Chapter 68
“This request will take quite some time just based on the distance alone, so if Max-nim takes the two of them with you, we will pay 500 million per Person. A total of 1.5 billion credits.”
1.5 billion credits.
Since Flora and Ellen would be accompanying me as Intern Employees, I would have to distribute a certain amount to them.
Moreover, even knowing that such money comes with a corresponding amount of hardship, it’s tempting enough that my mind is already leaning towards it.
However, many thoughts follow.
“The Wasteland has poor hygiene, not to mention the food. Will Ellen be okay staying there?”
“Young Lady Ellen rarely gets sick from food. Unless it is food prepared with malicious intent, that is.”
The same goes for Flora.
There is the fact that their bodies have reached the 5th-Tier, but the two of them must have also increased their physical strength and built up resistance through special methods since childhood.
Max, too, possessed a body that had reached the 5th-Tier, and having undergone enhancement with Genesis Bio Solution’s No. 1 Gold Nectar, the chances of him getting sick were extremely low unless someone spiked his food with drugs or poison.
Of course, what Max was trying to say wasn’t about such a one-dimensional issue.
Domingo didn’t seem to have any intention of mentioning the Clements Family Head’s true motives for sending Ellen and Flora to the Wasteland.
‘I’ll have to ask Ellen about this separately later.’
Ellen was spinning around in the computer chair with a sullen expression.
It seemed there had been some related talk within the Family.
“Ah, and I forgot to mention this information to Max-nim.”
“What is it?”
“The reason for dealing with the Valve Family’s Godfather, Salazar.”
“…I would appreciate it if you told me.”
It wouldn’t matter if he didn’t inform him. Still, if he was going to tell him, there was no reason not to listen.
“The Criminal Factions of the Wasteland fear drawing the attention of the MegaCorps in Haze and Newman.”
“I’ve heard they are thorough about such things since their lives are on the line.”
However, they ruthlessly attack Small and Medium-sized Enterprises or civilian vehicles.
“As Max-nim knows, the Magic Noble Family Clements operates various businesses.”
“Of course, I know.”
“While one of our affiliated companies was striving to develop a product, they needed an item from another city and signed a contract. The vehicle carrying the goods set its destination for Haze and drove across the Wasteland.”
“Did the Valve Family attack that vehicle?”
“No. It was not attacked.”
“Then…?”
“Even though the Hologram device displaying the mark indicating it was heading to a Magic Noble Family in Haze had broken down, making it look like nothing more than an ordinary truck.”
If someone else heard this, they might just brush it off as a stroke of good luck.
However, Max, who had experience working in a Corporation, understood immediately.
“You mean there was someone among the affiliate’s employees who sold the information.”
“Haha, you are quick to discern. That is truly excellent.”
“Was the Employee who sold it caught?”
Domingo smiled with satisfaction and nodded.
“According to the Employee’s confession, it was a deviation committed due to gambling debts. The circumstances are pitiful, but appropriate disciplinary action was taken based on internal regulations.”
“…”
“All that remains is the Valve Family.”
From the moment the Valve Family coveted the MegaCorp’s dispatch information, they had already shoved their heads into the guillotine.
If they touched the truck, they would be trampled to death by the MegaCorp, and if they didn’t touch it, their collusion with the internal spy would be exposed and they would be purged. Whichever side they chose, their future was nothing but corpses.
“Idiots.”
It might have been a desperate measure introduced by Salazar of the Valve Family to avoid the mishap of crossing a MegaCorp when he became the new Ruler of Oil Sink.
However, in a world where tact is crucial, they had crossed the line.
It would have been better if they had fought tooth and nail with another Family during that time to prove an alibi that they had no time for anything else.
Their cunning was clumsy.
“Even if I fail, these guys are dead no matter what.”
It wasn’t that Max was keeping failure in mind. He was simply wary of the persistence and tenacity that a MegaCorp possessed.
Unless one possessed overwhelming martial prowess to the point where the MegaCorp calculated that causing friction would result in a greater loss, one shouldn’t get on their bad side in the first place.
The moment one became a target with mediocre strength, a situation like this would unfold.
“Max-nim. Do you need an advance payment to carry out the request?”
“No. How could I accept an advance payment from a trusted Customer? I will receive it proudly after completing the request.”
At Max’s answer, Domingo neatly emptied his remaining coffee as if he had finished his business.
“The materials needed to carry out the request will be on the device I handed you.”
“Thank you. I will begin as quickly as possible after reviewing them.”
Domingo stood up from his seat and informed Ellen in a gentle voice.
“Young Lady. This Old Man will take his leave now.”
“Hurry up and go!”
“Then, I wish you two peace as well.”
Having finished his greetings to Max and Flora, the Old Man walked away.
Ellen maintained her vigilance like a cat with a cucumber in front of it until Domingo completely left the office.
In the end, Max and Flora were the only ones who saw the guest off.
Right after Domingo took the Elevator down, Max muttered.
“He was a man of elegance.”
“He’s famous even within the Clements Family. If Oppa hadn’t accepted this request, he probably would have handled it himself.”
Hearing Flora’s words, Domingo’s role became easy to guess.
And naturally, the conversation shifted to the request.
“What are you going to do, Flora? Honestly, I can’t recommend the Wasteland.”
“I’ll still go. I think there must be a reason why the Clements Family Head recommended it. Especially if my grandfather agreed to it…”
“Will you be okay?”
“Yeah.”
Even as she answered, her face was full of worry. The unknown was fear itself, so it was understandable.
Max had spent quite a bit of time at the bottom right after leaving his Family, so he had experience interacting with people from the Wasteland.
However, Flora probably couldn’t even imagine what kind of lifestyle the Wasteland, which was comparable to the Lower District, had.
“Is Domingo really gone?”
Ellen checked with the two who had returned to the office.
Max affirmed with a nod and asked.
“The Wasteland. Can you go?”
“Of course I’m going!”
“It’s not a travel destination, nor is it a suitable environment for a Change of Pace.”
“I know that too. I just have to follow Oppa closely, right?”
At her calm acceptance, Flora crossed her arms and glared at Ellen. Twitching her ears, she immediately asked what she had been thinking about inwardly.
“Seeing how quiet you were during the talk about the request, wasn’t this already discussed within the Clements Family?”
At Flora’s pressing, Ellen pouted her lips and protested.
“Lately, when I’m at home, my mom keeps teasing me, scratching at my nerves, saying I wouldn’t last a single day if I were thrown into the Wasteland. For days, every conversation ended up being about the Wasteland.”
“…”
“I kept taking it until I got pissed off and said I could Handle it. Then she told me to go try it.”
“The Family Head was planning to send you on this request from the very beginning.”
“I’m a victim of my mom too, so stop glaring at me so fiercely and comfort me a little!”
“Hmph.”
“Y-You… cold-hearted wench!”
Treating Flora and Ellen’s conversation as Background music, Max turned on his computer. He opened the files Domingo had handed him.
The map depicting the Wasteland also marked the location of Oil Sink. It even recorded the faces and Tiers of the Valve Family’s Godfather, Salazar, and the subordinates beneath him.
“…This is high-quality information.”
As Max scrolled through the data, he couldn’t help but marvel.
It listed the military ID and Citizen number Salazar used in Newman, his physical specs and characteristics, and even his personnel evaluations and interpersonal relationships recorded during his military days.
Ellen poked her head in front of Max as he was checking the data on the monitor.
“Oppa. Is there internet in the Wasteland?”
“You should assume there isn’t. They say it’s possible in a few Junk Towns, but we’ll mostly be wandering the Wasteland.”
“Then what about my monthly subscription and daily quests! I’ve been running on full charge every day, this is going to cause a permanent handicap to my EXP!”
“Well, that’s a shame, isn’t it?”
“Are you serious… I have to enter the merch raffle too…”
Ellen trudged over to the sofa and lay down, going limp like a slime.
‘We haven’t even left yet, but she already looks exhausted.’
Max chuckled, engraving the fact that he was their guardian into his mind.
Since he was actually leading two interns, it was true that he was the one who had to protect them.
He suspected that the Clements Family had hired him for that exact role in the first place. The disposition of Eisen Crimsonhowl, whom they had supposedly spoken with, suggested the same.
To provide Flora and Ellen, who possessed infinite potential, with various experiences and the opportunity to broaden their horizons.
During that time, Max was tasked with the role of ensuring their minimum safety.
“Shall I start by finding something to act as the feet for our little chicks?”
Max browsed the internet to arrange for a vehicle.
Even for 5th-Tier Mages, crossing the Wasteland on foot would be an act of madness akin to suicide. Since a means of transportation was essential, Max reserved a Brick99.
True to its name, it was an angular pickup truck shaped like a brick, with a clunky design devoid of any style.
However, there was no better vehicle for traversing the rough terrain of the Wasteland. Among the models available right now, it was undoubtedly the best choice.
“The car is sorted. Next is…”
Max hurried his preparations so they could depart as early as tomorrow.