Chapter 402: An Unexpected Meeting

Professor Alain from Loculi University mentioned that the Flesh Cook’s organization is building up resentment.

“It’s not that strange of a story.”

Kevin, who was having dinner in his hotel room after visiting Loculi University, said this while eating his ordered Beef Bourguignon.

“Why do you think that? Loculi University might have lied just to get support from the Tower of Magic quickly. Victory propaganda is common in war.”

Terence Lore, sitting across from Kevin, asked a question mixed with doubt. He was eating a beef steak known as Côte du Bœuf.

“That’s possible. Despite joining forces with the police, the university hasn’t achieved any significant results, so maybe they’re nervous and just said something like that.”

“It’s shocking. The Lake Village incident wasn’t that long ago, but even so, a fair amount of time has passed. Yet they’ve only managed to poke at a few dozen of the lower organizations. Those bats… ah.”

Terence glanced at Oliver sitting next to him and corrected his words.

“Hmm… That woman named Unner might be right. The Flesh Cook is cunning. Despite turning Loculi University and the police station into enemies, they’ve managed to limit the damage to just the underlings. Impressive.”

Terence was sincere. Though its glory had faded compared to the past, Loculi University was still an organization that stood shoulder to shoulder with the Tower of Magic.

The fact that such an organization, even with the police’s help, could only catch small fry was a sign that the Flesh Cook is handling this well.

“Or maybe, the university and the police force are more foolish than we thought. That might make more sense.”

“You can’t just view it that way; there are also Gallo’s political and social issues to consider.”

Yareli cautiously offered her opinion in response to Terence’s sarcasm.

Sitting next to Kevin and Terence, she was eating her ordered lobster dish, Lobster Thermidor.

“Politics? Society?”

“Yes, Major Terence. As you know, Gallos is still a chaotic place, politically and socially. The current regime might fear the opposition groups trying to overthrow the system more than they fear the dark mages, which could explain their passive actions. If they commit too many troops to this issue, they might think they’re endangering themselves… I’m not defending them; I just thought it was a fact worth considering.”

Yareli quickly added, hoping to avoid any misunderstandings, and Terence and Kevin trusted her without questioning.

They believed in Yareli’s intelligence and her attitude towards work.

“But even so, nothing changes. Loculi University hasn’t achieved any noteworthy results. And now word is that there might be internal conflict within the Flesh Cook’s ranks… I honestly can’t believe it. Do you have any evidence?”

“Yes.”

Kevin responded without a moment’s hesitation to Terence’s question.

“First of all, war is exhausting.”

“…”

“The few dozen lower organizations targeted by the Flesh Cook aren’t particularly significant accomplishments, as you said. The Flesh Cook can probably handle that.”

“That’s likely.”

“But what about those beneath them? I’m talking about the Flesh Cook’s disciples and subordinates. The lower organizations are managed by them.”

“Didn’t they say the Flesh Cook directly manages the organization with high control?”

“Even so, there are limits. Do you think they can personally manage every part of a massive organization that controls half of Gallos’s underworld?”

It was a valid point. No matter how centralized an organization is, the leader can’t manage everything, given the scale. To run the organization properly, certain responsibilities had to be delegated to subordinates.

“And the ones entrusted might think of it as their own property, like a feudal domain. That’s the nature of the underworld… Don’t you think?”

Kevin turned his head towards Oliver and asked. Oliver, who was sitting across from Yareli, was eating a mushroom pie.

“I don’t know much about how the Black Hand operates, but if it’s anything like other dark mages, I’d say that’s likely.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Most of them became dark mages for that very reason. To improve their lives, for their own desires.”

Kevin nodded as if that was the correct answer and looked at Terence.

“More importantly, the reason behind all this… If I’m guessing right, it’s because of the Flesh Cook’s younger sister, Gretel. It’s because of her solo actions.”

That was quite possible. It was Gretel who infiltrated Loculi University and acted alone in Lake Village.

The Flesh Cook and his subordinates were nowhere to be seen. It was highly likely that her actions were not coordinated with them.

“No one likes being caught up in unexpected chaos caused by someone acting on their own. Especially when it’s the chief’s reckless younger sister.”

“That sounds plausible, but there’s no solid proof, right? Just because there’s resentment doesn’t mean they’ll immediately start a rebellion.”

That too was valid. Rebellions require significant energy, especially when the target is a monster who has lived for centuries.

That’s why, despite seeing Alain’s sincerity, Oliver found it hard to believe.

That one of the Flesh Cook’s subordinates really asked if the war would stop if the Flesh Cook died.

“There’s a second piece of evidence.”

“What is it?”

“A significant part of what the university said is apparently true.”

Terence and Yareli’s eyes sparkled as they looked at Oliver, a dark mage known for seeing through emotions.

Oliver answered.

“From what I saw, they were sincere.”

Terence and Yareli didn’t doubt Oliver’s words. They had already seen more than enough of his abilities.

“Of course, even so, I can’t guarantee it’s 100% true. They might believe something that’s actually incorrect.”

Kevin mentioned the inherent limitations of a dark mage’s sight. A dark mage’s eyes read emotions, not absolute truth.

“It’s starting to get confusing… So what’s the point?”

“Nothing major. We inform the Tower of Magic about this, and then you and I genuinely help Loculi University. We do our best.”

Kevin pointed at Terence and himself.

“If it’s true, the Tower of Magic won’t have to take the risk of creating a separate front.”

“Well, alright. Strategies can change in the field. If things resolve that way, I won’t have any complaints… Then, what about these two?”

Terence pointed towards Yareli and Oliver.

“Wasn’t the original plan to have Yareli help us gather information?”

“Find an excuse to get them out and have them investigate Gallos as per the original plan… Loculi University won’t mind the details.”

“Hmm… It’s not a bad idea, but are you sure it’ll be okay?”

Terence agreed with Kevin’s opinion and looked at Yareli. She nodded confidently, showing her usual sense of responsibility.

“Yes, I can do it.”

Clap! Terence clapped his hands.

“Alright then… And you’re fine with this?”

Terence asked Oliver if he could assist Yareli properly. Oliver nodded.

“Yes, I’m fine, and I actually prefer it.”

“I don’t know why it makes me uneasy when you say you’re fine?”

“Be happy; it’s proof you’re normal.”

For once, Kevin cheerfully agreed with Terence’s joke.

Now that roles were somewhat divided, they resumed eating, and eventually, night fully arrived. Everyone then went to their rooms to sleep.

***

The next morning, Kevin, Terence, Yareli, and Oliver all began moving according to the plan they discussed the previous evening.

Despite the early hour, Kevin and Terence left the hotel and headed to Loculi University, while Yareli and Oliver left the hotel two hours later.

It wasn’t because they were lazy.

They just wanted to avoid being rude by showing up too early, so they matched their timing with others.

To prove this, Yareli spent the two hours making a list of places to visit, and Oliver reviewed the Gallosan language, studied Ravely’s complex geography using maps, and skimmed through Gallos’s history books.

Surprisingly, it was quite fun.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Xenon.”

Yareli commented as they took a break inside a restaurant.

They had entered to have a late lunch, but her voice revealed her exhaustion.

Well, after leaving the hotel at 9 AM and wandering around, meeting various people, and talking continuously until now, which was 2 PM…

And all those people had such strong opinions that just listening to them exhausted Yareli, not that she showed it.

‘Yareli’s not exactly fond of interacting with people… She’s good at it, though.’

Despite her personal tendencies, Oliver admired Yareli for her dedication to fulfilling her duties.

“You seem really tired. Is there anything I can help you with? If you need any assistance, please let me know.”

Hearing Oliver’s offer, Yareli showed a brief emotion of self-reproach, as if she had made a mistake.

“…I made a mistake. Could you pretend you didn’t hear that?”

Clearly defensive about having revealed her feelings, Yareli responded that way.

Oliver simply complied, not wanting to press if she didn’t want to talk about it. Instead, he changed the subject.

“Yes, understood… Anyway, I’m enjoying this. Honestly, I wanted to take a look around Gallos like I did last time.”

By last time, he was referring to their return to Randa after visiting the Arc Orphanage, a memory Yareli also recalled.

“Ah, I remember. Though it wasn’t a sightseeing trip, we left right away.”

“Yes, of course, we’re not here for sightseeing this time either, but I still enjoy being able to look around Gallos while working. This city and its people have a different charm compared to Randa… How should I put it, they seem full of passion. Everyone here.”

Oliver recalled the people he observed while touring Ravely, the capital of Gallos, with Yareli.

From the young man giving speeches in the back alleys to the upper class that Yareli met in the city. Regardless of status, they all had strong convictions.

“Most Gallosans are passionate, particularly when it comes to politics and what they believe is right. Because of that, so much has happened in the last 100 years.”

Oliver didn’t ask what she meant by the last 100 years and merely nodded.

Because before leaving the hotel, he had read a book that gave him a rough idea of what happened.

‘After liberalism took root, they beheaded the king and established a republic, but it didn’t last long before they started worshiping an emperor. That emperor was eventually overthrown, leading to the return of the old monarchy, and then another revolution…’

Oliver recalled what he had read in the book. Though it wasn’t a field he was particularly familiar with, it was amazing that Gallos as a nation had managed to survive.

“And yet the people still seem full of vigor.”

Yareli commented bitterly as she recalled her conversations with the people she had met.

Using her family connections, Yareli had met a wide range of people, including mages, reinstated nobles (nobles who regained power), and the emerging upper class of the city: capitalists. The common thread was that none of them provided her with any useful information.

They were surprisingly indifferent to the war between the Flesh Cook and Loculi University, only voicing their political grievances, talking about urban development projects led by the royal family, or inquiring about Randa.

They complained that Gallos was too chaotic to live in.

“Is it possible they were hiding their true feelings or lying? Were there any who seemed deceitful?”

Despite regretting the lack of results, Yareli didn’t give in to despair and refocused herself, asking the question.

Hearing her question, Oliver took out a notebook from his pocket. In the notebook, he had written down the names of people who were lying or hiding their true feelings.

Just as Oliver was about to mention one of the names from his notebook, he suddenly sensed a familiar emotion. Instantly, he turned his head.

Amid the restaurant’s hustle and bustle, a bell rang as the door opened. Two people, a man, and a woman entered through the opened door.

By some coincidence, they were familiar faces.

“Mr. Murphy? Miss Jane?”

“…Mr. Dave?”

“Ah, it really is you two. How have you been?”

Oliver greeted Murphy Kimble, the Liquor King of Randa, and Jane, a successful female investor, who were looking at him with surprised expressions.

They were genuinely shocked, clearly not expecting to see Oliver in Gallos.

“What brings you here… what could this be about?”

“I had some work to take care of. Mr. Murphy, what brings you to Gallos?”

“I’m here on business.”

“Ah, I see… Miss Jane, what brings you to Gallos? Oh, is this what you were referring to when you said you would leave Randa temporarily for work purposes the last time we met at the hotel?”

Oliver recalled the time he had run into Jane at a hotel when she mentioned she’d be leaving Randa briefly for business.

“Yes… I didn’t think we’d meet again in Gallos, but it’s nice to see you.”

“It’s nice to see you as well. It’s a bit of a surprise, though.”

“I’m surprised too… Can you introduce your new companion?”

Jane asked Oliver, showing the same warm smile and emotion she had the time she met Mary.