218 ROADKILL?
Leo walked confidently toward President Willy Moore, his expression calm but resolute.
"President Moore," he began, "we now have five licensed pharmacists on our team. Shouldn't that mean the suspension on our trading license should be fucking lifted?"
President Moore nodded thoughtfully. "You've met the requirements, Master Lilleo. There's no reason to continue the suspension. I'll have the suspension revoked—"
Before he could finish, a sharp voice interrupted.
"I object! He cheated in the pharmacist examination."
The hall turned toward the source of the outburst. Master Liama of the Cergontyn family strode forward, his face twisted in anger.
"Master Liama," President Moore said, his voice calm but firm, "you cannot make baseless accusations in this association. All our tests are conducted fairly."
"Fairly?" Liama sneered. "This man cheated, and everyone knows it."
Leo smirked, stepping forward.
"Cheated? That's a stupid senile claim. Got any fucking proof, or are you just throwing a tantrum because we beat you fair and square under the watch of hundreds of witnesses?"
Liama jabbed a finger in Leo's direction. "How else do you explain it? Five of our pharmacists—experienced and licensed—had their cauldrons fail at the last minute! That's no coincidence!"
President Moore sighed. "We've already conducted an investigation, Master Liama. The cauldrons were inspected, and no faults were found. Perhaps the issue lies with your pharmacists."
"Impossible!" Malambe, another senior member of the Cergontyn family, interjected angrily. "Our pharmacists are among the best. They don't make mistakes!"
Leo crossed his arms, his smirk growing wider.
"Funny how those 'best pharmacists' just happened to give up their licenses to take the test again. And even funnier how they conveniently ended up competing against my girls all together. Maybe you should be asking yourselves what you were fucking up to."
The hall murmured as the audience whispered among themselves.
"Did the Cergontyn family try to sabotage Lilleo Gullee?" someone asked out loud.
"The Cergontyn family will lose their monopoly over medicine if the Lilleo-Megane pharmacy can do business again", another added.
President Moore's face hardened. "There is something suspicious about the contestant assignments. I'll be launching an investigation into this matter."
"You won't get away with cheating us!" Malambe shouted, his voice echoing across the hall.
Then, with a roar, Malambe charged at Leo, his fist glowing with magic energy.
"You think you can fucking attack me here?" Leo asked, his tone cold.
"You're a cheater, and I'll kill you myself!" Malambe bellowed.
Malambe wasn't just any Battle-mage—he was near the peak of Svad tier. In Sodom City, few could withstand even a single magically charged punch from him.
But before his fist could land, an unseen force slammed into him from every direction. Razor-sharp shadows carved into his body, leaving a thousand cuts before hurling him across the room like a broken doll.
"Strikes of Shadows."
"Who dares?!" Liama roared, fury flashing in his eyes.
The shadows coalesced, reforming into Sujira, who strode calmly back to Leo's side. He handed her a handkerchief, his usual gesture, so she could wipe the streaks of Malambe's blood from her face.
Groaning, Malambe struggled to his feet. His hands clapped together as he began summoning powerful magic, the air around him rippling with energy.
But his casting was too slow.
Before he could finish, Leo appeared in front of him, one hand gripping Malambe's shoulder and the other pressing against his forehead.
"Arghhh!" Malambe's scream tore through the room as his body shriveled grotesquely, his flesh evaporating until only skin and bones remained.
Without hesitation, Sujira darted forward, rifling through Malambe's remains with practiced efficiency. She plucked out his wallet, her eyes lighting up as coins glittered in her hand.
"Kaching," she muttered, her tone almost playful as the sound of Greed Coins clinking echoed softly in her view.
President Moore's voice cut through the murmurs of the room, stern and authoritative. "Master Lilleo, killing someone within the Pharmaceutical Association is highly inappropriate."
Leo turned to face the president, his expression calm yet unyielding.
"Inappropriate? He openly declared his intent to kill me in front of everyone and he struck first", Leo replied before adding his famous words,
"Those who live by the sword have no right to complain when they die by it."
"Demons!" a voice shouted from the shadows, sharp and accusatory.
Milwe stepped forward, his face twisted with outrage, his eyes burning with hatred. As the heir to the powerful Cergontyn family, his presence carried weight.
"Demons? Says who?" Leo asked, his tone icy, his gaze cutting through the crowd like a blade.
"What you did to Malambe was demon magic—we all saw it!" Milwe bellowed, his voice thick with accusation.
The crowd erupted into murmurs, their unease spreading like wildfire. Even President Willy Moore appeared unsettled, his brow furrowed.
"There's only one way to settle this," Leo said firmly. "Bring out a demon-detecting crystal."
"I have one," Moore announced, motioning for an aide. Moments later, the crystal was brought forward, glowing faintly with latent power.
They tested Leo with the artifact, passing it over him again and again. Yet no matter how diligently they tried, the crystal refused to react.
"See? No demon magic," Leo said, his voice dripping with contempt. He turned his glare on Milwe. "Shut the fuck up Milwe."
A stunned silence fell over the room.
Without further comment, Leo turned his attention to Malambe's skeletal remains. With a casual gesture, he opened his magic space, the air shimmering with otherworldly energy, and flung what was left of Malambe inside.
"Where are you taking him?" Liama shouted, his voice shaking with fury.
"He's Roadkill," Leo replied smoothly. "By Sodom City law, that makes him mine."
A ripple of disbelief ran through the crowd.
The Roadkill law, originally crafted to regulate the hunting of monsters and magical creatures, gives the right to the carcasses to the hunters.
However, the law never explicitly excluded humans. Leo's bold interpretation of the Roadkill law hung heavy in the air.