Chapter 502: A New Routine (2)
Oliver thought of Milo.
The first time they met was during Murphy’s second request. At that time, Murphy asked Oliver to take on the security duties while a brewery was being built.
Oliver accepted, and during the process, he met Murphy’s aunt, Maggie, and his youngest brother, Milo, for the first time.
Although “met” was perhaps an overstatement, as all they did was exchange a few words.
Anyway, after hearing the story of how Oliver defeated a wizard, Milo expressed his desire to learn black magic.
It was an entirely impulsive decision driven by momentary feelings.
As proof, Milo neither appeared again nor asked to learn black magic afterward. Then, out of the blue, he suddenly showed up and requested to be taught again.
Oliver asked, “Black magic?”
“Yes, didn’t I ask you to teach me when we first met?”
“I remember. Since you didn’t mention it again, I thought you had lost interest.”
Milo hesitated.
“Ah... Well, that’s because... I was helping with the family business. Our family runs a business, you see.”
Oliver understood. Indeed, many organizations in Landa were family-run, and the Kimball Family was one of them.
While some adapted to the times and operated like corporations, family-based management was still the norm. In the underworld, family was the one thing you could still rely on.
“So, you're not helping with the business now?”
“No...! It’s not like that. It’s just that things are a bit slow right now...”
There was sincerity in his words, but something was being left unsaid. At that moment, Forest, the broker in charge of the redevelopment project, whispered to Oliver.
“Milo doesn’t have a specific role in the Kimball Family, probably because he’s the youngest. He mostly runs errands.”
“How do you know that?”
“Come on, I’m a broker, aren’t I? Of course, I know.”
Oliver accepted the explanation. Information was the most crucial asset for a broker, and Forest had been in the business of arranging personnel for fighter crews and crime firms for quite some time, so it wasn’t strange that he knew such things.
After hearing this, Oliver asked Milo directly to confirm, and Milo, flustered and agitated, initially denied it but soon admitted the truth.
He complained that his older brothers saw him as too much of a child to entrust him with any significant responsibilities.
“That’s why I’m here. I want to prove that I can handle things on my own. Especially since lately, we need more strength, and we’re lacking in that area.”
Forest nodded in agreement. While the Kimball Family had amassed considerable wealth, starting with the brewery and reaching a level comparable to crime firm executives, their military strength was still relatively weak.
Due to a policy of avoiding conflicts with existing powers, they were among the top employers of fighter crews.
However, the real question lay elsewhere.
“Why do you need military strength? It seems a bit sudden... Ah, is it because you’re expanding your business into Gallos?”
“Huh? Ah, that’s partly true, but not entirely... Don’t you know what’s going on?”
Milo asked with a puzzled expression, and Oliver glanced at Forest, who sighed before explaining.
“Hmmm... I was going to tell you a bit later to avoid giving you a headache, but I guess there’s no avoiding it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just what it sounds like. The underworld has been quite chaotic lately, enough to make even the crime firms nervous.”
Forest explained that the reason for the turmoil in the underworld was the downfall of the Flesh Chef. With the disappearance of the monster that once dominated Gallos's underworld, various black magicians and the Milieu were scrambling to seize the opportunity.
“Isn’t Gallos an overseas territory?”
“That just shows how chaotic things have become. It’s like when waves are strong, the water splashes far. The turmoil is so intense that it’s reaching even overseas... And there’s also a rumor that another key player was injured, which is adding to the chaos.”
Oliver kept silent, as he had a good idea of who that might be.
“That’s why everyone is ramping up their military strength, trying not to get swept away by the wave of chaos... And we’re partly responsible for it.”
“We are?”
“Yes... Fighter Crew isn’t just a subcontracted group anymore; it’s become a fully independent organization. The crime firms can no longer completely trust us.”
That was true. In order to maintain balance, the crime firms had refrained from excessive militarization and instead relied on external personnel to avoid causing unnecessary tension. But with Fighter Crew establishing itself as a complete organization in X-District, the situation had changed.
An independent organization that could generate revenue on its own was vastly different from a subcontractor that relied solely on them for income.
Thus, each crime firm was now focused on expanding its military power to increase its level of armament and protect itself.
“Well... I feel a bit guilty.”
“Oh, there’s no need to feel that way.”
Milo interrupted. His tone was lighthearted, but there was a clear sense of determination and purpose in his voice.
“In this world, it’s only natural for the strong to prevail. There’s nothing to feel guilty about... Besides, everyone already wanted to build up their military power anyway. Fighter Crew just provided a convenient excuse.”
Though his words seemed casual, he grasped the situation perfectly.
“These days, there’s friction with the crime firm executives in other cities, and the Security Bureau is growing, which has everyone on edge... Besides, thanks to Fighter Crew, the non-affiliated gangs that used to cause trouble in this city have been cleared out. So, there’s really no need for you to feel bad.”
“Oh... You know quite a lot, don’t you?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Even if all I did was run errands, I’m still part of the Kimball Family. So, please, teach me. If you help me out, I’ll repay you. As proof, I’ve even brought some money.”
“Alright.”
Oliver agreed before Milo even had a chance to take out the thick envelope of money.
So readily, in fact, that not only the surrounding people but also Milo himself seemed taken aback.
“Really...?”
“Yes.”
“Wow... I didn’t expect you to agree so easily.”
“You said you wanted to learn, didn’t you? However, I’m a bit busy right now, so I can’t start teaching you immediately. I have somewhere I need to go.”
“Oh, oh. That’s fine! It’s more than enough... But where are you going?”
“To the Tower of Magic.”
As Oliver answered, he emerged from his recollections.
Back in reality, Oliver’s eyes took in the scenery of the Tower of Magic.
The vast grounds and the towers built in distinct styles for each school of magic. It was the same as the last time he saw it, yet somehow different.
“Has something happened?”
Oliver thought as he observed a group of students gathered on a bench along the tower’s pathway, chatting animatedly.
“Is the rumor true?”
“Yeah, my cousin works in the administration here. I heard from him that the rumor is true. The project our tower was working on got raided.”
“How is that even possible?”
“How should I know?”
“No, seriously. A project getting raided... Don’t they have heavy security there?”
“It sounds crazy, but I heard the guards weren’t doing their jobs properly. They got complacent, thinking no one would dare come here.”
“Ridiculous... Then again, I guess that’s why they’re guards. They’re probably screwed now.”
“More than screwed.”
“But what about the security system? You know, the one using the World Tree?”
At the mention of the security system, the student who had been speaking raised a finger.
“That’s exactly the point. They set up a security system using the World Tree that would take even a druid at least 40 minutes to unlock, but it was breached in less than two minutes. By the time reinforcements arrived, the raid was already over.”
“Is that even possible? If you try to force it open, the magic becomes increasingly difficult to unravel, taking at least half a day.”
“I don’t know, but apparently, it was possible. That’s why there’s now talk of a spy inside the tower, and recently, there was a major search—”
“—Hey, hey.”
One of the students on the bench nudged the student who was eagerly speaking.
The conversation abruptly stopped. Annoyed at being interrupted, the student asked what was going on, and the other student subtly pointed in Oliver’s direction.
It seemed Oliver had been staring at them too intently, absorbed in their conversation.
As a result, there was an awkward moment of eye contact between Oliver and the students.
“...”
“...”
An uncomfortable silence settled over them. Oliver unconsciously waved his left hand, which held a quarterstaff, in greeting, and the students, though hesitant, returned the gesture.
Oliver was quite surprised. When he first came to the tower, most people would look away and ignore him.
Although he had drawn attention after completing a few missions, it was just that—attention. Apart from a few exceptions, there had been no personal greetings or signs of respect.
But now, when he greeted them, they responded. It was curious, especially since he didn’t know any of them personally. Oliver expressed his gratitude with another bow and continued on his way.
“Really curious...”
...
“What's there to be curious about?”
Inside the Elemental School Tower at the Tower of Magic, Kevin Dunbar, a professor and master at the tower, as well as Merlin's disciple, spoke from his office where he was working.
As usual, he read documents quickly, signing them while speaking in a calm voice.
“You’re now an official employee of the tower and have made notable contributions in several significant incidents. Lake Village, the Flesh Chef... If people were still reacting the same way they did when you first arrived, that would be the real oddity. In fact, compared to what you've accomplished, the attention you're getting is just a drop in the ocean.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Oliver responded plainly, despite having single-handedly defeated Bathory, reclaimed the Life Magic School's research facility, thwarted Theodoor's conspiracy, and defeated both the Flesh Chef and his sibling.
And now, he was also running a business in the notorious X-District, a place long thought to be uninhabitable.
Yet all he said was, “Thank you for the compliment.” Kevin found it remarkable every time he saw him, especially in situations like this.
The demeanor... or rather, the temperament Oliver displayed was something Kevin considered an even greater strength than his talents. It exerted a subtle pressure, making others acutely aware of the difference between them.
“...Anyway, it seems like there was a lot going on in the New World.”
Kevin paused his work and gestured to his right side, indicating Oliver’s white-streaked hair and burnt arm.
Oliver replied, “Ah... Yes, quite a few things happened. It seems you’ve also been busy, Professor.”
Oliver could sense a pure, more potent magic power emanating from Kevin, along with a flow of magical energy that had not just stabilized but exceeded normal levels. Additionally, there was a faint aura of spirits surrounding him.
In the past, it had been too weak for Oliver to notice, but now, thanks to his recent encounter with the Ice Elder, Oliver was able to discern it more clearly.
“Having sharper eyes certainly helped,” he thought.
Kevin spoke again. “Busy, you say... Well, there was some of that.”
His tone carried a subtle nuance. Although such subtleties weren’t Oliver’s specialty, he decided to ask just in case.
“What happened?”
“...”
Kevin uncharacteristically fell silent. Though it wasn’t the first time, this particular pause felt different. It was unlikely to be just Oliver’s imagination.
“It’s been a long time since I received guidance.”
“Guidance? ...Are you talking about the elder?”
“Yes. Thanks to that, I was able to make several contracts with new spirits. That’s the good news.”
“...What’s the bad news?”
“Do you remember Felix?”
“Yes.”
Oliver nodded.
Felix, a student from the Gaia Sub-School within the Elemental School. Oliver had first met him during one of Kevin’s classes, where he helped the students with some physical training.
Among the otherwise unmotivated students, Felix was the only one who showed any enthusiasm, making him memorable.
Later, Felix applied to work in Kevin’s research lab, passed the tests alongside Derek, and even accompanied them on the Lake Village expedition.
Although he had suffered significant magic and life force depletion due to Theodoor’s scheme...
“Did he die or suffer permanent damage?”
Oliver asked bluntly. Considering the injuries inflicted by Theodoor, it wasn’t an unreasonable question.
Felix had been severely weakened from the loss of a substantial amount of magic and life force, accumulated over a lifetime.
Kevin shook his head.
“No. That didn’t happen. Thanks to the medicine you provided, he managed to recover almost entirely from the aftereffects.”
“That’s good to hear. Then, what’s the bad news?”
“The problem is... he turned out to be a thief. He was secretly smuggling tower supplies and research materials.”