#734 (Patreon)

Cleanup (2)

"..." 

"..." 

"..."

Silence returned to the room following Oliver's question.  

However, the council members could hardly be blamed.  

They were politicians, which meant they were people who dealt with the realities of issues.  

Even if they could handle an unprecedented scandal involving Finger Puppet and the crown prince, they were incapable of addressing something as incomprehensible as the apocalypse—an event both real and beyond reality.  

Oliver was not unaware of this fact.  

Although he might have lacked common sense during his days as an orphan and a miner, his time outside as a solver had taught him enough about reality.  

This was not a realm politicians could handle, yet Oliver still asked.  

How would the council members respond to the approaching apocalypse?  

In a sense, it was an exceedingly unfair question, but that was why he asked it.  

Sometimes, the will to act was more important than the ability.  

"It's hard to answer when we don't specifically know what the apocalypse entails," said a council member, dressed in a silk hat and frock coat, after a long contemplation.  

Oliver responded, "But there comes a time when decisions must be made. Isn't that a common occurrence in Landa?"  

Caught delaying and digging for more information, the council members became mute as if they had honey in their mouths.  

Oliver was right.  

Living in the city of Landa meant enduring unjust crises beyond one's domain.  

At the same time, they realized that these old tricks no longer worked on solver Dave.  

"Hmm... We might have to evacuate. We don't know exactly what this apocalypse is, but if we can't fight it, running might be the best option. Maybe underground, or... Minister Paul, you didn't see this coming, did you?"  

All eyes turned to Carver for this abrupt report he had filed during the past three days while managing the city's control, calming citizens, and negotiating stability through royal and central councils.  

The report, titled "Preparing for Disaster: Bunkerization of Landa Underground," suggested exploiting Landa's subterranean features to create a city-wide bunker if necessary.  

Naturally, the council members thought him mad for drafting such a fanciful report amidst their busy schedules.  

If Carver hadn't been leading the efforts, he might have been dismissed.  

Crazy actions are justified only by time and circumstance, but now it appeared not to be so mad after all.  

Carver had been preparing for the coming events.  

"Sigh... I should have realized sooner that the report wasn't put together overnight."  

The situation had become even more troublesome than three days ago, and the council members collectively pondered their next steps.  

Carver defended himself, "It was a possibility, not a certainty. Please understand that."  

"Of course," they were hesitant to believe.  

As the council members and Carver exchanged a few words, Oliver interjected, "So, will you evacuate underground? I'd like a definite answer."  

"Right now, that seems to be the only option," the council members cautiously replied, intuitively feeling that it was unsafe to respond too quickly.  

However, Oliver persistently probed.  

"Will you evacuate everyone in Landa, or just some?"  

"Some?" replied the council member.  

"The wealthy and lascivious tycoons. I know it's easier to evacuate just some rather than everyone, and typically the easy choice is made."  

"..."  

"I'm not trying to imply anything. I'm genuinely curious. I'll accept whatever answer you give."  

"That's... not an easy question to answer."  

"You can answer it the hard way. I want to hear it now, whether it's easy or hard."  

"You're putting us in a difficult position."  

"I don't have much time either."  

Despite their efforts to dodge the question, Oliver continued to press them, and soon enough, one by one, they found themselves lighting cigarettes.  

That appearance seemed to represent the council members' feelings of frustration.  

"Phew... First of all, it's doubtful whether there will be enough space for all the citizens of Landa to evacuate."  

"It will be." Oliver resolved the doubt.  

He knew because he had seen it himself.  

"…The supplies are also a problem. We don’t know how long the apocalypse will last, and we can’t just evacuate everyone. Considering the number of Landa’s citizens and the immense amount of supplies they consume daily—"  

"—I'll find a way."  

Minister of the Interior Paul Carver interrupted the council member's response and answered confidently.  

This behavior drew everyone's attention back to Carver, as it was uncharacteristic of him to act so rudely.  

"Minister Paul?" A surprised council member called out to Carver, but he did not respond.  

He only looked at Oliver, who was the most important person to him at that moment.  

The council member couldn't pursue the matter further as they had delegated full authority to Carver on this issue.  

"Why?"  

"What do you mean?"  

"You said you'd find a way. Don’t you also think it's difficult to evacuate everyone?"  

"Of course. I'm a realist."  

"And?"  

"That's why I'm making this choice as a realist. I can’t explain in detail, but this option seems safer in the end."  

Carver revealed his honest inner thoughts.  

He believed that, instead of evacuating everyone, it was right to evacuate only some—namely, those who could contribute to the city.  

It was impossible to save everyone, and therefore, it was proper to first save those who align with the public good.  

This was Minister Paul Carver’s judgment and conviction as a realist who recognized the situation and planned accordingly.  

However, his intuition now told him the opposite, and ironically, Carver decided to follow his intuition.  

It seemed more likely to successfully save everyone, rather than just the easy choice of saving some, as he looked at Oliver.  

"There will be many difficulties, such as supplies. Are you sure you’re okay with this?"  

"If the apocalypse really is approaching, what does being okay even mean? First, you knock, believing it will open."  

"Ha. Ha. Ha."  

At that moment, Oliver laughed, or more precisely, pretended to laugh.  

Appropriately for the term 'pretended,' the laughter was awkward, and everyone looked surprised.  

Even a doll's laugh would have seemed more natural.  

Seeing their reaction, Oliver asked, "Is my laughing awkward?"  

"…Yes, very much so."  

"Ah, that's disappointing. I've practiced it. Seeing your reactions, it seems I still have a long way to go."  

As people looked on in shock, Oliver didn’t seem to mind much and soon stood up.  

He then pulled out a thick leather bundle from a leather case strapped to his back.  

"That is…"  

A familiar leather bundle.  

As Oliver placed the leather bundle on the floor, it expanded like fermented bread dough, eventually sprouting two arms, legs, and several eyes.  

It was Oliver’s glutton bag, Bigmouth.  

"Grrrururuk…!"  

"Long time no see, Bigmouth."  

Oliver greeted Bigmouth as he stretched out, really having been a long time since he had last taken him out.  

Bigmouth seemed to think the same as he rolled his many clam-like eyes around to survey his surroundings.  

Thanks to that, Bigmouth could see the council members and Paul Carver looking at him in surprise.  

"Grruruk."  

As soon as he saw Carver, Bigmouth waved his hand.  

Carver, having been present during a past deathmatch between Bigmouth and another glutton bag, recognized him and reflexively waved back.  

"Why Bigmouth?"  

"Bigmouth will help… Bigmouth?"  

"Grruruk?"  

"Could you help Mr. Carver for a moment? If he needs something, just take it out for him."  

"Grruruk?"  

"Please."  

Oliver formally requested Bigmouth's assistance, and after a moment of contemplation, Bigmouth nodded.  

However, Carver was still skeptical.  

It was unrealistic to think that Bigmouth could possess enough supplies to handle all the citizens of Landa.  

At that moment, Oliver read Carver’s doubt and preemptively addressed it.  

"He will be able to handle it."  

"Really?"  

"Anything you need. Bedding, clothes, food—just say the word, and Bigmouth will bring it all out. Like a cornucopia."  

Without further explanation, Oliver assured them he could do it.  

Surprisingly, everyone in the room, including Carver, accepted his words.  

It seemed that if Oliver said it could be done, then it would be.  

"The biggest problem has been resolved then. Now, if you'll excuse me. Please take this."  

Oliver handed over the leather case containing Bigmouth to Carver.  

Carver hesitated but then accepted the leather case.  

"I’ll come back to retrieve it later, so please take good care of it."  

"Are you sure it’s okay to leave this with me? There’s no guarantee that I will definitely keep my promise."  

"Well, that could happen. Actually, it doesn’t matter."  

"..."  

"Whether you keep your word or not, Mr. Carver. That too is a choice."  

Carver pondered Oliver’s words for a moment.  

"Ha... That’s one of the scariest things I’ve ever heard."  

"Interesting. I think the same. It's scary."  

Oliver left a meaningful remark and then set down the leather case.  

With that, the leather case containing Bigmouth fully transferred to Carver’s hands.  

After greeting Carver, Oliver said goodbye to the council members and exited through the door he had entered.  

Surprisingly, when he opened the door and stepped out, he wasn’t in a city hall corridor but on a street instead.  

It was Landa’s T-District, Street 30, and a few steps away, the new restaurant owned by Forrest caught his eye.  

This new restaurant was much larger and more splendid than the previous Forrest restaurant, and interestingly, a line of shabbily dressed people stood in front of it.  

They were queueing for free meals provided by the restaurant, an idea initiated by—  

"Are you busy, Al?"  

Al was managing Forrest’s restaurant and acting as an intermediary in place of Forrest.  

He was distributing free meals along with his colleagues.  

"Da, Dave?!?!"

Al, spotting Oliver, literally showed a surprised expression and ran towards him.  

It seemed no one else had noticed Oliver yet.  

Thanks to Oliver making sure he wasn’t recognized by anyone other than Al.  

"You’re doing something wonderful."  

"Ah... No. In times like these, it’s necessary to be generous to later find comfort... A learned tactic, or rather. But, you’re safe? I knew you would be, but still..."  

Al spoke incoherently, shocked.  

After all, the hero who had liberated Landa had disappeared and now reappeared.  

But Oliver acted as if nothing unusual had happened.  

"I’m fine. Thank you for your concern."  

"Ah... I see."  

Seeing Oliver’s face, Al unknowingly accepted it.  

Despite the usual impassive face, there was a depth that was daunting and immeasurable, leaving Al unable to add anything more.  

Meanwhile, Oliver asked, looking towards the interior of the Forrest restaurant.  

"Are Forrest and Marie inside?"  

"Ah, yes... Yes! They are!!"  

"Could you please show me in? I’d like to see them right away, but it doesn’t seem polite. I also have a message to deliver."  

Following Oliver’s request, Al guided him, and soon they were able to enter the office where Forrest and Marie were.