#054. **Uninvited Guests (1)**
—
“……”
Ray bent down and picked up the photograph.
The old, black-and-white photo, fragile as if it might crumble at a touch, showed the front gate of a two-story building.
‘An orphanage?’
At the center of the photo stood a large man wearing a fedora and a coat.
Underneath his long, outstretched arms were six children huddled close together.
The photo was blurry from age, but a closer look revealed that all the children had uneasy expressions on their faces.
Of course, Ray wasn’t adept at recognizing people’s expressions, so he could only guess their approximate ages based on their physiques.
‘At least seven years old… at most twelve. They’re all within that range.’
Ray kept examining the photo.
The large man’s face was obscured by sunglasses and a mask.
At first, Ray wondered if this was Walter, the man from the basement, as their outfits were similar. But upon closer inspection, their physiques were distinctly different.
Above the man’s head, the word *“Master”* was written. Comparing it with Walter’s handwriting from a letter, it was undoubtedly his writing.
However, the large man was unlikely to be Walter.
Unless there was a very specific reason, it didn’t make sense for someone to refer to themselves as “Master.”
More likely, the boy on the far left, labeled *“Me”* above his head, was Walter.
The other children’s names were also written above their heads, presumably their own.
“……”
Ray tried to match Walter’s face from memory with the boy on the left.
But recognizing faces wasn’t easy for him.
The photo’s faded quality only made it harder.
‘I’ll have to examine this more carefully later.’
Putting the photo away, Ray picked up a notebook next.
The reddish leather notebook was worn, with parts peeled away and covered in stains from frequent use.
*Flip—*
The inside pages were no different.
The recently used pages were in relatively good condition, but the older ones showed heavy signs of wear, as if traveling back in time.
*Flip— Tick.*
The pages, turned by Ray’s hand, stopped at the very first entry.
> “B-071. Sector 43. Maledrich. Assassination. Leave the scene immediately after the commotion during the march.”
He turned another page.
> “G-009. Sector 38. Kedermoney Bank. Transport vehicle. Interception. Use barricades to block escape routes.”
>
> “F-142. Sector 47. Sekro Field. Contact. Transaction. Authorization for magic use.”
Each page was densely packed in a similar manner.
All were written in Walter’s handwriting, seemingly the missions he had received from the organization.
Each mission was accompanied by a date.
*Flip— Flip—*
The earliest recorded mission was from 20 years ago.
‘Walter’s estimated age is in his early to mid-30s, according to what Philip mentioned before.’
This meant Walter had been working for the organization since at least his early teens.
Ray continued flipping through the notebook.
There were hundreds of missions in total.
The intervals between missions ranged from a few weeks to several months.
Each completed mission had a large circle drawn around it with the word *“Completed”* written beside it.
Every single one.
“……”
Ray’s fingers suddenly stopped flipping.
He had come across an mission with an “X” mark instead of a circle.
> “Sector 31. Investigation of a green jewel. Kellygold Auction House.”
>
> “Failed. No results.”
Turning the page again, he found another marked with an X.
> “Sector 48. Investigation of a blue jewel. Gront Mountain Range.”
>
> “Failed. No results.”
Several other failed missions were scattered throughout the notebook, all involving jewels.
What could this mean?
One theory came to mind immediately—the *Rainbow Hypothesis*.
The Rainbow was said to be a gemstone capable of generating infinite mana, currently divided into seven fragments hidden somewhere.
“……”
Was Murcred’s boss also searching for the Rainbow’s fragments?
Spreading his subordinates across sectors to investigate them?
Of course, it was just a hypothesis, and the jewels in the notebook might not refer to the Rainbow’s fragments at all.
Still, it seemed like a plausible explanation for the circumstances.
Ray pocketed the notebook and thoroughly searched the basement.
Crumpled bedding.
Clothes scattered messily.
Disheveled food supplies in a corner.
There were many clues to infer Walter’s personality but little concrete information about the organization beyond what was in the notebook.
After spending considerable time searching, Ray concluded further investigation would be pointless.
He collected what he could and moved toward the door.
A small amount of money found in the clothes.
A few red gemstones left in a tin can.
Before stepping out, Ray glanced back one last time.
*Buzz— Crackle—*
The flickering light swayed precariously in the ownerless room.
“……”
Ray approached and turned off the light.
Then, he left the basement.
*Creak— Clang!*
The metal door closed with a sound like a dying scream, and the light spilling through its cracks gradually faded until it disappeared completely.
Peaceful darkness returned to the basement.
Only the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs echoed faintly in the distance.
—
—
Time passed quickly.
Every day, Philip tirelessly searched for a new hideout and eventually found an abandoned factory that fit the bill.
The location was in the west junkyard, the opposite direction of the east junkyard where the hotel was situated.
“I’ve caused you a lot of trouble during this time,” Ray said.
It was an afternoon with slightly clearer skies than usual, thanks to the rain that had fallen the previous night.
Over a hundred children had gathered at the entrance of the hotel.
“Trouble? Not at all. The hotel’s success is all thanks to you. Providing this kind of convenience is the least we can do.”
The boys clustered around the entrance were Philip and the hotel children, while the boys standing on the outside were Ray and his followers.
The two leaders—or leader-like figures—Ray and Philip, stood at the forefront of their respective groups, conversing.
“I’ve delivered the necessary furnishings to the new hideout. Borrowed a truck for it. All that’s left is to move them inside.”
“Got it.”
“They’re defective products from furniture stores, but with a bit of work, they’ll be no different from regular items. Plus, there are technicians at the hotel who can handle that. I got them for almost nothing.”
“Well done, excellent work, Philip.”
Ray’s mechanical praise made Philip smirk.
‘I did advise him to give more compliments to the kids, but now he’s applying that to me too, huh?’
Not that it was a bad thing. Compliments, unless under extremely rare circumstances, were a universally beneficial social skill.
“This is the remaining amount from the advance payment.”
Ray stared at the pouch Philip handed him before accepting it and tucking it into his coat.
“I’ll send the settlement money daily through a delivery person.”
“That sounds convenient.”
“If any adjustments to the settlement amount are needed, don’t hesitate to let me know. And let me know in advance when you finalize the departure date.”
“Will do.”
Philip meticulously confirmed all the points they needed to agree on. Then, with a tinge of regret, he opened his lips for a final goodbye.
“Once I leave, we probably won’t see each other for a whi─”
“I’d like you to come with me when I leave the sector.”
It was an unexpected statement, delivered at an entirely unforeseen moment.
Philip, taken aback, asked again, “Did I hear you wrong?”
The hotel kids and Ray’s followers were equally shocked.
“Did you hear what the Hunter just said?”
“Didn’t the boss mention leaving the sector a few weeks ago? Was that real?”
“Seems like it.”
“Before the Hunter leaves, can I give him some snacks?”
The murmurs around them grew louder.
Surrounded by swirling emotions, Ray alone remained completely composed as he spoke again.
“You heard correctly. I want you to leave Sector 49 with me.”
“You’re making me an offer?”
“Something like that.”
“That’s… such a sudden proposal. I’ve never left Sector 49 before. What you’re asking is like telling me to abandon everything I’ve built here and leave.”
Philip’s hesitant response brought a sigh of relief to the hotel children.
Philip was not only the founder of the hotel but also handled everything related to its operations.
A hotel without Philip was unthinkable, and even Philip himself felt the same.
But when Ray spoke next, Philip’s eyes trembled.
“The real reason you’re saving money. You can only achieve it by leaving this place, right?”
“……!”
On the night of the small festival celebrating their victory over Lotson and Jeffer’s gang, Philip had, in a fleeting moment of indulgence, shared his true reason for saving money.
The reason that motivated him.
‘So he remembered. I only mentioned it briefly, like an afterthought.’
Philip bit his lip.
His heart pounded relentlessly, as though struck by a hammer.
Ray wasn’t wrong.
If Philip truly wanted to accomplish his goal, he had to leave Sector 49.
Fear of leaving the familiar for the unknown had made him avoid reality until now.
‘…This might be a chance that won’t come again. That much is certain.’
Leaving his foundation meant exposing himself to many risks.
But Ray possessed intelligence and the formidable power of magic, making him an unparalleled ally in dangerous situations.
Still, one question lingered.
‘Why does he want me to go with him? He wouldn’t miss a thing traveling alone.’
Philip pondered, but no answer emerged.
Biting his lip hard, he finally let out a sound that resembled a groan.
“I need… time to think.”
A gasp rippled through the crowd.
Soon, murmurs erupted again.
“How much time do you need?”
“A week… That should be enough. You’re not planning to leave right away, are you?”
“Understood.”
Ray nodded.
Though he had granted Philip time to think, he believed the decision was already clear.
He remembered the courage Philip occasionally displayed and the longing in his voice when he confessed his reasons for saving money.
‘I know Philip isn’t a coward. He can leave everything behind and move on.’
Ray’s reasons for wanting Philip to join him boiled down to two main points:
First, he wanted to continue observing the emotions Philip showed.
Second, he planned to entrust Philip with all matters related to finances, allowing him to focus solely on investigating the Rainbow.
Philip’s practicality and understanding of how the world worked would undoubtedly be helpful in various situations.
After a few more conversations about business, the two leaders exchanged their final farewells.
“Let’s go,” Ray said, turning to his followers.
The shock caused by their conversation had subsided somewhat, and the group began moving away from the hotel.
As they departed, a boy suddenly shouted, “Thank you! For giving us shelter when we had nowhere to go!”
The cry sparked a wave of gratitude.
“Thank you!”
“Thanks for helping us!”
“Me too—thank you so much!”
“Thank you──!”
In the puddles scattered across the ground, the warm hues of the boys’ gratitude shimmered and swayed.
Just like the hands of the hotel children waving in the distance.
