Chapter 505: Road Gang

505. Road Gang (1)

Vrooooom!!

On the road away from Randa, a large truck was speeding.

The exterior of the large truck was as unusual as the roaring engine sound.

Thick layers of armor, massive special-coated wheels, a heavy body, and traces of various modifications… it resembled an illegally modified vehicle used by the Road Gang.

However, there were two differences.

One was that unlike the crude, illegal modifications of Road Gang vehicles, this truck had a rather luxurious appearance.

The other difference was that instead of rough, decadent music on the radio, an episode of a popular radio drama was playing.

[At that moment, Frank’s aunt collapsed. The shock worsened her long-term illness in an instant! Her relatives and her heir, Frank, rushed to support her.]

The voice of the radio drama narrator explained the situation. The long story was finally reaching its climax.

Inside the car, Oliver, Derek Redhill, Yareli Iceeye, and Elizabeth Unner all listened to the radio with expressionless faces.

[Eventually, Frank’s aunt passed away three days later. Considering her painful illness, it was seen as a mercy. Unfortunately, she was in so much pain that she forgot to revoke the inheritance right of her nephew, who went on to marry without her blessing. After the funeral, Frank took the train to the rural village where his true love lived.]

Crunch, crunch… The sound of Oliver eating a Calorie Bar quietly echoed.

[Frank met his fiancée Jane and spoke in a low voice.]

[Fairfax, my aunt has passed away.]

[Fairfax asked in return.]

[Really?]

[Yes, my aunt has passed away… She has passed away! We can get married!!]

[Frank joyfully shouted the news of his aunt’s death, embracing his love. Fairfax also laughed happily, hugging him back. With the obstacle that had kept them apart now gone, the couple embraced and spun around, with only the sound of their laughter echoing in the place where they stood.]

[Hahahahaha!!]

[Hahahahaha!!]

“…I’m curious about something. May I ask?”

As the radio drama reached its end, Derek, who was sitting in the passenger seat, spoke up.

“Crunch, crunch… What are you curious about?”

“I was originally going to ask why we’re traveling on a covert mission in such a conspicuous vehicle. But now, I’ve changed my mind.”

“…What?”

“Why are you playing this radio drama?”

Derek questioned, and Yareli and Unner, sitting in the back, showed the same curiosity. They were also wondering.

“Well? Perhaps because there are ladies present?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Yareli, who had been silent, asked. She had grown remarkably since becoming a hero in Gallos. The biggest change being she no longer wore glasses.

“Exactly as I said. Some people I know really like this radio drama. Didn’t you find it entertaining?”

Oliver responded, recalling the maids of the House of Angels who gathered around the radio for this drama during their breaks. Oliver listened to it along with them at those times.

“Personally, I don’t enjoy it.”

“Ah, I see… How about you, Unner?”

Unner, who was seated far from Yareli in the back seat, responded. The adopted daughter and disciple of Bathory, now the leader of the remaining Bathory family.

“Well, I’m not fond of it either…”

“Ah, I see. I quite like it personally.”

Derek, Yareli, and Unner were all slightly startled. It was an unexpected admission.

“I find it quite interesting and feel like I can learn something from it. After all, dramas are based on some degree of reality, right?”

It was a statement worth pondering, but no one argued. After all, it was Oliver. Instead, they asked him what he learned.

“Well… I learned that a young man has little hope other than the inheritance from his parents, that parents can only gain respect by mentioning the inheritance, and that marriage is the only hope for a woman without money.”

Silence filled the car once again. A heavy, long silence.

When the truck trailing them started to pass by, Yareli finally spoke up.

“How about switching to another channel?”

“Good idea.”

Derek immediately pressed the button to change the channel. After some static, a music channel came on, just in time for a song by the famous radio singer Charlotte.

A miraculous singer who, despite not using magic or nature’s power, had the most beautiful voice.

Originally, she was said to be the secret lover of a famous musician, but after a scandal broke out, she used the issue to become famous in an instant.

She showed incredible audacity and determination. Yet, one might wonder why, with such talent, she didn’t become famous without the scandal.

“You seem to know quite a bit.”

Derek asked in surprise. It was unusual for Xenon to know such stories.

“Someone said that one must also learn about such things to live a graceful life and become a gentleman. That’s why I occasionally listen to radio dramas, songs, and read fashion magazines.”

Everyone looked at Oliver, puzzled. Just when they thought they had a grasp on him, he would show them a side that baffled them.

But Oliver was also puzzled.

“If you don’t mind, may I ask a question too?”

“What is it?”

“I was just wondering how you got involved in this mission?”

“Is there a problem?”

Yareli briefly asked, her voice tinged with a hint of resentment.

“No… That’s not it. It’s just surprising. I didn’t think they would bring more people into this secret mission.”

He was right. While the Tower of Magic appeared focused on retrieving the stolen project and breaching technology, the true purpose of this mission was to secretly track, identify, and secure Eve, who was suspected to be behind the break-in.

Oliver questioned why Yareli, Derek, and Unner were informed and added to the operation.

Derek was the first to answer.

“I don’t know either. My uncle mentioned it and asked if I was up to the task, so I agreed. I thought I could get something done.”

Yareli followed up next.

“Something similar for me. Since it’s a significant task for the Tower of Magic, perhaps that’s why.”

Hmm… Oliver nodded, unsatisfied with the vague answers.

“…How did you get involved?”

Derek’s gaze shifted to Unner, his suspicion clear.

“Similar to you. Grandmaster Merlin suggested it to me.”

When she mentioned Grandmaster Merlin, even though it was unexpected, it wasn’t out of place. Oliver nodded again.

However, Derek and Yareli still harbored doubts towards Unner.

It was understandable; despite her identity being cleaned up, rumors about Unner and her sisters circulated within the Tower of Magic.

Moreover, Yareli had faced Unner directly in the past, though not in great detail.

Oliver found this situation unfortunate on a personal level, but on the other hand, he thought it was inevitable. It wasn’t just Derek and Yareli; the entire Tower of Magic felt this way.

Fortunately, Unner, perhaps now accustomed to this atmosphere, stood her ground without getting upset.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be a burden. Even though I may look like this, I can protect myself and have some control over the World Tree.”

At Unner’s words, Derek and Yareli shifted their gaze away.

Despite the suspicious rumors, Unner had proven her worth with her extensive knowledge of blood magic, so they couldn’t continue doubting her.

On top of that, if she could handle the World Tree, she might even be more valuable in this mission than Yareli or Derek.

There are only a few capable of using the World Tree, and fewer still, magicians who can use it in combat.

With the conversation settled for now, Oliver took the opportunity to ask something that had been bugging him.

“Does anyone here feel or might feel carsick?”

Everyone tilted their heads at the sudden question.

“What’s with that all of a sudden?”

“Oh, just that the driving might get a bit rough.”

Another one of Oliver’s mysterious replies. But soon, they understood what he meant.

That’s because a pair of illegally modified trucks suddenly flanked Oliver’s truck from the front and rear.

“What the…?”

Everyone was startled. They had driven so naturally that they had been completely surrounded without realizing it. Without the Warlock’s Eye, Oliver would have noticed too late.

Vroooom… The sound of Oliver’s engine harmonized with the roar of the trucks as they raced across the road.

Upon hearing the engine, Derek realized something.

“This rough engine sound… it’s the Road Gang.”

The Road Gang, also known as the road raiders, was a gang that operated outside the city.

They were known for either delivering illegal goods or stealing them. It seemed like they were opting for the latter this time.

Before he even finished his thought, the trucks maintaining a safe distance closed in dangerously close.

Stopping abruptly would have been disastrous.

“Big Wheel. It’s a Road Gang that used to be powerful in this area.”

Derek deduced based on the modifications of the trucks.

“‘Used to be’? So it’s past tense?”

“Yes, past. They lost ground to other gangs. Especially with small-time gangs from Randa moving outside the city, their influence has waned.”

The small-time gangs of Randa were likely unaffiliated gangs.

With the exclusive contracts of the Crime Firm and Fighter Crew, and Oliver’s redevelopment project in the X-District, unaffiliated gangs were running out of room in Randa.

Forest mentioned that it was like a game of musical chairs, with many unaffiliated gangs being forced to the outskirts of Randa or to small towns.

Who would have thought that this would end up affecting the gangs already outside Randa? It made sense, but facing it firsthand felt different.

“But they don’t look like the ones who’ve been pushed out, though.”

Oliver noted with suspicion. Based on the state of their gear and formation, it didn’t seem like they had lost ground in any competition.

Though their trucks were roughly modified, they were well-maintained, and the engines were powerful. Most importantly, the morale of those inside was high.

Like predators eyeing their prey.

Screeeech…

At that moment, the rear compartment doors of the modified trucks opened, revealing the people inside.

Five men with machine guns and bazookas, and a woman holding a machine gun welded to the floor, her eyes gleaming as they yelled.

“Let’s start the party-”

“-Mortar.”

Oliver shouted, pressing the button for incendiary rounds. The mortar installed at the rear of the vehicle popped out and fired a shell forward.

Thump.

The light sound quickly turned into an explosion, filling the truck’s rear compartment with black smoke and bright red flames. Naturally, the gang members inside didn’t survive.

As the intense flames melted their flesh like wax, their screams echoed, with some twisting in agony before falling onto the road.

Thunk!

One unlucky guy fell in front of Oliver’s truck and was crushed under the specially coated wheels, flattening him like a cutlet.

….

Derek and Yareli were shocked by Oliver’s swift and precise response. But instead of addressing their gazes, Oliver decided to deal with the truck barreling towards them from behind. At this rate, they’d be crushed.

Click, click, clack.

Oliver skillfully maneuvered the steering wheel and gear while simultaneously using his left hand and Ptah’s Assistant to rotate the vehicle 180 degrees.

“It’s my first time trying this, so I’m not sure how well it’ll go.”

“Huh?”

As the view quickly shifted, everyone inside the vehicle was thrown to one side. Before they knew it, they were facing the oncoming truck head-on.

Oliver’s custom car speeding backward, and the illegal modified truck charging forward.

Oliver pressed the button on the center console, deploying the built-in machine guns on both sides of the hood.

“Machine guns?”

“Impressive, right?”

Oliver then hit the fire button.

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat━━!!

Flames shot out from the twin machine guns, and the truck’s reinforced steel plates were torn open and shredded to pieces, the driver included.

As a result, the truck targeting Oliver lost control within seconds, flipped over with a flash, and exploded. A fierce blaze and black smoke shot up into the sky.

In the midst of the unfolding chaos, Oliver remarked.

“Looks like it’s not over yet.”

As if to confirm his words, another modified truck emerged like a monster through the black smoke and flames.

Honnnkk━!

A piercing horn echoed. Accompanied by this, several motorcycles with a design as aggressive as two locomotive engines fused together appeared from the roadside, surrounding Oliver and his companions.

It was clear they had been waiting in ambush.

Oliver carefully observed the attackers one by one, then pulled out a Calorie Bar and stuffed it into his mouth.

“This is getting interesting.”