260. Natural Negotiator (1)
“Thank you for meeting me like this.”
A room in Sapphire, a complex cultural facility in Zone J.
There, Oliver and Edith came in and talked.
“I didn’t meet you because I really liked it, so don’t thank me.”
Edith walked over and sat down on the sofa.
He gasped lightly as if he could barely breathe.
“We met because of the snow around us.”
“Are you also aware of the eyes around you, Edith-sama?”
Oliver asked as he watched Edith loosen the belt. His belly fat dripped down like cream and settled on his thighs.
“under······! Although many years have passed I saw the troubleshooter, who had come to the brothel to get things done, answering questions.”
“Oh, sorry if I offended you. I really didn’t mean to insult you. I just thought Edith-sama was always confident and wouldn’t care about other people’s eyes.”
Oliver said, lest he be misunderstood.
Edith let out a sharp glare and looked at Oliver.
His eyes were ordinary, without magical powers, but nonetheless, there was an insight that could penetrate people’s hearts.
“······Hey.”
“Yes, Edith.”
“Bring me a drink over there. I’m thirsty.”
Edith pointed to the bottle on the table, and Oliver brought a bottle and glass to Edith’s request.
Edith opened his mouth after drinking.
“You drink too. It’s unfair if I drink alone.”
With no particular reason to refuse, Oliver nodded and used his magic power to bring a glass from the table in the distance and pour it over.
Edith looked at it and opened his mouth again.
“It’s amazing. I knew it was a rare case, but I didn’t know you could handle magic so well, did you?”
“Oh, I did some practice.”
“Have some practice. I didn’t know that magic was such an easy thing to handle. That’s great.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“It’s not a compliment. I was just stating the facts… I thought I had met some kind of genius and learned how to manipulate magic.”
Edith’s remarks coming in with a hook.
Oliver didn’t show it, but he was startled.
“Can I ask why you thought that?”
“What do you want me to ask you? That’s why it’s so difficult to deal with magic. It’s a truck of people who have magical powers but can’t handle magic and can’t become wizards.”
“Oh, I see.”
“……Also, I’m concerned about your level of knowledge.”
“What is your level of knowledge?”
“Yeah, I heard why you and the wizard were fighting. You said that you insulted that thermal power generation was over and that the Pure Magic School would be better off? Spit in your face.”
“ah······. I didn’t mean to offend, I didn’t even spit. I’m just stating that the Pure Magic School has more potential for growth. Thermal power generation also has room for growth, but after 50 years or so—”
“-That’s the part.”
Edith pointed it out with his eyes shining sharply.
“These words cannot come out unless the level of knowledge supports them. And it is by no means easy to acquire that level of expertise. The mafia bastards bind up their knowledge… So, I thought I had even met Gin. A madman who teaches magic even to warlocks.”
Five······. Oliver admired Edith’s cleverness.
With a few errors, he figured out Oliver’s approximate situation with a few puzzles.
In a way, it was more amazing than the eyes of a warlock who could see through emotions.
After all, it was not for nothing that Randa did her own thing.
“I’m curious after you say that. You said you were self-taught, but how did you acquire such knowledge?”
“Well······. Killing wizards while working, and reading their books and research journals?”
“Ho-oh…. It’s a bit absurd, but it’s not terribly absurd. That’s a good answer. Push that answer.”
Edith didn’t believe Oliver, but didn’t question him separately. Rather, he even supported Oliver’s excuse.
It didn’t seem like it, but he was very caring.
he opened his mouth again.
“Now that we’ve talked enough about it, shall we listen to the reason you asked to see me? I hope it’s a fun story.”
“Oh right······. I asked to meet with Edith because I wanted to make a deal.”
“deal?”
“Yes.”
“Khahaha-!!”
Hearing Oliver’s answer, Edith burst into laughter.
It was a malicious laugh that put people at ease, but Oliver didn’t even move.
After a while, Edith wiped her tears and said.
“Ah, sorry for laughing. I’m not really sorry. Because it’s a funny story. Answer me. What are you planning to do business with me? A human butcher who has nothing to offer but violence. Or what? Are you trying to sell any elixir?”
“Oh, how did you know?”
“How do you know what, how do you know? This damn city is overflowing with such idiots like stones. From roadside warlocks to the School of Life. All covet my money. Every now and then, I shout it all out.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Because I already have a business partner. It’s disappointing, but I thought you were a funny guy.”
“Sorry for disappointing you……. By the way, can I ask you one more question?”
“What? If it’s not even worth answering, I’ll leave this room right away.”
“Is the drug you buy from that vendor a blood elixir?”
Blood Elixir.
When Oliver spoke the word, Edith didn’t show it, but he was greatly agitated.
As if a secret secret was discovered.
Still, he struggled to regain his composure, trying to grasp the current situation. This was really great.
“…the question is, you already know that I’m a blood elixir?”
Oliver nodded at Edith’s honest acknowledgment.
“I’m not sure, I was just guessing.”
“I do not care. Whether it’s certain or expected, that’s what it is. The blood elixir is so precious that it is not easy to know its identity… How did you find out about the blood elixir? It’s not something a dog or a cow can understand.”
“Well······. That seems difficult to answer.”
“like······. Rejection?”
“Yes, this is a deal.”
At Oliver’s reply, Edith looked surprised and then burst into laughter again.
“ah······. That’s right. That’s right. Transactions are made between equals, and equals cannot force each other to answer. I just ate one of these.”
“Oh, I don’t mean that. I respect Edith-sama.”
“Stop the unfaithful father-in-law, and what deal did you come here to offer me? I’m more curious about that.”
“······· As far as I know, Edith-sama’s blood elixir is slowly running out, is that correct?”
“Okay, I’m not surprised anymore… ”
Edith did not deny it, but admitted it frankly.
Already, he was convinced that Oliver knew everything.
“I’m having a hard time these days because I can’t find a drug all of a sudden. Thanks to you, I do a little bit of sickness by splitting my medications, and my wife and children have hopes that I will fall behind again. Maybe it has anything to do with you?”
Oliver thought for a moment and shook his head.
The thing related to Bathory was ‘Xenon Bright’, a professor at Matap, not ‘Dave’, the solver in Area T.
At least officially.
“Well, okay…. that’s it though Why?”
“I’m not sure, but I think I can give you that blood elixir, would you like to make a deal with me?”
“Hmmm…. Hearing such nonsensical stories makes me feel calmer.”
“You wouldn’t believe it—”
“-No, even though the words themselves are surprising, it’s not that I don’t believe them. If it were anyone else, I would have ignored it as bullshit, but because of you, I have strange faith.”
Sincerity. Oliver answered.
“Thank you for your trust.”
“Don’t thank me. I don’t believe in you, but in my judgment… More than that, I’m more concerned about what you want from me, but seeing you calling me and offering a deal like this makes me want more than money.”
“Oh, right. You’re smart too.”
“I said that I became a father……. Tell me what you want.”
Edith is wary. said Oliver.
“I would like to hear the answer.”
Edith frowned, illuminating his doubts.
“Answer? What answer?”
“Didn’t I ask Edith-sama here back in the day? What do you think of Miss Jane? Don’t you remember?”
“······I remember. And you said you like to get a spontaneous answer, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to.”
“I think now is the spontaneous moment.”
“Are you crazy?”
“sorry. I’m not crazy, I’m just curious. I think we should get an answer while Edith-sama is alive.”
“I’m not crazy. Asking questions like that with that great drug… Do you know what the drug is worth?”
“I don’t know the value, but I know the efficacy. I know that it is a medicine that brings health and stamina to men and the blessing of youth to women.”
“I know right. It’s not just a good drug… It’s a miracle drug that frees you from money problems for the rest of your life and allows you to wield enormous influence over anyone. By the way, you’re going to use those drugs just to hear what I think of Jane?”
“yes.”
Oliver answered without hesitation.
He was so determined that Edith couldn’t even ask anything.
As I had known before, Oliver seemed to have a very different way of thinking than ordinary people.
That’s terrifying.
“I really don’t understand. I really mean it.”
“I think it may be an individual difference. I like money too, but while money can be made in other ways, only Edith-sama can answer my questions.”
“Why do you want to know what I think of Jane?”
“Well······. Is it because it’s a strange feeling that I can’t understand?”
“What?”
Oliver clasped his hands and looked at Edith. As if appreciating a work of art, his eyes shone strangely.
“Edith-sama’s feelings for Jane are very strange. “At first I thought he was going to pass on a legacy because he liked Miss Jane, but that’s not the case.”
“Of course. 그년은 날 시체로 여기는 내 마누라와 자식새끼들의 코에 코뚜레를 하기 위한 미끼에-”
“-So I thought Edith-sama hated Miss Jane, but it wasn’t. It was a very complex emotion, whether I just liked it or didn’t like it. hate and love. There was a mixture of opposing emotions such as guilt and pride. Is that why you spit venom at Miss Jane? I hate it, but do you want me to live strong?”
“You must have read a strange novel. like-”
“- Edith. You don’t have to answer any questions, but please don’t lie. It’s sad.”
Even though he was rudely interrupted, Edith was overwhelmed by Oliver’s energy and dared not respond.
Obviously, he was a flimsy and soft-looking guy, but at this moment, he felt a chill that could not be described in words.
Even himself, who had lived on the battlefield, was terrified.
There was silence again.
“…if I don’t answer, what are you going to do?”
“Are you not going to answer me?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“Well······. Then it’s difficult. In fact, I hadn’t even thought about it.”
“…are you really crazy?”
Edith asked in disbelief, but it was true.
Oliver had seen Edith three times and knew how obsessed he was with life.
Proof of that is taking medicine made from blood to prolong life.
So I thought Edith would accept his offer, and I didn’t think the other way around.
But now he was about to refuse.
It was a bit confusing.
“Well······. I’m just asking for confirmation, are you really not going to talk about it?”
“Even though I am obsessed with life, I have a strong sense of pride. I have no intention of giving seeds to a child who is as big as my own child by threatening me.”
truth, not lies.
He valued his ego more than life, and at the same time was reluctant to talk about his feelings for Jane.
more than dying The resolve was very firm.
“Then I can’t help it… I will just give it to you.”