Chapter 404: Millieu

“If you help me, I can help you with what you’re working on.”

Murphy said this confidently.

“What exactly would you help with?”

“The mission assigned to you by the Tower of Magic. Helping Loculi University and… uh, yes.”

Murphy intentionally slurred his last words. Not out of ignorance, but rather because he knew too well.

Yareli wasn’t unaware of this either.

“Impressive… How did you find out?”

“I work for the Crime Firm. I’ve heard a bit about how the Tower of Magic operates. Anyone with half a brain would know if Miss Yareli from the Iceye Family came to Gallos in these times. Isn’t that why you introduced yourself?”

Murphy saw right through Yareli, and she silently agreed. She hadn’t invited Murphy and Jane to join her without reason.

From the moment they met at the restaurant, everyone was calculating something. Yareli, Murphy, Jane—all of them.

Except for Oliver.

“Crime Firm is truly impressive.”

“Thank you for the compliment. While we can’t compare to the Tower of Magic, we have our own strengths.”

Murphy said this with confidence. After all, Crime Firm was a massive criminal organization that controlled the underworld in Randa and even parts of Selland.

Though they didn’t have the magical technology of the Tower of Magic, they had countless members and influence stretching far and wide, like vines.

“And those vines even reach Gallos. Though not as strongly as in Selland.”

“You’re talking about Millieu.”

Murphy nodded.

“While I can’t make them follow your orders, I can get you a meeting to receive some help.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, of course. It might sound like boasting, but I have quite a deep partnership with Millieu, even outside of Crime Firm.”

Murphy’s statement was true.

He was a major supplier of high-quality magic liquor to Millieu.

Millieu distributed this liquor, competing with the Bloody Wine made by the Flesh Cook.

“Even so, all I can do is arrange the meeting. The persuasion would be up to you. But it shouldn’t be too difficult. Millieu is also in conflict with them.”

By ‘them,’ Murphy meant the Flesh Cook.

Yareli nodded silently. Just arranging the meeting, as Murphy said, would be a great help.

If their connection with Millieu was through Murphy, it wouldn’t be easy for Millieu to play any tricks.

“So, all you need is a bodyguard during the negotiation?”

“Yes. As I mentioned earlier, I did prepare, but negotiating in front of a client makes me nervous. Confidence is key in negotiations… If Mr. Dave helps, it would boost my confidence greatly.”

It wasn’t a bad offer. Yareli showed interest and asked Oliver for his opinion.

“What do you think?”

“Hmm… Is this necessary for our mission?”

“We would need to discuss it further with the professor and Major Terence, but it’s not a bad idea. Millieu, like Crime Firm, knows their territory well.”

A reasonable point. Still, Oliver felt uneasy and brought up one thing.

“I can’t help as Problem Solver Dave.”

“What?”

Murphy was taken aback. He expected an easy acceptance.

“I have to accept jobs as Problem Solver through my broker, so I can’t help you in that capacity.”

Oliver explained. Though it was common to work through brokers for trust and safety, in special situations like this, rules could be bent.

But Murphy did not argue. After all, it was Oliver who said this.

“Instead, I can help as Xenon Bright from the Tower of Magic, as a favor.”

“But you look just like Mr. Dave right now.”

Murphy pointed out. In reality, Oliver was wearing the leather mask of Dave. He had merged his identities and chose what was most familiar.

“That’s true, but I’m here in Gallos to do work for Xenon. Besides…”

“…Yes?”

“Right now, I’m defining myself as Xenon. If you don’t like that—”

“—No, I certainly don’t dislike it.”

Murphy stepped back. He wasn’t one to bluff.

With the conversation settled, Yareli spoke up.

“Could you give us a day? We need to discuss this.”

“Of course. After all, I’m the one asking for help… Here, this is the contact information for my hotel. Let me know your decision.”

Murphy smoothly pulled out a luxury fountain pen and wrote the number on a napkin.

Every action Murphy took was imbued with the poise and formality of a true businessman.

Yareli accepted the napkin and replied.

“We’ll discuss it and get back to you as soon as possible.”

***

“Not bad.”

Kevin said as he checked the number on the napkin.

He also asked Terence, who had left work with him, for his opinion, and Terence had a similar response.

“It might be worth a try. When in need of local information, it’s best to get help from locals… And if it’s Millieu, an enemy of the Flesh Cook, they could be trusted.”

“You think so too.”

Yareli said, confirming Kevin and Terence’s opinions. It was within her expectations.

Perhaps it was inevitable. While individuals differed, members of the Tower of Magic generally thought in the same way.

Survival and profit of the Tower. That’s why, despite being a coalition, they could move as one.

Maybe it was because of the unique status of being a wizard, similar to Sisterhood or Crime Firm.

‘A sense of unity forms easily with one’s occupation and class.’

Oliver recalled his occasional conversations with Carver. As promised after the Seamus Gun incident, Carver had taught Oliver about social phenomena, politics, and institutions as best as he could.

“It’s a bit strange, isn’t it?”

Terence said suddenly.

“I mean, don’t you think it’s odd? A liquor king who knows Xenon just happens to show up at this time with such an offer… Could it be a trap?”

“It’s not.”

Kevin firmly denied, quietly but with conviction.

“Wow, you sound confident. Have any proof?”

“It’s less of a coincidence and more of an inevitability that Randa’s liquor king would meet Xenon.”

“Inevitability?”

Oliver tilted his head.

“Yeah, inevitability. Our reason for being here and the liquor king’s negotiations with Millieu are ultimately connected.”

Oliver exclaimed in understanding.

Kevin, Terence, Yareli, and Oliver were here to defeat the Flesh Cook on behalf of Loculi University. Murphy was here to renegotiate with Millieu, who was growing in strength thanks to the crisis caused by the Flesh Cook.

The root cause was the Flesh Cook.

“It’s kind of fascinating.”

Oliver admired how seemingly unrelated issues were interconnected like a spider’s web. It was fascinating.

“Whether it’s interesting or not, it’s not a bad thing for us. Depending on how it’s handled, we might even gain an ally separate from the university. If they’re trustworthy, Millieu would be a great partner.”

He wasn’t wrong. Since Millieu was a rival of the Flesh Cook, they might have some valuable information. Even if they didn’t, their thieves, smugglers, and gamblers could help gather intelligence and hunt down the Flesh Cook.

It was certainly better to have them than not.

“Can you handle it?”

“I can help as Xenon from the Tower of Magic, if the professor orders it.”

Oliver stubbornly clung to a small detail. It wasn’t important enough for anyone to argue about. They were all familiar with Oliver’s personality anyway.

“How well have you learned Gallosian?”

“I can manage basic conversations. Greetings, small talk, ordering coffee at a café.”

Oliver responded, recalling his time wandering around Ravely as Yareli’s assistant.

He had overheard many conversations while being with Yareli, but he understood only about 30% of them. Gallos people spoke too fast when they were excited, making it hard for him to understand.

So for anything he didn’t understand, he had to rely on Yareli’s explanations later.

“Oh, that’s still impressive. You’ve only been learning Gallosian for a week, and you taught yourself.”

“Thank you. Sir Terence. Studying with Tower materials made it easier… But why did you ask about Gallosian all of a sudden, Professor?”

“Even if everything goes smoothly, we’ll still need to negotiate. I trust your skills, but seeking Millieu’s help is a different matter.”

Kevin pointed out an unexpected problem. It might indeed be difficult. After all, Oliver couldn’t speak Gallosian fluently.

“Well, then, maybe Mr. Murphy could help—”

“—I’ll accompany you and assist.”

Yareli cut in abruptly.

“You?”

“Yes. Collecting information in Ravely was my job in the first place.”

“That’s true, but… Are you sure?”

Terence uncharacteristically showed concern.

Yareli’s mission was to collect information, but it was supposed to be on the legitimate players only.

Wizards, reinstated nobles, and capitalists.

Now it was suddenly Millieu. Given Yareli’s family, Terence’s concern was understandable.

“I’m fine, and I believe the One-Master would see no problem either.”

“Hmm… What if I go instead?”

Terence suggested. It wasn’t a bad idea. Though he belonged to a reputable family, he was from a branch and wasn’t strictly part of the Tower.

However, Yareli declined.

“Major Terence, I appreciate the suggestion, but I must refuse. Unless it’s for better results… I came here to fulfill my mission, not to be protected.”

Yareli showed her determination and sense of responsibility. Terence and Kevin seemed to notice her resolve, and they no longer argued. They asked a question instead.

“If you insist, I won’t stop you, but are you really okay with meeting Millieu? You might end up in a scandal.”

“I have a plan.”

Oliver spoke up. Everyone turned their attention to him, with a hint of unease.

“I have about a dozen masks designed for women. If Ms. Yareli wears one—”

“—I can hide my face with magic.”

Before Oliver could finish, Yareli offered her solution quickly. Kevin immediately nodded in agreement.

“That solves the problem… Please take care of it.”

“Yes… By the way, if you don’t mind, could you tell me about your findings at Loculi University?”

Yareli asked what they had learned at Loculi University.

Kevin and Terence exchanged awkward glances before Terence spoke up.

“It’s a bit of a long story.”

“That’s alright.”

“I’m curious as well.”

With Oliver also chiming in, Terence sighed and began to explain.

“Sigh… We’re not yet certain, but the Tower might have to organize its own front lines. Or take over command. As things stand, we’re achieving neither fish nor fowl.”