Chapter 61

< 61. A New Job (2) >

Despite it being early in the morning, there were customers in Forest's restaurant.

There weren't many, only two or three, and upon closer inspection, they didn't seem like ordinary customers.

"They're all Solvers."

Al, who was guiding him, quickly explained.

"I see."

"Yes, some diligent Solvers come here early every morning to look for good opportunities. Some just come to eat. That's why our restaurant opens early in the morning."

"I see. Thank you for the detailed explanation."

Oliver said sincerely. It was rare to meet someone who explained things so kindly... He seemed like a good person.

"Not at all, it's my job."

"Hey, Al. Who's that person?"

Just as Oliver and Al were about to enter the staff corridor, a woman called out.

She was sitting alone at a table with a white tablecloth.

On the table were a warm cup of tea and pancakes, but she had only eaten half of them, seemingly not to her liking.

The woman was dressed neatly, almost like a lady, but the leather corset that emphasized her waist and chest gave off a somewhat provocative air.

Of course, Oliver didn't notice any of that.

"Hello, Miss Coco. This is Dave, a new Solver who joined yesterday."

"A new Solver?"

"Yes."

"Hmm…."

She smiled brightly, showing interest.

It was a very bright smile, but her eyes seemed to be filled with numerous thoughts, moving in an unpredictable manner.

"Forest, the picky old man, has hired a new Solver... Interesting."

"He has proven his credit and skills."

"Oh... credit, so you were recommended by someone trustworthy? And if you've proven your skills, hmm... Could you be the one who caught the Chimera causing trouble in V District?"

Oliver raised an eyebrow slightly.

He caught the Chimera yesterday. Information spreads fast, he thought.

"Hehe. Don't be too surprised. This is my job. My name is Coco. What's yours?"

"I'm Dave."

"Pleased to meet you, Dave. See you later."

She stood up with a soft, feminine movement, left some money on the table, and walked out.

"…Who is she? A Solver?"

"No, she's an information broker who deals with the boss."

"An information broker?"

"Yes, she handles information. She also runs several other businesses... I'll guide you to the boss again."

***

Knock, knock.

When Al knocked on the door, Forest was filling out some documents.

Seeing Oliver enter, he finished signing and organized the papers.

"Well, what a surprise to have a visitor so early in the morning."

"I apologize if I caused any inconvenience."

"No, no, it's not that. I'm just surprised."

"Is that so?"

"Usually, if someone makes millions of randas in a day, they don't come back for at least a few weeks. They take a break."

"I had a good rest last night."

Forest nodded, raising his hands.

"Good, we've had enough small talk. You're here to take on a job, right?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, good. Before I assign you a job, is there anything specific you want to do or avoid?"

Forest asked while searching through the document cabinet.

Oliver thought for a moment before speaking.

"I don't have anything specific I want to do or avoid, but I'd like to avoid jobs that harm civilians."

"Fortunately, I feel the same way. They're relatively easy and pay well, but they can make you a target for investigation. Plus, they lack dignity. Not good. It's fortunate that our preferences align."

As Cant said, brokers also pick jobs based on personal preferences, which is why the personalities of the Solvers affiliated with different brokers can vary widely.

It makes sense that it would be hard to work with a broker who doesn't match your style.

"Hmm... I don't have any jobs for you right now."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, there are small jobs like hunting wanted criminals or capturing contaminated creatures, but the pay isn't worth the effort. I assume you don't want to do such unproductive work, especially since that's not your goal."

Oliver remained silent, agreeing with the statement.

Making money was important, but equally important was expanding his network to get closer to the black market.

But had he ever mentioned this before?

"Don't look at me like that. As you can see, I'm quite old and experienced in this field. I know that a Solver of your level isn't just here for the money. If you really needed money, you could make potions or join the Crime Firm."

"....Impressive."

"Thank you. If my explanation was offensive, I apologize."

"No, it's not offensive. If you don't mind, can you continue talking?"

"About what?"

"Your speculations based on experience."

Forest looked at Oliver silently.

"......."

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, you didn't. It's just... I'm curious. Are you usually this curious?"

"I think so."

Forest looked at Oliver for a moment before speaking.

"Most Solvers who are black mages fall into two categories: involuntary and voluntary. The former are those who lack the skills or only learned the basics and couldn't join a family."

"I see."

"The latter are more diverse. Some are combat enthusiasts, while others are ambitious, tired of being around other black mages and seeking greater power. Proving yourself as an outstanding black mage can attract the attention of many influential people. If you have confidence in your skills, it's a feasible path."

"I see."

"But you don't seem to fit either category. The atmosphere is different. You can't hide that. I'm just asking, so feel free to not answer. Why are you a Solver? ...I'm not forcing you to answer. I believe in maintaining a certain distance with my clients."

Oliver thought for a moment before speaking.

"...I want to use the black market."

"The black market?"

"Yes, do you know about it?"

"No, I know of similar places, but I don't know much about the black market. Why do you want to use it?"

"I want to buy black magic books. I want to study black magic, but I don't want to join an organization. I don't want to do things I don't want to do, and I don't want to lose my time."

"I see..."

Forest slowly nodded. He seemed to want to ask more but held back.

Oliver suddenly wondered if he had made a mistake.

Cant had advised him to be careful, but he felt he had talked too much this morning, despite his efforts yesterday.

But he couldn't help it. Forest's words were quite interesting.

"I didn't expect you to open up so much after just two days. I'm glad you trust me."

"I can't resist my curiosity."

"That's what it seems... the black market... How about this job? It's not profitable, but it could help you expand your network."

Forest handed Oliver a file.

It was a stiff, brown paper file with "OF-M" written in elegant letters on the cover.

Oliver opened the file.

On one side was a black-and-white photo of a middle-aged, overweight man, and on the other side was information about him.

"Target name: Herbert. Former alchemy professor at the Magic Tower. The request is for retrieval?"

"Yes. By the way, the client is from the Crime Firm."

The Crime Firm.

Oliver knew about it from Cant.

A massive criminal organization spanning Celand, including Randa.

They effectively controlled the underworld of Celand, though not perfectly due to internal conflicts and friction with other non-affiliated gangs. However, their numbers and scale were so overwhelming that they were considered the rulers of the underworld.

Cant had advised him to avoid conflicts with them if possible and to secure a reliable backer if it couldn't be avoided.

"I don't understand what 'retrieval' means. Can you explain?"

"Of course, I was about to. The person in the photo, as the file states, is a former professor at the Magic Tower."

"Former means he's not a professor now?"

"Yes, he quit. Or rather, he was fired. He didn't like being a professor for a long time, so he was caught smuggling Magic Tower items to make illegal magic alcohol and was expelled."

"I see."

"But life is full of surprises. It turned out he had a hidden talent, and the products he made were quite good. The client approached him first and proposed a business partnership, specifically in the magic alcohol business."

Magic alcohol.

A term for alcoholic beverages processed with potions.

It was a dangerous drink that could kill or cause aftereffects if made incorrectly, but if made properly, it offered an incredible taste and addictiveness that couldn't be found in regular alcohol. It was illegal due to moral reasons, the dangers of production and consumption, and the sanctity of potions.

Cant said it was more expensive because it was illegal.

He used to enjoy it when he was younger.

"The professor, being a man with social experience, didn't jump at the offer right away. But the impatient client eventually paid a significant advance and signed a contract with him."

Oliver had a good idea of how the story would unfold.

"But the problem is that after receiving the money, he disappeared. He ran away. The client tried hard to find him and finally located him a few weeks ago."

Oliver checked the file. The location was...

"X District."

"Yes, even the Crime Firm can't control X District. It's a lawless area dominated by non-affiliated gangs and mercenary groups. The professor is smart and bold, thinking he could run his own business there."

Oliver thought for a moment. The sudden image of a rogue mage came to mind.

"Can I ask a question?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Are there many people who leave the Magic Tower like this?"

Forest thought for a moment before answering.

"Well... it has been more common recently. The status, influence, and economic power of mages have greatly improved, but competition has also become fierce. As a result, many mages are flooding into this field, causing a lot of chaos. That's why I'm suggesting this job."

"Some of the more perceptive underworld figures and power players have noticed that the underground world will soon undergo changes as significant as the surface world. They are like two sides of the same coin—opposite but closely related. Mages are also moving into the underground, so they need to prepare accordingly. That's why they are looking for capable Solvers."

"Will this job make me stand out?"

"It's not certain, but it's possible. At the very least, you'll form a connection with a member of the Crime Firm, even if it's a low-ranking one. The client is in a tight spot, so he'll be very grateful if you help him."

Forest's words were sincere and logically sound.

"But I'm not forcing you. Honestly, the job itself isn't profitable."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, the reward is 20 million randas, but it's a solo mission with no significant support, and entering X District is very dangerous. It's just the bare minimum."

"......."

"Also, the conditions are strict. It would be easier if it were just destruction or assassination, but you're supposed to bring the professor back as safely as possible. Some injuries are acceptable, but he can't be disabled or killed."

"It's a bit like the Chimera job."

"There are differences. The Chimera was alone, but this one isn't. He hired nearby gangs with the money from producing and selling magic alcohol, and according to our investigation, he also hired a professional mercenary. By the way, the mercenary is a black mage."

"A black mage?"

"Yes, the number of black mages has been increasing recently. The cause is unclear... but it's quite dangerous."

"Will this job make future work easier?"

"Your reputation will spread, and your name will become more valuable, so it probably will. I'll help you too."

Sincerely. Oliver replied.

"Then I'll give it a try."