Time passed and the snow began to fall.
Oliver learned a lot from Kent.
He learned what kind of job the Solver is. He also learned the principles of the job, human groups, points to pay attention to, basic knowledge, etc.
Aside from that…
TAK TAK
Kent said while swinging the quarterstaff.
“I retired around 20 years ago… so to be honest, I don’t know how much things have changed.”
TAK TADUK
Oliver answered, wielding a quarterstaff.
"I see."
The two swung the quarterstaff together.
“Yeah, it’s a skill-oriented market and Landa has also developed, so everything must have changed a lot. I do not know how useful the knowledge I have taught will be. In particular, you're not trying to make money in a sh*thole like me, you're going to a higher place."
What Kent said was true.
A solver who can take advantage of the black market without being affiliated with an organization. Even Kent didn’t have a sense of what kind of reputation or connections were needed to achieve that.
He had heard that such beings existed, but every single one was legendary.
But, ironically, Kent thought that it wouldn't be impossible for the fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy who was sweating right in front of his eyes.
He didn't know why. Maybe it was his excellent black magic skills. Or, his surprisingly quick learning ability?
No, there was a more fundamental reason before that.
Kent couldn't explain it in detail, but he was convinced that this kid, who was different from everyone else, could get his hands on anything he wanted.
It was the first time Kent felt this way when he saw a person, so he couldn't explain anything more.
“Ha… Okay, let’s stop here.”
Kent lowered the quarterstaff and stepped back. Following that Oliver also stepped back in the same manner as Kent.
Just three months ago, the skinny guy, who didn't even know how to hold a quarterstaff had now changed completely and mastered all the basics.
To the point where he can fight against Kent.
Although Kent controlled his strength moderately, it was still a scary learning speed.
“How is it? Mr. Kent.”
"It's enough to not get beaten up by a passerby. But don't let your guard down, keep practicing just like I told you. Don't forget to eat and exercise."
At Kent’s nagging like a parent, Oliver nodded.
"Yes, I understand."
After answering, Oliver wiped himself with a towel and started getting dressed.
Brown cotton pants and a khaki overcoat, it was an old outfit he bought specifically for this day.
“Are you going now?”
"Yes, I should."
Oliver answered while carrying his bag.
“Okay… Your voice has power. Your voice is important for the work. It gives trust… I wish I had done a little more work on your facial expressions.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand how to put an expression on my face.”
“No, it’s fine. There’s no one who can be good at everything… Can you stand in front of me for a moment?”
At Kent's request, Oliver went and stood in front of him.
It was not too stiff and not too flattered, so he exuded natural yet relaxed confidence.
“Why do you want to use the black market?”
“In order to obtain books related to black magic.”
“Aren’t you interested in books about the demons?”
“I am not interested in that yet.”
"Okay. Excellent… Even if you are at the bottom of the league, anyone who is interested in the demons will be a target of caution. Keep answering only that much. However, never deny anything strongly. It'll look more suspicious. So always deny it on a moderate level."
“Um, yes, I understand.”
"Again, don't ask too much about this and that. No matter how curious you are, be patient if it's not the right time. At the same time, you have to be careful with your mouth. If you ask a lot of questions, you will be exposed, and there will be people who want to use it. No matter how curious you are, be patient until the right situation arises for you to ask. Chance will come to the one who waits for it. If it’s a warlock like you, then it will definitely come.”
“Yes. By the way, when is the right time?”
“When they feel afraid of you or desperately need you. Then, naturally, it will be easier to get the answer you want.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
Hearing the answer, Kent handed out a letter to Oliver.
"What is this?"
"The letter of introduction. This is the letter of introduction to the broker I told you about. It's sealed, so don't open it. If it's opened, he might suspect it's been tampered with. He's kind of a nitpicker, but he won't be a bad choice for the first person for you to work with. He has a great sense of work."
Kent said sincerely.
Oliver nodded and put the letter in his pocket, then headed out of the beggar's den.
“What should you do before you go to meet the broker?”
“Put on a leather mask.”
"Yes, he's a good man, but still don't reveal your identity. It will become a burden on your safety and activity."
"Yes… Then, goodbye Mr. Kent."
Oliver said while leaving the beggar's den under the snowy sky.
"That's right… Here, take this."
"This…?"
Oliver asked while looking at the quarterstaff that Kent extended towards him.
“It’s a gift. I’ve received a lot of stuff, so I can’t just send you back with bare hands.”
“A gift?”
“Yeah, it might be an old quarterstaff, but it’s the most important thing to me. Please, accept it.”
Oliver looked at the quarterstaff without saying a word.
The handle was smooth, and it was bandaged in the middle where it was tattered revealing how old it was.
More than anything else, Kent's feelings were in it since it was something that he shared his whole life.
“… Are you not going to take it?”
"Are you really giving this to me? It's a precious thing, isn't it?"
“That’s right. That’s why I am giving it to you.”
Oliver took the quarterstaff with a more blunt expression than usual.
Then, Kent said.
"Just remember one thing. You're not weird or broken. You are just different. Just keep that in mind and live your life."
"… Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
Oliver answered and left the beggar's den. Kent waved his hand until he couldn't see him anymore.
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
SCREECH
A gloomy gray taxi came to a rough stop on the side of the road.
If you look closely, you could see that the exterior of the car was rusty and dusty.
"District T, 27th Street. We're here, sir."
The driver in plain clothes said while drinking a bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag.
“Here you go, Sir. Thank you.”
After handing over the money, Oliver greeted him as he practiced.
Fortunately, it was natural, so the driver smiled and waved his hand.
"I hope you have a good day, Sir."
The taxi left as soon as Oliver got off.
It was a good start.
Oliver first went straight into a dark alley, and then he took out a leather mask from his bag and placed it on his face.
It was a mask that Oliver took from Puppeteer Glyph.
After a while, after confirming that even his hand had changed, Oliver took out a note and looked.
District T, a working-class residence in Landa.
It certainly looked better than District X or W, and although it was inferior to the center of Landa, there were many people on the street, and most of the buildings were in use.
There was no strange graffiti or totems on the buildings.
Oliver started walking along the main road starting from the entrance of 27th street according to the direction drawn on the note.
After a while, he came to a three-way intersection.
“Um….”
Oliver's eyes stopped at one place.
It was a restaurant with a signboard saying FORREST.
TRING.
As soon as he opened the door, a simple-dressed staff came.
The staff had distinctive red-colored skin and a name tag saying Al on the chest.
“Hello, Guest. Are you here alone?”
"I heard you were looking for an employee."
“Oh, I’m sorry, Guest. We are already full.”
“I have a letter of introduction.”
“Introduction?”
“Yes, here.”
Oliver pulled out the letter of introduction that Kent had given him from his pocket and held it out.
The employee received the letter with a soft smile.
“… I’m sorry, but could you wait for a moment?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Thank you. I will come back as soon as possible.”
The staff greeted him and went somewhere for a while.
After a while, he returned to guide Oliver.
"If you don't mind, could you follow me? Sir."
Oliver nodded and followed him.
They crossed the restaurant and bar, entered the staff aisle, and stopped in front of a gate.
“Boss, I brought the person here.”
“Let him in, Al.”
The waiter opened the door and gestured for Oliver to go inside.
Oliver greeted the waiter lightly and went inside, where an old man was sitting.
He looked pretty well-dressed in a waistcoat, pants, and gloves, and he looked pretty sturdy too.
At least he was the first old man Oliver had ever met to be so strong.
“Hello….my name is Dave.”
“Dave?”
"Yes."
"Nice to meet you. Dave, I'm Forrest. Excuse me for the rudeness, can you show me that quarterstaff?"
Olive looked at his quarterstaff and asked.
"This one?"
“Yeah, that’s the one, Dave.”
"…here."
Olive handed the quarterstaff which was a gift from Kent.
“Hmm… it’s really Kent’s quarterstaff. I didn't expect him to be still alive. And it's even more amazing that he send a letter."
The old man glanced at the letter.
“I don’t like wasting time, so I will ask straight-forward. Did you come here because you want to be a Solver?”
"Yes."
“Are you a warlock? Are you a talented one?”
Oliver recalled a conversation he had with Kent.
“I think I have some basic skills.”
"Well, okay… There's no point in talking with one's mouth anyway. Do you mind if I test you?"
“A test?”
Oliver asked.
Kent said if he took the letter of introduction, he would be accepted right away.
Forrest kindly explained.
“I don’t want you to misunderstand. It’s not that I’m trying to deceive or make you work for free. I’ll pay the price. However, this field has changed a lot since Kent worked.”
"Is that so?"
"Yes, the competition in the Magic Tower has become fierce, and the wizards started to enter this field, and there are also quite a few Reinforced humans who had strengthened their bodies. From the colonial war soldiers to retired soldiers… This field is now full of powerful people."
Forrest's words were sincere.
Oliver nodded.
“Yes, I understand.”
"Thank you for understanding. There are some guys who don't understand, rather they don’t listen."
"Can you tell me the details of the test, Sir?"
"You're a polite person. I like it. First, let's start with a simple task that has no penalty for failure, like catching a person who has a bounty, retrieving the stolen items, or… Ah! I will ask again. Are you confident with your skills?”
Oliver replied according to Kent's advice.
"Yes."
“Then, bring me an animal.”
“An animal?”
“Yeah… it’s more like a beast than an animal.
With those words, Forrest pulled out a file folder from the cabinet.
Oliver opened the file folder and checked, and he could see clear texts along with a black-and-white photo.
“It’s a strange animal.”
“…? Of course, it’s strange. It’s a chimera……it seems like it came out from its training station in the underground.”
Oliver looked at the animal in the picture without answering.
It looked like a fusion of all kinds of creatures starting from the base of a giant dog, with a chicken-like wing on its back and claws of raptors on its front paws.
But the thing that stood out the most were the thorns on its side.
"A chimera made by the Magic Lab Mattel, and they said it escaped to the sewer during an experiment. The lab secretly placed a bounty on the creature."
“Should I capture this thing?”
"Yeah, but don't kill or injure it in the process. They said they would hold you accountable if you injure the creature since it was an important sample."
"Okay."
“The current reward is 42 million. It’s quite high. It’s been almost two weeks since it escaped, and no one can catch it because it’s a biological weapon. It's sneaky, it's strong, and it's tricky because it shoots the thorns in the side. Even though not much experienced, Four Solvers have already died, and civilians are also in a state of panic because the creature had already experienced the taste of human meat in the process. The area where it is running rampant is the slums of District V, and if it were to go on like this, the police department would smell it too, so the guys in the Lab are starting to get nervous. Do you still want to try? I can recommend something else if you want.”
“No. I’ll give it a try.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, but I have one question.”
“Tell me.”
“After capturing it there, should I have to bring it all the way here?”
"I forgot to explain about this. You don't have to do any of that. The lab officials will be on standby near the place where Chimera is currently rampaging. Once you capture the creature, you just have to find them and tell them my name. Well, I'll give you the other details you need to know to track it down.”
Oliver nodded at Forrest’s sincere words.
"I will ask again. Are you really okay? I'm not belittling you, but it could be a big deal. I'm asking you, as Kent’s acquaintance."
“Um… I don’t want to die, but I think it’ll be okay. Above all, I want to see the creature called Chimera.”
(To be Continued)