Chapter 45

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 45: Deciphering the Code (2)

Former Mayor Buzz Hoover wanted to change the outside perception of Baran.

The prejudice of being a city of gambling and alcohol.

Homeless people wandering the streets high on drugs, with corrupt corporations that not only ignored the problem but even encouraged it.

He argued that everything needed to be overhauled for a better future for Baran.

"I heard there was intense behind-the-scenes debate between the city and the corporations. In the end, they agreed to cut just one thing from the equation."

Oscar, listening to Killian’s explanation, muttered,

"It must be drugs."

The corporations would never give up the city's main industries of alcohol and gambling.

Instead, they likely decided to sacrifice the drug industry, something they couldn’t control directly.

"Correct. In fact, Buzz Hoover declared war on drug trafficking organizations."

"And the result?"

"I heard that within just two years, drug distribution in the city decreased by 86%."

"Oh."

It was a far more positive outcome than expected.

Since drug deals were conducted covertly, cracking down on them was extremely difficult.

"But right before the opening of a treatment center for drug addicts, he suddenly died at his home."

"…That sounds a bit suspicious, doesn't it?"

"There are people who believe that drug trafficking organizations assassinated him, while others speculate that a powerful figure, high on drugs, hired the Purple Brigade. But no one knows the truth."

After hearing enough background information, Oscar asked,

"So, what exactly is the material we need to decrypt?"

"I don’t know either. I just heard it's one of the most confidential pieces of information Buzz Hoover possessed."

Most likely, it contained information about political rivals who might have wanted him dead.

At that moment, Oscar thought of the Ara Sweet and asked,

"What about the Sweet family? Did they have any issues with the Hoover family?"

"Hmm? Quite the opposite, actually. Mark Sweet was a staunch supporter of Mayor Buzz and took the lead in the anti-drug campaign. Thanks to this, he’s currently the frontrunner to become the next mayor."

"…Really?"

Maybe his father is a better man than expected?

If that's the case, perhaps spoiling his only daughter was his biggest mistake.

"Hey, they’re coming."

As they rose from the lavish drawing room sofa, the door opened, and a boy, about 13 years old, entered.

Flanking him were six mercenaries standing at attention.

‘All level 4. They must have spent quite a bit.’

Oscar quickly assessed their level and then looked away.

The boy bowed his head politely.

"Nice to meet you. I am Jake Hoover, the eldest son of the family. I heard you are mages from the White Tower?"

"Yes, I am Oscar Crucian, a level 3 mage, and this is..."

"Killian Lockwood, level 4."

"…Killian Lockwood?"

Jake blinked twice and then suddenly exclaimed.

"Oh! Are you the one who recently acted as a bodyguard for Miss Marin Maria?"

"......"

Killian stared blankly at him.

Well, it couldn’t be helped.

Explaining it all would be a hassle.

Oscar shrugged his shoulders and spoke up.

"Yes, this is the renowned saint from the White Tower who dealt with the Udok brothers."

"I never imagined that such a distinguished individual would come to visit us."

Jake, his eyes sparkling with excitement, offered them seats.

He then called for tea to be served and started speaking.

"Did you two come here knowing why I’ve hired mages?"

His gaze remained fixed on Killian, assuming he was the one in charge.

On the other hand, Killian glanced at Oscar every time he was asked a question.

‘He thinks I’m the one making the decisions here?’

Oscar had no choice but to respond.

"I heard you’re looking for someone to decipher an encrypted document."

"Yes, that’s correct."

Realizing that Oscar was the one to converse with, Jake turned his head.

"My father once mentioned that the document contains some of the most confidential and shocking information in Baran City."

"You suspect that the document is related to your father’s death, don’t you?"

"…Yes. To be honest, I was initially skeptical, but I’ve become certain recently."

He became certain?

Intrigued, Oscar asked.

"What made you sure?"

"After my father passed away, we immediately invited renowned cryptography mages from outside."

"Wise move."

Even at a young age, he seemed sharp.

Indeed, it’s better to hire professionals from the start for such encrypted documents rather than letting amateurs ruin them.

"But on their way to Baran, strange accidents began to happen one by one. There were horse riding accidents, car engine explosions, collapsed bridges while crossing rivers, and even attacks by bandits, which are rare these days... In the end, none of them made it to Baran City."

"That does sound suspicious."

"Yes, it means there’s someone who doesn’t want this document to be revealed to the world."

"…If the document is closely related to your father’s death, that makes sense."

"Exactly!"

The matter seemed deeper than anticipated.

"May I take a look at this encrypted document?"

"Of course. But there’s one procedure we need to complete first."

After finishing his sentence, Jake placed two pieces of parchment on the table.

"These are the Covenant Scrolls sold by the El-Terra Church. You both know how to use them, right?"

"We do."

The scroll is a severe contract that causes death if the recorded terms are not followed.

The content on the parchment was simple:

1. The employee cannot damage the encrypted document in any way.

2. The employee cannot disclose any information related to this task to anyone.

3. However, with Jake Hoover’s permission, the above rules may be bypassed in specific cases.

4. Once the task is completed, all the above terms become null and void.

It was a kind of security measure to protect the importance of the document.

"…Before we begin, I have one question."

Taking his eyes off the parchment, Oscar glanced at the mercenaries standing behind Jake.

"Have they all gone through the same procedure?"

"Of course. Ensuring security was my top priority for this matter."

Jake smiled with pride.

When he looked back, the hired mercenaries lifted their chins confidently.

"So you don’t need to worry about them."

"I’ll decide that for myself. Please bring me the Covenant Scrolls they signed."

At Oscar’s firm tone, Jake looked visibly surprised.

At the same time, one of the mercenaries in the back twitched his eyebrows.

“A mere Level 3 Mage dares to speak in front of…”

"Killian."

The moment Oscar softly called his name,

Killian moved so quickly that no one else in the room could even register his motion.

Crunch!

“...Argh!”

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

In an instant, a mercenary's head was slammed to the ground, and he screamed in pain.

'Fast!'

'I couldn’t even see him move…!'

‘Is he really just a Level 4 Mage?'

‘Given his agility, he must be a combat mage specializing in physical techniques.’

Just as the other mercenaries drew their weapons, aiming at Oscar and Killian, Oscar spoke calmly, looking as unperturbed as if he hadn’t caused any commotion.

“This is to establish mutual trust. I don’t think it’s a difficult request.”

“...Understood. Please wait a moment.”

Nodding, Jake left briefly and returned with the oath scrolls.

As Oscar carefully examined each one, he suddenly stopped.

“Ah, found it.”

Having discovered something, he looked up and called out two names like a teacher taking attendance.

“Don Frank? And Cort Berry?”

The gazes of Jake and the mercenaries split into two directions.

One looked at the mercenary subdued by Killian, while the other focused on the man holding his weapon.

“What the hell is this? Why are you calling my name all of a sudde—”

The moment Cort Berry raised his voice in protest, a compressed blast of air exploded in front of him.

Boom!

He was blown backward, slamming into a wall, and passed out on the spot.

“...Can you explain what’s going on?”

Jake asked, pretending to be angry.

Oscar replied with a question.

“Who obtained these oath scrolls?”

“I had one of the servants fetch them.”

“Have that servant detained along with these two.”

Oscar waved the scrolls of the two subdued individuals.

“They’re fakes. Ordinary paper, without the divine power of the El Tera Church.”

“...!”

Jake’s eyes widened in shock as he stammered.

“Th-that means…”

“Yes. Those two are not bound by this agreement. They’ve likely already leaked internal information.”

Since they had only signed on fake oath scrolls, they weren’t actually bound by the pact.

Jake, shocked, slumped onto the sofa.

“Is this really possible? Spies…?”

“By now, the other side probably knows everything about what’s happening here.”

Oscar approached Don Frank, who was sweating bullets after being subdued by Killian.

He crouched down, giving him a cold look.

“Who are you working for?”

“D-damn it! I was hired remotely, I don’t know.”

“...”

It wasn’t a lie.

In other words, the employer had prepared thoroughly to cut off any loose ends.

“What kind of information did you leak?”

“The number and level of the hired mercenaries…”

The implication was clear: the opponent knew exactly what to do next.

Oscar turned his head toward Jake.

“They’ll be coming soon to seize the documents. With forces stronger than the mercenaries here.”

“…”

Seeing Jake’s face turn ashen, Oscar threw him a lifeline.

“Hmm. Deciphering the code will cost you 500,000 bels, and hiring me and Killian as mercenaries will be another 500,000. A total of one million bels. What do you say?”

It was probably more expensive than hiring the six mercenaries currently in the room.

But with no time to waste, Jake nodded frantically.

“D-deal. We have a contract.”

“You won’t regret it.”

Oscar smiled lightly and signed the oath scroll.

* * * *

With the enemy possibly attacking at any moment, time was of the essence.

Oscar immediately received the encrypted item.

“This is the bag containing the documents, right?”

“Yes, I found it in my father’s private vault.”

While there was no issue holding the bag by its handle, a powerful magical repulsion occurred every time someone touched the button to open the lid.

“Hmm. There’s quite a lot of protection on this.”

The bag was protected by three spells: ‘Triple Encryption,’ ‘Repulsion,’ and ‘Explosion.’

Any physical attempt to open it would result in the bag and its contents being destroyed.

Jake swallowed hard, his mouth dry.

“...Is it possible?”

“Yes, it is.”

Oscar’s confidence was simple.

These were the kinds of spells he had dealt with countless times in his previous life.

‘During the war, every piece of information had to be encrypted.’

If the documents ended up in the hands of demons, the course of the war could change, holding critical information about the empire and humanity.

Such documents were always subjected to multiple layers of encryption before being sent out.

‘Compared to those, this is… well, triple encryption is child’s play.’

Oscar summoned his magic without hesitation and infiltrated the lid of the bag.

“...”

A multitude of magical codes appeared before his eyes.

Observing them briefly and deducing the patterns, Oscar extracted the correct code and entered it.

It only took him 12 seconds.

As the lid clicked open, Jake blinked in surprise.

“Is it… really done?”

“Yes.”

“...”

Was there a problem?

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]