158. Out-of-town missions (1)
Lowering coffee prices? Oliver tilted his head, not understanding what he meant.
On the other hand, Forrest seemed to understand what he meant.
“Does Hewitt have any information? Is it worth dealing with the Central Assembly on tariffs?”
“That’s right. It’s good because the story is fast. From what we currently know, Hewitt seems to have some great information. It’s worth it Wallace’s fight with Landa.”
Forrest frowned at the question.
“Is there a reason?”
“Yes, there is. I got information that the rebels had found something through the World Tree, which I wanted to find out by mobilizing the city and city councilors’ information networks and pipelines. This is the reason why the kingdom army was overreacting to subdue the rebels.”
“Do you know what it is?”
“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to figure that out for sure.”
“That’s very sad.”
Carver nodded.
“So do I. If I had figured it out a little sooner, things wouldn’t be this big, and I’d be able to secure a decent card. But what do you do? What has already happened…”
After a second or two of silence, Forrest asked.
“Are you asking me to catch Hewitt and Wallace who ran away from Landa?”
“Well, it’s similar.”
“similar? . . . don’t you know that no matter what happens, that’s not okay?”
“Why not?”
Oliver, quietly listening to the conversation, asked Forrest.
Although it was an important situation, Forrest turned his head and explained it kindly.
“It’s because of the city convention. Just as the kingdom cannot interfere with Randa. Landa shouldn’t be involved in out-of-town affairs either. That is a very serious matter.”
“Yes, that’s right. Landa should not seek to influence outside the city instead of being granted freedom within it. This is something that causes the Central Assembly and the Royal Family to play a game just as our freedom is being violated.”
“By the way, asking for it… Oh, the city is not officially involved.”
“you’re right. Please note that refusal is not allowed. This is not the opinion of our officials, but the opinion of the city council above. They are already convinced that Hewitt’s intelligence will be a bargaining card for lowering this damn city tariff.”
When the word city council came up, Forrest frowned.
Various emotions such as embarrassment, embarrassment, and misery shone.
“It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“I understand. I’m embarrassed too. But isn’t this all the way things are? Instead, we will reward you accordingly.”
“Are you talking about compensation?”
“Yes. In addition to rewarding Dave for his work, we will also reward the Brokers Guild. For example, all taxes will be exempted this year.”
tax exemption.
The word shook Forrest noticeably.
Judging from Forrest’s feelings, he seemed to be suggesting something quite big.
“Are you serious?”
“We have already received a confirmation from the city council on that point. I’m sure you know I’m not playing around with this. And the minimum pay is about this, and I am willing to give more additional pay depending on the performance of my work.”
“What the hell did the rebels find out for this?”
“As I said before, we do not know. Seriously. However, considering the attitude of the smart city councilors, it is a guess, not the usual number.”
Forrest thought for a moment.
“Please answer one thing. Dave is the friend he is making a name for right now, but there must be better people out there, so why Dave?”
“If you use a solver that is too well-known, the city may be suspicious. A decent reputation for a decent skill. That’s the best. Most of all, Dave will need our help.”
“Are you talking about Parterism?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know the details, but it is said that there is a state of emergency in the Parter Church right now.”
“The problem is that at times like this, the Parteran religion starts with the Warlock. Dave, does he use the Invoice Doll?”
“yes.”
“Invoice dolls are objects that insult the dead. It is difficult to protect the Brokers Guild if it becomes a problem in Parterism. However, we are different. We will protect you from the persecution of the Partersians in the near future.”
Forrest sympathized with it. Heartily.
“It’s not a bad story.”
Oliver thought deeply and opened his mouth.
“What specifically is the request?”
“It’s two. Catch the magic hacker Hewitt and bring him back to Landa. A scan of the brain will be undisputed evidence.”
“The other one?”
“If you can’t catch him, find out what information he got, and help him escape the kingdom forces.”
***
It was truly a rare request.
It made sense to catch the magic hacker Hewitt, and to ask for information, but help me escape from the Kingdom Army.
In fact, it was a contradictory request that made no sense, but it wasn’t too strange to hear Carver’s explanation.
It’s not easy to catch an opponent who has run away from Landa while avoiding the eyes of the Kingdom Army, and it’s clear that Wallace will desperately stop the speculation if it’s true.
‘So just find out the information and help me run away. If we can’t have it, it’s the next best thing to keep the Kingdom Army from taking it back. With that alone, the interest of the royal family and the central council will be far from Randa.’
When I heard it, it sounded pretty plausible.
In fact, Forrest also said that the need to retrieve Hewitt was when God really helped, and that the main purpose was to help them escape.
Maybe that’s why, although there was a difference, the request fee to help him escape was not normal.
2 billion in advance. 1 billion success pay.
It was the same level as Wallace’s bounty.
But again, I couldn’t like it. If Oliver was unlucky and caught by the Kingdom Army and revealed that the client was a city, it was a warning and a threat to take retaliation correspondingly.
That’s why I was a little hesitant.
I wonder if I might get caught up in the power game of the city and the central assembly and suffer a disappointment.
Taken from n̲o̲b̲l̲e̲m̲t̲l̲.̲c̲o̲m̲
Nevertheless, Oliver did not refuse, and decided to accept the request.First of all, the first reason was that although it was a request from the city, it was not a simple request due to their circumstances.
You might think it’s unfair, but in the first place, the solver was a back alley existence, living on violence, so this level of injustice was rather natural.
The second reason is that the price of work is high no matter what.
The current accommodation you are staying in is far from safe.
Oliver was thinking of finding a house in the upper-middle-class residential areas, such as K, L, M, N, and O, where security was guaranteed. With basement or warehouse.
To do that, I needed money. The average deposit for renting a house was Rs. 1.4 billion.
After all, Oliver was also a solver, so he had to be mobilized to catch escaped prisoners for a while.
Of course, the most decisive reason was the third and last.
‘I want to know about the Kell Freedom Army.’
Oliver hasn’t forgotten yet.
Their actions that persisted despite being in a crisis situation and did not give in to fear.
All of them were determined to fight for their lives.
Oliver was somewhat different from the people he met in the back alley, so I was curious about them.
We may not be able to talk to them, but I wondered if I could get to know them by working like this.
Oliver still had a lot to learn.
“Hmm······. Get ready to get off soon.”
Arthur, seated in the cargo hold of the transport truck, said, looking out at the scenery.
Like Oliver, he had a leather mask on his face, disguised as a regular transporter.
He was hired with Olivo for this mission, as well as silk hat sniper Donna and magic equipment expert McVor.
After a while, the truck stopped.
As soon as the car stopped, Oliver and Arthur got off and moved the load like real truckers.
After organizing the luggage as a play to naturally permeate the city, a worker hired by the city held out a thick envelope of money.
“It’s expenses. It’s a no-brainer, so you can use it for work.”
“Thank you.”
Arthur said so and quietly left the room, and Oliver and the rest of the party quietly followed.
“It’s a pity that Richard didn’t come.”
Magical equipment expert McVor said in his characteristic numb tone.
Arthur shook his head.
“He doesn’t fit this job. It would be better to catch the jailbreaker in Landa with the rest of the team.”
“I agree. More than that, boss, what are you going to do from now on?”
“I want to fill my stomach first, but since it’s a matter, let’s hurry up a bit. Donna, McVorre, you guys get a room in a crowded inn. Dave, you follow me.”
***
“Can I ask where you are going?”
Oliver followed Arthur and asked. Arthur responded with a question instead.
“Dave. Do you know where the kite meets the city workers, the beggars, and the back alleys evenly?”
“I do not know?”
“It’s right there.”
Arthur pointed to a shabby building.
A building made of boards roughly joined together. There was something written on the signboard.
“····· Retired Army Comrades Association?”
“Yes, it is a gloomy place where the people who helped make the kingdom into a country where the sun never sets gather and lament their lives. Would you like to come along? I thought you would like it.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Oliver nodded and followed Arthur.
As soon as the door creaked open and seemed to fall, the dark room welcomed Arthur and Oliver.
More than half of the ceiling light bulbs were broken, but with the drunken sleeping droopy on the table and the torn interior walls, he seemed unwilling to fix it.
It was like a dead place.
“Are you in charge here?”
Arthur approached the old man sitting at the counter as if familiar.
The old man sitting at the counter had a messy mustache and a hat, and one leg had a prosthetic leg.
He looked very tired.
“Who are you?”
“Hello. Arthur from Landa today.”
With those words, Arthur took out the medal from his bosom and showed it.
“You are from the military.”
“exactly.”
“What’s going on here? Do you want to donate?”
“Of course I will.”
Arthur took out a bundle of money from his arms as if it were evidence.
There was a small, but loud sound.
“…from looking at the money, it doesn’t look like an ordinary porter, but what is it?”
“I am a person who has been discharged from the military and works hard as a side job. Please help me.”
The old man sitting at the counter smoked a cigarette, thought, and then opened his mouth.
“If you are making a fuss, I will not do it.”
“He’s not a bad person to be a nuisance to the same veterans.”
“Why are you looking for it? Person?”
“It’s long to say the least, but there is a guy who ran with money run by the union. I’m here to catch him. There are a lot of veterans like me.”
“He’s a bad guy… How are you going to make an impression?”
“It is said that he is a typical Northman. Red hair with an angular face.”
The old man at the counter nodded.
“Well, I hope you know what the situation is. After all, they don’t intend to settle down, they just want to go home and have a blast.”
“I’m glad you know.”
“But I can’t help much. Everyone is busy eating and living these days, so they don’t come here. In the past, things were a little better, but…”
“I understand that it is difficult to live and eat. So, can you tell me where he can stay? There must be a place where the scoundrels gather.”
“Well····. I don’t know how many. Wait a minute.”
The old man raised his finger and took out a piece of paper and a pen from the compartment under the counter.
It was like a receipt.
‘Donation receipt…?’
“If you go with the receipt, the friends over there will cooperate.”
Arthur then took a bill from the stack of money on the counter.
It was twenty pieces of 100,000 randa bills.
“Then, just give me two copies for Randa 1 million on the receipt.”
The old man at the counter raised his eyebrows slightly for a small amount, then scribbled his pen and passed it to Arthur. He also handed me a note as a bonus.
“If you are outside the city, you will usually stay here. The owner of the general store there, or the owner of the bar or inn, is a friend of mine or a friend of a friend. If you ask me, I’ll give you a story.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Arthur said, taking the donation receipt and note.
“I’m more than happy with that.”
“Yes?”
“I heard there was some chaos in Randa, but you thought I was a fixer who came to catch the heinous criminal again, what did you do?”
“. Above all else, those who go out of Landa are no longer pursued in Landa.”
“Then I’m glad… I hope there is no big commotion.”
Arthur politely replied that he would bear in mind the old man’s significant remark and went out.
Oliver said at once as he opened the creaking door and stepped out.
“I think the old man over there noticed something.”
“It’s not that strange. As you get older, you feel better. You really know that I didn’t come here to chase a guy who splattered with money.”
“Is there any problem?”
“No problem. You’ll notice there’s more, but I don’t care.”
“Well, then, I’m glad… So, are you planning to start the search today?”
“no. starting tomorrow Everyone is tired of moving, and if you move too much, you will stand out.”
“To whom?”
“I don’t think we’re the only ones looking for Wallace in this city. According to the information, the Kingdom Army also has a sense of who attacked the prison.
Five·····. Oliver looked around the city without realizing it. There might be a kingdom army here.
“When we face each other and there is a three-way battle, it hurts. In particular, we have to hide our identities, which is even more disadvantageous. In other words, you have to be careful not to reveal your identity.”
Oliver nodded understanding.
Obviously, there were a lot more things to pay attention to than the Kingdom Army, which could move legally, and Wallace, who had to run away.
In fact, I had to avoid the Kingdom Army and pursue Wallace.
Then suddenly I had a question.
“What would you do if you found Hewitt? Are you going to take me to Randa? Will you get the information and help me escape?”
“Look at the situation and go to the one with the highest probability of success. To be honest, both of them aren’t as easy as it sounds, so I don’t really know what to do. It goes where the chances of success are high.”
“All right.”
As Arthur said, Oliver and the others stayed at the dormitory for one day, and the next day, they split into groups of two and started exploring.
Oliver and Arthur, Donna and McVorr were divided into divisions, each divided into taverns, gambling boards, and the streets of the inns where foreigners were staying.
Everyone listened to the receipts of the veterans’ comrades-in-arms and people accepted what they said, but apart from that, there was no significant result.
And it was the same with Oliver.
Remembering Hewitt’s feelings, Oliver looked around the city, paying close attention to his eyes, but couldn’t capture his feelings.
He was not in this city, or he had hidden his emotions like Puppet and Merlin, but Oliver’s talents were limited in finding them.
That was right then.
“Damn it, I will. It’s already been three days, and I can’t even find a shadow, let alone a tail.”
“Mr. Arthur.”
“yes? But why?”
“A man entered the general store on the crossroads… Do not turn your head.”
Arthur didn’t turn his head as Oliver told him, but approached an illegally parked car on the street and looked around the store, pretending to be looking at his face in the side mirror.
“see. why?”
“There, a person with the same amount of magical power as a magician just entered that store. Is such a person common?”
“Is that possible?”
Arthur pulled out his communicator and answered Donna and McVor.