The Book Eating Magician Chapter 63:
The Second Mission #3
“Do you know him?” Vince asked as he noticed Theo’s reaction .
Theodore nodded unconsciously . He remembered that face too clearly . In a sense, it was one of the people who had helped him in this city . The person was the black market trader he had visited in order to fill up his insufficient magic power .
Theo clearly recalled his name, “Canis?”
“…Thanks for remembering,” the black market trader, Canis, replied with a resigned expression . He had tried to withdraw but had been suppressed helplessly . His stealth had been noticed, and he couldn’t resist even once . One mistake was enough to bind him on the ground .
Vince grasped the situation and asked, “Is this perhaps the black market trader that you dealt with?”
“Yes, it certain is . ”
Theo and Vince had talked briefly about the black market trader . He was a human from the dark side of the world who couldn’t be trusted, and they had caught him in an unexpected place . Since that day, Theo hadn’t gone to find the black market trader . He could obtain artifacts with Vince’s help, so there was no reason to take the risk .
The quietly listening Canis interrupted, “Excuse me, can you just let me go?”
The two people were talking, but the magic binding him hadn’t been lifted . No, the power continued increasing, so sweat flowed down Canis’ forehead . Theo’s magic power had become stronger after completing the 5th Circle, to an extent where he could suppress some aura users .
Theo heard the request and looked at Vince, who shook his head with a resolute expression .
“No, we need to hear why he is following us,” Vince said . Then grabbed Canis’ neck and threatened, “But keep this in mind . I know lowlives like you very well . If you lie even once, I will pull out an eyeball and repeat this until you stop lying . You know that this isn’t just a threat, right?”
“…Damn, you’re an executor?” Canis gulped as he determined Vince’s identity .
Vince’s killing intent was different from rookies . He was an expert at hunting humans and wasn’t the type of opponent who Canis could go against . The executives of the Red Tower would tear people into pieces without raising an eyebrow . They were natural enemies of those who lived in the lawless zone .
“Keok, I understand . So, let me go . At this rate—kek—I can’t speak . ”
“You only have one chance . ” Vince let Canis go after one final eerie warning, and Canis hurriedly took in deep breaths .
The grip of the magician was so strong that finger marks still remained on his neck . It was also a warning that Canis’ life could be taken at any time . Canis opened his mouth and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, “So, you must be wondering why I was following you?”
“Today was pretty much a coincidence . Young Master hasn’t come to visit me for almost two months already . I just thought of it as extra income until I coincidentally passed by you today . ”
“Coincidence? It seems like you want to lose an eyeball . ”
“W-Wait a minute! Please listen a bit more!” Canis screamed hurriedly as a flame emerged from Vince’s fingertip . It was a conventional threat, but it was extra scary since it came from an executive of the Red Tower .
“I’m going to leave this area! I thought I would find Young Master and do one last deal!”
Vince turned off the flames and asked, “Leave? A black market trader?”
It was hard to leave an organization, especially one in the dark side of the world . Cutting off fingers, arms, or legs would be considered a moderately severe ritual required before a person could leave .
Why would a black market trader, who was treated as a senior executive, want to leave? His unrecognizable body might be found after a few days .
However, Canis’ thoughts were a little different . “Things have gone wrong in this territory . The guild idiots don’t know what they are doing and are digging their graves . I never expected slavery in Meltor, and I don’t want to be burned along with those idiots . ”
“…Slavery?”
“I’m not lying! A week ago, people from Austen secretly crossed the wall! It will eventually come out!”
The two magicians looked at each other, ignoring Canis’ urgent voice . Maybe the organization that the black market trader belonged to was directly connected to this case . Indeed, an organization without any connections to Bergen couldn’t have done something as large as slave trading here . It made sense to join hands with the local organization .
Then it was worth using the black market trader . The two people exchanged glances a few times before coming to a mutual understanding .
In the end, Theodore released the spell binding Canis .
“The story, tell us in a little more detail . ” Vince’s voice grabbed Canis before he could enjoy the sensation of freedom .
***
As soon as the three people left the alley, they started walking toward a specific destination .
The location was somewhere out of the reach of outside gazes, so it was a good location to share a secret story . It was the black market trader’s store .
Kkiiik… The rundown door hinges creaked as the door opened . Canis entered the store first . Then Theodore followed him inside and looked around the store .
‘It has been around two months… Quite a long time . ’
Things hadn’t changed too much . Items were jumbled together and covered in dust, while there were a few items at his feet . Canis haphazardly made a seat by kicking all these things . It took around five minutes to clean the area, so that there was enough room for three people to sit down .
“Come on, sit down . There is no where else to entertain you . ”
It was pretty ridiculous for three big men to sit down on small desk chairs, but the atmosphere got a little lighter .
“Forget the small talk, and tell us the story . I will decide your treatment depending on the value of your information . ”
“Hoo, how bloodthirsty . ” Canis had managed to regain some composure from being in a familiar place, but that went away again with Vince’s words .
Neither did Theodore show Canis a bit of softness at all . Theo just looked away at every joke .
Canis had a hunch and quickly opened his mouth, “Do you want information related to slavery? Like the locations of the people from Austen and the transaction dates . ”
“Didn’t I say to tell me what you know?”
“I’ll be honest, I don’t know a lot of the details . ”
The atmosphere inside the room subsided . This was the result of the increased pressure from the surrounding mana as the two people’s circles rotated . Canis knew there would be this reaction, but he couldn’t tell them things he didn’t know .
“My cardinal rule is to never set foot in dangerous places . My life is at risk in such incidents . So, I was preparing to flee from this area . ”
Canis was the careful type who didn’t accept a favourable deal until there was a strong pledge . If he were a person directly involved in slavery, Vince would’ve cut off his legs without any hesitation and chosen torture instead . In a sense, that prudence was the same as Canis’ .
“So, I am suggesting a deal . ” Sweat flowed down his back as he spoke the words he’d prepared in his head, “I will bring you the information you need . In return for that cooperation, I would like your help . ”
“Do you think you are in the position to ask for funds?”
“I’m sorry, but my life is also at stake . Anyway, I don’t know anything worth torturing out of me . Think of it as a good story for a bit of money . ”
Canis’ words weren’t wrong . The slavers hadn’t been revealed yet, so it was highly unlikely they would be found tonight . Using an insider to obtain information was an opportunity . It was good business for Canis if he could get a new identity and a bit of money .
The question was whether or not to trust him . Vince glared at Canis with cold eyes . It was because he had learned from experience not to trust the words of a criminal . This person was related to his disciple, so his guard was thicker than usual .
“How can I believe you? You might betray us as soon as you meet the organization . Do you have any guarantees that you won’t go back on your words?”
“The same goes for you as well . I don’t think an executor will keep his promise to a person like me . ” Canis looked at Theodore after he spoke .
Theo knew how to fix this situation as he recalled the past . Theirs had also been a relationship where neither of them trusted each other . The appraiser had proposed a trade where the black market trader would gain money, but the black market trader was worried about the suspicious proposal .
The two people had built a trusting relationship through one method .
“Do you want to use the Geass Scroll?”
“Well, there is that method . ” Canis smiled as the intended words were spoken .
The Geass Scroll was a means of binding each other, and the effect was applied, regardless of whether they were a criminal or executor . After all, artifacts couldn’t distinguish between a person’s status or position . In any case, verbal promises could never be trusted . The Geass Scroll was a means for an equal negotiation .
Vince belatedly grasped Canis’ intentions and laughed . “…One of the skills of a mouse is escaping through holes . ”
“I’ll take that as a compliment . If I didn’t dig holes like this, then my life would be different . ”
“But don’t be mistaken . You understand it isn’t enough, right?” Vince laughed again .
At first glance, it seemed like a favourable condition, but Canis had a hidden loophole in his proposal . If he failed, there would be more negative consequences for the two people . Therefore, Canis needed to get rid of that risk .
Canis didn’t miss this and eventually said, “Dammit, I’ll pay an advance . ”
He got up and sighed as he looked around .
There were genuine, defective, and cursed items displayed in a confusing array . Among them were many things Theo had appraised, as well as those he hadn’t . He didn’t know about the quality, but the amount was enormous .
The owner of the store, Canis pointed to the items with a grim look . “Take what you want . ”
“Huh?” Theodore was unable to understand the words .
However, he hadn’t heard wrongly as Canis repeated again in a regretful voice, “I’ll give it all to you, so take as much as you want . ”