Chapter: 104: Employment_The Regressed NoBody

I leaned my back against the cool wall as I took a deep breath, clearing the cold sweat from over my forehead as my insides seem to seethe as I felt like puking out whatever I had for lunch, as the cold atmosphere added more to my worries.

The sensation of crossing through a portal was something I was greatly apprehensive about and could never get used to. I wasn’t a hunter so I wasn’t able to wield mana like the majority could, so my body was on the weaker side—more like how the humans originally used to be before mana came into our world.

But time was of the essence right now and using portals were more innovative in this day and age, despite the stomach churning experience it brought, plus the motion sickness, then to waste more time using airplanes and different forms of travel accommodation.

“Why can’t they make the portals more reliant, to not cause motion sickness from the shift.” I grunted with a click of my tongue as I felt my stomach churn again, as I almost vomited.

A cold breeze ran past me, as I shivered under the apricity of the winter atmosphere, prickling my skin and working as a balm for me to alleviate my mind to the tasks at hand which needed my outmost attention.

I’d wasted too much time in the preparations and the things necessary to assemble this so-called ‘team’, which Jiwoo had told me about. And the documents he had given me and the files pertaining the information about our next course of actions had occupied me, not allowing me to rest.

I was tired to the bone, and more so mentally with all the money that I'd been spending.

Seriously, that guy had just vanished to who knows where, throwing all of this god forsaken work over me, which I needed to do on my own. Well Koji was more reliable than I’d thought at first—well being a kid and all—, and if not for him it would have taken me more than five months to complete all the preparations, designs and other necessary arrangements, including the hideout, the equipment which Jiwoo had left me to get—which was really hard to obtain even through the black market or some inside means—and the people I needed to recruit in the meantime. I did everything all on my own.

And thanks to Koji the design work and the interior of the hideout had been completed faster than I’d first had in mind. And all I had to get was an expensive pc for the kid, and he showed me what he could do.

I sighed, taking a moment to compose myself.

‘Shit, I don’t get paid enough for all this crap.’ I said, rolling my eyes in annoyance as I scowled, brows furrowing, as I almost let a tear-drop well down my eyes as I imagined myself punching the hell out of Jiwoo if he appeared in front of me right now.

But with a dismissive sigh, I shrugged in defeat. Well, I was the one who'd agreed to his whole deal in the first place. Well, beggars can’t be choosers.

Damn you Jiwoo...seriously, I had to honestly get tangled up with that frivolous and suspicious guy, just ‘cause we made some good cash together.

I’ve been slaving for him for the past five months and now he’d disappeared to god knows where.

And I was a man of my word, when it came to business and trust. I guess that’s where I was still a little dull.

‘But the money...’ I felt a grin arch my face as I relaxed my facial muscles and composed myself with a dry cough.

So far I’d been successfully able to recruit only two of the guys while taking care of the side stuff and the finances to support our team.

And in terms of money, we had no money. Well, money had always been something I could trust, if not a person.

Almost half of the money had already been used and spent which Jiwoo had given me, and taking into account the salaries of the others and the accommodation prices and all the material prices and bills, plus the inflation, we should be good for about another year and a half, but even with all the places I’d invested in, and my own money I'd spent and the future projects in mind, money was indeed the bigger end of the problems, which I needed to take care of somehow until Jiwoo came back.

And I hope he brings a mountain of gold back with him this time as well. Well he was the piggybank of the team who brought financial support, anyways...

I sighed taking a glance around me, as I started to feel better, but the cold weather was still a pain in the arse. I took a frim hold of the leather bag in my hand as I took my phone out of my pocket and booked a cab quickly.

After waiting for a few minutes, a cab arrived as I quickly entered the car—which was a black SUV—and felt a wave of relief wash over me, as the heater inside the car made a warm and comfortable environment, unlike the cold and sombre one outside.

“Sir, where would you like to go?” The driver asked looking back at me through his rear-view mirror.

I matched his line of sight and quickly told him the address which I needed to reach.

The driver looked to be in his late sixties, wearing an old tailored suit, with furrow lines over his forehead and wrinkles palpable over his face due to his old age, with an average built.

On our way there, the cab driver made small talk to pass the silence and awkward atmosphere.

“Is this your first time here in the states, Sir?” The cab driver asked as he took a right turn and entered the speed lane.

I eyed him for a second, before answering nonchalantly. “Yeah, its my first time here. I'm here to take care of some business.”

The old man nodded with an understanding smile as he kept his eyes over the road, carefully manoeuvring the car, showing his years worth of experience of driving.

“The name’s Harrison. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He said with a nod, as a smile arched his wrinkled face.

I took a slow breath, looked at Harrison warily as I decided to reply after a moment of thought.

“Salvador..” I said with a breath.

“Salvador...That’s quite a unique name,” Harrison said with a smile, his old wrinkled cheeks pulled as he looked back at me through the back mirror. “And you also look quite young. Well nowadays teenagers are far stronger than what they used to be back in my days. Well, ahh, now that they can wield mana and all, hehe...”

Currently I wasn’t wearing my usual mask which I wore to work as a broker in the black market, and was dressed in a formal tailored suit, and I had to say when I dressed up properly my overall looks weren’t bad.

“The person who taught me the ways around called me that, so I just took the name from then on,” I returned as I leaned my elbow over the window and crossed my legs, looking outside the window as we passed over a bridge, and were reaching close to our destination.

We continued the rest of the trip in silence, as we sped past different vehicles and crossed a few intersections and finally got to where we needed to.

Harrison hit the brakes as he slowly parked the car, as he looked back at me through his back mirror.

“We've arrived at the destination. I hope you had a comfortable ride.” Harrison announced as I straightened and paid through the online option on phone.

“Thanks for the ride,” I returned, as I grabbed my leather bag and exited the car.

After that, Harrison sped away into the streets, as I turned around and saw the place where I'd able to find Emily Obsern.

To be honest, it'd taken me almost three months to pin point and track this women down and find here real location.

And what I’d find out during my investigation was that, Emily was using an alibi and fake identity living in the states. Which was most probably because of the person who had targeted her family to not find out that she was still alive, to protect herself. Which was indeed an excellent choice.

I couldn’t fully understand who had killed her parents. I could think of a few hypothesis, but they were merely just theory, not the truth.

But I guess I might be able to learn it after I meet the person in question who is supposed to be ghost.

Right now I was standing in front of an apartment complex which looked quite run down and unkempt, a good place which wouldn’t fall under their radar. Who would expect the daughter of the most famous scientist and artificer in the world to live in a run down apartment complex like this.

And one more thing which played a significant part in the equation was that, she was presumed dead to the public almost a decade ago, alongside her parents. So I don’t think her malefactor would be suspicious of her being alive.

I walked up to the third floor of the apartment complex and slowly came to a halt in front of an apartment door, which read the number 104.

I rang the door bell and waited for a few minutes, but there was no response. I rang it again, but was met with no response.

“Is this really the right place...?!” I thought with a furrow of my brows as I looked around the desolate and unkempt apartment complex.

I quickly took my phone out of my pocket to check and confirm the address of Emily Osbern’s house.

But this was the right place. Why isn’t anyone answering?

No, could it be...

I rang the door bell several times as panic bled my thoughts, thinking of the worst. What if she had been caught by the man who had sent assassins to kill her family?

Without thinking much, I tried to thrash the door down, but just as my shoulder was about to collide against the door, I heard a light creak as the door slightly opened and I saw the figure of a woman, half hidden behind it.

I saw a pair of bright sapphire eyes warily looking at me, half hidden behind the door, dull green locks of hair tied in an unkempt ponytail, with bangs covering her forehead, revealing her slim neck. She was wearing lounge wear with a hoodies and had a twisted frown over her face which perfectly hinted on her foul mood.

Overall, she looked beautiful despite not looking in the freshest.

“What do you want?” The woman said with a scowl as her harsh tone reverberated in my ears.

I straightened and cleared my throat as I laid eyes over the woman—Emily Obsern.

“I was hoping to meet Miss Samantha Voss. I have some business with her.” I said with a straight face, a friendly smile palpable over my face as I looked at her with a pleasant amiable air to not alert her.

It’d taken me three months to pin you down Emily, I won’t let this chance go out of my hands. And the money I’d wasted in getting the resources that Jiwoo had left me with, to get for you, I will completely make a favourable outcome, and get my money back two-folds.

“Are you perhaps Miss Samantha Voss?” I added with a composed smile, acting with as much poise as possible to not startle her.

“What business do you have with me?” She said, her eyes filled with irk and annoyance, as her actions oozed wariness and calculative hostility.

I felt like she would rip the door down right this moment and tear me apart from the twisted expression over her face.

Clam down, Salvador. You have talked business and taken care of guys much worse and unbearable than her. She’s just a seventeen year old teenager. How hard it could be to deal with a teenager?

“If you’re one of those door to door salesmen, then get lost I have no need for anything.” She said, as she slowly started closing the door, turning her gaze away as she nonchalantly gave me a final glance.

“No, Miss Samantha, I’m not a salesman, and neither am I here to preach you about any religion.” I could see her roll her eyes from the other side of the door. “My name is Salvador.” I said as I brought my hand over my chest and greeted her respectfully.

“Weird name,” She scoffed as she continued closing the door.

“Miss Samantha wait, I’m actually here toady with a proposal for you. If you could give me just five minutes, I could—”

“Like I said, I’m not interested in whatever crap you’re selling. Now get lost before I call the cops on you.” Just as the door was about to be closed, I thrust my arm out and stuck it between the tiny opening.

It hurts!! I inwardly screamed, as I scowled looking at the girl with dull green hair glaring daggers at me.

Salvador, you need to do this. You can do this. Remember those hellish five months, and the money!!!!!

“What the hell are you trying to pull here?” Emily grunted as she pushed the door close, but with me still stuck between the entrance, as I felt a surge of pain near my chest and shoulder as I suppressed my moans through gritted teeth until my jaw ached. “I’m really going to call the cops on you, you fucking dipshit. Get the hell out right at this moment, you son of a bitch.”

She’s got quite the sharp tongue. Didn’t her parents teach—! Ohh yeah, they’re dead.

“W-Wait...” I was able to sputtered out as I tried to push the door forward, lessening the pain and taking a breath.

“Emily Obsern, please I’m not here to hurt you. I’m just here to talk, alright...” I said as she pushed harder, I tried to resist her strength, but it felt futile. How the hell is she so strong for someone looking so weak?

Or I guess I was the one weaker than a girl younger than me. Well the report did say that which was an awakened.

“What bullshit are you spewing? Yeah like I would believe the guy who's trying to thrash down my door and march right into my house. And how the hell do you know my name? You must one of his guy’s!!” Her voice came out strained and venomous.

Emily rebutted as she frowned, showering me with a train of long curses along the way, as I felt my strength flail and knees give out from fighting against her this game of tog of war.

“You must be one of that guy's henchmen, who killed my parents, and is still trying to kill me, even after I was presumed dead. Why can’t you guys just let me live the rest of my life in peace? Isn’t it enough that you killed my parents?” Emily sneered as she pushed harder and tried her hardest to force me out of the apartment, but I stood firm and steadfast, not willing to move an inch away before I completed my task.

“You’re misunderstanding Miss Emily, I—” I tried to speak but she cut me off.

“No way in fucking hell that I’m misunderstanding anything here.” Emily sneered as her nose wrinkled, her expression communicating the most hostile of sneers as she looked in my direction. If she had some object in her hand right now, she would’ve totally bashed my head with it by now. “You fuckers messed up my life and are still up to no good even when I’m just sitting idly and enjoying my mundane life. You know that karma’s a thing.” Her eyes flared with anger and resentment as her voice contained some distant loss and sombreness.

“Emily Obsren, don’t you want to finish your father’s leftover research,” I sternly said, trying to shake her attention back to my words, as she jumped in her position, as her grip over the door loosened slightly, which gave me the opportunity to fling open the damn door from the outside. “I’m not a henchman sent to assassinate you, or anything. If I was I wouldn’t have given you time and introduced myself, rather I would’ve killed you on the spot.” My voice strained as I looked into her sapphire eyes, burning balefully in fury

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“All I’m here to do is talk about a deal. If you still don’t trust my words—which is only right—, you can take all my possessions and pat me down yourself to make sure I'm not here to harm you in anyway possible.” I said, taking a breath as I sat down on the floor and placed my leather bag in front of her and placed my phone over it as I ushered it in her direction.

“Please, just give me five minutes of your time and if you don’t like what I'm saying and offering, I’ll leave. Just five minutes, I'm a man of my word.” I persisted as I looked up at the girl who had a hesitant expression over her face.

Emily looked at me with stupefied eyes as she composed herself and clicked her tongue in annoyance. She cursed under her breath as she combed her hand past her hair and took a step closer to me.

She took my phone and bag and placed it to the side, as she finally spoke. “Fine, I don’t know who you are, but if you know who I am, and whose daughter I am,—or used to be —then I guess even if you came to kill me I couldn’t escape, and you would’ve already killed me. So whatever you're here to do make it quick...”

“Just five minutes, that’s it,” She added at the end, as she gestured for me to close the door and follow her inside.

I asked for here permission to approach my belongings, as she gave me a suspicious glace and looked at me warily, but after a second she nodded and then I took a few documents out of my leather bag with her eyeing me cautiously from the side as if she could strike me down right this moment.

I walked behind here through the hallway and she gestured for me to take a seat at the dining table.

She took the seat of honour on the other side from me, facing me directly, as I eased in the chair and coughed lightly to clear my throat as I gently took a piece of paper lying over the wooden table from the other documents that I’d brought here with me.

“Let me formally introduce myself again, my name is Salvador, I’m a broker in the black market in Korea, but currently I’m working for a contract based employer. And Miss Emily Osbern, I’m here today in regards to a matter which can be beneficial to the both of us.” I said with a business like air, taking account of each word as I read her facial expression, taking an annoyed frown.

Guess I'll get straight to the point, no use using back handed tricks or beating around the bush to convince this woman.

Seriously, this was the first time in life that I’d listened to someone curse at me so much in our first meeting. I was actually left quite astound.

But just as I was about to speak, Emily raised a hand and spoke. “Before you say anything, tell me, how did you find out that I was still alive and where I lived? It should be impossible to track me down as I changed my name and made other arrangements as well?”

Oh, so its just that. Indeed she’d made excellent maneuvers in here judgment of changing her identity and veiling her presence up until now.

But, even she’d left behind some loops in her plan, which if a person looked carefully into they would be able to figure out. Well, those clues were ultimately very subtle but being the greatest broker in the world, I was easily able to solve them just by a single glance.

"First of all, my employer—you could say he’s now my Boss, but whatever—,he gave me the task to reinvestigate the case of the Osberns accidental death. I’d tried to investigate this case a few years ago, but I found almost nothing because I wasn’t interested in it back then.” I saw Emily’s sneer widen as she crossed her arm above her stomach and inclined in her chair.

“That incident really looked like—or was made to look like—a coincidental accident.” I said raising a finger as Emily followed my each and every movement.

“But, after my boss had provided me with a lead that I hadn’t given much mind to, I started revising the case files again and started my investigation a few months ago, and I found something interesting when doing so...” I felt an amused smile playing on my lips as Emily’s frown twisted slightly. I couldn’t help but find joy in teasing her. “That is, the last project your father was working on prior to his death—with the help of your mother—was a potion which had the recovery rate of almost 98.99 percent, which is impossible even with the most refined and thoroughly obtained resources and herbs found in our world. And the potions which are selling in the markets currently only have a recovery rate of 95 percent, which is good, but not as good as what your father had envisioned.”

“But what do you think would’ve happened if your father, Curtis Osbern, and mother, Alice Osbern were able to release this potion with such a high recovery rate?”

Emily’s brows furrowed further as she looked at me warily. Her eyes glaring at me from the other side as I looked at a document and read through its contents. I think she already had an idea what the aftermath of the release of this concoction would’ve been.

Indeed it would’ve been an excellent innovation and help to mankind’s assault against the demons and the mana beast, but...

“So, Curtis Osbern, who was the most brilliant mind amongst the humans, whom had made so many discoveries and helped in the progression of mankind, wouldn’t such a man have many competitors and enemies in regards to his line of work.” I added with a slight smirk as I fiddled with a few documents in my hands.

I pushed one over to Emily’s side and she slowly reached out and received the document and started reading through it with caution laced in her eyes.

“So the only decision that the competitor side came to, was to eliminate their biggest obstacle.” I let my words roll slowly in the air, as Emily’s face fumed with fury as a fire akin to vengeance blazed in her eyes.

“Yeah and once I confirmed that you were alive through various means and with the help of the information given to me by my employer, I just looked through the old records, thanks to the enthusiastic guy on our side who understands computers better than anyone, I found out several transactions had been made from Curtis Osbern's safe account—under his butler's name—which he had opened secretly and had been putting money into.” I looked at Emily who now looked at me with a stupefied expression palpable over her face, as her eyes looked incredulously at me, like I’d read her like an open book.

“And through accessing those old records in the system, I found that several transactions were made only a few days after your parents death from this account into an entirely different account. And all these accounts had something which linked them to the Obsern incident. So I merely just backtracked and linked these accounts to the incident.”

“So I just followed the subtle clues, using my brilliant genius,” I added as I moved my hand through my hair, “and with a little bit help from my connections, I was finally able to find you, Samantha Voss, or should I say Emily Obsern.” I finished with a friendly smile, interlocking my fingers as I rested my elbows over the table, as Emily had finished reading through the contract I’d given her.

She swallowed hard as her eyes quivered in shock, looking for a loss for words.

What, cat caught your tongue? Where are all those curses from earlier. I rejoiced inwardly as I felt refreshed looking at the girl lose her cool. Heh, that’s what happens when you mess with me.

“Is everything that’s mentioned on this contract true?” She asked with slight hesitation on her face and in tone. “It’s can't me real, this is too good of a contract, which gives me more benefits than you guys.”

“No! Everything that’s mentioned on it is true and without any backhanded tricks. Well, you could say that my Boss really wants to recruit you for some reason he didn’t clarify.” I gave her a wave of my hand as I eased in my chair. “But well, depending on how much we are giving you, all we ask is that you provide us with some ample results in the span of every six months, some consumable item or some accessory which is refundable to the cost spent on your research materials.” I said, holding my business like demeanour, face solemn. “And as mentioned on the contract, you will also receive a percentage of the profits we make. Plus, its mentioned as a clause that if we don’t provide you protection, or help you catch the man who murdered your family in the next five years, you’re free to leave us if you feel necessary. But you will still receive a small percentage of the profits even then.”

I took a breath, taking a few more seconds as I looked at Emily's hesitant face. “It isn’t a losing deal for either us. What do you say, Emily?”

I crossed my legs and leaned into the chair as my lips pursed in thought.

“What makes you think you can catch the guy who killed my parents? Do you think you would be able to bring him to justice even if he has connections in the Union?” Her head slightly bent as her frown widened, her hands clenched, resting over the table.

I already had an inkling, but the guy really had connections inside the World Union as I thought.. That would be troublesome, if I had to be honest.

But right now I needed to do what I’d come here for. And I already had someone working on that problem.

“You just have to trust us on that note. We will be providing you full protection and support. And your accommodation will also be taken care of.” I toned down my voice a little as I closed my eyes for a second, thinking of the several possibilities.

Just in that moment I stood, Emily slightly stirred in her place, startled as I went back to the door and brought my bag and phone.

I took another phone out of my bag and handed it to her.

“If you make up your mind then call me through this phone. Its number is untraceable.” I left a card and a piece of paper with the exact address of the hideout. “This is the address you need to come to, and this card can help you use the portal daises.”

Emily stayed quit for a moment, but I didn’t say anything anymore as I held my bag and decided to walk out of her apartment.

I closed the door behind me and walked out of the apartment complex.

Now all of it came down to her own determination for revenge and accomplishing what she wanted to. All I could do was give her a push and support.

“Seriously Jiwoo, you better come back soon.”

***

I walked into a bar filled with hordes of people, a shining globe in the middle, suspended from the ceiling, casting a dim sparkle as the multiple small rays illuminated the inside, some folks were dancing to the beat, some just comfortably sitting on the sofas and seats, enjoying the music and alcoholic beverages in their hands.

It looked like an enjoyable evening for everyone

I walked a slow stride, as I took off my blazer and held it with my bag, loosening my tie, as I finally found the person I’d come here looking for.

I approached the open bar, where a tall man, looking no older then in his late twenties—now approaching his thirties—, with short brown hair and deep and stoic black eyes, his physique looked well-built for someone in his thirties working in a bar, wearing the attire of a barista, standing and serving the round of customers to the alcohol of their choice.

I took a seat in the middle row where he was serving, and called out to him.

I placed my bag and blazer to the seat on the side and ordered. “I'd like a whisky.”

After a short wait, the man with the short brown hair placed a glass half filled with whisky in front of me with two ice cubes inside the square glass.

I withdrew a piece of paper from the inside of my bag and handed it to him. He was hesitant at first, but slowly reached for it and took the paper and read through the contents.

By the time he was finished reading, I chugged down my beverage and looked at him with a straight face, trying to look friendly. A few seconds past, his calm and stoic demeanour wavered slightly as he looked at me with a sharp glare, his nose wrinkling.

“If you’re here to screw me over, then just drink your drinks and get the hell out of here before I have you kicked out myself.”

Well, at least he didn’t curse at me. Unlike some unsophisticated girl, who had cursed the heck out of me just a few hours ago.

“Liam Elrod, what you just read are the terms we are willing to offer you if you join us. Don’t you fell suffocated and wronged working in a place like this?” I said, bringing the glass down and twirling my finger over its round edges. “I know perfectly well what happened to you, Liam.” I looked at him, eyes unwavering as his face fumed with anger, barely suppressed at the end.

“Liam Elrod, an aspiring new hunter, making a name for himself, acquiring many achievements in a short time when accepted in a renowned guild in Canada...but, was framed for something which he didn’t do and was fired from his position in the guild he used to work in and his hunter's licence was revoked by the bureau, because your teammates got jealous of your achievements and framed you for something you didn’t do.”

Well, what he was framed was, he was accused of killing a teammate when they'd went to do a dungeon subjection a few years back.

Because of his growing talent and name, there were many people wishing on his downfall. He was sent to trial and by the time he was proven innocent, his name had already been sullied by the people who were against him, so Liam lost almost everything even after he was proven innocent, but the guild helped him slightly. But after that fiasco, people only saw him as an arrogant good for nothing who tried to kill his teammates. So the Union made the decision that he can’t join any other organisation and his licence was revoked regardless of being proven innocent.

It was unfair from however I viewed it.

“You graduated from Lock in the top one hundred ranks, and were quite the talk in the recent years afterwards,” I continued as I played with the glass in my hand. “Your dungeon clear rates were outstanding for someone so young and the higher ups of the guild made you a team leader in your fourth year since joining. Quite a lot of achievements under your name. Plus you did everything possible to make sure your team always returned alive even from the most ridiculous missions, with only a few casualties, but no deaths.”

“What are you getting at?” Liam asked, slightly unnerved by my demeanour and tone.

I smirked. “I'm saying, an experienced rank hunter like you, is now rotting away his talent in a random bar, because you can’t go back to the hunter business...”

“What the hell are you getting at?” Liam said again with his tone sharper and stern as he struck the marble table with his fist, startling the people around us.

But after a second or two, they went back to doing what they were doing. But they made some distance from us.

“Read the contract once more. It should be more convenient for you working on these terms, then rotting away in this bar. You’re someone we need, someone experienced and talented like you, Liam.” I said with my tone pushing, as I saw Liam’s brows knit in thought.

This deal should be quite beneficial for him. He was a good and honest man, trying to make an honest living for his family. But honesty in this world his worth nothing, when there were cheating bastards like the guys who'd framed Liam and many others.

Liam took a breath as he placed the contract back down. “You’re willing to give me a six-figure salary, just to join you guys and train a few dudes and act as a team leader of sorts. This is a good yearly salary.”

Yearly? Did he read the contract correctly?

“Not yearly, its your monthly pay. I told you to read the contract properly.” I jabbed as I looked at him with a furrow of my brows.

“W-What—?!” Liam took a moment and read through the contract a few more times as he looked at the section mentioning his salary once again. “You’re willing to pay me this amount on monthly basis. You do know how much this is? There has to be some clause?”

“No, that’s the amount we are willing to pay for your capabilities, and there are also bonuses and other incentives on how you perform.” I added as I straightened and stood from the chair. “And if you’re still skeptical of my proposal, I can wire the money into your account right now, if that'll make you believe me."

I placed a phone and card on the marble table of the bar and a piece of paper with the address of the hideout on it.