Chapter 143 : You Found It Exactly
“The process of converting the unbelievers in District 17 has reached its final stages.”
“That is joyous news.”
“Yes, and the brothers who have newly become believers have delivered offerings to prove their faith.”
As the missionary gestured, the door opened, and the believers came in, pulling a cart. The handcart was full of gold. It was a kind of show. No matter how large the number in the bank account, it could not give as strong an impression as the visible golden light.
“……”
However, the eyes of the leader, Isaac, who was looking down at the mountain of gold, were emotionless. To the missionary, it looked like the representation of a saint who had transcended the worldly desires. In reality, his interest was elsewhere, beyond material desires.
“Among them, how many were suitable for the holy blood?”
“We have only selected one new missionary.”
“That is not a very good result.”
As Isaac spoke with a deep sigh of disappointment, the missionary felt his heart tighten. The missionary bowed his head to the floor and apologized.
“I am sorry.”
“It is fine, it is because the sins of this city are deep. Was it not a den of unbelievers who had once denied our faith and had been driven out?”
“I will prepare an altar in District 17 as soon as possible. And I will accelerate the conversion of the unbelievers and the search for those suitable for the holy blood.”
“I believe in you.”
“But…”
The missionary mumbled, trailing off his words as if he was sorry to even say them. Isaac said benevolently.
“Do not worry and speak.”
“……Missionary Bruno has ascended without being able to fully spread his will.”
Isaac sighed.
“We have lost a precious talent.”
“It seems a troublemaker has interfered in District 17. Looking at the way things were handled, it doesn’t seem to be the work of the city government, fortunately…”
“A corporation. Yes, another enemy who has made them doubt and exclude our sublime will in this city.”
“What will you do?”
“Trials follow great deeds. And a trial, though it may seem daunting at first, is a hardship that can surely be overcome.”
Isaac got out of the bath.
“Whether it’s the city government or a corporation, I don’t care. Don’t worry and do your duty. They will have no choice but to kneel before the great teaching in the end.”
He turned around at the door and stared at the highest point of the stone statue. A strange fruit was hanging on top of the stone statue.
“The Mad House has invited us.”
The water that had filled up to the brim overflowed like a waterfall. The liquid that dripped from the fruit mixed with it and filled the bath. It was red like a drop of blood.
It was the holy blood.
***
“H-how…”
A terrified expression came into view. Pale skin, trembling pupils, irregular breathing.
“How come they’re all the same.”
I had seen this reaction so many times lately that I didn’t even feel anything.
“Just because you received something called holy blood, you really think you’ve been reborn.”
“Keok!”
I put my foot on the chest of the guy who had vomited blood.
“Just because you’ve become a psychic, it doesn’t mean your skills have dramatically changed.”
Well, I could understand how he felt. They were nobodies, but now that they had a new weapon called psychic powers, they must have thought they had become something.
However, psychic powers are not omnipotent. Even if they had a control and power that was not like a normal psychic, which they called divine power, it was nothing special.
Even if a child held a knife and swung it, he would be subdued by an adult. Their level was just like that. Moreover, since even that psychic power was not as good as the missionary Bruno, it was not a difficult task to subdue them.
I put strength into my heel and crushed his chest. He couldn’t even scream and struggled before he lost his life.
“With this, have I blocked about half of the flow of funds in District 17?”
Even after the missionary Bruno Wilson had suffered great damage from Sylvester, the conquest of District 17 had continued steadily. It was entirely thanks to the busy activities of me and the Drexier Mercenary Corps.
After achieving the goal of blocking external support, the next goal was to cut off the flow of funds. If their lifeline was cut off in an isolated situation, they would have no choice but to wither and die.
Once the funds were cut off, it was no exaggeration to say that the conquest of District 17 was almost over.
“What are you thinking?”
The problem was the Guardians of the Dawn. Even though I had killed the missionary Bruno and was erasing their influence in District 17 one by one, there was no reaction. Even if it wasn’t the death of a missionary, if they were losing their sphere of influence that they had worked so hard to encroach on, it would be normal to respond.
Was it burdensome to have an all-out war with a corporation right after moving their base? If you judged by common sense, it could be, but they were a fanatical cult. It was not a very convincing story that they would quietly withdraw even with the armed force of psychics.
I had thought about investigating separately, but I had come to this District 17 because I was looking for something myself.
‘If there’s any suspicious movement, Sylvester will let me know.’
While I was destroying and breaking various gangs and factories, Sylvester was not just playing around. Sylvester was already in the process of filling the power vacuum created in District 17 with their own personnel. In addition, they had been delivering trivial information, as if they had the movements of the Guardians of the Dawn organization in their sights.
If they moved, Sylvester would report it first, so there was no need to worry now.
「The World Tree gestures to one of the walls!」
The World Tree, which had been exploring the hall, called me. I pushed the wall at the place where the World Tree had guided me. It seemed to be a door disguised as a wall, and when I pushed it, it rotated inwards.
It was a small room. Inside, candles were burning. The ampoule that had contained the holy blood was enshrined in a glass display case, and a strange pattern painted with dye was drawn on the floor.
“A prayer room?”
It was a space I had never seen before. This enemy must have been a very devout believer. However, there was nothing to be gained. If there had been any holy blood left in the ampoule, it would have been different, but it was just a prayer room.
“……”
As I was about to leave, I suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu. My hand went to the pendant of Elliot that I had put in my pocket.
“……It doesn’t look alike at all.”
I compared the strange pattern on the floor with the crest of the pendant directly. Apart from the fact that they were made of curves and straight lines, there was no common point. However, Elliot had said that he had found a trace similar to the crest of the pendant in District 17.
As I had looked around District 17, I had not been able to find any suspicious traces. The only thing that had popped out, causing a stir in District 17, was the Guardians of the Dawn.
I took a picture of the pattern on the floor with my phone camera. I hadn’t searched all of District 17 yet, so something more might come out, but… the possibility was very slim.
‘I should show it to Elliot, just in case.’
Although I had received the request from Sylvester, my purpose was to solve Elliot’s request. The investigation I had entrusted to Colin, wouldn’t it be showing some results soon? It wasn’t a rush, but I should take the time to contact him…
It was then that I was thinking that. My phone vibrated, announcing that a call had come.
“Speak of the devil.”
The caller ID was Colin. I put the phone to my ear.
***
“It’s a bust.”
Claire said, pressing her temples.
“The holy blood, we’ve figured out what its components are. To the point where we could even mass-produce it if we wanted to.”
“Then it’s not a bust, is it?”
“It has no effect. You said the holy blood awakens psychic powers, right? Not only in animal experiments, but also in human experiments on volunteers, there was no change.”
So it was a bust. Just by imitating the components, you couldn’t say you had replicated the holy blood.
“So next, we called in mages and shamans to analyze it.”
Is it possible for the same object to have different effects physically?
“In conclusion, they say it’s close to an artifact.”
In the world of FP, it was possible. This was because there were supernatural abilities such as magic and shamanism.
“It’s unclear what principle it’s based on and what magic was used. It’s difficult to analyze because the contents of the ampoule are small and diluted, but it seems it’s highly likely to be a byproduct of a very advanced artifact.”
“There are many artifacts that can’t be replicated.”
“Yes, it seems to be that kind.”
There are levels to artifacts. Typically, the types of relics excavated from ruins cannot be replicated or mass-produced. That was the reason why the powerful were so desperate to explore ruins and excavate relics.
If the holy blood was a byproduct of such an artifact, it was not their fault that Sylvester had not produced any results. The effect of the holy blood would come from the original artifact.
“Then the replenishment of the private soldiers’ strength is a foregone conclusion.”
“It’s a shame. But it was something I was prepared for.”
Although she acted calmly, her sore feelings were revealed in her tone.
“But fortunately, it seems there will be no problem in cleaning up District 17. If we make the Drexier Mercenary Corps and you the definite main axis and focus on support and cleanup, we should be able to make it work somehow. If necessary, we are also considering hiring additional contractors.”
“It’s also worth considering an all-out war. If they’re going to drag things out while being cautious, it’s better to make a big move and make the Guardians of the Dawn clarify their stance.”
“It seems it will be decided soon anyway. They’ve been quiet for a while, but recently they’ve been showing some very suspicious movements.”
The fall of District 17 was in sight. If they had prepared a decisive move in secret, it was about time to show it.
“You should also know that and prepare as much as possible.”
“I will.”
There was nothing for me to prepare in particular. Since the end was near, I just thought it was time to meet Elliot.
***
Although Elliot was famous for being elusive and had disappeared for a while, it was not that difficult to find him. I headed to Cromwell’s office.
“Huuuu.”
A breath full of the smell of alcohol scattered into the empty air. Empty bottles were rolling on the table. Elliot was across from Cromwell, who was wiping a glass.
“You’ve made yourself at home.”
I clicked my tongue and sat down next to him. Elliot, who had been blankly emptying his glass, smiled and responded.
“Ah, it’s been a while. To meet like this in this wide city without any notice, fate is so mysterious.”
“It’s not that we’re fated, it’s that you’re completely addicted to alcohol. I heard a rumor that you haven’t moved a single step from the office for a while.”
“The great one has guided me here, so shouldn’t I contemplate until I understand his will?”
“For a drunkard who has been drinking all day, that’s a noble excuse.”
From what I had heard, Elliot had literally been living in a stupor of alcohol here all day, without exaggeration. He had been here for so long that even I, who had come after a long time, felt no sense of unease, he looked so familiar.
“There were many kinds of alcohol that suited my taste. And I wasn’t just playing around. Since I had been away from the scene for a while, I had been keeping my eyes and ears open to catch up on the news I had missed.”
“That was a more plausible excuse.”
“And I’ve heard a lot about you, brother.”
Elliot put down his glass and leaned back in his chair.
“You prefer to make a big move. Your disposition is the exact opposite of mine. I personally prefer to handle things quietly and secretly. You gave me the clue of District 17, and then you brought in Sylvester and turned a whole district upside down, it was very impressive.”
He was smiling brightly, so I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me or what. So I asked directly.
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“No, it’s a compliment. I wouldn’t have been able to do it that way. They say that everyone has their own use, so the use that the great one has destined for you must be that.”
“If there are means that can be used, you have to use them all. I’m not in a position to be picky about this and that.”
This world was a reality with the game as its background. I couldn’t afford to be relaxed and take my time as if I were playing a game. If there was an opportunity, I had to grab it and seize it.
“They say that if you are sincere, heaven will be moved. The great one is pleased with effort and sincerity, so you will have a good result.”
“It sounds like you’re being sarcastic when the one who gave me the work says that.”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Then give me a chance to prove that I’ve misunderstood.”
I took out the developed photo from my bosom and handed it to Elliot.
“It’s a crest I found in a prayer room in District 17. The shape is a bit different, but… is this the trace you said you found in District 17?”
“……”
Elliot stared at the photo for a long time. Finally, an answer came back.
“You found it exactly.”
(End of Chapter)