Chapter 23

23. Call (2)

Oliver entered Joseph's room as instructed by the letter.

Although it was the most luxurious place in the basement, Oliver went to the spot he was told to, as if he had no interest.

Right next to the bed.

There was a small drawer and a lamp powered by magic stone.

Oliver moved the lamp aside as the letter instructed and pushed the drawer to the side with a groan.

Then, as written in the letter, he could see a small safe at the bottom of the wall.

"Hmm..."

Oliver took out the letter again to check the password.

"4... 7... 8... 19... 24... 2... 41... 5..."

The dial in the middle of the large metal block clicked and finally made a 'click' sound.

When a gap appeared in the tightly locked safe door, he pulled it open and saw neatly stacked metal storage boxes inside.

Oliver grabbed the third storage box.

The storage box, which was oiled and moved smoothly, was so long that its end was not visible. Inside the long storage box, high-denomination cash bundles were packed tightly.

The amount in just one storage box was a fortune that most people could not accumulate in their lifetime.

However, Oliver did not get excited or even flinch at the sight of such a fortune; he mechanically put the money into the prepared bag.

"300,000 landa bills, 30... one, two, three..."

The neatly stacked cash bundles soon filled the bag.

"...twenty-nine... thirty."

After putting all the money in, he triple-locked the backpack.

It was quite heavy, but if it weren't for the high-denomination bills, it would have been quite a struggle.

Oliver pushed the metal storage box back into the safe, closed the safe door, and moved the drawer and the magic stone lamp back to their original positions.

It looked exactly the same as before. Then, he put the bag on his back, connected the lock to his body, and went outside.

When he went out of the factory, he found that Marie and Peter, along with the other disciples, were gathered there.

"... What is it? Why are you all gathered here?"

One of the senior disciples answered.

"Ah, since you are leaving on the master's orders, it seems proper to see you off... Is there a problem?"

Oliver touched his body.

"No, not really..."

At that moment, Marie cautiously approached and fixed the wrinkles in Oliver's shirt, coat, and pants. Then, she carefully put the newsboy cap on his head.

"This way, you won't be noticed."

Oliver touched the cap once and nodded.

It was time to leave.

"Follow me. A truck is waiting right in front."

The truck in question was the pharmacist's truck, and Oliver decided to take it as it was conveniently heading to Landa.

Oliver was about to follow when a question came to mind.

"I have a question. Can I ask?"

"Yes? What is it..."

"Does the master usually send someone to carry money like this? Especially such a large amount?"

The disciples who had come to see him off, including the senior disciple, looked at each other.

It seemed to be the first time for all of them, and they tilted their heads in confusion.

"... No. Usually, he takes the amount he needs. If it's really necessary, he sends it through the bank or by letter."

Hmm... This is unusual.

Then, another senior disciple said,

"But the situation itself is special, isn't it?"

That was true. The reason for the trip was to treat Andrew, who had suffered a severe injury.

It made sense that there was a lack of funds, and it would be impractical to send such a large amount by transfer or letter.

If something went wrong, it could attract unnecessary attention.

Oliver, somewhat convinced, moved again.

"... I see. Then, I'll go now. Take care, everyone."

"Yes, have a safe trip."

"Yes, have a safe trip."

Oliver went to the truck waiting at the main gate.

It was the 6-wheeled truck he had ridden to fight the wizard, and a black tarpaulin was draped over the cargo area.

"..."

Oliver looked at the cargo area, unsure how to climb up.

Being relatively short, there was no obvious place to put his feet. After a moment of thought, he said resolutely,

"Is there a ladder?"

"Grab my hand."

A third voice suddenly joined in.

Oliver looked up and saw a man in the cargo area.

He extended his hand and said again,

"Grab my hand."

When Oliver took his hand, the man pulled him up with a rough force.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

The man said. Oliver looked at his face and then remembered.

It was Employee A, the pharmacist's subordinate, who was in the truck when Oliver went to fight the wizard.

"Oh, hello."

Remembering, he greeted him. A smile appeared on the man's angular face, and he gestured for Oliver to sit.

"Sit down. Although, there's not much room to sit because of the cargo."

As if to prove his point, Employee A sat on top of the pile of cargo.

Oliver followed and sat on the cargo as well.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Wow, this is really awkward."

Employee A looked at Oliver for a long time and then said.

Oliver didn't understand what was awkward, but he continued to talk.

"Are you usually this quiet?"

"Not really. I just don't talk if I have nothing to say."

"Why?"

"Well, I didn't get along with the supervisor."

"Oh... Right. Your group mostly consists of quiet types, right? But now it's all old news, isn't it? Now you're the second-in-command of a black magic organization, right?"

"No. Andrew is still the second-in-command. He's being treated."

"Eventually, he'll be pushed out, won't he? He was thoroughly beaten by the wizard, and you won, right? It's based on skill, isn't it?"

"... You know a lot, don't you?"

"Well, if you're in our organization, you get to know a lot about you. Besides, I'm quite experienced. I've met many people."

Looking at Employee A's emotions, it seemed to be somewhat true. There was a bit of boasting, but it was within reason.

"So, your knowledge is as vast as the sea and as shallow as a finger. Eventually, I settled down here."

"Why?"

"... Are you curious?"

"A little."

"Ha ha ha, you're a funny guy... Well, a lot has happened. I've aged, and I've almost died. So, I wanted to settle down somewhere safe. In that sense, I envy you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, seriously. Don't misunderstand, I don't have any ulterior motives. You saved my life. When we were about to die, you came to our rescue. If you hadn't, we would have been at the mercy of the wizard. Regular firearms couldn't match his firepower."

Employee A's emotions were genuine, with a bit of envy mixed in.

"Why do you envy me?"

"Ha ha, are you teasing me?"

Since Oliver didn't react, Employee A frowned and asked,

"Do you really not know?"

"Yes."

"Oh... You really don't know? Why do I envy you? You're a damn genius, especially in black magic."

"Is that so?"

"This kid is really annoying. I saw how you fight. I still see it in my dreams sometimes. Dozens of black blades raining down, and the area exploding... You've only been here for a short time, so you must be a genius, right? Isn't your life on a smooth path?"

Oliver didn't really react. Or rather, he couldn't.

A smooth path... This term had no real meaning to Oliver.

Because his primary concern, past and present, was survival, and the only recent addition was black magic and beautiful light.

He had no interest in anything else.

The money and power that Employee A talked about did not stir any excitement in Oliver.

Seeing Oliver's lack of reaction, Employee A said in a defeated tone,

"Ha... Is this the ease of a genius? Or is this how geniuses are?"

"Sorry, but I still don't really understand... In short, are you saying you envy me because I use black magic?"

"Well... something like that. You don't have to carry a gun, right?"

"Then, Mr. Employee, you can do it too, can't you?"

"Mr. Employee? Oh, I didn't tell you my name... But, learning black magic? What, do you think I have talent?"

"Maybe?"

"No, damn it... How can I learn if you don't know?"

"Isn't it better than not doing it at all?"

Although Oliver said it without much thought, Employee A's eyes widened slightly, and he smiled strangely.

"Why would you teach me?"

"If the master allows it."

"... Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"That's surprising. Wizards and black magic users usually don't teach their knowledge; they just suck the marrow out of you."

"Is that so? Oh... But there's a condition."

"Of course... What is it?"

"When we first met, you seemed to know a lot about wizards. Can you teach me what you know?"

"What?"

"About wizards—