Chapter 146. Outsourcing District (1)

Click.

With the sound of tightening cable ties, April straightened, dusting her hands.

“Alright, that’s done.”

I nodded silently.

Taking advantage of Victor’s paralysis from the electric shock, April had bound his wrists and ankles with plastic cuffs.

He was the last; the other incapacitated guards were similarly tied to pillars or railings.

“This should keep them neutralized even if they wake up. Guys like these can’t cast magic properly for a while due to the pain.”

Neutralizing potential counterattacks before interrogation was standard.

Sheathing my two-handed sword, I nodded lightly.

“Might take a bit to come to.”

Thanks to the awakening magic, he seemed conscious, but still frothing, head slumped, likely from the shock’s aftereffects.

April glanced at the twitching man, nodding slightly.

“Not ready for a proper talk yet.”

“He’ll snap out of it in a few minutes. We’ll interrogate then.”

“Sounds good, but…”

She looked at me, asking.

“Can I help the injured first?”

The two non-mages Victor had knocked down—a mother and child. I tilted my head.

“Why ask me?”

“Obviously, we’re paired for this job.”

Hugging her rifle, she approached them. I followed, asking softly.

“Didn’t you say time’s tight? That’s why we rushed.”

“Tch, I know. But seeing this in front of me? Leaves a bad taste.”

Shrugging, she glanced back, asking quietly.

“If this delays us and we miss the reward, I’ll cover it. My stubbornness, my fault.”

“…Cover it? Sounded like you’re strapped for cash.”

“Ugh, hitting where it hurts! So ruthless…”

Grumbling, she smiled faintly, turning away.

“Don’t have to help. My idea, I’ll handle it. Rest nearby.”

Approaching the trembling woman, she asked gently.

“Can you stand? Your leg’s broken. No clinics nearby, but I’ll do first aid.”

“T-Thank you…”

“Here’s something for a splint.”

Picking up a thin metal plate from the mill, April pulled a compression bandage from her case, crafting a makeshift splint with practiced skill.

“Can you walk? I’ll support you. Let’s go.”

“Thank you, mage-nim. Truly…”

“Save it for later.”

Struggling, she draped the woman’s arm over her neck, supporting her.

But her unsteady steps looked precarious.

With the woman holding a child and her leg broken, it was tough for April alone.

“Urgh!”

As she nearly fell after a few steps, I sighed lightly.

“Ugh, sorry, balancing’s hard…”

Smiling sheepishly, she glanced at the woman. Her pink eyes widened in shock.

“You…”

I’d taken the child from the woman’s arms, supporting her other side.

Glancing at April, I said simply.

“I’ll help. Let’s move.”

Staring blankly, she burst out laughing.

“What, helping? Unexpected.”

As if she thought I’d refuse. What did she take me for?

I chuckled inwardly.

Funny. I knew as little about the original Enoch as she did about me.

Her view wasn’t odd. We were both clueless about ourselves.

Looking at her calmly, I turned forward.

“No chatter. Move. Time’s short.”

***

Luckily, a rundown but functional free aid station was near the mill.

Inside, the smell of medicine hit us, with peeling red doorframes and torn wallpaper greeting us.

Likely a token facility set up by Victoria Kazimieśi for its satellite district, it wasn’t impressive.

But it sufficed.

An elderly healer, dousing a cigarette as patients arrived, greeted us impassively.

As the woman, checking her child’s safety, got her leg treated, April nudged me with her eyes.

Stepping outside, the setting sun bathed the street in red.

“Ugh, exhausting.”

Walking beside me, April massaged her stiff shoulders, bare under her tank top.

Still hot from supporting the injured, she unzipped her short jacket, fanning her flushed chest, grumbling.

“Phew, so hot. Mill’s heat aside, moving like that’s intense.”

“Good work.”

“You worked harder. Thanks for carrying the kid. I’d have struggled alone. Sure it’s okay?”

“What?”

“We tied those guys up, but is it safe?”

I nodded.

“Checked on the way—no Scavengers around. They didn’t call backup, so no one’s coming.”

“True.”

Plus, the boss mentioned scattering forces across the district. Likely no reinforcements for the mill.

“And, as I said, we’re a bit delayed.”

April said, sounding guilty. I shook my head calmly.

“Doesn’t matter.”

Honestly, it didn’t. Unlike April, my goal wasn’t the reward but tracing human beasts in the 19th district.

As long as I could investigate, time constraints weren’t my concern.

She spoke softly.

“Honestly, I was surprised.”

“By what?”

“Teaming with you feels right.”

She pulled her sniper rifle from its case, locking it with a click.

“I’m a freelancer, but jobs with others are cutthroat. Gets tiring.”

“Tiring? Why?”

“Freelancers are all about self-interest. Free rescues? Most don’t care unless it’s a job.”

Tilting her head, her pink hair spilled over her shoulder.

Her cheeks, flushed from exertion, glowed faintly.

“So, you’re a first.”

“First?”

“Exactly.”

Hoisting her case onto her shoulder, she continued.

“Solo freelancers are the norm. Occupational hazard, maybe?”

Twirling her hair, she mused.

I replied calmly.

“Sounds like you’re the flawed freelancer.”

“Flawed?! That’s harsh… And it applies to you too!”

Ignoring her protest, I turned away impassively.

“Enough chatter. We’re here.”

The massive mill loomed ahead. Time to resume our task.

Watching white smoke rise from its chimneys, I stepped through the open gates.

The stifling heat of molten steel and clanging machinery painted a hellish scene.

Crossing its heart, I reached Victor, still bound by April’s cuffs.

Conveniently, he was stirring.

“Guh, you… bastards…”

“Victor, right?”

The slick-haired man coughed, biting his lip, raising his head, shouting hoarsely.

“You… what kind of mage are you? How’d you take out the guards…”

“Not your concern.”

Kneeling to his level, I thrust a photo before his eyes.

A human-shaped beast, glowing with Tantalus’s green mana.

Holding it, I asked calmly.

“Overheard you. We’re tracking these beasts. Sounded like you know something.”

“…”

Victor gritted his teeth, staring at me, muttering slowly.

“Got it. Imperial agent?”

“What?”

His sudden nonsense made me tilt my head. He growled, teeth grinding.

“For you to come here, info must’ve leaked. Vendetta’s sloppy work.”

“What’re you…”

As I questioned, he lowered his head, murmuring.

“No choice now.”

A black sand-iron saw appeared on his bound hand, snapping the cable ties.

Reacting to his sudden move, I stepped forward, gripping my sword’s hilt.

In that split second, Victor shouted, teeth clenched.

“Rather than let you have it!”

He aimed the saw at his heart. April’s eyes widened in panic.

“Wha?!”

Clang!

Metal clashed as his saw flew into the air, deflected.

“Not so fast.”

I’d stabbed his hand with my sword, pinning it to the wall, neutralizing the saw.

Unfazed, he thrashed, bleeding, roaring.

“Imperial dogs! I’ll never forgive you! You’ll pay…!”

He didn’t finish.

Crack!

A loud sound echoed as he collapsed, eyes rolling back. I’d struck his head with my scabbard.

“That okay?”

Regaining composure, April glanced at him, shrugging. I replied calmly.

“A guy ready to kill himself won’t spill easily. Better to knock him out.”

“Agreed. No idea what he misunderstood, but suicide? Quite a leap.”

Sheathing my sword, I nodded.

I hadn’t expected suicide. A fanatic like him wouldn’t crack under torture or persuasion.

April tilted her head, adding.

“…That reaction was unexpected. Why’d he flip at the beast photo?”

“Something’s up.”

“Yeah, but what?”

Frowning under her cap, she looked troubled.

“Hold on.”

Spotting a device peeking from Victor’s pocket, I crouched, taking it.

Using his finger, I unlocked it with a fingerprint scan, tossing it to April.

“Here’s a way to find out.”

“Woah!”

Fumbling, she caught it, checking the screen.

“Nice. This’ll help figure out what’s happening here.”

“Anything useful?”

“Maybe. Better than blindly picking investigation spots in this huge district.”

I nodded silently. Tapping the screen, she added.

“Let’s see. One sec.”

After a few minutes, she snapped her fingers, showing me the device.

“Good news! Looks doable.”

The screen displayed a file:

> [Beast Appearance Times, Report]

> [08:38 AM Record]

I muttered softly.

“Seems like a hit.”

“Yeah, but bad news too.”

Touching the file, a notification appeared: [Encrypted File]. I stared.

“It’s locked.”

“Yup. Not biometric—password-based, with extra authentication. Won’t open easily.”

“Tight security.”

“Checked it. Not crackable with brute force. Must be important.”

I nodded slowly. Victor could open it, but a suicide-prone fanatic wouldn’t cooperate.

April likely thought the same.

“Ugh, we need a tech to unlock it. But where…”

Leaning against the wall, she grumbled. I cut in.

“For a tech, I might have a solution.”

“What’s that?”

Looking outside, I gazed at the city’s skyline from the hill, adding slowly.

“I know someone here.”

I didn’t know exactly what was happening in the vast 19th district or where to find clues.

But this was a place from the original, five years later.

I knew who could crack that device.

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