Genius Warlock-Episode 601
601. It's changing (2)
It's different when you're young and when you're old.
Forrest knew this better than anyone else..
Because I used to be a child, and now I'm enjoying being old..
Even if they were the same person, the differences between their younger self and their older self were so different that they could be considered different people..
When I was young, my joints were like steel, but now they are like tattered clothes. When I was young, I was hungry no matter how much I ate, but now I am full even after eating soup..
The same was true for dreams and fighting spirit. When I was young, I was always hopeful and felt like I could fight anything, but by this age, my greatest ambition was to secure my old age, and it was best to avoid unnecessary fights. Especially when the opponent was stronger than me..
But if you ask me what changed the most, it was the feeling of time..
When I was young, I thought everything was boring and slow and that times would no longer change, but as I got older, I realized that the world is constantly changing..
A colony that seemed like it would expand forever has become stagnant, and rumors about the health of the queen, who seemed like she would reign forever, are spreading. The world was changing slowly but surely.
And sometimes things change so quickly that it's hard to keep your senses..
Such was the sudden death of the Finger who had ruled for tens or hundreds of years, such was the crazy proposal that the Church of Pater would sponsor a warlock, and such was the transformation of Area X into a livable area..
Coincidentally, the content was all related to the man sitting in front of me..
“Did you have a good trip??”
High-rise office overlooking Area X. Forrest asked, looking at the man in front of him..
Area T, and now even more so, it was Dave, a solver representing the entire Landa, an employee of Magic Tower, and a co-representative of the Redevelopment Association..
“I was able to have a good trip thanks to your consideration..”
He nodded and answered politely, as usual. An attitude that is not new. However, Forrest sensed that Oliver had changed a lot in the short time he had been away..
It wasn't because my hair was dyed black, and it wasn't because I was wearing gloves on both hands. The atmosphere itself has changed.
The atmosphere has changed sometimes before, but this time it was on a different level. In the past it was temporary and the range of change was not large, but not this time..
As evidence, there was a strange look in Oliver's eyes. Lee Chae is obsessed with a goal..
Because of the nature of the job of a broker who faces the other person's inner desires, Forrest was able to see through them, so he was both excited and worried..
I can’t believe there was that kind of light in Dave’s eyes..
widely.
While Forrest was observing Oliver, he placed a long box next to him on the table..
“Something?”
“It's a travel gift. I heard that it's polite to buy something when you come back from a long distance..”
Forrest opened the box..
“alcohol?”
“Yes, it is moonshine made in Vienna City. They say it is made safely, so there are no health problems and the taste is guaranteed..”
“The word safe may not be suitable for moonshine, but it is gratefully received..”
“Don't you eat it??”
“Let's pick it for a special day. By no means am I anxious to drink because the alcohol is black..”
“If so, I'm glad. I met Al before coming. I heard that a lot of things happened in Randa..”
“I also received a call. A lot happened. But the biggest scoop is-”
-widely.
Forrest placed the newspaper he had prepared in advance on the table. It was none other than an article about the Archmage Archive recovering the Year of Oblivion that even the United Kingdom had abandoned..
[Archmage Archive! Defeat the sea monster and retrieve the year from oblivion.!!]
Underneath the fancy title was a picture of a sea monster torn into three pieces..
“Landa has a scoop every day, but the biggest scoop right now is Archive Merlin and his disciple Zenon Bright. Xenon Bright-”
“-This is the name I use at the Magic Tower..”
“That's right, your dual identity. Honestly, it’s hard to even call it a dual identity. Everyone knows it.”
What Forrest said was true. Zenon Bright was one of Oliver's dual identities that had already been revealed in Lake Village. However, whether due to political reasons or the inertia of time, it did not disappear and was maintained..
Thanks to this, the ridiculous dual identity that everyone knows about was born. It could be said that it was a dual identity that was perhaps more rare than a perfect dual identity..
“That wasn't the reaction I expected..”
“What reaction did you expect??”
“well? Ah, this is wrong. In fact, the old man did it all. By any chance, could you please issue a correction? I thought you would say the same thing.”
I made a perfect guess based on Oliver's past appearances..
Oliver said he would gain money and fame to obtain the Devil's Book, but paradoxically, he did not want excessive fame..
I didn't want an overwhelmingly high reputation, but I wanted a moderately high reputation that was just what I needed. Truly contradictory. Well, maybe that's the only contradiction. Anyway, Oliver answered..
“I thought about that, but I heard it beforehand. I think I've made up my mind.”
“Is that it??”
“There are also things that made me change my mind. I'd like to focus on business now..”
“suddenly?”
“yes.”
After hearing the answer, Forrest looked at Oliver. Although he should have been happy, he was rather worried. As the saying goes, if a person changes suddenly, he dies, but people do not change suddenly. In order to change, you need the appropriate motivation. Strong motivations such as death, secrets of birth, and revenge.
“what is the reason?”
“Hmm, I guess I have to work hard? Wasn't Miss Jane kidnapped not long ago?.”
“And came back safely.”
“Yes, lucky me. But you can't always be lucky. So I think I have to work hard. For me and the people around me. Don't you feel sad when something happens? Poverty, accidents, disasters, etc. To do that, you need more than just business..”
“That's right. Because the foundation of life must be solid to be safe..”
“I also have personal greed..”
“what kind of greed?”
“I want to become a person. A good person. Cant like you?”
It was a random thing, but for some reason Forrest wasn't particularly surprised..
“What does doing business have to do with being a good person??”
“Didn't Forrest and Paul Carver tell you that? Doing business means helping others. Because jobs will be created..”
Forrest couldn't deny it. He actually said something like that, and most upper class people had that thought in mind..
Pursuing personal gain means helping others. How ideal and realistic is this??
“I also think it makes sense. I think this method is more productive and sustainable than Cant’s method. So, I'm trying to start a business. Is it strange??”
It was strange. The thought itself wasn't strange, but it suddenly changed so much that it was strange..
It was true that Oliver liked cant in the past and was good at helping others, but what he does now is different from what he did in the past..
In the past, the act of helping others was an end in itself, but now it feels like a means..
It probably has something to do with the obsession in Oliver's eyes..
But Forrest couldn't bear to ask. This is an action that goes against Forest’s policy of always maintaining an appropriate distance from its business partners..
No, it was because I knew I wouldn't be able to get a proper answer if I asked before that. Those feelings were not something that could be revealed by asking. If you touch it clumsily, it will just hide deeper..
So Forrest shook his head. I mean, it's not strange..
“Is that so?”
“okay. I'm rather happy. I think you have become a real Landain. Well, with that in mind, let’s talk about business.?”
“By any chance, is it about a new class??”
“Oh, there's more to it than that..”
***
Forrest explained. What happened during the short and long period of time that Oliver vacated Landa, starting with the legacy of the human meat chef?.
First, let's start with a small thing: the non-affiliated gangs who were kicked out by the Crime Firm and Fighter Crew dispersed to small towns around Landa and formed a completely new gang..
‘It hurts more than I thought. They plunder supplies moving in and out of Landa, but what they can do is limited because Landa City cannot exercise power outside of Landa. It is too large for a private organization to handle..’
‘Is it that much??’
‘Yes, they were definitely a bunch of losers who couldn't survive in Landa, but they have now built up a pretty solid force. Of course, you can destroy one or two if you decide, but it's not worth it. War only causes losses, and checks can come from the central political world. Someone applied with the intention of harassing Landa..’
Oliver seemed to know someone. It was probably a puppet..
In the process of finding the kidnapped Eve, Lilith provided equipment to the Road Gang and the local Crime Firm branch. Behind Lilith there is a puppet.
‘I'm still connected to him.’
Forrest continued to explain. They are trying to establish a large magical institution like the Magic Tower under the leadership of the royal family..
It was said that even traditional schools were showing interest due to the size of the project, but Oliver was not surprised this time either. I heard that story from Prince Albert in the New World. He even received a scouting offer..
The explanation that followed was similar. The reorganization of Landa's administrative system through Eve and the Central Council of the United Kingdom coveting it. And so on and so forth. These were all stories I had already heard once in the past, so they weren't all that new. It was helpful because Forest explained it in more detail..
But the most interesting thing was the new class alliance New Gentleman..
The new class, commonly seen in Landa, referred to superhumans who had acquired wealth, the most representative of which were the wizard and the enjoyment druid Sheamus..
And it was said that New Gentleman was an organization created by such new class figures to promote friendship and protect each other's interests..
Oh, by the way, wizard. To be exact, the magicians belonging to the Magic Tower did not belong here..
The new class belonging to the New Gentlemen were the same type of superhumans as Sheamus, to put it vulgarly, they were from the streets..
Those who started out as troubleshooters and now run their own businesses. Thanks to this, the business belonging to New Gentleman was diverse, ranging from shaded areas to sunny areas or something in between..
From simple trade, real estate, agriculture, lending, gambling, newspapers, radio channels, entertainment, mercenaries, prostitution, drugs, and even pseudo-religion..
However, they said that was not the reason Landa City was keeping an eye on them..
‘Landa city council members just don't care about that. I think crime can help revitalize the economy to some extent. I don't care as long as I pay my taxes well. The problem is that it is stuck with the central council..’
‘Is there any basis??’
‘It's strange that they came together.’
Forrest said it is not strange that a new class has emerged, but it is strange that they are coming together..
The reason is none other than the characteristics of superhumans, and it is said that those who are imbued with excessive power in the human spirit do not work well together..
Most of them have strong bodies and have experienced great success in a short period of time, so their self-consciousness is so exaggerated that when similar people gather together, they tend to growl rather than build friendships..
Am I good, are you good?.
The problem is that when superhumans growl at each other, it doesn't end with them growling..
‘But suddenly they came together. Threats are emerging around Landa, and Landa and the Central Council are starting a game of guessing with each other over Eve. Why at this time?’
Forest then mentioned those who suddenly grew rapidly and entered the new class, and explained that New Gentlemen was founded around them..
‘Why is the name New Gentleman??’
‘I guess they want to become the new gentry class. Is it some kind of vanity?.’
It is said that New Gentlemen is currently taking the form of a cross between a friendship and an interest group, stealing business from new classes that refuse to belong to the union, and also fighting for rank within itself..
Naturally, such behavior was viewed with anxiety not only by the common people but also by the city and existing capitalists, and it was said that Knuckle Group was brought in after consultation..
‘A subsidy is a subsidy, but I was also curious about what kind of people we were. Also, you can have a say..’
‘Did you accept it??’
‘At that time, Joe defeated a superhuman from New Gentleman who was competing with Crime Firm. I accepted it as some sort of validation. There may be different intentions, but.’
‘Did you find out anything??’
‘Not right now. So there is nothing for you to do right now. Probably, you've come back and are watching the situation over there..’
‘thank god. Well then, I'll take care of my business in the meantime.,’
‘What to do?’
‘I want to talk.’
‘with who?’
‘With everyone.’
After recalling the conversation he had with Forrest, Oliver returned to reality and saw Celine, a member of the Chooser, in front of him..
A member of the Chosen People whom I first met when I returned to Weinham. Oliver greeted the girl..
“Long time no see. Celine. How have you been??”
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