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Genius Warlock-Episode 494

494. burnt city (3)

Albert, the second heir to the United Kingdom's throne, was, to put it in a word, a boy..

It was neither good nor bad. He was literally a boy. A boy in his early to mid teens. Of course, his clothes, hygiene, hair, and skin were better than the boys of his age that Oliver had seen, but that was just it..

Oliver heard that he helped protect the city with the governor when the great fire broke out, but he didn't seem to go that far..

‘No. You can't just judge someone based on their appearance or their usual emotional state..’

Oliver scolded himself for being foolish. I don't particularly have a great eye, but it's very wrong to judge it so carelessly..

The newspaper said that he had come on behalf of his brother to conclude the shareholders' meeting of Prometheus, accompanied by pro-royal figures, so there must have been something there..

“dave.”

Someone spoke to Oliver, who was lost in thought. It was Philip who guided us here..

Oliver came to his senses and saw him, and he offered to greet him with his eyes..

After coming to his senses, Oliver took his stance as Philip instructed and bowed politely to the prince..

“hello? Prince.”

“Nice to meet you.”

The boy in his early to mid-teens answered as stiffly as the clothes he was wearing. It wasn't a feeling of arrogance or anything like that. Rather, the boy was nervous. I wonder if I might make a mistake.

“I'm sorry for calling you suddenly.”

A third voice naturally intervened. It was the voice of an old gentleman who stood like a shadow behind the prince's back..

“She is the royal secretary. nice to meet you.”

The old gentleman greeted politely but lightly, and Oliver did the same..

“I apologize again for calling you here without prior notice. Please understand that this is because the chaos in the city has not subsided..”

“I'm fine.”

“The reason I called you is because I heard that you helped save this city. To give thanks and an appropriate reward..”

An old gentleman who introduced himself as a secretary gave a signal, and another employee who was standing like a piece of furniture politely handed out a bankbook and a card of some sort on a silver tray..

It was my first bank..

“······land bank?”

Oliver read along without realizing it..

“It is a bank headquartered in the capital. I put a small amount of compensation into the bank account there. And that is a certificate of right to use Rand Bank's secret safe..”

The old gentleman pointed to the card on top of the bankbook..

“What is a secret safe??”

“With a few exceptions, this is a safe that no one but the owner can open. Protecting both confidentiality and safety. This is a service provided by Land Bank for a small number of customers..”

What the secretary said was true, and judging from his emotional state, it seemed like a very valuable reward..

Well, safe safes are rarer than I thought..

Oliver greeted..

“thank you······. However, I wonder if I can take this..”

The prince and the old gentleman tilted their heads. It seems like an unexpected answer. In particular, the old gentleman was suspicious of what Oliver had in mind..

Oliver was a problem solver who was sensitive to compensation. However, there was no ulterior motive..

“This mission was simply requested by Lieutenant General Philip... I learned that it is not good to receive such excessive compensation from people who are not clients..”

I meant it. He was comfortable with having a lot of money, and he liked the safe because he thought he would use it later, but it was true that excessive compensation was also uncomfortable in many ways..

Just as the old gentleman was trying to persuade him, the prince waved his hand..

“Nope. I heard from Sir Philip that you were seriously injured while defending the city. It's a fair reward, so don't refuse it..”

The prince awkwardly imitated the way an adult spoke. His heart was sincere. Unlike the old gentleman, he had no ulterior motive whatsoever..

“Thank you for your words.”

“Call me prince.”

“······Prince.”

Oliver followed Philip's advice and belatedly added a title..

Since this was my first time meeting a prince, I didn't know how to treat him, but I thought I could just do it the way I did now..

The prince looked at Oliver and opened his mouth..

“······Is your arm okay??”

The prince asked, looking at Oliver's right arm, which was not only covered in bandages but even splinted..

“I heard he was hit by a fire from his finger..”

“ah······. I got burned, but I'm okay. Prince.”

Oliver lied. To be honest, the burns on my right arm weren't in a very good condition..

The devil's flames burned even the subcutaneous tissue and turned Oliver's arms into firewood, causing constant pain..

The pain could not be alleviated even with painkillers or potions. Of course, treatment was impossible, so Oliver had to suffer from burning pain 24 hours a day, regardless of whether he was sleeping or eating..

I could say it was quite painful. It caused problems with my behavior and physical strength, and I couldn't even sleep easily..

The only good thing was that the burning pain relieved the terrible hunger I got as a human meat cook to some extent. Forgetting pain as pain.

However, Oliver did not bother to say this..

The boy in front of me was literally just a boy, and it had nothing to do with his injuries..

Still, the prince glanced at Oliver's arm as if he felt some sense of responsibility..

In the heavy air. Philip opened his mouth..

“Still, the hair has become much nicer. Prince.”

“Are you talking about the head??”

The prince asked back as if he didn't understand and looked at Oliver's head. Oliver's hair is slightly bleached on the right side and has a mixture of black and a little white..

Oliver also saw Philip. I don't understand why this hair is so cool.

“Wizards belonging to traditional schools usually have hair like this. You could say it's a more wizard-like head..”

What Philip said was not a lie. So I had a question.

“Lieutenant General Philip. I've never seen anyone with hair like this in the Magic Tower.?”

“Didn’t you say it was a traditional school? The magic tower is a new style. Magic Tower doesn't have that kind of old-fashioned haircut..”

Philip whispered lowly but so that everyone could hear. By the way, these words were also sincere, and Oliver looked at Philip like he was looking at Merlin..

“Phew······!”

The prince burst out laughing at Oliver and Philip's joke..

Everyone's eyes turned to him, and the prince blushed in embarrassment and cleared his throat..

“Big, big... Excuse me.”

“I'm glad you enjoyed it.”

Oliver said to the prince: It would be nice if someone laughed because it was funny..

The prince looked at Oliver who said those words with strange eyes, and then came to his senses after hearing his secretary's whisper..

“Anyway, accept it..”

At the prince's advice, Oliver packed his bankbook and cards into his arms. Just when I thought this was the end, the prince opened his mouth again. Now it was time to get to the point..

“If you don't mind, may I suggest something??”

“A suggestion?”

“That's right. I don't know if you heard from Sir Philip, but the royal family is preparing a huge project right now..”

“I haven't heard anything from Lieutenant General Philip..”

“Well then, let me explain. Now the royal family is trying to establish a new magical institution in collaboration with the traditional school..”

“yes?”

Oliver asked back. I've never heard of such a story, let alone in the newspapers or on the radio, or even from Magic Tower or Forest..

“It's a story that's going on in secret. Well, it won't be soon.”

Sincerity.

“Our royal family and central council are no less powerful than the Magic Tower... No, we are aiming for an organization that goes beyond that. So we are recruiting as many talented people as possible. Do you have any thoughts??”

Oliver didn't know how to respond to the unexpected proposal. From the beginning, I had no idea what to say as this was my first time hearing this story..

The prince persuaded. He shined with a desire to prove his abilities..

“To put it simply, I want to invite you because I appreciate your abilities. I did my own research on you. I'm currently working as a regular employee at Magic Tower.?”

“yes.”

“I will give you the best position, salary, and authority. Are you willing to work for the kingdom? I will not be involved in the business being carried out at Landa..”

In other words, the freedom that Oliver currently enjoys is not affected as much as possible, while compensation is provided as much as possible. Oliver didn't know much about these issues, but thanks to the years he lived in Landa, he could see how unconventional the conditions were..

Oliver answered honestly..

“sorry. Prince. I'm not a good enough wizard to meet that requirement..”

The prince beamed with slight displeasure..

“I also heard about the paper you wrote. Masters from other schools also said it was an amazing paper..”

“ah······.”

Oliver exclaimed. A thesis on creating a new body by reorganizing cells centered on the nucleus, based on blood magic and the school of life..

I was a little embarrassed when the story of the thesis that I had written and never worked on came up again due to my busy schedule..

“I just got lucky.”

“teacher. I hate lies.”

said the prince. However, Oliver was also sincere. Aside from the blood magic, the other pillars of the paper, medical knowledge and knowledge of the School of Life, were not accumulated by Oliver himself, but were obtained for free through Theodore's memories, so it could only be said to be pure luck..

“It's true. Prince.”

Oliver said with sincerity. Fortunately, it worked this time and the prince didn't argue anymore..

Even so, he was dissatisfied with the fact that he had not been persuaded, but Oliver continued to speak to the prince..

“And for personal reasons, I have no choice but to decline that offer. Prince.”

“······Why??”

“This is because I am currently satisfied with my position in the Magic Tower. Also, if it is a project being prepared by the royal family, it must be quite important, but I place more importance on my personal circumstances, so I am not a person who will work as diligently as you would expect..”

Great self-objectification. Although these words were considerate in their own way, the secretary, the prince, and even Philip opened their mouths in surprise..

Did I make a mistake??

“sorry. Prince. This is the first time this friend has met the royal family... I hope you understand with great generosity..”

“it's okay. Sir Philip... I'm embarrassed, but I know there's no malice. just······. I'm just sincere..”

The prince understood Oliver's feelings. Oliver nodded his head in satisfaction, and Philip said a word..

“Don't nod your head.”

“yes.”

The prince opened his mouth with regret..

“It's unfortunate that I was rejected, but it can't be helped. Thank you once again for your hard work for this city and its citizens..”

“It was just my job. Prince. Still, thank you for your words······.”

Oliver paused, his tail trailing off. The prince noticed..

“······Why do you do that?”

“hmm······. I'm not sure, but if you need my help, please contact me through Magic Tower or an intermediary. I will help you if I can..”

“is it?”

“yes. I'm curious too. It is an institution prepared by the royal family..”

Oliver answered as usual, focusing on his own interests. The prince, Philip, and the old gentleman looked at Oliver in surprise. Like, “Is there such a thing?”.

***

“her!”

As soon as he parted ways with the prince and came out of the room, Philip made a sound that was either a sigh or a laugh..

“Even if you have never met a member of the royal family... You're surprising me.”

“ah······. sorry.”

“No, it's not like I'm sorry... But later, I'll ask the Archivist to teach me royal etiquette..”

“royal etiquette?”

“okay. The prince might really call you?”

hmm······. Oliver nodded his head. He wasn't sure if he would ever meet the royal family, but he did tell them to call him when he needed to. He thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to learn and prepare from time to time. He had business with Merlin anyway..

“By the way, what are you planning to do now? You met the Paladin as you wanted, you met Kenny, and you gave me your time today as I requested... Ah, Paladin, was your meeting with Kenny satisfactory??”

Oliver thought for a moment..

Meeting Kenny was quite satisfactory. We confirmed that he really did the devil's ritual, and we also found out why he sacrificed his wife..

Ironically, he sold his family because he loved them so much..

It was contradictory and difficult to understand, but interesting..

However, my meeting with Paladin Joanna was not that satisfying. That's because we met at the Paladin branch in front of other Paladins..

‘······It's not like there wasn't much of a harvest..’

“Looking at the reaction, I guess something is refreshing.?”

“No, that's not it. It was useful enough. Thank you for your consideration..”

Oliver formally thanked Philip. As for the Pandora gun, Kenny and the Paladin. Philip was very helpful to Oliver here..

Even if you are a high-ranking person, it will not be a burden, so it was a bit questionable why they were providing such convenience..

“Because we were comrades who fought together, and we even gave each other drinks during breaks..”

Philip answered Oliver's question cheerfully. It wasn't everything, but it was sincere..

“Thank you again for your kindness.”

“Well then, would you like to eat together? I heard you have a great appetite, but I also have a great appetite. I'll feed you until your stomach explodes today..”

“ah······.”

“ah······. means I don't like it, why am I not hungry??”

“No, I'm sorry. I want to eat until my stomach explodes.”

It was real. I felt relatively less hungry because of the burning pain, but it wasn't that I wasn't hungry..

“I just have some plans tonight, so I don't think I'll be able to eat..”

“promise?”

“Yes, I'm planning to go back to Randa tomorrow..”

“swimming······. Did you know anyone in the New World??”

It was a natural question. Officially, except for Edith, Oliver didn't know anyone here, and Edith had already left long ago..

Prometheus stock, whose value had plummeted due to the great fire, was sold at three times its peak price. For your information, he said he would look for new investment sources..

Oliver answered Philip's question..

“Yes, I know someone.”

“Well, it can't be helped. We were going to have a drink together. This time I give in. You owe me.”

Philip willingly let Oliver go without any further questions, and Oliver thanked him again for his consideration and walked out of the hotel..

To meet Joanna.