Genius Warlock-Episode 368
368. wine ham (1)
“many······. It's changed.”
After saying goodbye to Forrest, Oliver took a train to the vicinity of Weinham, caught a taxi at the train station, and came to Weinham..
A driver with a thick beard responded to Oliver's mutterings while looking around Weinham Street..
Interestingly, although he looked dirtier than Randa's taxi driver, he didn't drink alcohol..
“Have you ever been to Weinham??”
Oliver answered politely..
“Yes, I stayed at Weinham for a while..”
“Hoo······. is it so? When is it?”
The taxi driver was curious and asked in more detail..
However, Oliver didn't find it particularly suspicious..
There was no ulterior motive or malice in his feelings, and it was because he knew that most taxi drivers enjoy talking to customers..
I could understand it well.
For those who have to drive in the car all day, chatting with customers is the only joy they can get..
Knowing that, Oliver also responded politely. Of course, with a fair amount of circumspection..
“hmm······. I don't know exactly. However, it was when I was young..”
“haha! That's right... Has much changed??”
“yes. A lot has changed, both objectively and subjectively..”
Indeed, it was so. When he first followed Joseph, Oliver was quite surprised at the size of Weinham..
At the time, Oliver's world consisted of orphanages and mines, so a city like Weinham was a shock in itself..
Its overwhelming scale and the passionate and countless emotions within it.······.
However, now that I have returned after a few years, a lot has changed..
Joseph had said that Weinham was a town neither too big nor too small, but perhaps because of the years he had spent in Landa, it had become much smaller than what Oliver remembered..
With a little extra effort, the whole of Weinham looked as bad as a single section of Landa..
‘But my emotional state is much better.’
Weinham is clearly a city in decline, so when I first saw it, I felt irritation, anger, resentment, despair, and helplessness. I was filled with all kinds of negative emotions, but now my condition has noticeably improved..
‘And to match that feeling, the city has its own vitality..’
thought Oliver as he looked out the backseat window at the city..
The Weinham Oliver remembered was mostly old, empty buildings, and empty of people on the streets, but not now..
Although it was nothing compared to Landa, there were more people and liveliness compared to what Oliver remembered..
This is the vitality that can only come when stable jobs, housing, and public security are secured..
By all appearances, Weinham's life was better than before..
“Thanks to the pharmacist.”
“Pharmacist teacher?”
“Yeah, if you lived in this neighborhood you would know?”
“ah······. By any chance, are you talking about Domhnall Mason??”
“under! I see you lived in this neighborhood! Sorry for doubting you. you're right. Doctor Donal Pharmacist!”
Domhnall Mason. Also known as pharmacist. Including Joseph, Dominic, and Anthony. He was the city's most important and back alley tycoon who dealt with a total of three black magic families..
I had dealings with Oliver until he left here..
The taxi driver was happy as soon as he heard the pharmacist's name..
Not just outwardly, but sincerely. He had pretty good feelings for the pharmacist..
“ah······! It's quite funny to meet someone who knows him like this. By any chance, did the customer also receive help from the pharmacist??”
Oliver thought for a moment and nodded. It was true that I received help.
After hearing the answer, the taxi driver laughed cheerfully again..
“haha! also! There's not a person in this city who didn't get help from him.!”
“Is that so?”
“Absolutely! Are you not aware of this even though you received help??!”
The taxi driver must have been so surprised that he turned around and looked at Oliver even though he was driving..
Oliver looked around again..
“sorry. Because it was when I was young. hmm······. If you don't mind, could you talk about it??”
“Oh, I guess that's possible. Well then, I should tell you my story.!”
“thank you And I'm sorry, but could you please look ahead? I'm scared.”
“Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so happy.”
The taxi driver quickly turned his head and apologized. The pharmacist then began to explain how many donations and favors he had given to Weinham..
“In fact, it is safe to say that the reason Wineham has survived so far without going bankrupt is thanks to the pharmacist teacher... No! Strictly speaking, it started with his father..”
“Father?”
“Yes, yes, pharmacist father. He was also a local figure, and he was a blessing to this city. He also paid my grandfather's hospital bills..”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yes that's right. In addition, he sent chicken dishes to poor families every holiday and donated money and jobs. He was a great person. Of course, the pharmacist teacher who was more than a father is also great..”
“More than my father?”
“yes. More than your father! ······I heard that the business you recently invested in was a huge hit and you made a lot of money, and you invested and donated a lot of that income here..”
“If recently, when specifically??”
“well······. About 4 or 5 years? I don't know the details, but I heard they imported the medicine from overseas and sold it. But the important thing is that he donated money to this city. He purchased a large number of buildings, rebuilt them, rented them out cheaply, borrowed money from banks, built factories, and established transportation and taxi companies to hire people. High wages, no commissions or anything like that.!”
The taxi driver shouted excitedly. His emotions glowed with joy and respect.
“······The driver seems to like the pharmacist a lot..”
“You like it? No, it's about respect! These days, most people who make a little money go to Landa, but instead of that, he sacrifices himself for his hometown where he was born and raised. Can you see the street over there??”
Oliver followed the taxi driver's finger and cast his gaze..
There were buildings along the street, and shops were open on the first floor of the buildings..
“Thanks to the factories, workers came to this city, and as workers gathered, stores opened one by one. FYI, one of those four stores had a pharmacist who lent her money. He saved this city, my hometown! So how can you not respect it??!”
“hmm······. That seems correct. You really are a great person. Pharmacist teacher. So, what is he doing now??”
At that moment, the taxi driver, who had been talking nonstop until now, closed his mouth, expressing emotions such as anxiety, dissatisfaction, discomfort, and fear..
After a while, he opened his mouth with difficulty..
“Big, that's... a little······.”
Taxi driver feeling extremely anxious and uncomfortable.
Oliver instinctively knew something had happened to the pharmacist..
And furthermore, I felt that it was related to Marie and the Holy Knight..
To be honest, I wanted to ask more questions and find out more, but Oliver didn't bother to do so..
I had already heard enough from the taxi driver's explanation, and through his emotions, I was able to get a glimpse of what Marie had done to this city..
‘The pharmacist must have donated a lot, but a lot of it must have been through Marie's hands. Most of the pharmacist's enormous profits were probably earned through Marie.······.’
Oliver guessed. It was a reasonable inference, since Marie would need the help of a pharmacist to grow her business..
While Oliver was lost in thought, the embarrassed taxi driver opened his mouth in a passive voice..
“thing······. But why did you come here? Judging by the sophisticated attire, I think it's from Randa.?”
Oliver responded politely, placing one hand on his chest to thank the taxi driver for his hard work in explaining things..
“Thank you for the compliment. It's none other than pro-······. hmm······. I came to meet an acquaintance.”
“Are you an acquaintance??”
“yes. I feel like something happened... Oh, please stop the car here..”
Oliver said, checking the scenery outside. It was a familiar street, the street where the Joseph family was based..
The second hideout where Oliver took charge of the Joseph Family for a while and was moved to it due to an attack by Paladin Joanna..
Oliver took out his wallet, added a little more tip to the original amount, and politely handed it to the driver..
The driver who accepted the bill said.
“There are a lot?”
“Here's a tip. I learned that it's manners... Also, the driver’s talk was interesting and useful. So please accept it.”
The taxi driver thought about Oliver's polite attitude and then opened his mouth..
“You are a kind person... To be honest, I thought there were only rich and unlucky people in Landa..”
“Since there are a lot of people, I think there might be someone like that..”
The taxi driver was impressed by his polite attitude until the end and cautiously opened his mouth..
“ha······. This way for a moment.”
“······?”
Oliver looked puzzled but put his head closer..
the taxi driver whispered.
“that····. I'm not sure who you're here to meet, but please be careful how you act in this city..”
“hmm······. Can I ask why??”
“There are some guys right now who are like that paladin or something..”
Oliver pretended to hear it for the first time. Because I thought that would give me more information. The prediction was exactly right.
“Those noblemen say there is a dangerous pseudo-religion in this city, and they are wandering around here and there. Our mayor and police are doing nothing..”
“Oh, is that right??”
“That's right. As times change, people are not beaten or tortured on the streets, but if they show suspicious behavior, they are dragged away without a word. Not only men, but women and children as well... At a bar I frequent, I heard that there are still people who haven't been released. Customers, please be careful. Those humans don't seem to discriminate between people..”
The taxi driver's words were sincere, and along with them, the anxiety and fear shone through..
He had the courage to give Oliver some advice..
Although his power and status were greatly diminished, he was said to have considerable authority over devil worship and warlocks, so it seems that this was not a lie..
“By any chance, is the pharmacist also involved in that??”
“well······. I'm not sure. However, since the paladins came, he has been confined to his house. He is a very sincere and kind person... So everyone is very worried about that. I'm afraid the pharmacist may suffer some harm..”
“Oh, I see. Thank you for your words. I guess that pseudo-religion is very evil.?”
Oliver asked a question as he passed by. Contrary to his words, Oliver focused his attention on his eyes, examining the taxi driver's emotional state..
“I am······. I'm not sure about that. I'm not interested.”
lie. Oliver responded after checking the taxi driver's emotional state..
“Yes, I understand. Thank you again for your kind explanation. Have a good day.”
***
‘It's the same as the information Edith gave you..’
thought Oliver, looking at his former residence from a distance..
At one time, the large factory where Oliver stayed and the remnants of the Joseph family, Dominic, and Anthony families stayed, was lonely and closed..
The doors and windows were boarded up and sealed, and a cross shaped like a sword was erected on top of the building..
Like a flag planted in occupied territory..
‘Is it like a symbol of defeating a cult??’
Oliver found it ironic..
According to Oliver's guess, Marie must have had a part in the city's prosperity again, but in reality, the Paterism, which did not provide any help, took over the place..
It felt sad and not quite right.
‘Now that I think about it, I’m curious. Why did they suddenly try to subdue the chosen people of the Pater Church??’
Oliver suddenly had a question. According to the report Edith handed over, it was said to be part of internal politics to ensure that a specific person gets credit, but I was curious as to why it was here..
It is true that the chosen people extracted the emotions of believers to create and sell black magic items, but it still did not exceed this level..
I wondered why I was here.
When I came and saw it in person, I realized that there were facts that Edith had not yet investigated..
‘Well, you'll figure it out when you do it..’
As Oliver checked the condition with his own eyes and was about to leave, an angry voice was heard from somewhere..
“Catch me, kid! That kid!”
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