President of the Bohemian Mercenary Association
President of the Bohemian Mercenary Association
"There's something I want to ask you..."
"Flora wants to ask me? What could it be?"
Max's attitude seemed like he would lightly accept whatever she said. A feeling like she should just say it.
With a slightly relaxed mind, Flora began explaining from the background.
"At Minerva Academy, we have to experience job duties as a hands-on internship once a year and submit a report."
"So that's a thing too. As expected, the academy isn't easy."
Max answered as if he didn't know, but he was actually aware.
Back when he worked at Cheonmyeong Pharmaceutical, cadets from Minerva Academy visited every year for the same purpose.
He'd seen them all just pass the time and leave, since they were children from prominent families or executives.
They had no connection whatsoever with Max, who worked in the field.
"Well, usually most go to a company associated with their family... For my first and second years, I also wrote reports as a hands-on intern at Genesis Bio Solution..."
"Oh ho. Are you thinking of going to Genesis Bio Solution after graduation, Flora?"
"I don't know. That's still undecided."
In Flora's case, like Ellen, she could go anywhere. She probably has too many choices to worry about.
Of course, as a regressor, Max knows which company she'll end up joining after her deliberation.
"Then what is it you want to ask me, Flora?"
"...Could I apply for this last hands-on internship at oppa's office?"
"Here? You want to do a hands-on internship at a mercenary office?"
"Yeah. That's right."
Max was genuinely surprised. This was an unexpected approach.
Wanting to experience a mercenary office instead of a company—was she thinking of it like a sidekick from a hero comic?
But Max didn't find Flora's request burdensome.
'The requests mercenaries handle are far from hero work, but... the attempt itself might be valid?'
He found himself admiring Flora's bold spirit of challenge.
Changing one's environment often leads directly to growth, but the unknown brings fear, making it hard to easily take that step.
'It could be a good experience for Flora.'
A company and a mercenary office have completely different vibes, don't they?
If Flora observes how mercenaries handle things, she might be able to expand her thinking and develop flexibility.
Experiencing a mercenary office has clear distinctions from experiencing a corporate environment.
"...Sorry. Oppa probably finds it burdensome too, right? It's also out of the blue."
"No. It's fine. If Flora comes, I'd appreciate it."
"R-really?"
Flora's ears perked up sharply. Those animal ears seem to take the place of her less expressive face—it's cute.
"I often handle requests where I feel I need reliable help."
Plus, there's Max's personal interest and curiosity.
Because the concentrated system of magic Ellen showed at the hotel left a strong impression on Max, he also wanted to see the magic Flora currently uses, if given the chance.
"And... there's something I'm curious about..."
"Yeah."
"Should I fix the way I speak?"
"Suddenly? Why do you think that?"
"Because people say I'm hard to understand... sometimes..."
Was it because of the inversion she sometimes uses?
Max considers it part of Flora's personality. He's never found it bothersome or hard to understand.
"I've never felt that way."
"Really? When you talk with me, don't you feel... frustrated...?"
"Not at all."
Intentionally changing one's way of speaking isn't easy. Having to constantly be conscious of it would also take a mental toll.
Unless it's a really serious problem, it's something that environment and experience will naturally change.
"Thank you. I'll trust oppa."
Flora, looking happy, leads the way up the stairs.
She enters the office carrying juice bought from the convenience store.
Sandwiches take their place on the table alongside fruit juice and two cups of coffee.
Leaving the food and drinks they ordered for lunch, the three of them exchanged trivial chatter.
"But what kind of request did oppa go on?"
"They said a crocodile appeared in the sewer."
"A crocodile? How did a crocodile end up in the sewer?"
"Isn't that surprising? I was surprised too. It was huge from whatever it ate there. Its hide was like steel."
"Looks like it ate some polluted wastewater some company secretly dumped. I've heard that happens sometimes."
"There was a similar case in the textbooks too. The incident where Growth Promoter Type 9, developed for meat production, wasn't approved and was mass-disposed, causing fish to grow bizarrely."
"Why do you remember stuff like that? Gross."
"...It was an incident that appeared as a passage in the exam. I can't understand why you're acting like you're hearing it for the first time."
Even though Flora and Ellen were bickering, it was much smoother than before.
Max didn't bother mediating.
The conversation continued until the food and drinks were all finished.
Flora stood up and gathered her belongings.
"Oppa needs to work, so I'll be heading back now."
"You're leaving already?"
"Get lost quickly, you girl."
Flora glared at Ellen briefly, then answered Max gently.
"I need to go because of studying. I'll come again another time."
"Then I guess there's no helping it... Ah, Flora. Hold on a moment."
Saying he would bring a gift, Max went into his private space.
The moment the door closed.
Flora immediately flipped the atmosphere and left a warning for Ellen.
"If you do anything weird to oppa, I won't let it slide. I'll come check often."
"You girl. What do you mean by 'weird'? Stop using that annoying way of talking and say it clearly."
"You know well. I'm saying don't take your irritation out on the wrong person."
"Honestly, I have pride too. Do you think I'd do that?"
As soon as the conversation ended, Max came out of the room.
He held boxes in both hands with a bright face.
"Give this one to mother. And this one is Flora's. I bought it based on my intuition, so I'm not sure how it'll be."
"I'm so so curious... but I'll open it when I get home. Thanks."
Flora knows her reactions are terrible. Even if she's moved when opening the box, she's not confident in expressing it outwardly, so she wanted to check alone and send her thoughts via message.
Max just nods, telling her to do as she pleases.
"You took the train today, right? I'll walk you out."
"It's fine. Oppa has to guard the office."
Flora forcibly sat Max down as he tried to get up.
With one hand, so easily.
"Anyway~ Oppa worries too much. That guy's not a kid. Leave her be."
Ellen tossed a word from the side.
Flora furrowed one brow and changed her mind.
"...Oppa. Please walk me to the station."
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After confirming Flora got on the train and returning, Max ignored his mental fatigue and turned on the computer.
As he spent time scanning the news, it became afternoon.
Around the time Ellen usually comes to work, sensational articles started flooding the internet all at once.
['Table of the Lower Districts' Gaia Food, Suspicion of Distributing Substandard Ingredients...]
[Gaia Food Chairman, Evidence of Data Destruction Just Before Seizure Search...]
[From Savior of the Lower Districts to Butcher... The Brutal History of Gaia Food]
[Gaia Food Purification Process Manipulation Suspicion... Unexplained Surge in Abdominal Pain Among Users? Causal Investigation]
There was no mention of White Rampage, but various bad news pouring out gives confidence that the Hayes Institution means to drop the guillotine on Gaia Food.
'It changed.'
There was a difference from the future Max remembered.
Of course, he doesn't think he saved the citizens of the lower districts or anything like that. If you start judging right and wrong, you can't be a mercenary.
'Who handled this?'
The information Max passed on was enough to definitely bury a small company.
But he's curious about who used it and how.
'Plus, the fact that it only blew up now. Considering the destructive power of the information, it's very late.'
Did Gaia Food's backer only now cut its tail today?
If so, this problem might lead to a scenario affecting larger companies.
Because the client who targeted Gaia Food's information likely has the company that cut its tail as the actual goal.
"What are you looking at with such a serious face?"
"A company just blew up a case."
"Hmm~ Can I put some goods in oppa's room? I'll take them when I leave."
"Looks like the inspection is done. Do as you like."
Ellen, holding a goods bag, went into the room and came out, then pulled out a lollipop and giggled.
"The room reeks of male smell~ Air it out."
"It's natural for a man's room to smell like a man. We have a guest coming, so prepare some coffee."
"Tch, your intuition is too good."
As soon as Max finished speaking, the office door opened.
There were three guests.
"Excuse me."
Meredith from the Bohemian Mercenary Association.
An employee familiar to Max and Ellen. She was holding a metal case.
"Young man. Excuse me."
"...!"
And beside her was the old man who had extorted 10,000 credits from Max under the pretense of fortune-telling.
It wasn't Max, but Ellen whose expression twisted.
"What're you here for, old man?"
"Hehehe! I'm in charge of managing the association's mercenaries, you see."
A situation where anyone could read the old man's identity.
Max guided the old man to a seat.
"Association President. Please sit comfortably."
"Oh my, thank you."
Behind the old man, a sturdy-looking man who appeared to be a bodyguard followed. Half of his face was metal, and in one pupil, complex codes continuously passed by.
Plus, a prosthetic arm protruding from under his suit.
What the bodyguard was equipped with was no ordinary prosthetic arm or eye.
Those are high-end models recognized even in Haze.
'Showing off something precious.'
Max admired and sat across from the old man.
"Old man, drink some water. For unni, coffee."
Ellen gave coffee to Meredith and placed a paper cup in front of the old man.
When the bodyguard behind him gave a silent look, Ellen's eyes widened.
"You scrap metal bastard, what are you looking at? Wanna die?"
"..."
Just as Haze's traditional principle of power was about to spread through the office.
The old man and Max opened their mouths simultaneously.
"Hoho... Ludwig? Don't offend Lady Ellen Clements. I can't save you either, so lower your eyes and apologize."
"Hey hey! She's a guest, a guest."
Both of them understand Ellen's irritation.
Although he had allowed the association president to know of Ellen's existence, this sudden visit to the office was unexpected.
"The purpose of today's visit is not to greet the esteemed person of Clements, but to meet the young friend who completed the self-sacrifice request."
That was a relief.
If there had been no purpose, it would have meant he really came just to see Ellen Clements.
Ellen's face also calmed down a bit.
"You mean me?"
"Yes. I'd like to talk with you."
When the old man sent a look to his employee Meredith.
Meredith placed the metal case she was holding in her arms onto the table.