War and Fortune 2.249

At Viggo's request the restaurant was left empty. The vast majority were people who moved within the circle where favors are paid and do not antagonize those above them. So, none of them gave a problem, they would have a chance to know who the red-haired boy with that exquisite drink was. Not everyone could get their hands on something so incredible.

Therefore, Viggo stayed with Sakura and Ana sitting next to him while Edgar remained seated on the other side of the table. The garzones and bartender had been removed and only the cook and the administrator remained to serve them.

—Nicol, can you leave us alone?— asked Viggo to the woman with the blond curls who ran the restaurant.

The woman in an elegant white dress and heels, smiled, turned around and walked wiggling her hip to the bar, twenty meters away.

Viggo looked at the restaurant taking note of how nice, elegant, and spacious it was. He now understood his father better and how convenient it was to have a nice place to eat and chat. Especially if you wanted to do business with influential people.

Viggo returned the ring to Edgar, a well-crafted thing in gold with four ruby inlays forming a cross. Nice, but graceless. On a quiet afternoon Kain could produce ten of those. Viggo couldn't yet, but he hoped to be able to make it in the short time.

Edgar looked at his ring and picked it up and then left the ring that Viggo had passed to him on the table as insurance. He put his ring on his index finger in a clumsy movement and seeing that it felt the same as always, smiled.

—How is Virginia?— asked Viggo.

Edgar raised his head and looked at Viggo somewhat astonished. He does not remember talking about his beloved when he went to visit the mansion of Semiramis. However, he quickly regained his friendly smile and replied –well, she is in the empire, looking out for our interests.

—And how about your emperor?— asked Viggo with a mocking smile.

Edgar frowned because he thought he was bothering him to say something reckless about his nation.

—Does your emperor visit you a lot lately?— asked Viggo again.

—What do you mean?—

—Oooh, not at all— Viggo replied with a broad smile as Sakura and Ana at his sides gave a chuckle —What did you think of the wine I brought?—

—It's... peculiar, something worth sharing—

—Of course, you're talking to the only person who can make it— Viggo said with a broad smile.

—What is the reason for your visit?—

—I would like us to do business, good business—

—His wife refused the other day—

—That was because you wanted to get into her bed and then take away her things like she was a fool—

Edgar froze for a moment, but then smiled disdainfully —you don't know what subtlety is— he said.

—Of course, I know about subtlety, otherwise I would have called things by their name, such as manipulation, extortion, theft, and destruction. My family is young Edgar, but you and your associates don't seem to care. Now, do we talk about business, or do we have to keep going around the bush?

Edgar stared at Viggo, in no case was he noticed hatred or annoyance. He only talked about one thing, but as if he didn't feel it. He was indifferent to his movements, invitations, and insolence before Semiramis. He was just a brat, but he was well educated.

—What business?— asked Edgar leaning his elbows on the table, clasping his hands, and putting on a smile that made him look friendly.

—It's simple, Edgar— said Viggo —you're going to go to Semiramis and fulfill all her requests. Don't worry, I don't expect you to work motivated, but as I assume, motivation will come with time—

Edgar stared at Viggo as if he were a fool, but Viggo didn't seem to care. He looked back at him as if he knew something Edgar was completely unaware of.

—You just accused me of having no respect for your family and now you approach your wife, don't I understand you?—

—You know, Edgar, you don't know women. Maybe you've conquered boring girls or idle women, but you're really boring. All your seduction is based on your appearance as an androgynous child with the face of an abandoned puppy, but you don't understand anything about women. You will never have a chance with Semiramis, you are too boring. For starters, you're someone else's lapdog—

Edgar got up from his chair and looked at Viggo seriously —I'm not here to be insulted— he said.

Viggo looked at him from his seat with a confident smile —I'm not here to be questioned either. Now, go with Semiramis, put yourself at her service and listen to her request. In time you will understand what it means to have this opportunity and how kind I was to you—

—You better give me a good answer Viggo Dragonroad to say all these stupid things—

—You're going to lose everything, Edgar—

Edgar froze for a few seconds, but then showed a funny smile and burst into laughter as he covered his face with his hand.

Viggo saw him laugh standing up, in a feigned attitude, but he knew it too. Viggo was not telling lies, in front of him was a future corpse that would be lost on his journey back to the empire. However, despite the fact that Edgar is a count, thanks to the wishes of Virginia and the emperor, his death would become one more number of the many shipwreck deaths that occurred each year.

Viggo took his glass with Estus, drank a long sip until the cup was empty and left it on the table.

At the same time, Edgar stopped laughing and looked at Viggo through the fingers of his hand covering his face. Seeing Viggo so calm and indifferent caused him some uneasiness, but no, they should only be stupid from a young man who tries to take revenge on him for wanting to seduce his wife ahead of him. If women admired anything, it was courage and status. Edgar with his status could be sure that a simple adventurer like Viggo would not hurt him. On the other hand, making their movement in front of everyone and overshadowing the boyfriend or husband was something that conquered women. Several times they were dissatisfied acting in front of the husbands, but then they sought out Edgar for something more than just chatting. Viggo wasn't just trying to scare him, he was a child, ignorant. He knew nothing about the world.

—I find your childish conversation nice, but I don't walk behind your wife. You can stop telling lies, it's not typical of someone your age— Edgar said with a broad smile and looking at Viggo with disdain.

—I think you're ignorant because you want to, Edgar— Viggo said calmly —but I don't care. I'll help your brain see reality— Viggo raised his face and looked him in the eye. Then a golden light emerged in his pupils that manifested as rays of energy covering the eyeball —I was born a demigod, Edgar. I'm not like you or the people who live in Orario. I may be with my brother Ottar, the first generation of demigods in more than a thousand years. Just as the wine you tasted is something exclusive that only I and another group of people counted with my hand can access. So, too my knowledge is something that only I can access— Viggo cut off the flow of divine power, his clairvoyance was extinguished, and his eyes returned to normal —don't underestimate me, Edgar. I am not afraid of you; I am not afraid of your seductive attitudes. Now, are you interested in doing business or not?—

Edgar was stunned, he felt that he was in his body, but he did not hear any sound or feel anything through his body. It was as if he saw everything through a glass without actually being present. However, he was present, listening to a boy who showed a terrifying trick. He said that he would lose everything, it may be true, otherwise the emperor would not have sent him to this diplomatic mission and instead sent those who are really his trust.

—You— said Edgar —for that you needed my ring?—

Viggo gave a chuck confirming his words, but he didn't say it.

—What do I have to do?— asked Edgar.

Viggo smiled confidently and said simply —You just need to go with my wife. She will give you your instructions. Anyway, you will lose everything in the empire, but at least you will keep your life.

Edgar shivered and looked down —Will you kill me if I don't listen to you?— he asked quietly.

—Edgar, what are you talking about? I'm giving you a second chance at life, what good would it do me to kill you? I have all your entourage to try the same as with you, do you think they would not do what is necessary to survive?—

It was easily replaced thought Edgar. Viggo could take another, negotiate with him, and accomplish what he would not achieve with Edgar. So, Edgar could try to do all sorts of things, like take a land route back to the empire, but it would be constant angst. Maybe they would still kill him.

—Who desires my death?— asked Edgar quietly.

—You know, I don't need to torment you with sad reality—

Edgar thought of his beloved Virginia, his face deformed into a grimace of sadness, and tears fell down his cheek. Viggo, Sakura and Ana watched him cry. If before Edgar could put a sad look like that of an abandoned puppy, now it was a dog that died its owner.

Edgar ran the sleeve of his shirt over his face and looked at Viggo —What can I do for your Excellency?—

Viggo smiled, rested his hands on the table, and brought his face closer —I'm not your king or anything like that. Just tell me Viggo, if it's respectful, I won't bother— he said —on the other hand, I just need you to go with Semiramis and put yourself at her service, she will tell you how to proceed. We've already prepared everything, but if you're going to do this, you should know something—

—What thing?— asked Edgar, intrigued.

—When you get to the Empire you will lose everything, your emperor will make sure of that. However, turn the other cheek, that is, give up and do not put-up resistance. That will make the emperor feel sorry for you and let you go. Once you complete that part of your trip, you will return to Orario on a Schtauffen family vessel. Don't worry about differences and previous conflicts. Semiramis will write a letter for you, and they will lend you, their help. They must lend you their help or we will turn our backs on them, and they will not be able to continue making future empresses for the empire—

—What else?—

—The rest is to return to Orario and Semiramis will begin to give you, new instructions. Don't worry, we both hold you in high esteem. You seem to have some charisma and intelligence. For your situation with Virginia neither of you blame you, when you know love many things in your brain stop working and you become irrational, passionate—

—I'll try—

—Edgar, there is one thing my father taught me, and I have always kept it in my heart— said Viggo, —the dead can do nothing for the living. So, stay alive and once you return to Orario, safe and sound, try to achieve your goal. Only someone alive can achieve a better future, revenge, or whatever comes to mind. Just remember this favor that the Dragonroad family does you and do not discuss it with anyone—