96. Carrier (1)
Murphy took Oliver to a warehouse near the factory area.
It was quite deep, but there were a lot of other warehouses around, so I couldn’t see it.
It’s like hiding a tree in the forest, isn’t it?
Murphy further explains this.
“It’s a pretty quiet place, isn’t it? Black Mage.”
“Yes.”
“It’s actually a quiet place. Some of the warehouses here are owned by gangs, and a few, including myself, raise money and give them back to the police on a regular basis, which usually doesn’t come in. Of course, it is a different story when it comes to the number of cases.”
“okay.”
“yes. But I usually don’t even come close. Of course, that will entice some thieves, but don’t worry about that either. Security is tight around this area, so small thieves don’t come often.”
actually understood. It’s not often seen, but I do see security guards and warehouse workers with a stern look, but they don’t look like ordinary workers.
They deliberately diverted their attention to avoid paying attention to others, but they instinctively felt they were trying to cut off their attention to each other.
It was the perfect condition for Oliver.
Separated from the outside, even neighbors don’t care about each other. It was perfect for doing black magic research.
“I consider it.”
Murphy stopped in front of a building.
It was a shabby two-story house in the corner, and it was not conspicuous, but it was a building whose first floor was arbitrarily demolished and converted into a warehouse.
Oliver went inside and looked around.
It was crude and narrow, but I didn’t think it was that bad.
On the contrary, it even looked good for the first place to stay.
‘Are you sure you’ll find a place to experiment?’
Murphy spoke up as he was figuring out how to turn this place into a laboratory.
“Warlock?”
“Um, yes?”
“Ah, sorry. Did I disturb you?”
“Ah, I was thinking about how to use this space.”
“Here you go? This is a trick of the eye. Come this way.”
Oliver didn’t know what he meant, but he knew what it meant.
As we exited through the narrow byway of the passage up to the second floor, we saw a secret entrance going down, and below it was a refreshingly spacious basement.
“Where?”
“This is a real warehouse. The entrance is narrow and hard to see, so I think it’s better for a warlock to use it.”
Oliver nodded.
It was spacious, and there were three large tables that could be used as a laboratory table and a bookshelf shelf to put things on.
“I can still use this.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. I really like it.”
Oliver said frankly. The environment was comfortable enough, and the surrounding location was not bad.
I didn’t know anything about real estate prices yet, but from what I picked up, it seemed like it would be very expensive.
According to the veterans, the real estate prices in this plagued city are murderous.
I wanted to have this warehouse.
“Can I ask you a few questions?”
“Yes, you tell me.”
“If there is a request from me, it should be done through Forrest-sama. Why are you speaking directly?”
“I hope you are not misunderstood. It’s not like you’re trying to do some trickery. I just wanted to get some help from the Warlock, so I said this in person.”
“…?”
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other again, but the Warlock has only grown in fame. Well, it’s not that I don’t understand. I’ve seen the skills of the Warlock… It goes without saying that the higher the reputation, the higher the level of customers. Then, there is a high probability that my request will be rejected, so I have said it directly. It’s blatant to say such a thing, but I really want you to help me.”
“I don’t understand…. Technically speaking, the shipping company is a family business other than Mr. Murphy’s, so why are you asking so much?”
“Because helping me with this is a lot better for my business.”
“okay?”
“yes. Currently, the enchantments I am producing are sold in other places besides the ones sold in our tavern.”
“okay.”
“If it is sold in this district, I trade directly, but if it is sold in a district or city other than this district, I sell it through a crime firm. I don’t have a sales network.”
“········.”
“Because it goes through one intermediate bridge, the profit decreases, and the quality also deteriorates because there are people who play with things during the distribution process. It doesn’t fit my business tenets. So I’m trying to carve out my own sales network.”
“So you want to help the shipping company?”
“yes. If I create a sales network by myself, other places will check it, but if an intermediate organization like the Hoffman family is involved, it is much safer.”
“An intermediate organization?”
“It’s the organization directly under the director who manages the district. It is also above a sub-organization like me. In short, they have a fair amount of say in Area T.”
Murphy’s voice grew stronger and stronger.
“Currently, it is not ‘products’ that are circulating in the crime firm, but just ‘moon wine’. I will distribute my ‘product’ through Hoffman. We are gradually increasing production, so if all goes according to plan, we may be able to establish the Kimbell brand within a few years. To do that, we have to get through this hurdle now, and we need the help of the Warlock.”
It seems like a far-fetched story, but Murphy’s words were sincere.
Taken from n̲o̲b̲l̲e̲m̲t̲l̲.̲c̲o̲m̲
Not only was he richer than he had ever seen before, but his ambition was blazing.Well, it wasn’t bad.
Although the texture is a little different, it was a pretty light similar to the early Marina Peter and Rothburn, the innkeeper.
‘You seem to have other thoughts there.’
Murphy asked with a slightly nervous look.
“Warlock?”
“Well, that’s good.”
“Yes?”
“I think the conditions are good. Help and get a warehouse.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“Can I put a condition on you instead?”
“Conditions? . . . Yes, you can.”
“Please set the first reasonable fee and ask Forrest to do this directly. Then, I will accept the quest… It’s nothing, I’m just scared.”
Scared, Murphy didn’t seem to believe it at all, but he nodded.
“And I don’t want to deal with the general public. I’m afraid to meet city officials and paladins.”
Murphy was about to say something, but he stopped. instead asked.
“····good. However, if you think they will use violence during negotiations, can you provide some protection?”
“Yes, you should.”
“thank you. Then I’ll tell you that… It will take some time if we are going to send a formal quest to Mr. Forrest.”
That’s right. In the case of Forrest, he formally investigates the quest he was entrusted with.
It’s cumbersome, said Cant, and some brokers skip it, but Forrest doesn’t.
Thanks to that, I said it was safer even if it was inefficient.
“No matter how fast, it would take two or three days, would that be ok?”
“…to be honest, it’s a waste of time, but it’s not a waste of time either.”
“Then, can I ask you a favor?”
“Please?”
“Yes, maybe I can use this warehouse from now on? There was something I wanted to keep doing, but I couldn’t because of unfavorable circumstances. Maybe it will help you at work… I’d like to ask you a favor.”
***
Four days after talking to Murphy, Oliver was sweating in the basement.
I took off my jacket, put on jeans and work gloves I bought at an old clothing store, and wrestled with the mortuary doll on the table.
On the first day, Oliver lost, but now, thanks to practiced over and over while reading a book without sleeping, now I have some knack for it.
Oliver thought, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
‘sorry. Cant. He told me not to skip meals and sleep, but I couldn’t stop because it was fun. hope you understand.’
The mortuary dolls ‘Warlock’ and ‘Sniper’ that Oliver has repaired to some extent. Then I looked at the half-renovated ‘rags’ and ‘swordsmen’.
These were all puppet’s corpse dolls, which Oliver had picked up.
There were a few others besides this, but most of them were used as materials to fix the dead doll warlock, sniper, rags, and swordsman, so I had to dismantle them completely, but it wasn’t really a waste.
It’s clumsy, but it’s Oliver’s mannequin doll.
‘I was able to do a fun experiment there.’
Oliver thought as he looked at the test tube near the corpse doll.
Inside the test tube, there was something like a black sphere, which was a minion.
Taken from n̲o̲b̲l̲e̲m̲t̲l̲.̲c̲o̲m̲
No, I will correct it. It wasn’t just a minion, it was a minion with ‘a little more’ effort that mixed vitality and emotion.Oliver took out a flask containing emotions and life and fed the minions inside the test tube with emotions and life.
Minions glistened with faint emotions of joy, devouring emotions and vitality.
‘It’s interesting. I was just mimicking Puppet-sama’s artificial life… By the way, should I name this? I can’t tell the difference if you keep calling me a minion? what should i put on it? It’s not disposable, so I think it should have a proper name… Just call me Child.’
Oliver pondered for two seconds and came to a conclusion.
That was then. I heard a beep-beep-beep in my ear.
Oliver picked up the Forrest direct communication device on the workbench.
Is this your first time using it?
Oliver pressed the communication button and put it to his ear.
“hello.”
“Yeah, it’s me. Can you hear me?”
“Yes, it sounds good…. how are you?”
“No, I’m not very good. Thanks to you, I suddenly got a job. If it wasn’t for the contaminated area, I would have just ignored it.”
“sorry. And you don’t have to say that. It’s not Forrest’s fault about the contaminated area. It’s just that Forrest kindly helped me. Even if I’m ignorant, I know it. Thank you very much.”
“················ogue.”
Forrest was silent.
It was a conversation through a communication device, so I couldn’t see the emotions. Still, somehow, Forrest seemed to be happy. or not
The voice was heard again.
“First, the investigation is over. Most of what Murphy said is true.”
Oliver didn’t respond at all. Because I knew most of what he said through the conversation was sincere. Most of them.
“Why did you commission me directly? If you were giving me a warehouse, I think I would have accepted it just through Forrest.”
“I did some research on that. It’s not really a lie that you asked for it because you were afraid of refusing it, but it’s more of a kind of showmanship.”
“Are you showmanship?”
“Rather than hiring you through me, it would be better to hire you on your own… It seems like a more intimate relationship.”
“…? I don’t understand.”
“Simply put, this is it. I know such a great warlock, and I can personally ask him to bring him back… It seems that Murphy will help the Hoffman family imprint not only the distribution network, but also his existence in the higher ranks. Organizations with armed force are respected everywhere. It’s a shallow trick, but it’s not a bad way to work again… Are you offended?”
“no.”
Oliver answered the truth. Because I saw and experienced more at the orphanage and mine. That’s what…
Above all, Oliver was able to use the warehouse.
There were no complaints whatsoever.
Forrest asked again.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah, what could it be?”
“Sometimes I don’t know whether you are kind, stupid, or scary. Whatever happens, it’s up to you, but… So, will you officially accept the quest? There is nothing wrong with rejecting it now.”
“No, I will. I’ve already seen some benefits.”
“Well, then it is…. So, let’s move right now. Murphy wants you to come now. They said Jimmy Hoffman’s patience had run out.”
“Who is Jimmy Hoffman?”
“The young boss of the Hoffman family who runs a transport company. Murphy asked me to come as soon as possible. That said, there will be fights with the staff. There are troubleshooters beside the staff, so if you make a mistake, you will only bleed.”
Oliver wiped the sweat from his body and hurriedly put on his clothes.
“Do you know who the fixers are by the truck drivers?”
“I found out. Well, it wasn’t particularly difficult, but Arthur from Area N and other veterans were solvers… By the way, did you say you two met?”