Chapter 175

As the dark repair shop door opened, rays of light pierced through the dusty air.

The yellow sunlight gently spread through the shadows, and several pickup trucks lined up to enter.

Moments later, a clattering sound echoed, and bright white lights filled the interior of the repair shop.

“Alright. Here… stop!”

As Ospri gestured and directed, the cars gradually came to a halt in their designated spots.

A Violet stepped down from the turned-off truck, greeted by heavy air and the smell of oil.

Following that, men in work uniforms entered the repair shop in a line.

“I can’t remember the last time I returned to my main job. I hope everyone hasn’t forgotten the instructions?”

Ospri questioned the men who had entered, to which Marco, holding a welder, smiled wryly and replied.

“Of course not, how could we forget? We’re making armed vehicles, after all. That’s why we’re all gathered here.”

While Ospri engaged in a few exchanges with the technician members, Violet looked around the repair shop.

Excitement gleamed in Violet’s eyes as she gazed at the vehicles. The used pickup trucks lined up in front of her were covered in dust and traces of time, but they would soon be transformed.

Violet was thrilled at the thought that those trucks would be outfitted with weapons and ready to unleash bullets.

“So, what kind of weapon should we attach?”

Once the questions were wrapped up, Ospri approached and asked. He was limping slightly. Violet thought it might be due to him not fully recovering yet.

He was dressed in a dark blue work uniform stained with grease and held a wrench in his hand.

Seeing him, Violet recalled what Kalia had previously told her: he had started working in the repair shop after retiring as a hunter due to an injury.

“This! Do you see the stuff loaded in the truck? Please install everything that’s been ordered.”

Saying that, Violet pulled off the tarp covering the truck’s bed.

Ospri and the team looked at each other and laughed in disbelief.

In the truck bed, heavy weapons that looked intimidating were stacked.

“I’ve attached machine guns a few times, but this is my first time fitting something like this onto a truck.”

“Oh my, miss. Are you planning to go to war?”

“Hunting monsters is like war! Can you do it, uncles? Our team will help too!”

Violet pointed to her teammates behind her—Violets dressed in work uniforms and masks.

They looked rather adorable, awkwardly gripping the welder and tools they somehow acquired. Marco let out a chuckle.

“Hey, that’s enough. You’ll only be a hindrance because you’re all clumsy. This isn’t a job for beginners. It’s not a complex modification that would take long; we’re just adding a few sturdy parts to the cargo area.”

“Then I’ll just assist and watch. I want to learn the techniques! I want to see and learn, even if just with my eyes! I’ll follow instructions.”

The members exchanged glances, hesitating for a moment. Soon, Ospri nodded and said.

“Alright then. You asked, and you’re footing the bill, so why not? The funder is king! If you have questions, feel free to ask anytime.”

The interior of the repair shop bustled with the noise of technicians working around the trucks.

Ospri and his team weighed the equipment stacked on the trucks, cut pipes, and welded parts together.

The modifications ranged from simply adding weapon mounts to reinforcing the armor and floor, depending on the type of weapon and the intended use of the vehicle.

“Just a heads up, things might slow down a bit.”

“It’s fine! After all, these are just disposable! Plus, I’ve heard this model runs well even when overloaded!”

“Really, where did you pick up that nonsense…”

Violet observed the work being done in the repair shop.

She felt a sense of wonder watching Ospri and the team at work.

They might have looked like tough neighborhood uncles, but they were all skilled experts, adeptly handling machines and crafting things.

As the work progressed, thick metal mounts began to pile up, and the pickup trucks transformed into even more special vehicles.

The Violets bustled around, ferrying loads and tidying up. They could not stand still—after all, these were things for Violet herself.

“It’s done.”

The first armed truck was completed. It was a truck outfitted with multi-barrel machine guns.

Violet climbed into the truck bed and moved the machine gun up and down, side to side.

Concentrating her magical power into her body, she exerted her strength, pulling on the mount here and there.

“This should hold pretty well, right?”

“I can’t say for sure. We aren’t weapons experts. There’s a chance the recoil might be greater than expected. Just do a few test firings, and let me know if it feels lacking.”

The Violets had a discussion among themselves.

“Good thing we didn’t attach the mortars or artillery! Otherwise, the truck would have broken!”

Watching the vehicles take shape one by one, Violet felt a surge of anticipation.

Violet gained formidable firepower. With the heavy weaponry-equipped pickup truck, she could battle against the enemy’s armored vehicles or enhanced squads.

As the work at the repair shop progressed smoothly, Ospri beckoned Violet to follow him.

His expression held a shadow. Violet followed him outside the repair shop.

Feeling grateful, she expressed her thanks.

“Uncle Ospri! Thank you. This will surely be a huge help for our dungeon exploration.”

“I appreciate the thanks. This should hold up against a giant clan.”

“Yes… right…”

Violet’s smiling face wavered slightly.

“Wait? Did Kalia mention our plans? She said to relay that it’s for hunting monsters…”

“Could it be that my lie was discovered?”

Violet couldn’t figure out how the secret had leaked.

Ospri seized the opportunity and questioned Violet.

“Logically speaking, deploying that kind of firepower for dungeon exploration is excessive. Using heavy weapons excessively damages the monster’s body, lowering their market value. You know this as a hunter, right?”

“And you requested to have heavy weapons mounted on a vehicle? Such mobility and firepower are rarely needed for hunting. The level of armament is overkill; many of the weapons would be difficult for a mere hunter to handle. Is there anything strange about what I’m saying?”

“Ah, we were planning to catch high-level monsters! And we had plans for exploring the Erosion Zone later…”

“The Erosion Zone is on an entirely different level compared to a dungeon. You think you can push through such a place with a lightweight armed vehicle? Stop right there. I was once a hunter myself. Honestly, just answer me. You’re planning to deal with people, aren’t you?”

“Uh… um…”

As Violet rolled her eyes and stumbled over her words, the former hunter and current technician continued questioning her.

“I heard from Kalia and Marco how you saved me. An ability user organization capable of dealing with the crimes involving Awakened Ones that even the police can’t handle is preparing this type of equipment to confront only humans. It must be a big corporation or a giant clan… Is it the Four Great Clans? Restraid? Luminexa? Oh, I was just probing but it seems I was right from your expression.”

“Hehehe…”

Violet smiled with a dazed expression, similar to a balloon deflating, while pondering how to explain this to her friend’s family. Ospri shook his head.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of stopping or reporting you. I wouldn’t betray someone who saved my family. And I also know. Considering your strength and level of ability, you wouldn’t practically be capable of hindering me. I’m simply… curious about one thing.”

“What is it? I’ll answer any questions honestly!”

As Violet let out a sigh of relief and answered, Ospri cautiously spoke with a shadowed expression.

“I saw you spending time with those who seem to be friends. I don’t know exactly what you are doing, but do those students intend to participate in it as well? Our Kalia too?”

“Um… I haven’t asked them yet. I’m not thinking of forcing anyone.”

“I see. Then, could you sit for a moment and listen to this old man’s story?”

Violet complied and sat outside the repair shop. Before the parking lot, large construction vehicles were parked.

Ospri took a moment to catch his breath before slowly beginning to tell an old story.

“You likely can’t imagine it now, but this neighborhood we live in used to be much more peaceful and easygoing than it is now.”

He explained that there used to be a small industrial complex built around the time Rustroom development began.

Small factories producing equipment and simple consumables for hunters, businesses, and repair shops, as well as small construction companies were located there.

“This repair shop wasn’t originally mine. It was managed by Kalia’s father.”

“Oh, I see, so that’s why there were so many factories.”

“But it wasn’t that we lived well. This was an area developed early on. Over time, this place gradually declined. It had already been decades since development finished by the time I was young.”

“The factories and businesses moved to better locations, and more people started to relocate. But for a while, it wasn’t too bad. There were still some people remaining, and it was convenient for commuting to other places. But then problems arose.”

“What kind of problem?”

“Redevelopment.”

One day, a redevelopment plan was announced in this neighborhood where the Brotherhood was situated.

It was a project spearheaded by the academy city. The compensation was quite generous, and rumors even spread that large clan bases or offices would set up here.

“From that point, everything changed. Suddenly, the redevelopment project was shifted from the initially planned company to another.”

Violet started her computer to look for information.

“Oh, it’s true. Red Valley National Service…”

The Red Valley Clan, involved in the redevelopment project, was very aggressive in their methods. The compensation amount was drastically reduced to one-tenth of the originally planned amount.

When protests arose, the city authorities, in collusion with the clan, began forcibly evicting residents or seizing real estate.

“Using the law to their advantage was terrifying. One day they threatened to demolish intact buildings for violating regulations, and another day they accused us of forgery because our business licenses were slightly incorrect. They slapped any regulations they could find under the pretense of preventing local collapse. But there wasn’t actually any legal issue!”

“Weren’t you able to ask for help?”

When Clone 78 asked, Uncle Ospri’s face twisted like wet paper for a moment before returning to normal.

“I did. I informed the media, even called in lawyers. We staged protests. But we were labeled as fraudsters trying to intrude on the development profits. Most of the people in this neighborhood had lived here for decades. Yet we kept fighting.”

As the clan’s tyranny continued, more and more people who could not tolerate it joined forces. Retired hunter Ospri, along with Kalia’s parents, took the lead in taking action.

“Oh, Kalia’s parents are involved here?”

As the situation worsened, the clan resorted to more nefarious tactics. Suddenly, gangs began flooding into the area.

“When the law and media became at an impasse, the clan played dirty. Criminals moved in and set up shop in our neighborhood. Max’s barbershop burned down, and Aila’s restaurant was destroyed. These thugs rampaged in the streets while the academy city and police turned a blind eye.”

In response, the residents armed themselves and formed a self-defense group. This was the beginning of the Brotherhood.

However, conditions worsened further.

“When we beat the gangsters and drove them out, the news painted our neighborhood as a place where criminals run rampant. People were becoming increasingly exhausted. No one supported us.”

Then one day, while protesting in front of the clan with pickets, Uncle Ospri and the residents were attacked by a group of resolvers.

“When I opened my eyes, I was covered in blood. We barely drove them away, but many were injured. And… my sister, Kalia’s mother was taken to the hospital.”

With his family falling into a vegetative state, an enraged Uncle Ospri and Kalia’s father resolved to take revenge.

They decided to storm the headquarters of the Red Valley Clan and give them a taste of their own medicine.

“It was a crazy move. How did a retired hunter and a piece of heavy machinery think they could face a clan… But I was too young back then and knew nothing about the world.”

Right nearby, they found an abandoned excavator left behind by a company. The two, united in purpose, modified the excavator by adding steel plates and various materials, turning it into a powerful siege weapon.

On the day of the decisive battle, they charged the Red Valley headquarters with the excavator.

Their efforts were in vain within less than ten minutes.

Uncle Ospri was the first to fall under a hail of bolts, and the guard hunters rushed in to dismantle the excavator.

Against Sword Energy, steel and concrete armor were worthless.

“I still remember it. The first thing I heard when I opened my eyes in the hospital was the news of my brother-in-law’s passing. Soon after, my sister also passed away. It was the year Kalia turned three.”

Uncle Ospri continued, his voice filled with regret.

He took upon himself all the responsibility.

When the story came to an end, I felt something strange and asked.

“But the Brotherhood is still here, and this neighborhood hasn’t been developed, right?”

“That’s simple. The Red Valley Clan suddenly vanished just when they were on the brink of success with the redevelopment.”

All this commotion abruptly ceased one day when one of the Four Great Clans absorbed the Red Valley Clan.

The clan’s leadership was dealt with as a ‘casualty in a dungeon accident,’ and the headquarters physically vanished.

The development plans were halted.

“Why did that happen?”

“I don’t know. There are rumors that their leadership provoked the Four Great Clans, but I don’t know the details. Furthermore, Luminexa had no interest in this area. The businesses ended there. Everything we fought for was ultimately in vain.”

As the sad social commentary suddenly concluded in a twist of cosmic horror, I shrugged.

“Uncle, I’m sorry, but I’ll ask you directly. What was your intention in telling this story?”

Seeing my doubts, he answered with a serious expression.

“Although it may sound like the ramblings of a failure, I wanted to pass on something to you. One thing is…”

Uncle Ospri stood up and walked forward. There sat the dump truck and bulldozer I had ordered. Siege equipment.

“I have no concrete evidence, but considering all the help you’ve given us, I don’t think you’re a bad kid. And the Four Great Clan members are scum. They just haven’t surfaced yet. I don’t know what your situation is, but you must have a reason to fight.”

He continued in a serious tone.

“If you plan to fight against the giant clans, I want to tell you this: never engage them half-heartedly. They are monsters. Not in terms of strength, but in cruelty.”

“The opponent will target your weakest points. With every minute and second you fight against them, your reputation will plummet. You seem to have prepared thoroughly compared to me. Even so, never let your guard down. Do you understand?”

“Yes! I understand exactly what you mean.”

Uncle Ospri lowered his head and sighed deeply.

“Honestly, I wanted to dissuade you.”

I stared at him with a puzzled face.

“…I don’t want to see Kalia going through the same hardships as her parents. And you and your friends are still young. Fighting against power is truly dangerous. I’m sorry for being a selfish, unworthy adult unable to offer help beyond just nagging.”

He turned his head with a weary expression.

“However, if you insist on going ahead, what right do I have to stop you? Then all I can do is wish for your success.”

After a brief silence, he added, saying that as men grew older, they tended to talk more, so not to take it too seriously.

While Uncle Ospri re-entered the repair shop, we fell into deep thought.

“Hmm, perhaps we’re being too complacent.”

“Should we check our preparation process again? We might need to expedite contact with the Scholarship Officer.”

We thought. Kalia’s uncle was making sure we weren’t being overly confident.

“Complacency is bad. More thorough planning and training!”

As we contemplated this, a single question arose in our minds.

Will we need team members for this operation? It might be better to hide them away somewhere safe during the action.

“Maybe it’s better to do this just among ourselves. Let’s just share information with our friends.”

“Let’s come up with a route to get them out to safety.”

With those thoughts in mind, the Violets picked up their phones. One call for the relic trading company, another to the smuggling route through Manager Leslie, and the last to Sister Adela.

“Alright. Let’s have a bit of a talk.”

The area where Sister Adela’s family lived seemed quite safe. Of course, prioritizing our friends’ opinions is essential!