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Episode 92: Rules of Negotiation (II)
He was staring at me with a force that could tear me apart just by the mention of Amelie’s name.
I glanced at the men who were aiming at me. They meant to ‘clean up’.
“
Stay back.”
At Shadow’s command, the dogs retreated in unison, as he sat down, biting his lips.
Macinto Zephyross.
One of his ancestors was a pregnant woman in the village where, in the distant past, the witches Zephyr and Ross were executed.
After Zephyr and Ross inscribed the curse on a tombstone and died.
The woman had to watch the children born in the village die one by one.
It was a cruel curse.
《You have taken our lives, and your seed will wither away.》
As written on the tombstone, the parents of the village despaired and wept together as they watched their newborn children die.
But she had to fall into anxiety alone.
Because she didn’t have a husband.
The baby’s father was an unknown knight from the capital, and when the monster subjugation was over, he returned to his residence.
Ironically, it saved the child’s life.
Because the child’s father was not ‘from that village’.
After a long labor, she gave birth to a baby and the baby was still breathing, she cried and hugged her baby.
“My baby, my baby
 you have been forsaken by your father, but God has not abandoned you.”
The villagers all celebrated the birth of the child. Indeed, it was the cry of a newborn baby after a long absence.
They passed on the last name ‘Zephyross’ to a child who did not have a last name to follow.
It was to commemorate the spirits of witches.
It was also a promise not to repeat the same mistake.
The child grew up and gave birth to his own child, and the child grew up and had another generation.
However, there was a fatal problem with the ‘Zephyross’ bloodline.
That was, the ‘half-curse’ flowed.
Over time, the Zephyross discovered this broken point.
Repeatedly, half of their children, not over 10-years-old, died of an unknown disease.
The children dried up as if from starvation, their breathing slowed, and eventually they died miserably.
When two are born, one must die.
“The witch’s curse still runs through our veins!”
However, they could not have only one child.
If they gave birth to one, the first would die.
If two were born, the second would die unconditionally and the first would survive.
So, whose life were they going to save?
After giving birth to the first child and the death of that child, would you give birth to the second child and raise him or her again?
Or would you kill the second by giving birth to the first and second in a row?
As a parent, it was a difficult decision to make, but every Zephyross had to make this decision.
Amelie Zephyross, was the younger of the fraternal twins, she came out a minute later than her brother.
It was only one minute, but for a Zephyross, it was the time that caused her lifetime and death

In the end, Amelie was over eight years old and had an unknown disease.
She contracted ‘Zephyross’ disease’.
Shadow took care of her with the utmost sincerity.
Contrary to his appearance, Shadow was a loving father to his children.
In addition to having young children, his wife died while giving birth to the twins.
She was the only daughter who resembled the woman he loved.
That was the existence of ‘Amelie’.
‘I was impressed with the original.’
I remember reading the episode related to this in the original story and having a brief human sympathy for Shadow.
Of course, in the next episode where Shadow cut the heads of ten people like a mad butcher, the compassion quickly faded.
“You spoke of Amelie’s life, Queen. If it’s a lie
”
“

.”
“Whatever you imagine, it will cost you tens, hundreds of times more than that.”
I calmly opened the pouch and showed him the contents.
Fwuuu—
A fragment of Zephyross’ tombstone floated in the air above my palm.
And it lightly sparkled with emerald light.
“!”
The crimson eyes of Shadow widened.
‘I think it properly met its owner.’
Until now, this kind of light had not flowed on the tombstone, nor had it ever risen from the palm of my hand.
However, with Zephyross in front of me, I could feel the tombstone resonating.
A divine and powerful force swayed and wrapped around my hand.
“As you can see, it is the only fragment that exists in the world.”
“

.”
“With this, your curse will be lifted, and your daughter Amelie will be able to escape from the heartless curse of Zephyross.”
Shadow looked at me with disbelieving eyes.
“Where did you get this?”
“Is that important?”
He shook his head slowly.
“I’ve been searching all my life for this fragment of Zephyross’ tombstone, but I haven’t been able to find it.”
‘You can’t find it because it’s locked in the Archduke’s personal temple.’
What was more, it was never revealed who owned these expensive items, either way.
Since there were so many people who aimed for it.
From the seller’s point of view, especially since the customer was a powerful person who had ‘half of the crown’ in addition to the position of ‘Archduke’


The one who sold it would not speak, even if he cut off his tongue.
If it were made public and harm was done, not only his spouse or children, but also all the humans he knew would die.
“With this, Amelie can be healthy, Shadow.”
Shadow rested his chin with both hands and looked at me.
“What if I kill the Queen here and take the fragment?”


People of the world, look at this vicious bastard


“
It’s a pretty mean idea, but why would this piece of tombstone float on the palm of my hand?”
I gently turned my index finger and showed how the fragment spun in the air once.
Sprinkling the emerald light, the stone fragment gracefully rotated once.
“Ownership has been transferred to me. I took this at a very high price.”
It was true.
‘It was boring, eating with the prayer-loving man who sent me several messages a day.’
Shadow agreed with me as he watched the piece of tombstone spin in front of his eyes.
“
Certainly, for something like this, even a queen would have to almost risk her life to get it.”
Without conscience, I opened my mouth with a clean face.
“Of course.”
“
.
”
“I’m really thinking about handing over the ownership, and it’s yours only after we sign a contract with each other.”
I calmly leaned my back against the back of the chair and shook my head.
“But if you try to take it by force, the fragment of Zephyross’ tombstone will be smashed in this place.”
“!”
When I saw his stiff expression, I felt a sense of pleasure inside.
I slowly folded my arms and looked at him.
“Of course, ‘Calypso’ would be in jeopardy if the fact that you handed over customer information was leaked.”
In a business like this, trust was the most important thing.
It was thanks to its security and ‘anonymity’ that Calypso was able to grow this large.
“But if it’s like this
 wouldn’t it be worth doing a deal with me?”
I beckoned towards the piece of tombstone floating in between us.
“

.”
Shadow swallowed a low sigh. He came out with keen eyes for a moment, and took some time examining the piece of tombstone.
‘Come over, come over.’
It wouldn’t be an offer he could refuse

.?
And after a while.
“I doubt it’s genuine.”
“

What?”
‘No, you are very skeptical. This human too?!’
“Spinel is a mighty magic nation.”
“
Thanks for the compliment.”
“There is a possibility that it’s a ‘fake’ created with that magic.”
I shook my head, stretched out my hand, and snatched the tombstone away.
“!”
As the tombstone disappeared in front of his eyes, Shadow flinched.
I said calmly, putting the piece back into my pouch.
“If you don’t believe it, then don’t.”
“Wait a moment!”
At Shadow’s urgent cry, I stopped trying to close the opening of my pocket and looked at him.
“Then, let’s do this.”
He made a suggestion.
“I’ll leave out one of Deborah’s transactions and hand it over to the Queen.”
“

.”
“And after I use the tombstone and confirm that it is genuine, I’ll hand over the rest.”
“Why should I accept such an unfair offer? You might not hand over the ‘rest’ to me even if the authenticity is confirmed.”
“It’s not an unfair offer.”
The crimson eyes of Shadow quietly turned towards me.
“If the tombstone is fake, I’m just passing on the customer’s information. It’s a matter of the existence of ‘Calypso’.”
“
.
”
“It’s a deal taken with that kind of risk.”
“
.
”
“So, Queen, you should take a risk too.”
His words were persuasive. I pondered and answered.
“Great.”
Shadow raised his lips.
“Instead, I’ll add a special condition. I’ll give you one more thing the Queen wants.”
“What’s going on? I know you’re not one to give something for nothing.”
“Would it be a ‘welcome gift’ for a new customer?”
Seeing him do such a favor, it was obvious that he liked me.
I didn’t want to be Shadow’s customer, but I had no choice but to become involved.
I nodded willingly.
Then, he held out a bright red jewel the size of a fingernail.
“It’s a wolf’s gallbladder.”
Then he explained.
“Once the Queen has this, you will be able to receive the information you want.”
I took the gallbladder and threw the pouch indifferently.
Tak! He caught the pouch, afraid that the tombstone would be broken.
“Once I receive the information, I’ll transfer ownership. You’ll hold it until then.”
“

Great.”
Negotiations were over. Having accomplished my purpose, I got up from my seat without any regrets.
The giants who were almost 2m in height moved very slowly.
“Go away.”
As I stood still and spoke to them, I saw them slowly retreating back to their seats.
I walked between them.
Then, Shadow opened his mouth.
“Wait, Queen.”
‘

What, are you not going to let me go? Is it a trap?’
I looked back at him, a little tense.
Shadow looked at me, smoothing his lips as if it was fun.
“If this deal goes well, we, Calypso, want to have the Queen’s back.”
“!”
I could feel the big guys making a fuss. I myself was amazed inwardly.
It was what Deborah wanted so desperately in the original.
‘Calypso’ was a group that rushed forward without any restrictions to achieve its goals.
There was nothing they couldn’t do in Aktoum.
“I will become darkness for the Queen.”
Shadow stretched out his hand.
“So that you can shine brighter, more than anyone else.”