The Druid Who Devoured the Great Nature

The flow that Centream had initiated after the terror was all too familiar to me. Highlighting the incompetence of the city government and introducing a vigilante system led by corporations. It was a typical scenario where Centream snatched the city’s power from the city government.

It felt like what should have happened through Al-Raid’s terror was only just beginning. At that time, the identity of the corporation that had supported Al-Raid was unknown, and the investigation was closed. Seeing as it was proceeding in the same flow, could it have been Centream’s doing as well?

It was a meaningless guess now. It was because the hands and feet of the Public Security Bureau, which should have punished Centream, were tied.

The division in the city government had finally reached a level where it could not be sealed. While the higher-ups were in chaos, they had to control the citizens’ unrest on their own, so they had no time to worry about Centream.

Although they had lost the first move, it was a fatal situation.

“Centream has set the stage properly. We can’t turn this around.”

It wasn’t just the Public Security Bureau that was displeased, but other corporations as well. Although they had secretly wished for the city government’s power to be reduced, it was not acceptable for the axis of power to shift to Centream.

But it was already too late to reverse the situation.

“At this rate, we’ll just have to watch helplessly as Centream monopolizes power.”

Since Centream had set the stage first and drawn its sword, they were the ones who had the upper hand.

“So I’m going to try to ruin the board they’ve set up so that it doesn’t roll properly.”

Claire’s eyes were red, perhaps because she hadn’t slept since the incident. She seemed quite enraged.

“I’m going to change the structure. Not Centream and the city government, but Centream and Sylvester.”

“So that’s what you meant by settling the score.”

“Yes, literally. To be honest, even if we tried to settle the score, we were both burdened. We had to be mindful of not only the city government but also other corporations. In that sense, the current situation is an opportunity that will never come again.”

Since the city was already in chaos, the calculation was that adding another spoonful of chaos wouldn’t change much.

“It sounds like a good plan… but are you confident?”

Quadruple, which was called the best in the industry, and even the veterans and partner companies. In terms of military power, Centream’s strength was beyond that of a corporation and was close to a powerful warlord.

When they clashed head-on, could Sylvester beat Centream? To be frank, I was skeptical.

“First of all, we plan to hire as many contractors and mercenaries as possible. Since most of the requests in that industry are by-products of competition between corporations, I’m sure a considerable number will side with us.”

That was true. The contractor industry did not want the birth of an overwhelming powerhouse.

Since there was a high possibility of a recession in the contractor industry if Centream reigned alone in the city, they would most likely accept Sylvester’s employment offer.

“And by the same logic, other megacorps will implicitly support us. There are also the armed organizations that we made a deal with while taking over the weapons market in District 17, and the troops that I personally raised. I think this is enough to give it a try.”

“……”

“Most of all, you’re there. Is the victory or defeat of a war decided by numbers alone? As you know, the key to this matter is the existence of an overwhelming superhuman.”

It wasn’t that she was trying to flatter me to recruit me, it was a fact. I calculated the estimate in my head.

‘The numbers should be about right, but the problem is the quality of the troops.’

Centream possessed the technology to use the spirit’s cocoons. A miraculous technology that had transformed even a goblin into a monster and had restored the pure bloodline of a werebeast.

Considering this, the chances of winning were still insufficient.

“If I just bring in a few more people I know, it should be fine.”

So I would have to go through the trouble and balance it out to make it worth a try. Of course, even if it wasn’t worth a try, I had to hold Sylvester’s hand to recover the spirit’s cocoons.

“First, the Public Security Bureau. I’ve already agreed with them that a security officer will move personally and work with me.”

“The Public Security Bureau, I had that in mind too. There must be many people within the Public Security Bureau who are dissatisfied with the current situation. If a security officer has agreed to move, that’s good news.”

“Next, the Brotherhood.”

“The Brotherhood… It would be great if we could bring them into the picture. But will it work?”

“I’ll take responsibility for that and persuade them.”

The Blood Alliance owed me. I couldn’t be sure that the entire Brotherhood would side with me, but at least the Blood Alliance would.

That cunning orc would also surely try to get involved if it was such a big deal.

“Isn’t this more than enough to give it a try?”

“Of course.”

Claire grinned.

“We can’t lose.”

***

A formation of vehicles sped down the road. It was originally impossible for a group of vehicles to drive side by side in the downtown area, where traffic jams were a daily occurrence.

But the situation was different recently. Even in the downtown area, the flow of vehicles was sparse.

Of course, they were speeding as if they would just ram through and clear a path even if the road was blocked. The speed of the vehicles did not decrease even at the intersection where the road was divided into left and right.

On the contrary, because they had increased their speed, the engine sound changed into a scream-like roar.

“C-crazy!”

The security guards who had witnessed the life-threatening speeding hurriedly raised the barricade. But the speed at which the barricade was raised was much slower than the speeding of the vehicles.

And then.

The vehicle ran over the barricade and rammed into the building in front.

“Uaaah!”

“T-terror!”

The security guards gave up on controlling the situation at the foolish charge and fled in panic. The lobby was a mess.

People started getting out of the vehicles one by one. I was the same.

“Khahaha!”

“Stop being a baby and get out quickly!”

“Kill everything you see!”

‘Do these guys always work so foolishly?’

The Brotherhood members scattered, shouting loudly with their tools in hand. The raid was proceeding in exactly the same way as when they had attacked the Parchene Research Institute.

I had thought it was because they were facing their enemy, Shadowfang, but it seemed I was mistaken. Well, from the perspective of the victims, it might be terrifying.

To ram a building with a vehicle. Weren’t they crazy people who disregarded their own lives?

The security guards had fled out of a survival instinct in the face of an irresistible disaster.

“Beta.”

The numbers on the elevator’s display, which had been going down quickly, stopped. Just as at the Parchene Research Institute, no one could be left alive.

It wasn’t because this building was a branch of Centream. On the contrary, it had no connection to Centream.

…That’s what was said publicly. The Public Security Bureau’s information network and Sylvester’s working-level officials had seen through the fact that this was Centream’s hidden partner company.

‘Before we get into a full-scale war, we have to cut off the small branches first.’

Although they had decided to compete with Centream, it wasn’t that they would immediately declare war and have a full-scale clash. The first plan was to act in secret as much as possible while hiding their identity and weaken their strength.

The targets were taught by the Public Security Bureau and Sylvester. Even at this moment, not only the Brotherhood but also contractors and mercenaries were attacking Centream’s secret partners under the guise of terrorism.

“Brotherhood! You bastards! Where do you think this is to come and cause a ruckus!”

I was going up to the upper floor with the Brotherhood. A group of people with different attire from the employees blocked the way.

“Quadruple?”

A thick protective suit that covered the whole body and a black helmet. On their chests, a crest with four gilded skulls shone.

It was the uniform of Quadruple, the security company established by Centream.

‘Isn’t this the first company where Quadruple’s personnel have been dispatched?’

Although I had destroyed several corporations, this was the first time I had encountered Quadruple.

“If you’ve recognized who we are, you must have noticed that you’ve made a mistake! If you don’t want to be on bad terms with Centream, get out now!”

The number of people was not large. About two squads.

But the fact that Quadruple was there was important in itself.

“It makes me wonder what you’re hiding up here.”

Centream had dispatched its own troops to an external partner company. It meant that they were hiding something important here.

It was also suspicious that they were urging them to leave instead of just shooting bullets when the building was in a mess. I had a feeling that I might get an unexpected harvest.

“You…!”

“Did you deliberately aim for this place?”

“Damn it! Kill them!”

Bullets rained down like rain. As if it had been converted into a military base from the beginning, machine guns popped out from here and there.

It seemed that the bullets were also prepared as special bullets, as mana was emitted. It was not difficult for me to escape alone, but the Brotherhood members were with me.

They were troops that would have to attack several corporations in the future. To minimize the damage, I spread a barrier in front.

The dents on the World Tree’s stem increased. But the bullets they had poured out could not penetrate the thick stem.

The bullets were not infinite. It was when the force of the bullets hitting the World Tree’s stem began to decrease.

A red mist spread throughout the room.

“This is…!”

A thick smell of blood that paralyzed the nose.

“Aaaah!”

The skin of the Quadruple members who had touched the mist split, and blood gushed out. The gushing blood did not scatter but seeped into the red mist.

The mist absorbed their blood and its color deepened and then lightened, as if a heart were pulsating.

“Uaaah!”

The terrified ones shot their guns and swung their weapons, but the mist was not a living being with a physical form. The mist, as if mocking them, slowly expanded its range.

After taking all the blood of the last person, the mist scattered.

[Hmm, the quality is on the lower side, but it’s edible.]

In the place where the mist had scattered, a bat hanging from the light fixture licked its lips. I asked it.

“Is it okay to use your ability so carelessly?”

[On the contrary, when else would I use my ability if not at a time like this? The Public Security Bureau is neutralized, and the city is in chaos, so it’s a perfect environment to run wild without being mindful for the first time in a long time.]

The head of the Blood Alliance, the vampire queen Sonia, answered in a languid tone full of satiety.

[And since I owe you from the last request, I’m moving myself.]

“You’re just trying to recover your injured body, so why are you using me as an excuse?”

[It’s a win-win.]

Sonia had not yet recovered from the damage she had sustained in the battle with Lugar. It was a wound that would require a long time to recuperate, though not as much as the deceased Vincent.

But as a vampire, she could greatly shorten the recovery time by sucking blood. And so, whenever she encountered a strong person, she would immediately start sucking their blood, just like now.

It seemed that she had accepted my proposal to recover her own body condition, not to repay the debt she owed me.

[Hwaaam, I’m going to sleep now, so you take care of the rest.]

The bat opened its mouth wide as if yawning and then fell asleep. I poked it and knocked it over, then headed up.

The top floor was quiet, as if the Quadruple personnel were all on the lower floor. The same was true for the CEO’s office, which I entered after opening a large door.

The room was scattered in a mess, as if they had evacuated in a hurry when the raid occurred. I glanced at the inside, which was nothing special for something that Quadruple was guarding, and turned around.

“Eoeok!”

I had only pretended to turn around. The World Tree’s stem, which had extended from the floor, grabbed the ankle of the figure hiding under the table and lifted it up.

The man, who was hanging upside down in the air, shouted.

“I-I don’t know anything! Really!”

“I haven’t asked anything yet.”

He must have a guilty conscience, for such words to come out of his mouth.

“Shall we slowly find out what you know?”

The struggling man went limp, as if he had given up after hearing my words.

(End of Chapter)