Chapter 10. Violet Fox (2)

Ossian spoke sincerely, but Ronan did not take it that way.

'A knight, huh. This is definitely not a bad concept.'

Ronan decided to understand Ossian.

In an era where carrying a sword that doesn't fit in is inevitable, one can't help but notice.

With the development of gunpowder and the advent of guns and cannons, there were no longer any swordsmen in this world.

No, they did exist, but their numbers were extremely few.

No matter how hard one trained with a sword, the reality was that they could be killed by a bullet from someone who had just picked up a gun for the first time.

In a world where one could easily aim and pull the trigger to bring down an enemy, swinging a sword and sweating was a meaningless act.

However, calling oneself a knight was an action that required romance or a firm belief.

'This must be a choice possible only for a mutant.'

A mutant with enhanced physical abilities had no need to choose a weapon.

For them, their superior physical abilities were their weapon.

Moreover, if one could see and slice bullets in mid-air, what more was needed?

'That's why the special skill is swordsmanship. This, indeed, will work.'

If one chose the concept of a swordsman, it was not a bad choice for building a reputation.

The bounty hunter industry is a pure meritocracy that does not discriminate based on status.

Tirna, the city of gold, is a place where even a street beggar can make a fortune if they seize the opportunity.

As a result, the competition among bounty hunters was fierce.

On the contrary, Ossian's concept had the advantage of rarity.

'After all, there are many more extreme people, and having swordsmanship as a special skill is also quite tame.'

Although knights disappeared with the advent of guns, there were still people who used cold weapons.

In Tirna, there were plenty of people who preferred swords for their tactile feel or used bizarre weapons that combined cold weapons with guns.

In that sense, Ossian's appearance, wearing armor and wielding a regular sword, had a different kind of rarity.

"Understood. Then I'll write down swordsmanship as your special skill."

While saying this, Ronan also wrote down that Ossian was a mutant with enhanced physical abilities.

"So, when can you start working?"

"That's up to you, Ossian. When you want to start taking jobs, just let me know, and I'll prepare accordingly."

"Freedom. That's quite convenient."

"That's one of the advantages of our industry. Of course, it's based on the premise that you have the skills. But since Ossian has sufficient ability, you can choose and take on jobs as you please."

"You're flattering me too much."

Ossian said indifferently.

He couldn't help but think that Ronan was deliberately saying this to boost his confidence.

Ronan, who genuinely meant it, thought Ossian was embarrassed and naturally continued the conversation.

"So, when do you want to start taking jobs? Since you've only been in Tirna for a short time, it's fine to take a few days to look around and decide."

Ossian shook his head.

"No. I want to start right now."

"Hmm? Right now?"

Surprised by the unexpected answer, Ronan asked with interest.

"Yeah. What's the point of resting when I don't even have a place to stay?"

"You can stay at our office for a few days."

"Even if I do, I'd rather get a feel for this city as soon as possible. Besides, my body feels restless, and my hands are itching."

Ossian clenched and unclenched his right hand, muttering to himself.

It might sound strange, but Ossian was sincere.

'Is it because of the characteristic? I feel like I want to swing a sword right now.'

As a social being, he was not usually that active.

He always returned home exhausted after work, and his hobbies were limited to games.

This was the first time he felt a physical urge to move.

'Not bad.'

The knight's body, which required a lot of food and movement.

However, Ossian didn't think it was bad.

Perhaps he was gradually accepting this, and his soul was adapting to the knight's body.

Whatever it was, his task was now set.

"So, do you have any jobs I can take on right now?"

Although he didn't have high expectations, Ronan silently looked at Ossian and then took out a file from the desk drawer.

"This is a job Ossian would want."

"Thorough preparation."

"Basically, our bounty hunter office holds onto such jobs until someone takes them. Since you expressed interest, and there happened to be a job available, I just took it out."

Ossian opened the seal on the envelope and examined the contents.

Although he had never seen the script before, he could easily read it.

Finding this convenient, Ossian read the text.

After finishing the last line, Ossian looked up and spoke.

"It's a gang suppression job."

The job description was for gang suppression.

Ossian naturally recalled the day he first arrived.

The memory of cutting down gang members amidst a hail of bullets with a single sword.

Reflecting on this, gang suppression was an easy task for Ossian now.

"It's like a light warm-up."

"Since no better jobs have come in yet, please bear with this one for today."

"I don't mind. I was the one who suggested starting work. I have a question about the 47th district mentioned here."

"Sure, what do you want to know?"

"Unfortunately, I don't know the geography of this city yet. Can you give me a brief explanation?"

"Sure."

Ronan nodded and began to explain.

"Tirna is a massive city. It's not just a city but a conglomeration of various villages and small towns, forming a city-state."

Ossian nodded.

The city he saw on his way to the bar was indeed vast.

"And Tirna is still growing in real-time. It's swallowing up fishing villages and towns outside the city, clearing forests, and expanding into new districts."

"It's like a living, moving organism."

"Yes, that's right. That's why people call Tirna the city of greed."

The city of greed.

The greed of the people within the city and the city itself, endlessly swallowing up the outside and expanding its power.

It was a fitting name both internally and externally.

"Since Tirna has become so massive, the city is divided into districts."

"Like the 47th district mentioned here."

"Yes. The districts are currently numbered up to the 50s."

Hearing this, Ossian thought.

From the fact that the city was divided by numbers, he inferred that the characteristics of the city varied by district.

And his guess was correct.

"Generally, in Tirna, the lower the district number, the more prosperous the area. Conversely, the higher the district number, the more problematic the area."

"Since the districts go up to the 50s, the 47th district must be quite chaotic."

"Yes. It's full of day laborers and rife with thugs and gangs in the back alleys."

Districts 1-10 were the core of the city.

They were the heart of the city.

The further away from the center, the higher the number and the worse the security.

Naturally, districts in the 40s and beyond were the outskirts of the city.

They were undeveloped or abandoned areas.

"And I recommend you take this when you go."

Ronan said this and handed Ossian a card-like object with a purple glow.

"What is this?"

"It's an entry pass."

"An entry pass?"

"Yes. As you'll realize when you start working in Tirna, it's a truly massive city. It's so large that some districts restrict entry and exit."

Ossian nodded in understanding.

Dividing the city by the status of its residents was a common practice even in the 21st century.

"Obviously, some districts can't be entered without an entry pass."

"It's also a way to prove one's status."

"Bounty hunters often move around the city. So, these entry passes are essential."

"Then, with this, can I go anywhere?"

Ronan shook his head with a smile.

"No, not really. This is a basic entry pass, allowing you to move between the 30s and 40s districts. To go further inside, you need a more proper entry pass. And that entry pass..."

"I need to prove my qualifications or pay a higher price."

Ossian's sharp insight surprised Ronan, who nodded in agreement.

"Yes, that's correct."

"Understood."

Ossian immediately stood up.

"Are you leaving now?"

"Yes. The map is included, so I shouldn't have any trouble finding my way."

"Good luck, Sir Knight."

"Good luck."

Ossian chuckled and left the office.

*

Ossian followed the map and walked.

As he approached the boundary of the district, he saw a massive wall standing beyond.

A brass wall over 20 meters high, dividing the city into districts.

At the entrance, guards were stationed.

'This is different from the game.'

In the game, the guards wore well-polished silver armor and carried spears and shields.

But the guards in front of him were different.

They wore blue uniforms and yellow masks that looked like gas masks.

Their hands, wearing worn leather gloves, held large rifles.

"Stop. Entry pass?"

A guard blocking Ossian's path asked.

The voice resonating from inside the gas mask was quite threatening.

Ossian naturally took out the entry pass from his coat pocket and handed it to the guard.

The guard, after inspecting the entry pass, returned it to Ossian and glanced at his waist.

"What's that on your waist?"

"A sword."

"..."

The guard frowned and glared at Ossian.

Not only was his tone off, but carrying a sword was not normal.

'I knew bounty hunters were strange, but...'

Although the entry pass was not a problem, there was room for nitpicking.

Moreover, Ossian's tone was enough to offend.

"You..."

The guard was about to conduct a more thorough inspection.

But when Ossian looked at him with his dark eyes, the guard's mouth inside the mask shut tight.

Cold sweat trickled down the guard's cheek.

He had intended to say something, but his mind went blank the moment he met Ossian's eyes.

"You, you..."

Just as the guard was about to stammer something,

"Hey, what's going on?"

Someone approached, sensing the strange atmosphere.

The guard, seeing the person approaching, opened his eyes wide and saluted.

"Sir, Sir!"

Hearing the title "Sir," Ossian also looked curiously.

It was a white-haired woman in a blue uniform like the other guards.

Unlike the guards, she did not wear a gas mask and carried no weapon.

Thus, Ossian instinctively felt she was not an ordinary person.

In a place where everyone carried weapons, a person walking unarmed was not normal.

The woman called "Sir" looked at Ossian and the guard alternately and opened her red lips.

"What's going on?"

"W, well, it's that..."

The guard was cut off, and the woman stepped on his foot with her boot.

The guard suppressed a groan inside his mask.

Her cold, red eyes stared at the trembling guard.

"There won't be a third time."

While saying this, her sharp gaze swept over Ossian's body.