The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 99



Only Krnovel

Episode 99. The Sheriff (4)

“Let me ask you one more thing.”

“What are you curious about?”

“this.”

I cut off Bordon’s tirade of praise and handed him the doping pills I had brought as evidence.

“Isn’t that the product you’re selling?”

“Umm… … .”

Bordon took his glasses out of his breast pocket and put them on as he examined the product.

Then he nodded after checking some unknown numbers in the ledger.

“I think so. Even the serial number is the same as the product I sold.”

also.

It was no coincidence that this place came to mind because of its strong doping effect and characteristic shape.

“This is a great product that Belfork sells as its main line. It has the advantages of increasing magical power, relaxing muscles, uplifting the mind, and having a non-disgusting scent. It has received many favorable reviews, so I also recommend it to many customers and sell it.”

The merchant was a businessman, so the words flowed out smoothly.

Not taking a single breath seems like a dialect.

“But didn’t you just say that you weren’t interested in this kind of thing?”

“I am interested.”

I retrieved the items from Bordon.

“As evidence for the police department.”

“… … .”

At those words, Bordon’s expression, which had been filled with ample leisure, turned cold for the first time.

“… … What are you talking about?”

“It’s not like you’ve never experienced it before.”

The idea of ​​doing business in the legal realm couldn’t have come from scratch.

It must be the result of weighing the losses and gains after much hardship.

“This is evidence from a suspect secured by the police. If it’s the product you sold, I think there’s a lot to hear.”

“I’m sorry.”

Bordon’s eyes gleamed with an intense light.

“I can’t give you the ledger. It’s a promise with a guest, so please understand.”

“That’s the unwritten rule of direct sales.”

Because secrecy was maintained, direct sales outlets continued to operate and thrive despite crackdowns.

The moment that promise was broken, the business was over.

And any vendor who broke the unwritten rules would face brutal retaliation from the industry.

“But that’s the case for illegal stores that get caught by the police.”

“… … .”

The trick to falling within the realm of legitimate business was good.

Because they easily avoided detection and raked in the money.

But there was no choice that guaranteed only unconditional gains.

The main difference between legality and illegality is the presence or absence of responsibility.

Bordon was obliged to bear the responsibilities imposed by the city.

“There is a law that states that stores within the city must actively cooperate when requested by the police department.”

No warrant or anything like that was required.

Any decision made by the police took effect immediately.

Hazel blinked when I winked.

It was only when I touched his pocket that he seemed to realize what I was talking about.

He took out the handcuffs and spun them around, and the reflected light made Bordon’s crown sparkle.

“Cooperate.”

“… … .”

Bordon’s eyes trembled.

The silence was long.

Enough to notice that something is being planned.

And this is the sheriff who was brought in for such a time as this.

Flash!

It was just a moment.

Bordon probably didn’t even realize when he had done it.

Kikkik!

Kkudangtang!

It’s obvious that this is a means of self-defense prepared by illegal traders.

A dozen or so mechanical arms were twisted and broken, emitting acrid smoke.

Crunch!

“Is it the end?”

A long sniper rifle was held in Hazel’s one hand and aimed straight at Bordon’s forehead.

The skill with firearms that has reached the realm of art is the identity of a sheriff.

This did not discriminate between gun types.

The fact that it was a sniper rifle meant that it was not weak in close combat.

“… …Ask me anything.”

Bordon laughed heartily.

***

Cromwell’s Brokerage.

The cafe that opened on the first floor as a waiting room and a disguise seemed to be getting more and more customers.

Actually, it wasn’t an illusion.

Jack, who used to stretch out his legs and take a nap, was getting thinner and thinner.

He was originally a very nosy guy, so he didn’t show any service spirit, but still, the absolute number of customers increased.

Even if you respond with just one word, it becomes dozens of words, so you can’t help but feel exhausted.

“… … Brother show again?”

The guy slumped his shoulders and glared at me with resentful eyes.

As someone who had never really had a conversation with Jack outside of work, this was a strange thing.

“What did I do to deserve that?”

“Is that why there’s a saying that the one who was hit remembers, but the one who hit doesn’t?”

“… … ?”

Jack let out a deep sigh and secretly nodded to the crowd of people passing the time in their seats.

“Who do you think all these people came here to see? Brother.”

“Me?”

Even as I was whispering to Jack, I felt his gaze focused on me.

It was a new feeling.

Since I started making this face, it’s rare for me to not be the center of attention.

Just walking down the downtown area of ​​District 3 right now, you’ll be met with a flood of interest.

It may have been burdensome at first, but now I’m used to it and it feels natural.

So now that I’ve become aware of the sights inside this cafe, I can see some differences.

‘Envy, envy, jealousy… it’s complicated.’

It was a reaction that could come out because he knew my identity.

Most ordinary people just exclaim in admiration.

“Thanks to you, our office’s reputation is rising. It’s true that you’re amazing, but people are coming here because they think there might be something going on with us.”

Is this the concept of a lottery ticket site?

Cromwell was a resourceful broker recognized by the upper echelons of the future city, so it was not a vague expectation but a real lottery.

“Isn’t it a good thing if the office is doing well? I heard that you are more like a partner than a subordinate to Cromwell.”

“I signed the contract just to make ends meet. I didn’t plan on working so hard that 24 hours a day wasn’t enough.”

It was a blessed sound.

If the workers heard that they were treated like livestock and thrown away like trash, they would have vomited blood.

“Anyway, please do it in moderation. I have a present that I’ve been working hard to prepare, so if you get angry and give up, you’ll only be at a loss.”

“gift?”

“Ask Uncle Cromwell for the full story. He was the one who took the lead, and I was just meddling.”

Jack kept his mouth shut, not wanting to elaborate further.

‘I didn’t get that feeling from Cromwell.’

Considering the term “work”, it wasn’t a surprise that was prepared on a whim.

Does that mean Cromwell and I have such a close relationship that we can exchange such things?

That wasn’t it either.

‘Are you trying to figure out what I want in advance and solve it, leaving me with an implicit debt?’

Now my name value has also gone up a lot.

If you prepare enough, it won’t be considered a debt of gratitude.

I’m sure he’s taking this into consideration too.

However, if you are consistently working on something, it means you are confident.

‘There’s no need to go out of your way to show off that you’ve been told something.’

Rather, it was a time to wait, looking forward to what he had prepared.

‘But it doesn’t make sense to force yourself to rest while keeping an eye on Jack’s reaction.’

In the meantime, I told the desperate truth to the guy who was frowning at the order that had come in.

“I won’t be able to do it moderately in the future either. No, even if I just breathe, more people will pour in.”

“… … What?”

“That’s the nature of the commission I’ve been given this time. I think you’re the one who actually found out about the number of requests I’ve made to Cromwell this time, right?”

Cromwell’s informant is Jack.

His eyes, unusually shadowy today, must have been the result of his struggle to meet my demands.

Jack, who had been deep in thought with his eyes closed, opened them wide and shouted.

“No way, you’re giving us such ridiculous conditions as a tight deadline and having to gather as much information as possible without the public knowing… …!”

“You worked hard, so I’ll say that I’ll give you more compensation than what was previously promised. Please continue to work hard in the future.”

I patted Jack on the shoulder and headed upstairs without any hesitation.

Of all the gazes pouring into the back of my head, the one that evoked the strongest emotions was, no matter what anyone said, Jack’s.

***

A rare sound of voices could be heard from the upper floor of the office.

“You’re here.”

In front of Cromwell was Reina, sitting comfortably as if it were her own living room, and next to her was Hazel, chewing on the jerky sold as a side dish.

I sat down at the table, lightly ignoring the gazes directed at me.

“It seems like everyone who was called by this has arrived.”

“Am I a little late?”

“No, you’re right on time. The rest of you must have come early and waited for me since you’re not busy.”

“Who are you calling a bum? Since I had the chance, I came first to see you in person and say hello.”

“… … .”

Reina grumbled and Hazel was busy with her mouth and hands.

“Anyway, since everyone’s here, let’s get to business quickly. Explain why you and the sheriff were called here.”

“I was going to do that anyway.”

We weren’t even talking much, and Cromwell’s complexion was as pale as Jack’s.

Have you had a drink?

Despite the structure of a tavern, the space was free of the smell of alcohol, but an unpleasant, strong scent of alcohol permeated the air.

Cromwell made an excuse, perhaps realizing that he had unconsciously wrinkled his nose.

“I’m sorry. I’m so busy with work and I had to grab a drink to do your favor, but I don’t think I’ll be able to make it on time.”

“Okay, I knew it might be a tough schedule. If you met the deadline by doing that, then I have nothing to say.”

A company was asked to be investigated.

It was a task that required revealing even the most intimate secrets known only to insiders within a short period of time.

Even the deadline was short.

It was only thanks to the abilities of Cromwell and Jack that this was possible.

“You did well, I did well. If you want to say congratulations, make a separate space and say it.”

Reina frowned, saying it was an eyesore.

He’s trying to show off his ex-military background, but he’s so dirty about efficiency.

But the ability was real, and even in that midst, his eyes were sharp and pierced through to the core.

“Cromwell, from what I can tell from your actions, you must have been raiding a certain company, right?”

“That’s right. This guy asked for it.”

Cromwell took out a file and distributed it.

“It’s definitely a company with a lot of shady corners, just like you suspected. Here are the organized files, so each of you take one.”

Although there was a small amount of paper, the letters were dense and small.

I sat back in my chair and made myself comfortable, thinking that it would take quite some time just to look around.

Bolderbeer Industries is a manufacturing company that uses steel and composite metals.

At one time, they were cited by the media as one of the promising next-generation companies after announcing a patent for expansion technology that applied synthetic metals, alchemy, and magic.

‘Magic is truly amazing.’

Is it because magic is a transcendent energy that cannot be explained by science?

The word magic meant a miracle that transcended even the laws of physics the moment it was applied.

The patent they registered was not for expansion under the physical laws of increasing volume and decreasing density.

The density remains the same, only the size of the material expands.

It was a revolutionary technology that, if commercialized, would make us sit on a mountain of money.

However, amidst great public interest, the company suddenly chose to disappear.

Behind their decisions… … .

“Pressure from the military?”

“To be exact, it was a transfer to a subordinate cooperative organization. Only the military’s upper echelons at the time know what possibilities they saw and what decision they made, but they probably focused on the applicability of military technology.”

Just as corporations have attempted to exploit the authority of city governments, the opposite has also been true.

Monopoly of technology, control of technological prowess.

City governments used to keep businesses on a leash.

However, it was a limitation that was established behind the scenes and not visible on the outside.

On the surface, the identity of Galaga City is that it is a paradise for corporations and capital.

‘The problem is that this company is a front company for Al Reid.’

The terrorist organization’s front company is a military-collaborating company.

It was quite dark under the lamp.

“Oh, now I remember. There was a company like this too.”

Just then, Reina spoke up.

It seemed as if she was quietly wiping her lips as she tried to recall her memories.

“Expansion of matter, increase in volume, increase in mass. One of the executives who was obsessed with increasing the firepower of explosives brought it up as an agenda item.”

Firepower, it was a word that was dazzling even in the military of the country I lived in.

It has been a goal that has been pursued traditionally from the past to the present, perhaps because it is an attraction that runs in the blood of the nation.

Are the tendencies similar even in different worlds?

It felt inevitable that Bolderbeer Industries would catch the military’s eye.