Chapter 436: The Reformist Faction (2)
Nora's words were indeed true.
Following her directions, they stepped outside the building to the street, where three druids were standing face-to-face with the Fighter Crew and Mari's attendants.
The druids consisted of two men and one woman, and despite being outnumbered by the dozens of black magicians, they stood their ground confidently.
‘They don’t seem to be part of the Enjoyment Faction…’
Oliver thought as he observed the druids. Their natural aura, tall stature, abundant vitality, and green-dyed hair made it clear they were druids, but they didn’t fit the image of the Enjoyment Faction.
Unlike the Enjoyment Faction, who, tired of their harsh training and stifling life, had fled to the city and favored wearing expensive clothes, these druids looked nothing like that. Although they had green hair like the Enjoyment Faction, their outfits were rustic and unusual—coarse fur clothing, leaf mantles, and green linen cloaks. It was especially out of place in the metropolis of Landa.
These druids were of a type he had never seen before. Forrest revealed their true identity.
"This is quite a surprise... Real druids visiting Landa."
"Real druids?"
Oliver unintentionally echoed the words.
Hearing him, Mari whispered quietly as she drew closer to Oliver.
"They’re druids in training from Greenland."
Greenland. It was one of the territories within the United Kingdom, a poor region that, nevertheless, had been granted significant autonomy. For example, it included lands governed directly by druids.
However, something felt off. As far as Oliver knew, those druids were solely focused on nature and training, seldom venturing out of Greenland. Moreover, it was not easy for them to leave...
“That one—”
“—Are you perhaps Forrest?”
The male druid in the center spoke.
The middle-aged man, the largest among the three, had a long beard and hair that evoked the image of a wild beast.
Despite his imposing presence, Forrest maintained his composure and continued the conversation with the poise and audacity characteristic of a broker.
"Yes, that's correct. I am Forrest, the broker from 30th Street, T-District. It's an honor to meet a druid of such renown."
“Even if it’s flattery, it’s pleasant to hear… I am Pierce, a druid.”
“You must be part of the Reformist Faction.”
“Such distinctions have no meaning anymore.”
“Ah, I read in the papers that the conflict with the Traditionalist Faction had been resolved... So, you're here because of the special law, I assume?”
Special law? Oliver tilted his head in confusion at the unfamiliar term. He understood what the Reformist and Traditionalist Factions were.
Druids were generally divided into three groups:
The Traditionalists, who upheld the old ways of revering nature and following the teachings of their ancestors.
The Reformists, who advocated for prioritizing humanity, dominating nature, and utilizing it in line with the times.
And then there was the Enjoyment Faction, who disregarded such matters, focusing instead on personal freedom and pleasure.
Incidentally, the Traditionalists and Reformists had long been at odds over their beliefs, allowing the Enjoyment Faction to slip out of Greenland to pursue their desires.
But what was this special law about? Had something happened while Oliver was away from Gallos?
Pierce, who resembled a wild beast, spoke again.
“I came here to make a request... But first, who is this ‘Dave’?”
"That would be me."
Before Forrest could answer, Oliver raised a hand and responded, acting on a whim fueled by curiosity.
All eyes turned toward Oliver, and Pierce approached him with long strides.
The simple act carried a significant sense of intimidation.
Jo and Mari gathered around Oliver in concern, but he gestured for them to stay back, indicating that he was fine.
Pierce stopped in front of Oliver, stroking his beard as he examined him. His hands were as thick and strong as those of a bear.
“...You’re quite scrawny.”
“There have been some circumstances.”
“Did you really defeat Seamus... that young upstart?”
Just as Oliver was about to reply, Forrest interrupted.
“I refuse.”
“Refuse? How can you decline before even knowing the nature of the request? I’ve brought ample money with me. City dwellers love money, don’t they?”
“Of course, I know that. Druids are very wealthy, after all.”
There was a subtle undercurrent of contempt in the exchange between Forrest and Pierce.
“And I can also guess why a druid would come here. You want us to capture the druids who fled Greenland, the Enjoyment Faction, don’t you?”
Pierce didn’t deny it, which confirmed Forrest's assumption. He naturally stepped between Oliver and Pierce, putting some distance between them as if to prevent any potential incident.
Pierce backed away and nodded.
“You are well informed.”
“Otherwise, there would be no reason for a druid to visit a city like this... However, I’m afraid we must decline your request.”
Oliver was slightly surprised. It wasn’t like Forrest to refuse work so readily.
He was usually serious and diligent when it came to his tasks, always conducting thorough investigations before making any decisions. Still, this decision wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
There was the major redevelopment project in X-District looming, and it would have been too much to handle both that and his brokerage duties.
‘But that doesn’t seem to be the only reason,’ Oliver thought as he observed Forrest’s emotions. There was a clear sense of wariness, unease, and even discomfort toward the Reformist Druids. A significant amount, in fact.
“What’s your reason for refusing?”
“My friends and I are preparing for a small business, so we won’t be accepting requests for a while... If you wish, I can recommend a capable broker to you.”
“Are you referring to the redevelopment project?”
Pierce spoke as if he knew everything. Forrest showed a hint of surprise at the unexpected remark, but Pierce didn’t miss the opportunity to continue.
“There are those who believe that just because we druids spend our time training in the forest, we’re ignorant of the ways of the world.”
“I never said such a thing.”
“But you thought it… Sorry to disappoint you, but that’s a big misunderstanding, broker. There’s no one who understands the world as well as a druid. We learn how the world flows through the World Tree. The past, the present, and even the future.”
It was a valid point. Druids were, after all, the ones most adept at handling the World Tree.
Even the most confident magicians acknowledged that they were no match for druids when it came to matters concerning the World Tree.
“We know what you were doing before you became a broker, when you became one, who helped you, when you were most active, when you stepped back, and when you became active again. We even know who was behind it.”
Pierce glanced at Oliver.
“Impressive, but I’m not sure what your point is.”
“The point is that we druids know a lot. More than people expect... We are also aware that a significant number of the Enjoyment Faction have their eyes on this X-District.”
Pierce was sincere. The Enjoyment Faction indeed had plans for X-District. However, Forrest wasn’t particularly surprised.
“Our goal is to return the Enjoyment Faction to Greenland, while yours is to safely redevelop this area. So, why not cooperate? I heard that this Dave here is the city’s unofficial ally. Couldn’t you ask the city for permission to let us act regarding the Enjoyment Faction? It would make your job much easier.”
It was a reasonable suggestion. Their goals overlapped, so there was no issue in working together. In fact, having the assistance of a druid could make things smoother.
However, Forrest shook his head. The most rational person among them.
“Thank you for the offer, but I must refuse. This is our issue, and we prefer to handle it ourselves.”
His tone and emotions were firm.
Forrest’s actions and feelings made it clear that he was reluctant to get involved with the druids.
So much so that even Pierce could sense it.
Pierce scratched his chin with his bear-like hand, looking perplexed.
“That’s an unexpected answer. I heard the people of Landa were quick with profit.”
“And we’re also proactive.”
“I also heard that you’re good at reciprocating... I’ve given you valuable information. Don’t you think you should repay the favor?”
“Well, that’s not entirely wrong. What exactly do you want?”
“Hmm... I’d like to see the skills that defeated Seamus.”
Pierce said as he looked at Oliver. At that moment, he vanished with a gust of wind and reappeared behind Oliver.
It was an astonishing speed.
Mari, Jo, and the others reacted a beat too late, and in that brief moment, Pierce swung his hand, aiming to grab Oliver.
However, his hand stopped short in midair, unable to reach Oliver.
A quarterstaff blocked Pierce’s hand.
The two remained locked in place, neither pushing nor yielding. Even without resorting to any black magic, Oliver had managed to hold off the druid’s hand with the staff.
A low rumbling sound filled the air...
Amidst the onlookers’ surprise, Oliver, with his slender frame, spoke.
“...It was just luck.”
...
"Fortunately, they’re peaceful people."
After the druids left, Oliver remarked as he re-entered the meeting room. However, Mari quietly seethed with anger, almost as if she was expressing the frustration that Oliver didn’t.
“They suddenly attacked... You shouldn’t have let them go so easily.”
True to her words, Mari was prepared to fight the druids. She had stopped only because Oliver had intervened.
“Thank you for holding back, Mari. But it wasn’t necessary. They weren’t really attacking, just testing my skills... Besides, we learned some useful information, didn’t we?”
The useful information Oliver referred to was the fact that the Enjoyment Faction had its eyes on X-District.
Oliver looked at Forrest, waiting to hear his thoughts on the matter. There were also other questions he had in mind.
However, Jo spoke to Oliver first.
“Are you all right?”
“Huh?”
“I mean... You blocked the druid’s attack with your bare hands. I was worried about your tendons or bones.”
“Oh...”
Only then did Oliver understand Jo’s concern and let out a small exclamation. It was a reasonable worry.
Druids were inherently superhuman beings with bodies beyond the capabilities of ordinary people. They could easily shrug off conventional weapons.
Moreover, Pierce possessed an extraordinary physique, honed through numerous close-quarters battles, such that even Jo had reacted a moment too late.
Despite this, Oliver had blocked Pierce’s attack with just a quarterstaff and without using any black magic.
It was indeed unusual. Without wearing a black suit, how had he managed to withstand the force? Normally, he would have been thrown back, or his arm should have shattered.
Even more puzzling was how he had reacted so perfectly to block the attack, even though he hadn't anticipated Pierce's sudden move.
It was as if his body had instinctively responded.
While Oliver was still contemplating this strange phenomenon, a soft knock came at the door.
It was the girl who had earlier informed them of the druids' arrival.
‘Nora, was it?’
The girl, Nora, peeked her head in and asked.
“Would you like some coffee?”
The girl with curly hair and pale skin asked, her presence drawing a frustrated reaction from Jo.
“Ugh, seriously... I told you not to come here.”
“Why? I was just trying to be nice to the guests!”
Despite her delicate appearance, the girl spoke back to Jo without hesitation, indicating their familiarity.
Forrest intervened.
“Miss, would you happen to have any alcohol?”
The girl responded in a clear and confident manner.
“Yes! It’s cheap, though... Should I bring it?”
“Thank you, that would be appreciated.”
As soon as Forrest made the request, the girl hurried out to fetch the drinks.
Seeing this, Jo cast a disapproving look at Forrest, who asked what the issue was.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t we have her bring coffee or alcohol last time?”
“Well...”
Jo started to speak but then stopped, glancing at Oliver with a hint of guilt.
“...It’s nothing.”
Jo’s behavior was odd and difficult to understand. Forrest was puzzled, and Oliver also tilted his head in confusion. Meanwhile, the girl named Nora returned, expertly carrying a tray with both coffee and alcohol, serving each person.
She served alcohol to Forrest and Jo, and coffee to Mari and Oliver.
As she handed the coffee to Oliver, she looked at him intently, with a mix of curiosity and admiration.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you, Miss Nora.”
Oliver politely accepted the coffee and expressed his gratitude, making Nora smile. Jo, noticing this, showed signs of discomfort and sent Nora away, saying that the adults needed to talk.
Forrest spoke as he observed the scene.
“It may be impolite to say this in someone else’s place, but you seem quite strange today.”
“...It’s nothing.”
It didn’t seem like nothing, but Oliver chose not to press further. He was curious, but Jo clearly didn’t want to discuss it. Besides, there were more pressing questions on his mind.
Oliver turned to Forrest and asked.
“Mr. Forrest, could you tell me what this special law is?”
Forrest, as if expecting the question, took a sip of his drink before answering.
“It’s a law that was passed while you were away in Gallos. To put it simply, it grants the druids of Greenland the right to capture rogue druids, in other words, members of the Enjoyment Faction.”
“Was that not allowed before?”
“Generally, no. While the druids enjoy a high degree of autonomy within their own territory, they have no such authority outside it. Capturing rogue druids would be illegal.”
Oliver nodded, understanding immediately since Landa operated under a similar system.
If a criminal committed a crime within the city and then left its boundaries, there wasn’t much the city could officially do.
“So, a lot seems to have happened while I was away in Gallos?”
Forrest nodded.
“Indeed, something quite significant.”
“Something significant?”
“Yes. The druids, who had long been divided between the Traditionalist and Reformist Factions, finally leaned towards the Reformists, setting a clear direction. The special law was passed in response to this shift.”
“Is that so?”
Oliver replied as he recalled the Reformist Faction. They were the ones who advocated moving beyond the traditional druid values of venerating nature and instead treated nature as a tool.
It seemed to be a major development, whether for better or worse.
“How did that come about?”
“Sorry, but I don’t know the details. The druid society is... let’s say, rather closed off. It’s like a remote countryside. It’s hard to get detailed information.”
Forrest was sincere. At that moment, Jo spoke up.
“This is a serious matter. We already have enough trouble dealing with the local community and unaffiliated gangs, and now the Enjoyment Faction? Why would they come back to Landa after disappearing because of Seamus?”
“They probably have no other choice.”
“...?”
“Ah, I didn’t explain that well enough... Oliver, do you remember defeating Seamus and handing over the related information to the city?”
Oliver nodded. Thanks to that, he became an unofficial ally of the city and gained access to information about Joanna.
‘Joanna the Paladin...’
“That played a bigger role in hindering the Enjoyment Faction than you might think.”
“Hindering the Enjoyment Faction?”
“Yes. By exposing Seamus’—no, the Enjoyment Faction’s—fraudulent schemes and their methods, including their network, the countries that suffered losses have been pursuing them, even cooperating at the national level. Landa and the Security Bureau are at the center of this effort.”
Forrest spoke with pride. It seemed like he had initially been worried that the Security Bureau’s efforts would make business more difficult.
“That made it much harder for the Enjoyment Faction to operate. Druids find it difficult to hide in cities in the first place, and with the special law now in effect, life for them has become unbearable. They might handle ordinary police, fixers, or bounty hunters, but the druids from Greenland are another matter entirely.”
“Isn’t it even more illogical for them to come to Landa, then?”
“Not necessarily, Jo. Landa is a free city with strong autonomy within the kingdom. It might actually be safer for them here.”
Oliver quickly understood what Forrest meant. As Forrest said, Landa was a free city—exempt from the kingdom’s laws in exchange for high taxes.
Even with the special law passed by the kingdom, the Enjoyment Faction couldn’t be apprehended in Landa. That’s why they sought to employ Oliver for the task.
“Otherwise, they’d have to flee to the ends of the earth, and that’s not something they’d ever do.”
“Why not?”
“Because the Enjoyment Faction came to the city for freedom and pleasure. Fleeing to the ends of the earth would mean denying their very identity.”
Oliver let out a small exclamation, nodding in understanding. Just thinking of Seamus made it clear.
Yet, Oliver still had lingering questions.
“Mr. Forrest, may I ask why you declined the druid’s proposal? If it’s true that the Enjoyment Faction is targeting X-District, wouldn’t accepting their help make things easier?”
“Well, that’s true. The Enjoyment Faction is troublesome no matter what.”
Forrest paused for a moment to emphasize his next words.
“But even more than that, I’d rather not deal with the Reformist Druids.”
“Why is that?”
“There are rumors that they’re backed by the royal family, specifically King Edward X.”