Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: Preliminary Coordination (2)
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Oliver's help was going to be sorely needed—this wasn't just polite flattery.
The moment Oliver accepted the job, Jonathan got straight to the point, explaining the main reason he'd hired him: the shroud dolls.
"While scouting talent, I learned that you'd used high-quality shroud dolls during the warehouse takeover and the illegal ledger recovery for Dave. I'm sorry for looking into it behind your back."
Even though it was within the usual bounds allowed for mission prep, Jonathan apologized sincerely to Oliver.
Oliver wasn't particularly offended, so he didn't say anything.
After all, he'd done the same thing first, digging into Jonathan's business through Forest.
This was just how their world worked.
Anyway, Jonathan said he wanted to deploy Oliver's shroud dolls for this mission and asked how many he had available and what types they were.
Of course, asking about full strength in this line of work wasn't exactly polite, but since Jonathan had already shown some consideration once, Oliver gave a brief rundown of just the combat ones.
The close-combat specialist shroud doll—Duncan.
The black mage for offense and support.
The sniper handling short-, mid-, and long-range firepower, plus the new type he was currently working on.
Jonathan was mildly shocked at Duncan's fate as a former Pinkman turned shroud doll, but he pretended not to care.
Come to think of it, that might've been a bit rude...
But business came first, so he set aside the minor awkwardness and asked if Oliver's shroud dolls could be deployed for the operation.
"If you'd like additional compensation, we'll accommodate you as best we can."
Jonathan was thorough in his calculations.
Oliver thought for a moment and agreed on the condition that they'd provide new shroud dolls if any got destroyed.
With Oliver's shroud dolls now in play, Jonathan laid out a basic plan based on the intel he'd gathered so far, promising to call him back once the operation was fully finalized.
"Take this with you."
Jonathan handed him an earpiece communicator.
He explained it was a pager and short-range communicator, custom-made by the Pinkmen.
With that, Oliver parted ways with Jonathan. A few days later, on the day of the operation, he headed back to meet him.
[Heard anything about the plan?]
Oliver was walking near the outer barrier of Y District while talking to Forest.
The area around Y District was eerily quiet, but even so, Oliver mimicked Kevin to cast a soundproofing spell around himself, ensuring no voices leaked out.
Thanks to that, he could talk freely.
"No, they said I'd get the details at the safehouse."
[Not a bad approach. Plans have a funny way of leaking if you share them too early. That's why they often broadcast them right before go-time.]
"Doesn't bother me either way. I'm just wondering if I'll be able to keep up properly."
[Don't worry. Jonathan's straightforward, but he favors efficient plans. He hates anything overly complicated. You won't have any trouble following.]
"Good to know, then."
[Once you've shared your full capabilities, it's all on him. So just do your thing—no need to stress. Everyone already acknowledges your skills.]
"Got it. Thanks for the advice."
[Speaking of, how'd you settle on the reward? The job's important, but a fixer has to look out for himself. Otherwise, you're just doing a favor for someone else.]
Forest asked again what he'd take from the auction items.
After parting with Jonathan, he'd been too busy with final prep to think much about compensation.
Or more accurately, he'd been so thrilled about getting the demonic tome that pay had fallen off his radar.
Anyone else might call it ungrateful, but that was just Oliver's nature—he couldn't help it.
Should I just ask for cash instead? ...No, that's a dumb thought. Money I can earn anytime, but stuff like this? Not so much.
If there were more demonic tomes, he'd go for those, but since there weren't, Oliver racked his brain over what to request.
Then a good idea flashed through his mind.
[Dave?]
"Mr. Forest."
[Oh, good. I was starting to think you'd finally ghosted me.]
"Sorry about that. Can we pick up where we left off?"
[Of course. Wait too long, and you might miss out.]
"I'm not great with this stuff, so could you help me pick a magic item that fits what I mentioned? Something similar, even?"
[A magic item, huh... Not bad. What kind are you thinking?]
Oliver described the conditions for the magic item he needed.
It might or might not exist, but surprisingly, Forest responded positively, tossing in some affirmations and promising to look into it.
[Hmm, interesting. I'll give it a shot... Take care out there.]
"Yes, thank you."
Oliver ended the call with his thanks and arrived at the rendezvous—the Pinkmen safehouse near Y District.
It matched the address Jonathan had given exactly.
He knocked, and someone approached, sliding open a peephole with a click.
A brown eye checked him out, then the door swung open.
It was the same woman in her thirties he'd met at the previous safehouse.
The difference this time? She was in a shirt, pants, bulletproof vest, and armed with a gun—far more natural-looking.
She led him inside, where he spotted Jonathan and his team mid-conversation.
"Why the hell are we taking this convoluted route? Just head straight to X District, right? We gotta cross the river anyway."
"X District's no normal zone either. Even a small group draws attackers. Annoying as it is, going around is way safer."
"I signed up thinking Pinkmen meant smashing everything in sight. Turns out it's a total grind."
"Welcome to the real world. Contract's signed—deal with it."
"This is a scam."
Clap. Clap.
The woman who'd opened the door clapped to get everyone's attention.
"Tough guys. Last guest is here. Time to talk business?"
They all turned to Oliver.
"Hello. Am I late?"
Oliver pulled out his watch, just in case.
"Not at all. We got here early to prep."
Among fixers, this might raise suspicions of funny business, but Jonathan's emotional state didn't suggest anything shady.
"Prep...?"
"This."
The orange-eyed woman slipped on a mechanical gauntlet made of nuts, wires, gears, steel plates, and magic stones as she answered.
At the same time, mana flowed from a rectangular machine in the corner, projecting an image into the air.
It showed filthy streets with most buildings in ruins, menacing graffiti everywhere, and corpses hanging from streetlights.
Like a city hit by some disaster.
Oliver instinctively knew what it was.
"Y District?"
"Good eye."
Jonathan, in combat gear, approached. He had swords strapped to both legs, an axe and revolver the size of a shotgun at his waist.
They looked custom-forged in a workshop, not mass-produced. No special enchantments, but the durability seemed solid.
"As you see, that's the lay of Y District. The warehouse in the center of the screen—sans roof—is where they're hiding the stolen auction goods."
The screen showed a roofless temple-like structure, surrounded by ragged thugs, chained mutants, and hulking men with massive weapons.
"Hiding loot in a temple? Those guys are begging for divine wrath."
"...Yeah. Exactly."
"The silver lining? It's not deep inside—it's on the outskirts. Play it right, and we hit fast, grab the goods, and bounce with minimal losses."
"Auction items aren't small. You sure that's feasible?"
"That's why I brought help. Hey."
At Jonathan's call, a muscular middle-aged man hauled over a massive magic bag big enough for two people.
Unlike standard ones, it was encased in thick leather with three fist-sized magic stones embedded on the surface.
"This is...?"
"Military-grade magic bag. 'Military-grade' sounds fancy, but it's obsolete due to poor efficiency. Still, it'll hold pretty much any auction haul."
The mana flow suggested he wasn't lying.
Of course, the insane consumption meant it wouldn't last long.
But for a quick smash-and-grab...
"Take this too."
Jonathan pulled out a silver-plated flask, marked with a cross—likely from the Pater Church.
"Holy water to neutralize disease-based black magic. Not foolproof, but it'll save you from lethal doses."
Oliver stared at the flask, lost in thought for a moment.
"Something wrong?"
"No, just ironic. A black mage like me carrying holy water."
"Life's full of ironies... Anyway, that's our gear. Did you bring what you promised, Dave?"
Oliver nodded curtly and pulled the folded glutton pouch—Bigmouth—from the leather case at his waist.
The flesh lump's scattered eyes were closed like it was sleeping, but it reacted to Oliver's will, blinking open one by one, scanning in all directions before inflating like dough.
"Th-that's the glutton pouch?"
The eye-tattooed young man muttered. Come to think of it, had Jonathan seen it before?
Once fully expanded, Bigmouth sprouted human-like limbs from its body and stood up.
It let out a toad-like croak as it stared at Oliver.
"Bigmouth. Need a favor."
At Oliver's request, Bigmouth scanned the room again—especially Jonathan and the Pinkmen crew.
"Croak..."
Satisfied, it nodded by folding and unfolding its body half, then unzipped its toothy maw.
And vomited up two shroud dolls.
Kueeeek—!
The first was the sniper, festooned with eight arms, even more guns, and small bombs dangling all over.
"Could start a war solo."
Kueeeek—!
The second was Oliver's newest creation.
Six legs, six arms, three torsos, and a massive gun barrel—all flesh. Like a wheelbug with a cannon muzzle.
The Pinkmen recoiled in shock—clearly a first for them.
Except Jonathan, who approached Oliver.
"This the high-firepower long-range support you mentioned?"
"Yes. It'll need to move with the sniper, but the power's guaranteed. Made from a pure mana school mage as the base, stitched with mana-user corpses... The firepower's top-notch."