Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: Cooperation (1)
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"Oh, come on in. We're thrilled you've made it here."
The first village that supply trucks heading to the research area had to pass through.
The village chief greeted Willes and me there, even at this late hour.
Of course, he hadn't been welcoming from the start.
This village had fairly frequent exchanges with the outside world, so it wasn't as insular as most rural spots—but it wasn't free of suspicion entirely.
Still, the chief was treating us kindly now because of the token Willes had shown him.
The moment he handed it over, the village mechanic—who'd been refueling the truck and fixing minor issues—jumped in surprise and called for the chief like he'd spotted a rescue squad.
Thanks to that, Oliver was receiving surprisingly lavish treatment right beside Willes.
"But... who's that fellow...?"
The chief, unable to contain his curiosity, glanced at Oliver quietly slurping bean soup in the corner of the village hall and asked Willes.
Willes glanced at Oliver and gave a vague excuse. It was the complete opposite of how things had gone on the train.
"Someone I picked up on the way. Figured he might be useful for the job."
"What kind of help do you mean...?"
"Hm, better yet—tell me what's been happening around here. Time's not on our side."
With Willes's characteristically stiff, authoritative tone, the chief fidgeted nervously before speaking up cautiously.
"Ah, sorry about that. You came all this way..."
"No need to worry about it. It's only natural for me to come here. We're both Kel tribe, after all."
"Y-yes, thank you... Where should I even start? As you probably know, our village and all the nearby ones have had disappearances. Mostly kids, young women, and able-bodied men. It's pretty serious."
The old man was sincere—and desperate.
No wonder. In a small community like this, the labor from young folks was invaluable.
People who looked like family members of the missing stood by the chief, tears welling up in their eyes.
But instead of sharing their grief, Willes asked questions with all emotion set aside. His drive to solve the problem overrode everything else.
"Have you searched for them?"
"Of course we have! You bet we did!"
The chief shouted.
"Me and everyone in the village—we've slept out there every night. No brag, but this whole area is basically our backyard. Yet they vanished without a trace. Not a single clue...!"
"It's ghosts! Ghosts doing it!"
A plump middle-aged woman yelled. She seemed to be family to one of the missing, her face shining with sorrow as tears trickled down.
The chief snapped at the interrupting woman in anger.
"Hey! I told you no nonsense like that! Don't spread unconfirmed rumors and stir up panic!"
"B-but..."
The villagers started arguing. Willes stepped in to mediate.
He was an outsider to them, Kel tribe connection aside, but he calmed the crowd with a dignified voice, like a lord addressing his subjects.
"Everyone, settle down a bit... Ghosts? What do you mean by that? You wouldn't say it lightly."
The middle-aged woman, scolded by the chief, hesitated. But with Willes urging her to speak, she opened up.
"We hear strange cries every night."
"Not just animal calls? Everyone knows there are plenty of beasts around here."
"But this is different. Truly eerie. Not a normal sound. And we know the local wildlife—wolves, bears, deer... But this thing? I'd never seen anything like it. More monster than animal."
"Y-yeah! I saw it by chance, too. From a distance... It wasn't any ordinary beast. Gave me chills."
"Felt like it was watching us, too."
A herbalist reeking of earth and a hunter draped in furs chimed in one after another.
The village hall turned into a noisy marketplace again until the chief raised his voice, finally silencing them.
As quiet fell, the chief spoke once more.
"...Some of it sounds far-fetched, but most of it's true. And it's not just our village—the three others we trade with regularly are the same. Feels like a curse on the whole area."
"Might be a dumb question, but couldn't you get help from the police or military? It's a bit far, but there's police and troops down in Holland at the mountain base."
Oliver knew it wasn't his place to butt in, but he couldn't hold back his curiosity.
He'd heard from the cafe owner that cops and soldiers ignored poor villages, but he wanted to hear it straight from them.
Might learn something new, right?
Unfortunately, nothing new happened. If anything, he drew sharp glares.
"Who the hell are you? Don't spout easy nonsense when you know nothing. Think we're idiots who didn't ask the police? Those bastards don't give a damn what happens to us."
"Damn right. Especially since those Magic Tower pricks barged in—they treat us like we don't exist now... The hell? This is our home!"
"But living conditions have improved a bit, haven't they? They buy our goods at good prices. And we sneak some of our stuff onto their supply trucks."
"I'd take the old days. Because of those jerks, my kin had to move down to the city...! And they always act like they own the place. Like we're not the real owners here!"
"Eh, still—"
Surprisingly, opinions on the Magic Tower research facility differed even within the village, voices rising higher.
As it threatened to turn into a full argument, Willes tapped the table—tap-tap—and smoothly intervened.
A refined yet commanding gesture. He asked again.
"Then tell me specifics—who disappeared from this village, when, and how. I'll take responsibility and look into it."
The villagers, who had seemed tough and rough around the edges, surprisingly obeyed Willes's request without hesitation and explained the missing persons cases.
Numbers, timings, locations, notable rumors or news—everything.
Willes calmly took notes to grasp the situation, and only after a thorough exchange did they get some rest.
The villagers escorted Willes to a bed in the hall with looks of respect, while Oliver and the truck driver got mats and blankets to lay on the floor.
Deep into the night, just as they were drifting off, Willes—who should have been in the bed—approached Oliver.
"Comfortable? I can give up the bed if it's not."
"Pardon? No, I'm fine. This is already more than I deserve. This is plenty for me."
He meant it. His living standards had improved, but he hadn't forgotten his orphanage and mine days.
"Tough for a Magic Tower guy. These days, plenty can't sleep without feather beds."
Oliver wanted to say he knew the Magic Tower well but chose different words to keep the conversation going.
"Strictly speaking, I'm just an employee, so calling me Magic Tower alumni feels off."
"They don't hire employees lightly. Especially not personal aides for professors. Either you've got money to bribe or real talent—and I'd bet you're the latter... Have we met before?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"On the train, remember?"
"......"
"If it's okay, could I ask you something too?"
"What?"
"Why'd you take this job? You said in the truck you wouldn't tell me, but I'd like to know anyway. Any special reason?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Might help me understand."
Willes stared at Oliver intently, as if peering into his soul.
A moment later, he spoke.
"...You heard earlier. We Kel tribe don't get much protection from the kingdom. Cities might be different, but out here? Can't count on law and order."
"Understood."
"And where security's lacking, trouble multiplies—bandits, black mages, killers, tyrannical landlords. We need help more than anyone, but as I said, no one helps. So we Kel tribe built communities to aid each other."
"Communities?"
"Nothing grand. Folks who trade often check in and help when needed. I'm just one of them."
Community—it reminded Oliver of the X-Zone group Dinklage had mentioned. Groups banding together for protection where law failed.
"So... the community asked for help, and you stepped up."
"Yeah. Guy from here knows a friend of a friend. Could've said no, but we help in tough times."
Sincere.
"Oh... I don't fully get it, but it sounds admirable. You're like a top-notch fixer—do you really need to bother with this?"
Skilled or not, no one survives alone. Especially Kel tribe in the United Kingdom. We need people we can rely on.
Don't view us through Landa eyes.
"Ah, got it. Sorry."
"...Anyway, I want to resolve this properly. And so do you, I bet. Suspicious disappearances around the Magic Tower lab must tie into the village ones somehow."
"Yes."
Oliver didn't deny it. The incidents around Mountain Face—the research hub—linked the villages and lab disappearances. Obvious to anyone.
Willes proposed.
"That's why—how about we team up?"
"Team up?"
"Yeah. I can easily reach all these villages; you can't. Locals are wary of outsiders."
"Yes."
"But I can't even get near the Magic Tower site, let alone info. Like on the train—say I'm your hireling, bring me along, share intel. Might uncover traces together. Not bragging, but I'm decent at searching. Should help, even if you're here for the professor. Gotta solve it, right?"
Not wrong. Oliver had come in Kevin's place to escape a pinch, but solving it was ideal.
Worst case, empty-handed return meant sending Kevin back.
Oliver wanted to help Kevin if possible. He was his employee, and while details were murky, Kevin's goals shone appealingly.
Failure was one thing, but like Willes said—he'd try to resolve it.
"If you think I'm up to something, I promise I'm not."
"Yes. Let's team up, then."
"...What?"
"Let's cooperate. Our goals align, and we can help each other. I'm good with it."
Willes looked mildly shocked at Oliver's ready agreement. Clearly surprised by how easily he'd said yes.
Seeing that, Oliver added.
"Well, you promised no ulterior motives."
"Thanks for trusting me."
"You seem like a good guy. You even rescued the hostage, despite the hassle."
Oliver recalled the train attack.
Willes had blended into the passengers to stay low-key but stepped up when the hostage was at risk.
Willes said nothing, perhaps at a loss. Oliver seized the moment.
"Since we're cooperating now, mind if I ask one favor?"
"What?"
"Could you tell me about the Kel tribe and Northland on the way? Suddenly interested."