174. Women of Landa (3)
An old gentleman who helped purchase ‘special goods’ next to the black market employee’s office.
He turned to Oliver and greeted him politely.
In line with that, the four big boys who were guarding the old man’s surroundings put their hands together respectfully and looked at Oliver without a word.
They all possessed considerable magical power.
“It is an honor to meet you like this. Director.”
As an awkward silence settled in, Coco stepped out.
“Do you know me?”
“Yes, we met at the last party. My name is Coco, the information merchant.”
“ah·····. I guess I remember now. Nice to meet you.”
An old man greeting politely and politely.
Oliver asked Coco who it was.
“Gordon Goodheart. I am the director of the Landa Culture and Arts Association and the director of the Crime Firm. He is apparently retired, but he is still active.”
Hmm····. He’s old, he handles his work neatly, so I knew he wasn’t an ordinary person, but he must be a director of a crime firm.
Oliver apologized to Gordon.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know you last time.”
“no. I am already retired. It was just a pastime. Anyway, nice to meet you again. What are you doing here?”
Oliver looked at Jane. Jane nodded her head.
“I was hired as a bodyguard.”
“Aha····.”
Gordon’s eyes shone sharply, and he turned to Jane.
“I am late to greet you, miss. My name is Gordon Goodheart. If it’s okay with you, may I ask for your name?”
“My name is Jane. Nice to meet you too.”
“Jane? oh····. By any chance, the lady was also interested in this painting?”
“Yeah, I just spent the amount you erased.”
Gordon looked back at the painting and showed interest.
“Is there any particular reason you chose this painting?”
“It just stands out the most.”
“You have good eyes. It’s a pretty decent picture. A painting is an object that captures the sincerity of a person.”
“Thank you for looking at me that way. Did you also come to see the paintings?”
“Not today. There is an item of interest in the auction, and there is a story that a valuable customer is visiting, so I came out just in case… So I’m going to give this picture to the young lady. You will have to pay more for this, but no one is going to buy it anymore.”
Gordon tapped the amount he wrote under the picture.
“thank you.”
“no. It’s nice to see young people active and active. Especially, like a lady. Miranda will like something like this.”
Miranda. It was Jane who would buy a gift at the auction house.
Gordon knew everything with experience and magnificence, even though he had not heard anything.
“Thank you for your words.”
“It was nothing·····. Hmm, by any chance, would you like to go to the auction house with me? Membership auction?”
“Yes?”
Jane was taken aback by the sudden offer. In contrast, Gordon spoke calmly.
The intention was there, but it wasn’t for Jane.
“I think you might be interested…. If you go with my group, you will be able to get in and out without any problems. I have a stake in this event.”
***
Membership Auction House.
It was a special auction that only members who passed special screening among the auctions held at the Subureptor Large Museum could participate.
Members are those who have built up influence in Landa regardless of the shade or the sun, and it can be said to be the main dish of the auction event along with the VIP auction.
Taken from n̲o̲b̲l̲e̲m̲t̲l̲.̲c̲o̲m̲
Naturally, Jane didn’t shy away from such an opportunity.“Thank you very much. Mr Gordon. I will never forget this kindness.”
Jane wearing the mask she received at the entrance said, exquisitely hiding her tension.
Although dealing with Gordon was difficult and fearful, she showed courage and acting skills, which made her look like a granddaughter dealing with her grandfather.
“It was nothing. If you still appreciate it, please remember this old man after you have a career in life.”
Gordon spoke with his characteristic rigidity and gentleness when working in a black market.
Jane nodded and continued the conversation with Gordon naturally, while Oliver looked around and looked around.
It’s difficult for Oliver to come to a place like this alone, so why not take a look at it as much as possible?
The membership auction house was in the basement, but the splendor never fell behind the ground.
Even though it felt gloomy due to the moderate darkness and magnificently colored curtains, it had its own charm.
such as pressure, mystery.
Although the main products were said to be stolen goods, illegal magic items, highly refined elixir of life, and high-quality drugs manufactured in very small quantities, surprisingly, people without masks were seen at the auction house.
“It’s not that strange.”
During a conversation with Jane, Gordon turned his head and said: It was as if he implanted his existence into Oliver.
“Most people who care about their face send their agents. So, most of the people who participated in person are either their minions, geeks who like places like this, either he or someone with one foot on the floor. Exactly, just like my friend.”
The old man pointed to the long-haired green-haired man in the distance.
He was tall in a dark green suit and had an ivy tattoo on his face.
But what stood out the most was the small antlers on his head.
“It’s a druid.”
“My name is Seamus of Enjoyment. He is a well-located friend who appeared on the bottom of the solver three years ago and became one of the best solvers in a year. I am retired now.”
Oliver looked at the man named Sheamus.
A green light that was stronger than the one Scott had faced while protecting Jane came out. Did I say force of nature?
“If you were retired, what would you do now?”
“Well, would Miss Jane give you an answer?”
huh? Oliver looked at Jane.
Surprisingly, she seemed to know something about the druid Sheamus.
“I am currently affiliated with the Sisterhood and the Crime Firm.”
“Is that okay?”
“There is no law against it. He is a multi-talented person who is proficient in elemental art, natural communication, and hand prints, and can even handle world trees.”
“you’re right. In Landa, anything is possible as long as you have great abilities. Thanks to this, even at a young age, he has three Sisterhood lovers, and he is also working as a loan with the money he received from them. With the acquiescence of the crime perm. These days, they have the capital and they are gathering pleasure druids like themselves and forming an organization.”
Oliver looked at him again. Big stature and confidence that pierces through the body…
“You are a great person.”
“That’s great. At the same time, I am afraid of old people like me.”
“Yes?”
Oliver looked at Gordon. Gordon’s words were sincere.
“Landa is a city born of reckless political power and capital. The birth of a city itself is based on the spirit of challenge, so we value freedom and challenge.”
“yes.”
“Thanks to this, superhumans who were oppressed by the old system flocked to this city. Sorcerers, magicians, war mercenaries, druids, warlocks, and many talented people. Thanks to that, the city has developed like this.”
“okay.”
“But it also made a difference. A new class of wealth accumulating has begun to emerge among superhumans.”
Oliver had heard similar stories in the past.
It is said that the wizards are accumulating wealth, which threatens the existing city of Landa and the capitalists.
It didn’t seem any different from the back alley. maybe even worse
Oliver was honest about his thoughts.
“Isn’t that a bad thing? It’s proof that we’re working hard to get better.”
Gordon looked startled, then smiled slightly.
“That is correct. That’s why people like me focus on attracting great talent. To keep his place.”
“I think that’s good too.”
Oliver said again with sincerity.
Wouldn’t it ultimately be better if you try to get better and keep your place?
I didn’t like that.
“I am an old man who has lived in Landa for a long time. So we don’t just show kindness. In fact, I even commissioned Dave for this auction.”
Forrest’s words that other clients wouldn’t like it suddenly passed.
“this····. sorry. It’s my fault, so please don’t be too angry with Forrest.”
“No, I am not angry. It’s a solver’s privilege to get work the way you want. I just want you to remember that I did you a favor in my own way.”
In other words, it is a story that asks for an answer later.
Oliver nodded immediately.
“Yes, of course.”
“That’s a good answer. So, should we break up at this point? Anyone can join the auction as long as they listen, so I won’t need it any more. I have a job too.”
“Ah, who did you say you came to see? May I ask who you are?”
“Do you know what a gift is a pilgaret?”
Oliver flinched.
“Yes, I heard.”
“I heard that a broker handling your goods participated in this auction to deliver goods. The black market will resume soon, so I’m going to try to secure some stuff.”
“A gift broker?”
“Yes, do you have any problems?”
“no. no····. Thank you again for your kindness.”
“If you ever need a product, please come to our side at any time. We will prepare products that suit our customers.”
Oliver nodded to greet him, and Gordon left.
“I got help again.”
After Gordon left, Jane came over and said,
“Yes?”
“Again, I got help. I did it anyway, anyway. I was brought here because of you, not me.”
At first glance, Jane’s words seemed to blame Oliver, but it wasn’t.
Rather, he was grateful to Oliver. But he also had a sense of disappointment in himself.
“Something·····. It looks very difficult, can you tell me?”
Jane stared at Oliver’s face and said.
“Sometimes I wonder what this is doing.”
“What?”
“All of this…. Originally, I planned to live comfortably for the rest of my life with the fortunes I received from Edith. It’s an amount that won’t interfere with your life even if you take something off the sister hood. But, I want to test my abilities with this one.”
“Awesome.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t think it’s some kind of nonsense.”
“······??”
“I am obviously rich, but there are surprisingly many people who are as wealthy as I am in Randa. Because it’s a big city. So even after I got rich, I realized that I wasn’t special.”
“················ogue.”
“Do you remember the last time we met?”
“yes. We met at the hotel restaurant. You said you were here for a party.”
“Yes, that’s right. And I evacuated to the restaurant because I was tired. But, it was a lie.”
“················ogue.”
“I tried to join that world, but it was also a difficult place for people to live. Especially for an illegitimate child who suddenly became rich. So I took a break at the restaurant for a while, and you were there. How nice it was.”
Oliver remembered that time.
“Well·····. Did I make a mistake then?”
“Yeah, then he ignored me with Steak and left. I don’t even give you a glance.”
“ah·····.”
“But, again, this is how I got help. After all, I don’t think it’s anything other than the property I received from Edith. So I’m tired. I feel like I’m doing something pointless.”
Sincerity. Oliver didn’t respond right away, but looked ahead for a moment.
After thinking for a long time, he finally opened his mouth.
“Could you please say something?”
“····Yes.”
“The lady is not shabby or shy.”
“Thanks for the consolation.”
“No, seriously. There may be people who ignore her, but at the same time, there are a lot of people who worry about her. Miss Coco or the people of the angel’s house.”
“…if I make a profit, they will also run out of breadcrumbs.”
“Are you lying?”
Jane flinched at Oliver’s words.
“Obviously, it’s not a pure, uninterested feeling, but it’s not entirely calculus either. It was intricately entangled. The lady knows that too. I think that’s great too.”
“····Since we were young, we have been together and have heard bad feelings about each other.”
“I didn’t.”
“·········?”
“Orphanages or mines. It seemed like I was young enough, but everyone didn’t hate me and pushed me away. I have no luck… So. She is better than me in that area.”
Jane asked, looking at Oliver, if he was comforted by the words.
“It’s strange. It’s not very helpful, but it’s comforting nonetheless. Where did you read a book from?”
“No, I haven’t read such a book yet. So I’m just stating what I feel.”
“·················ogue.”
“And I personally think she is prettier. I don’t know why, but it’s the way she’s trying hard, not going as planned. Of course, I’m not going to argue with what she chooses, but personally, I think she’s prettier now. It’s like the first time we met.”
“Are you trying to rip off my estate to show my father well?”
“no. Trying to be a better person. Trying to keep smiling, trying to be kind… It was pretty.”
At Oliver’s sincere words, Jane’s emotions swayed slightly.
Joy, sadness, gratitude, resentment, satisfaction, and dissatisfaction are opposite emotions.
Human emotions are sometimes very difficult.
Oliver even told his own story.
“…and I’m sorry about the last time I stayed at the hotel. I didn’t mean to ignore it, but I’m sorry if you felt that way. I will try not to do it again.”
“I don’t like it because it’s kind of an excuse that I didn’t mean to do that.”
“ah·····. I’m sorry too.”
Jane laughed slightly.
“I’ll forgive you… Actually, I have something to apologize to Dave.”
“What?”
“When we first met, I tried to cast a spell on you. A magical item.”
Oliver recalled. soon remembered
“Oh, are you tall? Throw it away before it goes into the sewer?”
“Yes. It’s a magic item that can increase your liking by making contact with your opponent. I’m sorry I made a correction back then.”
Again, the slurred speech. But it wasn’t awkward.
I’ve heard how good Jane is when she is taken care of by her poor brothers.
“no.”
“Well, it strangely didn’t work for Dave. I want to live again now, what do you think?”
“Well, I guess you don’t have to.”
“····like. Then, I’ll try to believe it.”
As Jane’s complex emotions faded away, her emotions shone with satisfaction.
With him, the lights in the room dimmed, and the lights gathered on the stage where the auction was going to take place.
shouting people. Everyone either sat in their seats or stood behind them.
“That’s too bad. It would have been nice if Coco came with me.”
Before coming to the membership auction, Coco broke up to buy a book Oliver had ordered.
“It was a promise to buy me my book on the first day.”
“Do it. He’s a man I don’t even know.”
Moments later, a man who appeared to be an auction host appeared with items in a cart.
The items on the cart are exotic antiques.
The auction house’s customers fixed their glasses or picked up a small telescope to scrutinize the items.
So did Oliver. The only difference, however, was that the customers were interested in the item, whereas Oliver was interested in the person who brought the item.
‘…is something strange? that person. Just like a sewer snake… Is it because it was hosted by a crime firm?’
People getting more and more excited as the auction begins. Soon, the host on the stage opened his mouth.
[Hello, customers who visited today. Thank you for visiting our auction house. Skip the cumbersome pretentiousness and show off, right, Gyeong…. Auction·····. auction?]
An auction host who cannot speak like a broken doll.
By the time everyone frowned, feeling strange, one of his head bulged! and inflated greatly. Suddenly, like a minute balloon.
Then, the shoulders, chest, and sides bulge! bulging! It swelled up, and then the whole body expanded as if it was about to explode.
My body was about to explode.
The bewildered guests and the bodyguards trying to protect them.
Between them, Oliver extracted emotions.
[Black Cube]