Chapter 507: Excessive Equipment

507. Excessive Equipment (1)

Oliver got out of the car as he entered the Big Wheel’s hideout.

“Hello? …Are you Hogg, the leader of Big Wheel?”

Oliver asked a muscular man who stood rigidly.

The man appeared to be in his 50s, had a sharp military haircut, and a roughly grown beard. It seemed he was Hogg, the leader of Big Wheel. Luckily, the guess was right.

“Who are you?”

“Oh, my apologies. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Xenon Bright from the Tower of Magic’s Elemental Faction.”

Oliver pulled out a business card with one hand and handed it to the man, a business card as white and stiff as an eggshell.

Hogg stared at the card in silence, lost in thought, with emotions like longing, regret, and jealousy silently flickering in his eyes.

“…So, you were the one we attacked?”

“Do you know me?”

“Of course I do. You’re a fixer for the Tower of Magic, and a rising big shot in Randa. Your appearance is a bit different from what I heard, though… Damn, I knew it would be risky with that high pay, but I didn’t expect it to be this much. I should have checked, even though I had no time.”

Oliver tilted his head.

“A… big shot in Randa?”

“Are you pretending not to know?”

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re just as sinister as the rumors say. You killed Seamus, stole his power, and secretly built your influence while pretending to be humble, taking control of an entire district…”

Oliver was speechless. It was all true, but somehow it felt twisted.

“I guess it makes sense. Anyone who can have a rich lover, while also being a pimp for dozens of prostitutes, must have that kind of shamelessness… Are you here for revenge?”

Oliver raised a finger on his left hand, gesturing for a moment. He was confused by what Hogg was saying.

Rich lover? A pimp? He had heard people say such things occasionally.

“Hmm…”

Oliver hummed as he sorted his thoughts.

Should he ask about those strange rumors first, or should he focus on the business? After a brief but long contemplation, Oliver decided to prioritize business over personal issues.

“I’m not here for revenge. I’m here to propose a deal.”

“…A deal?”

“Yes, a deal. There are things I’m curious about, both personally and professionally… Could you tell me who supported and supplied you?”

Oliver revealed the reason he had come here.

The reason being, the equipment Big Wheel had received was beyond imagination.

Submachine guns, machine guns, and even bikes could be accepted, but the Magitech Armor he saw last was not something he could overlook.

Yareli had mentioned that it was a handcrafted model currently under development, and that for now, it was impossible to produce it in Seland. Even in the producing country, it was heavily regulated.

Simply finding out who provided such equipment would be a huge help, not only for this job but for others as well.

That’s why Derek and Yareli had agreed to come here.

However, Hogg merely laughed at the explanation.

“Ha! This is different from the rumors. They said you killed hundreds of Druids like you were chopping down trees, so I thought you’d go straight to your fists if things went wrong… but you’re quite the gentleman, aren’t you?”

“Thank you for the compliment, but it’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t kill hundreds of Druids. I only killed 82. There were circumstances… and I’m not a gentleman.”

“Hmm… you’re even more insane than I heard.”

“I’m sorry… In any case, would you consider doing business with me? I know you attacked us, but I understand that you had your reasons. You were pushed out by unaffiliated gangs, right?”

Hogg reacted furiously.

“Ha! …Did my subordinates tell you this?”

“Uh… similar.”

“Strange. My subordinates aren’t the talkative type, though?”

“Well… either way, my point is that I want to start a new deal with you. Just tell me who ordered the attack and provided you with that equipment. I’ll pay you fairly and leave. How about it?”

Oliver pulled out a rod-shaped device from his coat. It seemed to be a video recording device, something attached to the temples, shoulders, and chests of the gang members who attacked him on the road.

“No revenge. I’ll pay, and just leave? Out of kindness?”

“It’s not kindness; it’s just that I think it’s reasonable. We have our reasons and would prefer not to fight, and getting information voluntarily is the best. I’ll apologize if I offended you.”

“An apology…? …You already wrecked our hideout and ran over one of my men with a car.”

Oliver looked to the side. The gang member he had run over earlier was lying with their guts spilled out. Other gang members, alerted by the commotion, were gathering with Magitech weapons and black magic items in hand.

“I thought making an impact was good for negotiations.”

“You’re just as unpleasant as those Tower of Magic guys. It’s all your way.”

At that moment, Oliver thought to himself, ‘I knew it.’ Hogg seemed to have some connection to the Tower of Magic, possibly influence, though it was just a feeling.

Before long, the Big Wheel members who had gathered surrounded Oliver.

Some were armed with regular guns, but among them were those who appeared to be officers, equipped with mechanical gauntlets, magical firearms, and magus’s staff.

Each piece was expensive, some of them even hard to obtain.

“I’ll reject your offer. We’re getting something massive in return for destroying you. If we back out now because we’re scared, how will we survive? This world respects guts.”

Despite his words, Hogg had let emotions influence his decision. The problem was that it didn’t seem to be his will alone. It appeared related to the black magic item on his body.

Still, just in case, Oliver tried to persuade him.

“If you need work, I can offer some.”

“…What?”

“We don’t have anyone handling transportation yet… Road Gang used to earn money through that. How about it? You were indirectly affected by our business, so at least I can…”

“-You must think I’m a joke!!”

Hogg flared up.

“Pardon?”

“Offering me crumbs as if I’d sell out my clients. Why?! Did you think I’d roll over with a few soft words because you’re famous?”

“No, I just—”

“—I refuse! I won’t survive on scraps! Guys! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! Attack!”

At the leader’s command, the Big Wheel members surrounding the ruined building charged at Oliver.

Mechanical gauntlets clanked as they spat out blue steam, magical firearms emitted a glow of power, and the magus, trembling slightly, spat fire from her mouth. She seemed to belong to the Agni Faction.

“It’s a pity.”

Surrounded, Oliver spoke softly, and at the same time, a huge truck fell from the sky.

It was the illegally modified truck that had attacked Oliver. As the massive hunk of metal suddenly dropped from the sky, the ground shook and a huge blaze erupted all around.

“Grahh—!!”

“Fire! Fire!! Ahhh—!”

“Aaaahhh!!!”

The Big Wheel members, who had been focused only on Oliver, screamed and scattered in chaos amid the sudden disaster.

Of course, those who were outside the truck’s crash zone were safe, but that changed when Derek descended from the sky.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to do this from the start without trying to talk?!”

Derek, holding a longsword, landed in the middle of the flames and shouted, concentrating his power into his sword and deploying his magic.

As a member of the Agni Faction, he controlled the fire like it was an extension of himself, concentrating it on his sword. When the blade glowed red-hot, he swung it through the air.

Eight streams of fire split the ground, sweeping through the gangs that surrounded Oliver.

His skills were impressive before, but they had improved significantly since last being seen.

Not only did he spill his magic naturally, but his power and control had also drastically improved. It was clear he had been trained by Kevin.

“Graaah!!”

A scream erupted from the sea of fire and the fallen truck.

Heavy, rumbling noises followed as a massive earth wall rose from the ground, made of stone, dirt, and magic.

Was it a wizard? No. It was a gang member wielding a mechanical weapon infused with Gaia Faction’s magic.

He was a giant man, filled with muscle, who used a massive hammer-shaped Magitech weapon to control the earth. He raised the barrier to physically block the flames, then reactivated his weapon and struck the ground.

Chik chik chik! The engine of the mechanical weapon groaned as the magic inside raged and eventually exploded, creating a stone pillar under the man’s feet that launched him high into the air. Taking advantage of the momentum, the giant man targeted Derek.

Derek didn’t flinch. He focused fire on his sword again, heating the blade to a scarlet glow, ready to counterattack.

But just as the giant and Derek were about to clash, something with red wings swooped in from above, grabbing the giant in midair.

It was Unner. Using blood magic, she had sprouted bloody wings, and with her slender body, she wielded strength unimaginable as she seized the giant.

With one hand, she grabbed his neck, and with the other, she gripped the hand holding the hammer.

Caught off guard by the unexpected attack and even more by his unexpected opponent, the giant tried to resist by moving the hand gripping his weapon. But as Unner applied pressure, his arm snapped, causing him to drop the hammer.

With the giant disarmed, Unner threw him into the air and then slashed his belly with her razor-sharp claws.

Blood and guts scattered from the sky.

Unner activated her blood magic, taking control of all the blood, not leaving a single drop.

[Blood Spear]

She used the blood she had collected to create innumerable thin spears and threw them, targeting the gangs who had survived Derek’s flames.

The survivors desperately tried to block them, but the blood spears, fueled by blood, magic, and emotion, were powerful, piercing through the bodies of the gang members, who were instantly killed.

Unner seemed to have anticipated this. As soon as the spears penetrated the gangs, she used them to gather even more of their blood.

It wasn’t a bad choice.

Blood magic is half magic and half black magic. The more materials and the better the quality, the greater the power she could wield.

Kwakwang━!!

As Unner wiped out the remaining forces, an icy mountain emerged from the warehouse and parking lot near the hideout.

It was Yareli’s work. The plan was for Yareli to attack the warehouse and parking lot once the negotiations broke down and Oliver had drawn attention.

The Skadi Faction’s ice magic was perfect for subduing opponents while minimizing damage to buildings and objects.

Boom!

While everyone’s attention was on the iceberg, Hogg focused his magic into his legs, suddenly charging and swinging a knife at Oliver.

Like Unner had said after consuming Big Wheel’s blood, Hogg’s knife skills were exceptional. In one swift motion, the knife, imbued with magic and glowing blue, aimed for three directions—left, right, and straight ahead.

Clang, clang, clang!

“Impressive.”

Oliver, who easily blocked with his short quarterstaff, commented.

“You little brat!”

Infuriated by Oliver’s remark, Hogg pushed his magic to the limit, increasing the speed of his blade to a frantic pace.

It was a reckless method that put a strain on his body, but it made the knife fast and deadly.

This aggressive combat style had gradually ruined his body, which was why he had been pushed out of Randa and overtaken by unaffiliated gangs. But his fighting spirit was still fierce.

Clang clang clang!! Clang! Clang clang clang━!!

Hogg focused his magic on his arms, launching three slashes almost simultaneously to create an opening in Oliver’s defense, followed by a powerful stab, and then a wild flurry of slashes.

Even though Oliver was standing still, he easily blocked everything with his quarterstaff and magic shield.

Ssssssiii.

Frustrated by his failed attacks, Hogg retreated to widen the distance.

“Should I join in?”

“No, Derek. If it’s okay, could you and Unner go help Yareli? I sense a strong magic power over there.”

Derek turned his head toward Yareli. Just as Oliver had said, he detected strong magic. It was a Magitech weapon.

Derek glanced at Oliver and immediately moved without complaint. Unner, too, flew away with the large amount of blood she had collected.

“Ha! No need for backup against someone like me? Confident, aren’t you?”

“No, that’s not it. I don’t underestimate you, Hogg. It’s just I’m too weak.”

Oliver recalled The Burned One as he explained. Compared to him, Oliver was nothing.

“I simply think the other side is more important. I’m here to ask about your backer, but I’m also here to secure your equipment… Above all.”

“What?”

“The black magic item you’re wearing caught my attention. What is it?”

Hogg answered by ripping off his shirt.

Underneath, there was an armor made of skin, mixed with red and pink, just like human flesh.

Worse still, embedded in the chest and abdomen were human faces, twisted in agony.

It looked much like Bathory’s skin vest.

“That was made from wizards and magic users, wasn’t it?”

Oliver recognized the aura emanating from the skin as he asked.

“You know? Thanks to this, I can do this.”

With that, the Armor of Inphy fully enveloped Hogg’s body. The armor sprouted mouths all over, swallowing the surrounding flames.

Hogg covered himself entirely in the flames and shouted.

“Feels great!!”