Novels online

Genius Warlock-Episode 519

519. owner of a ruined land (2)

widely! widely!

Bartholomew, senior member of the anti-development committee.

He stood in front of the great, dirty river Shem that runs through Landa and pounded his quarterstaff..

With a small sound, there were subtle ripples in the huge river, and something was caught below the river. something very huge.

Surprisingly, it was a mutation. A mutation that is said to occur mainly around the Randa River, which has severe environmental pollution..

It was quite large; it felt like it was 4 to 5 meters tall, and its appearance was like a water dragon mixed with a human..

The most distorted axis among mutations.

But Oliver was more concerned about the fact that this mutant had a similar vibe to the members of the anti-development committee..

A contradictory feeling that is both foreign and yet somehow familiar and difficult to explain. Well, it could have been obvious. That's probably why he appeared when Bartholomew called..

Bartholomew very naturally climbed on top of the giant water monitor-mutant..

His back was as wide and flat as wet pavement, so even though he couldn't sit down, he didn't feel like he was going to slip..

“Would you please get on??”

At Bartholomew's polite request, Oliver, who had been observing the water dragon-mutant, suddenly came to his senses and climbed on top of it..

As it appears, the back scales of the water dragon-mutant were hard and flat, so it had no difficulty in balancing..

As soon as Oliver got on board, Bartholomew ordered the water dragon-mutant to move, and the mutant, which seemed to swallow a human, calmly swam across the brown river and carried the passengers on its back to the other side of the river..

“I was wondering how you came across the river, and you came this way..”

said Oliver, checking the width of the mighty Shem River..

A boat was essential for movement, but it seemed unlikely that the anti-development committee would have a boat. It's not important, but a minor question has been resolved..

Bartholomew asked back..

“Are you excited??”

“Honestly, a little... I didn't know there was anyone who could survive in this brown river..”

It was indeed a valid opinion. The Shem River is a liquid dump where all kinds of sewage and wastewater from the megacity of Landa gather together. The fish have long since disappeared, and people who unluckily fall into the river every year often lose their lives..

In short, the river of death.

But, no matter how mutant he is, he is still alive and can even swim? It was very interesting.

Oliver was curious. Is this a characteristic of this mutation, or is there another reason?.

“I'll answer you if you want..”

Bartholomew suggested, and Oliver pondered and shook his head..

The important thing in questions and answers is the core. This wasn't important right now..

While they were talking, the giant water lizard-mutant swam faster than a boat and soon arrived at the riverside in Y area across the street..

Soggy dirt floors, piles of scattered garbage, and huts that were no bigger than the piles of garbage. Area Y looked exactly the same as when Oliver last saw it..

Bartholomew landed lightly on top of the mutant, followed by Oliver..

Just as Bartholomew was about to give directions, Oliver asked for his understanding and turned to stop the mutant who was about to return to the river..

“teacher.”

Not knowing the mutant's name, Oliver very politely called him teacher..

Perhaps because it was an unexpected name, the water lizard-mutant turned his head in surprise, and Bartholomew also looked at him without saying a word..

“thanks for the ride.”

Oliver thanked the mutant for carrying him on his back. Because this was the minimum courtesy.

However, the mutant blinked, looking like a cross between a human and a lizard, lowered his head awkwardly, and quickly went down the river..

It seemed like he didn't know how to react, as he was showing emotions such as shyness, embarrassment, and joy..

After saying hello, Oliver turned and looked at Bartholomew..

“Thank you for waiting. Bartholomew. Now let's go again.”

***

“There is no change around the river, but the inside has changed a lot..”

Oliver, who passed by Area Y following Bartholomew's guidance, said:.

Area Y, along with area Z, is a demon cave where even Landa City has officially given up its rule.).

As evidence, there were still city council members in the half-built District X, but there were not even city council members in Districts Y and Z. It's like officially acknowledging that it's out of the city's reach..

Thanks to this, the scenery in Area Y was so different that it was hard to believe it was Land..

Area Y is much more underdeveloped and barbaric than Area had.

Oliver, who had visited two or three times on missions and personal matters, also saw the sight with his own eyes..

However, the scenery of Area Y that I saw again today was small. It had changed quite a bit..

Although it still maintained its unique brutality and violence, traces of rapidly accumulating wealth were visible, such as gangs with gold teeth and necklaces, illegal clubs, and expensive luxury vehicles..

“I heard that business has been good recently..”

“Do you know anything?”

“It's happening around us······.”

“Ah, that makes sense... Well then, do you know who is doing so well in business thanks to this??”

Oliver asked naturally, as if he had been waiting..

In fact, this level of wealth accumulation in District Y was somewhat expected..

'Cause I've already seen the signs.

A representative example is the road gang encountered during the mission to persuade Eve, and among the weapons they possessed were quite a few weapons believed to have been made in Area Y..

For example, harpoon guns, wastewater launchers, harpoon cannons, bomb spears, knuckle guns, and flamethrowers..

For reference, Forrest said that similar armed forces were observed not only in the road gang but also in non-affiliated gangs that were pushed out of Landa..

‘Various magical engineering weapons and black magic items······.’

That's why Oliver asked. To find out who is purchasing and distributing magical engineering weapons, black magic items, and private weapons in Area Y that have no connection at all..

I was curious about its identity and purpose. The reason for this was because there was nothing else to see other than threatening Landa. Well, maybe not, but······.

Bartholomew opened his mouth..

“Sorry, I don't know who that is.”

“Oh, is that right??”

Oliver was disappointed, but at the same time reacted as if he had expected it..

That's because he subconsciously judged that it wouldn't be easy to find out the identity of the person supplying three products from completely different routes at the same time..

Nevertheless, I asked just in case..

If Bartholomew knew who it was, it would be lucky, and even if he didn't know, there would be no loss..

At that time, Bartholomew said something unexpected..

“I can find out if you want..”

“yes? ah······. thank you but it's okay.”

When Oliver, who had asked first, offered to look into it, he reluctantly declined. Bartholomew pointed out that point..

“Aren't you curious??”

“what······. I'm curious, but I don't really want to bother you..”

“It's not difficult or particularly annoying. Give me some money and I'll find it for you..”

When Oliver refused for vague reasons, Bartholomew naturally spoke without the slightest hesitation..

When Oliver was asked about this earlier, he also naturally asked, but that was just a line he had prepared in advance. What Bartholomew said now was a different case..

It was not something prepared in advance, it was just a habitual remark. A truly natural reaction that is ingrained in the body..

Although Oliver was not an expert in these matters, he had some knowledge of Landa's upper class, including Forrest, Edith, Jane, Merlin, and the Minister of the Interior..

No, honestly, it was more than that. It was much more natural than them. A leisurely remark about solving problems with money.

Of course, Oliver may have been overthinking things. Still, I figured it out just in case..

“Bartholomew, do you have a lot of money??”

Stand tall.

Bartholomew suddenly stopped at the entrance to Area Z. On the outside, it was similar to Area Y, but the unique air and atmosphere were more gloomy and unsettling..

And even though I've been to the entrance to Zone Z before, this seemed like the first time I'd been inside..

“sorry. I didn't mean to be arrogant..”

Bartholomew apologized. Oliver answered.

“No, I didn't mean to ask that way, I just asked out of genuine curiosity. I knew that the members of the anti-development committee were strong, but I didn't know they were wealthy. Wow, now that I say it, it seems like a very discriminatory statement. sorry.”

“it's okay. It is true that our appearance is far from wealth... However, he is quite wealthy. It's not that important to us anymore.”

“yes?”

Oliver asked back. In Landa, there is only one common language and values ​​that transcend social status: money..

There are differences in reasons and degrees, but everyone prioritizes money..

For businessmen and capitalists, money itself is the goal, the wizards of the Magic Tower wanted money for stable research, and even Cant, who led a gang of beggars from the past and currently runs a welfare organization for atonement, was not free from money..

You had to have money to operate or do anything..

No, it was ridiculous to even say this in the first place..

Wanting money was as natural as breathing. Likewise, Oliver also loved money. Isn’t it convenient in many ways to have it??

But, Bartholomew really wasn't interested in money..

Oliver became curious and asked a question..

“How rich are you??”

“I think it will be just as rich as the archive..”

It is more than the wealth of archives accumulated over a thousand years... As if to prove his words, Bartholomew held the quarter staff long and tapped on the entrance to the shabby building built in Zone Z..

The worn-out wooden door cracked as soon as it touched Bartholomew's quarter staff, which looked like a lump of flesh, and collapsed, spitting out gold and silver treasures filled with dust..

It wasn't a joke. It was literally a treasure of gold and silver..

Gold and silver treasures that you only see in fairy tales. Based on a yellow gold coin, a dagger scabbard made of ivory, a ruby ​​the size of a fist, a crown, exotic jewels, and even a necklace with an emerald the size of a thumb. Somewhat unrealistic gold and silver treasures poured out like a joke..

There was only one thing Oliver could say at the unrealistic sight that left his mouth agape..

“······That's amazing. Sincerely.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Is the building full of gold and silver treasures??”

Oliver asked, pointing to the gold and silver treasures that continued to pour out..

“yes.”

“hmm······. By any chance, did you prepare in advance knowing that I would ask this question??”

After speaking, Oliver thought he was being foolish..

Unless you were looking into the future, there was no way that was possible. Even if I could see the future, there was no reason to prepare like this..

There's no benefit to it other than scaring Oliver.?

So I corrected the question.

“Can you ask why the treasure was put in the building??”

“As I said before, wealth is no longer important to us... Also, there is no place to store it..”

To Oliver's ears, it sounded like there was an incomparably vast treasure hidden inside. What's in front of you here is a penny that you don't mind losing.

As I said before, it was great, but on the other hand, I had other thoughts..

“By any chance, does this have anything to do with the question I asked? ······The owner of the destroyed land..”

Bartholomew nodded..

“Yes, that's right, because it's our property..”

“······Guys, what on earth is this??”

“These are the foolish royals and nobles who caused the great disaster in Landa..”