Chapter 144. Victoria Kazimieśi Domain (4)

Noon’s white sun blazed overhead.

Gray cobblestones stretched beneath my feet.

Even outsourcing districts varied wildly.

Stepping off the train, Enoch Elsyde realized this anew.

Victoria Kazimieśi’s satellite city.

19th Outsourcing District, was it?

The station and scenery differed starkly from Elsyde’s 37th district.

Wooden benches lined the platform.

Not glass-and-concrete skyscrapers, but red-tinged brick buildings exuded gothic charm.

Gothic revival, they called it?

A detective from a mystery novel, puffing a signature pipe, wouldn’t look out of place strolling by.

I scanned impassively.

Unlike Elsyde’s modern, near-futuristic vibe, this city’s antique aura stood out.

I’d seen it in the original.

But since awakening here, I’d only known Elsyde’s futuristic landscapes.

It felt almost exotic.

My artless impression, lacking expertise.

“Ughhh, finally here.”

April stretched beside me, fresh off the train.

“Gods, furthest district from Victoria Kazimieśi, and this boring high-speed train? Crazy, right?”

“It’s far for a satellite city. No other towns nearby.”

“Exactly. Plus, a huge forest nearby jacks up prices.”

Grumbling, she thrust something at me.

A takeaway coffee with a long straw, its bean aroma tickling.

She’d bought it at the station.

Waving it, she smiled slightly.

“Here, my treat. Let’s go.”

“Thanks.”

“This job’ll be tough, so caffeine’s a must. Should’ve grabbed gum too.”

Shrugging, she slung her weapon case.

Her relaxed attitude, like a tourist, made the job feel real.

“I’ll guide. Got the meeting spot.”

She said, opening her device.

Eyes were on us.

A pink-haired beauty with a rectangular case and a shady guy in a knight-like visor and hood drew attention.

Walking side-by-side through the crowd, we weren’t as conspicuous as Lien or Sirocco, but noticeable here.

As expected.

People on benches read papers or shot sharp glances.

District gazes weren’t exactly friendly.

“Freelancer. Elsyde’s 37th district?”

A low voice sounded.

April and I turned simultaneously.

Before a dim alley littered with flyers and papers, a man in a worn suit and hunting cap sat on a bench, reading a newspaper naturally.

Despite his plain look, his gaze was sharp.

Approaching, April shrugged.

“No real affiliation beyond the office. But yeah.”

“You found us. Good effort, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the 19th district council, greetings.”

He tipped his cap.

April replied dully.

“Whatever, gimme the job data. Said you’d provide here.”

He snorted, folding the paper, standing.

From his coat, he pulled a vacuum-sealed file, handing it over.

“Feisty lady. Here.”

“Got it.”

“One critical note for external freelancers. Listen—it’s life-or-death.”

Raising his cap’s brim, he stared at us.

“Listen. Beasts’ sudden appearance has made things tense. Scavengers are rampant.”

“Scavengers?”

“Yeah. Based in 8th Avenue, avoid investigating there unless you don’t value your life.”

Scavengers.

I exchanged a glance with April.

We’d clashed with them in the 37th district.

They’d set up here too, thriving.

In the original, Scavengers survived tenaciously, mentioned in the main storyline. Their weed-like resilience wasn’t surprising.

April shrugged, replying.

“Sorry, time’s precious. Payment?”

“Cash in the file. If stopped, the council issued an 18-hour access permit. Show it.”

“18 hours? You kidding…!”

April crumpled the envelope, protesting, but he’d turned away.

“Deadline’s dawn. Many competitors, but I expect results.”

Hands in coat, he vanished into the alley.

April, stunned, muttered.

“…Gods, tight schedule. Investigate or not?”

“He mentioned competitors. Related?”

She nodded.

“Yeah. Other freelancers from our district and elsewhere were called. Hence his attitude.”

Shrugging, she added.

“Remember the axe guy at the bar? The jerk hassling you?”

“I do.”

“He finished another job, then took this one. Probably started already.”

She summed up.

“So, we’re competing for the reward.”

“Winner takes all?”

Sighing, she said.

“Freelancers, sure, but we’re mercenaries here. Big jobs use us as fodder.”

Whoever achieves the most, fastest, gets the most.

The client minimizes effort, maximizing efficiency via competition.

Realizing this, I tilted my head.

“Pretty ruthless for a district.”

“This world’s unfair.”

“…”

“Victoria folks, especially here, are haughty. We endure for the cash.”

Adding, “They’re the most influential Main House,” she moved.

“No time, let’s move.”

Despite her vigor, her steps hesitated. Entering an alley, she groaned, opening the envelope.

“Here’s the investigation zones. Too many, as expected.”

Leaning against a brick wall, she spread the map.

Red X’s marked predicted beast movements with notes.

“Finding beast traces in this huge city? One wrong choice, and we’re screwed.”

“…”

I stared at the map.

As April fiddled with her cap, I spoke.

“One thing.”

Glancing around, I added.

“I have an idea.”

I explained my plan.

April’s pink eyes widened, her jaw dropping as she listened.

Stunned, she asked blankly.

“…You sane?”

“Think so.”

“Bull!”

Leaning close, she said.

“Like the SIEG job, you want me to follow your lead? I’m not a Rank 10+ mage…!”

“You said the reward’s big. This is the surest way. Not in?”

“…Ugh!”

Her eyes wavered. Pulling her cap low, she muttered rapidly.

“No, listen! I didn’t say no… Did I?”

“Then?”

“My stock pick tanked hard. It was a sure thing, but the graph crashed…”

Mumbling, head bowed.

I tilted my head.

“So, in or out?”

At the binary choice, her dizzy eyes stared blankly.

But, like a freelancer, she decided, eyes shut, clutching her case, shouting.

“Fine! I’m in!”

“Good.”

I glanced aside.

I was used to this.

Having done it before.

Recalling my first exemption mission, I added briefly.

“Let’s go.”

Recalling the man’s words, I eyed the Scavenger base’s danger mark on the map.

“8th Avenue, right?”

“Ugh…”

Hugging her case, April fidgeted, then sighed deeply.

“Should’ve known sharing this job with you’d end like this…”

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