Hooked! (6)

The chosen meeting place for the negotiation was a tavern.

In the evening, it was bustling with people clinking glasses of beer and wine. While my inn was quite large, this place had the advantage of being conveniently located between the plaza and the port, resulting in a higher number of patrons.

Despite the noisy and boisterous atmosphere, the second floor offered a separate, quiet space. This was one of the reasons I chose it for the negotiation.

I spent a good deal of time thinking about my entrance.

In front of the Viscount and the grave robbers, I had to project as much intimidation as possible. But in front of the Count, I needed to strike a balance—acting shrewd and annoying but not too light-hearted, and not so impressive as to arouse excessive caution from the Count.

What does that mean? I don't know either. But I managed to come up with a suitable act.

Music filled the tavern. As I sat there leisurely, Viscount Lopez entered, followed by the Count, who trailed behind him like a subordinate. I waved a hand nonchalantly.

"Hey, gentlemen."

Count Bermont hesitated slightly as he entered the partitioned room. On the table were already nine glasses of alcohol. Seeing that the Count had come alone, I spoke up.

"Left your other friends behind?"

The number of glasses accounted for me, Leonardo, Viscount Lopez, the five goons, and lastly, the Count.

Seeing the nine glasses, the Count would realize that I had already figured out the number of his group. And he'd be right.

I chuckled at the sight of the nine glasses. Covered by a cloak and mask, with my voice altered, it was unlikely my laughter would be noticeable.

"Well, it can't be helped. We'll just have to drink among ourselves. Please, everyone, have a seat."

The Viscount sat down, while the Count stood behind him. Leonardo was standing behind me, creating a perfect symmetrical arrangement. Opposite me, Viscount Lopez' face was tense, as if he were about to meet his end.

Tsk, such a lack of professionalism. Can't he get a grip?

Pushed by the Count's silent urging, the Viscount finally spoke up.

"Are you the one who attacked us?"

"Attacked? This is my territory. It's only natural that what's in my territory belongs to me. I merely stumbled upon some outsiders intruding and gave a small warning. If you call that an attack, that's a bit unfair, don't you think?"

"So, you're claiming the wolf's corpse is yours too?"

"Oh, you call it a wolf, do you? It's more of a city landmark, really. But I don't particularly mind. It's just a dead body after all. Though, that armour and sword were quite impressive."

I could feel the Count's gaze sweeping over me as I replied casually. Even hidden behind a mask, the sensation of being scrutinized was palpable.

I lightly grasped the handle of the glass before letting it go, maintaining an air of relaxed confidence while subtly conveying that I wasn't entirely off guard. I then turned to the Viscount.

"So, did you bring the 'consideration' properly?"

"Before that, prove that you actually have the corpse."

"Suspicious, are we? I anticipated that."

I opened the bag beside me to reveal Leovald's gauntlet.

"Is this proof enough? I considered bringing a severed finger, but it felt wrong to mar that fascinating, unrotting leather. The gauntlet seemed more fitting without reducing the value."

"It's indeed the wolf's."

The Viscount said this as he pulled out a sack and dropped it onto the table with a thud. I didn't know how many sacks Count Bermont had prepared, but even one was hefty enough to make the table shake with its weight.

For a brief moment, I imagined that instead of gold, the sack might contain a head or limbs as a threat. But since no blood was seeping from the sack, it seemed unlikely.

"Well then, the payment for the goods—"

"But you see," I interrupted Viscount Lopez, leaning forward and barely glancing at the sack. Instead, I alternated my gaze between Count Bermont and the Viscount, posing my question directly.

The first strike was a blunt one.

"No matter how much I think about it, I'm curious. And I lose sleep when I'm curious, you see. For the sake of my rest, I have to ask. What do you plan to do with the body?"

The second strike was a probing one.

"Do you think boiling and eating it will grant immortality or something? Who would want such a thing otherwise? Unless it's the church and their followers."

The final strike was an attempt at disarray.

"Or is it some unique fetish? I've heard of such people. If that's the case, it's a very expensive and dangerous hobby. It would be quite thrilling to own such a valuable thing if you succeeded."

Viscount Lopez stammered, unable to properly respond to any of the three questions. It was clear to anyone that he wasn't the one in charge. I stared at him for a moment, then turned my head to look directly at Count Bermont.

"While money is important, my demands for consideration include this aspect as well."

The Viscount spoke up hastily.

"That creature is my subordinate. The conversation is with me—"

"Spare me the lies a child wouldn't believe. Come on, why don't you tell me what you really want?"

I knew he was just as eager to explore this side as I was. After all, there's no better tool than knowledge of the other party. I tapped the table lightly, prompting the Count to slowly step forward and take a seat.

"So, what are you planning to do with it?"

"That's none of your concern."

"Ah, I didn't want to say this, but you see, our esteemed Viscount here has been making quite the nuisance in the city. So, I did a little digging and found out that you two have been exchanging messages behind the scenes. It seems there's a bigger player behind you."

I watched closely for the Count's reaction as I spoke.

"To be honest, I'm starting to get interested. I've realized that just hanging around Sinistra won't get me anywhere big, but now, with such a significant event unfolding right before my eyes, I can't help but be excited."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just listen."

I rolled my eyes and glanced at the sack on the table, chuckling as I added, "It's just that."

"A big player who can throw around money like this? It's only natural to want to extend our dealings beyond just a single transaction. Don't worry; I'm not here with some petty scheme to take hostages for a big payday. Rather, I'm making a very productive proposal."

I shrugged my shoulders, explaining my thoughts.

"Like I said earlier, I want to step away from this place and play in deeper waters. A drifter like me is stuck doing menial smuggling, theft, or thug work in this city. I can't stand it; it feels like wasting my potential. So, I've been pondering how to catch the current, but it hasn't been easy."

I took a sip of beer, rambling on while gradually dropping hints.

"But then, just like that, you and your big shot showed up before me. Isn't it like the vast ocean opening up before a freshwater fish? So here's my proposal: why not take this opportunity to build a solid relationship? Sounds good, right?"

As I pointed back and forth between Count Bermont and myself, the Count slowly responded.

"So, you're saying that taking the wolf was merely a means to achieve your goals. You want to seize this chance to grow your footing and you're dissatisfied with just being a kingpin in the city's alleys?"

The conversation shifted away from the tense negotiation between a thief and the one seeking to reclaim their stolen goods. Instead, it subtly steered toward a collaborative approach. While it sounded grand, what it really boiled down to was, 'You guys seem impressive. Can I ride along with you?'

I replied with a cheerful tone.

"Exactly! You catch on quickly. And you've already seen that my skills are pretty decent, right? My information network and strength are both top-notch. What I want is simple: I need to know if you're the real deal and if there's a bigger picture at play."

I extended two fingers to emphasize my point.

"If you can answer that with sincerity, then our interests will align nicely, and we can create a beautiful scenario where I graciously hand over the wolf as a token of good faith."

I laid down this bait thickly. I wanted to appear arrogant while subtly hinting at the mix of ease and tension underlying my facade.

"It's not a bad proposal, is it? I've come here voluntarily, wanting to become one of the subordinates of the great one you serve. So, given that I'm showing my willingness to be on the same ship, wouldn't it be reasonable for you to share a few details? Like, where are we headed, who's the captain, and who else is aboard?"

I was ready to ask again. It was time to open the floor.

"Maybe just a hint about this great one. What do you plan to do with the wolf? I'm just a bit curious."

If the Count found my proposal favourable, he might loosen his defensive and secretive stance on sharing information. I sensed this was likely. It wasn't just a hunch; it was a conclusion I reached after closely observing the Count's verbal expressions and body language throughout the negotiation.

Every time I mentioned the great one, the Count's demeanour shifted, and behind the mask, I could sense a blind intensity in his eyes.

In the early part of our conversation, when I provocatively suggested that their interest in the corpse might stem from some unique preference or kink, the Count's reaction was striking. Although it didn't warrant much of a response, he clearly found it disrespectful, and unlike the somewhat indifferent reaction from the Viscount, the Count's irritation was palpable.

It was evident that the great one served as a kind of trigger for the Count. This might be influenced by his unique ability, "Submission," which affected his perception and responses.

Regardless, in the presence of Count Bermont, I had successfully conveyed that I recognized the significance of his master, perhaps even willing to show some deference. This would play to the advantage of that 'great one,' as the Count's conditioned mind would likely calculate that providing me, even a fragment of information, would reflect positively on his master's prowess.

I watched the Count intently, waiting for a breakthrough. Finally, he slowly began to speak.

"The corpse is…"

At last.

"It is a vessel for the great one's use."