Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Invitation (1)
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Vroooom.
On the outskirts road of Landa, a single car was speeding along.
It was an F-series, the kind you could see anywhere in the city. A common model.
But the driver and the passenger in the seat next to him were a bit unusual.
Oliver, the black magic solver, and Jane, the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family. An uncommon pair, yet they were chatting casually.
"You drive better than I expected."
"Do I?"
"Yes... I don't mean anything by it, but for someone who learned in just half a day, you're really good. You learned it in only half a day, right?"
"Yes. Truck drivers taught me."
"Truck drivers? Ah, they're fine people. Essential to this city of Landa. If trains are the main arteries, they're the capillaries."
Jane mixed truth with flattery in her words.
She acknowledged their importance but didn't seem to think they were all that great.
He wanted to ask why, but it didn't feel like the right moment, so he held back.
She was pretending to be calm and composed on the surface, but Jane's emotional state wasn't great right now.
She seemed pretty shaken by nearly dying and being betrayed.
"If you're uncomfortable, you can sit in the back, miss."
"The back?"
"Yes. You look a bit tired."
Jane glanced back with a hint of hesitation.
"Hmm... No, if it's okay with you, I'll stay here. I'm a little anxious. Are you bothered by me sitting next to you?"
"No. Not at all."
"Good. Then I'll stay here. I'm so relieved you're not bothered by me."
Jane let out a sigh of relief.
It was more performative, conscious of Oliver, than genuine.
But when he didn't even glance her way, she felt a pang of disappointment and started fixing her clothes and hair.
Along with that, she sorted out her thoughts, shoving down the shock and anger of betrayal to ponder what to do next.
She'd seemed resilient ever since the villa.
"...If it's okay, may I ask a question?"
Oliver asked abruptly.
"A question? Oh, sure. Ask away."
"Could you tell me where we're going for help? We're almost in Landa, but I don't know the destination."
Jane closed her eyes, a troubled expression flickering across her face.
She tried to hide it, but subtle signs leaked through, impossible to fool Oliver's emotion-piercing gaze.
Did she have nowhere to turn for help?
No, that couldn't be it.
When he'd first asked if she had a place, she'd said yes, and that wasn't a lie.
He recalled her words about it being reluctant.
A place that made her hesitate even now? He was truly curious.
Sensing his curiosity, Jane finally spoke.
"...The Sisterhood."
"Pardon?"
"The Sisterhood. Oh, you might not know it."
"No, I do. It's the women's group where ladies band together to help each other, right? They lobby too. For shop regulations, workers' rights, voting rights, that sort of thing?"
"Yes, exactly. Not exactly, but... anyway, they'll help us there."
"Ah, are you a member?"
"Well, sort of."
"No... forget I asked. I misspoke. I'm still confused... Anyway, we'll get help there."
It was partly true. Jane, usually armed with calm composure for her act, was thrown into disarray by the shock.
Her villa performance was still shaky.
"Must be a big shock."
"Yes, a bit... Just in case, do you have anyone to ask for help, Mr. Dave?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean... what if we can't go to the Sisterhood? It's a bit inside Landa, so something could happen on the way."
Oliver thought about it. It wasn't wrong. Just in case, they might not get help from the Sisterhood.
They needed to prepare for the worst.
"...One moment."
Oliver replied and rummaged in his pocket for the communicator from Forrest.
As a broker, he might not offer direct help, but advice at least.
But annoyingly, the beetle-shaped communicator was broken.
Jane said with disappointment.
"It's broken?"
"Yes, probably from the fight with Mr. Scott."
Jane stared at Oliver silently before asking suddenly.
"...Is that your usual personality?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"Scott. The druid. He betrayed you... nearly killed you."
"Yes. His fists were really strong."
"And you still use 'Mr.'?"
"...? It's polite."
"You nearly died, and no hard feelings? Or are you playing some character?"
Jane asked sincerely. She couldn't comprehend it.
Oliver was simply puzzled.
"Uh... I'm not sure what you mean, but I don't resent him. I kill people when needed too, so no resentment there. He must have had his reasons."
Jane was dumbfounded. Utterly so, her energy drained.
"Ha... So Duncan had his reasons too?"
Jane muttered unwittingly, laced with betrayal, sorrow, despair, and genuine curiosity.
She seemed to have special trust in Duncan.
"...Were you close to Duncan?"
"Who knows? I don't anymore. Really."
An awkward silence settled in, but the car dutifully carried on, soon delivering Jane and Oliver to their destination: Landa.
Gray and red buildings rising in the distance were proof.
Seeing them, Oliver slowed, veered off the road, and drove into the woods.
Jane asked in surprise.
"...Mr. Dave? What are you doing?"
"We walk from here."
Oliver answered, grabbing the clothes, shoes, and hat he'd taken from the villa.
"Why?"
"Duncan might have contingencies. He bought off a solver to kill you, so likely prepared for failure. This car's from the villa front; they know the plates. Entering Landa in it will get us spotted fast. Walking from here is safer."
Thankfully, Jane nodded in understanding and got out.
"You're right."
"Thanks for understanding."
Oliver handed her a men's shirt, pants, coat, hat, and shoes.
"Here, change."
".......Here?"
"...? Yes, your clothes stand out. Problem?"
Oliver asked genuinely. Jane started to protest but sighed and nodded.
"Fine. Don't look, okay?"
"...? Sure..."
Oliver turned his back.
Rustling sounds of Jane changing. Oliver promptly changed too.
"I'm done. You-"
"-Don't turn yet! I'm not finished!"
Jane shouted urgently.
Oliver froze in surprise. After seconds, she said,
"...Now I'm done."
"Can I turn?"
"......Yes."
Oliver turned. Jane stood in men's clothes.
They didn't look natural on her. Oliver asked puzzled.
"Hmm... Will this still stand out?"
Jane looked at her baggy outfit.
"No... I'll look like any slum girl. That's how they dress."
"Ah, good then."
"...Are you doing this on purpose?"
"Pardon? Doing what?"
"....Never mind."
Oliver nodded and looked at Jane again. Something stuck out like a sore thumb, but he couldn't place it.
Her pink hair was tucked under the hat... Ah!
"Could you take off that magic item?"
"Magic item? It stands out too much with the outfit."
Jane let out an 'ah' and glanced at her bracelet, necklace, earrings.
Agreeing, she hesitated but removed them.
"How did you know?"
"Know what?"
"These accessories. That they're magic items?"
"I see the mana flowing... Speaking of, what are they? They emit mana when they touch you; I can't figure the effect."
".....!"
Trouble flashed in Jane's emotions.
"That... Can I tell you later?"
"Sure... Whatever's comfortable. Shall we move?"
Jane nodded, and they started walking together.
Following the outskirts road, they soon entered Landa. An unfamiliar sight unfolded for both Oliver and Jane.
"Do you know where this is?"
"No idea. First time here for me too. Doesn't look too bad, though."
Oliver replied, looking around.
It really wasn't that bad. Security wasn't great, but not outright criminal chaos.
At least compared to X District.
"We can grab a taxi here and head straight to the destination. A bit further in, there should be taxis-"
Oliver stopped, eyeing one direction.
Eight people searching intently, though he didn't know for whom. Not clumped, but in pairs.
Not scattered randomly, but in a systematic encirclement. Their emotions matched: steely resolve.
Ready to fight if needed. Like the villa attackers.
Jane asked anxiously at the silent Oliver.
"Mr. Dave...?"
"This way, quick."
Oliver pulled Jane into a shadowy alley.
No suspects there.
Could charge through, but using black magic on the main street was too risky, so he ducked here.
His emotions weren't plentiful either.
But it seemed a mistake.
For some reason, the pursuers—likely after them—turned as one toward here, closing in like they tracked a trail.
How?
Then Oliver spotted the magic accessories in her pocket.
"Miss. Toss that magic tool."
"Pardon? Oh, yes!"
Jane, sensing the gravity, discarded it immediately.
But the net was tightening. Oliver pushed deeper into the alley.
No choice.
They entered a maze-like path. Oliver sensed he'd stepped into a trap.
Should he fight? Then, a voice from the sewer below.
"Hey! Over here!"
"...?"
Oliver and Jane turned. A beggar in a tattered silk hat.
Face seemed familiar.
The beggar from T District streets. Oliver had given him alms sometimes.
How here?
Beggar urgently beckoned quietly.
"Hurry! Come on!"
Jane hesitated. But Oliver read no malice in the beggar's emotions and led her over.
Two burly beggars appeared, lifted the sewer grate, making an entrance. Once Jane and Oliver entered, they replaced it seamlessly.
"Follow us. He's waiting."
Oliver didn't know who "he" was but judged it safer and followed with Jane.
Silently into the darkness.