Chapter 98

<98. Child, Puppet (1)>

"This is... both a pleasure and a dilemma."

A parking lot packed with numerous trucks. There, Arthur said,

"Hello, Mr. Arthur. It's nice to meet you too."

Oliver greeted Arthur politely and looked around.

The parking lot was not only filled with trucks but also with burly truck drivers, each holding a club or blackjack.

It seemed like it would hurt quite a bit if hit, and now it was clear why the Hoffman Family couldn't easily subdue them.

The noisy murmurs.

Arthur spoke again,

"Is this the first time since the Contaminated Zone? ...Are you hired by the Hoffmans?"

"More precisely, I'm hired by Mr. Murphy. Is the new prosthetic hand a recent addition?"

Oliver pointed at the new golem prosthetic and asked.

It looked stronger than the one he had seen before, and the amount of mana flowing through it was evident.

"Yeah, unfortunately. Thanks to that, my debts have increased... But what's even more unfortunate is meeting you now. Is Jimmy the punk sending you to teach us a lesson?"

"No, I-"

"-Hold on. That's not the case."

Murphy interjected.

He seized the opportunity like a fox and clung on like a wolf.

"We're here to negotiate. So, let's put down your weapons and talk. We're all from Randa, aren't we?"

"Negotiations ended a long time ago... If you wanted to talk, you shouldn't have broken Huff's arm."

Someone said, and others chimed in with "Right!"

Oliver asked Frank, one of Jimmy's subordinates,

"Who is Huff?"

"...One of the staff here. He got his arm broken for talking back to the boss."

"Oh... I see."

He understood the people's anger, but the atmosphere was far from conducive to a conversation.

Just as it seemed it would end there, Arthur helped.

"Come on... Let's all calm down and talk."

"What? What did you say, Mr. Arthur! Have you forgotten what these guys did?"

"Yeah, we won't talk until you accept our terms!"

"Why negotiate if you're just going to bark like a dog? Why did you come here?"

But Arthur's reaction was calm. He pointed at Oliver and said,

"It's because this guy wasn't here last time... I'm here to help, not to fight to the death."

Then, a young man of similar build to Arthur approached. He exuded the aura of someone who lived by violence.

"Look at you, punk. Why are you acting like a coward? Disappointing."

The word "coward" made Arthur react.

"...Listen well, you little punk. When you were strutting around in the union, I was killing natives in the New Continent and practicing boxing with their corpses. Then, I went to the Eastern Company and planted a flag as big as your dick on the peak of an unknown kingdom. If you call me a coward one more time, I'll tear your mouth apart. Got it?"

Arthur's voice turned low and menacing, and the young man, along with the other enforcers and truck drivers, were intimidated.

Everyone fell silent, and Arthur slowly turned to Oliver and said,

"Dave."

"Yes, Mr. Arthur."

"I've helped you save face. I have a favor to ask. You'll listen, but if it's unreasonable, we'll refuse. Promise me you'll leave without causing a scene. Is that possible?"

"Yes, of course. I never intended to harm anyone here. I just came for security."

"Good. Then follow me. I'll show you the way."

***

The place Arthur led them to was a building-like structure on one side of the parking lot, a makeshift office built of planks.

It was so cramped that even three people would find it hard to breathe, yet five of them managed to squeeze in.

Jimmy Hoffman's negotiation representative, Murphy, and his supervisor, Frank, along with Oliver, the security.

And the driver's representative, Deni, and his security, Arthur.

They were so close that they could hear each other's breathing.

"Pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise."

Murphy and Deni exchanged greetings, followed by the others.

Everyone maintained etiquette, but their minds were busy trying to predict each other's intentions, much like a battle.

The first punch was thrown by Deni, the driver's representative.

"Let's get straight to the point. What negotiation are you here for? We've already stated our conditions."

"Yes, I know. Double the compensation for the drivers who died during deliveries, and better wages afterward, right?"

"There are a few minor points, but the main ones are those two."

At that moment, Frank interjected.

He was sweating and making frantic gestures, a sign of his anxiety.

"Look, Deni. This is ridiculous. Double? ...Maybe 65%?"

The voices in the cramped space grew louder.

Frank said that, by convention, 35% of the insurance money goes to the employer, while Deni shouted that it was a bad practice and they should receive double as compensation for being cheated.

The voices grew louder, and it seemed like no agreement would be reached, but then Murphy interjected.

"Everyone, calm down... Let's try to find a middle ground."

"Middle ground?"

"Yes, a middle ground."

"Never seen you before. Listen well. The middle ground was lost long ago. When Jimmy, the punk, siphoned off more than half of our insurance money and broke Huff's arm... That money was deducted from our wages."

"Even if you don't work, you'll suffer, won't you? Your living expenses will run out next week, won't they?"

Forest had told him that the workers in this city lived week to week.

If a weekly paycheck was delayed, they could be evicted from their homes and go hungry, living on a week-to-week basis.

Murphy pressed on.

"What about next week's rent and living expenses? You have to feed your children, don't you?"

"We can tighten our belts-"

"–And starve to death. Of course, assuming Jimmy leaves you alone until then."

"Are you threatening us? Go to hell! The labor union is backing us!!"

"Even if they back you, you'll still bleed... Do you really think they genuinely care about you? They're fundamentally the same as Pinkman. One of the things I've learned in life is that the only one who truly cares about you is yourself. They might pretend to help now, but if it gets dangerous or more profitable, they'll quietly back out. ...Accept Jimmy's terms. 65% of the compensation, a 5% wage increase. It's a generous offer, especially in this city. Of course, it might not be enough. So, I'll add to it."

"...What do you mean?"

Murphy took out a silver cigarette case and lit a cigarette. He offered one to Deni.

"..."

"It's expensive. Try one."

Deni hesitated but took the cigarette, and Murphy lit it for him, continuing,

"Once this commotion is over, the Hoffman Family and our Kimbell Family will work together. We'll distribute magic liquor nationwide. Have you tried it?"

"...Yes, it was quite good."

"Thank you. I have faith in my product. I don't make garbage to make a quick buck. That's for those who only care about small profits. I'll make a proper product. One that everyone will want to drink... It will bring in a fortune."

Murphy rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. Everyone, except Oliver, was now engrossed in the conversation.

"But to do that, we need to focus not only on the product but also on distribution. You are excellent delivery men, so I'll provide incentives based on the amount of magic liquor you deliver each week."

"Incentives?"

"Yes, Jimmy and I agreed to a 40-60 split. I'll provide my share. As the business grows, the insurance money will be substantial."

"...Are you serious?"

"Why else would I be here? Though I don't know you personally, I'm also a war veteran. I swear on my honor as a soldier that I won't lie... Think about it. You've tried my product. Will this business succeed or fail?"

Murphy's words were quite convincing. The evidence was the contemplation and silence that followed, but Deni was still hesitant.

"Let me think... I need to consult the labor union."

"I'm sorry, but we don't have time. I barely convinced Jimmy to come. ...And the labor union will obviously tell you not to fall for sweet talk. If we agree, they won't get anything."

"...We're in a difficult position. If we agree with you, the labor union won't help us anymore. What if you break your promise? We need some security."

"Do you think I'll lie?"

"You're not the only one. Jimmy is involved too. We know his character; he'll definitely seek revenge."

"For that, I'll help. I prioritize the safety and interests of my business partners."

"I know how things work in your world. As long as you're part of a crime firm, if Jimmy pushes, your options are limited, aren't they?"

Murphy was about to say something but closed his mouth.

He had the confidence to stop Jimmy but couldn't say it out loud, causing the meeting to stall again.

Everyone's frustration and helplessness were evident. It seemed the meeting would end in a stalemate.

If that happened, the warehouse would be in trouble.

'I have the ID and the warehouse, and Murphy seems confident he can stop Jimmy... Hmm.'

Oliver quietly raised his hand.

"Excuse me... How about I help you?"

Everyone looked at Oliver.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I think I can help with that."

"Who is he?"

"Dave. A rising enforcer in T-Zone."

Arthur whispered to Deni.

"Help? How?"

"If Murphy or Jimmy break their promise and seek revenge on you, I'll help you for free. A couple of times, maybe?"

"..."

Everyone fell silent and looked at Oliver. Their expressions were subtle.