Chapter 370 – 370. Return of the Sage (2)

– One –

“Brother. They are not responding to our article at all. Something is strange.”

When Daniel muttered in a worried tone, Jack nodded with a grave expression.

“Is it possible that our location has been discovered, or that they have already completed their preparations to attack us…”

“That’s not likely. If they succeeded in finding us in the first place, we couldn’t have let the article go on, would we?”

“Kuheumm…”

Jack doesn’t even show a hint of accusation, but Daniel blushes.

It was because he himself was aware that lately he had been feeling a lot of impatience.

“If we analyze only the given circumstances, it seems that the Whisky family has lost control of the press. Also, since they did not have enough energy last time to send a second party, it might not be easy for the operatives to forcibly suppress the press. Yes.”

“Isn’t that overly optimistic?”

“Is there room for other interpretations?”

“…”

Daniel is silent.

Even to him, it seemed that there was little room to judge otherwise.

“We should be wary of excessive optimism without context, but shouldn’t we also be overly pessimistic about the situation?”

“But…”

Daniel still didn’t seem to agree.

Smiling helplessly at the sight of his brother, Jack shakes his head.

“Then why don’t you try something like this?”

“How do you mean?”

“First of all,”

Jack reveals some plans.

As Jack reveals all of his plans, Daniel blankly nods.

“Sounds like a good idea, brother.”

“Let’s shake it as much as possible once.”

“Okay.”

The brothers are in harmony.

– 2 –

“Smirnoff! Robert! The Chief is calling! Come in quickly!”

At Sinatra’s call,

“Oh, I see, sister!”

“Okay! I’m leaving now!”

Robert and Smirnoff respond urgently.

As if they had been rolled pretty hard by Sinatra and Mondavi, the two were much thinner than before.

Swoop.

They lie down on a flat bed in the yard, then raise their bodies up.

But the action was very sluggish.

“I don’t see us taking any rest, Mondavi…”

“Oh yeah… What can I do? The manpower is limited, and the work is overflowing…”

“So, I wish I could get a new member of the alliance soon, but I don’t know why they check so hard after coming here…”

Turd, turd, turd.

Whilst complaining quietly, he walked helplessly into the main building of the branch where Mondavi was located.

The main building was nothing more than a crude warehouse made of logs.

“I heard you, brother Robert, Smirnoff.”

It was impossible not to be discovered by Mondavi, who read the movement of water in all directions.

The faces of the two men become contemplative.

“Heh, hehe…!”

“Now, you’re wrong, Mondavi!”

They immediately apologize.

Mondavi glared at them fiercely,

Food.

Shed a laugh

She gestured toward the opposite side of her desk as if telling her to sit down.

Shashak.
Fluff, fluff.

They quickly sit down in their chairs.

As they sat down, they both frowned, as if they had bumped their tailbone against the chair.

Mondavi doesn’t even point out their expressions and just goes over.

They seemed to be caught tightly by Mondavi.

“I got a call from the Tennessee brothers.”

“What did you say? The interest payment date is still a long way off…”

Smirnoff asks, tensed.

He diligently manages the account books and appeals to Mondavi that he is assisting Sinatra in his work.

“Are you saying that the members of our federation who are in training have caused problems at the dispatch site?”

Robert also competitively asks questions.

By doing so, it appeals to Mondavi that it is managing the federation members dispatched to each branch well.

It seems desperate.

I struggle desperately in order not to be harassed somehow.

“It’s neither.”

To her blunt answer,

“Hee-ik…!”

Robert is terrified,

“I’m sorry. I haven’t figured it out yet. Forgive me.”

Smirnoff pleads with her, holding her hands.

Mondavi had to desperately hold back the burst of laughter.

Because I wanted to see even a little more of them scurrying around.

“Summary. Don’t tease me too much. How hard you two are trying.”

“It’s not enough to just try, Sister Sinatra.”

“Hehe. It’s actually a great help. So stop bothering the two of them.”

Swoop.
Took.

Mondavi clenched her chin.

Look at the two men

They close her eyes tightly and turn away from Mondavi’s gaze.

Mondavi’s eyes curve like crescent moons.

“Umm… But it’s cute…”

Hearing the murmur of Mondavi,

Shockingly, shockingly!
Oh so so so.

Goosebumps appear all over the two men.

“Then, what are you going to do when the two of you get neurosis and lose hair at an early age?”

“Bald-headed Smirnoff and bald-headed Robert brother… Hmmm…”

Month after month.

The two men tremble.

Mondavi’s smile deepens.

“I’ll reap and raise them, well. If we go ahead with our plan anyway, we’ll soon turn into felons or wanted criminals, and then we’ll be able to get married and eat them up. It’s obvious that you’ll be weeded out.”

“Cheer, heck, heck…!”

Robert screams in silence.

“Although Smirnoff is said to be an excommunicated bride, he is still the bridegroom of the Goddess. In the first place, he is not even qualified to marry in the underworld, so it will be okay if his hair is a little bald.”

“Kuh, keuheugh…”

Smirnoff swallows Bunru.

Both of them despair at the sharp point that cannot be refuted.

“So, when I have nothing to do, please relieve my stress and be my plaything. It’s not like the two of you will be playing a key role just yet. If you become fully proficient later and take on even one branch independently, then that’s unnie’s role.” I’ll obey.”

“Hehe. I can’t stop it, really…”

The three express their absurdity in their own way.

It was sincere.

I can’t stand it any longer

“Anyway, really, why did you call us?”

Smirnoff changes the topic.

They knew it was her way of releasing her mounting stress, which also doubled as an expression of her affection.

That’s why I’ve been accepting it, but it’s because I’ve been mentally worn out.

“We’ve got something to do.”

“You mean all four of us?”

Swoop, Swoop.

Mondavi shakes his head at Robert’s question.

“No.”

“Then?”

“It’s not just the four of us, it’s something all the members of the alliance have to do.”

Even Sinatra may have heard such a story for the first time, and all three except for Mondavi’s eyes widen.

At the same time, the joy in Robert and Smirnoff’s eyes at the thought of being able to escape the stuffy branch.

“What on earth did Jack and Daniel ask for, Chief?”

On the other hand, Sinatra’s face was completely hardened.

Immediately after being rescued from being roughed up by the hounds of the Regal, he had to do a lot of work in the island without a chance to rest anywhere.

Shortly thereafter, after barely escaping from the system and settling down at this branch, he gradually forgot his anxiety and fear by immersing himself in domestic affairs and education.

That’s why she seemed a little afraid to leave the safe branch and go somewhere.

Mondavi looks at her with her pitiful eyes.

“Her sister’s former co-workers were locked up in Regal-built public latrines, weren’t they?”

“… Yes…”

Sinatra’s face turns grim.

She seemed to remember the last appearance of Rai, the male dog.

“The Tennessee brothers are going to rescue the victims who were so altered and put in the latrine, and expose the atrocities of Regal and Chiba to the whole world.”

“…!”

Sinatra widens her eyes.

Her eyes gradually begin to burn with strong will mixed with anger.

“Jack and Daniel are going to publish their live testimonies in an article?”

“Yes. They said they were planning to rescue all of them at once and expose them simultaneously to all continents so that no victims like them would ever appear again.”

“I…”

Tears fill Sinatra’s eyes.

Moisture seeps through her breathing.

“I-I want to go…!”

“Yes, I will come with you.”

Swoop.

Robert quietly raises his hand.

Contrary to how he was welcoming the foreigner at first, he now had a stern expression on his face.

“Why, Robert?”

“Well, by the way. Is there anything our alliance members can do there? Except for you, we will be weaker than trained regular soldiers. What on earth will we be of any help in the rescue operation?”

His question was justified.

In fact, it was self-evident that if lifeforms on all continents were lined up in order of combat performance, most of the members of the Free Alliance would generally be placed in the back row.

“According to the Tennessee brothers, it is estimated that most of the Regal’s estates and vassal’s estates are currently in a power vacuum. So, they say that it will be enough to sneak up and rescue the victims without fighting. Carefully around the latrine. Look around, and if you think it’s safe, you can quickly launch a rescue operation.”

“What if someone is guarding it?”

“At that time, we’ll just have to retreat. There’s no reason to risk our lives to rescue others, right?”

“Um…”

Robert still seemed unrefreshed, but at first he seemed to agree.

It’s probably because the words to refute didn’t come to mind quickly.

“Then what can I do?”

Swoop.

Mondavi looks back at Smirnoff.

She is lost in her troubles for a moment.

As if she had made up her mind soon, she nodded her head lightly and opened her mouth.

“I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while, Smirnoff.”

“Is this a related question?”

“Yes.”

Smirnoff straightens his posture.

It was because she looked serious, different from when she made fun of herself and Robert because she was her hobby.

“Can you ever perform the same miracle you did back then in the Islands, Smirnoff?”

“It’s impossible.”

Smirnoff answered immediately without hesitation.

But Mondavi doesn’t show her disappointment.

“Even if I pray earnestly to the goddess?”

“It is unknown.”

Swoop, Swoop.

Smirnoff strokes his chin.

It is impressive to see his white beard growing out in a rough way.

Because even his skin was dyed pure white, he was truly a figure worthy of the title of pure white saint.

Of course, Smirnoff had no idea that the public called him that.

It is because Mondavi thoroughly concealed it because his stomach hurts that he had a nickname that was just cool.

“In the first place, the Goddess allowed it, so I was able to cause such an absurd miracle that day. If so, shouldn’t it be seen as something beyond my ability and something that can never be reproduced with my will?”

“Of course. But when His children are groaning in pain, you are using your strength to do noble work to get rid of such pain. It is for a good cause, so if you pray earnestly, the Goddess will once again perform the miracle of the day. Of course you won’t allow it, right?”

Smirnoff shakes his head.

He was a bit adamant.

“Nothing is obvious.”

“Why?”

“On that day, His innocent little children were suffering countless times, so He could have personally performed a miracle by borrowing my body. But what guarantee is there that those who save this time are not evil people who can’t be dealt with? ?”

“Ah…”

Mondavi nods slowly, agreeing with Smirnoff’s point of view.

“Sociologists call the error of thinking that the weak are unconditionally good just because they are weak. Sociologists call it underdogma. You can see it in the same context. Just because there are some unfair people, they are criminals who commit serious crimes and get punished for them. Can you say that there is no one among them? Isn’t that something you don’t know about?”

“I guess so.”

“So, for now, the decision is entirely up to the will of the Goddess. Since the Goddess knows everything, can’t she come to a conclusion contrary to our plan?”

“Yes…”

Mondavi’s face blurs.

She lowers her head

Seemingly trying to placate her broken heart, her Smirnoff advises her in her soft, caring tone.

“So, it would be desirable to devise a plan for future operations, assuming that I will never be able to cause a miracle like that time again.”

“Also…”

She mumbles with her head down.

“Smirnoff is incompetent…”

“What?!”

Sparks fly from Smirnoff’s eyes.

He opens his mouth wide with a bewildered face.

“That, is that what you’re going to do to me right now…?”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry. I’m out of words.”

Whoop whoop!

Mondavi hurriedly waved his hand.

And she quickly adds.

“By the way, I think Smirnoff knows a lot. Is it that he naturally becomes wiser as he gets older?”

Purrrr.

Smirnoff trembles.

“100 million…!”

Robert makes a suffocating sound and sneaks away.

It was because the praise of Smirnoff’s erudition that came out of her mouth was never heard straight away.

The moment Smirnoff couldn’t stand it and was about to explode,

“Then, first of all, we and the Alliance members rescue as many victims as we can, transport them to the appropriate assembly point, and then take care of them by treating them as much as Smirnoff can. You may not be able to do anything about it, but if Smirnoff uses his divine power, what can you do with the amputation of your fingers and toes? Show the dignity of a senior healer, Smirnoff.”

Mondavi turns her words around first.

Immediately after that,

Bee.

She sticks her tongue out at Smirnoff.

It was nasty.

“This, profit,”

Just before he complains again,

“And I think it would be good to have a competent surgeon also wanted, Chief.”

Sinatra quickly changes the subject.

Smirnoff misses the timing to get angry again.

Perhaps she, too, was enjoying being ridiculed by Smirnoff.

“Why is that, Sinatra?”

“Lai before, uhm…”

Her neck groaned for a moment.

She still seemed to have a hard time recalling her memories of her then.

She struggles to open her mouth again.

“… You said you’ve seen a colleague who was the head of a media company imprisoned?”

“Yes. You said you talked for a while at that time, sister.”

“That’s right. The appearance of the colleague I met at that time was remodeled into a severely distorted shape that I was afraid of appearing in a dream. I couldn’t ask in detail because I was not in a hurry, but Chiba probably cut the bones of the victims or inserted implants into the human body in such a form. I think I’ve done the modification procedure.”

“Ah…”

The faces of the three people get tired of it.

Chiba was secretly doing a terrible thing that I was afraid to even imagine.

While doing such unethical things behind the scenes, he leads a social movement to correct morals and ethics in front.

It was disgusting.

“I heard a ghost story about torture one day during my coverage, and it was said that skilled torture technicians use healing spells to transform or remodel the human body in order to inflict great psychological pain on the person being tortured. Chiba applies it. I think that’s why they turned the victims into mutant monsters.”

“… It’s really more horrifying than I imagined…”

The three shake their heads.

As if their stomachs were getting sick, Robert and Smirnoff were trembling as they swallowed.

“If the victims are in such a state, it will probably be difficult for them to return to their original form without surgical intervention, even with advanced healing techniques. Even in military organizations, people with wounds that cannot be healed by healing techniques alone, such as those with shrapnel embedded in them, are often transported. I heard that there are army surgeons who accompany the unit to treat the wounded, so we should search for and recruit a surgeon, and then perform implant removal surgery and healing techniques at the same time.”

“Okay. Thank you for your kind comments.”

Mondavi bows her head at Sinatra.

With her index finger on her chin, she ponders for a moment.

“Hmm… Then, the expenses incurred while carrying out the operation, such as the surgeon’s wages and the federation members’ food, transportation, lodging, etc., Should be billed to the Tennessee brothers, right? And you should also claim all of our labor costs. That’s it. It’s a request that we officially proposed. The Tennessee brothers would understand that we included a small fee, right?”

Sinatra widens her eyes.

The corner of her mouth rises slowly.

Pair, pair, pair!

“Ahaha! That’s great, gunman!”

She claps her hands and rejoices.

Watching Mondavi take shape as the head of her organization, she feels a deep sense of satisfaction.

“Leave it to me to fill out the invoice form and figure out the minimum cost for getting started!”

“I’ll ask. And since the brothers are rich anyway, should I charge them according to the list price instead of thinking about cutting them off? I, the head of the company, can never tolerate giving them a discount because they patronize my former colleague.”

“Certainly! I’ll charge Jack and Daniel as they are, without a penny discount!”

“I believe you, sister.”

Looking at them, the two men shook their heads with tired faces.

It was scary.