Genius Warlock

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The battle at McClusky Security Company ended uneventfully.

There were no less than five druids in the vicinity of the forest, but they failed to play a significant role.

However, it was somewhat unfair to blame them.

No matter how strong one is, depending on the opponent or the situation, one could die like a rookie.

For instance, Conor, who was outside the building, had to face seven security agents alone,

And the four druids inside the building had to confront a warlock in an enclosed space full of corpses.

It was the worst condition to face a warlock who specialized in manipulation.

Well, Oliver wasn't exactly a warlock specialized in manipulation…

Anyway, the raid on the McClusky Security Company, despite unexpected situations, ended without major issues.

"Maybe that's why I feel a bit bored even after the job is over," Oliver said at the Forrest Restaurant.

Oliver was sitting at a table with a white tablecloth, and Forrest was sitting opposite him.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Oliver put down the newspaper he had been reading and looked at Forrest.

Forrest was also reading a newspaper, and there were several other newspapers stacked on the table.

"This seems somewhat noisy to me," Forrest placed the newspaper he had been reading on the table.

The page had the headline, "Giant Crime Connection! Revealed by the Security Bureau!!" written in bold.

Other newspapers on the table also had this article on their front pages.

"It's not easy to fill the front page with one story in Landa. It needs to draw universal interest, regardless of social status."

"Does cleaning up the crime organization draws that much attention?" asked Oliver.

He had no intention of belittling Landa, but this developed, affluent city was infested with numerous crime organizations, just like cockroaches.

There were so many that most citizens thought they could coexist.

Hence, eliminating a criminal organization was not such a big deal in Landa. After all, another organization would fill the vacuum.

"Well, you're not wrong. Cleaning up a crime organization isn't such a big deal. However, at this scale, it can be a topic of conversation. Above all, the most important thing is that the Security Bureau did it."

Forrest pointed to the picture of Arthur printed in the newspaper.

He was giving an interview to reporters in front of the devastated McClusky Security Company. His unique strong impression along with his intellectual look was highlighted.

"The picture seems well taken, but I don't quite understand. Why is it important that the Security Bureau did it?"

"Um… Well, I guess you could be confused. It's a bit tricky to explain. It's a matter of pride."

"Pride?"

"Yes, the pride of being a Landa citizen. Everyone living in this city has that pride. They think they belong to the kingdom, yet they don't, they're special… The toilet cleaner and the factory owner would think the same."

"Um… I understand."

"So, people in Landa want something special that distinguishes them from the kingdom's people. For example, an organization between the army and the police created to deal with superhumans."

"Is that the Security Bureau?"

"Right, if an organization that doesn't exist in the kingdom is protecting this city, they feel somewhat happy about it. It's not rational, but it's not something you can't understand either."

Oliver pondered for a moment and then slowly nodded.

He couldn't empathize, but he had a vague understanding.

"That's why so many newspapers run this story on their first page. It sells well."

"Yes, I see… However, when I say I'm bored, I don't mean that. I'm asking why they didn't cover ABC or Mr. Shamus in the articles."

Just as Oliver had said, all the newspapers thoroughly covered McClusky Security Company and the criminal companies they were effectively running, but they didn't write a single line about Shamus, the actual owner.

Not even the newspaper <Cassandra>, which was hostile to Shamus.

In other words, either Arthur… or rather, Carver did not disclose it.

"I don't know about that because I haven't heard anything. However, I can guess."

"Guess?"

"Yes, it's an old man's speculation, but would you like to hear it?"

"Of course. I would appreciate it if you could."

At Oliver's polite request, Forrest smiled faintly, sipped his coffee, and opened his mouth.

"I guess it's because it's of no use to reveal it now."

"No use…?”

"Yes, besides McClusky Security Company, there's hardly anything related to Shamus."

"But-"

"-I know what you want to say. You want to say that everyone borrowed money from Shamus and received investment, right?"

Oliver nodded his head.

Leaf Loan lent money to camouflage companies to help them start up, and ABC made significant investments, enabling their businesses to grow.

Both profited considerably from the process. To Oliver, it seemed like there was a substantial connection.

"You're right, but even so, it's not possible. If you tie the debtors and investors to the guys who lent money and invested, half the people in this city should be in jail… even though they're the ones who should really be in jail."

"Ah…"

"Of course, if you dig deeper, you might be able to find evidence, but it's meaningless in the current situation. Everyone is fascinated by Shamus."

Forrest showed him an article from one of the newspapers on the table.

It was an article about ABC, stating that they returned the high returns to their investors without any discrepancy.

The photos included in the article showed city workers grinning broadly.

"What do you think would happen if an investigation into Shamus proceeded under these circumstances?"

"Um…would people be upset?"

Oliver used his imagination to the fullest. Forrest was pleased.

"Yes, exactly. People will foam at the mouth about what they're doing to an angel who brings them money. They'll complain about how much money they're making. Then, public officials and city council members who receive kickbacks from Shamus will use this to obstruct the investigation. In other words, it's a pretty useless weapon for now. Until the situation ripens further."

"…So they are saving it for later."

"That's right. They've collapsed one of their main sources of income, so it's time to watch until they show a weakness."

Oliver thought of Shamus.

He didn't know him well, but personally, he didn't think Shamus would show his weakness so easily.

Although his actions seemed light and noisy, his emotional state and results indicated that he was quite profound.

The case where he attracted everyone's attention using Oliver at the investment party was an example.

When he mentioned this fact, Forrest didn't deny it either.

"I agree with that. Shamus probably won't show his weakness easily. Reckless, flashy, loud… Although he gives off an impression unrelated to wisdom, what matters is not the appearance but the result. He is a strategic figure who has succeeded in any role, from solver to businessman. He won't easily reveal his weaknesses… But conversely, it also means that things won't go his way."

"Pardon?"

"Shamus is a special person, but everyone in Landa is special. Landa is not a small city where one person can swing from beginning to end."

Forrest confidently said, and Oliver chewed on his words with a strange feeling.

Everyone is special in Landa… He didn't know why, but it seemed like a wonderful phrase.

"That's a good slogan."

"Everyone is special in Landa?"

"Yes."

"It was once an slogan pushed in Landa. To secure cheap labor, you know."

"Oh… I should pay more attention to s in the future."

"The conclusion may be strange, but if you are satisfied… What I want to say is, there is no need to be particularly anxious. An elite from the Ministry of Internal Affairs has taken charge, and others in Landa are also keeping an eye on ABC and Shamus. If there really isn't a problem, fine. But otherwise, an opportunity will come. City officials, especially those belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, are great in a different sense from the superhumans on the streets."

"You know a lot."

"You get to know a lot even if you don't like it when you've been in this field for a long time… Well, I've worked with them in my youth."

"Was it when you worked with Mr. Kent?"

Forrest was taken aback by the sudden question.

He would usually recover quickly with his unique cunning attitude and experience even when he was taken aback, but this time he couldn't easily do so.

"Huh… I thought you'd wait for the answer?"

"Oh, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I asked reflexively."

"It's not uncomfortable, but it was surprising when asked suddenly… Do you have something going on? It's strange to reveal your personal opinion on the mission."

He was right. Forrest immediately recognized the subtle change in Oliver.

The reason why Oliver, who is currently on a mission, reveals his personal opinion and asked the question he had been waiting for is none other than the five letters in his pocket.

When he was assigned a task, he could naturally forget about it for a while as he was focused on that side, but he couldn't when he was waiting like now, so he was a little troubled.

In order to forget this trouble, Oliver occasionally voiced his personal opinion on the mission he usually didn't, or asked different questions to forget this curiosity for a while.

But he couldn't talk about this fact. Oliver dodged it decently.

"It's nothing."

Sensing that something was going on, Forrest thought for a moment, drank his coffee, and opened his mouth.

"Hmm… It's probably time to tell you about me and Kent."

"Oh, really?"

"You reacted too quickly for someone who apologized."

"Ah, I'm sorry. I was just happy."

"I'm happy about that… After this mission is over, I'll tell you."

"After the mission is over?"

"Isn't that the order? Besides, I need time to sort out my thoughts. Is there a problem?"

"Um… No, there's none."

Oliver tried hard to shake his head. He honestly wanted to hear it right away, but Forrest's words also made sense.

"You don't seem okay?"

Forrest saw right through Oliver. Oliver, handling the letters in his pocket, responded in the negative.

He was able to distract his curiosity about the letter for a moment with another curiosity.

He also harbored doubts. He wondered what on earth Merlin was doing and where he was.

‘I need him to come quickly so I can read this letter…'

? ? ? ? ?

"I can't understand why I'm doin' this ‘ere."

Merlin, wearing a thick coat and carrying a heavy backpack, reached out and lamented.

Contrary to his drawn-out tone, Merlin's hand gathered a great mana that most wizards couldn't amass in a lifetime.

The mana turned into a bright blue lightning bolt according to the will, and it branched out into five, then gathered back to one point and struck a giant skeleton about 5 meters away.

POWAAAAAAA!!!

As soon as the five thin lightning strikes hit the target, it created a powerful spark, and the shockwave caused by it shattered the surrounding trees as well as the giant skeleton.

“This never ceases to amaze me.”

Merlin muttered, watching the shattered skeleton dissolve like butter into the ground and the trees that were broken by the shockwave return to their original state with smoke.

This sleeping Forest was indeed a strange place.

"First of all, it's bloody strange that its location ain't fixed and constantly changin'… What do ya reckon?"

Swoosh – Thud!

Merlin asked, catching an arrow flying towards him with magic.

Looking in the direction from which the crude arrow came, he saw a dwarf with button eyes, a large nose, a pointed hat, and just a frock coat.

A dreamy appearance with no sense of reality. It was even a little cute.

However, one shouldn't be captivated by that appearance.

Just like the giant skeleton that Merlin had knocked down earlier, it was also merely a creature made with black magic.

The creature, sensing an unusual atmosphere, retreated towards a nearby stump.

Surprisingly, there was a door in the stump, and the creature used its small body to go inside the stump.

It was trying to escape from Merlin.

Merlin reached out towards the stump.

[Ground Eruption]

Along with the chant, the ground underneath the stump deep inside started to shake, and a large amount of soil erupted upwards like a volcano.

There were countless dwarf creatures in the soil.

[Compression]

Merlin used magic to hold the floating soil, tree roots, rocks, stones, and creatures in the air, then clenched his hand tightly.

The compressed creatures gathered into one point and turned into a lump of meat due to the pressure of magic.

“There's no end to this.”

Merlin said, looking at the ground that had perfectly returned to its original state, and all kinds of creatures that were filling the dense Forrest.

It's so hard to ask a question…

In the end, Merlin decided to slightly break the etiquette and take an easier path.

As an old man, it wouldn't be too bad to break a little etiquette, would it?

Merlin gathered mana in his hand and summoned a book from thin air.

Merlin ripped the book and threw it up into the sky.

To set this sleeping forest on fire all at once.

"Will it go back to its original state?"

At the moment he was about to activate the magic, the creatures in the forest disappeared, and an old man with fairy-like wings on his back appeared.

"The princess has awakened."

(To be Continued)

OR

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