Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Negotiation
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Anyone who knew my level of martial prowess would probably wonder if I was in my right mind saying something like this, but I had solid reasons for acting this way.
Why would I charge in without some basis for confidence?
With this body of mine, barely able to eke out a win against an average adult woman in a straight fight.
"If you're not confident in persuading her, just say so beforehand. I'll fetch someone from anywhere."
"Is that merchant a martial artist, by any chance?"
"First-rate, at least? You'd need that much confidence to protect yourself to even attempt such things."
First-rate.
That should be more than enough.
Of course, a head-on clash would still be out of the question.
"Oh, and one more thing."
As I mulled over my plans while following Yeo Sochen, she turned back to me, locking eyes as she spoke.
"If, just if, the person you meet turns out to be the Heavenly Demon—that monstrous woman—whatever you do, don't try to read her heavenly fate."
It was such a rare, serious expression from Yeo Sochen that I couldn't just brush it off.
"...Is there something I shouldn't see?"
"I don't know."
"Pardon?"
"I don't know. You don't know. No one knows. Not her heavenly fate."
"..."
What did that even mean?
"It's hard to explain in detail since I don't know much myself, but one thing's for sure: messing with it won't end well. She's the type who holes up in her room alone, uninterested in the world even if left alone."
"So, just don't touch it, got it?"
"Yes. With everything else you have to worry about, imagining that monster loose in the Central Plains... you'd need ten bodies and still come up short."
I decided not to dwell on her added remark that even if I were ten people, beating that woman was still uncertain.
I already knew the Heavenly Demon was a freak beyond norms.
We walked on in awkward silence for a while.
-Halt.
"We're here. That's her."
Looking where Yeo Sochen pointed, I saw someone organizing cargo on a wagon.
A young woman with a rather honest, plain face.
Judging by her looks, maybe early to mid-twenties?
Considering martial artists often appeared younger than their age, she might be a bit older.
"I was expecting some rough-looking brute, but this is unexpected."
"That's exactly why she fits the role. Talented spies are usually the ordinary-looking ones, right? Unless they're specializing in honey traps."
"Fair point."
Her innocent appearance didn't quite match the image of a merchant trading with the Demonic Cult, but if Yeo Sochen hadn't tipped me off, I'd have just pegged her as a regular young trader.
"What, getting excited about riding alone in a wagon with a woman?"
"...With her?"
"Didn't want idle chatter slowing her down, apparently. Travels solo. First-rate means she's got the skills not to die screaming anywhere."
Her words carried a hint of jealousy, so I gave the merchant woman another glance.
Objectively, she was pretty attractive...
-Flat.
'Hmm.'
One thing was clear: not my type.
And that was purely objective—my standards had skyrocketed so high they'd pierced the heavens, so she wasn't even on my radar.
"...Not my type anyway."
"...Yeah, definitely not your type. I can relax now."
"Isn't that rude to her...?"
"..."
Any more of this, and I'd feel bad, so I cut the conversation short.
And honestly, with all the exotic beauties around me lately, someone like her was just average in the Central Plains.
"...Anyway, I'll go talk to her."
"...Good luck."
Our recent chat made asking for a ride feel awkward, but I had my own circumstances, so I steeled myself a bit.
"Hello. Mind if I take a quick look at your goods?"
I approached the woman sorting cargo, acting like any other customer.
"Ah... My stock's already earmarked for a client. Sorry."
"Aw, come on, you must have extras. Looks like you've got a ton."
"It's all spoken for... Oh, tell me what you're looking for. I can refer you to another merchant. Their quality's better anyway—I mostly handle deliveries."
"I'm in a real bind right now. Can't you make an exception? I'll pay double... no, quadruple the market price."
"...Quadruple?"
Even dealing with the Demonic Cult, she was still a merchant at heart—the temptation proved too much.
"Ahem... Now that you mention it, I do have some spares. Come inside for a sec?"
She cleared her throat, checked for onlookers, and led me into the wagon.
"So, what were you after? I've got most things—just name it..."
As she opened a crate of goods, turning her back to me, I released the rope hidden in my sleeve.
'Bind her.'
-Whip!
"Kyaa?!"
The white rope shot out like a living thing, instantly wrapping her up tight. Definitely worth the points.
The description was brutal, but the effect was straightforward: it auto-bound targets below a certain level.
Tests with Dang Ayoung showed it couldn't handle peak experts alone—you had to restrain them first—but anything below, it handled solo.
And its strength? Even transcendent masters couldn't snap it easily.
"C-Customer? That's a bit much for a prank. Not funny."
Someone like Yeo Sochen wouldn't misjudge, so this first-rate martial artist was no match for the rope alone.
Still, she was first-rate for a reason— even bound, her reflexive struggle showed reflexes beyond mortal limits.
But not enough to overcome a hundreds-of-points otherworld item.
"Now, now. Let me be clear: no intent to harm or rob you."
"Wh-What do you want? I'm just a regular merchant..."
"I heard you trade with the Demonic Cult. True?"
"...!"
A flash of panic crossed her face, gone in an instant.
"What kind of wild accusation is that? I'd never deal with them! You must be mistaken!"
She launched into indignant denial, convincing enough for anyone without prior intel.
"Come on, I know everything. No need to play dumb. Fellow pros."
"I have no idea what you're talking about..."
"Think I don't know you've got something hidden in your bosom? You were debating pulling it out earlier."
"!!"
By the way, total bluff.
No clue. Never saw it.
But logically, doing risky Demonic Cult deals as a first-rate? She'd have hidden weapons, poisons—emergency self-defense tools. A must for her line of work.
"Th-That..."
My guess hit home; her poker face cracked.
Time to ease off.
"Not here to snitch to officials or the Murim Alliance, so relax. I need help myself."
"Huh?"
"See, I'm this kind of person."
I held out the letter from the Demonic Cult to her puzzled face.
Spotting their seal, her eyes widened; fear faded to relief.
"What the—? If you're one of us, say so upfront! Had me scared I'd end up dragged to the Alliance for torture."
"If I hadn't bound you first, you'd have a blade at my throat from the start. Had to anticipate that."
"Fair... Tch. In the martial world, the loser's at fault. You want a ride to Demonic Cult turf, right?"
"Yes. You get it."
"Fine. Untie me, and I'll take you. No counterattack."
She sighed, turning as if expecting release.
"Why would I?"
"...Pardon?"
Sorry, not yet.
"No guarantee you won't strike back."
"I said I won't!"
"Words are cheap. Ten promises could hide eleven lies. Why trust you?"
"That's... Sigh. What'll convince you?"
"Merchant through and through—talks my language."
She started to argue, then relented into negotiation.
"Simple. Just sign here."
I raised my open palm upward.
-Pop!
A sheet of paper appeared atop it; I offered it to her.
"What do you think?"
"Le-Leaving aside signing... Does this actually work? Die on the spot for breaking a contract...?"
"If a rope binds people solo, why not a contract? It just popped into my hand."
"...Point taken."
She looked uneasy. Naturally.
Ambushed into signing a death pact? Who wouldn't?
"Read the last line. I'm not that evil."
"...Except if the threat to Party A's safety exceeds Party B's abilities. Upon contract expiration, Party A pays Party B 50 gold taels...?!"
"Feeling motivated now?"
"I'll do it! Please take care of me!"
"Here, thumbprint. Thumb out."
I maneuvered her bound hand to stamp the contract; blue flames flared around it.
As she stared wondrously, I retracted the rope, stepped out, and thumbs-upped Yeo Sochen watching from afar.
And then...
And...
'...Got it. Good job.'
...I gave praise to the Saintess too, who'd hand-written the 'ordinary' contract paper and sent it for 1 point.
'...'
I silently closed the shop window, cutting the comms.
Any longer, and my mental stat might drop.