Novels online

Genius Warlock-Episode 188

Oliver took a taxi and arrived at Area X..

Until yesterday, he had been living in a mansion on a rocky mountain, but Merlin unilaterally kicked Oliver out because he was busy preparing to enter the magic tower..

I was a little sad to leave the mansion with the library, but I wasn't discouraged..

I basically read all the books I needed, and I picked up a few books on the way out..

Although it wasn't my intention, I decided to think as positively as possible and organize the backlog of work as Dave. It was important to maintain balance in life..

"Who is this? You'd be better off working out diligently but then losing contact.?”

A voice that is rough, exaggerated, but pleasant rather than unpleasant..

When I turned my head in the direction where I heard the sound, I saw Gym Leader Dinklage standing among several giants, small but with an attitude bigger than anyone else..

he asked, approaching Oliver..

"Are you back to exercising again??”

Dinklage approaches, drinking his special health supplement drink..

I don't know if it was the supplementary drink, but his muscles were even more developed..

It doesn't feel bigger, but it feels more solid. In fact, his vitality increased more than before..

"hello? Director. You seem to be healthy..”

"I feel like I'm just getting healthier?!”

Dinklage said, showing off his muscles that looked like they were about to burst out of his skin. He seemed very proud of his muscles.

"I have become even stronger, this explosive presence is proof of that... . I ask again. Did you come to exercise??”

In order to coordinate his schedule regarding the Magic Tower, Oliver focused on fixer requests for a few days, and as a result, he was unable to come to gyms that he judged to be of relatively low value..

Dinklage was very angry, asking if the movement was a joke, but what can't be helped can't be helped..

When I told him about the situation and that I would continue to pay my dues, he eventually understood..

‘Well, work comes first! cancer!!’

In fact, he said that he would wait until Oliver came back to the gym, but it didn't seem like he was lying..

The feeling of great joy upon seeing Oliver is proof of this..

But unfortunately, Oliver had to disappoint his expectations again..

"Yes, I came to exercise today. But I think it will be difficult to come to the gym regularly in the future..”

"Oh, damn it. why? I heard that the troubleshooter's job is going down the drain, but the more it happens, the more I need to take care of my body..”

"That is correct. However, I have personal reasons.”

"Personal circumstances? ..… Well, does it matter??”

Dinklage immediately shed his rude attitude and asked cautiously:.

This was the characteristic of this person.

He showed off his muscles, shouted all the time, and acted like a gangster more than anyone else in this place full of gangsters, but he was considerate of others and knew how to listen when necessary..

In fact, quite a few members, including Joe, talked to him and asked him for advice when they needed help..

Maybe it's natural. He was a businessman who supplied fighters to illegal fighting games in Area X..

"Yes, I can't tell you the details, but it's important to me..”

"Well, then there’s nothing I can do about it… ..but there is no discount. It's the members' fault that the number of appearances has decreased..”

"I know. So, I would like to give you a few months' worth of membership fees in advance..”

Oliver took out a thin bundle of money from his pocket. It was only the thickness of a fingernail, but considering that the bill was a large amount, it was by no means a small amount of money..

Especially in area.

When Dinklage received the clean bundle of banknotes, he smelled them ecstatically and suddenly said:.

“….Did I say I love you??”

"uh.… . no.”

"Remember from now on. i love you.”

Dinklage said and put the money in his pocket..

"Now, shall we calculate the days when we can't come out and exercise hard? First, George from the back..”

Oliver nodded and took off his shirt so he could exercise..

There was no heating or cold weather equipment in the gym, so I felt the cold, but I didn't care..

“..…By the way, director. Can I ask where Joe is? It's usually here, but I can't see it..”

Oliver asked, looking around..

"article? I didn’t come out because there was a game today. Martial arts match... . why? Are you interested??”

Dinklage asked with a grin..

***

When we finished exercising, the sky became dark..

Oliver wiped himself with a wet towel after exercising.

It was a bit difficult to move due to muscle pain as it was right after the workout, but instead of resting, Oliver changed his clothes and got ready to go out..

"Are you ready??”

asked Dinklage, wearing a long coat lined with fur..

He was short and wore a long coat, so the rest of it dragged on the floor like a cape, but with his confident attitude and muscles, it looked like a fashion statement..

"yes. I'm ready."

"Even though I rolled it around quite a bit, it held up well. After all, people who are successful have a good reason..”

"Thank you for the compliment.”

"These are not empty words. I don't know how to talk nonsense... . I'm going out. You guys clean up after yourself..”

Dinklage shouted at the gym staff and walked inside Area X with Oliver..

"So, do you know anything about the martial arts matches here??”

"I only know what I heard from Joe. It's the least profitable business in Area X..”

Dinklage says ha! under! laughed.

"That's not wrong. That's right, it's a profitable business in this damn town. Of course, illegal fighting in this city is not that big of a deal..”

That was true. Just on the outskirts of District J, there were several small-scale illegal fighting arenas, and the same was true in other districts..

"However, in terms of size, Area X is the largest..”

Confidence, not bravado. Oliver asked why.

"reason? Nothing special. Because it's the most fun. No matter how crazy this city may seem, there are at least some lines. In other areas that are controlled to some extent by the police, even illegal martial arts cannot cross a certain line..”

"..…Does that mean it's not Area X??”

"It's quicker to see it in person. Well here we go.”

After passing the street sign that said ‘Center of District X’, I saw an intersection with huge buildings..

It was very underdeveloped, and what was worse, some parts were in a half-built state..

I remembered an anecdote I heard from Double Pistol Sam in the past..

During the development of the district, the city council member's corruption was revealed and he was removed from office. Afterwards, a series of terrorist attacks and accidents occurred, causing development to naturally stop and the situation in District..….

I heard that they originally tried to create a decent industrial district, but when I saw the large building erected in the center of the district, it didn't seem like a lie..

However, more than half of the buildings were halted during construction, creating an eerie atmosphere..

"The game takes place here. Come this way.”

Dinklage suddenly fell into an alley..

I entered a narrow but clean, seemingly well-maintained back alley and soon came face to face with an iron cage. Inside the cage, there was something that looked like a back door..

Dinklage searched around the corner of the wall and pressed the buzzer..

Couple - a small beeping sound.

A bald fat man came out the back door..

"What kind of guy! … … Mr. Dinklage?”

The fat man, who was frowning grimly, immediately relaxed his expression. No, he even greeted me politely..

"What are you doing here??”

"Why would you come to a martial arts match? I came to watch the fight.”

"No, then you have to come through the front door. Why are you coming through the employee-only aisle??”

"It's so crowded that my coat keeps getting stepped on..”

said Dinklage, shaking his coat. I definitely felt like I would get stepped on and get in the way of walking in crowded places..

"Oh..… . Still, you can't come this way..”

The fat man was embarrassed and grumbled, but he walked over and opened the iron cage door..

Dinklage comforted him..

"sorry. sorry. I wasn't originally planning on coming, but suddenly a customer came and wanted to take a look..”

Dinklage pointed his thumb at Oliver behind his back..

The fat man narrowed his eyes at Oliver and then spoke again to Dinklage..

"Anyway, just this once. No matter how many players you bring, you can't abuse the staff channel like this..”

"okay. okay. I'll work out for you later when I come to the gym, so stop.."

"I hate exercise.”

The fat man led Dinklage through the back door..

Perhaps it was the employee waiting room, but quite a few gangsters were waiting there..

Not only did they have trench clubs and axes, common in the back alleys, but they also had guns, which were relatively rare in poor District X..

Proof that a lot of attention is paid to security.

Dinklage greeted them calmly and took Oliver outside..

As I went outside, I saw a hallway with quite a few people walking around, and I could hear cheers mixed with shouting from somewhere..

"Can you hear this thrilling shout? This is the martial arts business that makes the most money in Area X. Several communities around here are operating together, so keep this in mind as it is common sense..”

"Community.?”

It was an unusual word, so Oliver asked. I thought it was run by a gang, but it's a community..

"hmm… . Have you seen the police on the way??”

"no.”

"It has to be that way. This town is half abandoned by the city. So the poor who couldn't escape here felt the need to protect themselves. From thieves, robbers and murderers... ... So the neighbors living nearby got together. We call it community.”

"ah..…."

"Now it's like half a gang. Everyone who lives in area X belongs directly or indirectly to the community..”

hmm… … . It was definitely an understandable story..

If you live in a neighborhood without security, you will have no choice but to arm yourself..

While we were talking, we passed through the hallway, took the stairs, and arrived at a space..

About a hundred people were looking at the stadium, talking loudly..

On the pitch, a muscular man with a tattered mask covering his entire face and a big bearded man were fighting each other..

However, instead of just fighting, he had something wrapped around his hands..

"With chains... . glue?”

Oliver nodded and muttered..

"To be exact, they put glue on their fist and then put broken glass pieces on it. This is why Area X is more popular than other martial arts matches. People bet more money when they see blood..”

In fact, a lot of money was being exchanged at the gambling table on one side of the stadium..

Not only that, some people were broadcasting the game somewhere using the black magic item 'Watcher's Eye'..

"We have partnered with some gangs to share the game content outside of Area X. It's quite profitable.”

"Then why do you live here??”

Dinklage asked back an unexpected question..

"huh? what?”

"It's that community. With that much money, I think you can set up a place outside of Zone X..”

Oliver asked, really curious. I understand why people live in area.

But the moment I saw that money, the story changed. With that much money, you could get out of Area X and live a different life..

It was a situation that contrasted with everyone's inevitable life here..

"Alas, there are many mouths to share. Even if it seems like a lot of money, it doesn't amount to much if you split it up..”

"But there will be people who benefit greatly, and aren't there people who have amassed considerable wealth??”

Oliver asked, based on his experience in the back alleys. When a business is successful, there are people who make a lot of money..

Dinklage could not refute, thought for a moment, and then answered seriously..

"Because I have accumulated enough money and assets that I no longer need to leave here. It's an ironic case.”

"I don't really understand?”

"As I saw on my way here, the guys who run this stadium put their own spin on this neighborhood. Since I have money and power, there is no longer any reason to leave. Ask the opposite. At best, I can stretch my shoulders here, but what can I do in the future if I leave? Factory worker? general store owner?”

Oliver couldn't think of anything to say in reply..

“That's how people live. Life will be more difficult if you leave here, so why bother leaving? Isn’t that why you continue to work as a troubleshooter??"

“Me?”

"okay. If you had made your name known as a troubleshooter, you would have made a lot of money, but do you continue to engage in the risky work of a troubleshooter? It is difficult for people to change their original way of living. Especially when you eat well and live well with it..”

like..… . It was quite an interesting story..

It seemed like the right thing to say.

Of course, that wasn't the only reason Oliver worked as a troubleshooter...….

'.....No. Can you say for sure? Is there any reason to insist on this method??’

Oliver doubted himself and fell into his own head. At that time, I bumped into someone in the crowded crowd..

"this! sorry.”

The man who seemed to have bumped into him dropped his ticket and apologized, and Oliver also apologized and bent down to pick up the ticket..

In the process, the person who bumped into Oliver was able to see each other's faces and made dumb noises at the same time..

“uh?”

He was the chubby man who was the warlock of the gray market who created Big Mouth..