Chapter 30

Sector 45.

A small bustling area where Sebastian's office is located.

Although the 40s sector has relatively less development, it doesn't receive much benefit from the city government in terms of security or welfare, but it's not as bad as the completely abandoned 50s sector.

It's hard to say that the people in this area are good citizens, but even if they lack a sense of ethics, it's still a place where people live.

In that sense, Sebastian's office is quite unique and, in a way, well-suited to his first impression.

Instead of an ordinary building, it has a metaphysical design, as if it was designed by an architect.

Sebastian was smiling kindly in front of the building, which has a soft, streamlined shape that would be plausible if it were located in the inner 10s sector.

"Welcome. This is the first time since I saw you at the bar, right?"

"......Is this your office?"

"Would I have called you to someone else's office? Come in and let's talk."

As Sebastian prepared three cups of coffee and sat down, Madison finally spoke up.

Blueprints

He is the team leader of the development department at Oteru, a fairly well-known car company in Balkan, and he is in charge of a new model project that the company is betting everything on.

The problem is that during the transport of the blueprints for the model he completed at the end of the project, they were stolen by a group of unknown freelancers.

He says the bruises on his face were from fighting with the robbers.

"I want to recover the blueprints as intact as possible, but if that's not possible, I want to take on the job with the condition that the leaked blueprints are completely destroyed."

Sebastian gently comforted Madison, who seemed to be suffering a lot and was fidgeting while telling his story.

"......"

At this outrageous promise, Renok looked at him with a bewildered expression.

It's not a lie, but it's not entirely true either.

Although he has worked hard so far, there haven't been more than ten significant jobs that could be called commissions. What's the point of saying such things?

But Madison seemed to take considerable comfort from his words and soon recovered his composure.

Sebastian then very carefully coaxed and comforted Madison, extracting the necessary information for the commission, and ultimately succeeded in sending the now calm office worker back home.

After watching Madison, who was in a silver sedan, drive away, Sebastian silently took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

A lighter floated in the air, lit itself, and smoke began to rise.

Renok sipped the remaining coffee while watching him.

Looking at him, Renok could somewhat understand the hardships of the service industry.

After standing silently for a while, he turned his head and asked Renok.

"What do you think?"

"I don't understand what you mean."

Renok replied indifferently.

"Is there anything you can figure out other than the fact that this man, Madison, is lying?"

"......If you knew that, there would be no need to talk at length."

Sebastian, who had taken the seat where Madison had been sitting, nodded at Renok with a satisfied smile.

His gaze conveyed a sense of pride, as if he hadn't disappointed him.

"Is it really just a bruised lip from fighting with the robbers? There's a limit to exaggeration... It's almost embarrassing to hear."

The new project of Oteru Corporation.

The robbers who knew about the existence of the blueprints and came to steal them openly revealed their traces, yet they let Madison go unharmed?

Even after a fistfight, they only gave him a bruised lip and sent him back nicely? That's absurd.

The ecosystem of Balkan that Renok knows is not that kind and polite.

"There are two possibilities."

Sebastian, who had taken out a bottle of wine from under the table, skillfully filled two glasses and said.

"Madison is lying and colluding with the robbers. Or—"

"He was betrayed after colluding with them."

"Exactly."

If he had simply colluded with the robbers, there would be no need for him to come to Sebastian.

In this business, there are only those who can't even play a supporting role as a good victim.

But if he had decided to steal the blueprints and was betrayed by the group, the situation changes.

A secret he can't tell the company or the robbers.

A situation where he needs a freelancer to solve it on his own.

Exactly the kind of case where Sebastian, a broker, could help.

"So, what do you think?"

"Unfortunately for Mr. Madison, I maintain a pretty good relationship with the CEO of Oteru Corporation."

Sebastian raised the smartphone in his hand and answered.

"All the conversations I had with him will be recorded and sent to the CEO's email. Mr. Madison will probably have a hard time going to work tomorrow because he'll be meeting the police."

"........."

Though he was smiling on the surface, he was a man who could hide a knife in his heart.

To Renok, Sebastian seemed more like a typical broker than Jenny.

Sebastian, as if he had sensed Renok's thoughts, quickly changed his tone.

"Of course, I would never play such tricks on our wizard. Showing you this is also to reveal my hand and gain your trust. Would I be crazy enough to use electronic devices against a wizard?"

.....His smooth talk was similar to Jenny's in some ways.

In any case, if Madison had really tried to steal the blueprints and was betrayed, the task was clear.

"Ultimately, what we need to find is not Madison's confession but the trail of the robbers."

"Like a bounty hunter who catches wanted criminals as easily as eating a meal, we need Ban's skills. Are you willing to take on the commission?"

Now he understands why Sebastian called him for this job. It was because of Ban's career as a bounty hunter.

Of course, Sebastian wouldn't know how Renok tracked down wanted criminals, but it was a pretty sharp judgment.

At least, he had thought everything through before calling Renok, considering Madison's situation and how to solve the commission.

A broker as cautious and discerning as this would be worth working with at least once.

Sometimes, the decision is made based on the person rather than the content of the commission.

Renok made his decision.

"Sure. But I want something other than cash as payment."

"Hmm, customers who want something other than money are always picky. Let's hear it out."

Sebastian replied calmly, as if he had expected Renok to make such a request.

'How much should I say...'

Renok didn't plan to reveal all the information to Sebastian right away, but he needed to mention that there are companies involved in this matter for the story to progress.

Of course, Dike wouldn't be pleased with such actions, but frankly, that wasn't Renok's concern.

After losing trust in Panora due to the poorly designed operation, keeping silent to maintain credibility would be foolish.

Especially when working with a partner who can't even complete the assigned task.

Renok summarized the situation and explained it to Sebastian, who slowly rested his chin and fell into thought.

"This is... quite an interesting story."

"........."

"If what you say is true, there are many reasons why companies haven't meddled in this area. If you're willing to take such risks and jump into this, I'll be busy too..."

Sebastian's face hardened, and he kept shaking the glass in his hand.

His furrowed brows suddenly smoothed out, and he suddenly smiled.

"Alright. Let's talk in detail after we recover the blueprints. I'll gather information on other companies in the meantime."

"Is that possible?"

"Of course. Considering the agreement with the autonomous region, this move is quite bold. It's not an exaggeration to call it reckless. A company with this level of issue must have internal power struggles. If I shake up the executives I know, something will surely fall out. I'm actually quite interested."

"........"

As he said this, Sebastian's appearance of picking up his phone was completely different from that of a tipsy uncle.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, it's nothing. I'll be going now."

Renok put down the wine glass he was holding and stood up.

Since Sebastian had decided to take the action Renok wanted, there was no need to delay.

The clues about the robbers based on Madison's testimony are volatile, and he needs to move as quickly as possible to chase them.

"I'll leave right now. Send me the recording of Madison's conversation."