep ExoMagic out of Japan? I assume Lemos will support it—after all, he wants what’s best for his American friends."

"We haven’t decided yet. What about you?"

"Isn’t it obvious? At the agency, we fight daily to cleanse the streets of that so-called magic. It’s not a blessing—it’s a curse, and I intend to end it."

She turned to leave, but her eyes, for a fleeting moment, gleamed with something almost… demonic.

"What do you think?" Roxy asked Lemos

"It could be useful to us."

"That’s what I thought. Come on, let’s go in."

As they entered the room, they found a long table in the center, surrounded by dark chairs. On one side, the seats were already occupied by foreign men; on the other, the Japanese took their places, along with Roxy and Lemos. The only vacant seat was in the middle, reserved for the main figure of the meeting.

After a few minutes, someone finally arrived.

A bearded man wearing sunglasses, practically naked. He had only a towel wrapped around his waist. His body was still wet.

"Sorry, sorry. I fell asleep in the bath," he said nonchalantly. "Forgive my appearance, but I didn’t have time to get dressed. Have you started yet?"

"No, Mr. Ulrich, we were waiting for you," responded a woman in a suit and glasses, seated beside him.

"Thank you, Michelle. So, who’s going first?" Ulrich said as he casually stretched his legs over the table. "Relax, I’m not completely naked. I managed to put on a swimsuit under the towel."

"Urich-san, don’t you think it’s disrespectful to show up like this at such an important meeting? We are here to discuss the future of our country," interrupted an elderly Japanese man, slamming his fists on the table, visibly outraged.

"Oh, yes, sorry, old man, I didn’t realize," Ulrich replied with fake politeness. "Apologies for disturbing you."

He snapped his fingers, and immediately, two guards approached the elderly man, grabbing him by the shoulders. Despite his protests, they dragged him out of the room. His shouting ceased as soon as the door closed. Ulrich then grinned even wider.

"Did he really think he could talk to me like that? Me, Ulrich Theodor Silbermann, CEO of QuantumByte, creator of ExoMagic, and a global leader. Well, no. It’s already generous enough that I’ve come to this third-rate country to discuss nonsense. By the way, who was that old man?"

"The Prime Minister of Japan, sir," his secretary interjected.

"Oh... Well, who cares? We’ll compensate him later. Alright, Japanese representatives, tell me how much you want for a supply of ExoMagic. Quickly, I have other matters to attend to," he said, glancing at his watch.

The Japanese officials exchanged uncertain looks. Without the Prime Minister, none of them knew how to take the lead.

"Ahem" Reina finally broke the silence, throwing a sharp look at the billionaire. "Urich-san, we’re not here to make you an offer. We want to know what you’re offering us and how safe it really is."

"Ha! I like bold women," the CEO said, giving the woman a slow, scrutinizing look. "Sorry, sweetheart, but ExoMagic is coming to Japan whether you like it or not. Your country’s top businessmen are already offering a fortune for it. The deal is sealed. In one month, QuantumByte will host an event to showcase ExoMagic’s benefits. You’ll see—your people will be drooling over my product."

"But don’t you see the protests outside? Your product is causing unrest in our streets. People are getting hurt because they suddenly have too much power at their fingertips. This is all too new, and you can’t just play god overnight."

Ulrich leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands as if deep in thought.

"Hmm… First of all, that protest is insignificant. It doesn’t represent the majority. In fact, take a look at this."

He pointed to a screen displaying a series of graphs with two colors—one overwhelmingly dominating the other.

"As you can see, the public supports my product. So I don’t see what you’re all complaining about. Those protesters are just people who believe everything they read online."

"Then why don’t you do something to stop them?" a Japanese official interjected.

"Why would I? The more buzz, the more exposure. Whether it’s good or bad, it gets people talking. In the end, everyone will want to try it."

"But we need to assess its safety. Let us conduct some analyses through our scientific team."

Ulrich burst into laughter.

"Analyses? That’s hilarious. Why would you need those when the whole world has already proven its safety?"

"Not entirely, Ulrich," Roxy interrupted softly, removing her glasses.

Ulrich’s grin widened as he took a long look at her.

"Wow, there really are beautiful women in Japan. What do you mean, sweetheart?"

Roxy shuddered at the nickname but ignored it.

"Many countries are facing the same crisis as we are—illegal arms trafficking, even deadlier than before. The development of highly potent illegal drugs that human bodies can’t withstand. Cases of human experimentation are so extreme that they can no longer even be classified as human. And there have been severe incidents involving enhanced ExoMagic-powered products. What do you have to say about that?"

The room fell silent as everyone turned to Ulrich. A vein bulged on his forehead as he took off his sunglasses.

"Where the hell did you find this one? Don’t tell me she’s with those idiots outside who believe every conspiracy they read!"

"Actually, I have a degree in biochemical engineering with a thesis on ExoMagic. I work as a scientific researcher for the government in magical studies. Oh, and I’m also a professor of magic studies at Japan’s top university. So trust me—I’m more than qualified to verify this data. I can give you a report to read, but unfortunately, it doesn’t come with colorful graphs to make it easier for you to understand."

Ulrich clenched his jaw, his face darkening.

"Hah… If you weren’t a woman, I’d have sent you packing along with that old man you call a leader. Fine, I’ll admit it—there are some flaws. But they have nothing to do with my company. In fact, I personally investigate and punish those who violate QuantumByte’s values. It’s up to you whether you align with them or not."

He smirked wickedly as he stood up.

"I think that’s enough talk. I have a date with some lovely ladies I met during my stay here—Japanese women really are stunning. I expect your answer on my desk by tomorrow. Bye-bye."

Ulrich turned to leave with his assistant, but just as he reached for the door—

A pencil shot across the room like a bullet, grazing his hand.

"AHHHH! Who the hell did this?! Quick, get me a doctor! Ahhh, I’m bleeding! I’m gonna die!"

Ulrich wailed dramatically, clutching his barely scratched finger as if he had lost a limb. He gasped for air, tears streaming down his face, eyes darting around in search of the culprit.

He writhed in pain, breathing heavily, tears streaming down his face as his eyes darted frantically in search of the culprit.

At the same time, the slow, deliberate sound of footsteps echoed in the background—like death itself creeping out of the shadows.

Cold sweat dripped down everyone's foreheads as they turned to look at the approaching figure.

The only one unfazed was Roxy, who simply sighed, indifferent to the unfolding chaos.

The figure came to a stop behind the foreigner, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.

Ulrich turned his head slowly, his movements stiff with fear—only to be met with a gaze so cold it seemed to pierce straight into his soul.

"Two things," the figure spoke calmly. "First, when you enter a foreign land, you should treat its people with respect and listen to what they have to say if you want a civilized discussion. Second, I would strongly suggest apologizing to my colleague for your disrespect—unless you want to lose that finger. Oh, and for future reference, try not to show up to meetings half-naked. It’s hardly the behavior of a gentleman. Now, why don’t you take a seat and do as I said?"

The figure stepped into the light, revealing himself—Lemos, his elven skin shimmering faintly.

Ulrich’s breath hitched as panic set in. He turned desperately to his secretary, who merely adjusted her glasses, unfazed.

With that, Ulrich bolted from the room in terror—his towel slipping from his waist as he fled.

Lemos moved to chase after him, but before he could take a step—

Darkness.

A crushing force struck his right cheek, sending him flying into the wall.

As he regained consciousness, he saw her.

Michelle—the secretary. Calmly adjusting her gloves, their surface shimmering faintly. She dusted off her suit, unfazed.

"Impressive. You’re still awake," she mused. "I’d give you another hit, but I think that one was warning enough. Next time, consider the consequences. And as for the rest of you, we’ll be reconsidering whether or not you deserve a second chance—but I doubt it. Sayonara."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving the room in stunned silence.

Reina and Kaito were the first to rush to Lemos’ side, with Roxy following behind.

"Lemos, are you okay?" Kaito asked worriedly, helping him up.

"Hah, I didn’t expect you to have the guts, blondie," Reina chuckled, still laughing at the absurdity of the situation. "That bastard had it coming for disrespecting our country."

The Japanese officials murmured in agreement.

"So… what now?" Roxy asked as Lemos wiped the blood from his mouth. "You’re not just going to let this go, are you?"

Lemos’ expression darkened, his usual reserved demeanor replaced with fiery resolve.

"They’ll pay," he growled. "That woman… and every damn person using those weapons. All of them. The great Lemos will never show weakness!"

Meanwhile, inside a sleek limousine—

Michelle calmly tended to Ulrich’s "wound," while the CEO sat fuming, his body tense with rage.

"That damn blond bastard… And to think he’s American. I thought he was the only one on our side at that table. And those ungrateful Japanese… They should be welcoming the progress of ExoMagic with open arms."

His fists clenched.

"I should’ve listened to that man from the start. Michelle—call him. Tell him I accept his deal. We’ll make sure this pathetic country regrets how they treated me. But by then… it’ll be too late. They won’t even exist on the map anymore."