The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 98



Only Krnovel

Episode 98. The Sheriff (3)

“The newspaper results are out.”

The harvest from the police department was delivered to me through Reina.

“All I gave you was the wizard’s head. How can you call this a newspaper?”

“That was a headache for the police department. Doctors, engineers, neuroscientists, necromancers, warlocks… … They even used our brokers’ connections to recruit various personnel. They forcibly connected the nerves to revive the body, performed a necromance ritual, and ultimately asked the question directly, so isn’t it right to call it an interrogation?”

Should we really call it a police station?

We finally found a way to deal with what can only be described as human remains.

Should we pity the old man who cannot find peace even after death?

No, I’m sure you were prepared.

That’s what it means to stand up to the city government.

Reina continued.

“The organization’s name is Al Reid, and the total number of its members is estimated at two hundred. The number of executives is Oin, including the wizard McDonnell you almost captured, and above them is a leader named Jordan Crank. The goal is obvious: chaos in the city, the collapse of the social system… … The thoughts of the lower ranks and the thoughts of the higher ranks are different. Whether he wants to keep a separate back pocket or not, only Jordan Crank himself knows.”

Familiar names and organizational charts were neatly written on the blackboard.

The montage was natural, without any awkwardness, as if it was made using actual photos taken on location.

Only the photo of the head, Jordan Crank, was unique.

I wonder if this was accidentally captured on CCTV in some building.

The man’s face, enlarged in the midst of the crowd, was so blurred that even his facial features were impossible to distinguish.

‘Have you dug this far already?’

In the previous episode, it was a secret that was discovered after years of investigation.

Considering the capabilities of the police department, it was an unusually difficult task.

‘And the author, the sheriff, almost blew away his entire achievement that would have bridged a gap of several years.’

If it was intentional, it was an act of espionage, although it was a mistake.

“Additionally, the forensic scientist who examined McDonald’s magic said that there were traces of corporate involvement. It’s a shame that the pattern was so expertly woven that we couldn’t figure out which side was involved.”

“Was there any organized corporate intervention?”

“Well, it’s not like wizards don’t have anything to do with corporations like they did back in the old days when they lived in the mountains.”

“Why don’t you just ask him?”

“The results of the autopsy came out last. It was after the soul that had been forcibly summoned had already been sent to the underworld.”

If true, it makes sense that the city government was so devastated by a single terrorist organization.

As a result, the company’s influence has been amplified.

‘Probably even after a year, the sheriff’s investigators would not have found any connection to the company.’

As the police failed to guess in previous episodes.

Old man, MacDonnell’s skills were not something to be ignored.

Even I wouldn’t have been able to catch their tails this early if Mother Nature hadn’t been whispering to me.

“Did you find out where their base is?”

“They say that their headquarters is an unlicensed building in District 5 where they forged documents and moved in. Since they actually do their activities underground, they probably wouldn’t have been suspected since they looked fine on the outside.”

It is an event that blatantly mocks checkpoints.

Certainly, the actions of the city government that were being ridiculed were not accidental.

The reason the calculation went awry was because of the presence of a country that had joined the police force.

“The date for the operation has been set for two days later. There will be no changes, so prepare.”

“Isn’t it too urgent?”

“Do we really need to drag this out? The entire force of the police station deployed for the current operation will rush in at once. You included.”

Finally, the police department gave me a proper assignment.

This operation was the reason why the police reached out to the contractor, as it was not a compensation amount that could be earned by doing things like inspections.

“The instructions are to move with the sheriff and strike down Aleid’s officers. More detailed instructions will be given on the spot… … .”

“no.”

I interrupted Reina.

“I will not participate in the operation.”

“… … .”

Reina’s face hardened.

“Look, it’s a problem if you suddenly act like this. Did you work like this under Cromwell? Whether you suddenly want to back out or assert yourself to your clients, it’s something you can’t do when dealing with the military.”

“I’m the one who captured the key witness. I think it’s okay to make this kind of request.”

“… … Yes, that hasn’t been put on the negotiating table yet. I can talk about it. If it’s on the condition that I completely withdraw from this matter and get blacklisted by the military, then I can say it with confidence.”

“I’m not saying that I’m going to play around and claim that I’ve done everything I can just because I’ve achieved something.”

I was a modern person with a conscience.

Above all, this is the first commission to be given to a client in the military, a place where connections are like trying to reach a needle in a haystack.

I had absolutely no intention of diminishing my value by showing off my abilities.

“Then what does that mean?”

“It has to do with the Sheriff’s Office requesting that the Sheriff be present.”

“… … ?”

Hazel, who had been quietly eating a snack next to me, looked up in surprise.

Muck muck.

Both cheeks were swollen like a hamster.

Reina sighed at her pitiful behavior and ordered her bodyguard to replenish the snacks.

“… … I was already curious as to why they singled out this locust and made him participate in a briefing he couldn’t understand.”

“We have somewhere to go together. I have already reached an agreement with you, so all you have to do is tell the police about the situation.”

“Are you asking me to work hard for you? I want to tell you to do it yourself… but… I can’t.”

Reina also gave up and gave in, knowing Hazel’s notoriety.

“So, what do you want to do with the Sheriff of the Sheriff’s Office?”

“McDonnell was using doping drugs. Considering that all his disciples had one, it must have been a supply.”

The hypothesis that MacDonnell distributed it to his disciples was not convincing.

The relationship between a street magician and his master is deeper than that between a professor and his graduate student.

It must have been a relationship where they were busy exploiting each other to the point where even the oil they squeezed wasn’t coming out.

Since it was said that the plan was to bring down a skyscraper, there was a high probability that it was support material from an organization assisting in this.

“It must be something close to a doping drug for a terrorist organization, so it must be a direct sales outlet. As you know, it’s an incredibly difficult task to even figure out the location. With the police department’s capabilities focused on this operation, they won’t have the capacity to help with that.”

“I know the seller who sold that item.”

“… … You are capable. However, there is still a problem. Will the broker hand over information about the buyer?”

It’s funny, but the more illegal a business was dealing in, the more it sought trust.

Business is conducted under an implicit promise between buyers and sellers to keep their mouths shut.

“I’ll pass it on.”

I answered decisively.

“You just have to go with someone from the police department. Especially if you’re a sheriff, a key figure in the police department.”

“Yeah, well, I guess you brought it up because you’re confident. But what’s the point? You’ll just end up brushing it off on the day of the event anyway.”

“The forensic investigator said that he found traces of the company’s handiwork.”

Reina, who had been thinking for a moment, twitched the muscles on her face on the side where the blindfold was worn.

“… … Aha, so it seems like it might have something to do with you.”

“If anything comes out, we will conduct a separate operation with the sheriff.”

“That’s a good idea. If that’s what you meant, I’ll help you without saying a word.”

Reina’s previously dull voice tone became much brighter.

“I’ll apologize while I’m at it. I had the misconception that Aesong was being too arrogant and overbearing.”

“That’s the nature of a soldier. You want them to do well in what they’re told, not just do whatever they have to do.”

“As you said, soldiers only do what they are told and demand loyalty from their subordinates, but the standards are different for outsiders.”

That’s when you need a contractor.

“I hope you can see what the rigid organization cannot see and do what it cannot do. If you bring results, the police department will look at you favorably.”

It couldn’t be an empty promise, since Reina, a former soldier, had a high favorability rating.

***

As soon as I finished talking with Reina, I headed to the direct sales office with Hazel as my companion.

She didn’t react much to the smoky steam that filled the street.

Well, you must have been to a lot of weird places while working as a sheriff.

But it was different when I found addicts sprawled out on the street.

“These people… … ?”

“As you can see, they are drug addicts.”

“… … .”

Hazel’s hand slowly reached into her pocket.

A clanking metallic sound.

“There is no law that says the police have to arrest drug addicts they find.”

“It is customary to secure a witness to determine the location of the direct sales office.”

“You know where that direct sales outlet is and you’re going to find it. The police department already knows the place. They’re just leaving it alone.”

“… … You know?”

Hazel paused like a troublesome child being restrained by her parents.

“Even if I know, I won’t catch it.”

“why?”

“Because it’s a legal business.”

If that’s what you say, then it must be true.

And actually, there was no tension, which is typical of direct sales outlets, as if there was no concern about crackdowns or anything like that.

“hmm.”

Hazel followed me with a look of regret.

Despite his shortcomings and clumsiness, he was a motivated person.

“If your hands are itchy, bear with it. You’ll soon have to use your strength.”

“huh.”

When planning anything, you have to assume the worst.

It will be a great help to me when I think about what I will do in the future.

Squeak!

I opened the door as I remembered and went inside.

It was the same scenery as when I last visited, as if time had stopped.

Lots of display cases, shelves, drawers, old people.

“Welcome. This time, you have a new guest with you.”

Bordon smiled kindly.

She was holding a strangely patterned necklace tightly with both hands.

Were you engaged in religious activities?

I swallowed the words, “It’s all different.”

“How did you like the last product?”

“I’m using it well. If you have any other products imported, I’d like to take a look.”

“Unfortunately, there are many discontinued items. Instead, we have prepared ample stock of existing products.”

“okay?”

I inspected the product, paid for it, and made the transaction.

Although it was only my second experience, the effectiveness was satisfactory.

Stock up on plenty of stock, you won’t regret it.

While we were exchanging items, Bordon suddenly grabbed my finger and gave me a gentle suggestion.

“There are many better products if you just change the raw materials. Why don’t you try it?”

A sticky gaze that examines the reaction of my pupils.

The intention was to examine how addicted I had become.

Did you expect me to become a wreck?

I was concerned that the product I purchased might have been more toxic than described.

He didn’t behave as expected.

He smiled faintly as if he knew everything.

“If there is another product that does not change the raw materials, I will consider it.”

“… … Let me try my best.”

Bordon swallowed his regret and licked his lips.

It was fundamental because it didn’t change anything even if you pretended to be a monk and sang about your faith.

That’s why he became a broker.

It’s okay.

I didn’t come here with good intentions.

“What brings the guest next to you here?”

Bordon turned his arrows on Hazel.

“I didn’t do anything that would make the sheriff of the police department look bad.”

Even though he acted like a nice person, he had a sharp side that he couldn’t hide.

No matter how confidently he acted as if nothing was bothering him, he seemed to be reluctant when dealing with the sheriff.

Even if you live conscientiously, it is human nature to feel uncomfortable when you see the police, so it is understandable.

“Or is it that the sheriff has finally taken up this noble hobby? Well… … that is a blessing. It must be the will of heaven.”

“… … .”

Hazel blinked at me.

This meant that he could be arrested.

I shook my head.

The corners of the mouth drooped.

He wiggled his eyebrows, telling me not to be disappointed yet.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it.

‘It means not yet.’