Oliver proposed to Willes that they accompany each other only during their train journey.

There was no particular reason for this.

He was just glad to have met Willes here, and he was curious about why he would take the risk of traveling alone to Holland with a leather mask.

Willes wasn’t thrilled with Oliver’s suggestion, but after some thought, he accepted it, and they sat together and talked.

The conversation was limited to asking about Willes’s fake name and the reason he was going to Holland.

“My name is Will, and I’m a Solver… I have a job to do in Holland. I can’t say much about it, though… What about you?”

“I’m visiting Holland for some work related to Magic Tower. I also can’t share much about it.”

Hiding the most important parts of their stories, Oliver and Willes exchanged meaningless conversations, and they arrived in Holland without any issues and parted ways.

“It was nice meeting you.”

“Same to you. I hope things work out well for you.”

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

‘Hmm, things aren’t going as well as I thought…’

Oliver thought to himself as he sat in a café, drinking coffee.

After arriving in Holland and parting ways with Willes, Oliver followed Evan’s advice and stopped by an inn to wash up, buy new clothes, and change.

He needed to change his clothes since he was covered in blood from the battle.

On his way to the inn, people screamed, and the police arrived to investigate, but he wasn’t taken to the police station thanks to his magic tower ID and Evan’s letter.

After changing clothes and spending a night at the inn, Oliver went straight to the influential Hall family in Holland.

Visiting Mountain Pace, the research zone, was a remote place, so it was not easier to get transportation without the help of the Hall family.

It wasn’t too difficult to meet them with a letter of introduction from the outpost, but the problems started after that.

“It’s difficult right now. We have too much work… Please wait a bit.”

They told Oliver they had no vehicles available due to their busy business.

Oliver asked if they could at least introduce him to a driver, but they made excuses and refused, saying all drivers were busy as well.

It was an obvious lie.

Their story differed from what he heard from the outpost, and their emotional state was also deceptive.

However, what bothered Oliver more was the condition of the Hall family head.

He was supposed to be ill according to the outpost, but he was healthy enough to meet Oliver in person.

As if he had taken a high-quality black magic potion, his body was filled with black magic energy, and he showed excessive interest in Oliver.

He asked where Oliver was staying and even offered to stay at their house while waiting… It smelled like a conspiracy, something like a scheme.

However, as it wasn’t Oliver’s immediate concern, he politely declined and left the place, ending up in the café.

He was pondering what to do next.

He considered walking but shook his head. Even by car, the rough journey would take 2-3 days.

Walking would take an uncertain amount of time, and the goal wasn’t just to go there and come back, but to assess the situation in the area.

He couldn’t waste time and energy. He needed a vehicle.

‘Besides, I’m not familiar with the way, and I might get lost… Huh, there are some things magic and black magic can’t solve. Interesting.’

Oliver experienced a moment of joy as he was reminded that both magic and black magic were not omnipotent. However, he was left feeling helpless and anxious about securing transportation without any assistance. Despite this, he found the situation to be quite fascinating and enjoyable.

“Would you like another cup of coffee?”

An old man with thick glasses and a roughly trimmed beard approached, showing off his rolled-up sleeves up to his elbows.

He had a teapot in his hand.

“Yes, please… And could I also have a plate of shortbread cookies?”

“I’ll charge you for the cookies.”

“I’ll pay for the coffee as well. I can’t just drink delicious coffee for free.”

Oliver praised him, as he had learned from the workers in Angels House. The coffee really didn’t taste bad.

Fortunately, the praise seemed to work, and the old man reacted positively.

“You have a nice way of speaking for someone from the kingdom.”

“For the record, I’m from Landa.”

“To us, Landa or the kingdom is all the same.”

The old man poured more hot coffee and brought shortbread cookies.

“But, what brings someone from Landa to the countryside like this? You don’t seem like the type who’d come here.”

The old man observed Oliver’s attire and mannerisms as he spoke.

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

“I came here on business. Do you happen to know a driver who can take me to Mountain Pace?”

“Why Mountain Pace?”

The cafe owner asked in return.

“It’s not really a tourist destination.”

Oliver read the cafe owner’s emotions and realized that he wouldn’t answer unless he provided a clear reason.

“I can’t go into details, but it’s related to my work for the Tower.”

To maintain the secrecy of his mission while appeasing the old man’s curiosity, Oliver made a compromise.

He believed that the information he shared wouldn’t lead to any problems.

As he pondered the situation, he considered that it would only be polite to provide a valid reason if he needed the old man’s assistance.

However, before he could decide on how to respond if the cafe owner persisted in questioning, the old man surprised him with an unexpected reaction.

“Is it because of the missing persons?”

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

The old man’s words were clear – missing persons.

However, the focus of the disappearances was different than what Oliver initially thought. The missing individuals the old man mentioned were the Northland residents living in Mountain Pace, where Landa’s research institutes were located.

There were approximately ten small villages in Mountain Pace inhabited by the Northland people. Unfortunately, over the past month, missing persons had become a recurring issue in every village, and not a single one was exempt from the problem.

“Yet, the local police and the kingdom’s army don’t care. All they want from this land are the minerals.”

Perhaps that’s why the cafe owner told Oliver about a place where he could obtain a vehicle. Regardless of the exact reason for Oliver’s visit, it could also help solve the problems of the Mountain Pace villages.

Just when he thought he’d hit a dead end in an entirely unexpected place, the situation resolved itself in another unexpected way.

And then, once again, things got stuck in an entirely unexpected place.

“Ah, I can’t go. It’s not about the money.”

“Ah, look for someone else. Someone else…”

“I have a boil on my butt, so I can’t drive. I just can’t.”

When Oliver went to the transport union the cafe owner had recommended, he looked for a driver who could take him to Mountain Pace, but the responses were unanimously unfavorable.

There were people who simply refused, people who made excuses for being sick, and people who got angry. The reasons were different, but Oliver, who could read emotions, could tell that they were being pressured by someone.

Instinctively, Oliver felt like he knew who it was.

If there was someone who could pressure these rough-looking drivers, it would have to be a prominent figure in this city.

The head of the Hall family.

Already, five people had refused. After assessing the situation, Oliver was sure that he couldn’t get help there.

However, Oliver didn’t give up and continued to ask other drivers if they could take him to Mountain Pace, the research zone of the tower.

He politely requested, even offering a considerable amount of money, but the reactions were all cold and indifferent.

When the number of rejections reached double digits, the story spread to the tavern and union office where the drivers gathered, and then Oliver found someone with a different emotional state.

Instead of feeling rejection or fear like the others upon hearing Oliver’s proposal, this person showed a surprised reaction.

It was as if a thief had encountered another thief.

He stared at Oliver intently, and Oliver immediately asked him to take him there.

He was startled and said he couldn’t go like the other drivers, but Oliver could smell something from him.

For example…

“Ah, you’re really annoying. That’s why I hate people from the kingdom!”

The large truck driver grabbed Oliver and shouted in annoyance.

Oliver argued against this.

“Technically, I’m closer to being a Landa person.”

He was sincere. He referred to individuals such as Forrest, Murphy, Al, Jane, and Coco, who resided in Landa and took pride in being called “Landa people,” regardless of their gender or social status.

So, it was only right for Oliver to speak the same way.

Though it didn’t seem to help much.

“Damn, kingdom people always acting so high and mighty.”

One more large figure joined in, and together, they lifted Oliver by his armpits.

With his legs dangling in the air, Oliver was driven out of the building.

At least they were considerate enough not to throw him, but gently let him down to the ground.

“If you bother us one more time, I’ll kick you in the ass!”

The large figure, who seemed confident in his fists, yelled a warning at Oliver. Having gotten what he wanted, Oliver politely apologized and promised not to bother them anymore.

As mentioned earlier, he had already obtained what he wanted.

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

Having been driven out, Oliver pretended to leave the parking lot attached to the transportation union office but returned and watched the office from afar.

He then waited silently. He waited until the sky was dyed with orange sunset, turned navy blue, and then pitch black night.

As the sky darkened, the surrounding buildings turned off their lights one by one, and the transportation union office was no exception.

After midnight, even those who had been eating and drinking until the end turned off the lights and closed the doors, staggering home.

Thus, all signs of life disappeared from the transportation union office.

At least to the ordinary eye. However, it was different for Oliver, who had the eyes of a warlock.

Oliver focused the energy on his eyes and was able to see one… no, two people hiding quietly.

Coincidentally, one of them had a familiar emotional state.

Oliver stood up from his spot, straightened his back, and loosened his stiff bones, moving quietly so as not to make any noise with his steps.

His target was the two emotions that were hiding their presence.

They were trying their best not to be noticed by others.

“Is it okay in the dark?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve been living here for years… I know the geography of this place like the back of my hand. I could drive with my eyes closed.”

With that, the low sound of the car engine starting could be heard.

The car was about to move.

“By any chance, could I come with you?”

Like a stealthy cat, Oliver cautiously approached the two people and asked.

He came face to face again with the truck driver who had been startled by Oliver’s offer earlier and Willes, who wore a leather mask.

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

Vroom. Vroom. Vrrrrk-k-k.

An old compact truck creaked its way up the mountain road without even turning on its headlights.

Their destination was Mountain Pace, and the passengers were Oliver and Willes, riding in the cargo truck.

“Was this the job you were hired for?”

“Yes.”

Interestingly, the job Willes had been asked to do was the same as Oliver’s – searching for missing persons.

However, the difference was that while Oliver was looking for the missing staff of the Magic Tower Research Institute, Willes was searching for the missing residents around the research zone.

“I originally planned to go alone, but…”

“I’m sorry. And thank you for helping me.”

“Don’t thank me. It’s not like I’m helping you because I want to.”

That was true. Oliver had politely threatened that if he wasn’t taken along, he would cause a scene, so Willes had no choice but to let him ride.

“It’s a pity. If you were just some nobody, I would have kicked you out right away.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

“That’s not a compliment.”

Willes spoke with irritated emotion. After a moment of contemplation, he opened his mouth again.

“But, how did you know?”

“Earlier today, I asked the truck drivers if anyone could take me to Mountain Pace, but this driver’s reaction was strange, so I thought I should wait and see.”

“I didn’t realize there were still crazy people like you at Magic Tower.”

Willes muttered reflexively, and Oliver asked,

“Do you know about the people in Magic Tower?”

Instead of answering, Willes remained silent. It was an awkward question to answer, given that he was currently hiding his identity as Willes of the Kell Liberation Army… So Oliver asked another question.

“But why did you take on the missing persons job in Mountain Pace?”

“What?”

“From what I’ve heard, all the neighborhoods in the research zone are poor countryside. So, it would be difficult to make proper money… Isn’t it unusual for a solver?”

Oliver spoke from his own knowledge. To a solver, violence was a risky commodity, and they would only use it when it was worth the risk. Even Forrest had agreed on this.

But Willes hadn’t accepted the job from that perspective.

Well, in the first place, he wasn’t even a solver. However, Oliver was curious about his reasons and asked.

He opened his mouth.

“You, as a Landa person, wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

“Huh?”

Oliver questioned the cryptic statement. As he tried to ask what it meant, the driver’s side window opened, and the driver spoke up.

“We’ve arrived at the first village. Let’s take a break and move on.”

(To be Continued)

OR

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