Chapter 353: Trafficking in Human Hearts_1

Chapter 353: Chapter 353: Trafficking in Human Hearts_1

In the depths of a countryside villa, within a hidden room connected to an escape passage, a covert transaction was unfolding.

The former wizard, now a Netherland Heretic Inquisitor, Joey Lawson, sat opposite a silver-haired old butler, separated by a low table. A concealed observation window made of a mirror and one-way glass offering a view of the courtyard provided the room with some illumination. The room wasn’t particularly dim, but the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive, although it had not yet reached the point of an outright confrontation.

Unnoticed by the two sitting at the low table, a witch with an inconspicuous presence leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, listening intently to their conversation.

"...I’m afraid I can’t accept your asking price," Joey Lawson said impassively, knocking on the table with his knuckles. "If the customer can’t afford it, the deal won’t go through. Do you really know how to do business?"

"This deal was tailor-made for you, Mr. Lawson. If it weren’t for your insistence..."

"Looks like I’ve been marked as a difficult client, but weren’t you the ones who aggressively marketed to me first?" Joey interrupted before the other could finish, "Breeding a titled whore, dressing her up like a doll to make her seem endearing to approach me, you so-called information brokers sure have a lot of tricks up your sleeves."

"I’m glad she’s to your liking, but that’s exactly why..." The butler paused, "we can’t easily compromise on the price. Sophie Carter was developed through a substantial investment of our resources. If it weren’t to avoid a conflict with you as much as possible, we wouldn’t engage in such a losing deal. This is a sign of respect for you, so please don’t haggle too aggressively."

"But if I can’t afford it, then I can’t afford it. Negotiating like this is just wasting each other’s time. I might as well go up now and kill her," Joey’s tone grew colder.

"What good is killing her? A dead person, a handful of ashes – what significance does it have for you? Of course, you could hire a necromancer to turn her into a complete and cold collectible, but as someone who has touched power, don’t you find that sad?" the butler stated smoothly with a smile.

"Sad?" Joey narrowed his eyes.

"The powerful live as they wish. Having explored the deepest secrets on the path to power, is it to suppress your own desires like this? She’s just a little singer. If you fancy her, you should... claim her for yourself." The butler tempted, "We can help you fulfill this wish, make her your slave, obedient to your every command."

Joey was silent for a long time before speaking, "Do you people truly hold the ’Word of Desire’?"

"Of course, how else would we dare to transact with you? Even if you doubt our capabilities, you should believe that we can certainly find someone capable of doing it." The butler sensed that Joey was tempted and quickly made a guarantee, "Just one word, and we can make her fall for you as she would her own faith."

"You really dare sell anything," Joey remarked.

"Everything has value. Since even the seat of a god can be weighed on a scale waiting for sufficient chips, what do so-called lives and hearts count for?" The butler spoke with an affable smile.

"But it’s a pity..." Joey’s voice grew deeper.

"Alright, if you truly can’t pay with divinity or money, we’re not without other means of payment." The butler swiftly changed tack, "Mr. Lawson, would you consider our recruitment?"

"You want me to join the Smiling Balance?" Joey frowned suspiciously.

"No, no, no, just as a temporary hired hand. As you know, being information brokers, it’s common to be resented." The butler apologetically grinned and waved his hand, then took out several wanted posters with the faces smeared to obscure some details. "So, attracting some trouble is nothing out of the ordinary."

"Are these people like me who have caught your attention, the unlucky ones?" Joey glanced at the photos and knew the situation, "Hah, the Smiling Balance truly is a group of scavenging wild dogs. Do you want me to fight someone, for us both to end up injured and then collect together?"

"We will provide intelligence to you. You can pick your own certain victims and use the bounty to offset our asking price; we can split the divinity evenly. It’s cooperation that benefits both parties," the butler remained composed.

"So-called cooperation is just letting me kill a prey, then sharing the spoils with me. But once I’ve feasted and grown fat, you’ll certainly guide other predators to kill me and then share my flesh," Joey stated coldly.

"But we can always give you what you want most, can’t we?" the butler said.

"..." Joey didn’t deny it.

"You’re still hesitant, I see. According to our information, you’ve always lived inconspicuously. Whether as a male wizard or as a Heretic Inquisitor," The butler spoke slowly, "Is it necessary? Having the ability to touch power enough to prove you’re among the world’s elite wizards..."

"Don’t flatter me," Joey cut him off coldly, "Staying low-key keeps me out of a lot of trouble, like being targeted by you."

"No, no, no. The ones you should be most wary of are the other people on this path, right, like those we’ve put bounties on. If they knew your whereabouts and intelligence ahead of time, the roles of hunter and hunted might just reverse. And then there are some organizations with greater influence... ah, like... the Witches’ Gathering? Those Great Witches acknowledged by the apex witch, though they don’t mind your past killing of their kin, they would certainly be interested in the divinity within you." The butler pointed at Joey.

"Is that a threat?" Joey detected the implications, "I don’t fancy being threatened."

"Not at all, just trying to clarify that if you take too drastic measures, it won’t be good for anyone," the butler waved his hands repeatedly.

Joey fell into thought, taking his time he then asked, "If I agreed, how would we settle it?"

"Once you’ve accumulated enough payment, we’ll satisfy your request. Cash on delivery, quite reasonable," the butler answered.

"All terms benefiting you, how do I know you won’t breach the contract?" Joey remained skeptical.

"We would have at least that minimum credit. The balance is for trading."

"I can’t fully trust you."

"We have plenty of time, you can think it over." The butler spoke with a smile.