Chapter 260
Chapter 260
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 260
Chapter Title: Born Negotiator (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me like this."
In one of the rooms at Sapphire, the multiplex cultural facility in J District.
Oliver and Edis were there alone, engaged in conversation.
"Don't thank me. I'm not meeting you because I wanted to."
Edis waddled over and plopped down on the sofa.
He was panting shallowly, as if even that short walk had left him winded.
"I'm only here because of all the eyes on us."
"Even you, Mr. Edis, care about what others think?"
As Edis unbuckled his belt, Oliver watched his belly fat spill over like cream and settle onto his thighs before asking.
"Ha...! Time sure has flown. A fixer who used to pick up jobs in the brothels is talking back to me now."
"Ah, if that offended you, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any insult. I just figured you were always so bold, you wouldn't give a damn about what anyone else thought."
Oliver spoke carefully, hoping to avoid any misunderstanding.
Edis shot him a sharp glare, staring Oliver down intently.
His eyes held no mana—they were utterly ordinary—but they brimmed with an insight that pierced straight through to people's hearts.
"...Hey."
"Yes, Mr. Edis."
"Bring me some booze from over there. My throat's dry."
Edis pointed to the bottle on the table, and Oliver fetched it along with a glass, pouring him a drink as requested.
After Edis took a sip, he spoke up.
"You have one too. It wouldn't be fair if I drank alone."
There was no reason to refuse, so Oliver nodded, used his mana to retrieve a glass from the far table, poured himself a drink, and sipped it.
Edis watched, then opened his mouth again.
"Impressive. I knew you were a rare case, but I didn't expect you to handle mana that skillfully."
"Ah, I've been practicing a bit."
"Practicing a bit, huh... I didn't realize mana was something you could just handle that easily. Remarkable."
"Thank you for the praise."
"It's not praise. Just stating facts... I half-thought you'd met some eccentric who taught you how to use it."
Edis's words hit like a sucker punch.
Oliver didn't show it outwardly, but he flinched inwardly.
"...May I ask why you thought that?"
"What's to ask? Handling mana is that damn hard. There are truckloads of people with mana who can't use it and thus can't become mages."
"Ah, I see."
"...And your knowledge level bothers me too."
"My knowledge level?"
"Yeah. I heard about your fight with that mage. You mocked thermal power development as a dead end, saying pure mana school's approach was superior? And spat in his face?"
"Ah... I didn't mean to mock him, and I didn't spit either. I just shared my opinion that pure mana school has more growth potential. Thermal power development has room to grow too, but in about fifty years or so—"
"—That's exactly it."
Edis's eyes sharpened as he pointed it out.
"That's not something you say without the knowledge to back it up. And building that kind of expertise isn't easy at all. The tower folks hoard their knowledge like dragons... So yeah, I figured you'd met some weirdo. A lunatic eccentric teaching magic to a black mage."
Oh... Oliver was genuinely impressed by Edis's sharpness.
There was a slight margin of error, but with just a few puzzle pieces, he'd grasped Oliver's situation pretty accurately.
In a way, it was even more impressive than a black mage's emotion-piercing gaze.
He hadn't risen from nothing in Landa for no reason.
"Now that I think about it, I'm curious. Mana you taught yourself, but how'd you pick up knowledge like that?"
"Hm... In the course of work, I killed some mages and read their books and research journals that I looted?"
"Ho... A bit forced, but not impossible. Good answer. Roll with that."
Edis didn't buy it, but he didn't press further either. He even backed Oliver's excuse.
It seemed dismissive, but his consideration ran deep.
He spoke again.
"Alright, enough chit-chat. What's the reason you wanted to see me? Better be something interesting."
"Ah, right... I requested this meeting to propose a deal to you, Mr. Edis."
"A deal?"
"Yes."
"Kuhahahahaha!!"
Edis burst into laughter at Oliver's response.
It was a malicious laugh meant to embarrass, but Oliver didn't budge.
After a long while, Edis wiped tears from his eyes and spoke.
"Ah, sorry for laughing... Nah, not sorry. It was funny. Tell me—what do you plan to deal with me? A butcher with nothing but violence to his name. Or what? Trying to sell me some miracle drug?"
"Oh, how'd you know?"
"How'd I know? This damn city's crawling with junkies like rocks on the ground. Black mages on the streets to life school folks. All after my money. And every time, I tell 'em to piss off."
"Any reason for that?"
"'Cause I already have a supplier. Disappointing. I thought you were more interesting than that."
"Sorry to disappoint... But may I ask one more thing?"
"What? If it's worthless, I'm out the door."
"By chance, is the drug you get from that supplier the Blood Elixir?"
Blood Elixir.
At those words from Oliver, Edis didn't show it outwardly, but he was greatly shaken.
As if a closely guarded secret had been exposed.
Still, he fought to regain his composure and assess the situation. That alone was impressive.
"...That question means you already know I'm a user of the Blood Elixir?"
Oliver nodded at Edis's frank admission.
"Not certain, just a guess."
"Doesn't matter. Certainty or guess, it's the same. The Blood Elixir is so rare even knowing what it is ain't easy... How'd you learn about it? It's not something any mutt on the street knows."
"Hm... Hard to answer that one."
"Ho... Refusing?"
"Yes. It's a deal, after all."
Edis looked surprised at Oliver's reply, then burst into laughter once more.
"Ah... You're right. Spot on. Deals are between equals, and equals don't force answers. You got me there."
"Ah, not what I meant. I respect you, Mr. Edis."
"Spare the bootlicking. What deal are you proposing? That's what I'm curious about."
Edis grew wary. Oliver spoke.
"I'd like to hear your answer first."
Edis furrowed his brow, puzzled.
"Answer? To what?"
"Didn't I once ask you here, back in the day? About what you thought of Miss Jane... Don't you remember?"
"...I do. And you said you preferred voluntary answers—no pressure if I didn't want to."
"Isn't now that voluntary moment?"
"Are you insane?"
"Sorry. Not insane, just curious. I figured I'd hear it while you're still alive, Mr. Edis."
"You're out of your mind. Using that incredible drug for a stupid question like that... Do you even know its value?"
"Don't know the price, but I get the effects roughly. Gives men health and vigor, women the blessing of youth."
"You know it well. It's not just some fancy pill... Frees you from money worries for life, lets you wield massive influence over anyone. A miracle drug. And you're gonna waste it just to hear how I feel about Jane?"
"Yes."
Oliver answered without a hint of hesitation.
So resolute that Edis couldn't even argue.
He'd sensed it before, but Oliver's way of thinking was worlds apart from normal people.
Frighteningly so.
"I just can't understand it. Really."
"Personal differences, I suppose. Money's nice, but I can earn it other ways. This curiosity? Only you can satisfy it, Mr. Edis."
"Why the hell do you wanna know how I feel about Jane?"
"Hm... It's this bizarre emotion I can't quite comprehend?"
"What?"
Oliver interlaced his fingers and gazed at Edis, his eyes gleaming strangely, like he was admiring fine art.
"Your feelings toward Miss Jane are so peculiar. At first, I thought you liked her and wanted to leave her your inheritance."
"Obviously not. That bitch is bait to shove it in the faces of my wife and kids who see me as a corpse—"
"—So then I thought you hated her, but that wasn't it either. It wasn't simple like or dislike. It was complex—hatred and affection, guilt and pride, all mixed together, opposites tangled up... That's why you spat harsh words at her, right? Hating her, but wanting her to live strong?"
"Sounds like you read some weird novel. That crap—"
"—Mr. Edis. You don't have to answer, but please don't lie. It makes me sad."
Despite the rude interruption, Edis was overwhelmed by Oliver's presence and couldn't muster a retort.
He looked so sloppy and soft, but in this moment, there was an indescribable chill.
Even someone who'd survived the cutthroat underworld felt intimidated.
Silence fell again.
"...What if I don't answer? What then?"
"...You won't?"
"Thinking about it."
"Hm... That'd be a problem. Truth is, I haven't thought that far."
"...Are you really fucking crazy?"
Edis asked incredulously, but it was true.
Oliver had met Edis three times and knew how desperately he clung to life.
The elixir made from blood was proof.
That's why he'd assumed Edis would accept the deal. The alternative hadn't crossed his mind.
Yet now, he was leaning toward refusal.
It was confusing.
"Hm... Just to confirm—are you really not going to tell me?"
"I may cling pathetically to life, but I've got pride too. Not spilling to some kid young enough to be my son, no matter the threat."
No bluff—pure sincerity.
He valued his pride more than life itself, and he really didn't want to talk about his feelings for Jane.
More than death, even. His resolve was ironclad.
"No helping it, then... I'll just give it to you."