When Lynn and Moria arrived in the underground chamber of the Green Vine Restaurant, Faruga was there putting on a show of "repairing" the array.
The spherical array core, which normally glowed with a steady warm yellow light, now had a section dim and lifeless. The vine tendrils hanging from above in that area were limp, curling in on themselves without motion.
Standing beside Faruga were three other array maintenance members, all wearing grave expressions as though the situation were dire.
A moment later, Faruga noticed the newcomers.
When he saw it was Moria and Lynn, a wave of satisfaction rose in his heart. To him, this could only mean the society had received his report and brought Lynn here to face punishment.
Faruga scowled and lashed out first:
"Lynn, you still dare to come here? Look at the mess you've made!"
One of the others, a black-haired member named Bano, chimed in supportively:
"If you don't have the skill, you shouldn't tamper with arrays. Lord Faruga specifically warned you, yet you ignored him."
The other two maintenance members stayed silent but stood firmly at Faruga's side.
It was obvious they were here as his "witnesses."
Faruga, at this point, had no idea the society had already seen through his little charade.
Moria watched Faruga's dull performance with disdain. His voice was calm but carried a sharp edge:
"Enough with your act, Faruga. Don't think the society is blind to what you've been doing… Our patience has its limits."
Then he turned to Lynn.
"Go ahead, Lynn. Prove your ability to society."
Moria's tone was calm, but to Faruga's ears it was a thunderclap. His face drained of color as he stammered:
"Lord Moria, I… I don't understand what you mean…"
"Oh? Is that so…" Moria nodded lightly, as if indifferent.
The three members behind Faruga each wore different expressions.
Bano, the first to speak, looked to Faruga, waiting for his cue.
The older man in the middle, Furan, seemed hesitant.
And the youngest, Ide, had a look of dawning realization, his face shifting with shock and disbelief.
Could it be…?
By now, Lynn had stepped closer, though the three stood before the array core, blocking his path.
Lynn said nothing. His gaze was cold as he looked at them.
Before coming here, he and Moria had first rescued Adeline, who had been locked away.
Fortunately, they'd arrived in time. The heterochromatic-eyed maid hadn't been harmed, only left hungry and shaken after half a day's confinement.
Ide looked into Lynn's icy expression, and then, almost involuntarily, his feet shifted, opening a path.
Lynn gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment and walked up to the array core.
"Ide!" Faruga snapped, furious at the betrayal. He then turned to Lynn with a sharp warning:
"You think you understand arrays? If you damage it any further."
But Lynn ignored him. He calmly pulled out his society insignia and placed it into the slot of the array core.
As he expected, Faruga had already registered his clearance in order to make the incident appear authentic.
Skillfully, Lynn pulled up the underlying framework of the array and began inspecting piece by piece.
It didn't take long before he found the source of the issue.
He looked up at Moria, whose eyes held faint anticipation, and said evenly:
"Some of the mana circuits are fractured. It's just a minor issue; it'll take half a day at most to repair."
If Moria's earlier words had been thunder, then Lynn's calm diagnosis was like the collapse of the heavens themselves for Faruga.
Faruga's pupils shrank violently, his body trembling, as though engulfed by a sudden overwhelming darkness.
"You…
"That's impossible…"
Faruga's lips trembled, but only meaningless murmurs came out.
A moment later, he forced himself to calm down and said in a heavy voice:
"So, you realize the trouble you've brought upon yourself, Lynn.
"This isn't some minor issue. The fracture in that mana circuit comes with structural damage. To restore it fully will take at least a week. If you want perfection, ten days at the very least."
Faruga still clung to a shred of hope. He simply couldn't believe Lynn had mastered array knowledge to such a degree in so short a time.
Half a day?
He had studied arrays painstakingly for nearly ten years, yet he wouldn't dare claim he could fix such a problem in half a day!
How could Lynn possibly dare?
Faruga glanced at the three society members he had brought as witnesses, signaling them to speak up on his behalf.
But this time, the young man Ide just stared at him, then deliberately stepped a few paces aside, eyes fixed on Lynn with a look of expectation.
The old man Furan avoided his gaze, pretending not to see, keeping his silence.
Only the black-haired Bano remained stubborn. After a moment's thought, he sneered:
"A fractured mana circuit? Sounds impressive when you say it, but if you think that'll lessen your responsibility, you're sorely mistaken, Lynn!"
"Five grams of blackwater gold, one blue amber…"
Lynn ignored him. He simply turned to Moria and calmly listed the materials he needed.
Perhaps a few hours ago, Lynn wouldn't have been confident enough to promise a repair in such a short time.
But before coming here, he had once again performed an Insight on arrays, and his understanding had leapt forward dramatically.
He was no longer the same as before.
And as Lynn precisely named the materials required, Faruga's fragile hope popped like a bubble.
Lynn… knew how to repair it.
Faruga's eyes turned red, his lips moving with restless muttering.
Suddenly, he lunged toward the array core!
Swish!
In the next instant, a flurry of green vines shot out, wrapping tightly around him and dragging him to the side.
Faruga tried to shout, but a thick vine coiled around his neck and gagged his mouth.
"…Lord Moria, those are all the materials I need for the repair."
Lynn's expression didn't change as he finished listing them.
Moria nodded slightly. Then his gaze shifted, and he repeated:
"Ten grams of blackwater gold, two blue ambers… correct?"
Lynn froze. Moria had doubled the numbers he had given.
Moria did not explain, only said:
"Since this whole incident was orchestrated by Faruga, he should bear all of society's losses.
"The excess is a reasonable margin for contingencies. If you don't use it all, keep the rest for yourself."
As he spoke, Moria manipulated the vines to pluck the pouch from Faruga's waist. He emptied the magic stones onto the ground and ordered the others:
"What are you standing around for? Didn't you hear the list of materials? Go and buy them, now."
"Yes, Lord Moria!" Before the other two could react, the young Ide was the first to respond.
He strode forward, scooped up the magic stones, and gave Faruga, still bound and gagged, a look full of grim satisfaction, grinning as he headed out.
Not long after, Ide returned with all the necessary materials.
Lynn set to work on the repair.
Faruga dangled at the side, clinging to a faint sliver of hope.
But by evening, that last wisp of hope was completely crushed.
The damaged section of the Green Vine Array core shone once more, and the withered vines stretched out and unfurled in renewed vigor.
Lynn lifted his head and said to Moria:
"The array has been repaired, Lord Moria."
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