Chapter 595 – Loan
‘The cloud is the leader…’
From what I’ve seen, Clair looks better than Cloud.
However, it did not appear that the four had a hierarchical relationship. Would you say you feel a deeper, stronger connection?
It is said that the four of them are leading Rebellion by coordinating their differences, but when the differences cannot be narrowed down, I think Cloud’s will become more forceful.
“I’m sorry, but I decline that invitation.”
“Yes? Why?”
“That’s…”
I rubbed my chin and thought for a moment about what to say.
But nothing came to mind.
I just decided to answer honestly.
“I don’t like the leader.”
“Yes?”
“… What?”
At my answer, Cloud’s eyebrows twitched, and the spoon stopped moving.
Honestly, it’s hard to say I’m sociable.
〈I know very well.〉
“…”
And the cloud has already taken my favorability rating to -100.
I don’t think he likes me either.
I understand.
Even if I were Cloud, I wouldn’t have wanted to bring Bakran to the party. He doesn’t seem like a party member who will listen well.
I’m also a leader, so it’s obvious that the cloud telling me various things would be annoying.
There is no reason to be with them in a situation where friction is expected from anyone’s perspective.
That’s right, even for the sake of each other’s mental health.
And they are like old comrades, and I am almost meeting them for the first time.
Nevertheless, I think the biggest factor in why they bothered to bring me into the party was that I was the only Rebellion member here.
They may feel a sense of responsibility in their own way.
Looking at Claire’s proactive appearance, wouldn’t her opinions have been reflected in many ways?
If I had to get involved with the Rebellion leaders, it would be obvious that I would turn a blind eye, so it was better to be alone.
“Good. I don’t need a suspicious guy like you either. Even if you cry later and ask to join our group, they won’t listen.”
Cloud’s cheeky words are not without basis.
It is true that this is a party that everyone wants to join if they know their abilities.
“Don’t worry. It won’t happen.”
*
*
*
Gregory was looking at the investigation materials of prime suspects.
They say they didn’t find any special suspicions among the people they captured, but it wasn’t like there weren’t some among them who were caught in something.
First, Guardian Robotics and Companion.
Those two companies were the two largest producers of Zephyria’s security androids, robots, and reinforced armor.
The reinforced armor with absurd performance that attacked Helena Research Institute and Meridian could not have been manufactured without decent facilities, so it was also the place that was first suspected.
Helena, Head of Information Management, said that there was a high probability that there would be no charges as a result of Belger’s investigation, but suspicions were still not raised.
In the end, this time, the high-ranking executives, including the CEO, were captured.
There may be chaos in those two companies, but another CEO will take over.
And the leaders of Rebellion.
“Tsk tsk… What a waste of talent. Freeing the slaves?”
It was absurd that they, who had magic aptitude S rank and A rank, were acting like terrorists.
If you have this level of ability, you can join the military and receive fairly good treatment.
They didn’t commit a massive massacre, and their abilities were considered a waste, so they recommended that they enlist.
But they refused.
“I’m full. I’m full.”
It seems that too long of peace was poison.
“… Wouldn’t you change your mind if you rotted in Karaz for about 100 years? Or wouldn’t it be a bad idea to put you on the front line of the Panthera invasion? Then all that talk about freeing slaves would go away, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes.”
Belger, who was standing next to him, quickly answered.
Gregory’s eyes look at other materials.
Head of the Helena Liberation Front… Nora Carson.
Her existence was already known by the Helena Information Management Department.
As if she knew the information management department’s manual, she was good at walking the tightrope at the risky information level and was eventually caught this time.
The fact that an unidentified group kept disturbing the ruins of Helena meant that they were looking for traces of Helena, and it was a natural result that the head of the Helena Liberation Front was captured.
The same goes for General Lemanien and Laurent, who sponsored the Helena Liberation Front.
Buike… Was suspicious as it was Zephyria’s largest criminal organization.
By almost dismantling Buike and arresting its high-ranking executives, public opinion within Zephyria became quite favorable.
Gregory, who was looking at the suspicious suspects, tilts his head.
This is because a very insignificant character has appeared compared to those who have appeared so far.
“… Bark? What is this guy? Why is this guy the main suspect?”
Leaders of Rebellion.
High-ranking executives of large corporations and large criminal organizations.
It was an unsightly presence compared to them.
It doesn’t matter if he is as talented as the leaders of Rebellion.
Magic aptitude was only D rank.
It’s unsightly.
Belger, who was standing stiffly next to Gregory, answered Gregory’s question.
“Because he is a person with quite a lot of contacts.”
“Contact?”
“Coincidentally, it was confirmed that he stayed in Selby during the Helena Lab attack. And not only did he have access to the Pantera avatar, but he was also a member of the Rebellion organization, albeit at a low level.”
“So did something come out?”
“There is no clear evidence, but I included it because I thought it had the most contacts among all the humans captured.”
“… What about family?”
“It was revealed that my daughter attends Zepia Academy, and that her wife and younger sister recently joined the Helena Liberation Front… But they were only doing volunteer work.”
“Of course… As you said, there are so many connections here and there that it seems suspicious to be a coincidence.”
However, there was something about his ability… That he was lacking a lot in terms of being associated with a great organization that could ruin the military.
“… Do you want to be excluded from major surveillance?”
Belger asks while looking at Gregory.
Gregory seemed to think for a moment and then answered.
“… No, leave it alone.”
*
*
*
Surprisingly, the labor of prisoners is not forced.
Of course, these are just words.
Karaz has created a device that has no choice but to serve as labor.
The prisoners who were captured by Gregory and brought to Karaz were assigned one by one quite comfortable rooms, like gositels.
I can’t say it’s such a nice place, but if you think of this as a prison, you can say it’s very generous treatment.
But it wasn’t free.
Unfortunately, there was a price to pay.
One month free!
From the second month onwards, you must pay monthly rent.
… Was written on the manual paper.
Well… If you think positively, you can think that you have about two months, but…
“…”
The monthly rent is quite expensive.
7,000 Zena.
Based on the Earth’s exchange rate, it would be approximately 78 million won.
There is no way that the prisoners who fell to Karaz naked would have the money to pay rent.
Of course, you cannot use the money you had before coming.
What if I get kicked out of here because I can’t pay the rent?
Of course you will be kicked out of this room, right?
It’s not written what happens after that, so I don’t know… But I might have to sleep on the street.
In the end, you had to earn money to pay the rent, and labor can be said to be essential.
But there was another problem.
In order to mine magic stones, you need equipment.
But there are no supplies.
In the end, money is needed to purchase equipment for mining magic stones.
As if Karaz knew this, he was amazed! A loan system was created kindly.
“No! Are you kidding me that the interest rate is 40% per annum? Well, isn’t that too much? The legal maximum interest rate is up to 20%!”
The man in front of me shouts in shock.
That’s right.
Isn’t this a government facility?
However, it was a vicious interest rate, comparable to that of a loan company.
Shouldn’t the legal highest interest rate be adjusted?
However, the clerk in front of him spoke without blinking.
“So you’re saying you won’t take out a loan? Then, please get out of the way. There are a lot of people still waiting.”
The man glances back and flinches.
Not only was there a line right behind him, but there was also a long line behind him.
Actually, there is no point in thinking about it.
There was no choice.
Monsters appear in the mine.
Entering a mine shaft to mine without any equipment to protect oneself was tantamount to suicide.
I don’t know how great the monster will be, but since it’s a monster, I think it’s worth the name.
“I will take a loan of 10,000 Jenna.”
In the end, the man took out a high-interest loan.
“Here is 10,000 Zena.”
The clerk hands the man a thick wad of money.
‘I thought they would give me a cash card, but they gave me a bundle of money like that?’
That could mean that there is no system like card payment.
The man disappeared, holding the wad of money preciously in his arms.
It’s my turn.
“How much is the loan limit?”
“If you look at 8702’s magic rank… The maximum is 100,000 Zena.”
My official magical aptitude rank was D.
Of course, it was hidden with the power of deception.
It was one level above F-class and slightly superior at civilian level.
In Zephiria, the magic level is useless unless you become a soldier, except for link charging.
“Then let’s do it for 100,000 Zena.”
The office worker flinches at my bold attempt to borrow up to the limit.
“… Is it okay?”
“Why not?”
“It doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”
The clerk tries to tell me something but stops.
It seemed like he thought it was useless interference.
