The City's Strongest Fixer (Side Story 1)
Gebura closed the book and spoke in a low voice.
"Hey."
In the Library's characteristic hush, Roland leaned back against the sofa and casually raised a hand.
"Who's the strongest?"
Roland answered with a smile at once.
"Obviously the person sitting right in front of me."
"Don't give me that crap."
Gebura frowned.
"I mean in the City right now. Who's the strongest Fixer?"
"Hmm..."
Roland propped his chin in his hand and looked up at the ceiling.
"Unlike the old days, there's no real consensus on this one... Some say the Fixer of the Great Lake. Others say Hagen, Ungeom, Zeke, Ganryu, Athos, the Jade Qilin, or maybe the new Black... Plus bastards like Rinaldo — there are just too many heavy hitters in the mix. I haven't even met most of them in person, and a lot of it is nothing but rumor."
He gave a wry little laugh.
"And yet people still get into bar fights over this topic, you know? Throw in other organizations and the Wings and it never ends."
Gebura snorted.
"Well, it was the same in my day. I just ended up getting overhyped somehow."
"Is that so?"
Roland smiled faintly.
"From what I saw this time, it didn't seem like exaggeration at all."
Gebura clicked her tongue.
"Then let me ask it differently. In your opinion, who's the most dangerous one?"
"My vote goes to the Fixer called the Blue Mad Dragon."
"Blue... so they received a Color?"
"Almost did. Honestly, it was practically locked in. A friend at the Hana Association said the moniker was already confirmed as that, and the review was nearly finished. Of course, after that incident they completely fell apart and dropped off the map... but until then they were a pretty cheerful, good friend..."
"A real pity of a friend... It was their own fault, sure, but it showed exactly how thoroughly a Wing can destroy a Fixer Office. Of course, that Wing nearly went under because of it too. Showing the Wings what happens when one of their Singularities goes berserk made our work a little easier, at least."
"By the way — I didn't think you cared about rankings like this. Surprising."
"...I've just started looking at the City from farther away than before. So I got curious, that's all."