Chapter 49: 49: Negotiation (2)
"We will use it for ourselves first," Robi said. "The spell is legitimate. Although I do not know its maximum power without testing, one thing is certain. If placed properly, it can kill a Fourth Rank enemy. That alone makes it worth more than a common Fifth Rank spell."
Jenny felt her legs weaken slightly.
A spell that could kill a Fourth Rank enemy.
House Vardros had never possessed anything like that.
Peter looked at Lucard with disbelief. If the spell could truly kill a Fourth Rank enemy, then Lucard had not just written a valuable spell. He had written something that could protect noble gates, hidden estates, and dangerous storage houses. It was not only a spell. It was a weapon that could sleep under the ground and kill when needed.
Jake looked at Lucard like his brother had just pulled a dragon out of his sleeve.
Lucard finally spoke.
"I am not impressed by the offer."
Robi’s smile paused.
Lucard continued, "The spell is worth much more. Old man, are you trying to rob us?"
The room froze.
Jenny’s face turned pale.
Peter’s body became stiff.
Jake looked terrified and impressed at the same time, which was becoming his normal expression around Lucard.
Celia’s eyes widened slightly. Even she did not expect Lucard to speak to Robi Marovain like that. Robi was not a branch manager. He was an elder of House Marovain. He was the seventh brother of the duke. He was a Fifth Rank battle mage and one of the best appraisal masters in the kingdom. Many count family heads would lower their tone when speaking to him.
Lucard called him an old man trying to rob them.
Robi’s expression changed. The warmth disappeared from his face. And a heavy mana pressure filled the room.
It came from Robi like an invisible wave. The air became thick. The tea cups on the table trembled. The curtains moved even though there was no wind. Jenny gasped as the pressure hit her. Jake dropped to his knees almost instantly. Jenny tried to hold him, but her own legs also failed. She fell to one knee beside him. Peter gritted his teeth and tried to stand, but his injured body could not resist. He dropped to one knee and used his sword to support himself.
Even Celia placed one hand on the table for balance.
The pressure they felt was only a part of it.
Most of it was directed at Lucard.
Lucard felt five times more pressure than the others. It pressed down on his shoulders, bones, chest, and blood. His current body was only at the First Blood Circle, Mortal Vessel. He was not strong enough to ignore a Fifth Rank battle mage’s mana pressure. Pain appeared on his face. His muscles tightened. His bones felt like they were being pushed toward the floor.
But he did not kneel. His body shook once. Then he stood straight again.
The old Blood God inside him would never kneel to a mortal merchant, even if that mortal had some talent and a shiny metal hand.
Lucard looked at Robi and spoke through the pressure.
"Old man, are you trying to kill everyone here without paying a penny? Do you not care about your house reputation or your own? What will others think when they find out you stole from a fallen baron family? Do you have no honor and shame?"
Jenny looked up with difficulty.
She wanted to tell him to stop provoking the man, but she could barely breathe.
Jake was on the floor, holding Jenny’s dress, his small face pale.
Peter’s eyes were full of shock. He could not understand how Lucard was still standing. Peter was feeling only a part of the pressure and was already forced down. Lucard was taking the main pressure directly, yet he remained on his feet.
Celia watched Lucard carefully. Her eyes changed again.
Robi suddenly laughed. The pressure vanished. The air returned to normal.
Jenny took a deep breath. Jake coughed and held his chest. Peter slowly stood with difficulty. Celia released the table and looked at her uncle with a complicated expression.
Robi laughed for a few seconds, then looked at Lucard with bright eyes.
"The moment I saw you, I knew you were different," Robi said. "You are not even scared by my mana pressure. Young man, you impressed me."
Lucard adjusted his sleeve calmly, even though his body still hurt inside.
Robi sat down again.
"Tell me. What is the right price?"
Lucard did not hesitate.
"Twenty million gold coins."
Jake almost choked.
Jenny’s eyes widened so much that she forgot her own fear.
Peter stared at Lucard like he had just declared he wanted to buy the royal palace and use it as an inn.
Celia’s face changed too.
Robi looked at Lucard for a moment, then laughed again.
"Young man, are you joking?"
"No."
"The spell is good, but it is not worth twenty million gold coins."
Lucard’s eyes stayed calm. "Then what is it worth?"
Robi answered before thinking too much.
"Ten million at most."
The moment the words left his mouth, Robi understood.
Lucard’s eyes changed slightly.
He had tricked him.
Lucard gave a faint smile.
"Fine. Give me ten million gold coins. I will save your face and show some respect to you as an elder."
Celia looked at Lucard sharply.
Robi also became silent for a moment.
He had revealed the real price himself. That was not a mistake he usually made. He had been amused by Lucard and lowered his guard for a breath. That one breath was enough for the young man to pull the true number out of him. It was not a large trick, but it was clean.
Robi looked at Lucard with more interest.
Inside his mind, thoughts moved quickly.
"This guy is cunning," Robi thought. "He pushed high first, then forced me to correct him. Now if I offer less, it will look like I am cheating him after admitting the value."
His eyes moved to the pages again.
