Chapter 416: Riot

“It’s been a while.”

Sunken cheeks, hair like straw, a scruffy beard, and ragged clothes on a barely covered beggar… No, it was Puppet who responded.

He looked different compared to when they first met at the contaminated zone or in A-District Park.

Oliver bowed respectfully.

“Yes, it’s been a long time. I’m glad to see you again, Puppet. Have you been well?”

Oliver greeted genuinely. It might have seemed inappropriate, but he couldn’t help it. Their last conversation had been enjoyable.

After all, wasn’t he the one who first taught him about the apocalypse?

“Glad to hear that you’re happy. But your actions don’t match your words.”

Puppet spoke, reading Oliver’s subtle movements, the flow of stored magic in his body, and the aura of his emotions.

And in a way, he was right.

“Ah, I’m sorry, Puppet. I truly am happy to see you… It’s just that, given the situation, I couldn’t help but be cautious.”

“What’s the situation?”

Puppet asked as he sat down on a protruding piece of the filthy sewer floor.

Although his body seemed like it could collapse at any moment, surprisingly, he exuded a soft yet heavy pressure.

Lucian’s subordinates, feeling this, began murmuring behind them.

“Isn’t that old rat who has been hiding in the sewers since forever?”

“Yeah… He even begged from us…”

“What the hell is going on?”

Amid the murmured conversations, Oliver asked a question.

“You must have lived in these sewers for a long time?”

“I’m everywhere; from the highest points to the lowest.”

“Oh, that’s quite poetic… Is there a reason for that?”

“To observe.”

Puppet’s answer seemed to lack an important detail.

Oliver asked again.

“May I ask what you’ve been observing?”

“You’re quite greedy, aren’t you.”

“Pardon?”

“I asked the first question and gave an answer, but you just keep asking without giving any answers yourself. That’s greed.”

“Ah, I apologize. I’m just very curious… To be honest, the situation isn’t good. I mean the city’s situation.”

Oliver recalled the scenes he had seen on his way.

“A giant appeared, trampling the city, werewolves are leaping between buildings, griffons and harpies are flying overhead, and even zombies armed with guns and people under dark magic are attacking others… And I saw at least three of the Black Hand’s Fingers myself.”

Everyone behind Oliver gasped at these words.

The idea that three of these half-legendary villains were in the city was shocking.

It was hard to understand how Oliver could talk about it so calmly.

“The Flesh Cook, the Eternal Child Fen, and Puppet of Immortality… the three of them. That’s why I was on guard without realizing it. I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable… By the way, has the Pied Piper also come to this city?”

“He will visit this city someday, but not today.”

Puppet shook his head.

While Oliver was relieved, he also felt a tinge of disappointment.

He had wanted to meet the Pied Piper at least once.

‘No, it’s better this way. From what Ewan said, he holds grudges for a long time.’

Oliver consoled himself and spoke again.

“I met Fen earlier. He attacked me, but suddenly changed his mind and stopped, as did the others behind me.”

“That does sound like Fen. Capricious and impulsive.”

“Did you help me, Puppet?”

“Why do you ask?”

“If you did, I’d like to thank you. It’s only polite.”

Puppet chuckled at Oliver’s words.

“This conversation is quite amusing. It would be perfect if I had some ice cream.”

“I’ll buy you some next time.”

Jane, Murphy, Lucian, and the others listening to the conversation looked dazed.

After all, extending an invitation to a Finger like Puppet was no small thing.

The more puzzling thing was that those who knew Oliver, like Murphy or Jane, somehow found this bizarre action understandable. Because it was Oliver. Nothing seemed strange when it came to him.

“Hah!”

Puppet laughed aloud.

“It’s been a while since someone invited me, knowing who I am… But I’m sorry, I didn’t help anyone today, nor do I intend to. I’m just here to watch. To see the ceremony the Flesh Cook will perform.”

“Is that ceremony related to the massive amount of emotions flowing into the city below?”

Oliver pointed his finger downward.

Puppet’s eyes widened slightly at the unexpected question.

“Oh… Did you figure that out?”

“I wouldn’t say I figured it out, but I could just see it.”

Oliver recalled the moment he left Loculi University to help Jane.

The bustling street in front of the university had been partially collapsed and burned by the footsteps of the giant. People, some under dark magic, some not, were all tangled up, fighting each other.

Chaos and violence were spreading indiscriminately, and the byproducts of that—fear, dread, anger, hostility—were overflowing in the city.

“Those emotions slowly but surely sank beneath the city.”

“Impressive. You saw that? That’s quite something.”

Puppet was genuinely impressed. But Oliver was simply puzzled by his reaction. It was something clearly visible, so why the praise?

When Oliver voiced his thoughts, Puppet responded.

“Normally, people can’t perceive things at that scale.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s like how fish can’t see water when they’re in it. When people are confronted with something so overwhelmingly large, they can’t process it.”

Puppet tapped his temple lightly.

He might have a point.

Back in the mines, the children could receive extra food rations by reporting on those who tried to escape or scheme, a tactic that was obvious in hindsight.

Yet at the time, no one noticed.

And even if someone did, there wasn’t much they could do.

“This is fascinating… I suppose I owe you an answer. The Flesh Cook plans to open the gates of hell.”

Puppet said something horrific in an incredibly nonchalant tone.

Even Oliver, who was rarely surprised, found himself shocked.

“The gates of… hell?”

“Yes, I’m here to witness it.”

“I have much to say about that, but… is that even possible?”

“Not through conventional means. Even if you were to accumulate power by devouring countless lives over centuries, it’s something a mere human could never achieve. So, you have to resort to a trick.”

A trick. As soon as Oliver heard that word, he instinctively knew what it was.

“…Using a mass of emotions wrung from the entire city to fuse with space magic?”

Puppet’s eyes widened again.

“…Something like that. It’s closer to primitive ritual than sophisticated spellwork, though.”

“A primitive ritual?”

“Think of it like a rainmaking ritual… It’s not about inserting a key into a lock to open a door, but more about knocking on the door to make someone inside open it.”

While the explanation was unclear, Oliver focused on the keywords to speculate.

Not about inserting a key, but knocking on the door.

“…Are you planning to summon a demon to open the gate?”

“Ding ding ding… You’re quite knowledgeable. Have you studied demons?”

“No, I haven’t had the opportunity.”

That was true. Despite his considerable reputation and experience in Randa, Oliver hadn’t been able to obtain any books about demons from the Black Market.

Someone constantly monopolized the supply. Even so, Oliver had guessed correctly based on instinct.

“Instinct?”

“Yes… Just a hunch. It also seems like the Flesh Cook is skilled in space magic.”

“That’s a plausible guess. You are sharp in some weird ways.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Puppet smiled, a smile filled with many meanings.

“But is it okay to share all this with me? I’m grateful, of course, but the Flesh Cook is also a member of the Black Hand like you, isn’t he? And aren’t you here to see the gate open?”

Puppet raised a finger.

“First of all, as I said before, I don’t intend to help anyone. That includes the Flesh Cook. Secondly, while I do want to see the gates of hell open, it doesn’t have to be that specifically. If I can see something more interesting, I’ll take that instead.”

“Something more interesting?”

“Something more useful to me. To be honest, I’m not that interested in hell, demons, or the apocalypse itself. I’m just looking for knowledge to study or references.”

That was genuine. Oliver nodded.

“Now that I think about it, you were interested in creating souls and resurrecting people, weren’t you, Puppet?”

“Well, those are related. They’re in the same domain, but I’d prefer if you didn’t talk about it too much. I’m actually quite shy.”

Puppet glanced sharply at the people behind Oliver with his eyes shining beneath his disheveled hair.

Seeing that, Oliver closed his mouth. This seemed to be something personal to Puppet.

But the more he thought about it, the more curious he became about why Puppet was so obsessed with creating souls and resurrecting people.

‘Come to think of it, Ewan did say Puppet was full of complexes. What could it be related to?’

“Now, should I ask you some questions? It’s only fair.”

Puppet spoke to Oliver, who had been lost in thought.

Although the suggestion was unexpected, Oliver didn’t object. Puppet’s words made sense.

If he had asked a question and gotten an answer, it was only fair to provide one in return.

“As long as it’s something I can answer.”

“I think you can. Now that you know everything happening in this city, are you planning to stop the Flesh Cook?”

“Yes. It’s my mission.”

Oliver answered, recalling his reason for coming here on Tower of Magic’s orders. He was serious, though those who heard his answer felt the opposite.

And they had a good reason.

Hearing that his reason to stop the Flesh Cook’s absurd and dangerous plan amidst the city’s chaos was just because it was his mission.

While it wasn’t wrong, it still felt fundamentally off.

Jane, Murphy, Lucian, and Puppet, a Finger of the Black Hand, all shared that sentiment. A strange sense of disconnect.

“Interesting. It is especially impressive how it doesn’t seem to matter to you as long as it’s not a mission.”

“Oh… That’s a misunderstanding.”

“Is it?”

Puppet asked again, and Oliver hesitated for a moment. It was a difficult issue to answer clearly.

To be honest, it was somewhat complicated.

Part of him did want to see the gate of hell created by the Flesh Cook. Maybe it was a chance to gain knowledge about demons that he couldn’t acquire himself.

But on the other hand, he also felt the need to stop it.

First of all, he was bothered by how the Flesh Cook had used his people to blackmail him, and secondly, it just felt like the right thing to do.

No matter what, causing massive chaos throughout an entire city… that just didn’t sit right.

“Impressive… Planning to stop the Flesh Cook just because it doesn’t sit right. That’s the bravest reason I’ve ever heard.”

“Thank you?… I guess?”

“It’s not really a compliment. It means if it didn’t bother you, you would leave him be.”

“Oh… does it?”

Oliver reacted to Puppet’s interpretation of his choice.

Now that he thought about it, it was true.

If he didn’t feel uneasy, how would he have reacted?

So, if the Flesh Cook had some reason that made sense, how would Oliver have reacted to this?

“Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. You don’t always need a sense of duty or a grand reason.”

“I agree.”

Jane chimed in unbidden.

When Oliver turned around at this unexpected interruption, he saw Jane, fully armed with the courtesy, calm, courage, and determination she had honed in the Sisterhood.

She bowed politely to Puppet, swallowing her fear.

“I apologize for intruding, Puppet… I’m Jane, a small-time investor from Randa.”

“Interesting… For an heiress who receives backing from one of the wealthiest in Celland and tries to speculate in foreign lands across the sea, you are quite humble. No, is it more caution than humility?”

“I think it’s both. You have to be cautious to be humble.”

“You’ve got quite a way with words… What do you want to say?”

“I just wanted to agree with you, Puppet. You don’t always need a sense of duty or a grand reason to save people… Most people don’t act that way. They just do it.”

Jane spoke calmly, swallowing the fear and tension that churned inside her.

Oliver could see how much courage and patience it took for her to maintain composure. It was truly admirable and something he felt grateful for.

Why he was grateful, he wasn’t sure.

“Ordinary people indeed… That’s not wrong. You seem to have good people around you. I’m envious.”

“I think I’m fortunate as well.”

Puppet chuckled again and stood up. It seemed he was done and ready to leave. Oliver called out to him.

“What is it?”

“I have one more question.”

“I don’t have any more curiosity.”

For some reason, Puppet lied. But Oliver couldn’t argue. Answering questions was a matter of personal choice.

So Oliver made a proposal.

“In that case, I’ll answer your questions later. If you ever become curious again.”

“…So what are you curious about?”

“Do you know anything about the Flesh Cook?”