Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Promise (1)
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T District, 27th Street.
Just yesterday, Puppets had appeared in the contaminated zone, killing countless Solvers, yet this street was as peaceful as ever.
Well, it wasn't as if he felt particularly wronged or angry about it.
The job of a Solver was like that from the start, after all.
Still, it was curious.
Despite the City Guard and Holy Knights causing quite a commotion, most people were oblivious not only to the Puppets' existence but even to the incident itself.
It felt like living in a different world.
Even though they were in the same time and space.
Ding-a-ling.
Oliver pushed open the door to Restaurant Forest and stepped inside.
Though not much time had passed, it felt like ages since his last visit.
"Welcome. Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Mr. Dave."
Al greeted him warmly, as always.
He was usually polite and courteous, but today it seemed especially so. As if he viewed Oliver in an even more impressive light?
"Yes, hello, Mr. Al... Nothing out of the ordinary, I hope?"
"My days are always peaceful. Here to see the boss?"
"Yes, to report that I've wrapped up the contaminated zone job."
In truth, he could have done it via communicator, but he had questions and preferred face-to-face.
For this kind of talk, anyway.
"I see. If it's not too much trouble, could you wait a moment? The boss is tied up with some business, but it won't be long."
Al asked with a politeness bordering on caution.
Oliver didn't pry into the reason and simply nodded.
"Of course. He's a busy man."
"Thank you for understanding. Allow me to show you to a waiting spot."
Oliver nodded and followed Al.
Al led him to a table in the restaurant. Looking around, about two-thirds of the floor was already filled with patrons.
Among them were white-collar types in glasses and suits, as well as what looked like Solvers.
It felt mismatched yet oddly fitting, and Oliver took a seat in the midst.
"Coffee alright?"
"Yes."
No sooner had he answered than Al brought a cup.
Oliver reached for his pocket to pay for the coffee and tip in advance, but Al politely declined.
"No need."
"Pardon? But..."
"If I may overstep, I've heard about what happened in the contaminated zone. Please, just enjoy it as a humble request."
Al's words rang true.
Oliver nodded and sipped the coffee. About halfway through, Al returned.
"The boss says you can come in now."
Oliver descended to the deep basement where Forest's real office was.
He was used to it by now. Upon arrival, Forest was engrossed in a call on a communicator the size of a human head.
But that didn't last.
As soon as Oliver appeared, he hastily wrapped up the call and welcomed him.
"There you are. Come in."
"Yes, feels like it's been a while."
"Not really that long in reality, but it does for me too... You alright?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"I heard. You fought a Puppet, right? Any injuries? ...Ah, forgive me, making a guest stand while I prattle. Sit, please."
Oliver tapped his quarterstaff on the floor—tap-tap—and sat.
Forest poured a drink as usual and offered it. Oliver covered one eye with his hand and scanned the surroundings.
There was definitely a change.
Without focusing much, he could see emotions beyond the building, even on the surface, and Forest's before him were far more detailed than before.
Right now, Forest brimmed with admiration and pride toward Oliver.
Likely because he'd survived a Puppet. Yet there was a faint undercurrent of guilt.
He denied it to himself, but emotions weren't so easily shaken.
So Oliver spoke first.
"...No issues with my body, so no need to worry. I didn't come right away yesterday because I was exhausted."
And he truly had been. After the chaos with the Puppet, no rest, just hours of interrogation.
He'd dragged himself back to his lodgings and crashed.
"I understand. Must've been grueling."
"Well, it turned out fine. When the Holy Knights showed up, I thought something big was coming, but they let me go more smoothly than expected."
"Naturally. No matter how mighty Holy Knights are, they're bound by the Church. They can't unilaterally ignore the contract between Landa and the Church. With the Broker Guild in the mix, no evidence means no dragging you off."
"I see. Impressive."
"But don't get complacent. It cuts both ways—if they find leverage, they'll haul you in anyway."
Oliver nodded.
Holy Knight Elton had indeed seemed eager for Oliver to slip up.
Then a question occurred to him.
"Mind if I ask something?"
"Shoot."
"From what I know, Holy Knights guard the human realm with immense authority. Why can't they just take a Solver like me? Before any evidence, I mean?"
"As I said, it's the city agreement between Landa and the Church. Landa may lack deep faith, but they donate massive sums annually."
Oliver asked in surprise.
"Because of money?"
"Exactly, money. That's what happens when the sacred meets the secular. Not inherently bad. The Church gets ample funds, Landa enjoys safety and freedom. Adult world stuff."
He got about half of it but had nothing to add, so Oliver just nodded.
Then Forest spoke up.
"Is that all you wanted to discuss? The contaminated zone wrap-up and the Holy Knights?"
"No, one more thing."
"Go ahead. I've got something for you too. You first."
Oliver nodded.
"Any intel on why Puppets appeared in the contaminated zone? No one's answering me."
Forest took a sip of his drink, hesitated, then replied.
"I'll tell you. You deserve to know... It's complicated and not confirmed, but our sources say a high-ranking city official in Landa's Interior Ministry was bribed by the Puppets."
"Bribed?"
"Yeah. Not sure if he knew they were Puppets, but a suspected official recently racked up huge gambling debts. That's when it happened, we're guessing. Under investigation, but seems solid. Funny, huh?"
Oliver agreed. Quite amusing. Laughably so, in a way.
Not confirmed, but he'd heard around 200-300 Solvers and mercenaries joined the cleanup.
Yet fewer than 100 survived, all sparked by one official's gambling debt. Intriguing.
Absurd enough to be hilarious?
So irrational it begged study.
"I find it ridiculous too. But that's Landa's daily life."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Landa... no, most of the world runs like a chorus of fools. The Broker Guild will clash with the city over this cleanup for a while. Negotiations, not fists, of course."
"Specifically?"
"Compensation for the deceased Solvers' families and losses for Brokers who lost manpower. Tweaking a few mutual rules too. City and Guild are superior-subordinate, but interdependent... Incidents like this let them grab leverage for better positions. City's at fault, so if we don't overreach, they'll concede some demands."
"Ah, got it."
"Internally, the Guild will have political infighting too. Brokers B, H, N, T took heavy hits this time. Territorial squabbles ahead."
"Big deal?"
"For some. Might lose competitiveness and retire."
"You too, Mr. Forest?"
Oliver said regrettably. They'd worked together.
But Forest's face lit up. Like he'd been waiting for it.
"No, the opposite for me."
"Opposite?"
"Others lost manpower; I didn't. Many of my team collaborated with Arthur's group."
Ah, right—some Solvers working with Arthur's crew were under Forest.
"And above all, you came back alive."
"Me?"
"Yes, you. You're the top Solver under me. Your survival alone spared me major losses. Plus, word's spreading you fought a Puppet and lived—turns profit."
"Profit?"
"Yeah. Surviving a Puppet sighting's drawing big shots' attention... This field's skill-based, but you need spotlight events. Ironically, everyone-dreads contaminated cleanup made your name known."
"Ah... Sounds good, but I don't get it? I didn't win—I lost, barely survived."
"People don't care about details. Survived a Puppet. That's the headline... On that note, a named request came in."
"Named request?"
"Yeah. Your past jobs were general requests. Randomly assigned by Brokers. Named ones differ."
"How?"
"Client names you specifically. They deem their job critical, pick a skilled Solver. Tougher, riskier, pickier, but pays well. Average ten million, sometimes into hundreds."
"...I've only done ten-million-plus jobs so far."
"That's 'cause you've tackled the hard ones... You're unique. Sometimes sharp and inscrutable, other times too laid-back."
"Am I?"
"Yeah. I like it, but watch out. Folks might exploit that. Even I might."
"How kind."
Forest chuckled.
"Builds trust in me. Sly foxes all do it—stay sharp."
"Yes, duly noted. Thanks again for the advice."
"...Anyway, named requests pay big. Negotiable too. Haggle amount or extras."
"Like what specifically?"
"Useful items, info, potions. Not always granted, but sometimes. Could learn about the Black Market, snag black magic books."
"Black magic books?"
"Yeah. Surprisingly, wealthy collectors among elites. Ask for those."
Money mattered, but the second option intrigued more.
More reliable than random clients?
"Sounds appealing."
"But higher risks."
"You said the jobs are tough."
"Not just that. Named requests likely mean vital, political matters for clients. Might glimpse their secrets or sins unintended, and Solvers take the fall. That's why Brokers exist, but we can't cover everything."
Sounded irresponsible at first, but it wasn't.
From the contaminated zone fiasco, Oliver learned the world ran on lies more than he'd thought.
When lies unraveled into scandals, they'd scramble fixes—but never eradicate them.
Easier to cause and clean up.
Brokers and Solvers were no different.
Jobs for survival.
Even if ethics mocked, superior power or profit forced submission. Reality.
Forest pinpointing it was impressive.
At least to Oliver.
"Yes, understood."
"For real?"
"Yes. Kant warned me somewhat. Hope it doesn't happen, stay cautious—my job."
"...Named clients could be dangerous too. Not Puppet-level criminals, but plenty of powerhouses out there. Like moving from small-fry river to piranha-infested."
"I see. Fine by me."
Forest looked deflated at Oliver's reply.
"Expected, but still saps my energy hearing it. Since you're here, want details anyway?"
Oliver declined.
"No. Pass for today."
"Huh. Surprising. No pressure, but figured you'd jump at it."
"Yes, without a prior commitment, I would have. But I have one soon."
"Commitment? Curious. If not rude, who?"
Oliver stood.
"Someone who gave me good advice."