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“Thank you for agreeing to meet me.”
In a guest room of Sapphire, a cultural complex in District J, Oliver and Edith sat down for a conversation.
“Don’t thank me. I didn’t agree to this meeting because I wanted to.”
Edith waddled over to the sofa and sat down. He seemed to be panting lightly, even after just a little bit of walking.
“I agreed to meet because of the public’s watchful eyes.”
“Do you, too, care about the public’s perception?” Oliver asked, watching Edith undoing his belt. His belly fat spilled out like cream onto his thighs.
“Ah… Time certainly has passed. The solver who came to the brothel to get a job from me is now questioning me, huh?”
“Ah, I apologize if I upset you. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just thought that you, Mr. Edith, would always be confident and wouldn’t care about others’ perceptions.”
Oliver added, fearing a possible misunderstanding.
Edith gave Oliver a sharp look, his eyes piercing. Though they lacked any special power, they carried a deep insight that seemed to penetrate a person’s heart.
“…Listen.”
“Yes, Mr. Edith.”
“Bring me some liquor. I’m thirsty.”
Edith pointed to the bottle of liquor on the table. Oliver complied, fetching the bottle and a glass to pour him a drink.
After taking a sip, Edith spoke again.
“You should have a drink too. It’s not fair if I’m the only one drinking.”
Without any reason to refuse, Oliver nodded and used magic to fetch a distant glass from the table, filling it with liquor.
Watching this, Edith commented.
“Amazing. I knew you were a Rare case, but I didn’t know you could control mana so well?”
“Um, I’ve been practicing a bit.”
“Practicing… I didn’t know mana could be handled so easily. That’s impressive.”
“Thank you for your compliment.”
“It’s not a compliment. It’s just stating a fact… I thought you had met a sage or something and learned how to use magic.”
Edith’s comments were bold and straightforward. Oliver didn’t show any reaction on the surface but was taken aback.
“…May I ask why you thought so?”
“What’s there to ask? Using mana is difficult, that’s why. There are truckloads of people who have mana but can’t use it, making them ineffective wizards.”
“Um, I see.”
“…Also, your level of knowledge is quite intriguing.”
“My level of knowledge?”
“Yes, I heard why you fought with the wizard. You insulted him, saying that fire power development is outdated and the pure magic faction’s development method is better? You spat in his face.”
“Um… I didn’t mean to insult him, and I didn’t spit in his face. I just expressed my opinion that the pure magic faction has higher growth potential. Fire power development also has room for growth, but in about 50 years-“
“-That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
Edith sharply narrowed his eyes and pointed out.
“That’s a statement you can’t make unless your level of knowledge backs it up. And accumulating that kind of specialized knowledge is anything but easy. The Tower guys keep their knowledge under wraps… that’s why I thought you might have met a sage or something. A crazy sage who even teaches magic to a warlock.”
‘Ah…’
Oliver admired Edith’s sharp wits.
While there were slight deviations, he had managed to infer the general situation from just a few pieces of the puzzle.
In a way, this was even more impressive than the vision of a warlock that sees through emotions.
As expected, his reputation as a master negotiator in Landa was not unearned.
“Now that I mentioned it, I’m curious. Even if you’re self-taught in magic, how did you acquire such knowledge?”
“Um… I’ve been killing wizards on the job and reading their books and research diaries?”
“Oh… That sounds like a stretch, but it’s not completely impossible. Good answer. Stick to that.”
While Edith didn’t believe Oliver’s words, he didn’t probe further. In fact, he even supported his justification.
He seemed to be considerate despite the skepticism.
He spoke again.
“Well, we’ve had enough idle chat, why don’t you tell me why you wanted to see me? I hope it’s an interesting story.”
“Oh, right… I requested this meeting because I wanted to propose a deal to you, Mr. Edith.”
“A deal?”
“Yes.”
“HAHAHAHA-!!”
Upon hearing Oliver’s response, Edith burst into laughter.
It was a malicious laugh that could make anyone feel uncomfortable, but Oliver didn’t flinch.
After a while, Edith wiped away tears and spoke.
“Ah, sorry for laughing… Actually, I’m not sorry. It was a funny story. Tell me. What are you thinking of trading with me, a pauper with nothing to offer but violence? Or what? Are you planning to sell some kind of elixir?”
“Oh, how did you know?”
“What do you mean how did I know? This damned city is filled with such peddlers like pebbles. From roadside warlocks to life school members. They all covet my money. Each time, I tell them to buzz off.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Because I already have a dealer. It’s disappointing. I thought you were an interesting guy.”
“I’m sorry for disappointing you… But, may I ask one more question?”
“What is it? If it’s not worth answering, I’m leaving this room immediately.”
“Is the medicine you’re buying from that dealer the Blood Elixir ?”
Blood Elixir.
As Oliver mentioned this, Edith seemed outwardly undisturbed, but he was greatly perturbed.
As if a secret had been exposed.
Nonetheless, he made an effort to regain his composure and tried hard to understand the current situation. This was quite admirable.
“…So, your question means you already know that I’m a user of the Blood Elixir ?”
Admitting frankly, Edith looked at Oliver who nodded in response.
“I’m not certain, it was just a guess.”
“It doesn’t matter. Whether it’s certainty or a guess, it’s all the same. The Blood Elixir is a rare medicine not easily identified… How did you come to know about the Blood Elixir? It’s not something just anyone can know about.”
“Um… That’s a little difficult to answer.”
“Huh… A refusal?”
“Yes, since this is a negotiation after all.”
In response to Oliver’s answer, Edith wore a surprised expression before breaking into hearty laughter once more.
“Ah… That’s right. You’re right. Trade is something done between equals, and equals can’t force responses from each other. You got me there.”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I respect you, Mr. Edith.”
“Enough with the flattery. Why are you here to propose a deal? I’m more curious about that.”
“…As far as I know, you’re running low on the Blood Elixir you possess. Am I correct?”
“That’s right, I’m not even surprised anymore…”
Edith did not deny it, but admitted it honestly.
He was certain that Oliver already knew everything.
“I’ve been having a hard time lately because the medicine suddenly can’t be found. I’ve been making do by rationing it and it’s a bit of a hassle. My fucking wife and kids are hoping I might fall again… Is that related to you?”
Oliver thought for a moment, then shook his head.
It was Zenon Bright, a staff at Magic Tower, who was involved with Bathory, not Dave, the solver of District T.
At least officially, that is.
“Well, fine… But why?”
“I’m not certain, but I think I might be able to supply you with the Blood Elixir. Would you be willing to trade with me?”
“Hmm… When I hear such an absurd story, I become calm instead.”
“You might not believe me-“
“-No, it’s not that I don’t believe you. Even though it’s a surprising story, I strangely trust you because it’s you.”
His words were sincere, and Oliver responded.
“Thank you for your trust.”
“Don’t thank me. It’s not you I trust, but my own judgment… What I’m worried about is what you want from me, judging by the fact you called me here to propose a deal, it seems like you want something more than money.”
“Yes, you’re right. You’re very smart.”
“I said I don’t need your flattery… Tell me what you want.”
Edith became wary. Oliver spoke.
“I want to hear the rest of your answer.”
Furrowing his brows, Edith voiced his confusion.
“Answer? What answer?”
“Do you remember when I asked you here a long time ago what you thought of Miss Jane… Do you not remember?”
“…I remember. And you said you liked hearing voluntary answers and that I didn’t have to answer if I didn’t want to.”
“I think now might be that voluntary moment.”
“Are you crazy?”
“I apologize. I’m not crazy, I’m just curious. I think I need to hear your answer while you’re still alive.”
“You’re out of your mind. With that incredible medicine, you ask such a question… Do you know how valuable that medicine is?”
“I don’t know its value, but I roughly understand its efficacy. I know it’s a medicine that gives health and vigor to men and the blessing of youth to women.”
“You know well. It’s not just a well-taken medicine… It can free you from financial issues for the rest of your life and gives you immense influence over anyone. It’s a miracle drug. But, you would use that medicine just to hear what I think about Jane?”
“Yes.”
Oliver responded without a hint of hesitation.
His reply was so firm that Edith couldn’t argue back.
He always felt that Oliver’s way of thinking was very different from ordinary people’s.
It was frighteningly so.
“I really can’t understand. Seriously.”
“It might just be individual differences. I also like money, but while I can earn money through other means, only you can satisfy my curiosity.”
“Why the hell do you want to know what I think about Jane?”
“Um… Because it’s a strange emotion that’s hard for me to understand?”
“What?”
Oliver looked at Edith with his hands clasped. His eyes shone peculiarly, as if he was appreciating a piece of art.
“Mr. Edith’s emotions towards Miss Jane are quite strange. At first, I thought you wanted to give your wealth to Miss Jane because you liked her, but that wasn’t the case.”
“Of course. That girl is just bait for me to annoy my fucking wife and kids who consider me dead-“
“-So, I thought you disliked Miss Jane, but that wasn’t it either. Beyond simply liking or disliking her, your emotions were complex. A mix of hatred and affection, guilt, and pride… You spit harsh words at Miss Jane because of this, right? You dislike her but also want her to live strongly?”
“Seems like you’ve been reading strange novels. Such-“
“-Mr. Edith, you don’t have to answer my questions, but please don’t lie. It’s sad.”
Despite his rudeness in cutting him off, Edith couldn’t dare to argue, overwhelmed by Oliver’s energy.
He was certainly a sloppy, flimsy-looking man, but at this moment, he felt an indescribable chill.
It was enough to silence even himself, who had survived by gambling in Landa’s stock market.
Silence reigned once again.
“…What will you do if I don’t answer?”
“…You’re not going to answer?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“Um… That’s troublesome. I hadn’t really thought that far.”
“…Are you fucking crazy?”
Edith asked as if he couldn’t believe it, but it was true.
Oliver had seen Edith three times and knew how obsessed he was with life.
The evidence was his consumption of medicine made from blood for life extension.
Therefore, he thought Edith would accept his proposal, and hadn’t even considered the opposite.
Yet now, he seemed to be rejecting him.
He was a little confused.
“Um… Just to confirm, are you really not going to talk?”
“Even though I am obsessed with life in a disgraceful way, I also have strong self-esteem. I have no intention of kowtowing to a whelp like you just because he threatens me.”
He was not bluffing, but sincere.
He valued his self-esteem more than his life, and at the same time, he didn’t want to talk about his feelings toward Jane. More than death. He was utterly resolved.
“Then there’s nothing I can do… I’ll just give it to you.”