Chapter 49 Path To Profit
'Sooner or later… the thief will show up again!'
That was Rey's ideology after realizing his property had been stolen.
For the duration of the three days after this discovery, he gave several windows of opportunity, but the thief did not take the bait.
This meant his opponent wasn't merely a reckless individual, but someone smart enough to recognize how to exercise caution.
Still, Rey wouldn't give up.
By pretending to go to the Library, but then using [Stealth] and [Mimic] to return to his room, he could intercept the thief.
'Looks like it worked…' Rey smiled while looking at the pained expression of Noah.
He had used [False Pain] to disable his target since he had the [Phase] Skill.
'[False Pain] just replicates the feeling of pain, so as long as I don't physically harm him, it's fine.'
Now that Noah has become docile, Rey thought it was the perfect time to stop the Skill.
Once he canceled the Skill, an expression of relief coursed through Noah's face.
However, before he could even relax, Rey tightened his grip on his throat.
"Like I said before… don't get any funny ideas."
~BZZTZZ!~
Rey's eyes glowed, and flashes of purple electricity danced around him.
[Phase] could be interrupted by a surge of Mana, and since Rey was confident in his superior speed, he could instantly electrify Noah before the latter could make his move.
It seemed Noah also recognized this.
"I… I understand…!"
Since Noah understood his place pretty quickly, Rey grinned and loosened his grip on the boy.
He eventually let him down and completely removed his hand from his throat.
"I'm much faster than you. I can also force you to experience all that pain again. So, don't even think of running away."
While Rey doubted that Noah would even dream of defying him again, he felt it was important to stress on that point.
Defiance would be rewarded with pain.
"Why me?" As Rey said this he proceeded to sit on his bed.
"W-wha…?"
Noah was still shivering as he crumbled on the ground. He was probably too shaken to give a coherent answer.
However, Rey's intimidating gaze told him that he wasn't very patient.
He wanted answers… and fast!
"I… I thought you'd be a good place to start from. I wanted money, and I didn't know where to start from… so I thought… I'd start from you…"
"Why?" Rey asked, narrowing his gaze.
"W-well… I mean…"
Rey already knew why. It was because he seemed average.
He wasn't very important, so if some of his belongings were missing, no one would really care.
He was just an Extra.
"Because I'm average, right? I understand."
Noah had a sour expression on his face, mixed in with the fear that threatened to consume him.
Any second now, and Rey thought Noah would cry.
"I-I promise… I've never stolen anything else before. Please believe me…" Noah whispered.
In response to that, Rey scoffed slightly.
"That enchanted jewel shouldn't be in your possession. None of us have been granted anything like that yet… which means you stole it."
"N-no! I actually bought it!"
"You? You bought it? Let me guess… with the money you got from my Monster Cores."
"Eeeek!"
Noah's easily scared nature made him the perfect interrogation subject.
However, the more Rey thought of his answers, the more something seemed to surface.
"You said you bought that enchanted necklace. You also didn't deny it when I said you sold my Monster Core…"
Rey's eyes widened the instant everything clicked in his head.
"That means you've also gone outside. You've gone into town!"
Noah's guilty expression gave all of it away instantly.
'I was right! He actually left the Royal Estate's walls?!'
Rey could see how that was possible, considering Noah's [Phase] Skill.
It was a viable way to escape the Royal Estate, and by using his other Skill [Projection] well, no one would be able to detect anything.
'When did he start? How long has he been doing this? What does he know?!'
Rey found himself more curious than ever as he stared at Noah.
The anger he felt regarding his stolen Monster Cores soon became secondary. Instead, something else replaced that emotion.
'If he is able to buy and sell outside, and he came back here to get more Monster Cores, that means he already has a viable channel.'
Rey could feel it rising deep inside him—his insatiable greed!
'That means I can finally make money from my Monster Cores!'
He could finally turn all his hard work into profit.
"Hey, Noah…" Reg began, his tone still as stern as always.
"Eeep!"
Noah's submissive squeak pleased Rey. That meant he could control the boy.
'If I make good use of him, I should be able to turn this immense misfortune into a benefit.'
Noah already knew that Rey was strong. The fact that he saw so many Monster Cores in his closet made that clear already.
That was why Rey didn't bother hiding his Skills from Noah when capturing him.
And now, Rey was privy to more of his secrets.
'We're both hiding things from everyone else. If I capitalize on the current hierarchy, I'm at an advantage here…'
All he really had to do was throw Noah a bone, and the boy would probably do what he wanted.
"… I'm thinking we can help each other out." Rey's smile broadened as he rose from his bed.
Noah was still trembling in fear, but Rey had already lost most of his intimidating presence.
"Be my seller. If you do a satisfactory job, I can grant you a commission for every sale."
"E-eh…?"
It seemed Noah was confused about what Rey was proposing, so Rey drew even closer and squatted close to him.
"It's a simple arrangement. I supply you with the Monster Cores, and you help me sell them."
After that, they would split the profit.
Everyone ended up winning, and they could both get what they wanted.
Rey placed his hand on Noah's shoulder and smiled sweetly.
"What do you say, buddy?"
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