Chapter 447: Assessing the Situation

In a conference room at Randa City Hall.

An emergency meeting was called there. All 24 city councilors were gathered at one place.

The expressions on their faces were uniformly grim.

Something major enough happened that they all had to change their schedules.

A massive accident, a large-scale protest, a specific demonic force outside of Randa, a reckless act by a foolish ambitious person, or perhaps the launch of a new force.

“Thank you all for coming.”

Paul Carver, the Minister of Internal Affairs, entered and greeted them.

He was the one who had requested the emergency summon. One of the councilors immediately asked upon seeing him.

“Is what we heard true?”

“Yes, it is true.”

Paul Carver answered without a moment’s hesitation.

There were only a few times when city councilors, who were constantly dealing with tumultuous events, asked such questions. One of them happened just yesterday.

Luckily, Carver’s prediction was correct.

“So, a lone fixer wiped out a hundred Enjoyment members who had entrenched themselves in the X-District? And this occurred just yesterday?”

Each city councilor knew about it through their own information networks, yet they still asked.

The story was so shocking that they wanted confirmation.

Carver understood their concern. He had felt the same way.

“Yes, that’s correct. Yesterday afternoon, Dave, a fixer from the T-District and CEO of X-District Redevelopment Union, single-handedly attacked Enjoyment and the coalition of unaffiliated gangs that had taken root in central X-District, practically annihilating them. The estimated time for the entire battle was within two hours.”

As soon as Carver’s report was delivered, the room erupted in murmurs. Even in a place like Randa, where incidents are rampant, this was extraordinary.

Frankly, if it had only involved the unaffiliated gangs, no one would have paid much attention.

No matter their numbers or armament, a street gang is still just a gang. A skilled fixer team or a capable mage could easily handle them.

But, Enjoyment Druids? Especially a hundred of them? Now the story changed.

Though relatively young and considered novices among Druids, their level was nothing to dismiss.

Even though their numbers were small, their harsh training meant that their average combat power was comparable to that of a mage.

No, in fact, they could be even more threatening because of their ability to amplify their strength in the Verdant Forest plus their almost superhuman physicality.

On top of that, their abilities to wield natural forces, the power of the World Tree, and their communion with nature made them exceptionally formidable.

That’s why, despite being heavily burned during the ABC incident, Randa still considered allowing them to settle.

The past was the past, and the future was the future.

But now, all of that was undone by the actions of one fixer.

“Carver, I heard the broker told you about this directly—is that true?”

The Councilor in the frock-coat spoke.

His frock-coat was so immaculately pressed it was almost suffocating. He was the councilor for the B-District, and despite his white mustache, his eyes still shone with intelligence.

Well, it’s no wonder he survived so long in the political arena of Randa. In a way, it was a place more dangerous than a world full of superhumans.

“Yes, sir. Right after lunch, Forest, the broker from T-District and co-CEO of X-District Redevelopment Union, informed me. He told me that Dave went to crush Enjoyment.”

“Huh… What did you do then?”

Another councilor asked in a discontented tone. It was only natural—plans to revitalize Randa using Enjoyment had been completely ruined.

“I asked why he made such a sudden decision… He said Enjoyment made the first move. They tried to poison Dave.”

“Poison, huh. Seems like those who lived in the forest really favor the classics.”

Another councilor joked, somewhat amused. It had been a trend in Randa at one time.

Another councilor spoke.

“Didn’t you think to stop him? You, as Minister, knew about how we planned to utilize Enjoyment, right?”

It was a fair accusation. Carver knew exactly how they planned to use Enjoyment.

“I tried to stop him, but it was already too late. As I mentioned before, the fight only took about two hours. By the time I even tried to tell Forest to stop, we were already getting reports that it had concluded.”

The councilors fell into silence.

It was astonishing enough that he wiped out a hundred Enjoyment members in such a short time, but their response was even more impressive.

He moved with reasonable justification, notified the City for respect, and quickly finished with no loose ends left. It was incredibly well done.

The best course of action possible.

There was no flaw in the execution, and the matter was already over. Even the City had nothing more to say.

What could be done about something that was already finished? Especially against the man who had demolished Enjoyment.

It would only make matters worse.

The councilors all realized that they needed to forget about Enjoyment for now and focus on the current situation.

Rumors were circulating that Oliver had grown thin and weak, but they were entirely unfounded. They needed validation. What exactly was going on?

The councilor in the frock-coat took the first step.

“Do you have any footage of the event?”

“Not yet. Enjoyment had connected to the World Tree and set up interference rituals, so we haven’t secured any visuals yet.”

“That’s unavoidable. Druids specialize in the World Tree, whereas the City still lacks the technology… But make sure to get some footage. If necessary, outsource the task. I heard Heimdal’s skills have improved tremendously since getting back to business.”

Carver nodded in agreement with the sound reasoning. Despite the corruption, the City Council remained competent.

“So, is it impossible to know how exactly they overwhelmed Enjoyment?”

A muscular, middle-aged councilor wearing nothing but a shirt and jacket asked rather bluntly. It was fitting for someone representing a working-class district.

“That’s not the case. We managed to gather indirect information from Forest and his subordinates, eyewitnesses on the scene, and through the nearby World Tree. It seems he used Zombie Puppet.”

Zombie Puppet.

A special zombie made by processing a corpse. Depending on the skill of the processing technique and the capabilities of the necromancer, its abilities, based on what it was capable of in life, could be utilized.

It was considered a fairly unique skill even in the world of black magic.

Naturally, it was illegal.

“I’ve heard of him using it, but he used it so openly this time.”

“Actually, if you’re going to use it, you might as well do it openly like that. They say if the crime’s big enough, it’s hard to prosecute.”

“Wouldn’t the Holy Knights have enough grounds to press charges?”

“You can’t say. We do have a deal with them, and officially Dave is part of an unofficial alliance with us. Besides, isn’t he also an employee of the Tower of Magic? They’d want to protect him, wouldn’t they? Or was he an experimental subject?”

“You believe such crazy rumors?”

“Who knows? It’s the Tower of Magic; they might’ve actually created a monster like him. Even if they didn’t, the Tower would still protect him, right? Since officially he’s their member, they’d want to save face.”

The councilors continued to exchange opinions with some murmuring among themselves. Though the tone seemed lightweight, sharp insights based on complex considerations slipped into their conversation.

This was why they remained the ruling force in Randa, despite the existence of the miraculous study of magic and superhumans beyond human limits.

After some time, the councilors fell silent again and, as if they had decided in advance, all looked at Carver.

They wanted him to reveal any new information. Carver complied.

“The total number of Zombie Puppets used was four: two mage types, one druid type, and one magic-user type.”

“The Druid must have been Seamus, the once legendary fixer.”

A mock praise, perfectly suited for a loser who had once bragged too much.

“That’s correct.”

Carver responded and snapped his fingers as he pulled out a socket.

With that signal, the socket activated, projecting two photos into the air.

One was a picture of the Goat-headed Zombie Puppet taken from a distance, and the other was a photo of Seamus.

“Seamus?”

“Yeah, that’s him. The tattoos match exactly. He’s gotten more handsome since the last time we saw him… What about the other three?”

“The magic-user was Duncan, a former member of Pinkman, who later started his own business modeled after the Pinkman but failed. He eventually ended up under Edith Locke, the wealthy magnate.”

“That fat guy? He’s in the New Continent now, right? How did his subordinate end up like that…?”

“It happened during the process of dividing his wealth among his illegitimate daughter. By the way, that illegitimate daughter is Jane, who is now a major player in the reconstruction of the ruined Gallos capital. Should I give more detailed information?”

Carver, who had prepared all the necessary data in just one day, asked the councilor. The councilor waved for him to skip it. Although they were fond of gossip, there was a sequence to be followed.

“What about the two mage-types?”

“The first mage-type Zombie Puppet that made the initial assault is presumed to have been Deziher Durance, former dean of the Life Alchemy Department at Loculi University in Gallos.”

Carver snapped his fingers again to change the picture in the air.

This new image was a faded picture of a Zombie Puppet with an arm turned into a cannon alongside a photo of the former dean Deziher Durance.

“The appearance, body proportions, and arcane energy flow of this Zombie Puppet match 90 percent with Deziher Durance. Although a foreign sorcerer, the information about him was confirmed during his visits to Randa.”

“Deziher… That madwoman who was said to be in cahoots with the Flesh Cook?”

The comment was vulgar, but accurate. It was proof that they kept tabs not only on Randa and the kingdom but on key overseas information as well.

“That’s correct.”

“But how?”

“It’s likely obtained during the Flesh Cook’s riot in Ravely. Just before the disturbance, she went there under the Tower of Magic’s orders.”

“Ah, right… That happened… Students from the Tower of Magic, along with a military officer, performed heroic deeds there. I almost forgot… But was Dave there too?”

“Yes, he was. The records show that he was officially sent there.”

“Then why am I hearing this for the first time today? Did he not do anything noteworthy? If he’s commanding a former dean as a Zombie Puppet, that means he must have accomplished something big, right?”

“We haven’t figured that out yet.”

“I’d like you to look into that as well.”

“Yes, councilor… As for the topic at hand, this Zombie Puppet is a former dean of Loculi University, and by Tower of Magic standards, he’d at least be at the level of a Master or a Grand Master.”

“So you’re saying he possesses a legendary fixer once hailed as a living legend in Randa, a Mage Zombie Puppet at least as powerful as a Master, and an experienced magic-user to boot.”

“That leaves the last Zombie Puppet, who wears a mask, making their identity difficult to identify. However, given that they were capable of using complicated blood magic and controlling multiple Zombie Puppets at once, it suggests that their prowess is formidable.”

Carver snapped his fingers, and the image changed again.

“Oh, dear God… Does that vest look like a human face to anyone else?”

“It is a human face. It’s presumed to be a Black Magic item.”

“If it’s a Black Magic item, then it’s made from human material?”

“Yes.”

“Ha… I must be getting old since none of this surprises me anymore. So… All the Zombie Puppets he commands are basically monsters?”

“Exactly.”

“Whew—that’s insane.”

The relatively young councilor in the jacket whistled. And everyone agreed with his assessment.

Back during the ABC incident, they had heard reports about Dave and had reluctantly acknowledged him—though it seemed they had grossly underestimated him.

At this point, he was beyond their approval.

The councilors felt perplexed. They desired exceptional talents for this city, but this went beyond expectations.

The councilor in the frock-coat opened his mouth with his usual calm demeanor.

“I remember… We once assessed this fixer as having greater combat power than any ordinary organization. In fact, he’s already accomplished enough to prove that.”

“Correct.”

“But we completely misjudged him. He’s not just greater than most organizations; he has enough power to take on all the organizations in Randa alone. No one knows if he would win or lose, but the damage he could inflict would be tremendous. Just going by his Zombie Puppets alone.”

That was a monumental assessment. However, no one disagreed with it.

After all, he had proven it by crushing 100 Enjoyment members single-handedly. Though his lone nature in the long term raised questions, his short-term firepower was astounding.

In fact, they wondered if it was even possible for one person to take down 100 Enjoyment members at once.

Perhaps a few of the Grand Masters from the Tower of Magic could manage, but probably not most.

And in such a short timeframe? The idea was shocking enough to make their old hearts race.

How should they even interpret this massive figure?

The councilors resumed their discussion.

“Should we consider this guy just a mere fixer?”

“He’s not even just a fixer anymore. He’s one of the co-CEOs of the X-District Redevelopment. And the other one is a broker. So essentially, he’s the head of an organization. Carver, what group does he command?”

“He commands the Fighter Crew and The Selectors. Both are Black Mages.”

“Ah, right… One is a group of thugs raised by Dave, and the other is a cult-like organization he brought in. I feel like we’ve been totally played here.”

The suspicion that the entire situation had been meticulously prepared under a facade of humility.

Carver wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so.

Because even he wasn’t sure.

If Dave had been preparing at this magnitude from the beginning, deceiving him wouldn’t have been too difficult.

Even if it all came about by chance, that presented its own set of problems.

It could be even scarier than having meticulously planned everything.

It would be akin to a stroke of fate.

While it sounded like chasing clouds, given the results in front of them, the feeling was different.

“There’s something else I need to mention.”

“What?”

“The communities and unaffiliated gangs in X-District, who previously showed no interest in redevelopment, are all now flocking under the Redevelopment Union’s banner. But it’s more of a submissive relationship than cooperation.”

Carver didn’t bother explaining the reasons. There was no need for it.

After all, with the entire Enjoyment group evaporating within a day, standing still would have been stranger.

‘Still, it’s shocking. For X-District, which was entirely chaotic due to its proximity to Y and Z Districts, to be unified in an instant like this. Redevelopment is practically a success… What a fool I was. I should have predicted something like this after we granted permission to the Anti-Development Committee.’

Carver belatedly chastised himself for his foolishness. He had approached the situation supposedly rationally yet saw it distorted.

Perhaps this turn of events was inevitable from the start.

While Carver organized his thoughts, the councilors continued exchanging views with each other.

“So X-District is unified… Does this mean a new organization on par with the Crime Firm is emerging?”

“No, scale-wise, no. The Crime Firm spreads throughout all of Seland, not just Randa. But its quality can’t be ignored. The leader is the leader, and the Fighter Crew is quickly rising as a formidable force. The relationships are bound to get tangled.”

“They’re also going to amass a tremendous fortune. With that level of power, they could proceed with X-District’s redevelopment alone if they pushed for it. A complete monopoly over the redevelopment of an entire district. That’s a goldmine.”

“But there were already prior agreements in place, so it won’t be easy.”

“If it were me, I’d say screw the agreements. The profit would be worth breaking any bonds of trust. Trust lost can be compensated with money.”

The 24 councilors discussed the future of the new organization poised to arise in X-District, its future prospects, position, and the impact it would have. They debated back and forth whether it would benefit or harm the City.

It wasn’t a bad conversation, but honestly, it wasn’t the most productive either.

Before discussing these points, there was a more pressing matter.

“—By the way, that Dave. He’s certainly competent… but should we just leave him be?”

One councilor casually raised the topic.

He was a man with a below-average build and height. His cheeks were thin, his skin was pale, giving the impression that he was frail.

Surprisingly, he was the councilor for E-District, where the headquarters of Randa’s corporate giants are concentrated.

“Leave him be? What do you mean by that?”

Another councilor queried, and the pale councilor responded.

“Exactly what I said… An unprecedented scale like this. It could disrupt the balance in Randa, don’t you think?”

New Class. It was a term that referred to the emerging class of superhumans who had accumulated wealth—those who were currently most closely watched in Randa.

They not only symbolized Randa’s prosperity, but at the same time, posed the greatest threat to the existing elites.

Though few, their influence had grown to the point where they were forming another layer in society, and Oliver forged the most distinctive one among them.

A disturbance significant enough to upset the established order in Randa.

Though Randa had always sought innovation and change, it still had its limits.

Especially from the perspective of those in E-District, where the established elites primarily resided.

All the City Councilors remained silent. They didn’t want to disrupt Randa’s existing values. However, none of them wanted to make any statements since nothing was certain yet.

They all knew each other’s thoughts well, and that included Carver.

So, he decided to speak up.

“Councilman. May I have permission to speak?”

“Are you planning to convince us that we still need Dave?”

Recalling previous meetings, Carver gave a wry smile.

“As much as I think so, I believe it’s inappropriate considering my ties with him.”

“Then what?”

“I suggest inviting someone else. Someone who can convince you from a clear and unambiguous position.”

“Who might that be?”

As soon as the question was asked, Carver looked toward the door and called for the person to enter. Immediately, someone opened the door and walked in.

It was Forest, the broker from T-District and also another CEO of the X-District Redevelopment Union.

He walked in holding a briefcase and politely greeted the City Councilors.

“Good day, honorable council members. I’m Forest, the broker from T-District and the CEO of the X-District Redevelopment Union. It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve come here with a gift for you all.”