Living is the same as making a living.
Making a living is, in other words, living.
Leo had always embraced this strong belief in his heart, and with it, he had dedicated his life to making money by any means possible.
Gathering information.
Understanding the true needs of his counterpart.
Offering subtle benefits.
Pursuing mutual gains.
If you get to the core of these, they lead you to the secrets of dealing with people and the essence of living. In other words, the secrets of survival.
Leo now found himself surrounded by coarse, rugged men, desperately trying to navigate through the predicament by making full use of his hard-earned money-making skills.
With no magic to rely on, no one to call for help, and no exceptional combat skills to boast, he had to depend solely on those skills to survive.
This was a live sales pitch, with his life on the line.
If he could convince them that they might gain more from his alternate proposal than the current one, Leo would emerge victorious.
(The legendary Leo, who had once persuaded the thrifty housewives of the downtown to buy thousands of high-end kitchen knives, doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘impossible.’)
Leo steeled himself with this strange form of self-encouragement and faced the men directly, sporting a calm, confident smile.
First, he started with the basic rule of business: a gentle smile.
Then, he focused on gathering information and assessing his target.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Or is it a good morning? Good afternoon?”
The men were startled when a young girl rose from the altar and spoke to them politely.
Given the strange room, the chains binding her, and the imposing men surrounding her, the situation was undoubtedly ominous. Normally, a girl her age would burst into tears in fear. Yet, she faced them with a serene smile.
“Who are you?” one of the men muttered warily.
Leo instantly targeted him, noting his leading position, size, and demeanor. He was undoubtedly the leader of the group.
“Please, don’t raise your voice. I’m not here to plead for my life or cause a commotion. I just want to have a conversation. I won’t resist—look at me, I’m in this state.”
Following the basic principles of a sales pitch, Leo aimed to gather information about their intentions and profiles.
“Are you hired by Mr. Alir Ad? What do you plan to do with me?”
“You’d best not ask questions. The outcome won’t change, so there’s no need to fret about it ahead of time.”
Hearing the stern response, Leo felt a mix of relief and urgency.
It was fortunate that the man wasn’t the type to speak at length, savoring the pain he might inflict. But it was also a problem if he was efficient and determined to follow orders.
(He isn’t grinning or taunting. He’s not particularly enthusiastic either. He’s a serious type who completes assignments once the payment has been accepted.)
Quickly sizing up the situation, Leo decided to shift the conversation’s pace.
“Are you going to do something frightening? A group of five adults, all targeting a child?”
No response.
“How much are you being paid? If you were to spare me, you could double your profits.”
No response.
“Not interested? Do you simply follow orders like dogs?”
“What did you say?”
Appealing to their pride, Leo was surprised that the men reacted most strongly to his last statement.
The others, even those in the back, raised their voices menacingly, and the youngest seemed somewhat confused.
But Leo, who had handled downtown thugs many times before, was prepared for this. He maintained his composure and pressed on, choosing to focus his approach on the leader.
While he was careful not to belittle them too much, he tried shifting the focus of the conversation.
“Let me ask you: what were you told when you were assigned this job?”
“Huh?”
“You’re aware of this strange room, the chains, and the attempt to summon a dark spirit. So you know about the slaughtering of pigs and—are you expecting just three gold coins for this job? Maybe you were told to dismember pigs and ruin a girl?”
As he smoothly led them along, one man muttered, “Ten silver coins.”
“Ten silver coins! Just ten silver coins? That’s too—”
From Leo’s usual perspective, ten silver coins was a good sum. But he dismissed it as if it were a pittance.
The men showed confusion, and Leo adopted an air of authority as he spoke slowly.
“The price of life and honor.”
Leo didn’t realize it himself, but his commanding beauty resembled the light spirits of legend, giving him an aura that was difficult for the average person to resist.
“—What did you say…?”
The persuasive force of Leo’s live sales pitch seized the men, leaving them speechless.
(Got them!)
Sensing that the men were now paying full attention, Leo pushed forward aggressively.
“What? You didn’t thoroughly consider why you were chosen for this job?”
“Why would we consider the twisted ideas of a rotten noble? We just do our job: slaughter pigs, ruin you, and take the money.”
“How terrible! In business, and in life, you must delve deep into the client’s true intentions! You adjust how you prepare a dish based on whether it’s for a stew, a skewer, or frying, right? Without knowing your client’s goal, blindly following orders is amateur work.”
“Uh…?”
His fervent speech left the men uncertain, and Leo quickly redirected the conversation.
“What I mean is,” he continued, locking eyes with each man, “do you think you can summon a dark spirit and walk away unscathed with your silver coins? He plans to make you part of the sacrifice.”
“What?”
Leo’s years of perfecting bluffing, combined with his mysterious appearance, worked to his advantage. The men were taken aback and demanded more information.
They didn’t dismiss his words outright but asked questions, showing they were starting to believe him.
Sensing he was close to winning them over, Leo concentrated all his efforts and carefully crafted his words.
“Think about it. Why didn’t he hire skilled assassins or other professionals but chose you for this crucial ritual?”
***
Moments ago, Alir Ad had referred to the group as “the lowly.” Leo, therefore, analyzed them as mere thugs from the slums. They weren’t exactly virtuous, but they weren’t evil either. They weren’t entirely dull, but they weren’t exceptionally intelligent either. In short, they were just like the folks Leo was familiar with from the lower town.
Leo, feeling a sense of kinship towards them, leaned forward eagerly.
“You are disposable to him… because he intends to use you as laborers and then offer you as sacrifices,” Leo explained.
Indeed, children like Leo from the lower town often found themselves entangled in such crimes. Enticed by generous rewards, they worked diligently, only to be killed or sold off as a means to silence them.
Leo himself had once been lured by an offer of two silver coins and accepted a courier job. He narrowly avoided disaster thanks to his quick realization and rushing to the patrol squad with Hanna. Although Leo didn’t receive the two silver coins, he was thoroughly scolded by Hanna, and his allowance was confiscated. It was a deeply regrettable incident.
(Oh no, I’m genuinely getting angry here.)
Exploiting the poor is one of the gravest evils in the world.
Leo addressed the men who were listening intently, speaking with more fervor. “Are you going to follow him? Will you trade your pride and life for ten silver coins?”
“….”
“Completing a job because it’s your duty is admirable, but your employer offers you an unreasonably low pay of ten silver coins and treats your life as disposable. Is that truly work?”
“….No.”
The men, influenced by the resolute look in Leo’s amethyst eyes, began to nod in agreement.
Leo unconsciously clenched his fist and placed it over his chest as if making a vow to them.
“We have our own pride. Our lives and safety come first. We need to make this clear to our employer. Don’t you agree?”
“Yeah.”
“This season of spring is a time for renewal. Even spirits renew their contracts with the earth during this time. Now is the moment for us to reflect on what contracts and work truly mean.”
“Yeah…”
“Let’s boldly declare that we will only accept work that honors our pride and our lives!”
“Yeah…!”
“Let’s confront him! How dare he use us! Who would accept such a job?”
“Yeah!!”
Leo raised his fist high, and the men, swept up in the fervor, thrust their fists forward.
The scene resembled a union negotiation rather than a traditional demonstration.
Leo, with the presence of a charismatic revolutionary, nodded with authority and raised his hands in gratitude.
“Thank you! Thank you!” he said.
“Um, can we remove the chains from the girl now, leader?” A boy who had been cowering in the back tentatively asked.
(Hold on, that voice sounds familiar…)
Leo stared intently at the shortest man in the black hood, and then it happened.
“…Ah…?”
The boy, having received permission from the leader, picked up a nearby candlestick to illuminate his hands as he began to remove the chains. Suddenly, he lost his balance and stumbled.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
The leader reached out to support the boy and caught the candlestick as he stumbled. The boy then flung it away in alarm, causing it to smash onto the ground.
“Don’t breathe that in!”
But it was too late. Several other men crouched down to retrieve the fallen candlestick.
“…”
They all froze.
“… Defile…”
The men began muttering incoherently as they swayed slightly.
“… Defile. Kill. Defile, kill…”
(…Huh…?)
Leo watched the scene unfold, a cold sweat starting to form.
Alir Ad’s suspicious fragrance from earlier came to mind.
“…!”
(There’s some kind of weird incense in here!?)
The advancements in fragrance technology in Elrand were astonishing, but this wasn’t the time to marvel.
Leo had barely escaped one danger, only to face another.
Even worse, “Hey, you guys, get a grip…”
The leader, who had seemed rational up until now, suddenly fell silent.
(Could it be…)
Leo watched in horror as he wiped away the cold sweat streaming down his forehead.
“Defile…kill…”
“Even you!?”
Now even the leader had fallen under the spell of the incense.
All five men swayed as they advanced toward the altar.
“Defile, kill! Offer blood and suffering!”
“Everyone, calm down…!”
Leo pleaded desperately, but the men no longer seemed to hear him.
Through the eye holes of their hoods, he could see their bloodshot eyes.
“Defile!”
The leader lunged forward and grabbed Leo.
Leo twisted out of the way, but the chains yanked his feet, causing him to stumble and fall onto the altar.
“No…!”
The leader was on top of him.
The burly man’s arm wrapped around Leo’s neck, tightening its grip.
“Stop…!”
Leo clawed at the man’s arm, thrashing desperately, but it was futile.
The chains clattered noisily as he struggled.
(There’s no way! I don’t want this!)
Leo’s mind panicked, and he clung to anything he could.
(Help! Help! Help!)
Bruno wasn’t coming.
He couldn’t rely on Lena.
Neither Kai, Gustav, nor any of his friends would hear his cries.
Leo’s desperate plea naturally turned toward the one being he thought of last.
(Ka’s will…! Spirit of gold!)
If his cry had been heard by Elrandians, they would’ve collectively criticized him for calling out the wrong spirit.
But in that instant, a voice, as smooth as silk, answered his call.
—At last, you call for me!
The dimly lit room was suddenly filled with a radiant gold light.
“…!”
“Defile… Kill… Huh…?”
The men, who had been under the incense’s spell, blinked. When they opened their eyes, the girl on the altar had disappeared.
..what a cliff. The great spirit that leo contacted with in the church back then is finally coming..?