Calian was staring ahead without saying a word. Of course, I didnât take off the hood.
Behind Kalian, four men with swords were standing blocking the door. And in front of it was a table made of iron, and the man sitting across from it was holding something in his hand and looking at it. These were the certificates Kalyan had presented so far.
âYou can earn over 6,000 florins with just 3 florins. Thatâs amazing.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Calian did not answer. The man shrugged and put down the certificates, as if he wasnât particularly hoping for an answer.
It was obvious why the man called Calian like this. The amount has become too large. Since he would have to incur a huge loss to get all that money out, Kalyan, who thought he would probably come up with an appropriate negotiation or threat, followed without hesitation.
âNo matter how much we run a gambling house, we also have commercial interests. I will give you the money.â
The man who said that tapped the table with his lightly clenched fist. Then the person behind the man placed a pocket on the table.
Surprisingly, when he obediently handed over the money, Calian looked at the man with a questioning look. You couldnât see his expression because it was covered by the hood, but the man who saw his head moving said with a grin.
âAh. But why did you call me?â
The man opened his money bag and showed it to Kalian. It seemed as if the gold coin was asking to confirm what it had heard, but Calian did not turn his gaze in that direction.
âIâm a little worried about giving such a large amount of money to a child.â
Before I knew it, the tone of speech had changed.
It seemed like someone had probably heard someone yelling at Kyrie.
Anyway, what they are saying is, âI will give you money, but I canât give it to you now. âCome when you grow up.â This is what it means. The person who had just put down the money bag let out a giggling sound, as if there was some order that someone had planned.
Calian, who stared at the scene for a moment, finally opened his mouth.
âI know itâs a lot of money.â
The only thing barely visible under the hood was his lips. Those lips were smiling. It was clearly a boyâs voice, but he didnât seem embarrassed or surprised.
Calian moved his head slightly and spoke in a disappointed voice.
âStill, I thought you would at least negotiate.â
Instead of answering, the man pointed at Calianâs head.
âFor now, take off that stuffy hat, kid.â
Calian raised his hand and gently grasped the tip of his hat.
Then, he pressed a little deeper and answered briefly.
âno.â
âYou have to look people in the eye and talk to them, donât you?â
Considering that he had quite a bit of money, I thought he was probably not a commoner. However, seeing as they came without an escort, they couldnât have been from a very high-ranking family. Because of that confidence, men act without hesitation.
âIf you take this off.â
The corners of Calianâs lips twisted upward. It was a laugh that Plantz learned from and was very adept at breaking peopleâs hearts.
âSomething difficult is happening. Really.â
A laugh that closely resembled Plantzâs had an excellent effect. The man swore and gestured his chin at the person behind him. The man who had taken out the money bag walked towards Calian and reached out to grab his hood.
At the same time, Kalian also moved.
â Hiss!
Calian raised his left hand to hold the end of the hood that was about to be removed and pulled out the knife that was in his hand. Then, he stood up, turned around, and lowered the back of the hand of the person holding the hood.
âUgh!â
When the man grabbed his hand and started screaming, Calian had already sat down again.
âWhat the hell!â
It happened in an instant.
Calianâs condition was excellent, so he was able to move this much even with his thin and twisted body. Of course, it would only be for a short time and once or twice, but it didnât matter.
At the screams of their colleagues, the four people blocking the door drew their swords.
Then, a terrifying energy came out of Calian.
A dark murderous atmosphere filled with clear murderous intent filled the surroundings.
The man couldnât speak. Cold sweat ran down my back. He also had to deal with the knightsâ lives, but it was clearly different. The situation was no different for the men around Kalian. Without realizing it, the tip of the knife was shaking.
People who have lived in places like this are quick-witted.
This is different from a knight who fights his sword to the end without sacrificing himself. I knew that once I realized my superiority in strength, I would not attack any more.
âItâs not fun to look down on people because of their age. Donât be curious about their faces. Put a knife in them and get rid of the noisy kid. Negotiate first, threaten later.â
Even though the person behind him with his hand cut off in half was screaming, the voice of Calian, who was sitting in front, was very calm.
âI hope you understand. Do it again from the beginning.â
The lingering blood that had been blooming subsided as if it had been washed away, and Calian smiled brightly. Seeing that smile gave me goosebumps. Because only the mouth is visible because of the hood, it is even more brutal.
âshit! âI brought in a crazy guy who uses a sword!â
Will I be able to win if I call in my subordinates from outside? The man quickly used his brain to gauge the difference in strength.
âThe movement is fast. Thereâs no way those slow-witted guys can keep up with that speed. Besides, heâs spewing out such deadly force, but half of the time, he canât even draw a sword properly and is ready to fight.â
The result of the calculation was simple. I came to the conclusion that it was better to just have the money taken than to fight for no reason and see blood and money being taken away.
Without even trying the sword directly, you withdraw because you are worried that you will lose. It was just as Calian had thought.
âIf you give me all the money, Iâll be dead too. âWhat is it?â
There were circumstances for men too.
Although I took out all that money to pretend to be strong, it would have been really difficult if that large amount of money had been taken out all at once. There would be setbacks in immediate business, and the payment was not enough.
Still, since Calian talked about negotiation, the man decided to believe it and try to negotiate.
âIt is difficult to give money all at once. If you tell me where you are staying, I will send you money in installments every week.â
â Crack!
The tip of Calianâs knife scratched the iron desk. A creepy sound rang out. Kalian said.
âThe kid whoâs noisy with knives.â
The man, recalling what Calian had said a moment ago, gestured. The swords in the four hands returned to their sheaths, and two of them ran away, taking the screaming person with them.
The man opened his mouth again.
âAre you okay? Now, if you tell me where you are stayingâ¦â
â Crack!
That means that is not the correct answer.
The man gritted his teeth.
âYes, actually, it is difficult to give that money all at once. We also have to raise the payment every weekâ¦!â
Calian lifted the knife and put it to his lips, as if telling him to be quiet. The quiet voice continued again.
âDonât say anything that would be bothersome to know.â
âI donât have any money to give you, so what should I do?â
The man made a loud noise without realizing it. Then he made a dying voice.
âNo. Thatâs not what Iâm saying⦠I just want you to tell me what you want.â
Calian tapped the desk with the tip of his knife.
âI wonât take any money.â
It was the most welcome sound Iâve ever heard. The manâs face lit up. But Calianâs words were not over. The man continued to say things that seemed like a lightning strike.
âGive me someone instead. Monster eyeball.â
âNo, thatâsâ¦!â
â Crack!
âOh really!â
The man frowned momentarily. The unreasonable demands resulted in a bad situation. I thought, if youâre going to give it a try, give it a try.
Kalyan also noticed a change in the manâs mood.
If you give him just a little more time, a fight will break out, and then youâll find out that heâs just a kid with nothing special to do. So, donât give yourself time to think.
Calian gritted his molars.
âHeâs just started making money, and the Masterâ¦!â
The man who said that silently closed his mouth.
This was because I heard Calianâs knife, which was not even a sword, make a small ringing sound.
â Ugh!
Soon, a blue energy enveloped the knife, turned into a sharp blade, and stretched out.
A blue aura that seemed like it could cut anything formed on the knife. The manâs eyes were twisted in shock.
Those who saw before their eyes what they had only heard in words held their breath. Then, he looked at the tips of Calianâs fingers with a âno wayâ look in his eyes. As if to prove that belief to be correct, Calian quietly stood up from his seat, raised a knife with an aura as long as the length of the sword, and slashed it right in front of the manâs nose.
The man was startled and shrugged his shoulders.
ââ¦â¦!â
There was no sound at that moment.
The knife, which was stabbed silently as if the thick iron table was a pudding, went right through the table. Only the afterimage of blue light remained for a long time, like a nightmare.
I felt a cold chill coming from the Aurorâs blade that passed between my knees under the table and then disappeared. The man pulled back without realizing it. The pants were cut long, so my bare legs were clearly visible.
âWhat are you!â
Calian bowed his head.
Blood came rushing out from inside my body.
Calian held the corner of the table with both hands to support his body and managed to swallow back the boiling blood.
âI canât do it twice.â
My heart hurt as if it would break.
Calian barely opened his mouth and spoke in a relaxed manner.
âIf itâs 6,000 florins and your life⦠Iâll exchange the monsterâs eyes.â
My voice trembled. It was meant to hold back pain, but to the manâs ears, it only sounded like he was holding back his anger.
âcrazy! Itâs a sword master! A hundred guys like me. No, even if a thousand people gather, we are no match!â
The man quickly grasped the situation and quickly nodded.
Then, behind Calian, he glanced at the two subordinates who were shivering with wide-open eyes. It was meant to be brought in, and two people rushed forward.
Calian reached out and took the knife.
The knife, which was thought to be unable to withstand the aura, was surprisingly fine. The craftsmanship of the creator was good, and there may be a reason why the auror appeared and disappeared in such a short moment. Kalian laughed.
âI was weaker than the sword.â
Calian sat down again. To hide his pained expression, he lowered his head and took a slow breath.
Five minutes passed, which felt like five years. The pain had decreased to the point where it was bearable. When it took longer than expected, Calian became frustrated and knocked on the desk with a knife. The man panicked because the sound seemed to shorten his lifespan.
âIâll be there soon, so please wait a moment!â
Immediately after that, the office door opened and the men who had left a moment ago rushed in. But there were only two of them. He didnât bring Kyrie with him. The man asked urgently.
âWhere should you leave the kid?â
âWhat heâs saying is⦠that he canât leave that behindâ¦â
Calian raised his head in surprise. The wind almost caused the hood that I had barely managed to protect to come off.
Hina.
Itâs a name Iâve heard of.
âCould it be thatâ¦?â
When Calianâs head was raised, the man opened his mouth urgently.
âSo you said you would go together?â
âYes. Hina is the same halfâ¦.â
âIt doesnât matter, so bring her! Bring two or three, just bring them all!â
âyes yes!â
The sound of running was heard again. It didnât take that long this time.
â Sweet.
The door opened once again. And then four people came in. Excluding the manâs subordinates, one of them was Kirie and the other was Calian, who I had seen a while ago. It was the silver-haired girl who gave the certificate.
The man who saw them said with joy.
âCome on, take everyone with you. Go quickly.â
Calian suddenly got up from his seat. Then the man and his subordinates flinched and stepped back.
âFollow me, both of you.â
Calian, who spoke as if he had no more business to see to others, walked towards the door.
âah.â
The man seemed to be relieved, and Calian, who made a short sound, suddenly turned back and approached again.
âWhy are you doing this?â
Calian, standing in front of the man, held out his hand.
The man who saw it was astonished.
âHave you changed your mind? Are you even asking me for money?â
Calian smiled brightly.
âPlease return the entrance fee and principal.â
5 gold coins.
You have to use it sparingly.