kulase

#771

Added 2025-02-16 11:38:00 +0000 UTC

The Gardener (1)

Time keeps flowing.

No matter what happens.

Good things, bad things, tragically terrible things, even miraculous events, time keeps flowing and turns everything into the past, gradually fading their meaning and color.

This was no exception for Oliver, who had prevented the apocalypse.

One day, two days, three days, four days... As the sun rose and set, that event too gradually became the past and faded away.

But was that a bad thing?

It wasn't. It was quite natural, and in some ways, it was a good thing.

No matter how great, joyous, or miraculous, if it follows the stream of time, it becomes the past, which is natural.

If one were to defy this natural order and forcibly fix the past to the present, it would be no different than a river stopping and becoming stagnant.

Stagnant water is bound to rot.

Thus, people gradually buried the emotions and events of that time in their hearts and returned to their daily lives.

Some found new places to live to replace their lost homes, others found new jobs, and some even moved to new places in search of a new life.

Moving forward, changing, adapting.

The same was true for those close to Oliver.

"Arise, workers of all nations!!"

"Ohhhh!!"

After Oliver disappeared, the children born of his hand began the work they had dreamed of.

It was a declaration of war against the terrible labor laws of Landa, and further, a struggle for a humane life.

"All you have to lose are your chains, and the world to gain!"

The Child rallied the workers to demand higher minimum wages, reduced working hours, guaranteed labor safety, compensation in case of injury, and the freedom to form unions, among other rights.

First, Second, Third, Fourth. All four children did so. Naturally, the response from Landa's city council, capitalists, and factory owners was predictable.

"Crazy man!"

"Communist!"

"Should we kill him?"

"Let's kill him!"

"Pink Man!"

Based on an astonishing five-stage argument, some of Landa's elite hired Pink Man, as usual, to shoot at the protesters with machine guns. This was the freedom of Landa.

The freedom to shoot at protesters with guns! It sounds crazy, but it was true.

However, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. On the contrary, it meant that the protesters also had the freedom to beat up the Pink Man who was trying to shoot them with machine guns. This was the freedom of Landa!

Until now, the only reason they hadn't done so was that, while they had the right to freedom, they lacked the power to exercise it. But that was no longer the case.

"Crazy man!"

"Son of a bitch!"

"Should we kill him?"

"Let's kill him!"

Crash─!!

It was because there were children leading the protest and advocating for workers' rights.

For those who had fought countless battles alongside Oliver, machine guns were no more than toys, and proving this, a Child smashed into the vehicle of a Pink Man who had attempted a drive-by shooting, then literally implanted a machine gun in the buttocks of those who were about to shoot.

This incident was prominently featured in the newspapers and soon escalated into violent protests.

"Hit them!"

"Smash!"

"Burn!"

"Revolution!"

"Hit them!"

"Smash!"

"Burn!"

"Revolution!"

Workers wielding clubs chanted for revolution, burning down the houses and factories of those who had employed Pink Men, lynching their families, and looting their properties.

People were thrown into chaos, police officers started working overtime, and various investment institutions shorted the stocks involved.

Truly a peaceful day in Landa.

The City of Landa watched the situation and sent police to contain the issue before it escalated further, but it was not as easy as they had hoped because.

"We are stronger than the police, right?"

It was because of the Child.

They knocked out the police who appeared with batons, using only their fists to disperse them in reverse.

The astonished city council asked Forrest, who was acquainted with the Child, to mediate, and Forrest approached the children on behalf of the council to try to find some common ground.

"I've come to negotiate, friends."

"We are not friends with dirty capitalist pigs!"

"Then let's become friends now."

"That's a joke!"

"Listen up. There's some dividend money tucked away for Oliver's side in the Anti-Development Committee's stake, and I'll make sure you guys can receive it."

"Are you trying to buy us with money? Are you insulting us?"

It was too much money to scold, and eventually, the children showed some flexibility, compromising from their initial goals to a degree that allowed the protests to be dispersed.

It was a truly Landian method, bitterly ironic. Yet, three facts were undeniable.

One was that many of the participating workers were satisfied, as their demands had been met.

The second was that the world was slowly moving in a better direction.

The third and final point was that the Child was now living their own life among the people, just as Oliver had hoped.

And the same was true for others.

Taking over for Forrest, Marie managed the redevelopment coalition in her own way, particularly by consistently removing the identity of the religious group she created, maintaining a communal nature, and spreading learning instead of worship.

It wasn't as easy as she thought, but she managed well.

In Joe's case, he established a new industry out of the shadow of the redevelopment coalition. Coming from the back alleys, he formed a security and bodyguard agency with his fighter crew members and recruited thieves, con artists, and forgers from the back alley connections, convincing them that security and bodyguard work was more profitable than theft and extortion.

Whether this approach worked or not, Joe's security and bodyguard agency quickly ousted Pink Man, who had suffered major losses at the hands of the Child, and took over their market share, becoming closely associated with the royal family.

Jane systematized the sisterhood and transformed it into an official organization, not just for the wealthy minority, but as a fair institution through voting, running investment and welfare projects concurrently.

Rumors had it that she bit into a fat, lascivious tycoon to secure a massive investment.

The tower was the same. They too, centered around individuals like Yareli, slowly but surely made their own reforms.

It wasn't just Landa that was busy. Beyond Landa, other places were also spending their time in their own ways.

Albert, who had unexpectedly become the heir to the throne, with the help of Major General Philip and Archiver Kevin, reconstituted the central parliament that had been leaderless, ascended the throne, and did his best to manage the chaos of the united kingdom.

He then tried to change the colonial policies and policies towards the Red People of the United kingdom.

Most of the colonial leadership and regional parliaments did not respond favorably, making progress difficult, and Galos and central continent only sought to expand their colonies in disbelief.

However, the only one that supported this was the Holy kingdom, specifically the kingdom that had escaped from the curse and was functioning normally again.

Under the leadership of the new Emperor Armand and Saintess Joanna.

Despite losing the power of the holy blood, Joanna still retained the titles of saintess and angel's child, and she remained active in the imperial court, considering and discussing the future direction of the Parter Church and the paladins.

As these days continued.

Ding-dong-!

Someone came looking for them.

"Is this the place that made that chocolate cake?"

From those who came from below.

***

Ding-dong-!

As the door of Forrest's Restaurant in Landa's T district opened, the distinctive ring of the bell was clearly heard even in the bustling restaurant, and one of the staff members came out to greet the new customer.

"Hello, welcome! Thank you for visiting our restaurant."

"Oh, hello! Are you Al?"

An exotic woman exuding a mysterious aura suddenly asked the employee if this was the place.

Upon the woman's inquiry for the manager, the employee scrutinized her closely.

Even upon a second look, she remained an enigmatic figure. Beautiful, though hard to pinpoint exactly what made her so, her presence was clear yet her appearance seemed as elusive as a mirage.

The only discernible feature was a brooch embossed with a camel pattern.

As if mesmerized, the employee snapped back to reality and replied.

"Ah, I apologize... I am not Al, I am Es. Al is our restaurant's manager. Do you know the manager by any chance?"

The woman smiled and shook her head.

"No, I don't know him personally. Just heard about him and was curious, don't mind me. Can I dine here though?"

The mysterious woman spoke in her equally enigmatic manner.

But the dignity and aura she radiated were overwhelming, leaving the employee unable to say much else.

The only certainty was that she was a person of high status.

Trusting his instincts, Es bowed slightly.

"Of course, I'll show you to your table. How many are in your party?"

"Thank you, it's just me for now."

"I see. I'll guide you to a spacious table in anticipation of any companions you might have."

"Thank you. You're very kind."

The woman smiled, and Es, slightly embarrassed, led her deeper into the Forrest Restaurant.

It was a place more spacious and diverse than before.

On the first floor, various solvers enjoyed food and drink in a casual atmosphere, while the city's affluent sipped their drinks elegantly on the second floor.

This variety was markedly different from typical restaurants where clientele usually leaned one way, something the woman pointed out.

"There's quite a variety of guests here."

"Ah... yes."

Es, the employee of Forrest Restaurant, answered awkwardly, not quite crisply.

He couldn't possibly explain that the restaurant owner was a major broker encompassing both the legitimate and underworld scenes.

Al would have skillfully joked to deflect, but Es, lacking experience, could not do the same.

"Ah. There."

It was then. The woman moved on her own toward a designated spot in the restaurant with a joyful voice.

Startled, Es hurried after her. The spot she was heading toward already had an owner, and that owner was...

Forrest, the owner of Forrest Restaurant.

Tapping away at a typewriter while sipping on a drink, he paused and slightly lifted his head at the sound.

Facing him was the woman with an unusual presence.

"A guest?"

Es hurriedly approached, but Forrest stopped him and greeted the woman courteously.

"Hello, miss. That's a lovely brooch. Is that a camel?"

"Yes, it is a camel. Nice to meet you."

"I'm truly delighted to meet you as well. It’s been a while since a lady as beautiful as yourself approached me first... May I ask if you know me? It’s not that I'm trying to be rude, I just don’t quite remember, and well, I am getting on in years..."

The woman smiled, a smile that seemed capable of shaking the heart of any man.

"No, I don’t know you personally."

"Does that mean you know someone who knows me?"

"You catch on quick."

"Ha-ha, thank you... Es?"

"Yes, sir."

"Could you bring another chair? Our guest might want to join me. Is that alright with you?"

The woman nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course."

Soon, Es brought over a chair, and the woman sat down gracefully facing Forrest.

Forrest carefully pushed his typewriter to one side, and the woman pointed at it, asking,

"Are you a writer?"

"I’m trying to write a book, but I’m not a writer. Just a retired old man keeping busy."

Forrest, who ran a welfare center for Poor Brothers, consulted for Marie and Joe’s enterprises, and dealt exclusively with the problems of Landa’s rebellious Child, responded as such.

"If it's not too forward, may I ask what you do? You’re too intriguing not to inquire about."

"Well? I hold a minor administrative position; nothing worth bragging about."

"Oh, then, your name?"

"I’d like to tell you, but there are too many to choose from, I'm not sure which one to give."

Though it was a response that might have merited a puzzled look, Forrest continued the conversation earnestly.

"Then, I’ll just call you ‘miss’."

"I like that. Makes me feel younger. May I order something if you don’t mind?"

"Of course, what would you like to have?"

"Chocolate cake. I’d like to start with that; I’ve heard it's delicious."

"Oh, have you tried our restaurant’s cake before?"

"Not directly; I’ve had a packaged one."

"I’ll make sure it's specially prepared then."

"That would be nice."

Forrest instructed Es to carefully prepare the chocolate cake, and after a lengthy wait, the cake arrived.

The woman ate the chocolate cake with a happy smile.

"Mmm, oh, my goodness... Indeed, the food is better here."

"It’s an honor to hear you say that... Are you in Landa to enjoy the cuisine?"

"Not exactly, I did come for a delicious meal, but that's just a bonus, I'm here on business."

"Business? May I ask what it involves?"

"Nothing much. Just that there’s going to be some changes at the place I work, I’m here to make space for that. Also, to keep some rowdy colleagues in check."

"Sounds like a unique workplace."

"I think so too... Ah, right. I didn’t bring any cash, only gold, will that do for payment?"

The woman magically produced an ancient gold coin.

Forrest waved it off.

"Don’t worry about the payment. I’ll cover your meal."

"Really?"

"You're beautiful, and I’m a wealthy old man. It’s only natural for me to pay."

"I like that logic."

"Though it’s hardly a trade-off, may I ask you something?"

"Of course, as long as I can answer."

"What is Oliver doing now?"

Forrest, sensing something, asked sharply about Oliver, who had left.