Genius Warlock

Nora’s words were proven accurate.

When they followed her instructions and stepped onto the street outside the building, they witnessed a confrontation between three druids and a group consisting of the Fighter Crew and Marie’s attendants.

These druids, comprising two men and one woman, courageously faced off against dozens of warlocks.

‘Enjoyment… doesn’t seem to be the case?’

Oliver silently pondered as he observed the druids.

Their natural aura, tall stature, abundant Life-force, and green-tinted hair left no doubt that they were druids, but they were a distinct breed from the Enjoyments.

Unlike the Enjoyments, who had grown weary of their stifling lives and rigorous training, fleeing to the city and adorning themselves in expensive attire, these druids were unique.

Their sole commonality with the Enjoyments was their green hair, but they wore simple and rustic fur garments along with green leaf capes, a stark contrast to the opulent fashion prevalent in the grand city of Landa.

These were a new breed of druids, and Forrest unveiled their true identity.

“How interesting… Real druids visiting Landa.”

“Real druids?”

Oliver mused, almost speaking to himself.

Marie leaned in and whispered upon hearing his words.

“It refers to druids in training in Greenland.”

Greenland, a region under the Union Kingdom, despite its poverty, enjoyed significant autonomy in certain areas.

One example of this autonomy was the direct governance exercised by the druids.

However, something felt amiss. To Oliver’s knowledge, druids, who were primarily focused on nature and training, rarely ventured beyond Greenland, and doing so was no simple task.

“That is—”

“—Are you perhaps Forrest?”

The man positioned at the center of the group of druids spoke up.

This middle-aged man, the largest among them, sported a long beard and hair that resembled that of a wild beast.

With composure, Forrest continued the conversation with the imposing figure, using his unique skills and courage as a broker.

“Yes. I am Forrest, the broker from district T. It’s an honor to meet such a renowned druid.”

“Pleasant words to hear, even if they’re flattery… I’m Druid Pierce.”

“You must be from the reformists.”

“Now, such distinctions are meaningless.”

“Ah, I read in the newspapers. The conflict with the traditionalists has ended… So, you’re here because of the special law?”

Special law? Oliver found himself perplexed by the conversation, unable to grasp its intricacies. He understood the concepts of reformists and traditionalists.

Druids were primarily divided into three groups:

1. The traditionalists, who revered nature and adhered to the teachings of their ancestors.

2. The reformists, who prioritized human interests and aimed to harness and control nature in accordance with the times.

3. The Enjoyments, who cared only for their own freedom and pleasures.

Traditionally, the traditionalists and reformists had been ideologically at odds, and their conflicts had provided an opportunity for the Enjoyments to leave Greenland in pursuit of their desires.

However, Oliver remained clueless about the special law. Had something significant transpired during his absence from Galos?

Pierce, bearing the likeness of a wild beast, began to speak.

“I’ve come to make a request… Before that, who is Dave?”

“It’s me.”

Before Forrest could respond, Oliver impulsively raised his hand and answered out of curiosity.

All eyes turned towards Oliver, and Pierce advanced towards him with measured strides, an act that carried an air of intimidation despite its simplicity.

Joe and Marie gathered around Oliver, concerned, but he reassured them with a raised hand.

Pierce halted in front of Oliver, examining him while stroking his chin. His hands were thick and robust, akin to those of a bear.

“…You look emaciated.”

“There were some issues.”

“You defeated Seamus… Did you defeat that whelp?”

Before Oliver could respond, Forrest intervened.

“I refuse the request.”

“Refuse? What makes you think you know what I’m about to ask? I’ve brought enough money. City folks like money, after all.”

“Of course, I know. Druids are very wealthy.”

There was a subtle undercurrent of disdain in the exchange between Forrest and Pierce.

“And I can guess why a druid would come to such a city. A druid who fled Greenland. You want us to capture an Enjoyment, don’t you?”

Pierce offered no denial, confirming the truth with his silence. Forrest naturally positioned himself between Oliver and Pierce, averting a potential altercation.

Pierce took a step back and nodded.

“You know well.”

“If not for that, there would be no reason for a druid to come to the city… Unfortunately, I must refuse that request.”

Oliver found himself slightly taken aback. Forrest, who typically approached work with seriousness and diligence, always thorough in his investigation of requests, had made an unusual decision. Nevertheless, this decision was not entirely unfathomable.

With the impending major project of redeveloping District X, it was becoming increasingly impractical to continue working as a broker.

‘It seems it’s not just because of that.’ Oliver thought, as he observed Forrest’s demeanor. Forrest exhibited a notable degree of caution, unease, and discomfort in the presence of the Druid Reformists.

“Why do you refuse?” Pierce inquired.

“We all, including my friends here, are preparing for a small business, so we won’t be taking any requests for a while… If you wish, I can introduce you to a capable broker.”

“Are you talking about the redevelopment project?” Pierce spoke as though he possessed knowledge of the situation. Caught off guard by this response, Forrest was slightly surprised, but Pierce pressed on without hesitation.

“There are people like that. Those who think Druids, just because they train in the forest, are ignorant of the ways of the world.”

“I never said that.”

“But you thought it… Sorry, but that’s a huge misconception. Intermediary. There’s no one who knows the world better than Druids. We learn how the world flows through the World Tree. The past, the present, and even the future.”

That explanation made sense. Druids were indeed masters of understanding the World Tree. Even confident you wizards conceded their inferiority to Druids in this regard.

“We know what you did before becoming an intermediary, when you became one, who helped you, when you were actively involved, when you stepped back, and when you became active again. We even know who is to thank for that.”

Pierce directed his gaze at Oliver.

“Impressive. I don’t quite grasp the main point, though.”

“The point of this story is that we Druids know a lot. More than people expect… And so, we know that a considerable number of Enjoyments are targeting this District X.”

Pierce’s tone was earnest. There was no denying that Enjoyments were indeed eyeing District X. However, Forrest didn’t appear as surprised as one might expect.

“Our goal is to take the Enjoyments back to Greenland, and your goal is to safely redevelop this area. Why don’t we cooperate? Dave, the solver, is said to be the city’s unofficial ally. If we move regarding the Enjoyments, can’t we get permission from the city? It would make your work much easier, wouldn’t it?”

The proposal was quite reasonable. Their objectives fortuitously aligned, and cooperation appeared feasible. In fact, teaming up with an extraordinary Druid could potentially enhance efficiency.

Nevertheless, Forrest shook his head, displaying a level-headedness surpassing that of others.

“I appreciate the offer, but I refuse. That’s our job, and we want to solve it ourselves.”

His determination was evident in both his actions and emotions.

Forrest, in both deed and sentiment, appeared reluctant to become entangled with the Druids.

Even the Druids with whom he was conversing could discern this.

Pierce scratched his chin with his bear-like hand, seemingly perplexed.

“An unexpected answer. I heard people in Landa are quick to weigh profit and loss?”

“And they’re proactive.”

“And clear about give and take… I gave you good information, don’t you plan to reciprocate?”

“Hmm, that’s not incorrect. What do you want?”

“Hmm… I want to see the skills that defeated Shamus.”

Pierce gazed at Oliver as he made this request. Simultaneously, he vanished with the swiftness of a gust of wind and reappeared behind Oliver.

His movement was astonishingly rapid.

Everyone, including Marie and Joe, reacted a moment too late, and in that split second, Pierce swung his hand, attempting to seize Oliver.

However, his hand came to an abrupt halt in mid-air, blocked by Oliver’s quarterstaff.

Kuukuku…

Without resorting to any black magic, Oliver’s quarterstaff and the Druid’s hand engaged in a standoff.

Amidst the astonishment of all present, the slender Oliver spoke.

“…I was just lucky.”

***

“Fortunately, they were peaceful people.”

Once the Druids had departed, Oliver found himself back in the conference room, where he suddenly made this remark. However, Marie, who typically shared Oliver’s calm demeanor, quietly vented her anger.

“They attacked suddenly… We shouldn’t have let them go like that.”

Marie was prepared to confront the Druids, as she had mentioned. Oliver had to intervene.

“Thank you for holding back, Marie. But it wasn’t necessary. He wasn’t really attacking, just wanted to see my skills… And thanks to that, we got valuable information, didn’t we?”

The valuable information Oliver referred to was the revelation that the Enjoyments were targeting District X.

Oliver glanced at Forrest, seeking his input on the next steps and harboring other questions.

However, it was Joe who addressed Oliver first.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes?”

“No, I mean… You just blocked a Druid’s attack with your bare hands. I was worried about your ligaments and bones.”

“Oh…”

Oliver finally comprehended and expressed his amazement. It was a legitimate concern.

Druids inherently possessed remarkable physical abilities to the extent that conventional firearms were almost irrelevant to them. Moreover, Pierce, who had engaged in numerous close combat situations, was even more formidable.

Oliver had blocked his attack using only a quarterstaff, without relying on any significant black magic.

Indeed, it was unusual. How he had managed to block it without wearing a black suit was perplexing. Typically, one would expect to be pushed back or have their arm crushed by such force.

Furthermore, it remained a mystery how he had perfectly intercepted the attack in the first place.

Despite anticipating an attack due to his observation of emotions, he had not anticipated a sudden backstabbing strike. His ability to block it with such precision resembled a reaction rooted in dynamic visual acuity.

As Oliver contemplated this inexplicable occurrence, there came a knock at the door.

The girl who had alerted them to the arrival of the Druids peered inside.

‘Was her name Nora?’

The girl, Nora, inquired, “Do you need coffee?”

With her fair complexion and curly hair, Joe seemed somewhat taken aback by her presence.

“Ah, really… I told you not to come here.”

“Why? I’m just trying to be nice to the guests!”

Despite her delicate appearance, Nora responded assertively to Joe, hinting at their familiarity.

Forrest chimed in, “Little miss. Do you happen to have any liquor?”

Nora responded promptly and decisively, “Yes! It’s cheap, but… Shall I bring some?”

“That would be great, thank you.”

As soon as Forrest made his request, Nora hurriedly left to fetch the alcohol and coffee.

Observing her departure, Joe shot a disapproving glance at Forrest, who inquired about the issue.

“Why so? Last time I was here, you had her bring coffee and alcohol, didn’t you?”

“That’s…”

Joe began to speak but then halted, casting a worried glance at Oliver. He seemed to feel guilty, as though he had made an error.

“…It’s nothing.”

Joe’s perplexing behavior left both Forrest and Oliver puzzled. In the meantime, Nora returned, displaying impressive skill as she balanced a tray laden with coffee and alcohol, distributing them to everyone accordingly.

She provided Forrest and Joe with alcohol, while Marie and Oliver received coffee.

Handing Oliver his coffee, Nora gazed intently at his face, her expression filled with curiosity and admiration.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you, Ms Nora.”

As Oliver graciously accepted the coffee, Nora broke into a smile, and Joe, revealing a hint of unease, guided Nora out of the room to avoid disrupting the adults’ conversation.

Forrest remarked on the situation.

“I know it’s rude to say this in someone else’s house, but you seem off today.”

“…It’s nothing.”

Although it appeared there might be more to it, Oliver opted not to pry further. While his curiosity lingered, Joe’s demeanor suggested that he preferred not to discuss it. Furthermore, Oliver had another pressing question.

Oliver turned to Forrest and inquired, “Mr. Forrest, what is this special law you mentioned?”

Forrest, anticipating the question, took a sip of his drink before providing an explanation.

“It’s a law passed while you were away in Galos. To put it simply, it grants the Druids of Greenland the right to capture runaway Druids, the Enjoyments.”

“Weren’t they able to do that before?”

“Usually not. Druids enjoy high autonomy within their own territory, similar to Landa, but they can’t exercise much power outside it. Capturing Enjoyments was illegal.”

Oliver nodded in comprehension. The situation mirrored that of Landa, making it easy for him to grasp the concept.

In the city, if a criminal committed a crime and then left Landa, there was officially nothing that could be done.

“It seems quite a lot has happened while I was in Galos?”

Forrest affirmed this with a nod.

“Even bigger things have happened.”

“Bigger things?”

“Yes. The Druids, who were divided into traditionalists and reformists without finding a balance, have now mostly shifted towards the reformist faction. This shift has led to the passing of the special law.”

“Is that so?”

As Oliver responded, he recalled the reformist faction. They differed from the traditional Druids who revered nature, advocating for using nature as a tool.

Although he wasn’t fully informed about the details, it seemed like a significant development, for better or worse.

“How did that come to be?”

“Sorry, but I don’t know the details. Druid society is, well, closed off, like a remote village. So, it’s hard to know the intricate details.”

Joe chimed in, saying, “That’s a bigger problem. We’re already struggling with the community and unaffiliated gangs here, and now Enjoyments? Why have the Enjoyments, who disappeared from Landa because of Shamus, reappeared?”

“Probably to survive?”

“?”

“Ah, I didn’t explain enough… Oliver, do you remember? When you defeated Shamus and handed over related data to the city authorities?”

Oliver nodded. It had made him an unofficial ally of the city and had helped him gain information about Joanna.

‘Paladin Joanna…’

“That played a bigger role than you think. It put the Enjoyments in a tough spot.”

“How so?”

“Well, Shamus, or rather the Enjoyments, had committed the ABC fraud scheme and shared this method with other Druids. We exposed their communication network. As a result, the affected countries are grinding their teeth, chasing them on a national level. Landa City and its Security Bureau are key in this.”

Forrest spoke with a sense of pride, though Oliver remembered his concerns about how the Security Bureau might complicate his business.

“This has made it harder for Enjoyments to operate. Especially since Druids find it hard to hide in cities. And with the special law passing, the Enjoyments must be feeling cornered. They might be able to handle police and bounty hunters, but not the Druids of Greenland.”

“But that doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t that mean they should avoid Landa even more?”

“Not necessarily, Joe. Landa is a free city with strong value rights under the kingdom. It’s actually safer for them to be here.”

Oliver quickly grasped the implication. As Forrest mentioned, Landa was a free city, essentially exempt from the laws of the kingdom in exchange for substantial tax contributions.

Even though the kingdom had passed the special law, Enjoyments couldn’t be apprehended in Landa. This was precisely why they wished to enlist Oliver for the task.

“If not Landa, they’d have to flee to the ends of the earth, which they’d never do.”

“Why not?”

“Because the Enjoyments came to the city for freedom and pleasure. Running to the ends of the earth and leaving behind the glamor of the city would go against their identity.”

Oliver nodded in realization. Shamus was a prime example of this.

However, Oliver still had an unanswered question.

“But Mr. Forrest, why did you refuse the Druid’s offer? If the Enjoyments are targeting District X, wouldn’t their help make things easier?”

“That’s true. Enjoyments, whatever they are, are a headache.”

Forrest paused, placing emphasis on his next words.

“But more than that, I prefer not to deal with the reformist Druids.”

“Why is that?”

“The royal family. There are rumors that they’re backed by Edward X.”

(To be Continued)

CH 434-443 (Dave Vs 100 Druids) $3CH 444-453 (Adventure in New Continent) $3CH 454-463 (Meeting with Joanna) $3464~ $1/chapter

OR

$5/month11 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$15/month17 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month23 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$45/month60 chap ahead + 6 chap/week