Back to Work After Hospital Discharge
Back to Work After Hospital Discharge
At the time the request was finished, Max, Usagi, and Bibol weren't in a state to explain the situation.
So they arrived at the hospital and received treatment first.
While the three were receiving treatment, what the Association figured out was that a commotion had occurred at the port and the goal of breaking the deal had been reached.
Meredith's work started from there.
She guided Max to the inpatient visitation room. The hospital had coordinated to have it neatly cleared out.
"It should be fine to talk here."
Max set aside the meal tray the hospital had provided and sat across from Meredith.
The tray itself was heavy, packed with rice and hearty side dishes. There was plenty of meat too, which he liked.
"Since there's no issue with eating, please feel free to do so."
At Meredith's suggestion, Max moved his spoon.
After taking a sip of soup to wet his mouth, he asked.
"Bibol should be in the next room. Wouldn't it be more efficient to call him over?"
"I plan to visit Bibol-nim after you, Max-nim. It seems the cyberware inspection results will take a bit longer."
"Ah."
In truth, the cyberware inspection had finished by dawn, and the results were already out. Bibol was just snoring away asleep.
There was a reason Meredith wasn't calling Bibol in right away to handle things in one go.
Bibol tended to omit too much in his testimony and lightly gloss over parts the Association considered important.
More than anything, if he was seated with other mercenaries, he'd often bring up unrelated topics out of nowhere and derail the flow, which was a problem.
Usagi was more sensible compared to Bibol, so she was fine, but since she didn't have a mercenary office under her own name, if she discharged herself before a meeting like this, a separate appointment would have to be made.
So, first up was Max.
Since Max was the type to explain things properly. The best approach was to hear from him here, then track down the other two and verify.
"So... what should I start with? You don't need to wait; I can talk while eating."
Max showed a slight goodwill.
Meredith didn't refuse and asked.
"I heard you fought two Fourth-Rank individuals."
"Yes. A swordsman with blue scales and a mage who used shooting magic."
Meredith's eyes twitched.
Max didn't miss that fleeting reaction and stored it in his memory.
"This is a formal question, but did you confirm their deaths?"
"Of course. I cooperated with Usagi and killed them for certain. The swordsman was killed by severing his head with cutting magic, and the mage died from excessive blood loss after the battle. I even cut his throat to confirm."
"I see. You've worked hard. The Association will verify through separate methods... but if those two were alive, the request wouldn't have proceeded in the first place."
"The weapons sent to the Association are the spoils from the Fourth-Rank enemies."
Having cut to the chase and mentioned the highlights first, it was now time to add flesh to the bones.
After covering the beginning of the job and the whereabouts of Bibol, who had been elsewhere, he finally moved on.
"Max-nim. Next, I'd like to hear about the disposal of the items you were asked to handle."
"Ah, that. Did you have any separate words for Bibol?"
Max finished his meal and set his spoon down on the tray.
Because before broaching that topic, he needed to confirm something.
"Bibol-nim requested to check the contents, and I allowed it."
"I think it would have been better if you'd told me in advance. There was potential for trouble."
"My apologies. It seems there was a disconnect from the on-site progress while the staff in the office were compiling information. I'll be more careful in the future."
Meredith's acknowledgment and apology put his mind at ease.
Fortunately, it wasn't something Bibol had done on his own.
"First, let me explain the method. The disposal was simple. The internal form was──."
Max transparently relayed the information to Meredith.
And at the end, he subtly asked.
He wondered what all those brains and hearts were going to be used for.
"As for the use of the brains and hearts... that's something we can only speculate on, so it's difficult to say."
"Hmm, I understand."
Max accepted without thinking too deeply.
Even if she knew, it didn't seem like information to be disclosed to a mere mercenary; he was just trying to gauge Meredith's reaction.
"The Association has various hypotheses regarding this matter. I can only say that the request is being continued in order to turn one of many hypotheses into certainty. I apologize."
"I understand. No need to apologize."
The conversation didn't break and continued steadily toward its end.
Meredith reconfirmed the recorded information and mentioned a bonus to Max.
"Lastly, I'll discuss the handling of the weapons."
"You mean the items we sent?"
"That's correct."
"I'm pretty clueless when it comes to swords, but according to Usagi, it was a rare masterwork blade. The firearm, though an outdated mechanism that goes against the times, is no ordinary thing either."
"However, these aren't items to be openly sold or put up for auction."
Max also knew.
The party whose deal had fallen through this time would be suspicious—or convinced—of which group had drained their forces.
Therefore, blatantly showing it off was a different matter.
'If we're talking about justification? It's likely a conflict between corporations. Behind the Association Head, there's probably a corporation or family that's at odds with Cheonmyeong Pharmaceutical, not just an individual.'
Displaying the firearm used by Steiger and the sword of the Blue Scale Family for sale, thus amplifying the noise, probably wasn't the picture desired by the client connected to the Association Head.
Insulting them and savoring victory would be sweet, but it would clearly make the path to the goal more difficult.
"So the Association Head-nim will pay the three of you a price and keep them as personal collectibles."
"As long as the price is right, I don't mind."
"First, we will waive the commission for this request's remuneration and pay an additional 70 million credits to each individual. Do you agree?"
A commission waiver, plus 70 million credits, and they'd already received medical expense support.
The bonus was far beyond Max's expectations. He didn't even feel like fighting for a bit more.
'Sounds good, right?'
No matter how well-made the Blue Scale Family's sword and the Steiger firearm were, the maker's name was unknown, and they weren't weapons known to the public, were they?
If a weapon that pursued only functionality for killing people has no distinctive features, it's only logical that its value paradoxically drops.
"I have no complaints."
"Thank you. Once we reach an agreement with the other two, we'll transfer the funds immediately."
"Ah! Is it also possible to receive items instead of credits?"
"It depends on the item. What do you need?"
"I need a drug or food that permanently increases mana capacity. If the cost is insufficient, I'm fine with using the entire request reward as well."
"I'll look into it."
The meeting with Meredith ended there.
'I can't leave the office empty for long. Should I head back soon.'
Max cleaned himself up in the hospital shower and changed into the casual clothes provided.
The special combat suit torn in battle was folded inside a paper bag. He planned to request repairs as soon as possible.
While going through the discharge procedures, a nurse handed him a medicine envelope and advised.
"Make sure to take your medicine on time, and refrain from strenuous movement for at least a week. Also, be careful with your magic output."
"Thank you."
He had no intention of specifically seeking out Bibol to say goodbye.
Just like Usagi, who had already been discharged, if they survived and continued working requests, they'd meet again.
Stepping outside the hospital, he looked up.
Through the holographic advertisements spread across the sky, he could feel the clear weather.
'Nice weather.'
To celebrate his discharge, he popped the last candy from his inner pocket into his mouth.
Plum flavor. It felt like he hadn't had one in a while.
"Hehehehm~"
As he moved, he checked his smartphone, which had a backlog of messages.
There were messages from Flora asking when he was coming back, if he was okay, and if there were any problems, along with work logs Ellen had sent.
Max read Ellen's messages first.
He figured he'd reply to Flora at his leisure after finishing up work.
'Did any requests come in?'
If there were requests solvable with simple magic, he was willing to move starting today.
Heading toward District 27, where his office was, Max slowly read through the messages Ellen had accumulated.
During break time at Minerva Academy.
Ellen, who had been resting while listening to music, moved her hand at the vibration she felt from her pocket.
It was a message from Max.
[Candy Addict: You worked hard alone]
[Candy Addict: I'm done with work, heading to the office now]
Ellen's eyes darted around and landed on Flora, who was reading a book.
Looking at her expressionless face beneath her red hair, she had a hunch.
Ellen lowered her wireless headphones to her neck and went over to Flora.
Ignoring the stares around them, she asked bluntly.
"Did you get a message from oppa?"
"What's this all of a sudden?"
"What do you mean, 'what's this'? I'm asking if you got any contact, you girl."
Flora subtly pulled out her smartphone and checked.
Then she gave an answer Ellen would welcome.
"Not yet."
"Ahaha! What do I do? I got one."
"...?"
Flora, who had been avoiding eye contact and looking downward, finally lifted her head.
Meeting Flora's questioning gaze, Ellen felt a pleasure far beyond her expectations.
'Wow, can I count this as one win?'
Somehow, it felt more thrilling than winning an exam.
Ellen blatantly showed Flora her message history with Max.
"Look. He says he's heading to the office now."
After reading the message, Flora frowned.
"What's your point in telling me this?"
"I'm just offering some goodwill so you wouldn't worry. I'm broad-minded, unlike some people."
"Just because you got a message first doesn't mean you have the upper hand... How childish."
"Whoa, taking it so huffily. Are you mad?"
As this conversation, where Ellen seemed to be taking the mount position, continued—
Flora's smartphone vibrated.
Checking the message, Flora broke into a smile.
Her wolf ears, which had been drooping forward, perked up with life.
"So you only got two lines with a business-like tone, huh?"
Her seething irritation and anger evaporated, replaced by a voice laced with laughter.
Flora fidgeted with the sunglasses she had received from Max, showing her composure.
"Oppa is the kind of person who gives off a gentle impression just from text. Not that a mere part-timer like you would understand."
"Huh?"
This time, it was Ellen's face that scrunched up.
Forgetting that people around them were whispering and staring.
Flora showed Ellen the message she had just received.