157. Paul Carver (2)
Upon obtaining the security guard’s permission, the vehicle entered through a wall-like wall.
Al drove skillfully along the road to the parking lot.
It was as natural as flowing water without any squeaks, so it was comfortable to say the least, not to get motion sickness.
“It’s thanks to the fact that we trained red people right after the law was passed to allow people to drive in Landa.”
said Forrest, who got out of the car with Al’s help.
“Driving law…? Are you saying it didn’t happen before?”
“That’s right…. Al, wait here.”
“Yes, I understand. Please travel safely.”
“Don’t worry. Didn’t you come because of gratitude, but because of work? Don’t wait outside, wait in the car.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Al bowed his head in respect.
Forrest walked with Oliver towards the iron-clad Department of the Interior building.
“Originally, red, black, or eastern people were not allowed to drive.”
“Why was it impossible?”
“The reason is complicated. I decided that driving a car was more complicated than I thought, too dangerous for an underdeveloped, inferior race.”
Forrest answered, tapping his temples.
“Is it real?”
Oliver asked skeptically.
Although his skin color was different, Oliver saw Egg as clever.
The notes he gave were well written with detailed information about the restaurant business, and there were also several funny-looking jokes.
“At least the opponents claim so. For obvious scientific reasons.”
“Does Forrest think so too?”
“me? Well····. I also belong to the stuffy kingdom, and although I’m a snobby Landa, I don’t quite agree with it. You can tell by looking at Al’s driving skills.”
Oliver nodded in agreement.
I’ve ridden a lot of taxis in my own way, but Al’s driving skills were at the top of the list.
“There are many other reasons. It may be that he doesn’t like driving by a race he considers inferior to him, and he does it to deter his rivals.”
“A competitor?”
“In Landa, you can earn a living just by driving. Like a taxi driver, a truck driver…. Well, it’s a threat if their relatively cheap labor force can even drive them. That’s why the workers there shout whale whales that people of color must stop driving.”
Oliver pondered Forrest’s words. What the heck… It was ironic.
In the past, truck drivers teamed up with unions to fight crime perm to protect their right to live.
That they persecute others. It was a small but refreshing shock.
“But, why are you able to do it?”
“That’s the good thing about Landa. This city hit high for efficiency. It’s not that there’s not much discrimination, but here in the kingdom, we’re the most flexible. I just passed it because I thought it could increase the utility of the city as a whole. It’s not that there’s no resistance, but it’s gone as usual… That’s why people like me like Randa.”
Forrest said sincerely. He seemed to really like Randa.
“Ah, you have arrived.”
Passing through the hard and unremarkable hallway, Forrest stopped in front of a door.
In front of an ordinary door that can be seen in any other building, there was only a name tag “Paul Carver” attached to it.
Forrest knocked on the door.
smart-
“·····Come on in.”
A voice was heard from beyond the door with a knock on the door.
Oliver and Forrest opened the door as the voices told them to and went inside.
Upon entering, I saw a mountain of numerous documents. On a desk, in a cart, etc.
On the paper, at first glance, the size of a millet was densely written, so just looking at it caused vertigo.
I could tell at least indirectly how busy he was.
“Are you here?”
A man who had been hidden in a pile of papers staggered to his feet.
It was a familiar face.
Before cleaning the contaminated area, he appeared with soldiers armed with exoskeleton armor and explained.
Later, he was the one who arrested Oliver, who had been leaving Puppet, and conducted several interrogations.
He pulled his brown hair back and drank a lukewarm coffee. He looked very tired.
“Um, ha… I’m sorry for calling people who are busy.”
The somewhat overbearing attitude he had seen before had disappeared, and city official Paul Carver spoke politely.
Forrest responded politely and politely to this.
“no. City officials are always grateful to be busy working for Landa’s prosperity, so I fully understand. Please feel free to talk.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Shall we sit down and talk for a moment?”
Paul Carver pointed to a clean reception table.
As Forrest nodded and sat down at the table, Carver reached out via a wired communication device.
“Three cups of coffee, please. Is there anyone who can’t drink coffee?”
“No, no.”
“I can drink too.”
Carver nodded and ordered a coffee.
“Thank you again for coming. Mr. Forrest and Mr. Dave……. It’s not like Forrest, but I haven’t met Dave at all.”
“Yes, you remember.”
“I am deeply impressed. I thought it was not a normal person, but I didn’t know it would be like this in a short time. It’s been about a year since you became a solver?”
“I think it would have been about that now.”
“That floor wouldn’t be normal either, but it’s amazing……. Where did you learn that?”
Forrest intervened.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Carver. If it’s okay with you, can I start by talking about work? I came in with the restaurant door open…”
Paul Carver, interrupted by the question, raised the corner of his mouth slightly rather than being offended.
“You are right. So let me tell you straight up. Do you know what the situation is now?”
Forrest and Oliver nodded.
“The prison has been attacked and destroyed by brutal rebels.”
“It’s a shame it’s true. Wallace…. It was said that he was a talented person who had even served as a matop professor, but it was not normal. But disgrace is disgrace. Because of our incompetence, only innocent citizens are sleeping through the night.”
Oliver raised his eyebrows slightly.
Those words were sincere.
It was in contrast to the overbearing attitude he showed at the time of cleaning the contaminated area, or the hostility towards the Paladins.
It was interesting. He genuinely cared for the citizens.
“I know. That’s why our brokers’ union is also working together.”
“For that, everyone in the city is grateful.”
“So it is questionable. In the midst of such a busy schedule, is there anything else the city may request? Is there anything more important than catching a jailbreaker who escapes from prison?”
“That is correct. There’s nothing more urgent than putting out the lights in the house. But sometimes you have to do something else. It’s like having to go to work if the house is on fire.”
“what happened?”
“that-“
– Kick.
Paul Carver paused at the sound of a soft door opening.
A female employee in her 20s brought coffee on a tray.
She smiled slightly and handed out coffee to Oliver, Forrest and Carver.
“Call me if you need anything.”
“thank you.”
“What?”
Silence fell in Carver’s office as the woman left.
He said as he drank a little steaming coffee.
“Don’t drink. Pretty tasty. I have a lot of work, so I bought some good coffee beans.”
I drank coffee as Forrest told me.
“····It is really delicious. Where did you buy it? I want to use it for my restaurant.”
“Oh, by the way, Mr. Forrest is running a restaurant, right? In zone T… Forest restaurant?”
“Thank you for letting me know.”
“It was nothing···. So, how much do you think these beans will do? at retail price. It is said that a good restaurant owner adjusts the price of food at once. Do you know?”
It was a sudden question, but Forrest did not panic and stroked his chin.
“I do not know? About 51,000 rand per bag at retail price?”
“Oh, that’s pretty accurate. It’s 52,000 randah.”
Five····. Oliver was amazed. If it was a 1,000 randa difference, it was okay even if I just hit it right.
“But outside the randa, it’s 41,000 randa.”
“It’s quite a difference.”
Oliver, who had been listening quietly, spoke at once.
Everyone’s eyes turned to Oliver, who asked a question.
“Is there a reason?”
“Yes, Landa is a self-governing city, so there is an additional tax rate on goods coming into the city. Although it is called a city tariff, it is actually a self-governing tax that is levied on autonomous regions. So basically, prices here are 15 to 20 percent higher.”
“Every year we wrestle with the Central Assembly on that matter.”
Forrest said while drinking coffee.
The United Kingdom seemed to impose a huge tax on Landa.
Oliver, I don’t know what it’s like not paying taxes.
Forrest opened his mouth.
“By the way, does this have anything to do with work?”
“no. There is no direct relationship. However, it is indirectly related. Do you know where Wallace, who has given this four months, is now?”
“no. I do not know.”
“It took us a while to figure out the situation, but it turned out that we ran out of the land.”
“Is that so? Well, it’s a natural choice.”
“Yes, it is a natural choice. It would be dangerous to stay in Landa after this chaos. In fact, if there were any left, I was thinking of releasing the city defense force and capturing it.”
Oliver read The Wrath of Paul Carver.
“But it is strange.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s funny to say things like this after being treated, but this is the first time this has happened. If you are openly hostile to poetry.”
‘·····??’
Oliver tilted his head, not knowing what to say.
Fortunately, Paul Carver was kind enough to explain.
“A lot of fugitives hide in Landa. Sometimes Landa catches them. But in the meantime, there is an tacit agreement between them.”
“The city does a moderate search, and the fugitives don’t harm the city.”
“you’re right. Forrest Mr. That’s very correct. It makes no sense, but in Landa it is possible. Because Landa has to fulfill the function of a free city that embraces all within its limits, and fugitives don’t want to take on a city and pretend to hide, no matter what. It’s an old promise made by overlapping interests.”
“It is strange to hear. Wallace. Even though they are rebels, they also used Landa when necessary. Is rescuing a fellow imprisoned that important? Enough to burn the bushes where they can hide.”
Carver’s eyes gleamed sharply and he clasped his hands.
“You understand. There are many companions Wallace has saved, but one of them is the most important. he-“
“Are you a magic hacker Hewitt?”
Oliver intervened without me knowing.
Again, Carver and Forrest’s eyes turned to Oliver.
In particular, city official Paul Carver showed interest beyond simple surprise.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Carver took the coffee bag from the drawer and flopped it on the desk.
“And he might be able to lower the price of coffee.”