Genius Warlock-Episode 157
After receiving permission from the security guard, the vehicle passed through the castle-like wall and entered..
Al drove expertly down the road to the parking lot..
It was as natural as flowing water with no squeaks, so it was cozy and not only did I get carsick..
“This is thanks to training right after the law was passed allowing red people to drive in Landa..”
said Forrest, who got out of the car with Al's help..
“Driving laws... ? Are you saying it didn't work before??”
“That’s right… .. Al, wait here..”
“Yes, I understand. Please come back safely..”
“Don't worry. You came here not because of gratitude, but because you wanted to talk about work. Don't wait outside, wait in the car.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Al bowed his head in respect..
Forrest walked with Oliver towards the heavily fortified Ministry of the Interior building..
“Originally, red people, black people, and Asian people were not legally allowed to drive..”
“why was it impossible?”
“The reason is complicated. Driving a car was judged to be more complicated than expected and too dangerous for this less developed and inferior race..”
Forrest responded, tapping his temple..
“Is it real??”
Oliver asked curiously..
Although their skin color was different, Oliver thought Al was smart..
The note he gave me contained detailed information about restaurant work, and included several jokes that seemed funny..
“At least that's what the opponents claim. There is a clear scientific reason.”
“Forest, do you think so too??”
“me? well.… . Although I am one of the stuffy Kingdom people and a snobbish Landa person, I don't really agree. It's easy to tell by looking at Al's driving skills..”
Oliver nodded his head in agreement..
I've taken many taxis, but Al's driving skills were top-notch..
“There are many other reasons as well. It could be that they don't like the idea of being driven by a race they consider inferior to their own, or it could also be to block competitors..”
“Competitor?”
“In Landa, you can make a decent living just by driving. Taxi drivers, truck drivers... .. Well, for them, it is a threat when the labor force that can be hired relatively cheaply can even drive. That's why the workers there are screaming that colored people should be prevented from driving..”
Oliver thought about Forrest's words. What can I say… . It was ironic.
In the past, truck drivers joined hands with labor unions to fight against crime firms to protect their right to survive..
Why do they persecute others? It was a small but refreshing shock..
“But why am I able to do this??”
“That's the good thing about Landa. This city places a high value on efficiency. It's not that there is absolutely no discrimination, but there is some flexibility in this kingdom. We passed it simply because we judged that this could increase utility for the entire city. It's not that there's no resistance, but it's been resolved as usual... … . This is why people like me like Landa.”
Forrest said with sincerity. She seemed to genuinely like Randa..
“Ah, you've arrived.”
After passing through a corridor that was so stiff that there was no sense of space, Forrest stopped in front of a door..
In front of an ordinary door that can be seen in any other building, there was only a name tag attached..
Forrest knocked on the door..
smart-
“..…Come on in.”
There was a knock on the door and a voice was heard from beyond the door..
Oliver and Forrest did as the voice told them to do and opened the door and went inside..
When I went inside, I saw a mountain of documents. On the desk, in the cart, etc..
At first glance, the writing on the paper the size of millet was so dense that it made me dizzy just by looking at it..
I could see indirectly how busy he was..
“Are you here??”
A man who was hidden under a pile of documents staggered to his feet..
It was a familiar face.
Before cleaning the contaminated area, soldiers armed with exoskeleton gloves appear and explain.,
Afterwards, he apprehended Oliver, who was returning home after breaking up with Puppet, and interrogated him for several reasons..
He pushed back his brown hair and took a sip of his lukewarm coffee. He looked very tired..
“Um, ha… … . Sorry for calling you busy people here..”
The somewhat overbearing attitude seen before was gone, and city official Paul Carver opened his mouth politely..
Forrest also politely answered this question..
“no. I fully understand that city officials are grateful beings who are always busy working for Landa's prosperity. Please talk comfortably..”
“I gratefully accept your consideration. Shall we sit down and talk for a moment??”
Paul Carver points to a clean table serving guests..
As Forrest nodded and sat down at the table, Carver used the wired communication device to contact someone..
“3 cups of coffee, please... .. Is there anyone who can't drink coffee??”
“no, there isn't.”
“I can drink too.”
Carver nodded and ordered coffee..
“Thank you again for coming here. Mr. Forrest and Mr. Dave... . It's not the first time you've met Mr. Forrest or even Mr. Dave..”
“Yes, you remembered..”
“Because it left a deep impression. I knew I wasn't an ordinary person, but I didn't know it would turn out like this in a short period of time. It's been about a year since you became a problem solver.?”
“I think that's about to be the case now..”
“That floor may not be ordinary, but it's amazing... .. Where did you learn that??”
Forrest intervened..
“Excuse me, Mr. Carver. If it's okay, can we start by talking about work? Because the restaurant was open.….”
Rather than being offended when the question was interrupted, Paul Carver slightly raised the corners of his mouth..
“You are right. Well then, let me tell you straight. Do you know what the situation is now??”
Forrest and Oliver nodded..
“The prison was attacked and destroyed by vicious rebels..”
“It's shamefully true. Willes… They said he was a talented person who even served as a professor at Magic Tower, but he was not ordinary. But disgrace is disgrace. Because of our incompetence, only innocent citizens are having trouble sleeping at night..”
Oliver slightly raised his eyebrows..
I meant that..
It was in contrast to the overbearing attitude shown during the cleaning of the contaminated area and the hostility shown towards the Holy Knights..
It was interesting. He truly cared about his citizens..
“I know. So our broker union is also cooperating..”
“For that, everyone in the city is grateful.."
“So I have a question. In the midst of such a busy schedule, is there something you would like to request from the city? Is there anything more important than catching an escapee from prison??”
“That is correct. There is nothing more urgent than putting out a fire in your home. But sometimes you have to do something else. Just like you have to go to work even if your house is on fire..”
“Is there a problem?”
“that-”
-Squeak.
Paul Carver paused at the sound of the door gently opening..
A female employee in her 20s brought coffee on a tray..
She smiled slightly and handed out coffee to Oliver, Forrest, and Carver..
“Please call me if you need anything.”
“thank you.”
“What is it?."
As the woman left, there was silence in Carver's office..
He took a small sip of his steaming coffee and said:.
“Don't drink it. It's pretty delicious. Since I have a lot of work to do, I bought some good coffee beans..”
I drank coffee as Forrest told me to do..
“….It's really delicious. Where did you get it? I almost want to use it for the restaurant I run..”
“Oh, by the way, Mr. Forrest runs a restaurant, right? In area T... .. Forest Restaurant?”
“Thank you for your understanding..”
“It was nothing… . So, how much do you think these coffee beans cost? At retail price. They say that great restaurant owners are able to meet the cost of their food right away. Do you know?”
It was a sudden question, but Forrest was not embarrassed and stroked his chin..
“well? Retail price is about 51,000 Rand per bag.?”
“Oh, that's pretty accurate. It's only 52,000.”
oh… .. Oliver was impressed. If there was a difference of 1,000 Randa, it was okay to just guess..
“But outside of Landa, it's 41,000 Landa..”
“There's quite a difference..”
Oliver, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke..
Everyone's eyes were on Oliver, and Oliver asked a question..
“Is there a reason??”
“….Yes, Landa is an autonomous city, so an additional tax is levied on goods coming into the city. Although it is called a city tariff, it is actually an autonomous tax levied on the autonomous region. So basically prices are 15 to 20 percent higher here..”
“Every year we wrestle with the central council over that issue..”
Forrest said as he drank his coffee..
It seemed like the United Kingdom was imposing a huge tax on Landa..
Oliver, I don't know what it's like to not pay taxes..
Forrest opened his mouth..
“But, does this have anything to do with work??”
“no. There is no direct relationship. However, it is indirectly related. Do you know where Willes, who issued this letter, is now??”
“no. I do not know.”
“It took us a while to figure out the situation, but we confirmed that it had escaped out of Landa..”
“Is that so? Well, that's a natural choice..”
“Yes, it's a natural choice. After this mess, it would be dangerous to remain in Landa. If there were actually any left, I was planning to release the city defense force to capture them..”
Oliver read Paul Carver's Wrath.
“But it's strange.”
“what do you mean?”
“It's funny to say this, but this is the first time something like this has happened. If you are openly hostile to poetry..”
'....??'
Oliver tilted his head, not knowing what he was talking about..
Fortunately, Paul Carver kindly explained it..
“Many fugitives hide in Randa. Sometimes Landa catches such people. But even then, there is an implicit agreement between them..”
“The city conducts an appropriate level of search, and the fugitives do not cause any harm to the city..”
“you're right. Mr. Forrest. That is very true. It doesn't make sense, but it's possible in Landa. This is because Landa must perform the function of a free city that embraces everyone within an appropriate limit, and the fugitives do not want to have to worry about the city in which they are hiding, no matter what. It's an old promise made by overlapping interests. ”
“It's strange to hear. Willes. Even though they were rebels, they also used Landa when necessary, so they did something like this... . Is saving your imprisoned comrade that important? To the point of burning down bushes where you can hide if you have to..”
Carver's eyes sparkled sharply and he clasped his hands..
“You understand quickly. There are many colleagues that Willes has saved, but there is one person he considers most important. he is-”
“-Is Hewitt the magic hacker??”
Oliver intervened without me knowing..
Carver and Forrest's attention was focused on Oliver again..
In particular, city official Paul Carver showed interest beyond simple surprise..
“yes, that's right.”
Carver took a coffee bag out of the drawer and placed it on the desk..
"And, he might be able to lower the price of the coffee..”
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