Chapter 573: Bean City

“That over there is Bean City. Can you see it?”

Lysander, sitting right behind Oliver, pointed and explained like a tour guide.

“Yes… It really does look like a giant’s skull.”

Oliver stared at the giant skull-shaped rock by Bean City’s harbor, marveling at it innocently.

The skull rock, far larger than any giant Oliver had ever seen, was so massive that calling it a Titan rather than a mere giant wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

They say the city was built by selling the body parts of a dead Titan. It didn’t seem like just a tall tale.

“Is that rock really the remains of a Titan?”

“Who knows? Some people in the city believe it, while others don’t… But, I mean, would you believe a story about climbing a giant beanstalk to a heavenly realm, killing a giant, and then using its remains to build a city?”

Oliver nodded, understanding Lysander’s point.

After all, climbing a beanstalk to the heavens, stealing from the giant living there, and cutting down the beanstalk to make the giant fall and die sounded far-fetched.

But, separate from that, Oliver could see the remains of a giant beanstalk.

There, beside the mountain range behind Bean City, stood the remnants of the beanstalk, withered and hardened like stone, looking much like a massive rock formation.

“Let me get a look too.”

Ewan, sitting in the passenger seat next to Oliver, requested.

“Oh, sorry. Go ahead.”

Oliver moved back a bit, making it easier for Ewan to see. Yet, Ewan wasn’t satisfied and made an additional demand.

“I think I’d see better if you took off these chains wrapped around me.”

Ewan clattered as he spoke, bound in five layers of chains.

Ewan had tried to escape, so the chains were necessary, as Oliver explained.

“I’m sorry. I’ll assist you to see better instead.”

Oliver only held the steering wheel with Ptah’s Assistant, using his intact left hand to pull Ewan closer to the window.

“Can you see now?”

“Yeah, it’s better, although humiliating. By the way, why does this car even have chains?”

“When I saw the Millieu people use chains to bind you, I thought I should have some too.”

“I don’t even know where to start… Just let me go already.”

“You’ll just run away, won’t you?”

“Of course, I’m going to run away if you’re planning on selling me to meet Jack!”

“You’re mistaken. That’s not my intention.”

“Not your intention, huh? And just because you speak politely doesn’t mean you’re respectful. Respect is shown through actions! Damn it! I really got screwed. Never thought you’d be this crazy.”

Oliver apologized as he repositioned Ewan in his seat, but Ewan continued complaining, the chains rattling.

While this noisy exchange continued, Lysander interjected.

“I think it’s better if we walk from here. This car is cool, but it stands out too much.”

In a foreign place, it’s wise to follow the locals. Following Lysander’s advice, Oliver got out of the car, then used a shrinking spell to make the car smaller.

Lysander silently watched the process.

“…”

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, no, nothing. Please put these on.”

Lysander quickly reached into his bag and pulled out some old, worn-out gray cloaks.

“Ack!”

As the gray cloaks emerged from the bag, the Greedy Bag let out a groaning noise, and Oliver took a cloak and put it on.

“Thank you.”

“Considering what’s on the line, it’s cheap.”

“Yes, but this cloak is so cheap that I can’t wear it.”

Ewan, bound in chains, seemed displeased with the gray cloak.

“You see, I have sensitive skin. If it’s not high-quality, my body rejects it. Besides, the idea of wearing a cloak over another cloak is just so…”

“… I think it suits you well.”

Oliver cut Ewan off mid-sentence, wrapping the cloak around him and covering his face.

“I don’t like you anymore.”

Ewan mumbled, moving the only part free, his chin, and Oliver apologized, then asked Lysander what they should do next.

“Just follow me for now. I’ll handle the rest.”

Confident, Lysander began walking, and Oliver followed with the clattering Ewan in tow.

“This is seriously humiliating.”

Luckily, the moment of humiliation didn’t last long.

After only a short walk, they reached the gate of Bean City, and the feeling from afar was completely different up close.

‘What an interesting sight. Maybe it’s my first time seeing such a fortification?’

Oliver thought as he looked at the walls surrounding Bean City.

The architecture was something he hadn’t seen even in Randa or Gallos. It looked like something out of the medieval past, and seeing the massive shantytown set up outside the walls, the thought grew stronger.

‘But it’s different. It seems to be a slum area, yet not quite like Randa’s.’

As Oliver examined the shantytown outside the walls, Lysander seemed to read his thoughts and explained.

“It’s a refugee camp.”

“What?”

“Here. It’s not an official name, but everyone calls it the refugee camp. As the name implies, everyone here is a refugee, from nearby villages or Ibernia.”

“Ah, I see. Considering it’s a refugee camp, the security seems good.”

“Yes, although everyone lives with less, it’s not like they’re starving or working themselves to death. The security and food supply are somewhat guaranteed.”

“What’s the reason behind it?”

“They probably play an important role in this city.”

Ewan, who had been walking with clattering chains, suddenly chimed in.

“Bean City. A city of dark wizards. They probably provide resources like emotions and corpses as materials for dark magic. In exchange, they get food and safety.”

“…Correct.”

Lysander acknowledged.

Hearing that, Oliver recalled his experience in Wineham helping Joseph gather raw materials.

The memory of extracting motherhood from single mothers to make Filgarett.

“…”

“Safety and food aren’t free, so it’s only natural. But still, this place is better off. In Ibernia, the exploitation is so severe it drove people to death, and the rural areas—”

“—Lysander, is the security here maintained by a dark wizard family?”

Oliver, lost in thought, suddenly felt curious and asked.

“Hmm? Ah… No. This city doesn’t have families.”

“Then how?”

“The city is run by guilds. Dark wizard guilds.”

“Oh… Can you tell me more about it?”

Oliver showed interest in the news.

The dark wizard groups Oliver knew were either organized like crime families or, in some cases, cults, but even those weren’t much different from families.

But a guild? It caught his attention, especially given the current circumstances.

Luckily, Lysander, who had been active as a smuggler in the city, knew quite a bit.

“Well, I don’t know every detail… But basically, dark wizards with similar skills band together to protect their interests. There are guilds that make zombies, and others that make potions.”

Manipulation, disease, fire, creation.

“So, Bean City has only four guilds?”

“No, there are about ten. Even within the same domain, the guilds focus on different specialties. For example, the zombie-making guilds have different focuses like domestic, export, construction, and combat.”

Oliver understood what Lysander was getting at.

Dark magic could be divided into four broad categories, but even within those, there were smaller specializations and different techniques.

“Plus, there are master craftsmen who make dark magic-enhancing potions, Filgarett, elixirs of life, and dark magic items, so there are quite a few guilds.”

“Then, don’t they fight?”

Oliver asked out of curiosity. In Wineham, with only a slight shift, the different factions almost came to blows, and sometimes they even had.

It was no different in Randa. Once they reached a certain level, even a single dark wizard could be as powerful as heavy artillery, or more, depending on their skill.

Even with just ten dark wizard organizations, the city could be described as a powder keg.

Lysander didn’t deny it.

“I won’t say there are no fights. But most of the time, they don’t escalate. There are also pirates and high-profile smugglers in the city, so everyone tries to settle things amiably. It’s the same for the pirates and smugglers too.”

Oliver nodded in understanding.

In other words, there are more than just dark wizards here, so they couldn’t just turn on each other.

“And most of the people here like the city, so there’s hardly anyone who would cause a ruckus that would harm the whole place. After all, this city is as good as it gets for a pirate, dark wizard, or smuggler.”

Lysander explained.

He mentioned there aren’t many places where dark wizards openly set up shop in the streets,

where pirates freely rest in harbors and resupply,

or where smugglers can easily acquire high-quality contraband and dark magic items.

“And this may be the only place where you can do all that. No one has been foolish enough to ruin the city just for a few more spoils. But, admittedly, the city’s a bit of a shithole.”

Lysander spoke with a hint of affection for the city.

“Ah, and the city guards are in charge of the security in the refugee camp. The dark wizard guilds trade with the refugees through the city hall.”

“City guards?”

“Yes, those guys over there.”

Lysander pointed to the massive, solidly built red wall and gate.

Heavily armed guards were talking to people passing through the gate and checking their goods.

Their gear and discipline seemed more akin to Randa’s police, maybe even better, but not quite up to the military.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

Lysander asked Oliver for a moment of patience and walked toward the gate to greet the city guards with a smile.

Given his profession as a smuggler, it was a natural scene.

After a brief conversation, Lysander opened his bag and took out twenty boxes of booze, twenty sacks of sugar, and a few boxes of coffee.

While one guard was taking an inventory, another pulled out a long skewer with an eye attached to it and forced it into the bag to inspect the inside.

In the city of dark wizards, they were checking for hidden dark magic items.

After confirming there was nothing hidden, the guards took some items as a toll and instructed Lysander to pack the rest back into his bag.

At that moment, Lysander pointed to Oliver and Ewan and said something to the guards.

“What’s he saying?”

Normally, this conversation would be out of earshot, but Ewan asked naturally, and Oliver answered just as naturally.

“He’s saying we’re people he needs for his business, and he’s asking to let us pass. In exchange, they can take some goods.”

Thankfully, it seemed to work. The guard glanced over at them and then took a few bottles of booze, coffee, and sugar, motioning for them to pass.

Thus, thanks to Lysander, Oliver was able to enter without much hassle—

“—Wait a minute.”

A guard’s stern voice halted Oliver and Ewan as they were about to pass through.

The guard, with his hand on the gun at his waist, walked over and slightly opened Ewan’s cloak, revealing the chains binding him tightly.

“What’s this about?”

The chains binding Ewan to prevent him from escaping. Lysander seemed momentarily confused on how to respond, but then Oliver spoke up.

“It’s his preference.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

The guard, Lysander, Ewan, and even the sky fell into an awkward silence.

“Refrain from such things in the city.”

The guard, looking like he wished he hadn’t seen anything, walked away, and Oliver nodded at Ewan to indicate they had passed safely.

Ewan, looking at Oliver, said.

“I really don’t like you.”

***

After passing through the gate and entering a back alley.

Oliver and Lysander talked.

“Five hours from now, if you’re at this pub, I’ll make sure to report to the city hall as planned.”

“Yes, thank you. I wanted to take a look around the city, anyway.”

“It’s me who should be thanking you. You saved my life and even gave me the entire reward.”

“I didn’t agree to that. If there’s a bounty on me, I should get a share too.”

“Since Mr. Ewan says so, I think it’s fair for Mr. Lysander to take it all.”

“You little…”

Ewan’s comment, ignored as smoothly as water flowing, made him speak up.

But Lysander, glancing at the time, reminded himself of his task for the last time.

“Then, I’ll report by 5 PM. The city guards will probably surround the area around 5:20 at the earliest.”

“Yes, just in case, we’ll drop by the pub at 4:50.”

Oliver’s calm reply led Lysander to ask.

“Are you sure about this?”

“To be honest, I’m a bit concerned.”

Lysander couldn’t tell if Oliver’s placid expression and tone meant he was being sincere or not. And then.

“Ah, Mr. Lysander. Could I make one more request?”

“Go ahead. Unless it jeopardizes my standing in the city, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Of course. It’s nothing major. Just, when the city guards surround the pub, could you toss this paper into the air above the pub?”

Oliver handed over a piece of paper marked with spatial magic symbols.

Lysander reflexively inspected the item, trying to figure out what it was.

“Spatial magic… Is this a scroll?”

Lysander’s question ended with uncertainty. His reaction was understandable.

The item was so crude it didn’t even look like a proper scroll, just a plain piece of paper with scribbled spell patterns.

“It’s something like that.”

“…What happens if I throw it?”

“I’d love to explain more, but it’s difficult. It’s just to help with a smooth conversation with Mayor Jack.”

“Without details, it’s hard to agree.”

“I understand.”

Oliver immediately moved to retrieve the paper without hesitation. But Lysander caught it.

“…”

“Is it very dangerous?”

“…Not that dangerous.”

“Fine. But this clears my debt, right?”

“If anything, I owe the debt.”

Hearing this, Lysander didn’t hesitate anymore and took the paper then left.

His emotions suggested he would keep his promise to Oliver for sure.

Once Lysander was out of sight, Oliver turned to Ewan.

“Well then, Mr. Ewan. Shall we take a look around the city?”

“Now that I think about it, do I still need to be here? Jack will come soon.”

“No, I must keep my promise to you, Mr. Ewan.”

“What promise?”

“To reconcile Bean City and you, Mr. Ewan.”

***

Oliver spent roughly five hours touring the city with Ewan still chained up.

Even without a map, thanks to some information from Lysander, he didn’t get lost.

He passed the pirate area, the Giant’s Head Harbor,

the dark wizard area, the Black Workshop,

the smugglers’ area, Credit Street,

the seafood market,

the central square market.

The ordinary residential area for the common folk.

Oliver took a quick tour through these six sections of Bean City and only visited the Black Workshop before heading to the pub as planned.

“You’re taking your time.”

Ewan, who spent all five hours being dragged around in chains, suddenly said.

“Hmm?”

“I mean, you came here to find your friend, but you’re taking it easy, touring the city.”

“…That’s true.”

Oliver replied, sipping the moonshine he had ordered.

“Ahh… Strong stuff, isn’t it?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“The way you’re not telling the whole truth and evading straight answers. You’ve scoped out the city, right?”

Even though he was uncomfortable in chains, Ewan saw straight through Oliver.

He knew Oliver had checked out the lay of the land and observed each area’s role during the so-called tour.

“…You’re right, I did some sightseeing.”

“Well, there were certainly intriguing things to see. But I never expected them to run the Black Workshop like a guild.”

Ewan mentioned the Black Workshop, and Oliver nodded.

As Lysander had mentioned, the Black Workshop differed from the dark wizard workshops Oliver knew.

They still used emotions, bodies, and diseases like other dark magic materials, but the Black Workshop felt much more… out in the open.

It was decidedly more transparent and organized than the dark wizard families in Randa, adhering to legal and socially accepted practices. It felt like seeing a new form of dark magic.

Oliver candidly shared his thoughts.

“It was quite fascinating.”

“So, that’s why you put up with dragging me around in chains.”

“Thank you for your patience.”

“Now that you know, you’ll cover the cost of the food and drinks. Innkeeper, bring more drinks!”

Ewan, with his arms tied, had to eat and drink only with his mouth as he ordered more.

“Of course. You’ve been considerate by not untying me, even though you easily could.”

Ewan paused.

“…What did you say?”

“Just what I said. The chains, they could be removed, but you haven’t.”

“I appreciate that you think so highly of me, but what makes you believe that?”

Oliver looked out the tavern window at the mountain range that stood behind Bean City like a wall. More specifically, he focused on the remnants of the giant bean tree beside the range, which was now just a stump.

“…Because you’re the one who made that bean tree interwoven with space magic.”