“Dave. He’s a District T solver, and he came to this field about 5 months ago.”
“Only five months?” asked Edith Rock, who sat on the damp bed.
He was only wearing his panties, and it was just moments after he had sexual intercourse in his bed.
“Yes, it usually takes six months to see what kind of Solver one will be, and it’s a bit early for him to predict.”
“I know that. The as*holes will be left behind, and only those who can deliver results will survive.”
"Yeah, in that sense, Dave is a solver that stands out in District T….No, he could be said as a Solver that stands out in Landa as a whole.”
"Ho.…. Really?"
Edith Rock was interested.
Landa was a huge city and thanks to that everything was bigger than in other cities, and each district divided by the alphabet was also the same.
It was no exaggeration to say that each district was a small city, and if someone was said to stand out among the Solvers in all of those districts, he could be compared to a talent that would one day represent a country.
It was pretty good, especially in this tough era – an era where even talented people from various fields are rushing into the back alleys.
Of course, the bald man who was talking now may be exaggerating, but that was unlikely.
Duncan was once a Pink Man and has worked with Edith Rock for the past 20 years, his skills and loyalty had been proven decades ago.
“Did you not find out his last name?"
"No, I couldn’t. He's just called Dave, and it's probably one hundred percent a fake name. Most warlocks operate under a fake name. Unless they're overly suspicious, the brokers won't even investigate."
"Hmm……."
Edith Rock put on a troubled face for a moment.
As a person who lived on numerous gambling grounds, Edith Rock felt uneasy when it came to people with an unclear identity.
It could either be a big hit or a big loss and in this game loss meant death.
That was why he always tried to clear the unclear variables. However, there are times when it doesn't really matter, especially when the gamble is strong like the one he was going to proceed with this time.
“How about his credibility as a solver?”
"Based on his work history so far, he’s pretty good. The prostitutes did bring in a real talent."
"Every day, I shove a bundle of money in those puss*es. Of course, they have to do that… Brief me in detail."
As soon as the command was given, Duncan pulled out a small socket from his pocket.
The small metal tool had a processed mana stone attached to it.
FLICK!
As Duncan flicked his finger, numerous images got projected above the device.
"The chimera of the Mattel Lab, the kidnapping of a former Assistant professor of the Magic Tower, the security of a Magic wine production facility, the cleaning of the contaminated zone, and the clearing of the truck robbery are all the jobs he had done so far."
“Opponents.”
FLICK!
"First, it was the Chimera of the Mattel Lab, it hadn't been caught by anyone for two weeks, and Dave caught it in less than half a day. And what's even more interesting is that the Chimera had a panic attack as soon as it saw Dave."
“Is that great?”
"Yeah, the military-made Chimera has increased intelligence and wariness. That's why some from the Mattel lab are keeping an eye on this guy."
Edith Rock shrugged his shoulders.
It was already a public fact that wizards were conducting biological experiments, and it was also known to everyone that they were constantly monitoring and abducting striking specimens.
It was no longer a new or great story.
"I need a guard dog, not a lab rat."
"I'm sorry… In the case of the Assistant professor, he fought and won against three fighter crew members alone."
“The Fighter Crew? He should be able to do at least that much.”
"That's right. And even then, something interesting was discovered. He could use different types of black magic.”
“Types, is it something like firearms?”
"Yes, during the fight with the Fighter Crew, he seemed to be good at using firearms and disease type, but I'm not sure, but he also seems to be a Warlock who could create his own unique black magic, the creation type. Warlocks like this are rare."
Edith Rock agreed silently, he was someone who rose to the top after roaming the streets, so he was not ignorant of the trivial information about the Warlocks.
He knew that there are four main categories of Warlocks – the firearms type, disease type, manipulation type, and creation type.
Most of the time, considering efficiency, Warlocks usually nurture the one field that suits them and uses the rest as an assistant. In that sense, it meant that Dave has tremendous talent.
After all, that was enough to build a decent career in a short period of time.
Duncan reported again. The content became more and more interesting.
“In addition, it was said that he subdued four Magic Tower students who attacked the Kimbell family’s Magic wine production facility during the construction stage.”
"Wizards? Oh, the thing that was trending these days?"
"Yes, that's right."
"The world is so small… And did you say he suppressed them?"
"Yes. After looking into it, it seemed that they weren't some fearless students, they were honor students with fairly high grades in the Tower, and it was said that he subdued them by himself."
Now it was more than interesting.
Even though it was a student, the level would be completely different from most street wizards.
In fact, among the battle images that were projected from the socket, there were scenes of huge lightning falling from the sky, scenes of numerous magic bullets flying, and dynamic scenes of one warehouse being destroyed by an explosion.
The perfect image to show the level of the magic of a Wizard, and he defeated four such wizards by himself.
“Are you sure?”
"Yes, the fight with the Fighter Crew was obtained through the rats that live there, but cross-checked and found to be authentic, and about the wizards, it was obtained after formally commissioning it to the net navigator of the PinkMan office."
Edith Rock had no choice but to accept the fact. If it was information from the net navigator of the PinkMan office, which has high-level personnel with expertise, he had no choice but to believe.
“Still, we did an additional investigation on our own just in case, and… a few days after the incident, it was confirmed that Magic Tower and the Crime Firm had entered into a secret agreement. It fits the situation very well.”
“Hmm… … .” Edith Rock slowly started to think seriously.
When he first met him, he thought he was just a nerd or an as*hole with an unusual personality, and it seemed like the money he spent on Elizabeth and Coco wasn’t a waste after all.
Well, depending on how this case was handled, they too will get a decent amount of profit, so they probably wouldn't have taken it lightly.
If his illegitimate daughter gets a fortune, they too will be able to take a share.
‘After all, money is everything in the world. It's a bittersweet beginning and an end… ..'
“Sir.”
"Huh? What? Do you have more to report?"
Edith Rock asked sincerely.
He heard that he had defeated four wizards, so he believed there wouldn’t be any information that would surpass that.
However, surprisingly, that was a huge mistake.
"Yes. There are rumors that he survived after fighting Puppet."
“!!!…Puppet? Is this the Puppet I know? Not the Puppet from children's fairy tales."
"Yes, Sir. There was a cleaning in the contaminated zone a while ago, and there was news that a lot of the Solvers died. Rumors say there's Puppet in the background."
Edith Rock's expression hardened. He’d never met him, but he’d heard of the existence called Puppet.
It was literally a legend.
A finger (executive) of the black hand that was more dangerous than the Crime Firm, a great master who raised many warlocks, and a giant behind the scenes who founded numerous criminal organizations.
According to the rumors, it was said that he had the power to destroy a country and has a history of killing even great wizards.
Of course, some said that they were all false rumors, and in reality, he was just a demon-worshiper, but information about him was always treated as top-secret.
Surviving against such a puppet, Edith Rock couldn't help but be interested.
He thought it would be a waste to throw such a talent away like a piece of tissue paper that would be thrown once its work was over.
“…Where did you hear that nonsense?”
“It’s through an acquaintance who works for the city’s Department of the interior. This is the line that I prepared when I was promoted as Pink Man. It's not certain, but the Paladins have also visited, so the chances aren't zero."
Paladins. Hearing that, it was even more certain. They were the first to move when demons and Blackhand associates appeared.
"But I don't understand. How did a young warlock in his early twenties survive after fighting Puppet?"
“It seems like he said Puppet left him, but I'm not sure because no one has seen it. Some are speculating that he may have been a disciple of Puppet or entered as a disciple… . In fact, it was confirmed that he was using Corpse dolls during his recent truck robbery job.”
Duncan flicked his finger and a new image got projected.
It was midnight, so the image was not clear, but four corpse dolls with bizarre shapes killing the robbers could be seen. Each one had a terrible appearance, especially the last one was a spectacle.
“What is that? Are they eating?”
“Yes, they are eating Life-force and emotions. I've dealt with Corpse dolls a few times before, but this is the first time I've seen one like this. Do you see the squeaky man here?”
"Yeah, I see. He's miserable."
"He's a well-known warlock from Northland. He specializes in robbery and looting, recently, he killed the landlord of a village, massacred the residents, looted the village, and then went into hiding."
“He doesn't look like someone who could do that, does he?”
Edith Rock said looking at the man who was helplessly beaten by the Corpse dolls.
Well, that was natural.
Solvers, gangsters, warlocks, street wizards, etc. They are idiots who claim to be the last warriors of this era to survive the violence in the city, but from a capitalist point of view, they are just some back alley thugs who make a living using violence. They are like the ants that do what they are told and live on the crumbs thrown.
Of course, there were some that sparkled among them, but most of them don't live up to their reputation. In that sense, it could be said that the end of the warlock in the image fits perfectly.
“I think it must be true that he has something to do with Puppet, is the city not making a move?”
“For now, no. I think, since the power of wizards is getting stronger these days, I guess they want to use him as a card later.”
"Hmm… .. that’s possible."
Edith understood the meaning behind Duncan’s words.
After the catastrophe, the wizards and capitalists joined forces to rebuild the city, and the city was currently fighting for supremacy.
Wizards and non-Wizards who had already acquired capital were fighting an invisible battle, and they did not reach the level of violence, but it could be at one point.
Therefore, the city and the city's capitalist association secured their own force in case of any contingency.
Like Crime Firm, PinkMan office, or Brokers guild.
"Anyway, you don't know what's going on behind the scenes."
“Yes, maybe he really is Puppet’s disciple.”
"Hmm… .. Hire him.”
Duncan didn't panic. However, he asked again to confirm.
"Is it okay?"
“Of course, is there anyone in this field who is 100% safe in the first place? Above all, work itself is more like gambling. So, you have to make a bold choice.”
That was the end of it. Duncan grabbed the socket and made a final check.
“Okay, Sir. Then, I will hire five of these warlocks, Druid Scott from Enjoyment cult, Magic Gun Witch Nina, Magic Fighter Russell, and Godri, a veteran solver.”
"That's right."
“Can we not hire more?”
“Even if we try to hire, there are no more talents. The rest either lack skills, or lack credibility, or both….. The same is the case with all personnel introduced through irregular lines. It's good to keep it this way, so there's no problem."
"All right..…. Sir.”
"Anything else?"
“There is one thing I would like to ask you, Sir.”
“…that’s rare. Were you the kind of person who asked questions?”
"No, Sir. For the past twenty years ago, from the time you saved me from my debt, I never asked a question. Because Master's actions were always clear."
“Is it not clear now?”
“…To be honest, yes. Why do you suddenly want to divide your fortune in half?”
Edith Rock leaned back on the bed. He was curious too. There were more than ten illegitimate children, so why that bi*ch? Was it because she was pretty? Or was it because if it was her his fu*king wife and children would be pissed off the most?
“It’s just that… I'm going to die soon, and I don't need a reason to just have a little fun with my money, right?"
It was a clear answer, and hearing that Duncan bowed his head.
“Yes. I understand, Master.”
“Okay, I’m leaving soon to collect my taxes, so hurry up and get ready.”
“Yes, I understand. Then, I will take my leave.”
"Oh yeah, on the way tell them to send a girl."
Saying that, Edith Rock drank a special drink that was a mixture of illegal stamina and vitality supplements purchased at the black market.
The door slammed shut, and after walking down the hallway for a while, a man approached Duncan.
"Team Leader, are we going with the original plan?”
“Yeah, I’m going to accept Madame’s proposal.”
(To be Continued)
