Chapter 474
No sane person willingly drinks poison.
Well, I'm that kind of idiot.
After we finished laughing, Verocchio casually handed me the antidote. I swallowed it slowly. The heat and sluggishness in my body gradually faded.
My stats let me survive poison longer than most. But having it eat away at you is still dangerous.
"You're the first customer who drank like that. Most choose the normal wine and make me take the poison. I've got poison resistance. Leveled up, too. I drink it and then beat the hell out of them. That's the routine."
"Well, offering poison to someone who's paying would piss anyone off."
"Probably. But here, I make the rules. Unfair or not, anyone who can't follow them isn't a customer."
I could have killed him.
"Testing trust with poison? You're as crazy as they say."
"And you're crazy for drinking it. What if I didn't give you the antidote?"
"Who knows? Then you'd be famous for killing a hero. My organization would be your enemy. My people are scary, you know. And you'd have at least one ducal house against you. We're on good terms with the temple now, too."
They say trust is everything in the underworld. But building trust slowly will get you blindsided. That's why they use such an extreme method.
Verocchio seems dangerous at first. But once you're in, he's loyal. Generous.
That goes for anyone who passes this ritual.
"Oops. Did I step on a dragon's tail?"
"You stepped on it hard. Lucky for you, the dragon doesn't mind."
"...I'll have to rethink this ritual."
"Think about it after you hear what I need."
I'd been talking casually from the start. The ritual brought us even closer. So I smiled and gave him the complaint I'd had since FBO.
A smile can be a threat. Say it with a smile, and it sounds like a joke. Verocchio's mouth twitched. He understood.
"Will do. So. What do you want?"
"Blunt or slow?"
"..."
He shrugged. He understood the landmines. He sat up straight. Ready to listen. His way of saying he'd make up for his mistake with work. I wasn't going to dig. I nodded. We moved on.
"I like complicated. But let's keep it blunt."
He knew the risk of cutting corners. He hesitated. Then decided.
"Got it. Blunt it is. I want you. Hagets."
"What?"
No hesitation. My expression, voice, presence. All serious. Verocchio's tone dropped.
"You want us to work for you?"
"Exactly. I'll give you status, pay, benefits."
"I see you're serious. Not like those nobles who throw money and expect you to shut up."
As the leader of an organization, hearing someone say "give me your organization" isn't pleasant. The friendliness vanished. Replaced by a calculating gaze.
"I'm only listening because you followed our rules. Normally, I'd say 'get lost.'"
"Then I'll convince you before that happens."
No hostility. The chance isn't zero. That's enough.
"Try. I have responsibilities. You won't—"
"What if I can build your ideal entertainment district?"
"...Let's hear the details."
I know his weakness. A certain type of woman. He can't stay faithful. He knows that. He drifts from one place to another.
"My town is still growing. Vast land inside walls. Plenty waiting to be used. Food, water, transport are secured. With certain technology."
I didn't hold back. You might think that wouldn't sway him. Any powerful noble could do that. But not in a way he'd accept.
"We're expanding to the sea. Building a port town. It'll connect to my city. A trading hub."
"The sea!"
His ideal can only exist in a port town. Why not just live in one? Existing ports are controlled by other organizations. He's tried to break in. Always pushed back.
A port town where he could build his ideal district? Of course he'd lean in.
"You like mermaids, don't you?"
"I love them!"
His skin is dark from swimming. He shaves his head so it doesn't get in the way. An情報 broker who swims better than any fisherman. Skills for swimming. All to meet a mermaid. FBO players thought he was a man of dedication. But his情報 gathering was solid.
"I'll give you the rights. To build your district in my port town. In exchange, Hagets works as my shadow."
"Damn. I thought I could turn down anything. This shakes me."
His情報 gathering works against him. He's looked into my town. He's seen the walls. The golems. My words have weight. They deny the possibility of failure.
"I want details. How much control?"
"You set the rules. Labor, health, environment. Follow them, and you can hire who you want. Build what you want. I'll even build the first buildings to your specs."
"What?"
I could see the fantasies running through his head. Mermaids. Beautiful women. He'd be beaming.
"But... convincing my men..."
"I know."
"Know what?"
His heart wants to accept. He shakes his head. Tries to resist. Finds reasons to refuse.
I won't give him the chance.
This pose is useful for intimidation.
I lean forward. Hands clasped. Verocchio leans back.
"Your men have their own tastes. Elves. Beastkin. Dwarves. Scale-kin. Women from other continents. They're all frustrated."
"Where did you..."
"Snakes know the snake's path."
He thinks I know everything. Sweat on his forehead.
The情報 isn't from my Entertainers. Other Named characters in Hagets told me. Willingly.
"And you, sir."
The butler. I know his taste, too.
"Motherly cat-eared mature women. Good taste. The more beast-like ones, too."
"?!"
"You?"
I smiled. He flinched. Liberta-kun doesn't understand.
Verocchio is shocked. The butler's reaction confirmed it. I don't let up.
"I can bring them. From other continents. Fair treatment. Consent. Not force."
"!!"
Men talk about this. Especially without Nell and the others.
"Proof?"
"I'm a teacher. To heroes on other continents. I pay them. They introduce me."
The west might be hard. I'll talk to their second-in-command. The north and east will help.
"You understand? You do情報 work for me, and I can bring your dream women. From anywhere. Good待遇. Your district runs on expenses."
"!"
They swallowed. Eyes wide. The conflict inside them is ending.
"情报 work gets paid separately."
One more push. I tilt my head.
"We'll consider it. Positively."
"Too bad. If you'd agreed now, I had a bonus."
He needs time. To convince his men. I shake my head.
"Bonus?"
"Yeah."
He's wary. Another surprise.
"Sign now, and I'll add medical facilities. Magic cosmetics. Personal tailors. For the women."
"Master! You are a god! Give me two hours! No, one! Thirty minutes! I will convince them! Please, let us serve you!"
Verocchio and the butler kneel. Foreheads to the floor.
"Bring everyone. I'll explain the contracts."
"Yes, sir!"
I had to drink poison. But I found a way to solve the Entertainers' manpower shortage.