Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Material Supply (2)
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Filterette. That was Joseph's Family's—no, most black magic families'—main product, apparently.
"What's a Filterette?"
"You know cigarettes? It's like those. But only in appearance—the contents are worlds apart. There's so much to say, I don't even know where to start. Hmm..."
Rasso rattled off his pitch like a salesman before pretending to mull it over. Then he opened his mouth again.
"You could call Filterette a kind of health drug. Quality varies by the maker, but it's an incredible thing. The high is better than most narcotics, and side effects are practically nonexistent. Actually, these days it's a miracle cure for depression patients—makes you healthier, even."
When Oliver looked puzzled, he pointed at the briefcase and explained further.
"How'd those emotions feel? The maternal love of those beautiful mothers who wouldn't abandon their kids, even alone."
"Uh... It was nice."
"Right? But process it and inhale, and it's next level. Better than stimulants boiled from potions or herbs... Plus, low risk of detection and no side effects."
It was all unfamiliar, hard to grasp, but curiosity sparked. Not just wielding black magic with emotions, but turning it into cigarettes to smoke. He wondered about the process and real effects.
"So we just keep extracting that?"
"Nah, not just that. Filterettes come in varieties. And it's not our only revenue stream. I'll tell you more on the way."
Rasso started moving the moment he finished speaking, and Oliver followed. This time, they headed to a basement in a dingy back alley corner.
The basement reeked of a musty sweetness. Deeper in, a sturdy iron-barred door blocked the way, guarded by a bald brute.
He was reading a book with a naked woman on the cover. Spotting strangers, he scowled and growled.
"Who the hell are you? Get lost."
This wasn't an idle threat—the bald guy grabbed the blackjack at his waist. Thick arm wielding that? Anyone not an idiot could tell one hit would crack a skull.
Rasso spoke up.
"Got enough dry leaves stocked?"
The bald man relaxed, holstered the blackjack, and pressed a buzzer on the wall.
A faint beep echoed from inside, followed by a clunk as the locked bars clicked open.
The guard jerked his chin for them to enter. Rasso bowed politely and descended.
Deeper down, the basement opened up.
Nothing particularly noteworthy, but that musty-sweet smell hung in the air.
"Ah, there you are."
A fifties man with thinning gray hair and gold-rimmed glasses came out to greet them.
"Hello, Pharmacist."
"Yes, yes. Come in. I figured you'd show up soon."
They seemed well-acquainted. Rasso chatted with the Pharmacist and soon led him somewhere.
Oliver and Peter naturally tagged along, whispering as they went.
"Who's that?"
"Who? The Pharmacist? Not sure myself. Just a major client for our Family. Heard he deals with other families too."
"Other families?"
"Of course. Think we're the only ones? Including us, there're two—"
"Here we are."
The Pharmacist opened a door at the corridor's end.
It revealed a warehouse-like room.
A single dim bulb hung overhead, illuminating ragged people kneeling below it.
"These are dry leaves scrounged from all over. Ledger's here—check it out."
"Got it."
Rasso alternated between eyeing the people and the ledger like inspecting goods.
He looked practiced. Meanwhile, Oliver asked Peter what dry leaves were. Peter explained kindly.
"Debtors with not a penny to their name. All they've got is their bodies. We pick the decent ones, pay off their debts, and extract a bit of Life Force in return."
Oliver was about to ask what they extracted when Rasso spoke.
"This one, this one... and skip that one. We'll take the rest."
"Wh-what?"
The selected ones panicked. But instead of answers, rough hands dragged them away.
They looked terrified.
The chosen ones weren't relieved either.
They fidgeted fearfully too, but the oppressive atmosphere kept them frozen.
Rasso smiled at them.
"Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you. Can't reveal who I am due to personal reasons, but I've got a good offer. First off, you've all got hefty debts here, right?"
A few nodded cautiously.
"We'll pay them all off right now. In exchange, provide us a little Life Force."
Life Force. The heavy term startled the debtors. The Pharmacist cut in, smoothly practiced.
"Don't let 'Life Force' scare you. Just feels like a bit of fatigue. Eat well, rest up, and it'll recover."
Still, they eyed each other uneasily. Then a timid-looking fat guy quietly raised his hand.
"Life Force... Isn't that dangerous?"
"Not if moderate. Staying in debt with piling interest is riskier—wears body and time away. I guarantee it... Or refuse, and we'll settle the cash now."
The Pharmacist's words left them speechless.
These were lives sold here for unpaid debts. As the mood sank, Rasso spoke again.
"Sure, you'll feel drained for a while, but you won't die. Killing isn't my goal. If anyone's dead set against it, speak up—no hard feelings. But long-term, paying it off now is way better."
Not profound words, but enough for the deeply indebted. Reluctantly, they all agreed. Rasso reached out, extracting Life Force one by one.
Oliver watched closely. Unlike emotions inside the body, Life Force enveloped it externally—similar yet subtly different.
"Good. All done."
"Haaah—! Heh... Heh..."
The drained man panted exhaustedly. Rasso sealed the vial tight.
"Rest plenty, eat and sleep well. You'll recover soon."
The man was too wiped to hear. Rasso ignored it, moving to the next. The terrified debtor blurted.
"W-wait—"
"Yes, won't take long."
Rasso cut him off and extracted.
Flesh visibly melted in real time. The eerie sight made debtors tremble, but they did nothing.
Fear, yes—but hope of debt freedom too.
After the second, Rasso handed over the vial.
"First time seeing Life Force extraction?"
"Yeah..."
"Black magic's mystery. One runs out, another fills in."
"Haha, figures."
Peter flattered. Oliver just watched in awe. Then Rasso whimsically offered.
"Want to try?"
"Us?"
Peter startled.
"Haha, you're such a joker, Rasso. We haven't learned... Right?"
Didn't seem like it. Oliver's eyes gleamed as he asked.
"Can I really?"
"Huh?"
Someone muttered—Peter? Rasso?
"...How? You learn somewhere?"
"No. But I saw you do it... I can."
Unlike his usual daze, pure confidence—no, certainty. So resolute, no words came.
Rasso asked seriously.
"You sure? This is business—can't just say 'oops'."
"Don't mess up, then."
"True, but... Fine, that confident? Give it a shot. No mistakes, though... Pharmacist, mind if this kid tries?"
The Pharmacist shrugged.
"Compensate any losses."
Rasso showed the ledger and vial markings—debts, Life Force amounts per.
Oliver just nodded, like he got it.
"Alright, go for it."
Instinct told the debtors danger; they eyed Oliver fearfully.
But unperturbed, he reached into empty air.
"Wait, not too fa—"
Rasso couldn't finish. Life Force from all remaining debtors surged to Oliver's hand at once.
Shoooooooosh—!
"...!!!"
It was indescribably beautiful—life's radiant glow.
As many strands as people, vast and brilliant. Even mid-grade—no, high-grade disciples couldn't control that volume easily.
Yet Oliver extracted it effortlessly, stabilizing in his palm.
"...Like this?"
His usual expression. Rasso nodded dumbly.
Untrained, yet he extracted multiple at once and handled them. Words failed.
"Boss... Sorry, open the vial lids?"
Peter snapped out, fumbling lids open.
Oliver filled precisely to the marks. Meanwhile, Rasso checked the groaning debtors.
All exact amounts extracted.
Despite the brute-force batch pull, precision was flawless. Even one-by-one would've been tough.
Talent... No, was this even talent? Watching Oliver casually transfer to vials, Rasso felt like staring at a monster.
One that could shatter the Family's order in a heartbeat.
The monster spoke.
"Rasso?"
"...Yeah? Something to say?"
"Where does this Life Force go?"
Pure monster curiosity. Rasso smiled.
"I'll tell you on the way."