CREEEEEK
As Joe opened the door, there was an ear-scratching sound from the rusted hinges.
It was a sound that made one frown, but Joe, Sam, and the big teenager showed no reaction as if they were used to it.
As Oliver followed them into the house, he saw a floor covered with dust, a corner of the ceiling covered with spider webs, and a desk, alone in an empty living room.
On the desk was a map believed to be the one of District X, fixed with a knife, and next to it was the file about the Kell Liberation Army executives Oliver handed over to Joe.
When he agreed to cooperate, Oliver handed it over at Joe's request, and he gave it to Joe because he sincerely intended to work with him.
Forrest also said that there was no big problem with lending the file.
– The city won't care who you work with if you could get the executives.
They were interested in the result rather than the process.
So Oliver handed over the file to Joe.
Oliver unconsciously looked at District X drawn on the map.
District X, which was quite large considering that it was underdeveloped, had a huge river in the back.
‘And beyond the river are Districts Y and Z .'
Oliver unconsciously imprinted the image of District X on the map in his head.
"You don't have to look very closely."
Joe spoke to Oliver, who was looking at the map.
"What?"
"I think you're trying to familiarize yourself with the topography, but you don't have to. This map was made in advance based on the image after development and completion, so it's useless except for the rough terrain. Development stopped in the middle."
"Oh. . . . why?”
Sam answered, cutting in.
"The city councilor in this area was caught stealing the development budget and was dismissed, and since then, terrorism and accidents have occurred one after another. Bad news overlapped, and the city councilors who represented the district were vacant, so the development naturally stopped and this happened. I heard they were trying to make this a good industrial district.”
It was interesting.
Oliver didn't know there was such a backstory to District X, which he thought was just an underdeveloped place.
Sam answered, biting a cigarette.
"These days, it's a desolate world where you don't even know who lives next door, so people in other Districts wouldn't know this story. Everyone in this town knows, though. In particular, the old folks lament that those days were good."
Sam's voice was a mixture of lamentation, regret, and irritation.
Oliver reflexively tried to ask if it was good to live at the time, Joe patted the table preventing the topic from continuing.
"That's enough of the past stories. Let's focus on our work first. That's why we're all here.”
Sam nodded as he smoked, and Oliver nodded.
Joe was right. For now, he had to concentrate on the job.
As the conversation was put on hold, Joe explained the situation first.
"First of all, I'll tell you what we've done."
Oliver nodded.
Instead of letting him in, Joe was in charge of the search in District X.
Joe pointed to the area marked with a red pen.
It was inside District X and adjacent to the river.
"I don't know whether you know, but Landa surprisingly has a large number of fugitives not only from the United Kingdom but also from abroad.”
"I know. I learned about it not too long ago.”
Forrest said it was easy to hide because there were many people, easy to get information, and above all, there was no search for outside troops, making it the best place for fugitives to hide.
"Well, that's a relief. Usually, people with money and a good connection hide in District J. There are many people, so it's easy to hide, and there are many places to rest. No money, but a guy with a decent connection hides outside the worker’s residence. There are many foreigners living there, so it's not awkward no matter who's there."
Oliver nodded. He didn't know this detailed information, and it was admirable.
But suddenly, Oliver had one question.
"Um, what if you don't have money or connections?"
"Well, hide here."
Joe once again pointed inside the red-marked land.
"Although it is dangerous due to the abundance of poor people, gangsters, human traffickers, and mutants, the police won’t be coming here, so it’s a pretty good place to hide if you are confident in your strength. There are gangsters who run small errands with even a small amount of money."
"Oh, I see. Still, the range is wide, so did you find the hideout?"
"Uh… No, I found some guys who I think might know exactly."
"Guys you think might know."
"Yes."
Joe answered and pointed to a point.
It was a factory located near the sewer.
"There’s a gang running its base here. The name is Sewer Snakes."
"Sewer Snakes?"
"Uh, it's the name of a snake that lives in the sewer. That's where they got the name. They're dirty and cunning guys, and they sometimes hide those who run away on the sidelines. Maybe, there's a good chance that they might know."
"How come?"
“Recently, the number of groceries they buy has increased sharply. Like canned food, bread, alcohol, and cigarettes. The only grocery store in this area is the Lansky grocery store here, so it's definite information.”
Joe pointed to a huge warehouse building a few blocks away.
"There's only one grocery store?”
"I told you. This neighborhood is rough. Do you think there are a lot of people who can hold out by opening a store here?”
"In the first place, Lansky old man is able to hold out because he's the owner of that street."
said Sam, cutting in.
"Owner of the street?"
"It's nothing. That's what we call people who have a say here."
Oliver nodded.
"Anyway, if we ask these sewer snake guys, we'll probably find out their traces. If possible, I wanted to find out on my own, but I thought there would be a problem if I did it alone…..”
Joe looked at Oliver's complexion and clouded his words, as if he was worried that Oliver might be offended.
However, contrary to Joe's concerns, Oliver was satisfied enough.
To begin with, there was a place to ask.
"That's great. So, do we just move right away?”
"Oh, before that, let me introduce the guys who will be working together.”
Saying those words, Joe pointed to Twin pistol Sam.
"Sam, you've met him in a contamination zone, no?"
"Yes, it’s been a while. Mr. Sam."
Sam also looked at Oliver for a moment, nodded, and greeted him with his own manners.
"Yes, it's been a while.”
Joe nodded and then introduced the next.
A dark-skinned young man who was younger than Joe and Sam but looked bigger and heavier than the two combined.
"This is Owen. He's the one who joined the fighter crew this time."
Owen bowed his head politely, out of proportion to his size.
"Uh, hello"
"Yes, hello."
Oliver greeted him and looked at him.
He looked anxious, and at the same time, he was intimidated.
It wasn't for Oliver to judge, but it didn't seem like he had the personality to fight.
At least among the people he fought with there was no one like this.
"As you can see, he’s still young and inexperienced, but I'm sure of his ability, so you don't have to worry too much."
About half of what Joe said was a lie.
He believed in Owen's power, but he didn't seem to believe him for sure. It was a personality issue rather than ability.
‘Even the person himself seems to be insecure and doesn't believe in himself.'
Oliver stared at the teenager named Owen and thought.
Joe, who was conscious of such Oliver asked.
"…Should I take him out if you’re worried? You're the strongest here, Dave, and you're the one who brought the work. I'll do as you say."
At that moment, Owen was surprised and said out loud.
"AHHH, I'll be of help, so please take me with you! I'm confident in my strength!"
Rather than being really confident, it felt like there was something more urgent.
Fear, responsibility, anxiety, and courage were seething with a sticky mixture.
Oliver wanted to know why he wanted to do this even though he was scared.
When Oliver asked about this, Twin pistol Sam answered on Owen's behalf.
"It’s for the money."
"Money?"
"Yeah. You need money to make a living. Did you feel anything on your way here?”
"Um… people hiding and watching?”
"Yes, that's right, but not that….. There's no decent job in this town. If you want to make a living, you have to work risking your life this way. Especially the ones with a family."
Sam pointed to Owen at the same time as he said it.
"Well, don't pity him. If you're born in this neighborhood, that's your destiny. You have to suck it up and accept it. Just decide whether to take him or not."
As Sam sorted things out, Oliver's curiosity disappeared and he looked at Owen, who was nervously looking at Oliver.
"Some of the people we are trying to catch now attacked and killed dozens of soldiers alone, is that okay?”
Owen hesitated for a moment and nodded as if he had made up his mind.
"It's all right… I'm determined."
"Um, that's enough. Let's go together."
At the same time as Oliver answered, Owen sighed with relief, while Joe and Sam put on their coats and packed knuckles, pistols, and pipe bombs.
Everyone seemed motivated.
"Oh, but I don't think this number is enough. Isn't it better to get some more from somewhere?"
"Then the difficulties bloom when sharing. Considering the money, this is perfect even if it's dangerous."
Sam asked, and Joe answered.
"Is there a shortage of people?”
Oliver cut in.
"Of course. We’re going to the gang to get information and there are more than 10 wanted criminals. To be honest, just the four of us are a bit…."
"How many people do you need?”
Sam frowned curiously at Oliver's question and answered hesitantly.
"Well… three talented guys, if we’ve four we would definitely be safe."
"Um. . . . I see. Is it okay with three?”
"Huh? Uh… Do you have anyone to bring? By the way, won't the distribution of profits change if you bring more people?"
Oliver shook his head.
"It's okay. You don't have to share the profits."
With that, Oliver opened the leather case in his waist.
"Big Mouth, can you help me?”
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
Oliver walked down the street with three people and three corpse dolls.
Most of the time when you walk with someone, you either walk at the back or beside them, but strangely, Oliver was walking in the middle when he came to his senses.
Joe's party and the Corpse dolls were spread out on both sides, respectively.
What was even stranger was that Joe, Sam, and Owen were somewhat nervous as they looked at the corpse dolls – [Warlock], [Sniper], and [Rag] that Oliver took out.
In fact, these three corpse dolls were covered with a long coat and hooded cloak bought from a used clothing store, so it was not strange on the outside.
‘Probably.’
Originally, Oliver intended to decorate them as much as possible with artificial skin and special paint, but Oliver's skills were not good enough to disguise them properly, so he wrapped them up in clothes like this.
‘Still, it doesn't seem like a problem on the outside. So what's wrong? Is their walking awkward?’
Oliver thought as he looked at the stagger-walking of the corpse dolls.
Oliver turned his head and asked Joe.
"Is it a little strange? The corpse dolls.”
Joe replied, a little startled.
"No. That's not it. It's just… How should I say… Did you make them yourself?”
"No. I picked up a few from the contamination zone and repaired them. I've only made one corpse doll."
"Oh… I see."
"Yes."
"……."
"Do you have something to say?"
"Will they… Never mind."
He tried to say something uncharacteristically but suddenly stopped talking. When Oliver tried to ask what was going on, Sam stepped in.
"What Joe wants to ask is…..those dolls?"
"Warlock, Sniper, Rag."
"Uh, yes… Anyway, they won’t go crazy, right?"
"Yes, they are good children, and they are quiet."
As if responding to the words, the children who entered the corpse dolls looked this way and shouted.
"Kruk Kruk…"
"Kyakyakyah…"
"Kikikkiki".
It was really polite. However, for some reason, Joe, Sam, and Owen took half a step back to the other side.
"Well, tell them not to talk too much anyway. Sewer Snakes shouldn't look down, but it's not good to threaten them too much. Anyway, our goal is to talk."
said Joe, holding an envelope containing five million as a bribe.
“They usually hide the fugitives, at least hundreds. It’s said that they would get 10 million at most, so this will be enough.”
After a while, the party reached an abandoned factory, home to the gang Sewer Snakes.
(To be Continued on Jan 30 {MON})
OR
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