Chapter 453: New Continent

“Oh, are you pleased to see me?”

A chubby Edith waddled over and said.

His boisterous arrival drew everyone’s attention.

“Yes, it’s nice to see you after such a long time… But, is it okay?”

Oliver pointed behind Edith.

There, numerous people were sprawled on the ground, victims of Edith’s entrance.

Some were holding their backs, while others had broken legs or were bleeding from their heads after being hit by Edith’s car.

“It’s fine. I was planning to repaint the car anyway.”

“No… That’s not exactly what I meant-”

“-What is the meaning of this?!!”

Someone interrupted Oliver. It was none other than a Holy Knight.

He was both shocked and outraged by the scene before him.

“Ah, greetings. I am Edith, one of the shareholders of Prometheus Corp.”

Edith introduced himself as a shareholder of Prometheus Corp to the angry Holy Knight.

Oliver understood why Edith behaved that way.

The influence of Prometheus Corp in First Step was that powerful, and indeed, some of the police recognized Edith and were visibly startled.

‘He’s like a city bigwig here. Even so, he’s facing a tough opponent this time,’ Oliver thought.

After all, even a powerful pharmacist in Wineham had to live in seclusion, fearing the Holy Knight.

Oliver’s prediction was not wrong.

The Holy Knight, blessed with innate talent and a body honed through training, walked steadily towards Edith, exuding an overwhelming presence.

“I don’t care who you are. To God, the rich and the poor are all the same.”

“Ha! I expected as much. Holy Knights are always so serious, even about minor incidents… But you’re a new face around here, aren’t you? First time in this place?”

Even after running over people, Edith shamelessly prattled on. This only made the Holy Knight despise him, not just for the accident but as a person.

Well, it’s not every day someone just runs people over with a car.

The Holy Knight then addressed the police.

“You there. Why aren’t you arresting him? He just ran over several people.”

The police exchanged uneasy looks in response to the Holy Knight’s question. At that moment, Edith burst out laughing.

“I see, it’s your first time here… Look here, Holy Knight. In First Step, we’re too busy and have too many incidents to bother with such minor things, as long as a settlement is reached. There are too many bad people in this city.”

“Minor? Settlement?!!”

The Holy Knight’s anger flared up. Edith just pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.

Men who looked like Edith’s bodyguards were already talking to the people hit by the car, gauging their injuries and handing out wads of cash in return for signed settlement agreements.

Those who were hit, despite their anger, began signing the agreements one by one after seeing the thick bundles of cash equivalent to several months or even years of wages.

It was a scene that defied common sense. The Holy Knight frowned, but Edith just kept on smiling as if this was the way the world worked.

“Anyway, don’t get so worked up. I accidentally pushed through because these assholes were blocking the road when I was trying to meet an important guest. I was pissed, but it wasn’t on purpose.”

Not a single word of his excuse made sense. Even though the Holy Knight was filled with anger and disgust towards Edith, he asked who this important person was that would justify such a reckless act.

Edith answered.

“These two people.”

Edith pointed with his sausage-like fingers at the middle-aged man in the silk hat and Oliver.

Oliver pointed at himself, asking in surprise.

“Me?”

“Yes, damn it. You. Don’t you remember?”

Oliver shook his head. He really didn’t recall making any arrangements.

Feeling slightly frustrated, Edith pushed the Holy Knight lightly in the chest and walked over to Oliver.

He then placed a seemingly friendly hand on Oliver’s shoulder and growled.

“Didn’t I call you to be my guard for the upcoming shareholders’ meeting? Maybe you haven’t eaten and your brain is running low on nutrients? It makes me super sad. So much so that I feel like ripping off my own ear in despair.”

Edith squeezed Oliver’s shoulder tightly. Even though it didn’t hurt, Oliver understood the meaning behind Edith’s words.

“Ah… Yes, I remember. I’ve been starving lately, so I forgot.”

“I thought that might be the case! Normally, I’d smack someone upside the head with a bottle for acting so mindlessly, but since you’re stronger than me, I’ll let it slide this time. But don’t let it happen again, or I’ll want to kill you.”

“Got it. Thank you for forgiving me.”

“I’m really merciful… Now, let’s get going. Hey, Redmond. You’re coming with us. The others are waiting.”

Edith, with his quick tongue, tried to cleverly gather Oliver and Redmond and leave the scene. Everyone watched them, stunned.

Except for one person.

Clink!

The Holy Knight drew his sword from his belt and stabbed it into the ground in front of Edith, stopping him.

The force was so strong it cracked the floor.

“Where do you think you’re taking the dark wizard?”

Though his words were calm, the Holy Knight’s voice was as chilling as his longsword.

Even hardened criminals couldn’t help but shrink back at the Holy Knight’s daunting presence. But Edith just smiled. It wasn’t bravado. He genuinely wasn’t afraid of the Holy Knight.

“Hmm… But Holy Knight, may I ask you one question?”

“If you keep playing word games, you too will—”

“-No, no, no. It’s a fair question. Because you’re not officially stationed here,”

Oliver could see the Holy Knight’s emotions ripple in that moment.

It was a response similar to someone caught off guard. Edith’s words seemed to be true.

“No need to be surprised. I’ve memorized the faces of all the Holy Knights stationed here. And as I said earlier, you’re a new face to me. If I’m wrong, show your official ID or investigation pass.”

The Holy Knight frowned but remained silent. It seemed Edith was right.

“I was sent here to report to the local branch. I’m here at the request of the police.”

“I knew it! Now, step aside. Even a Holy Knight can’t go overboard without official procedures. You can’t detain a mage certified by the Tower of Magic… Do you have your ID?”

“Here it is.”

Edith asked Oliver for his Tower of Magic ID, and Oliver handed it to him.

Edith took the ID calmly, then raised his voice in an exaggerated tone.

“Detaining a mage certified by the Tower of Magic is…”

Edith brandished the ID in front of the Holy Knight, as if it were a weapon.

Just as Edith intended, the Holy Knight was enraged, and Edith withdrew the ID, speaking calmly again.

“If you want to investigate properly, follow the correct procedures. Otherwise, I’ll make a formal complaint. I’ll raise hell in every department until it’s noisy, annoying, and chaotic. And by the way, that’s my specialty.”

Edith finished speaking with a sharp tone.

The heated atmosphere from the earlier commotion cooled instantly, and the police who had sought the Holy Knight’s help began whispering to him, urging him to back down.

Edith’s presence and logic were too daunting to challenge.

The air had shifted. The onlookers who had been watching the scene began murmuring, and the Holy Knight felt a growing pressure.

“…I will request a formal summons later.”

The Holy Knight eventually stepped aside.

“I’ll be happy to assist, Holy Knight… Let’s go now.”

Edith answered without yielding, then grabbed Oliver’s sleeve and led him to the car with Redmond. They all got inside and drove away.

This time, they didn’t run over anyone.

***

Vroooom.

As if to prove its power, Edith’s car roared like a wild horse as it sped down the road.

Oliver subconsciously glanced out the window at the urban landscape of the New Continent’s city.

“It’s so red, isn’t it?”

Edith spoke up. Oliver turned his head towards him.

“Yes? Ah, yes. The city definitely has a reddish hue.”

And it was true. The soil and the bricks of the buildings all had a reddish tint.

Because of that, the city didn’t feel as urbanized as Randa, but it did have a sense of youthfulness.

Like a newborn life.

Edith responded.

“This city gives you a clue as to why the Red Ones have such red skin.”

“…Is that a racist joke about their skin tone?”

Oliver pondered Edith’s words. No matter how he analyzed it, it sounded like a racist joke.

Oliver felt proud of himself. His effort of reading joke books for an hour every day seemed to finally be paying off.

“As Edith said, you’re quite the funny young man.”

The middle-aged man in the silk hat, who had tried to help Oliver earlier, said while looking at Edith.

“You found that funny?”

“Humor is subjective… Let me formally introduce myself. I am Sean Redmond, a modest investor. It’s an honor to finally meet the famed fixer from Randa. I’ve heard about you multiple times.”

The silk-hatted man introduced himself politely, and Oliver returned the courtesy with a formal greeting.

“The honor is mine. Thank you for helping me earlier, Mr. Redmond.”

“No need to thank me. You saved my life instead. Who knew we’d walk into a suicide bombing attack as soon as we arrived… It was terrifying.”

“Yes… By the way, are you acquainted with Mr. Edith?”

“Of course, I came to pick you up, even skipping lunch.”

Edith responded irritably. But Redmond added with a smile.

“We’re part of the same shareholder group within Prometheus Corp.”

Oliver found this intriguing. The two were so different from each other.

While Redmond smiled at Oliver with calculated interest, Edith’s emotions were closer to genuine goodwill.

As they had been earlier when he helped him.

“…What exactly is the shareholder group?”

“It’s exactly as it sounds. Do you know what a shareholder is?”

“Yes. They are the people who own parts of the company, correct?”

“Right. And generally, there are many shareholders. Those who hold significant shares often band together for mutual benefit.”

“Ah, I see… By the way, could I ask where we’re going right now?”

Edith seemed slightly surprised. It was unlike Oliver to ask such an ordinary question.

“Are you really that starved for nutrients?”

“I don’t think so… I’ve been eating properly. Why do you ask?”

“Normally, you’d be asking which group I belong to, what other groups there are, and why we’re divided this way, instead of something as trivial as where we’re headed.”

“Ah, that’s true… I’m a bit curious about that too, to be honest.”

“Just a bit?”

“…More than a bit.”

“That’s better.”

Edith nodded, frowning a little. The shareholder group issue seemed to be quite important.

“Important indeed, it’s also why I helped you out… We’re about to have a shareholders’ meeting at Prometheus Corp.”

“Yes, I saw it in the paper. They’re choosing a new leader, aren’t they?”

“Exactly. And I want to hire you until the shareholders’ meeting ends.”

“Ah, I see… Can I refuse?”

“Hmm… Absolutely not.”

Edith firmly shook his head, as if to say, you’ve already been caught.

At that moment, the car doors clicked shut.