Chapter 467: Misunderstanding

“…I just wanted to see you in person at least once.”

Pandora said that. She wanted to see Oliver in person.

Oliver stayed silent at her words. The truth was, he got lost in a memory from the past.

The memory Oliver recalled was none other than the orphanage. The first orphanage in Oliver’s world.

Usually, orphans were abandoned right after birth, just like Oliver. But some were also abandoned after being raised for a while by their parents.

All orphans beyond the orphanage walls were the same, yet there was a difference between them.

Even slow-witted Oliver could see the clear difference.

It was hope.

The hope that they would meet their parents again. Ironically, those abandoned by their parents believed someday their parents would come back for them. Unlike the children who were abandoned from the start.

In reality, there was no difference at all.

“Ah… That was a bit selfish, wasn’t it?”

Pandora said as she observed the silent Oliver, sweeping her chestnut-brown hair back.

“…No, I’m not upset. Don’t worry. It just brought back some old memories.”

His words weren’t meant to comfort Pandora. Oliver still wasn’t that sensitive.

Oliver was being sincere.

Looking at Pandora, Oliver remembered a girl he had known from the orphanage.

She was a girl who had been directly brought to the orphanage by her parents, mature and intelligent. But like the other children, she firmly believed that one day her parents would find her and take her home.

Of course, before that could happen, she died in the torment of bullying and a fever.

Naturally, Oliver did not help her… And then, he suddenly became curious.

“If you don’t mind me asking, could you tell me why you wanted to meet me?”

“…”

“I don’t really understand. It’s true I’m responsible for your existence, but I didn’t even know about you, and honestly, even now, I don’t feel much. It’s just… curious to me.”

“…”

“Even though Eve received some help from me, you have Heimdal as an ally. Why take the risk to come find me?”

“…It’s like an instinct.”

Pandora answered after deep consideration.

“It’s like how a chick follows its mother hen after it’s born, or how a salmon returns to where it was born. It’s the instinct of a creation wanting to meet its creator.”

“Hmm… I still don’t really get it. Sorry.”

Oliver apologized as he nodded, still trying to understand but ultimately failing.

Unlike the other orphans, Oliver had never truly missed his parents… No, he never really cared.

He had never seen them since birth. Instead, he couldn’t understand how other kids missed parents they didn’t even know.

How could you miss someone you don’t even know?

“It’s fine. You don’t need to apologize to me.”

Pandora said considerately, and Oliver, alternating between glancing at his nearly finished steak and the people increasingly watching them, spoke up.

“There’s a lot I’m curious about with you, Pandora.”

“As I said earlier, I’ll answer within what I can.”

“Thank you. Then, I’ll ask. Would it be okay if someone caught and tied you up, taking away all your freedom physically?”

“Hmm…? No.”

“Second question. Really, don’t you have any safety measures or escape plans?”

“Yes, if I could go to the World Tree as soon as possible, I’d be fine. But with the Pinkman around, that’s difficult.”

Pinkman. Hearing that word, Oliver quickly scanned the people who had been watching them.

They possessed a significant amount of magical power, dense life force, flawless positioning, and calm, cold emotions—definitely professionals in this line of work, fitting the profile of Pinkman.

Oliver, applying sauce to the last piece of steak, which was slightly larger than usual, asked.

“If it’s okay, can I help you just until we connect to the World Tree?”

“…Are you sure?”

Pandora was surprised, unable to predict this reaction. She seemed calm on the surface, yet was genuinely taken aback.

“Yes, that’s what I want to do.”

It was a short but firm answer, conveying his true intention. Pandora fidgeted with her hands before nodding, feeling both joy and gratefulness.

After her reply, Oliver placed the last remaining piece of steak into his mouth and chewed it.

The tender meat and rich juices. Lately, he had come to realize that meals were indeed a pleasure.

After placing money, including a tip, on the table, Oliver wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up.

Then, without hesitation, he walked over to a middle-aged gentleman sitting in the corner and politely greeted him.

“Good evening, sir.”

The sturdy man eating a fish dish was surprised to hear Oliver suddenly speak to him, or at least appeared so.

“Yes? Do you need something…?”

“Yes, are you the one in charge here? It seems like it, but I’m not sure.”

Oliver pointed to several of the restaurant’s patrons.

The busy businessman, the couple murmuring sweet words, and the old man with his grandson—they were all Pinkman.

When he accurately identified the hidden Pinkman, the middle-aged man’s expression stiffened.

It made sense, as while some people had realized the Pinkman were hiding, very few ever pinpointed which people were which.

Even considering his status as a Dark Sorcerer, it was quite impressive.

The middle-aged man gestured for Oliver to sit across from him.

“Thank you. But since we’re having a conversation, let’s refrain from this. Please.”

Some Pinkman had been eyeing Pandora, seemingly about to make their move. Oliver politely requested that they hold back.

All Pinkman who were waiting for their opportunity froze. The middle-aged man who acknowledged himself as their leader also ordered them to stop.

“What do you want?”

“Is there any way you could let that young lady be for today?”

“It seems you misunderstand. I’m not a human trafficker.”

“I know. And that young lady isn’t a person.”

A calm yet pointed statement. The middle-aged man leaned forward.

“Do you know what she really is?”

“Yes.”

“Then I suppose you know who we are as well.”

“Most likely.”

“Yet, you still speak like this… Who are you?”

The middle-aged man unleashed a subtle yet heavy pressure, releasing his magical energy towards Oliver.

His control over magic was exceptional, targeting only Oliver, even in a crowded hotel dining hall.

Gu-gu-gu-gu-gu…

It wasn’t fatal, but the pressure was just right to break someone’s spirit.

The chair where Oliver sat creaked under the force.

Of course, it didn’t affect Oliver at all.

“Ah, my apologies. I should have introduced myself first; I’ve been making too many mistakes today.”

Oliver truly apologized, thinking he had just made a simple mistake.

Oliver removed the spells on his body, deactivating one of his pure magic spells—Disguise Magic.

As if erasing lines with a pencil, his hands, face, and exposed neck returned to their original gaunt form.

“Dave… Are you by chance the lumberjack Dave? The problem-solver of Randa?”

“Yes, do you know me?”

“Of course I do. You’re the one who broke your employer’s nose. Normally, people in this world wouldn’t do something like that, no matter how rough things were.”

“Ah… I didn’t mean to go that far.”

Oliver defended himself. He really only intended to land a single blow, not to break his nose.

The focus on the nose… was just an instinctive mistake.

“What’s your connection with the Forest Maiden?”

“The Forest Maiden?”

“I mean Eve.”

Without beating around the bush, the middle-aged man got straight to the point.

Oliver took a brief glance at Pandora after hearing his question.

“…One thing I can tell you for sure is that we only just met.”

“I‘ve heard about you from the Pinkman at Randa’s branch.”

“Is that so?”

“Information is power. Didn’t expect you to have a sense of humor too.”

“Ah, thank you for the compliment. I’ve been reading humor books for an hour each day… but that wasn’t a joke.”

Although the middle-aged man was a magical being and couldn’t read emotions like Oliver, his scholarly knowledge, experience as a wizard, and expertise as a Pinkman allowed him to see through Oliver’s façade instantly. He realized it was the truth.

After pondering for a moment, the middle-aged man finally made up his mind and spoke.

“Shall we talk outside?”

“Of course. Wait a moment… Would you please follow me?”

Oliver asked Pandora, who had been anxiously watching them.

Pandora immediately stood up, but the middle-aged man stopped her.

“No, only Dave should come along.”

“Sorry, but I can’t do that. I’d be in trouble if you took her while I was away.”

Oliver saw through the Pinkman’s intentions instantly. The middle-aged man could only mutter one thing and pull back.

“You’re really different from the rumors.”

***

Oliver followed the middle-aged man with Pandora into a wide, eerie alley not far from the hotel.

This place, First Step, seemed like a well-developed City, but as it was a purpose-built City, it also had desolate areas.

The large alley not far from the luxurious hotel was proof of that.

“Though different from the rumors, in some ways you’re the same. I didn’t think you’d actually follow me.”

“You asked me to, didn’t you?”

Oliver answered the middle-aged man’s comment. Confused by Oliver’s unusually calm demeanor, the man felt reassured by the plan he had laid out.

Looking around, that confidence wasn’t unfounded.

Click. Click. Click. Click. Pause.

The middle-aged man wielding a cane stopped, indicating they had arrived.

“Dave, do you know something? The Pinkman have been looking for you.”

Oliver shifted his eyes, observing the surroundings.

The Pinkman who had disguised themselves as restaurant patrons had followed him, blocking his escape route. Others stationed throughout the alley moved silently, positioning themselves.

A level of coordination unimaginable for mere street gangs.

However, what stood out even more was the high-quality weapons and armor the Pinkman carried.

Bulletproof vests with magical resistance, enchanted firearms, and magically reinforced axes and swords.

Even considering their reputation, the gear was all top-notch.

‘But the most notable thing is the Holy Power items,’

Oliver thought as he noticed that one in every five of the Pinkman wore Holy Power items.

Holy Power items were powerful even against wizards but were lethal to a Dark Sorcerer.

These items were expensive, and their sale was tightly controlled by the churches. They were hard to come by, yet there were five here.

For a Dark Sorcerer, this was a reasonably terrifying situation.

Holy Power was an overwhelming force, regardless of the strength of Dark Magic.

“Did you know that the Holy Knights are also looking for you?”

“No, but I’ve been cautious.”

“That’s why you concealed your identity with Disguise Magic.”

“Yes, this doesn’t seem like a place that’s very welcoming to Dark Sorcerers.”

“You’re well-informed. So, I’ll get straight to the point. Hand over the Forest Maiden to us.”

“I followed you here because I can’t do that, and we’d be better off talking this out and finding a compromise.”

“Honestly, it’s just a waste of breath and time. We came here to capture the Forest Maiden… You understand Eve’s value, don’t you?”

Oliver certainly understood. Eve was the ultimate being, capable of revolutionizing the unknown field of the World Tree.

Seamus, who made over 3 trillion from the ABC scam, had camped out in the forest instead of fleeing Randa, all because of Eve. In other words, Eve’s value was at least over 3 trillion.

That was why Oliver wasn’t surprised the Pinkman were after Pandora.

Whether they sold her or utilized her, her existence itself was immensely valuable.

But on the other hand, something about it didn’t feel entirely right. After all, Eve and Pandora had their own free will.

Forcing them to act against their will just felt… wrong.

As Oliver was about to make a rational argument, the middle-aged Pinkman spoke first.

“If you hand over the Forest Maiden to us, we won’t threaten you anymore. In fact, we don’t want any conflicts with you.”

“What?”

“Our employer doesn’t have a favorable opinion of you. They don’t understand why you’re here and are upset about you assaulting the former employer.”

Oliver showed no reaction. Edith had predicted this long before. Showing any reaction now would be difficult.

“However, if you cooperate with us on this matter, I’ll recommend to our employer that we don’t treat you as an enemy. I have that authority. If you wish, I can even talk to the Holy Knights for you.”

“That’s very kind of you.”

“Excuse me?”

Pandora asked in surprise.

The middle-aged man continued speaking.

“But if you continue to obstruct us, I can’t promise you anything. Think it over carefully. You need to consider the business you’re running in Randa, don’t you?”

“…What?”

Oliver asked, pausing.

“As a businessman, you should consider the risks… Our employer wields significant power and influence right now. If you keep interfering, it could harm your newly established business. We’d rather avoid that.”

A careful, mild threat disguised as concern. It was the kind of sneaky threat the United Kingdom was known for, and it wasn’t a bad approach.

It usually worked.

The problem was that this time, the opponent was quite different from the usual.

“Are you threatening the people around me as hostages?”

Oliver asked directly, without any misunderstanding or confusion.