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[It couldn't be a truly dreadful day…]
One day, a news report aired on the radio.
And it was on a weekend, too.
[Sporadic acts of terrorism have suddenly occurred throughout the city. Bombs have exploded in multiple factories in the industrial districts, and there have been major collision accidents on several main roads, resulting in nurous casualties. The police tried to respond imdiately, but they faced difficulties due to traffic congestion and lack of manpower. So people are saying…]
Just as the news story unfolded, significant incidents began happening one after another in various parts of Landa on an otherwise peaceful weekend.
There were factory explosions, large-scale traffic accidents, and daylight robberies.
Of course, even with the number of incidents, when you consider the entire size of Landa, which encompasses dozens of cities, it wasn't an extraordinary level of chaos.
In reality, Oliver's neighborhood remained peaceful as usual.
Although the events took place in the sa city where he lived, it didn't concern Oliver as if it were happening across the ocean.
And that sentint seed to be the sa for everyone else, except for those affected by the incidents and the police stations involved. Landa, as a whole, remained calm.
However, as the weekend passed, an event occurred that no one could ignore anymore.
Suddenly, important figures from ABC, including Shamus, disappeared overnight.
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
"I never expected things to turn out this way."
Landa City Security Bureau headquarters. In the largest conference room, Paul Carver voiced his bewildernt.
Although he displayed a sense of confusion, there was also a slight tinge of satisfaction in his emotions.
That was because his claim that Shamus was a fraud had been proven true.
Of course, the process was not without its challenges…
Oliver recalled the events that had taken place over the past two weeks.
It was a period of intense confrontation between Shamus and Carver.
Shamus, as soon as his claim that he hadn't t the financial fraudster was proven to be a lie, made a direct assault.
He asserted that the person he had t was indeed soone suspected of being a financial fraudster in the central region of the continent.
People were greatly shaken by his statent, but Shamus remained unfazed.
He claid that the person suspected of being a financial fraudster had been unjustly accused. To ordinary people, it might have sounded like baseless nonsense, but when soone like Shamus spoke with an unwavering deanor, people hesitated.
Shamus vigorously expressed his views through newspapers and radio broadcasts.
"Craig is an honest entrepreneur. He is unjustly accused of being a fraudster due to the backward financial system and underdeveloped economy in the central region of the continent. That's why I t him secretly. Don't you all know how despicable those people are?"
Since he couldn't deny the encounter, Shamus went on to defend Craig's innocence and mock the weak economic scale and lagging financial system of the fragnted central continent.
It was an astonishing response. Even more astonishing was that it resonated with people.
Shamus announced a surprise plan to consider ABC's overseas expansion through Craig and promised to deliver higher returns to the initial investors in Landa.
He claid that the returns, which were initially 10 percent, would be increased to a minimum of 12 percent and a maximum of 15 percent.
The investors who had doubted Shamus were once again shaken by the fact that they could receive more free money, causing even their innate sense of crisis to fade.
Of course, Carver was not idle either.
Formally publicizing the risks of ABC, he analyzed the investnt returns that ABC should pay monthly and the current profitability of ABC, as he had explained to Oliver. This created an extraordinarily strong counter-argunt.
The complex mathematical calculations were sufficient to reignite people's anxiety, and a considerable number of them began seeking to withdraw their money.
However, Shamus maintained his initial stance and responded by returning the principal and investnt returns to those who ca to collect their money.
As if to say, ‘We have no problem even without you.'
At the sa ti, he showcased proposals for partnerships with overseas asset owners and investnt firms, including Gallos, demonstrating the solidity and vision of ABC.
"What you all misunderstand is that ABC's true vision is not your money but the World Tree investnt system that I have built. The World Tree investnt system…! While one city official is nervously blabbering away, there is one thing both you and that fool have overlooked… ABC has never had a failed investnt. If there is, bring it forth. It's because they're trying to completely shut down the company!"
Shamus made his bold statent, shedding all pretenses, and it wasn't entirely false.
Although there was a gap between the profitability Shamus claid and the actual investnt returns of ABC, that didn't an ABC had suffered losses.
Shamus argued that the investnt system was growing day by day, and soon stable returns would be achieved. Any shortfall could be covered by investnts from overseas asset owners and investnt firms who had proposed partnerships. He asserted that custors' money was completely safe.
To prove this, significant custors who sought to withdraw their money found that their investnt returns were promptly paid without delay.
After a week had passed, the majority of custors who had sought to withdraw their money changed their minds and once again entrusted their funds to ABC.
So even took out loans to invest further.
The gamble thrown by Shamus paid off. Thanks to that, the investnt fund, which was originally 2.8 trillion, reached over 3 trillion with an additional 300 billion.
However, it turned out that Shamus had disappeared during the weekend when the city was in chaos. It was like he vanished into thin air.
"Thanks to him, the city is now in an economic crisis. Especially among the urban working class. So astute urban capitalists managed to withdraw their money to so extent, but the workers took out loans and entrusted their entire fortunes to that guy. It's nothing short of a tragedy."
Carver spoke without any sincerity.
"However, where there is bad news, there is also good news. The City Council has appointed us to a special investigation team to capture Shamus due to the severity of the case. From now on, we can move openly without the need to hide."
Arthur raised his hand.
"Can I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"While it's a relief that we haven't wasted our ti and actually accomplished sothing, isn't the special investigation team too dangerous? In reality, it ans carrying guns and resolving this ss, right? It becos risky if we fail."
Oliver didn't know much about the field, but judging by the reactions of those around him, it didn't seem like a wrong statent.
While they were pleased with taking the lead in this case, they also felt the burden of assuming official responsibility.
"Well, I won't deny that. In fact, the council mbers who received money from Shamus proposed that we take care of the job. Perhaps they'll use us as a shield if things don't go well."
"Damn it… That's a big problem, isn't it? We don't even know where Shamus is. Is there anyone who knows?"
Arthur looked at Albert, a mber of the Moirai School.
"Sorry, but I don't know either. I was monitoring through the World Tree, but since the last incident, he refrained from using it for communication, so we couldn't tap into anything. Judging from the quick change in communication thods, it seems like he has been preparing to escape for a while."
In other words, he acted suddenly but was equally well-prepared.
They couldn't trace Shamus's whereabouts, and amidst the shortage of police personnel due to the incident that occurred over the weekend, it was a rather desperate situation.
However, Carver's reaction was different.
"You're all right. If there was really no way, I wouldn't have accepted the position in the special investigation team in the first place."
"…Then?"
"Will you all co in, please?"
Carver said, facing the door of the conference room.
The door creaked open, and two groups of people entered.
All of them were familiar faces to Oliver.
Joe from the Fighter Crew and Jane from the Sisterhood. Each of them brought along a group of people.
"……And them?"
"That group over there is Fighter Crew, a group of solvers contracted by the Cri Firm, and those individuals are Sisterhood. They will unofficially supplent our lack of manpower and information."
Albert asked a question.
"I don't quite understand. I know about them, but why are they suddenly helping us?"
Albert, a mber of the Moirai School faction, asked the question. Just as Carver was about to answer, Jane spoke up.
"To survive."
All eyes turned to Jane. After getting permission from Carver, she continued explaining.
"ABC has grown so large that people seem to have montarily forgotten, but Shamus was affiliated with both Cri Firm and Sisterhood. Soon, people will realize this and co after us."
Oliver raised his hand for the first ti.
"Yes, Mr. Dave… It's nice to see you again. I'm glad to et you."
"Yes, nice to et you too, Miss Jane. As far as I know, Mr. Shamus severed ties with Sisterhood, along with his support base. Is that a problem?"
"To those who have lost everything, that's just a trivial matter. In fact, Daisy, one of Shamus's lovers and a forr Sisterhood mber, was kidnapped and tortured by the solvers who lost their money while shopping yesterday. She won't die, but she'll have to lie in bed for the rest of her life."
"Um… I see."
Oliver understood and nodded.
"We're in a similar situation. Cri Firm is panicking at the thought of getting involved in this ss. So of the people who entrusted them with their organization's funds are also worried."
Joe spoke politely to Oliver. He was dressed in a suit, similar to before, but it was slightly looser, and his hair was slightly ssy, as if he hadn't used wax. It was a natural look that Oliver hadn't seen in a while… It looked good.
"Well… May I speak again?"
In the middle of the briefing, where it suddenly turned into a situation where Oliver received the report, Carver asked politely.
Oliver apologized and handed over the floor to Carver.
"Thank you. As ntioned earlier, they also have their own reasons to capture Shamus. Cri Firm has been gathering information on Shamus for a while now, and they have thousands of mbers. Sisterhood, on the other hand, has a comprehensive network of information and knows the secret hideouts discovered by Shamus's subordinates. So, we will cooperate with them to pursue Shamus. First, we will divide into teams based on this information."
-Ahhhahhhhhahhhhahhhhhhahhhhhh!
In the midst of Carver's briefing, a terrible scream echoed throughout the conference room.
It was so horrifying that it sent shivers down everyone's spine.
Naturally, Carver had no choice but to stop talking, and everyone turned their heads toward the source of the sound.
It was directed at Oliver.
Oliver, apologizing to everyone, took out a small, round piece of flesh from his pocket.
The identity of that piece of flesh was a type of communication device he received from Ewan.
Everyone fell silent at the sight of the grotesque item, and Oliver activated the communication device while apologizing repeatedly.
The screams stopped.
"Uh, well, there's an urgent matter-"
Oliver spoke, but faint words flowed unilaterally from the mouth part of the human head.
Oliver paused.
The flowing words were too faint to be understood, but Oliver's reaction was concerning, which could be observed by the slight change in his usually calm expression.
Usually, if we compare it to human standards, it would have been a matter easily overlooked, but for so reason, the people in the conference room felt a strange tension.
It was a spine-chilling tension that crept up their spines.
Swoosh.
Oliver pushed his chair back and slowly stood up from his seat.
Then he spoke.
"Mr. Carver… I apologize for interrupting while we're working, but there's sothing I need to attend to. May I excuse myself for a mont?"
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
"Ugh…! Kids and won, run away quickly!"
Kent, the leader of the Poor Brothers, shouted.
In response to Kent's shout, the beggars ard with guns and clubs led the won and children to the secret passage at the back.
They moved with their mouths covered by both hands, following the training they received. In this city, to survive as the weak, they had to hide their bodies in silence, not by screaming for help.
As soon as they confird that the won and children had escaped safely, a young beggar shouted.
"They're coming!!"
At the urgent cry, dozens of beggars tensed up and hid behind cover.
And then, they aid their guns at the intruders coming from the dark sewer at the other end.
"Fire!"
At Kent's command, the beggars who took positions at the abandoned sewer entrance opened fire.
The flashing muzzles illuminated the sewer, simultaneously bringing down the attackers who were trying to invade.
"Ugh…!"
"Stop! Stop! Those bastards are ard!"
"What the hell are these beggars?!"
Confused, the enemies retreated while shouting. Kent's subordinates rejoiced at their unexpected victory.
Kent warned them not to let their guard down.
If gangsters attacked them while they were monitoring, it was a sign of trouble.
Terrifyingly, sothing rushed toward them from the darkness again, as if to reinforce that thought.
It was a druid.
"Fire!"
Kent shouted again, and they shot at the man who was swiftly approaching them.
Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam!
The gunshots resounded loudly.
However, the man, with a smirk as if mocking them, only covered sensitive areas and charged straight ahead.
Even though he had a human body, the bullets did not hit him.
"This is insane…!"
"Haa!!"
When the beggars were exhausted from the irrational power, the man scread and struck a drum filled with cent with his long legs.
Surprisingly, the drum filled with cent not only shattered like an empty can but also flew several ters backward, crushing all the beggars within its range.
"……."
Kent was speechless, shocked by the spectacle. It was a monster he rarely encountered even during his days as a solver.
But the shock didn't end there.
A rat, the size of a small dog, squeezed through the gap in the ceiling and pounced on the Poor Brothers.
Squeak! Snap! Squeak! Snap!
The rat, making rhythmic squealing sounds and devouring human organs, instilled fear, and with just one attack, the invaders took control of the fight.
Snap! Snap!
Snap! Snap!
Kent swung his quarterstaff towards two rats rushing towards him, splitting their heads, and shot them with his pistol at close range, piercing their skulls.
Then he shouted.
"Everyone, retreat!"
As soon as Kent gave the order, the Poor Brothers who were desperately fighting against the intruders began to flee together.
It was an excellent command to save the dying mbers, but for Kent, it turned into a danger.
"So, you're the leader."
The druid casually picked up a broken wooden box fragnt and tossed it lightly toward Kent.
Although the druid picked it up effortlessly, the box was quite heavy, and Kent, who couldn't avoid the fragnt in ti, was hit and fell down.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The druid approached.
The mbers shot their guns to protect Kent and blocked the way, but the druid's casual punch shattered their heads, killing them instantly.
Even in the midst of agony, Kent forcibly gathered his strength and swung his quarterstaff, but the druid swiftly caught it with his reflexes.
"So, you're the leader of these beggars?"
The druid asked, then raised his palm and, along with the quarterstaff, cut off one of Kent's arms.
Crunch!
With the sound of breaking bones, blood sprayed.
"……!!"
Kent scread silently.
"Oh… Can you endure that?"
The druid stomped on Kent with his large foot. He exerted a little more weight, and as a result, Kent's ribcage made a creaking sound.
"Old man, are you the one who fucked with our boss? The hotel guy?"
Kent only glared back instead of answering.
"You won't answer… Well, it doesn't matter. I'm just here to vent my frustrations in this fucking situation."
The druid lifted his foot slightly, ready to trample and kill.
At that mont, a strange aura was felt from up ahead.
When he turned his head, there was indeed a person standing there.
It was a man wearing a thick, large cloak.
He spoke.
"You've worked hard. Leave."
(To be Continued)
OR
$5/month6 chap ahead 5 chap/week$15/month12 chap ahead 5 chap/week$30/month19 chap ahead 5 chap/week$45/monthAll advance chap 6 chap/week
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