Chapter 120: After the Work is Done (2)
"Ooh la la… Who is this dashing fellow?"
Coco, the broker, said this as she looked at Oliver entering the office.
Forest, who was seated behind the desk, chimed in agreement.
"Doesn’t he look rather sharp?"
"Sharp? This could definitely pass for a partner you'd take to a party. That suit suits you well, Dave."
Coco's words were sincere.
Though Oliver himself didn’t seem to realize it, the suit looked exceptionally good on him.
He thought he might have to thank Jane for picking it out for him.
"Thank you for the compliment."
"I'm serious. And by the way, you're quite clever, aren't you? No offense, but I didn’t think you'd be good at things like that."
"Excuse me? What do you mean?"
"Ah, isn’t that it? I thought you’d dressed up to match your growing reputation these days."
Oliver didn’t quite understand what his rising fame as a fixer had to do with his attire, but fortunately, Forest explained.
"As you gain a reputation, important clients start coming to you, and usually, that’s when people start paying attention to their clothes and appearance. This business is rather peculiar, but at the end of the day, it’s still a business. You need to give clients a trustworthy image."
"Oh..."
This was new information. Oliver asked another question.
"I see. Then, should I do the same?"
"It's not a must. There are plenty who don't. But if you want smooth negotiations and to build rapport with clients, it’s good to make an effort. It’s a form of courtesy."
"That’s right. Your appearance is part of your manners," Coco agreed with a shrug.
Her words were entirely sincere, and logically, nothing seemed wrong with her reasoning.
Come to think of it, Jonathan, the Pinkman, had always worn a neat suit and was one of the more polite people Oliver had met.
To build connections with powerful figures and learn about the Black Market, it might be a good idea for Oliver to follow this advice.
"Understood. I’ll make an effort to be mindful of my appearance."
Forest nodded in satisfaction, while Coco pulled a business card from between her chest.
"If you ever need clothes, visit here."
Oliver accepted the card.
The card bore the inscription: For the Gentleman.
"It's a men's suit specialty shop. A bit pricey, but if you’re going to wear something, you should wear it properly. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not introducing it to you because I’ve invested money in the place."
Oliver inspected the card and tucked it into his pocket, along with the labor union card he received from Arthur.
"I don’t know much about clothes. Is this place alright?"
"Of course. That’s exactly what you pay them for, to take care of that for you. If you mention that I introduced you, they’ll pay extra attention."
"Thank you."
"If you’re grateful, spend some money. The rich have to spend so that the poor can at least pick up some crumbs. It’s a recently established theory, but what was it called exactly?"
"The trickle-down theory. It’s a theory proposed by those advocating for lower taxes on the wealthy."
Forest answered, though he didn’t seem too convinced by it.
"Alright, enough light talk. Let’s get straight to business now, the most important part."
That most important part, of course, was receiving compensation. Coco confirmed this by lifting a package from beside her.
"Yes, naturally. We must finish well. Um… Dave. If it’s alright, could you take a seat?"
Oliver nodded and took a seat.
Coco handed him a small box, wrapped with a ribbon.
"What is this?"
"Open it yourself."
Following her instruction, he took the box and opened it. It was quite light. Inside, there was a bankbook and a seal.
"An anonymous account book. You can use it at any Goldsmith Bank, and the source of the funds won’t be traced. It’s practically the same as cash, so feel free to use it."
A bankbook. He’d heard of them before, but this was the first time he’d seen one in person.
For reasons even Oliver wasn’t sure of, he hadn’t opened an account and had always dealt in cash.
Perhaps it was natural since he had the Greedy Pouch, so carrying large amounts of cash never really posed any inconvenience.
However, having a bank account didn’t seem like a bad idea either.
"Hm?"
As he looked through the bankbook, he noticed something unusual.
"What’s wrong?"
"This amount seems odd."
The bankbook showed only a single line, but the amount was beyond his imagination.
£400,000,000.
"I thought it was strange too, so I asked Edith about it. She said the amount is correct. What did she say again… something about not liking to owe debts."
Oliver thought of Edith.
She had ended their conversation by giving up on answering his last question.
Although she said it was fine, it was clear that it had weighed heavily on her mind.
"She’s quite remarkable."
"Sorry? What do you mean?"
"Edith seems to have taken quite a liking to you, Dave. She doesn’t usually pay people like this. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ve already paid the brokerage fee, so the full amount is yours."
Oliver glanced at Forest. He nodded, confirming what Coco had said.
"Alright, now for your next gift."
Once again, Coco handed him a box adorned with a ribbon.
Inside was a business card with a signature on it.
"It’s the location of the Black Market and a ticket to enter. They mostly deal in drugs there."
"Drugs?"
Forest looked slightly surprised as he glanced at Oliver.
"This is unexpected. Do you use drugs?"
"No, there’s just something I want to investigate."
"Oh, how interesting. What could there be to investigate at a drug-dealing Black Market?"
Coco looked at Oliver, genuinely curious, and Forest seemed equally intrigued.
"Um… can I tell you about it later? It’s a bit personal."
Personal business. Though this piqued their interest even more, they didn’t pry any further. They knew how to control their curiosity.
"Well, I suppose we have no choice. Respecting others’ personal affairs is what makes us proud citizens of Landa. So, shall we get back to business?"
Oliver tucked the business card and the bankbook into his pocket.
This time, the box Coco handed over looked rather ominous compared to the others.
A black box with a black ribbon.
It gave off an aura of caution.
"...It’s that book."
"That book… Ah, that book."
Oliver deliberately avoided the word demon.
Items related to demons were all prohibited goods. Just possessing or trading them was considered a serious crime.
"Yes. I’m sorry, but could you check it later when you’re alone?"
Oliver nodded in agreement.
Books on demons weren’t just legally problematic, they carried a great deal of superstition as well, being considered extremely ominous.
"The item is genuine, so there’s no need to worry."
Oliver trusted her words. Though Edith was a bit eccentric, she didn’t seem like someone who would break a promise.
He could verify it once he returned home and was alone.
"Understood. Thank you for bringing it to me."
"My, how delightful. People rarely say things like that. Usually, they stay silent with their heads held high or grumble about the payment being too low."
"Given the nature of this work, it can’t be helped. They’re always tense and afraid, so it’s only natural they’d be on edge."
Forest spoke in a resigned tone.
Oliver agreed to some extent.
Emotions were fascinating in the way they were interconnected.
Even opposing or seemingly unrelated emotions could, in reality, have a profound influence on one another.
Where there is expectation, there is disappointment; inferiority can turn into anger, and fear plays a major role in both caution and aggression.
It was like a spider web.
Now that he thought about it, he’d witnessed countless such instances.
For example, the little boss at the orphanage had always acted the most vicious, fearing that his position would be threatened. Similarly, the overseer at the mine had tried to alleviate his own fears, inferiority, and anxiety by asserting dominance over kids like Oliver, savoring any sense of superiority he could find.
Perhaps this was why, when emotions were over-extracted, not only the specific emotion was depleted, but the whole spectrum of emotions was drained as well.
At that moment, Coco pointed at Oliver.
"Then, Dave, I guess you're one of the bravest people around. You've never shown fear or anger, and you've always remained polite and composed… Oh, wait! I’ve read about this in a novel before. They call it the 'composure of the strong.' Is that what it is?"
Oliver tilted his head, puzzled.
"The composure of the what?"
Coco chuckled softly at his response.
"Nothing at all. Anyway, thank you again for your help in this matter. Even though we weren’t told all the details, we know just how much you contributed. We really appreciate it."
"I was simply doing my job."
Coco stood up from her seat and reached into her chest once more, pulling out another business card.
The card was engraved with the words Black Cat.
"This is a shop run by our Sisterhood. If you're ever interested, feel free to visit."
"How bold, making such an offer right in front of your assigned broker."
Forest's tone was teasing as he commented on Coco’s audacity, and she laughed in response.
"Please understand, Forest. A bit of brazenness is part of a woman’s charm, isn't it? Why don’t you join him? If both of you come, the staff might offer some… special services."
"In that case, how could I refuse?"
Coco grinned at Forest’s playful response and prepared to leave.
As she was about to go, Oliver stopped her with a question.
"Excuse me, Coco."
"Yes? Is there something you want to ask?"
"What exactly do you mean by ‘special services’?"
"..."
...
"You’ve made a mistake," Forest chided Oliver. The final question had ruined the mood of his meeting with Coco. When he asked her what "special services" meant, she hesitated, then left without saying anything.
He had no idea what the problem was. She didn’t even answer him.
"What did I do wrong?"
"As a man, you shouldn’t ask a woman to explain that kind of joke. It’s fine when a woman teases a man with it, but it doesn’t work the other way around."
"I wasn’t joking."
"But you asked what the ‘special services’ were, and you even added the word ‘specifically.’ What were you aiming for?"
"I just wanted her to explain clearly."
"Sigh… forget it. Just refrain from asking things like that next time. I didn’t know you had that kind of side to you."
Not knowing what he should avoid, Oliver simply nodded.
Continuing this conversation seemed like it would only complicate things further.
"By the way, just to confirm, are you planning to work again soon?"
Oliver hesitated for a moment.
"No, I plan to take a break. Is that going to be a problem?"
"Not at all."
Forest nodded in agreement.
"That’s normal. After finishing a big job, most people take time off to recover, heal from any injuries, and even enjoy some leisure. Though, I guess you're not really the type to indulge in pleasures."
"No, I’m pretty similar. I’ll take a break while conducting some experiments and studying a few things. There are some personal matters I need to investigate as well."
"Investigating… Is that about the Black Market you mentioned earlier?"
"Yes."
"I see. I won’t pry then. It seems personal. Just… be careful."
"Careful?"
"Even though the Black Market is kept in check by the Crime Firms and other powers, it’s still not your ordinary marketplace. Buying something is fine, but if you seem like you’re poking around or investigating too much, they won’t like it. You know what I mean, right?"
Oliver nodded. In short, don’t stir up trouble.
"Understood."
"It’s expensive, but if you really need information, you could try asking one of the brokers or the Sisterhood. And if all else fails, I could ask Heimdall for help on your behalf. Just letting you know, in case you change your mind."
Forest’s words were sincere. He wasn’t scheming but genuinely offering help.
"That’s very kind of you. Thank you."
"Kind? No, there’s no need to thank me for that... By the way, did you notice anything strange while coming here?"
"Hmm… It felt like people were watching me."
"That’ll only get worse."
"Excuse me?"
"Word of what happened in the Contaminated Zone is spreading. There aren’t many secrets in this world, especially in our line of work."
"Mr. Al told me as much."
"Then you also know that killing Duncan has sped up those rumors. While he’s not as notorious as he used to be, he was once quite well-known in his prime. Especially for his tenacity—he was famous for always finding a way to win."
Oliver understood. Duncan had indeed been formidable, like a finely honed blade.
He hadn’t been flashy, but he was deadly, perfectly suited for taking lives.
And with an item infused with holy magic, the nemesis of black magicians, Duncan had come thoroughly prepared.
Had Oliver failed to extract his mana in time, he might have died that day.
"On top of that, you handled Nina the gunslinger and Scott the druid’s betrayal... Can I ask you something?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"When you were fighting… did you really extract mana?"