Thus, Raimund formally signed an external contractor contract with the Foundation Federation for the Preservation of Humanity... If only it were that simple.
The reality was far from easy.
First, Raimund had to undergo various physical tests over two days to verify his abilities.
At the same time, besides the external contractor agreement, he also had to sign a loan agreement acknowledging he had borrowed 30 million credits from the Federation.
Yocanan trembled slightly as he gave Raimund a subtle piece of advice while Raimund nervously signed the loan documents.
Raimund didn’t know what the Bermuda Triangle was, but from context, he could easily guess it was no paradise on earth.
After completing all the contracts he could sign, Raimund registered the serial numbers of his credit sticks for receiving payment.
Besides that, a significant amount of time was spent on minor training: explaining the Federation’s internal structure and the organizations under the Anomaly Management Bureau.
All these procedures took a full week, and only the morning after that week did Raimund receive news about his residence.
“You can’t go back to the 5th Residential District...?”
“That’s right. You’ll stay where the Federation designates—of course, only until your debt is fully paid off.”
Cozet, who brought him his breakfast tray, said this matter-of-factly.
The warm white bread and butter, juice, soup, and glossy thin ham were luxurious foods Raimund rarely had access to.
But right now, he couldn’t afford to be distracted by the food.
He couldn’t go back to his home in the 5th Residential District. What was this nonsense?
“But that’s my home. If you’re worried I’ll run away or hide—”
“No, that’s not really a problem. If the Federation gets involved, they’ll find you anywhere within two days. This is purely a security measure.”
“Security?”
“You might find this unpleasant, but over the past week, one of my juniors visited your home.”
My home? How did they know? Raimund’s heart dropped.
Had they done anything to Fioni, Hazel, or Olive?
They must be completely unaware of what I’ve done or the enormous debt I suddenly have.
But Cozet continued as if unaware of his worry.
“Your security was lax. Anyone passing by could have entered out of curiosity. You’ve become a valuable asset to the Federation, and your safety is no longer just your own.”
“They entered my house? Your junior? Without telling me?”
“Ah, it wasn’t trespassing. They just rang the doorbell and pretended to be a mistaken visitor.”
“I don’t see what’s strange about that.”
Raimund’s tone had stiffened without realizing it. Cozet glanced at him and rolled her eyes.
Raimund knew nothing about this world. But he would have to learn carefully.
In this world, the more you know, the better your chances of survival.
Dying due to ignorance isn’t even a joke.
Where should I start explaining for this kid to understand?
“Do you remember the occult group Yocanan mentioned during your interrogation?”
“The Red Witch, right?”
“More precisely, the ‘Red Witch.’”
Cozet leaned against the wall by the door, watching Raimund ignore his breakfast.
The walls of the Federation’s temporary lodging on the second floor, not the quarantine facility, were lukewarm from the sunlight.
“One day, a Federation member left work and returned home to the 3rd Residential District.”
“...?”
“That person lived with family, and the parents thought their child was just going to work in the administrative district. Revealing affiliation with the Federation to outsiders is strictly forbidden by confidentiality clauses. That day was as ordinary as any other.”
“And then?”
“The next day, that person didn’t show up for work, which puzzled colleagues. The senior found the person’s home address in the database and visited. And...”
Cozet smiled, but her eyes were cold.
“The house was red.”
“Huh?”
“Red. The windows, carpet, ceiling, wallpaper, dining table, mirror, bathroom floor, bathtub, curtains, and bed were soaked in blood. The family was found gathered peacefully on the sofa—though all were missing their heads. In front of the sofa was a vase holding a single red rose still dewy.”
“...”
“Neighbors testified it was an eerily quiet, perfect night with no screams heard. There were no witnesses.”
Raimund stared blankly.
A story that didn’t feel real, utterly unrelatable tragedy.
The 3rd Residential District had a fair amount of foot traffic, so even late at night, there would be a few people on the streets.
Seeing Raimund’s confused expression, Cozet casually continued.
“The Federation knew that employee was assigned to a new project. It’s no longer in records, but word is the deceased agent was on a secret mission to find the ‘Red Witch’ Sabbat.”
“Sabbat?”
“They gather with strong faith. As I said, they’re an occult group with a cult leader, an object of worship, and a meeting place called a Sabbat. All occult groups hostile to the Federation have their own sanctuaries—places that can never be destroyed or revealed.”
“So that agent...”
“He was killed as a warning for daring to interfere with the witch’s Sabbat.”
A chill ran through Raimund.
All that for such a thing? They broke into an ordinary home and committed a bizarre murder? Three people killed?
Cozet lowered her gaze to her shoe tips.
“That was the field team. The senior of my senior. I had meals with him several times.”
“Ah.”
“He was a veteran optimized to counter the Red Witch. Having worked for over ten years at the Federation, he was to be transferred to a support department after his covert mission. But unfortunately, he got caught by the Red Witch.”
“I’m sorry, Cozet. I complained without thinking. I really didn’t mean to, I just don’t understand yet.”
“No, Mr. Geppert, you have nothing to apologize for. It happened years ago... But since then, all Federation members have been restricted from leaving their designated residential zones. We have many enemies besides the Red Witch. To survive and complete our duties, we must prioritize safety above all.”
Cozet took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
“Can you handle it? Of course, if you insist, you can return to the 5th Residential District, but external contractors are more visible than Federation members. Nobody knows when or whose target you might become.”
“That’s...”
“So, thinking of your safety and that of those you live with, moving is the right choice. What do you think?”
Her calm voice wasn’t a demand.
But Raimund unconsciously bit his lower lip.
Helping the Federation is dangerous. Yocanan said so too.
But Cozet’s story chilled him more than ever.
Headless corpses huddled on the sofa.
Could those be Fioni, Olive, or Hazel?
“...I’m sorry. I stubbornly resisted without knowing. I’ll move wherever you designate.”
“Good choice. This decision was made because we believe you have that much value. Please comply.”
“If I refuse, I guess you’ll make me wear a leash until I follow.”
“How did you know? You caught me.”
She winked playfully. The gloom was gone.
Raimund thought that was fortunate but wondered if working with the Federation naturally changed people like that.
“Of course, the Federation won’t neglect your friends. We take security for employees’ families seriously. If you want, we can assign an agent next door to watch them 24/7—”
“No, that’s unnecessary. Just keep them safe enough. And don’t tell them about me. Absolutely not.”
“Alright, that’ll be handled by the Federation. Is that okay?”
Even if Raimund shared his pay for their living expenses, he couldn’t guarantee their safety. So it was right to accept the Federation’s help.
Raimund shook off his worries and asked carefully.
“Do you know where I’ll be staying?”
“Well, I wrote down the address. But before that, I have a question.”
Cozet looked at Raimund with a subtle expression and asked abruptly,
“Is it okay if you have a roommate?”
“A roommate? You mean someone living with me?”
“Something like that.”
“Doesn’t matter. Is the place very small?”
“No. From what I know, it has three bedrooms, a separate dining room, and a yard. It’s a three-story house in the 2nd Residential District.”
“So, like seven people living there?”
“I don’t know what dorm you’re imagining. There’s only one roommate.”
“Really? That’s...”
A three-story house with three bedrooms and one roommate?
For Raimund, that wasn’t a problem.
He had a luxurious house with enough room even to roll around, and only one roommate was nothing to be bothered by.
Cozet handed him a small note from her suit pocket with a somewhat reluctant look.
“After you finish eating, take the tram directly here. The roommate has the same external contractor contract as you. I heard there’s no assignment today, so they’re home. But...”
“But what?”
“If you can’t get into the house, go into the nearby phone booth, dial 245577821, and give your name.”
What? Can’t get into the house? What did that mean?
Could the roommate be out for a while?
Raimund unfolded the note. On the clean white paper was a single line in neat handwriting.
[2nd Residential District, 36 Poster Street]
The Foundation Federation’s UK Shelter branch was located in the administrative district.
Exiting the building, Raimund glanced back at the door he passed through and was surprised by the building’s exterior, completely different from the sleek, high-tech interior.
Built around the same time as neighboring buildings, it was quite old and had black stains here and there on its walls.
Peeking inside the glass door, he saw an elderly, kindly-looking security guard browsing Shelter News in a lobby as old as the building.
But Raimund knew that the real gun loaded with live rounds was holstered at that guard’s waist,
and that the seemingly relaxed guard’s eyes sharpened whenever he logged entries during visitor registration.
Was this a disguise related to the Red Witch or “Red Witch” concerns?
Raimund pondered gloomily, smoothed down the clean new clothes he’d been given, and set off.
On the unmanned tram to the 2nd Residential District, Raimund realized how oddly welcome and awkward the rattling noise and the swaying car body felt.
How many days had he been gone? At least three or four weeks.
Ah, what about rent? I should visit the bank later and pay it all at once.
How much would the late fees be?
The tram carrying Raimund stopped at the 2nd Residential District station.
He had been here once before.
When? Maybe disguised as a delivery man hoping for a lucky break.
Finding Poster Street wasn’t difficult. Only three blocks from the station.
Now all that was left was to find the house number. Number 36, number 36.
His steps slowed and stopped in front of a house.
An elegant white-painted house using a lot of stone. It was more like a mansion.
The heavy fence gleamed without any rust. The silver metal plate on the chest-high gate displayed the house number.
[36]
This house. Surely this is...
Raimund slowly pushed open the door.
The wide yard, which he had never thought he could enter, greeted him with lush green grass.
Climbing four smooth stone steps, a dark olive-green front door came into shadow.
He knocked, but there was no sign of life inside.
He knocked once more.
Waiting quite a while after knocking, Raimund clenched his fist, staring at the antique door.
“Hey! Is anyone there? No one? Hello?”
After knocking for a long time, Raimund, hands sore from knocking with no answer, had to turn away.
He thought maybe no one was home.
What did Cozet say? If I can’t get in, I’m supposed to go to the nearby phone booth and call.
Just as Raimund started to go down the steps to find a phone booth, a faint sound came from behind him.
“What’s that?”
Turning, he saw a scruffy white-haired old man squinting in the sunlight holding the door open.
They made eye contact and shouted simultaneously.
“Why are you here!”
“You! You put me in the bag!”
It was the first meeting of the external contractors.