The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 21



Only Noblemtl

Episode 21. I Just Tell The Truth

The Brotherhood is the world’s largest criminal organization.

Accordingly, the areas of activity varied greatly from branch to branch.

For example, some branches committed serious crimes such as weapons sales, drug manufacturing, and terrorism.

On the other hand, other branches mainly committed petty crimes such as pickpocketing and extortion.

By the Brotherhood’s own standards of dividing size and influence by number, a branch numbered 100 is considered a new branch.

If you ask me to do something, it’s probably just asking me to do some annoying follow-up work.

It was a deal proposal made under such calculations.

“I want you to kill this guy.”

Hartig handed me the papers he had been sitting on under my butt.

I was quite reluctant to accept the warm, crumpled papers.

When I hesitated to accept it, the guy looked puzzled and then scratched the back of his head.

“It was confidential information, so I had to hide it. If I sit on it, no one can steal it.”

“Couldn’t you have hidden it in your bag?”

“Oh, I see. I’ll keep that in mind for the future.”

Like an ignorant orc.

I swallowed a sigh and took the data.

“… …Are you in your right mind?”

From the moment I flipped through the first chapter, I had to hold back my swearing.

When I glared at him coldly, Hartig burst into laughter.

“Is there a problem?”

“I gave you some other material. Give it back to me.”

“No, it’s a genuine article that I personally commissioned the information organization to write.”

“So are you really asking me to kill the same Brotherhood branch leader?”

Even though he said it out loud, it was hard to believe.

If he was a member of an enemy organization, I could understand, but if he was the branch manager of the same organization, I could understand.

It was far beyond my expectations.

“His name is Malay Kractor, and he is called the Hammer because he can turn his opponents into slurry and kill them. He was appointed as the head of the Brotherhood 85 branch four years ago and has a decent reputation. I met him at a meeting and he seemed to have a good spirit.”

“… … It was true.”

“I said that from the beginning.”

The expression on his face was so thick that it made me want to believe him.

Even if you look at it that way, is this a normal case?

I swept back my bangs with the hand that wasn’t holding the papers.

A fan spinning in the ceiling blew cool air, evaporating the heat from my forehead.

“Even if the Brotherhood is a bean-flour organization, isn’t this a bit unusual?”

Anyway, since we are all living under the same roof, isn’t assassination too extreme?

In fact, it’s not like there was no internal strife within the Brotherhood.

The massive event that devastated several cities, including Galaga City, came to my mind.

But that’s in the future, not now…

‘Wait a minute, come to think of it.’

I think the faction that took the lead at that time was called the Foreign Legion, which was comprised of immigrants.

The distinctive face that had been seen in various media such as newspapers and TV overlapped with Hartig in front of me.

‘Could this guy possibly be the mastermind?’

The internal strife within the organization would not have occurred in an instant.

The cracks that had been gradually widening finally exploded at some point.

If the signs had been there from the beginning, this would have been a sufficiently explainable development.

“Why do you want to kill the Malay Cracker?”

The Brotherhood’s internal strife is one of the larger storylines that has upended the city’s ecosystem.

Although the purpose is different, as a veteran who has been addicted to this game, it was natural for me to be curious about its background.

“Does it matter?”

“It’s just a personal curiosity.”

“Well, it is true that there are cases like you said.”

The Brotherhood is a group that lacks substance compared to its size.

If fighting among themselves had not been prohibited, the organization would have collapsed in an instant.

“But that only applies to those of the same power.”

“Force? Are you talking about the Darkest Chase faction I mentioned earlier?”

“No, what I’m talking about now are the three forces that divided the organization. Compared to them, Darkest Chase is at best a minority club.”

Three forces. The future internal strife within the Brotherhood was also like that.

That was the part that made me certain that this incident was connected.

“Anyway, he and I are from different factions. No, to be exact, I don’t belong to any faction.”

“why?”

“There is no difference between rejecting foreigners and criminals.”

“This is what it means to be bullied.”

“It may sound childish, but it’s true.”

Even though it was a heartbreaking story, Hartig’s admission was refreshing.

“That’s why my branch didn’t receive any support. It was really hard to raise it to this point. I fixed the rotten nature of the people at the bottom and led them like my own tribe.”

Was it because of confidence in one’s own abilities?

It was a statement that felt like it was overflowing with pride.

‘So this is what Hela meant when she said that this branch was in charge of personnel management.’

It would be so, since the orcs led like their own tribe.

“But to play in a bigger pool, I needed to take on a bold challenge. The gamble paid off, and I was able to run a successful business, which is rare for a branch in the 100s.”

“That method would be the assassination of the branch manager you requested from me.”

“To be exact, I didn’t assassinate him. I challenged him head-on and destroyed him.”

That was the orc’s way.

A barbaric people who rob by force rather than through civilized transactions based on law.

It was expected that Orc would become the leader of the Brotherhood.

“Then why don’t we do it the same way this time too?”

“I got stamped on the higher-ups because of that. They said if I did the same thing again, they’d cut my throat.”

“Oh, I see. So that’s why you were trying to bring me here secretly.”

There was a part I didn’t understand until now.

It was the contradiction between the action of finding the villain who had killed many members of the organization and the act of secretly bringing me in.

“This is a scenario where a villain who holds a grudge against the Brotherhood attacks another branch manager.”

“That’s correct.”

You used your head well.

It seemed like he was the type of person whose brain was tending towards this.

I don’t understand the symbol of a frog who would risk his life to do something he was told not to do, but he must be the branch manager of a criminal organization.

“The 85th branch of the Malay Crackers is mainly engaged in drug distribution. If we can bring the line that has collapsed with the disappearance of the branch manager to our club, we can maximize profitability.”

There was even a reasonable calculation that suggested that they should aim for the Malay crackers.

If there’s a problem, it’s one.

“Do you know what my skills are and entrust me with the assassination?”

It wouldn’t be an easy task to entrust with the assassination of the Brotherhood branch leader, let alone an ordinary person.

The scenario was clean, but the casting had its flaws.

“It’s okay if I fail. I don’t want to end it after just one try.”

Hartig’s tone was indifferent.

It didn’t seem like he really wanted me to succeed.

While I was worrying about it, I happened to stumble upon it and felt like I was just writing a scenario.

“And I also know that this isn’t an easy mission that can be left to just one person.”

I tilted my head at the words that followed.

“You make a total of four, you are my companions who will move together with me.”

“You’ve really made up your mind.”

I have colleagues who form a team.

It means that he didn’t suddenly think of it as an opportunity and asked me to do it, but that he had been planning it for a long time.

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“If you start doing things in such earnest, you’ll get caught.”

“So I think it’s fortunate that I can take advantage of your circumstances.”

“Do you think that kind of old-fashioned decoration will work?”

“If there is no evidence, then there is no need to question me. I just happened to absorb a collapsed organization.”

I shook my head.

‘I’m sure you’ll come up with an excuse.’

It’s not something I have to worry about.

All I needed was to get the information.

“Are you going to do it?”

“Are you kidding me?”

It was a question that wasn’t even funny.

This club is the guy’s home base.

You’ve stepped into the tiger’s den, so you’ll have to pay a price to get out.

It was a stupid idea to assume that because it was quiet outside there would be no one there.

“I’ve already proposed a deal, so there’s no need to break the contract.”

Assassinate the Brotherhood branch leader and gather information on the warlock.

When I weighed the risks and benefits, it was a gain for me, not a loss.

“You too must keep your promises.”

“Of course.”

“How do I get in touch with my colleagues?”

“I’ve already made arrangements. Just go to the address on the last page of the document tomorrow.”

“Okay, I’ll come back once I finish the request.”

“for a moment.”

As I was trying to stand up, Hartig threw something at me.

I wondered if there were any documents left on my butt, but what I felt in my hand was the cold feel of metal.

“It’s a gift.”

It was an object that was even affectionate to modern sensibilities.

In this world where cold weapons have resurfaced due to magical power, the pistol is a weapon that is not very popular among the skilled.

“Hastoq-400, a masterpiece created by Militechnica.”

“It must be cheap.”

Where did you get the medicine sold?

I handled a lot of guns during my time as a city sheriff.

Hastok is the name of a series of low-priced firearms from Militia.

Among them, 400 was one of the items developed in the early stages.

Although it had many defects, its low price saved it from being discontinued.

“Whatever it is, it’s better than being bare-handed like you are now. I’ve loaded up the bullets, so blow his head off with them.”

Even though it is a pistol, the power of a revolver is quite strong.

It was enough to take the life of one person.

‘It’s definitely better than nothing.’

Even if the natural affinity stat was raised, the World Tree trunk alone might not be enough to power it.

Firearms would be a great supplement to this.

‘Even if it’s an assassination, unless it’s sniping, you have to assume combat with multiple people.’

If you look at it that way, the gun was appropriate as a secondary weapon.

‘Once this mission is over, I’ll choose a gun.’

Even though there were still many things to spend money on, I had to know how to boldly invest in things that were absolutely necessary.

I left the club, leaving Hartig behind, who was drunk again.

***

The next day, I headed to a restaurant located on 11th Street in District 3, a general commercial area.

First of all, there was no meeting scheduled at the 85th branch office, as they wanted to make plans face to face.

‘I thought I’d be working alone a lot as a contractor, but this is already my second time working with a colleague.’

Of course, this time it was not a request for outsourcing, but a direct transaction.

But the distinction was meaningless.

Because it was like doing something and getting paid for it.

‘I must be careful not to get caught by Cromwell.’

This was a disqualification for a contractor who maintained an outsider’s position, as it involved direct ties to a benevolent relationship.

‘It should be like that for now.’

There was a way.

The name value should become large enough to cover up annoying problems.

Among the famous contractors, there were some who took on contracts directly like this.

All that was needed was to notify the broker in the middle and just follow the formalities.

Ultimately, in this city, power is everything.

Although it appeared civilized, it was a society governed by primitive rules.

As I was walking, thinking, I suddenly arrived at my destination.

It was a typical store on the verge of closing down, with a rickety old sign and outdated jazz music playing.

I pulled the stained glass door open.

Then, the few gazes inside turned to me.

“Hey, this way.”

To avoid any confusion, only one table was occupied.

I walked leisurely and observed them.

‘Two men and one woman?’

The group consisted of a man with a vicious face, a man wrapped tightly in a robe, and a woman with a gloomy atmosphere.

A man with a fierce expression said, “Let’s sit down in the empty space.

“Damn, another man? And there are two idiots with their faces wrapped tightly.”

I stood still and stopped moving.

“……what?”

“Oh, did you hear that? Sorry about that. I have a foul mouth, just like I look. You understand.”

The man spoke in a light tone.

The eyes looking down at me were full of contempt.

“Hey, hey, that. Don’t fight.”

“what?”

“That’s what I’m saying, don’t fight.”

The woman sitting next to me intervened.

The voice was as small as an ant, just like the gloomy atmosphere.

The man put his ear to the muttering that could not be heard unless you listened closely.

“… … .”

Meanwhile, the man in robes showed no response.

It feels like dealing with a statue or a wooden sculpture.

Suddenly, I had such a suspicion.

‘Could it be that I and Hartig have just roughly gathered their power?’

If you’re an orc who’s weak at detail, that could happen.

Take these guys and assassinate the Brotherhood branch leader.

“If it’s going to be like this, I’d be better off working alone.”

Did you hear that muttering?

“… … You little punk, say that again.”

The man growled, raising his twin flames.

“Unlike you, my mouth isn’t harsh.”

I didn’t even make an outward apology like that.

I had no intention of forcing reconciliation with a colleague who had been hostile to me from the beginning.

“I just tell the truth.”

“So what did you say?”

“It’s bothering me.”

That moment of cool-headed provocation.

The atmosphere that had been strained since our first meeting completely changed.