## Chapter 195 – Africa
The competition topic was decided.
People began to rise from their seats one by one.
They were likely thinking of returning to their accommodations to discuss future plans with their collaborators and then leaving early tomorrow morning for Africa.
As Isabel and I stood up as well, the head of the Luzgard family spoke.
“Ah, Nobu almost forgot something.”
“?”
“Those who answered well earlier will be given the opportunity to depart a day earlier.”
“What does that….”
As people didn’t understand, the head of the family elaborated.
“Vivienne, Audrey, and Isabel. The rest of you are not to leave the main residence until tomorrow.”
“That’s…! Head of the family, that’s unfair!”
People immediately protested.
It was understandable. Even a day’s difference could mean anything could happen.
Depending on the circumstances, those who departed later might not even get a seat at the negotiating table, and the game could be over.
“Business is also about having an eye for things. Finding the right answer even a second before others is also a skill.”
“Still, a day is too much of a difference! At least make it about 6 hours…!”
However, the head of the family, once decided, remained firm. He then said,
“And these three, who responded to this old man’s questions, seem more endearing than those of you who kept your mouths shut.”
The candidates were speechless at the last remark.
Still, most people were relieved.
That’s because all the people departing early were from the Madagascar group.
Only those in the same Madagascar group were sweating bullets.
Having departed earlier than others, we immediately boarded a plane and headed to the massive island.
***
Madagascar.
A very large island located in eastern Africa.
Just how big is it?
It’s the 4th largest island in the world. It’s about 55% larger than the landmass of Japan.
However, despite having such a large landmass, it’s not a very familiar country to us.
Most people might wonder, “There’s a country like that?”
The country’s recognition wasn’t very high.
Still, many people have probably seen pictures of Madagascar’s natural scenery.
The most representative is the baobab tree.
The baobab tree that appears in Saint-Exupéry’s novel ‘The Little Prince’ is found in abundance here.
‘You can also think of the Emerald Sea.’
Located in the south, it’s very hot, but Madagascar, like other southern island nations, has beautiful coastlines.
Both the inland and coastal areas exude a completely different, otherworldly feel from Korea.
That’s Madagascar.
I flipped through a book describing Madagascar, looking through the contents.
『Unlike mainland Africa, there are no civil wars or tribal conflicts, so the government is very stable, but unfortunately, infrastructure, security, and budget are lacking.』
It’s even an agricultural country. Therefore, it’s considered one of the least developed countries, ranking in the bottom 5-10 worldwide.
As a result, there are many street robberies. Even armed street robberies.
Perhaps that’s why?
Audrey Luzgard (25 years old), the blonde beauty with green hair, had hired a large number of mercenaries and boarded the plane with them. As many as 11.
Vivienne (26 years old), who had only managed to bring two escort mercenaries, couldn’t be outdone and requested cooperation from the government before arriving in Madagascar.
Surprisingly, the Madagascar government agreed immediately.
[Madagascar was under French rule before gaining independence and is still influenced by it.]
Vivienne was born and raised in France among the French power elite within the Luzgard family.
Madagascar had no choice but to be mindful of her.
Seeing that, I said,
“Vivienne, can we move with you?”
“No. You guys request separately.”
“Why not just go together? Do we really have to request help separately?”
The Madagascar government had already said they would send escorts.
If we asked for additional escorts, they might not agree.
But Vivienne flipped me off and said,
“Yeah, call separately. The people I called will be too busy protecting me and my collaborators.”
“…….”
I looked at Vivienne’s collaborator for help, but the collaborator shook his head apologetically.
Wondering if Audrey’s side was any different, I looked at her collaborator, but the reaction was the same.
‘Well, that’s expected.’
They’re competitors. It would be strange if they helped.
Besides, Isabel had provoked them once yesterday.
-You’re all cowards. Are you even members of the Luzgard family? I’m so embarrassed. If you’re scared, don’t do it. I’ll do it.
If they helped us after hearing that, they would be saints.
Originally, we couldn’t get along well, but with that one move, we had crossed a point of no return.
Even knowing all that, asking was just a habit of mine.
‘I’ll give them a chance once.’
They’re women I’ll eventually enslave.
However, if their character is better than I thought, I would treat them accordingly.
But judging from the current situation, it seemed like I could treat them roughly.
Seeing that I had been rejected by everyone, Isabel said,
“Woojin, let’s request too.”
“No, there’s no need.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t.”
Again, Madagascar is poor.
The country has no money. It’s hard to focus on security. That says a lot.
“Isabel, come here. Let’s do one last check.”
I put strength into my finger and flicked Isabel on the forehead.
*Flick!*
*Fwoosh-*
Immediately, a hexagonal honeycomb-like light blue barrier briefly appeared on her forehead and disappeared.
It was the [Nano Suit] effect.
It looked like she wasn’t wearing anything on the outside, but a thin cloth of invisible thickness was covering Isabel’s entire body.
With this, she could easily withstand a headshot from most sniper rifles.
‘This one suit is more reliable and better than 11 top-tier mercenaries or the soldiers of the poorest country.’
Still amazed by the [Nano Suit], I smiled contentedly as I watched Isabel touch the area where she had been flicked, and I ordered old clothes from the [Shop Window].
“What is this?”
“Disguise.”
“This?”
Isabel widened her eyes and looked at the shabby t-shirt and pants with a puzzled expression.
“That’s yours. Put it on now.”
Nod.
As soon as she changed her clothes, an announcement came on.
『Our plane will be landing soon. Please fasten your seatbelts. Thank you.』
People were preparing to disembark, and we went back to our seats.
‘Well, finally entering the country.’
***
When we arrived at the airport, soldiers were there.
Vivienne was protected by the soldiers and left first, and Audrey also took the soldiers and hurried off the runway.
And I stood still, watching their backs.
“Woojin, are you sure we don’t go together? Weren’t you thinking of sneaking in and following them?”
“Yeah, no.”
I left the scorching runway and went into the old airport, sitting on a chair.
People glanced at our shabby appearance without even a backpack and just passed by.
Of course, not everyone was like that. Some of the natives looked at me like jackals.
*Swoosh.*
One of them passed by me, reached into my pocket, and *snatch!* started running away with my wallet.
“Ah!”
Isabel jumped up, then sat back down.
I had put a fake wallet in my pocket and told her in advance that this would happen.
Isabel said with a slightly disappointed tone.
“To get robbed for real less than 20 minutes after arriving in Madagascar….”
With the wallet stolen, most of the people who had been watching us lost interest.
In other words, they were no longer interested in us because we were penniless.
Looking at that with satisfaction, I said to Isabel.
“Originally, when people are hungry, they don’t care about dignity or morality. You know that well from learning on the island for 13 years, right?”
“Ugh. That’s true. But it doesn’t feel good that a country with such beautiful scenery is full of thieves.”
That’s true.
But the closer the environment is to nature, the more primal, violent, and fierce the living environment becomes.
Nature basically follows the laws of survival of the fittest.
Welfare? There’s no such thing in nature.
“I’m going to close my eyes for a bit, so wake me up if anything happens.”
“Yes.”
Well then, let’s see what the two rich young ladies who left earlier are doing.
I leaned back in my chair and used [Omniscient Observer’s View] to watch Vivienne and Audrey.
‘As expected.’
The two of them were also attracting the attention of the locals.
To an extent that was incomparable to us.
Accompanied by countless mercenaries and soldiers, and even wearing expensive clothes, the two of them stood out a lot.
“Ugh, it’s so hot.”
I quietly watched the two white women grumbling as they applied sunscreen to their fair skin.
‘Madagascar is poor.’
The country has no money. It’s hard to focus on security.
It’s a poor place that often receives food aid from other countries.
But then, someone who looks valuable came to such a country.
A rich person who looks like they have money at a glance.
What would people who are worried about what to eat today and tomorrow think when they see them?
‘They’ll immediately fall into agony.’
Whether to aim for a big score and try to make a fortune, or to endure it. Something like that.
The reason why this place is safer than other African countries is just because the number of professional armed organizations is small.
It was just as dangerous.
‘There’s going to be trouble 100%, without even looking.’
Right now?
No, not right now.
The natives here aren’t stupid either.
They’ll probably wait for an opportunity and aim for it at night when the darkness is thick, or when the escort is weakened….
*Bang! Bang bang!*
‘Huh?’
On the way from Ivato International Airport to Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.
Suddenly, Audrey’s side started getting shot at.
Vivienne’s side, which was moving a bit later, was startled and distanced themselves from Audrey’s side.
“Eek! Wh-what is it!”
“Duck down! It’s robbers!”
“Really! I hate this kind of place! It’s smelly and hot, and now there are robbers!”
*Thud thud thud!*
“Kyaaak!”
Screams and gunshots rang out in succession, and a firefight broke out.
Of course, the mercenaries were highly skilled, and there were many Madagascar soldiers, so the situation quickly turned in their favor.
The ones who started the attack were the dark-skinned robbers, but they were also the ones who retreated first.
“Now’s the time! Step on it!”
When the firefight stopped, the vehicles carrying Vivienne and Audrey quickly sped down the road.
They stepped on the accelerator and breathed a sigh of relief only after entering the capital city center.
Of course, the capital wasn’t safe either.
“Is it over now?”
“No. We can’t relax yet. Let’s go straight to the police station and ask for cooperation.”
Audrey’s side headed to the police station as if being chased, and Vivienne’s side followed behind, watching that.
I thanked the two women for attracting enough attention and deactivated [Omniscient Observer’s View].
‘Not only now, but from now on, until they leave this Madagascar, they will be chased and targeted by street robbers and armed groups.’
From the first day in Madagascar, I had announced to the whole neighborhood that I was rich and from a good family.
‘On the other hand, we, who entered this country on the same day, will be completely out of their interest.’
I got up from my seat and took Isabel outside the airport to a deserted place.
As expected, people didn’t care where we went.
“Shall we get a car?”
“No, there’s no need.”
People aren’t interested in two poor tourists who have wandered into this rural village.
There are no CCTVs here, and there are hardly any people compared to the land area.
‘I don’t have to be careful about my actions like in Korea.’
I immediately took out a [Space Movement Scroll] from the shop window.
Then, I moved to an alley next to the police station in the capital in one go.
“Wow. It’s been a while.”
Isabel, who had taken a space movement in a while, was impressed, and soon we could see the two groups.
Audrey and Vivienne’s groups were quickly evacuating into the police station building.
‘I wonder if they’ll get PTSD.’
Looking at the locals gathering around the police station with curiosity, it seemed like they would get it in a few days, even if not today.
I watched the two terrified women for a while and then moved my feet to the street.
People didn’t pay much attention to our shabby appearance.
We walked through places like markets as if taking a stroll, called the embassy, met the ambassador normally, and asked for a meeting with the President of Madagascar.
We said that we came from the Luzgard family and were planning to make a big investment in Madagascar.
Soon, the ambassador reported the results to us.
“The appointment has been made. We’ll see him at 8 PM tonight.”
With about 9 hours left.
It was a very satisfying result. I requested it today, and I can meet him today.
Suddenly, I thought of the two people at the police station and asked the ambassador.
“Besides us, has anyone else contacted you for negotiation?”
“Not yet.”
That’s right. They were shot at, so they wouldn’t have the mental capacity to call for negotiations right away.
“Wow! As expected, Woojin! Amazing! We, who departed the latest, are the first to negotiate!”
“Amazing, my foot.”
It was just luck.
The help of the two women who were so focused on the competition that they ran recklessly without looking ahead was great.
If they had been a little calmer and moved leisurely, they would have acted like us as well.
The method I used wasn’t special, and it’s a method that any seasoned tourist would use.
‘There’s a reason why they say to take the scenic route when you’re in a hurry.’
They had attracted a lot of aggro from the locals, so that would probably hold them back for a long time.
On the other hand, we have nothing to fear.
‘For now, it seems like the first button has been successfully fastened.’
