Genius Warlock

Whoo! Whoo!

As the sun set over the horizon, three old trucks could be seen running on the highway road of District T.

Thanks to Oliver's efforts, the truck drivers eventually accepted Murphy's offer.

In addition, they promised to stop the strike if Oliver really caught the robbers raiding the trucks.

Afterward, Murphy informed Jimmy of this and negotiated further to obtain three trucks needed to capture the robbers.

Even though what they received was barely a piece of scrap metal, it was enough.

The trucks ran in line, with Murphy and Oliver in the first, Arthur in the second, and Denny in the third.

In fact, Oliver also learned how to drive within half a day and was able to drive a truck, but when he was about to execute the operation, Murphy and Arthur decided to get Oliver out of the driver's seat.

In order to prepare for an unexpected attack, they felt that it was better for the warlock Oliver to be relatively free.

Thus, Oliver was now sitting next to Murphy and watching him drive.

The appearance of systematically turning the steering wheel while pressing a stick called gear felt somewhat attractive and Oliver kept looking at it while Murphy was driving.

“Are you still offended?” asked Murphy, who was driving in his work clothes.

“Um… I’m not, but it’s a bit disappointing. I wanted to try driving.”

"I'm sorry, but Mr. Warlock has to focus on the attackers rather than driving… If it's okay with you, I'll let you drive my car later.

Oliver nodded his head as if he understood.

Murphy, who was very confident and more ambitious, was especially wary of Oliver, who he still couldn't figure out.

From Oliver's point of view, he was just a warlock who knows how to fight a little, and he found Murphy way more interesting than himself.

Murphy had specific and clear goals, and although he has a sense of inferiority, he had the fighting spirit to surpass them.

In addition to the friendship and compassion he had with the veterans, he also had a big plan that encompasses them.

Negotiations with drivers who were on strike were also impressive.

And that was why Oliver could not quite understand why he was having a hard time with him.

He wondered whether it was because he was a little bit stronger.

As Oliver was contemplating whether to ask about this, Murphy suddenly mumbled.

“…. By the way, will they come? I'm worried that the robbers won't come out because we suddenly decided to run the trucks. It will be difficult for us to continue doing this.”

"Personally, I think we would meet some truck robbers today, and what if that happens?"

Murphy thought for a moment before answering Oliver's question.

"…Then, there must be a traitor in the Hoffman family."

Murphy said in a calm voice, which was proof that it was within his expected range.

“Does betrayal happen often in the family?”

“…. I can't say no."

Murphy explained.

“Betrayal and power struggles are common in Crime Firm. It doesn’t happen every day, but it does happen sometimes.”

Oliver instantly remembered the days he spent in the Joseph family. It was a pretty old memory now.

His master, Joseph, offered his disciples to the Demon to gain strength and talent, while Andrew, the immediate disciple, increased his followers and his influence over Joseph in the family.

It felt like a cycle, where someone tried to drag the feet of another when one's survival and security were at stake.

Oliver wondered whether there was such a person when he took over as the owner for a while. He wished someone like that was there.

As he was thinking, he thought of Marie, Peter, and the other disciples, and wondered what they were doing now.

After immersing himself in his thoughts for a while, Oliver asked Murphy.

“… .If there was a traitor, who would it be? In the eyes of Mr. Murphy.”

Murphy glanced at Oliver.

“… Quite a lot.”

"Is that so?"

"Yes, the former boss, Mr. James, was a wonderful man, but his son Jimmy… he’s not as capable as him… If the leader cannot prove his abilities, the subordinates have no choice but to stab the back. It's like the sun rising in the east. You can’t change it."

"Um. I see."

"And Mr. Warlock. I may sound arrogant, but I hope you don't talk like that. It's a question that can lead to bloodshed if done wrong."

Murphy said, illuminating his embarrassment and concern.

"Yes, I understand. But isn't it dangerous to answer that? Why are you answering me?"

At Oliver's question, Murphy flinched as if stabbed by a valid point.

"That's… Mr. Warlock helped me a lot with this. If Mr. Warlock hadn't come forward, I'd be still negotiating, or Jimmy would have been fighting with the truck drivers. It's out of my gratitude for you."

Murphy lied.

Of course, what he said was not a total lie, but he didn’t reveal his real intentions.

And Oliver did not bother asking back since it wasn't the answer he wanted to hear.

But, ironically, as Oliver backed away, Murphy became impatient and opened his mouth.

“…. I told it because it was Mr. Warlock who asked. After all, you are the Dark Horse of District T.”

"What do you mean?"

"Literally what I said…. The reason I'm answering bluntly is that… Mr. Warlock is a very talented person who can hold against four wizards alone and does amazing things constantly. ”

His words were sincere.

Oliver looked at Murphy without saying anything.

"I'm sorry if you're offended by my snobbish attitude. But please understand. I'm not the only one who tries to keep a friendly relationship with a talented solver."

"No, I don't feel bad. I also help Mr. Murphy because of the warehouse. Everyone has their reasons"

"I'm glad you understand. But, I hope you still see me in a positive light."

"…? I like Mr. Murphy, the light around you."

"……"

"Whatever it is. Mr. Murphy's emotions are always on fire. A sense of inferiority, triumph, ambition, will… I like that."

Murphy had a cryptic expression on his face as if he didn't fully understand Oliver's words, but at the same time, as if he had understood something, he pondered.

After a while, he said as if he had decided on something.

“I may be crazy because I didn’t have a coffee and I’m driving at night. Mr. Warlock, I’ll say it….. The reason for me doing all this… The thing is I’m planning on absorbing the Hoffman family within a year.”

"…?"

"Jimmy doesn't have full control over his family. Right before his father's death, he was more interested in drinking and fu*king bi*ches than helping the family. Thanks to that, he doesn't know everything about the organization, thus he couldn't earn the respect of the people in the family.”

Oliver remembered the first time he saw Jimmy.

He had a gun in his hand and was shouting that he would kill the drivers while being desperately stopped by those around him, whose emotions shone with disappointment and irritation.

"……"

“If our Kimbell family and Hoffman family work together in earnest, our family will eventually eat from the bottom up. First, the drivers, then general members, then managers…..”

Murphy’s words were full of conviction.

"If that happens, the Kimbell family will be the next-level organization in District T. This could raise my status in the Crime Firm, and I'll be able to help Mr. Warlock even more."

"Me? Thanks, but why are you helping me?"

"As I said before, Mr. Warlock is a very talented person. The reason I say this is to ask for your help in the future. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but Mr. Warlock plays a decisive role in every important turning point of my life."

Oliver looked at Murphy. He was sincere, and it also seemed that Kent’s words were true.

– Maintain trust with the clients and do your best in your job, then people will come to you on their own

Murphy sighed in relief as Oliver nodded his head in agreement.

"Ugh… .. How amazing. I'm not the type to talk like this easily."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, Mr. Warlock seems to have a knack for pulling things out of people… oh my, it's time to enter the forest road. You have to be careful from here. A lot of attacks happen…."

“… Please drive slowly.”

As soon as they reached the forest road, Oliver grabbed Murphy's shoulder and said.

Murphy slowed down slightly as if noticing something, and through the communicator, instructed the truck behind him to slow down as well.

Oliver focused the energy on his eyes and looked ahead.

He could see the emotions hidden in the forest in the distance, and there were about 30 people in total.

They held their breath and waited for someone with murderous intent.

"Mr. Warlock?"

“Keep moving forward.”

Murphy drove as he was told.

There was a strange tension. Soon, Oliver opened the window and took out emotions from his test tube.

Those who were hiding were centered on the road in front, and everyone was looking at a particular point on the road.

Oliver, who had transformed the extracted emotions into black magic, pulled his arm out the window and said:

[Hat Bullet]

The bullets of hatred pierced the air as fast as a machine gun.

Then there was a small explosion.

Bang! BOOM–!

"land mine?!!"

The one who got surprised was not just Murphy but also those in the hiding.

Thanks to that, their reaction got delayed, and Oliver targeted those caught in that brief moment by throwing [Black dart] into the air.

In the darkness with only the headlights of the car, the sharp ripping of the wind resounded, and then screams echoed all over the place.

"Awwwwwwwwwwwww-!"

"My shoulder! My shoulder!!"

"What?! What!"

Some panicked people turned on the lanterns, and Oliver sniped at them like a ghost, shooting a projectile of hatred toward them.

And that wasn't the end.

Oliver gathered the emotions at his fingertips and remotely commanded the Children.

"Fourth, please protect Mr. Denny and everyone else go outside."

As soon as the order was given, the Corpse dolls, which cleverly hid in the truck, began to move.

First, which entered the Warlock Corpse Doll came out of the truck's luggage compartment, extracted its emotions by making a sound, and began to fire at the enemies.

The screams in the darkness grew louder.

Meanwhile, eight attackers armed with axes, hammers, and shotguns rushed into Denny's truck, the relatively vulnerable target.

Denny's scream seemed to be heard all the way to the place where Murphy was, and at that moment, Fourth Child, who was in Denny's truck, moved.

Fourth entered the swordsman Corpse doll armed with several sabers.

For fun, Oliver put two additional arms around the shoulders of the Corpse doll during the repairs.

Each of the arms was holding a saber, and with those arms, Fourth slashed the approaching assailants with bizarre movements that were far from humans.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Second, which entered the sniper Corpse doll, climbed up on Arthur's truck and aimed its gun, using which it was able to hit and knock down all enemies without missing a single shot.

Third, which entered the Rag Corpse doll, crawled like a cockroach, grabbed the enemies one by one, and bit them to death with its steel teeth.

"Ewwww, what the fu*k-! What kind of monster is this…! Aaaaaaaa!"

"Max! Hey, such a ca… aaaaaaaah-!"

"Huh, retreat. Everyone-!"

There was literally a commotion, and Murphy who was watching the scene opened his eyes wide and placed both hands in his mouth as if overwhelmed by the sight in front of him.

Soon after, Oliver got out of the truck and started tying up the injured truck robbers with [Vine Shadow].

“…. What are you doing?”

"I thought it would be good to interrogate at least once to find out who's behind them. So I'm tying them up… Do you have any ropes?"

Arthur silently held out a string with a peculiar knot.

Oliver thanked him and started tying the robbers with it.

It was so one-sided that Oliver felt that they were lacking something to be called the robbers who harassed a fairly large organization in District T.

‘Or were Puppet’s Corpse dolls that strong?’

Arthur, Denny, and Murphy got out of the car and looked around as they thought the fight was over, but at that moment…

“I came to make some easy profit, but never heard about this in the plan.”

…. With a rattling sound, something came flying and spread out in front of Oliver.

It was the Rag Corpse doll within which Third entered.

Its face was in a mess as if it had been hit hard, and it's all 12 limbs were torn off like worms.

When Oliver looked ahead, a warlock as big as Arthur appeared, scattering the limbs of Third that had been torn off.

He dyed his whole body with dark red energy, exuding a sense of upliftment unique to those who strengthened themselves by disease-based black magic.

"Fu*k you bastard Hilton. You said I could earn some quick bucks, but what the hell is this?"

“Hilton?”

"As expected… that motherfu*ker!"

Murphy and Denny were furious as if they had expected Hilton would betray someday.

Oliver asked the man in front of him.

“Is it okay to say the name like that?”

"Nah-! It’s fine. After all, it would get buried along with you guys, right here"

With those words, the man cast several black magic spells on himself.

He seemed to have tremendous confidence in his physical abilities, and in the aftermath of the spells, his skin became darker, his muscles swelled, and his bones grew bigger.

He seemed to be a disease-type warlock with considerable skills.

"I’ll tear you in shreds and then charge that Hilton nigga… ugh!"

The man felt a sharp pain and looked at his leg.

Third's arm was embedded in his thigh.

He was stabbed by a blade hidden in the joint of the Rag Corpse doll, and it was not a normal blade that stabbed him, it was a blade with a disease-based black magic spell [Exhaustion] cast on it.

[Exhaustion] was a black magic that exhausted one's energy and dulled the body and mind. It was a basic, simple black magic, so the effect was weak, but thanks to that, it was easy to cast it in things for a long time, and there was no problem with the weak effect because that could be covered by increasing the numbers, just like right now.

puck-! puck-! puck-! puck-! puck-! puck-! puck-! puck-! puck-!

Blades protruded from the limbs of Rag Corpse doll, like dragonfly wings, and abruptly stabbed the man, who staggered and fell to his knees.

Nevertheless, the man attempted to offset the effect of [Exhaustion] by casting additional black magic, but at that moment the fallen Third stood up and after it, the other corpse dolls also appeared one after another and surrounded the man.

The man resisted, wielding his arms helplessly, and slowly fear engulfed him.

First, Second, Third, and Fourth turned to Oliver and waited for permission.

"Uuuuuu…"

"…….."

"Auauauauuuuu"

"Kihihihihihi…"

“Um… just eat enough so that he doesn’t die.”

As soon as permission was granted, the four Corpse dolls opened their mouths and brought them closer to the man.

With that, a large amount of emotions and Life-force got extracted from the man's body and entered into the Corpse dolls’ mouth.

Shuuuuuuuuuuu

Shuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Shuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Shuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

The man's muscular body dried up in real time,

When Oliver ordered them to stop eating, the four Corpse dolls shut their mouths, stepped back, and bowed clumsily.

Oliver approached the man who had wrinkled like dried fish and asked.

"Are you alive…? Ah, you are alive."

(To be Continued)