The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 61



Only Noblemtl

Episode 61. Be shameless

Sylvester.

A company that has consistently ranked second after Centrim.

Although the company’s reputation was greatly diminished by its image as a loser, its power was commensurate with its status.

In FP’s worldview, there are three groups that can be considered the axis of evil.

City government, gangs, corporations.

Dark magicians, terrorist groups, and such are nothing more than their lackeys.

Sylvester was the second finger of such a company.

It was nearly impossible to have an exclusive meeting with the successor, especially one who was directly related to the current chairman.

That is why the current situation is special.

Because it was Claire Sylvester, not me, who asked to talk first.

“How does it taste?”

The Doksil that arrived following her.

I took a sip of the tea in the cup.

“It smells good.”

“Of course. It’s a special collection that I bring out to welcome guests.”

It was neither overly bitter nor overly sour.

The tea went down my throat smoothly and its subtle fragrance spread throughout my body.

It was not a cheap black tea brewed with tea bags.

… … In this world, even tea bags are considered luxury.

‘There is technology in this world too.’

Cultivation and commercialization of plants.

The foundation was ready, but mass production was impossible due to environmental factors.

If only those environmental factors could be addressed, it would not be impossible to realize my dream of reviving Mother Nature.

“Allen, the contractor, is a rising star who has been gaining fame recently. Judging from the fact that he received a request from the city government in less than half a year, his growth is quite remarkable.”

Claire took a chance on me by telling me about her personal life.

I wasn’t on guard.

They must have done some background checks.

With Sylvester’s intelligence, he would have figured it out in no time.

“But when I actually looked into the past, there wasn’t anything that came up. It was like he suddenly appeared in the city as if he had fallen from the sky. That’s amazing.”

Claire smiled, but didn’t laugh.

A cover-up operation that surpasses the information power of large corporations.

It was a compliment that had a certain sense of caution.

“No problem.”

Of course it was a mistake.

It’s not a cover-up, it’s actually like I was born again.

Allen the factory worker and Allen the contract worker were so different in appearance that they could not be considered the same person.

It might not be easy to connect the dots.

‘… … It’s disappointing.’

The past of this body’s original owner.

With this face, it was unlikely that he would have been born a lower-class worker.

Even if he is not a fallen noble, isn’t there something wrong with these burn marks?

Although they may not have put all their effort into investigating the past of a mere contractor, it was quite unfortunate that they couldn’t even find out about the big companies.

“Well, this isn’t important. It was just a little background check. I won’t go too deep into it. I did get some help from you, after all.”

It helps.

It was out of the blue, but suddenly I had an idea.

“Was the 16th District project promoted by you?”

“Oh my, your head works well.”

It was a new business site acquisition operation launched by a powerless faction that had been pushed out of office politics.

A group of unmotivated dispatched workers and mercenaries who only wanted to maintain the status quo.

It was a headache-inducing request even when I think about it again.

I made it happen.

It also improved the swamp environment by absorbing the essence of the spring water that never dries.

Since many difficulties had been resolved, it could no longer be considered an unprofitable project.

Isn’t this just developing an undeveloped area?

I haven’t checked whether it was a success or failure since then, but it seemed to have worked out well.

‘That was the project that Claire started.’

It made sense that she was losing power as the game progressed.

The request back then and this one were probably a kind of gamble for her.

And the odds of success in gambling were generally extremely low.

She is a businesswoman with a cool head.

I prefer to do things like playing chess under precise calculations.

In normal circumstances, that is.

The gamble she made under pressure from the situation like now only drove her into a dead end.

‘I guess you can breathe a little easier now.’

But thanks to me, that gamble paid off handsomely.

I wasn’t going to strangle myself by making a number of moves that were destined to fail, as per the game’s scenario.

‘I will try to make the most of this opportunity.’

For Claire, it was a golden opportunity to regain what she had lost as the successor to the company.

That must be why she came to me now.

“Anyway, I didn’t invite you with any ill intentions.”

“Well then, I’d like to get down to business. As you know, my job is escort. It’s almost time to change shifts.”

“I won’t take up too much of your time. I just want you to answer my questions.”

Claire asked, her chin resting on one side of her head.

“How did you get it?”

The question ‘who’ was useless.

“The pointy-eared congressman is actually more prickly than rumors say. We never had a proper conversation during our schedule together today.”

Yeah, I guess so.

Because this is a national characteristic set in the game.

“But you’ve been showing too much interest in me since our first meeting. What’s your secret?”

I chose my words carefully.

“face?”

“… … That’s an interesting answer.”

Claire didn’t laugh.

“I’m confident about my looks, too.”

It is not wrong to say that there is no backlash when it is a deception.

“I will pay you a price that you won’t regret. A price that will not disgrace the name of Sylvester.”

First of all, giving in was the worst negotiating attitude.

That also meant that her body was hot.

But that’s okay because it’s Sylvester.

Cash doesn’t solve everything, but it makes most things possible.

Most of the hitmen are materialists who live for money without any particular beliefs or goals.

In that sense, he resembled a businessman.

It was an attractive bait that was hard to refuse.

“I can’t answer that question.”

Of course not for me.

Claire continued speaking nonchalantly, as if this was the reaction she had expected.

“I hate money. There are people like that sometimes. Is there something you want?”

“No, the price doesn’t matter. It means I have no intention of answering.”

“… … .”

I bet you couldn’t have even expected this.

Claire’s eyes narrowed sharply.

‘I can’t tell you.’

Rep. Giselle’s goodwill is due to her natural affinity.

No one could follow it except me.

“Instead, I would like to make a suggestion.”

Suggestions instead of answers.

It was an arrogant thing to do to a big company.

‘It’s not me who’s sad, it’s the other person.’

So it was possible.

Claire wordlessly urged me on.

“Give me a chance to win Rep. Giselle’s favor.”

“Opportunity. How?”

“There will be an attack during these negotiations.”

It was a certainty, not a guess.

Claire countered with common sense.

“It could be possible that they attacked during negotiations. I hired you to prevent such situations, didn’t I?”

“If there is a mole among those escorts, the story is different.”

“Betrayal from within? No way. The Draxia Mercenaries are a trusted group appointed by the city government. They would never turn their backs and destroy the foundation they worked so hard to build… … .”

“They’re not mercenaries, they’re contractors.”

“… … .”

There are two types of people who are in charge of escorting.

If it was the former, then it would be okay, but if it was the latter, then it would be a crazy judgment that it was a betrayal.

“… … Money. Considering the backing that has the power to disrupt city government events, Sentrim?”

“You know what I mean. When Sylvester is acting so blatantly, his rivals aren’t fools who would just sit back and do nothing.”

A backroom operation that will determine the outcome of the important event called war.

The company’s presence was what gave reality to the outrageous story.

“… … Okay, let’s say you told the whole truth. How did you know that?”

It was a crucial crossroads.

Only by convincing her here can we reliably stop the uprising.

“I was the one who uncovered the truth behind the stalking that the Draxia Mercenaries were doing.”

Satisfied with this, Giselle even ordered that she report to me directly.

“You asked me the secret to winning the favor of Congresswoman Giselle. I didn’t answer because I don’t have a secret.”

“……no way.”

Fortunately, she gave it some plausibility.

“Do you know what information power you have?”

“Interpretation is up to you.”

I’m just leaving open the possibility that it might be so.

‘If you leave it alone, its imagination will run wild.’

Risk management is essential in business operations.

And the Claire I know is the one who is wary of even the smallest element of anxiety as if it were a game-changer.

She was a person who valued planning, so she had a habit of using her rich imagination, bordering on delusion, in her plans.

‘That is nonsense.’

It’s not for nothing that the position is unstable.

If you tell a plausible story, there is a high chance that you will get lost in the details.

“I’ve figured out their plan. They’re going to cause terror during the negotiations, starting with the warlock.”

“Black magician. If those sinister seeds decide to commit terrorism, it will be difficult to stop them with simple fists. Wouldn’t it be better to catch them beforehand?”

“Then they will commit terrorism with a new plan.”

Because Centrim won’t give up the war.

It was best for me to take control of the situation as I perceived it.

“I can stop the warlock’s tricks. I will also take responsibility for protecting Senator Giselle.”

“… … If I can do everything by myself, what should I do?”

“Just pay attention to one thing.”

It was a simple thing that benefited me and the other person.

“Be shameless.”

“……yes?”

All you have to do is put a sheet of iron on your face.

It was a very easy task for an entrepreneur whose default was fraud and deception.

***

“oh.”

Secretary Millina hurriedly sat up in the driver’s seat at the sight of In-gyeong in the rearview mirror.

“Thank you for your effort.”

“… … Thank you for waiting.”

Sitting in the backseat was her boss, Claire.

Millina started the car and glanced at Claire’s face.

Even at first glance, it didn’t look very good.

“I will take you to my home.”

“Okay, please. I’m tired.”

“… … I guess things aren’t going well?”

“No, it worked out fine.”

“Aha, I’m glad it worked out well.”

But I don’t know why your expression is like that.

Is this something I can ask?

While Millina was struggling, Claire spoke first.

“He was a formidable man.”

“Are you a contractor?”

“He was always in control. He was unwavering in the name of Sylvester.”

Claire honestly admitted that she had ignored the other person because he was a newbie.

That was the reason for my mistake of not being able to lead this conversation proactively.

If I had known that it was a snake with many tricks to shake and hold, I would have approached it with caution.

Because of the wear and tear, his vision was clouded.

“Then, about the secret… … .”

“I couldn’t figure it out.”

“iced coffee.”

This case was practically Claire’s political career at the office.

The secretary, who was his close associate, was naturally a community of shared destiny.

I thought I found a way to please the picky congressman.

It was a sigh that came out without me knowing it was crooked.

“Instead, I came to you with an offer.”

“A suggestion, sir?”

“yes.”

“Can I ask you something? If you have any concerns, I will review it with the staff and give you my opinion.”

“No, you don’t have to do that. He just told me to be shameless.”

“… … Shameless?”

It was a sound I didn’t understand.

The secretary looked as if she wanted more explanation, but Claire simply leaned her face against the window.

Because the decision has already been made.

“… … There’s one thing I want you to do more than that.”

“Go ahead.”

“Allen, please track down that hitman.”

“The background check has already been completed… … .”

“There is something more than what we investigated.”

It was a confident tone that left no room for refutation.

“Don’t do it half-heartedly like this. Do it thoroughly, dusting off every last bit of dust.”

“……All right.”

He was no ordinary contractor.

Might there be clues to the past that even Sylvester’s intelligence could not uncover?

Claire had no intention of just being dragged around.

***

It was late at night.

The border area, the great plains of District 12, were quiet.

Contract workers who were hired as escorts but were actually treated as odd jobs were put to work even at late hours.

The cleaning around the negotiation table had already been completed, but it was the decision of the frontline civil servants that they should not play around with the people they hired for a lot of money.

Mezier took up his duties with a happy heart.

I needed time to move on my own without arousing suspicion.

“Ahem.”

Even though it was a dangerous place for an old man to move alone late at night, Mezier looked delighted rather than wary.

It was the first request I’ve liked in a long time.

I liked the pay and it was perfect for my taste.

“As for preparation… I think this much should be enough.”

The place where Mezier stopped walking was in front of a low hill.

The old woman put her hand on the hill and pushed.

Then the black hill collapsed.

“I never thought that a failed project I threw away long ago would be of help. Hehe, I guess I’ll have to live a long life to see what happens.”

The hills were not terrain made of dirt.

The dirt was only a camouflage, in reality it was the corpses of the Corrupted, the rulers of the Great Plains.

It was also a failed product that a warlock named Mezier experimented on as a child and then abandoned.

“Three contractors including Aesongi, one mercenary group and a savage.”

There are only two people involved in the operation, including the assistant.

The difference in power was like throwing an egg at a rock.

“It’s easy.”

Naturally, the black magician had the upper hand.

Mezier chuckled confidently.

Her gaze was fixed on the ominous magic circle drawn beneath the hillock of corrupted corpses.