Chapter 431: News (1)
The redevelopment project of X-District in the Forest. This was the first time Oliver had heard of it. Could it be that they were finally completing the construction on Mari’s residence?
Oliver instinctively asked for more details about the matter, but Jane, who had only recently heard about it herself, admitted that she didn’t know much. In fact, she seemed more surprised that Oliver wasn’t aware of it, as the rumors had suggested he was involved.
It was all very confusing, yet that didn’t mean it was without value.
At the very least, just knowing about this development was useful, and Jane also explained the economic potential of redeveloping X-District from an investor’s perspective.
"Of course, I don’t know all the details either. However, I did pick up a few things from the Sisterhood. Although it’s just speculation, if the project can proceed without interference from the Development Opposition Committee and secure stable investment, there’s bound to be a huge profit. Redevelopment itself is typically a lucrative business, and X-District is one of the few undeveloped areas in Landa. In fact, during the early stages of the city’s development, it was considered a decent industrial zone. If it can be redeveloped, it’s essentially a goldmine."
Jane explained in detail to Oliver, as if she saw an opportunity at hand.
She spoke of the economic impact of the redevelopment project itself, the unique value of the undeveloped zone, and the potential profits considering the political circumstances.
Oliver savored his meal while listening to Jane’s lecture, finally getting up when he heard that the restaurant was running out of ingredients.
Immediately after finishing the meal, Oliver expressed his gratitude to Jane.
Normally, the redevelopment project in the Forest would be of little more than casual interest to him, but now it carried more significance.
Jane, upon receiving Oliver’s thanks, replied that she was glad to have been of help.
Thanks to Oliver, she felt confident that she could carry out the task entrusted to her by Mrs. Miranda beyond expectations.
Though unintended, it was a fortunate turn of events. After expressing their gratitude to each other, Oliver and Jane parted ways.
“Wait a moment.”
Just as Oliver was about to leave, Jane spoke to him. She approached and, with a serious expression, looked him straight in the eyes.
“Don’t forget your promise.”
...
After finishing the meal with Jane, Oliver immediately returned to the temporary workshop in the basement.
The basement, protected by various security spells and black magic, thankfully remained undisturbed. Oliver released the security and black magic before starting the dismantling process.
“Was it a good idea to work through the night? At least I managed to finish the important tasks quickly.”
Oliver thought as he retrieved the restored Corpse Puppets—Duncan, Seamus, and Bathory—from the blood pool.
The damage they sustained during the fight with the Flesh Chef had been completely repaired, thanks to the blood pool and Ptah's Assistant. The wounds were not only stitched and reinforced with wire but had fully merged as if they had never been there.
Still, just in case, Oliver inspected each Corpse Puppet’s damaged areas again to ensure there were no remaining issues.
The restoration was perfect, much to his relief.
“Big Mouth.”
Oliver called out to Big Mouth, which he had already prepared.
The human-sized artificial creature made of flesh blinked its many eyes and waddled over on its stubby limbs, letting out a croak reminiscent of a toad.
“Crooook...”
“Could you please swallow these Corpse Puppets for me?”
Oliver politely requested, and as usual, Big Mouth complied despite groaning in protest.
Using its roughly crafted arms, Big Mouth grabbed Duncan, Seamus, and Bathory, shoving them whole into its mouth.
“I’m going to pack some corpses next, so please swallow them in order. Thank you.”
Oliver handed Big Mouth a bundle of cash as he made the request.
Big Mouth gulped down the money, and Oliver proceeded to retrieve the restored corpses from the other blood pools, packing them into body bags.
Big Mouth let out its characteristic toad-like croak as it swallowed the packed bodies one by one.
Oliver also packed the embalmed corpses hanging on the drying rack in the same manner, placing them on the floor for Big Mouth to consume. Then, he carefully arranged the organs, preserved in blood, into a box.
With all the materials gathered, Oliver began dismantling the equipment.
He took apart the surgical table, drying rack, multiple blood pools, and auxiliary mechanical devices installed in the basement.
“Hmm...”
Oliver unconsciously let out a sigh. After all, he had spent an entire day laboring to set it all up, so dismantling it felt somewhat wasteful.
In hindsight, perhaps he should have scaled down the setup.
“No... Considering how it kept me occupied and made the work go smoothly, it wasn't such a bad decision.”
As he transferred the embalming fluid and the blood solution from the pools into separate containers using a pump, he reflected.
The task was more labor-intensive than anticipated since it had to be done manually, yet strangely enough, his strength and stamina had improved, allowing the work to progress more easily.
Oliver lifted the containers filled with liquid, asking Big Mouth to swallow them as well, then fetched tools from one corner of the workshop to dismantle the machines, pools, and drying racks into smaller pieces, making them easier for Big Mouth to consume.
Though it had taken an entire day to set everything up, dismantling it took only a few hours, thanks to the familiarity gained through experience.
“Croooor...”
“No, Big Mouth. We’re not fighting. We’re just pulling out because something came up.”
“Crook?! ...Crooook?”
“Yes, there will be a two-against-one fight. We’ll do it when we return to Landa and have some free time. We’re just too busy to do it now.”
Big Mouth paused from swallowing the surgical table, shelves, and tools, casting a gaze filled with betrayal and disdain at Oliver.
Seeing this, Oliver spoke.
“Big Mouth... Please keep working.”
Though brimming with discontent, Big Mouth resumed its task as instructed, for it was, after all, a request from Oliver.
After several hours of labor, Oliver finished the work, changed out of his work clothes into his regular attire, and offered another bundle of cash to Big Mouth as a token of appreciation.
“I trust you, Big Mouth. You trained with Child in combat, so I believe you can win even if it’s two-against-one.”
Big Mouth shrank in silence, its expression conveying nothing but contempt for Oliver.
A silent protest.
Ignoring it, Oliver sincerely thanked Big Mouth for its hard work, folded the remaining cash, placed it in the leather case attached to his belt, and was about to leave the basement when he encountered Lucien, who had come alone.
The boss of one of the factions in the Gallos Milieu, the Myra Family.
“Ah, Mr. Dave! ...You’re still here?! I thought you’d left since Miss Jane had gone, but it’s fortunate that you’re still here.”
“I met with Miss Jane earlier.”
“Ah, I see... Did you have a pleasant time?”
Lucien asked while glancing around the now-empty basement, which had just been cleaned up.
“Hm? It looks quite empty... Weren’t you working on something?”
“I was. I’ve just finished cleaning up. The task is mostly done, and I have a new job to attend to.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. I wanted to take a look around your workshop, Mr. Dave.”
“I’ll be sure to show you next time if the opportunity arises.”
“Really? That would be an honor.”
Lucien responded with exaggerated enthusiasm, for reasons unknown, making a concerted effort to curry favor with Oliver.
Oliver, recalling the help Lucien had provided, answered politely, as one should repay kindness with kindness.
“It’s no big deal. You helped me, so it’s only natural.”
“Haha... That’s quite remarkable of you. People with immense power often struggle to remain polite.”
“I’m not that capable.”
Oliver replied earnestly. Though Lucien didn’t seem to believe him.
Oliver considered asking why Lucien doubted him but decided against it.
There were other matters to attend to, and it felt like asking would just create unnecessary trouble.
After all, whether to believe or not is a matter of personal choice, isn’t it?
Lucien spoke up again.
“You seem busy, so I’ll keep this brief. Is that alright?”
Lucien, the leader of the influential Myra Family within the Milieu, asked Oliver for permission with an almost excessive display of courtesy.
Oliver agreed.
“I’ve heard that you, Mr. Dave, are connected to the Tower of Magic and are a renowned fixer in Landa. It’s a bit difficult for me to understand, but that’s what I know.”
“I don’t really understand it well myself.”
“Heh! …Then, may I assume you’re familiar with the rules of the streets? For instance, that there’s no such thing as a free lunch?”
“I wouldn’t say I know the rules well, but I do understand that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
“That’s good to hear… Ah! Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to make a big deal out of lending you the basement and providing equipment for your work. In fact, I consider myself to be in your debt, since you helped us and that laid the groundwork for new business opportunities.”
Lucien’s eloquent speech was at least partially genuine. However, he was also looking for new opportunities.
It became clearer why Murphy, a capable businessman, chose to work with Lucien.
“Since we’ve helped each other, wouldn’t it be possible for us to maintain a friendly relationship going forward?”
Oliver nodded in agreement. It wasn’t an unreasonable statement. Still, he found himself wondering.
It wasn’t that he disliked Lucien; it was just that maintaining a relationship with someone living in a faraway land seemed challenging.
It wasn’t like Oliver had any business operations here, unlike Murphy.
When Oliver voiced his thoughts, Lucien shook his head.
“You never know what the future holds, do you? …Especially with capable individuals. There may come a time when we’ll need to hire Fixer Dave for a job, and when that time comes, I’d like you to look upon us favorably.”
“Well, if that’s the case, yes… But what kind of job might you need me for?”
“I’m not sure myself. But the chances are high. Laville is already a chaotic place, and the current situation has made things even more unstable… When chaos intensifies, having a strong ally becomes crucial.”
“Ah… I understand. Thank you for your high regard.”
“Think nothing of it. Then, I’ll take it that you’ll consider our relationship positively. Thank you for your valuable time… By the way, where are you headed now?”
“I’m planning to go to Roculi University. I have someone to meet.”
...
As he had said, Oliver left the basement and headed straight for Roculi University.
The university, located in the relatively intact central area of the ruined city, was bustling with a diverse crowd.
There were the original students and wizards associated with the university, as well as wealthy citizens, scholars, and enthusiasts who were allowed to stay there. Journalists who had come to interview the heroes who saved the city also crowded the campus.
In addition, police forces had been deployed to maintain order and provide protection, making the university feel like a small city of its own.
Blending into the crowd, Oliver made his way to the main building where Kevin was located.
“Hmm? Is that Yareli? And Lord Terrence?”
Upon arriving at the university’s main building, Oliver spotted Yareli and Terrence giving an interview in a designated area outside.
Dozens of reporters from Gallos surrounded them in a fan shape, each holding notebooks, pens, or recording devices, attentively listening to their every word, afraid to miss even a single statement.
Oliver found himself curious about what was going on, and before he knew it, he was watching. At that moment, someone approached him with a mix of annoyance and weariness on their face.
“Who’s this skinny guy? …Hey, whoever you are, this area is restricted to authorized personnel only. Get out.”
The man, speaking in Gallosian, lightly pushed Oliver on the shoulder. Despite not applying much force, Oliver didn’t budge.
Just as the man was about to realize something was off, Oliver pulled out an ID card from his pocket.
It was a temporary ID issued by Roculi University for Kevin, Terrence, Yareli, and Oliver, who were there on behalf of the Tower of Magic.
After scrutinizing the ID and Oliver’s face for a long moment, the man finally seemed to realize and backed away apologetically.
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
“No problem. By the way, could you tell me what’s happening?”
Oliver put away his ID and gestured toward the ongoing interview with Terrence and Yareli.
The man explained, “They’re interviewing one of the heroes who helped calm the recent disturbance.”
His voice carried a hint of dissatisfaction and annoyance. After all, Terrence and Yareli were associated with the Tower of Magic.
It seemed a bit inappropriate for them to be treated like heroes at Roculi University, but criticizing them outright would also be unreasonable.
Oliver observed Yareli and Terrence closely.
As one would expect from members of prestigious families in the Tower, they answered the reporters' questions articulately and with a sense of style, almost as if they had been trained for this. Yet, something seemed amiss, as if one person was missing.
Oliver turned to the man blocking his way and asked, “Why isn’t Professor Kevin present?”
...
“It’s a political matter.”
Kevin answered from inside a temporary office assigned to him in the university’s main building.
Looking worn out, he was dressed in a wrinkled shirt and sipping coffee while reviewing documents. A stack of eight empty coffee cups was already piled up on one side of his desk.
“Political?”
“Yes. Having one of the heroes who saved Gallos' capital be someone with red skin is a bit difficult for the public to accept.”
“Ah…”
Oliver let out a small exclamation, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Kevin, however, seemed unconcerned.
“Why should it matter? It’s not like I’m an actual hero who saved the city.”
“But… Didn’t you fight alongside Lord Terrence and Miss Yareli?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’d refuse even if they asked me to pretend to be a hero. Besides, do you really think those people outside are giving interviews because they enjoy it?”
Oliver recalled the emotions he had sensed from Yareli and Terrence during the interview.
“No.”
“Exactly. Because they were born into noble families in the Tower, they’re stuck playing the part of heroes, whether they like it or not. There’s no need to be envious. Besides, I’m busy with coordination work between Roculi University and the Tower. Even if they offered, I’d decline.”
Oliver glanced at the stack of documents on Kevin’s desk.
“Coordination work?”
“Yes. Deciding how to divide credit for defeating the Flesh Chef, distributing the rights to the various otherworldly creatures captured, and handling Gretel’s remains, among other things. There’s a lot to sort out because it’s such a big case.”
“Is Professor Kevin handling all of that?”
“For the most part, yes. I’m responsible for the core negotiations. Master is busy, Yareli is still a student, and Terrence technically belongs to the military, not the Tower.”
Oliver understood right away. Given the current circumstances, there was no one better suited for the job than Kevin unless the Tower decided to send someone else.
Handling such a heavy workload right after a major incident seemed taxing, and Oliver felt a bit sympathetic. But Kevin shook his head as if to say it wasn’t a problem.
“It’s not too bad. Only those with real authority in the Tower get to handle work like this. It’s a critical job. Honestly, I’m quite satisfied with the situation. If I perform well, I’ll get to do it again in the future.”
Kevin’s expression showed an unusual mixture of ambition and determination, traits Oliver hadn’t noticed before. He was clearly looking far ahead, aiming for something big.
“But enough about that. Why did you come here? What do you need?”
Kevin, quick to catch on, asked, sensing that Oliver had a reason for visiting.
Thanks to his perceptiveness, Oliver felt more at ease bringing up the matter.
“I came to ask for permission. It seemed appropriate to seek your approval.”
Kevin, sipping his coffee while examining the paperwork, shifted his gaze to Oliver.
“Permission?”
“Yes, if it’s not an issue, I’d like to return to Landa first.”