Chapter 160: Negotiation (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 160: Negotiation (2)
A strange silence fell. It would have been good manners to ask why I had suddenly screamed out of nowhere, but Mr. Dragon kept his mouth shut, stone-faced, after my outcry.
Geez, this is making me embarrassed.
Once the silence was starting to feel uncomfortable, the brown-haired Mr. Dragon deactivated his Dragon Fear and asked, "...Why did you shout out of the blue?" It was hard to read his reptilian eyes, but this seemed like pure curiosity. So, this man could get curious.
"I just felt like doing it," I answered without hesitation. "Why, is there a problem?" When I was too flustered to give a detailed explanation, this was my barbarian cheat code that I could apply to anything.
Mr. Dragon seemed lost in thought for a moment before he smiled. "No, there is no problem. Barbarians are as interesting as I've heard." His was an imposing and dignified voice. Soon, he waved his hand in the air.
Shhhhhh!
A gust of wind billowed out, and the mist disappeared. The scene beyond the mist was rather different from what I had expected. There was no one there. I thought it would be full of dragons because of all those shiny eyes I saw.
When I looked at him for an explanation, he averted his eyes sheepishly. "Let it be known that I was against this childishness."
"Against what?"
"Ah, apparently, negotiating is easier after you crush the opponent's spirit? Or so they say."
Put simply, the shining eyes had all been an illusion. To be honest, if I had thought about it calmly, I could have noticed that earlier. Not only had I stressed a need for confidentiality to Krovitz, but the dragonians were a race with an extremely small population. Logically, there was no way dozens of them had gathered in one place just to pick on me.
"Anyway, I'm sorry about that. Tsk, I don't know what we're doing, trying to save a few pennies. I told them we cannot forget our duty and treat our benefactor like this." His voice was still imposing, but the way he spoke and the atmosphere around him were noticeably lighter than before. Was everything before just an act, and this was his real self? If that was the case, I thought we might be able to see eye to eye. Still, I couldn't let my guard down. This could be an act too.
"First, let me confirm. I am Bjorn, son of Yandel. Are you the chieftain of the dragon tribe?"
"Chieftain... In your culture, that would be accurate, although it hasn't been that long since I took over the position."
"It hasn't?" I involuntarily cocked my head. I heard it had been more than thirty years since the Dragon Slayer had killed the Primordial Dragon and received a curse.
"Time means different things to different people."
Oh, right. The dragonians had had long lifespans in the game. It wasn't critical information so I had forgotten about it for a moment. Anyway, that wasn't important, so I should just get to the point.
"Chief."
"Feel free to call me Pirsearaidormus." Was it possible to say that freely or easily? As I was pondering what my reaction to that should be, Mr. Dragon laughed and gave me another name. "That was a joke. Just call me Lapir. It is my second name for public use."
For reference, second names were a culture unique to the dragonians. Since their true names were so long, they needed second names in order to make living in the city more convenient. Regal Vagos' real name would be much longer, too.
Whew, I'm glad, though.
I let out a silent sigh of relief. This was an official meeting, and if he had requested I call him by this long, true name, it would've been a hassle. "Lapir, then. If my name is too long, you can call me Yandel, or Bjorn—whichever is easier to pronounce."
"I like Yandel better." Anyway, introductions were over. Right when I was about to speak up, Mr. Dragon spoke first. "Before we start talking, can I see the Dragon Slayer Sword first? I heard the story through the church, but I still can't believe it."
As soon as I heard that, I let out a derisive chuckle. He may have spoken softly, but the implication of those words was very explicit.
Telling me he can't trust me to my face...
Well, it wasn't that I didn't understand where he was coming from. Vagos was a member of Orcules and a huge criminal with a bounty worth hundreds of millions of stones. I was sure it was hard to accept that a fourth-floor adventurer like me beat him up and stole his sword.
Stab!
There was no need to drag this out, so I took the Dragon Slayer Sword out of my bag and stuck it in the ground.
Ow, that hurts.
I only held it for about three seconds, but my skin was already peeling off.
A moment later, Mr. Dragon came down from the throne and pulled out the sword, holding it in his hand. "So it was true," he murmured in a low voice.
In that short sentence, I could sense a whole range of complex emotions. He seemed somewhat determined, yet wistful at the same time. Well, considering the story behind this sword, he must have felt differently about it than I did.
Mr. Dragon held the sword and stood there like that for a long while before stabbing it into the ground again. "How was he? You're the last person to have seen him. I wish to hear more."
I told him about what happened that day, leaving out the parts I didn't want to talk about.
"I see. So he ended up... Thank you for telling me. As you requested, I will keep the fact that the Dragon Slayer Sword has been returned a secret."
"Were you close with him?"
At my question, Mr. Dragon smiled sadly. "He is... my younger brother."
"What?"
"Which is why... I couldn't stop him myself." I wanted to speak with him a little longer to learn more information about the Dragon Slayer, but Mr. Dragon changed the subject in a way that told me he didn't want to talk about it. "Come to think of it, I haven't said this yet. Bjorn, son of Yandel, thank you for returning this sword. Unrelated to the reward you seek, we will consider you a benefactor of the dragonians."
I could tell from the look in his eyes that those words were sincere. His reptilian eyes were a bit hard to read, but still. As I had only done this for the reward, I was pretty self-conscious, but there was no need to refuse this treatment. Later, I'd ask about the exact benefits that came with being a benefactor, but for now, I focused on the current conversation.
"So, what would you like?"
That was, in truth, the crux of this meeting. I'd been thinking a lot about this. What should I ask in return for a weapon made of a grade-six material and an item that had the same significance to the dragonians as a holy relic?
"What can you give me?" I asked just in case, figuring that he might make an offer that could change my mind.
Mr. Dragon had some things prepared and spoke without much preamble. "The first is wealth."
Money. Not bad. That was one of the three options I had been considering before I made my final decision, anyway. If I considered that grade-six weapons started in the hundreds of millions, I should be given enough reward money to cover my entire body with high-quality equipment.
"I like Yandel better." Anyway, introductions were over. Right when I was about to speak up, Mr. Dragon spoke first. "Before we start talking, can I see the Dragon Slayer Sword first? I heard the story through the church, but I still can't believe it."
As soon as I heard that, I let out a derisive chuckle. He may have spoken softly, but the implication of those words was very explicit.
Telling me he can't trust me to my face...
Well, it wasn't that I didn't understand where he was coming from. Vagos was a member of Orcules and a huge criminal with a bounty worth hundreds of millions of stones. I was sure it was hard to accept that a fourth-floor adventurer like me beat him up and stole his sword.
Stab!
There was no need to drag this out, so I took the Dragon Slayer Sword out of my bag and stuck it in the ground.
Ow, that hurts.
I only held it for about three seconds, but my skin was already peeling off.
A moment later, Mr. Dragon came down from the throne and pulled out the sword, holding it in his hand. "So it was true," he murmured in a low voice.
In that short sentence, I could sense a whole range of complex emotions. He seemed somewhat determined, yet wistful at the same time. Well, considering the story behind this sword, he must have felt differently about it than I did.
Mr. Dragon held the sword and stood there like that for a long while before stabbing it into the ground again. "How was he? You're the last person to have seen him. I wish to hear more."
I told him about what happened that day, leaving out the parts I didn't want to talk about.
"I see. So he ended up... Thank you for telling me. As you requested, I will keep the fact that the Dragon Slayer Sword has been returned a secret."
"Were you close with him?"
At my question, Mr. Dragon smiled sadly. "He is... my younger brother."
"What?"
"Which is why... I couldn't stop him myself." I wanted to speak with him a little longer to learn more information about the Dragon Slayer, but Mr. Dragon changed the subject in a way that told me he didn't want to talk about it. "Come to think of it, I haven't said this yet. Bjorn, son of Yandel, thank you for returning this sword. Unrelated to the reward you seek, we will consider you a benefactor of the dragonians."
I could tell from the look in his eyes that those words were sincere. His reptilian eyes were a bit hard to read, but still. As I had only done this for the reward, I was pretty self-conscious, but there was no need to refuse this treatment. Later, I'd ask about the exact benefits that came with being a benefactor, but for now, I focused on the current conversation.
"So, what would you like?"
That was, in truth, the crux of this meeting. I'd been thinking a lot about this. What should I ask in return for a weapon made of a grade-six material and an item that had the same significance to the dragonians as a holy relic?
"What can you give me?" I asked just in case, figuring that he might make an offer that could change my mind.
Mr. Dragon had some things prepared and spoke without much preamble. "The first is wealth."
Money. Not bad. That was one of the three options I had been considering before I made my final decision, anyway. If I considered that grade-six weapons started in the hundreds of millions, I should be given enough reward money to cover my entire body with high-quality equipment.
"I don't need money."
At my response, Mr. Dragon gave me a strange look. I guessed he didn't think I would turn down this offer. "Hmm, that's probably because you don't know how much money—"
"I'll say it again, I'm not after money."
The amount didn't matter. It wouldn't be more than the Dragon Slayer Sword was worth, anyway. I'd rather get something else.
Sensing my resolve, Mr. Dragon offered up the next possibility for my reward. "The second is a teammate."
"Teammate?"
"I heard from Sir Krovitz that you are building a new team."
"Your point?"
"I will have one of my clan members work with you for two years."
This was a reward I hadn't even considered. He was offering to give me a teammate? This was definitely a race that knew their worth.
It's certainly appealing...
As I could tell from the battle with the Dragon Slayer, Dragon Speech made possible things even a wizard or priest couldn't pull off. In addition, dragonians had high base stats that made them good at close combat, and they could use magic that only certain humans could use.
However, once again, my answer was the same. "I have already found all my teammates." I wasn't inclined to take in a teammate who would be gone after two years. What I wanted was a team held together by a bond.
"She is very pretty."
Umm, and what does that have to do with anything?
When I shot him a look, Mr. Dragon coughed in embarrassment and opened his mouth again. "...Then this will be the final offer."
"Speak."
"I'll give you the arc-made weapon that will be forged next year."
As expected, this was the last option. Arc metal and dragonians were closely related and even considered synonymous. Only dragonians could handle the arc.
And the rule is that only one weapon can be made each year through a ritual.
In that sense, this reward was the one that made the most sense—an arc longsword that I could use in exchange for one that I could not. This was a win-win.
But if that was the case, I would have just taken the money.
My answer this time was the same. "I don't like that, either." Mr. Dragon clearly didn't expect that I would turn this offer down as well and pursed his lips. He didn't seem to have anything else to offer, so I decided to speak first. "I don't need those. Just give me a tattoo," I said like it was no big deal.
"Tattoo?" Mr. Dragon cocked his head before his eyes widened horizontally. He seemed to realize what I meant a moment later. "You mean the Dragon's Blessing?"
Yes, that.
When I nodded, Mr. Dragon's eyes changed in an instant. "Yandel, where did you hear about that?"
Whew, now came the real test. The Dragon's Blessing, along with Dragon Speech, was the thing that elevated the dragon tribe into the ranks of OP characters.
"The elders were right. You people are too greedy." The smile disappeared from Mr. Dragon's face, and he reactivated his Dragon Fear. "I should have done this earlier."
The air around me grew so heavy that it became difficult to breathe. Was this his real serious mode? It seemed he had been telling the truth when he said he was opposed to the childishness from earlier because the intensity of this was entirely different.
"I don't need money."
At my response, Mr. Dragon gave me a strange look. I guessed he didn't think I would turn down this offer. "Hmm, that's probably because you don't know how much money—"
"I'll say it again, I'm not after money."
The amount didn't matter. It wouldn't be more than the Dragon Slayer Sword was worth, anyway. I'd rather get something else.
Sensing my resolve, Mr. Dragon offered up the next possibility for my reward. "The second is a teammate."
"Teammate?"
"I heard from Sir Krovitz that you are building a new team."
"Your point?"
"I will have one of my clan members work with you for two years."
This was a reward I hadn't even considered. He was offering to give me a teammate? This was definitely a race that knew their worth.
It's certainly appealing...
As I could tell from the battle with the Dragon Slayer, Dragon Speech made possible things even a wizard or priest couldn't pull off. In addition, dragonians had high base stats that made them good at close combat, and they could use magic that only certain humans could use.
However, once again, my answer was the same. "I have already found all my teammates." I wasn't inclined to take in a teammate who would be gone after two years. What I wanted was a team held together by a bond.
"She is very pretty."
Umm, and what does that have to do with anything?
When I shot him a look, Mr. Dragon coughed in embarrassment and opened his mouth again. "...Then this will be the final offer."
"Speak."
"I'll give you the arc-made weapon that will be forged next year."
As expected, this was the last option. Arc metal and dragonians were closely related and even considered synonymous. Only dragonians could handle the arc.
And the rule is that only one weapon can be made each year through a ritual.
In that sense, this reward was the one that made the most sense—an arc longsword that I could use in exchange for one that I could not. This was a win-win.
But if that was the case, I would have just taken the money.
My answer this time was the same. "I don't like that, either." Mr. Dragon clearly didn't expect that I would turn this offer down as well and pursed his lips. He didn't seem to have anything else to offer, so I decided to speak first. "I don't need those. Just give me a tattoo," I said like it was no big deal.
"Tattoo?" Mr. Dragon cocked his head before his eyes widened horizontally. He seemed to realize what I meant a moment later. "You mean the Dragon's Blessing?"
Yes, that.
When I nodded, Mr. Dragon's eyes changed in an instant. "Yandel, where did you hear about that?"
Whew, now came the real test. The Dragon's Blessing, along with Dragon Speech, was the thing that elevated the dragon tribe into the ranks of OP characters.
"The elders were right. You people are too greedy." The smile disappeared from Mr. Dragon's face, and he reactivated his Dragon Fear. "I should have done this earlier."
The air around me grew so heavy that it became difficult to breathe. Was this his real serious mode? It seemed he had been telling the truth when he said he was opposed to the childishness from earlier because the intensity of this was entirely different.
Not to the extent that I can't endure it, though.
It was the same as last time. Scary to the point of making me shudder? So, what? As long as their ancestral gods were with them, a barbarian never backed down from psychological warfare alone.
"Behelahhh!"
When I relaxed the stiff muscles of my neck and summoned a shout from low in my belly, Mr. Dragon's jaw dropped. "What the...?"
"Is there a problem?"
"...Are all barbarians like you?" Soon enough, he pulled back Dragon Fear. Yes, he may have used serious mode, but it wasn't because he was really irritated with me. "Hah..." Mr. Dragon dropped the grim look on his face and let out a deep sigh. "I will offer you a sizable sum of money on top of the arc weapon. How about that?"
Having concluded that the stick wouldn't work on me, he handed me a carrot. FYI, I hated carrots.
"I refuse!"
"You don't understand. This will be dangerous for you, too. If your people find out, you will be treated as a traitor."
I'd already received a blessing, so that wasn't new.
"So calm yourself—"
"Lapir! Aren't you a descendant of a dragon?! Don't be petty and do it for me! You call me a benefactor, yet you can't do this? That is low!" He'd probably never had someone childishly scream, "Gimme!" at a negotiating table before, because he just stared at me blankly. I used the opportunity to aim for his Achilles' heel. "The goddess of the stars told me that Regal Vagos and I will meet again. We are connected by a strong, ominous fate."
"...The goddess of the stars said that? Is that true?"
"I must get stronger if I don't want to lose another teammate to your brother."
It was a dirty move even for me, but what could I do? Negotiations were won by the ones who didn't hesitate to use even the dirtiest of tricks. And technically, I didn't say anything untrue.
"Lapir, you said earlier that you couldn't stop your brother with your own power, right? Invest in me. I will finish what you couldn't do." After that, I didn't press him anymore.
Mr. Dragon entered thinking mode for a long time. "...I suppose this is karma," he muttered, sighing.
"Will you do it?"
"...First, I'll have to confirm with the temple that the prophecy you mentioned is true. I will call you after that. This is not something I can decide on my own."
If you say so. "How long do you think it will take?"
"I don't know. One month? Two months? I will make a decision as soon as possible and let you know."
"Until then, I'll hold on to this."
"Sure."
He'd accepted that much more easily than I had expected. After that, I pulled the Dragon Slayer Sword out of the stone and put it back into my bag. Then, after asking how I should contact him again and getting answers to a few other questions I had, I concluded today's negotiations.
"This is a message stone. When I contact you, tear the paper I just gave you. Then I will know where you are."
"I will."
Soon after, Mr. Dragon sent me back to the inn by using his teleportation-based Dragon Speech again.
Like I thought, Dragon Speech is such a cheat.
With that thought in mind, I threw off my equipment and was about to lie down on the bed.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock rang out. That meant I had a visit from a stranger. Missha would have just opened the door, and Ainar's knock would've sounded more like bang, bang, bang.
"Nice to see you." When I opened the door, I saw a familiar woman.
"Julian Urbans?" It was the daughter of the district chief, a truly dishonorable daughter who wished for her father's downfall in order to gain her freedom.
"So, have you changed your mind?"
"What do you mean?"
"I heard your team was disbanded. That wizard is dead, too. It was that Rotmiller man's doing, right?"
Ah, so that was why she hadn't given up and had come back. From an outsider's perspective, her explanation was definitely plausible. "He's not 'that wizard,' but Riol Warb Dwalkie. And your father indeed tried to pull one over on me, but Rotmiller wasn't bought." I pointed out only the facts. After doing that, I realized I needed to resolve this issue now. Even if the district chief tried something else, I didn't think Mr. Bear or Raven would fall for it so easily, but ignoring the problem would only make it more of an issue in the future.
I should do it while it's already on my mind.
"Where is your father now?"
"Uh, I don't know. He's probably at the District Seven headquarters at this time."
Obtaining just the necessary information from Urbans, I issued her an order to leave. "You go back now. And don't return. I refuse to get entangled in your family's affairs."
"Pardon? What do you m—"
"It is just as I said."
When she first came to see me, I thought she had harbored ill will toward me because of the prison break incident. But now that I was thinking back, the timing was just right. The reason the district chief had suddenly become hostile toward me a few months ago was because of her.
"I told you. Our interests are aligned."
"Uh-huh, leave." I forced Urbans out and put on the equipment I had just taken off.
Creak.
When I stepped out the door, she was still standing there. "Are you going to see my father?"
"Yes. I'm going to negotiate."
"But why the weapon?"
I cocked my head. Why wouldn't I take my weapon to a negotiation?
Not to the extent that I can't endure it, though.
It was the same as last time. Scary to the point of making me shudder? So, what? As long as their ancestral gods were with them, a barbarian never backed down from psychological warfare alone.
"Behelahhh!"
When I relaxed the stiff muscles of my neck and summoned a shout from low in my belly, Mr. Dragon's jaw dropped. "What the...?"
"Is there a problem?"
"...Are all barbarians like you?" Soon enough, he pulled back Dragon Fear. Yes, he may have used serious mode, but it wasn't because he was really irritated with me. "Hah..." Mr. Dragon dropped the grim look on his face and let out a deep sigh. "I will offer you a sizable sum of money on top of the arc weapon. How about that?"
Having concluded that the stick wouldn't work on me, he handed me a carrot. FYI, I hated carrots.
"I refuse!"
"You don't understand. This will be dangerous for you, too. If your people find out, you will be treated as a traitor."
I'd already received a blessing, so that wasn't new.
"So calm yourself—"
"Lapir! Aren't you a descendant of a dragon?! Don't be petty and do it for me! You call me a benefactor, yet you can't do this? That is low!" He'd probably never had someone childishly scream, "Gimme!" at a negotiating table before, because he just stared at me blankly. I used the opportunity to aim for his Achilles' heel. "The goddess of the stars told me that Regal Vagos and I will meet again. We are connected by a strong, ominous fate."
"...The goddess of the stars said that? Is that true?"
"I must get stronger if I don't want to lose another teammate to your brother."
It was a dirty move even for me, but what could I do? Negotiations were won by the ones who didn't hesitate to use even the dirtiest of tricks. And technically, I didn't say anything untrue.
"Lapir, you said earlier that you couldn't stop your brother with your own power, right? Invest in me. I will finish what you couldn't do." After that, I didn't press him anymore.
Mr. Dragon entered thinking mode for a long time. "...I suppose this is karma," he muttered, sighing.
"Will you do it?"
"...First, I'll have to confirm with the temple that the prophecy you mentioned is true. I will call you after that. This is not something I can decide on my own."
If you say so. "How long do you think it will take?"
"I don't know. One month? Two months? I will make a decision as soon as possible and let you know."
"Until then, I'll hold on to this."
"Sure."
He'd accepted that much more easily than I had expected. After that, I pulled the Dragon Slayer Sword out of the stone and put it back into my bag. Then, after asking how I should contact him again and getting answers to a few other questions I had, I concluded today's negotiations.
"This is a message stone. When I contact you, tear the paper I just gave you. Then I will know where you are."
"I will."
Soon after, Mr. Dragon sent me back to the inn by using his teleportation-based Dragon Speech again.
Like I thought, Dragon Speech is such a cheat.
With that thought in mind, I threw off my equipment and was about to lie down on the bed.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock rang out. That meant I had a visit from a stranger. Missha would have just opened the door, and Ainar's knock would've sounded more like bang, bang, bang.
"Nice to see you." When I opened the door, I saw a familiar woman.
"Julian Urbans?" It was the daughter of the district chief, a truly dishonorable daughter who wished for her father's downfall in order to gain her freedom.
"So, have you changed your mind?"
"What do you mean?"
"I heard your team was disbanded. That wizard is dead, too. It was that Rotmiller man's doing, right?"
Ah, so that was why she hadn't given up and had come back. From an outsider's perspective, her explanation was definitely plausible. "He's not 'that wizard,' but Riol Warb Dwalkie. And your father indeed tried to pull one over on me, but Rotmiller wasn't bought." I pointed out only the facts. After doing that, I realized I needed to resolve this issue now. Even if the district chief tried something else, I didn't think Mr. Bear or Raven would fall for it so easily, but ignoring the problem would only make it more of an issue in the future.
I should do it while it's already on my mind.
"Where is your father now?"
"Uh, I don't know. He's probably at the District Seven headquarters at this time."
Obtaining just the necessary information from Urbans, I issued her an order to leave. "You go back now. And don't return. I refuse to get entangled in your family's affairs."
"Pardon? What do you m—"
"It is just as I said."
When she first came to see me, I thought she had harbored ill will toward me because of the prison break incident. But now that I was thinking back, the timing was just right. The reason the district chief had suddenly become hostile toward me a few months ago was because of her.
"I told you. Our interests are aligned."
"Uh-huh, leave." I forced Urbans out and put on the equipment I had just taken off.
Creak.
When I stepped out the door, she was still standing there. "Are you going to see my father?"
"Yes. I'm going to negotiate."
"But why the weapon?"
I cocked my head. Why wouldn't I take my weapon to a negotiation?