A Candid Negotiation

"I have an appointment."

Just as the two guards by the door were about to grab Heka, the boy shifted his center of gravity slightly backward, tricking the guard on the left into reaching for him.

When the guard on the left opened up the centerline around himself, Heka immediately ducked low and moved to the right. After a sidestep that seemed almost playful, he shook off both burly guards.

Heka pulled open the room's door, then grabbed the stunned Tuft of Hair and hurried inside.

The two guards couldn't catch Heka, but they could catch Tuft of Hair, who had fallen behind.

However, just as they were about to make their move, the person in charge inside could no longer stand by and watch.

"Let them in."

The private room was built entirely of stone blocks, but Heka could tell that it had once been part of the sewer—or, more precisely, part of the section that had completely fused with this underground city.

He simply didn't know whether this place had also been a bathhouse back when it was still part of the sewer.

The private room had separate pools of cold, warm, and hot water. Stone tiles covered only the entrance, while farther inside there was a layer of brown wooden flooring.

In the corners of the room, several enforcers were soaking in the pools, while some lower-ranking members sat outside them, weapons in hand, warily watching the two outsiders.

Just as Heka was about to continue inside, a man standing two and a half times his height blocked his path. He was probably going to search him.

Heka smiled, then matter-of-factly untied his bath towel.

He then tossed over the money pouch hidden inside it, which contained fifteen silver coins and some copper ones, along with his short sword.

"Hello. My name is Heka."

Heka showed no restraint as he slipped into the pool opposite the man sitting in the middle pool.

The man looked up at Heka, then only slowly reached one hand behind him.

Heka's short sword was immediately handed over. The man drew the blade with his other hand, then thrust it forward.

The blade pressed against Heka's neck. Several beads of blood fell onto it, slowly seeping into the blood groove.

Heka knew that this was both a show of force and punishment for threatening the grocery shopkeeper earlier.

But now that the Black Mountain Merchants' boss had come in person, half the stone weighing on Heka's heart had already fallen away.

It seemed the other party was very interested in his earlier proposal. Otherwise, there would have been no need for the boss to make a special trip here. A few underlings could have grabbed him and tortured him for the whereabouts of the gold.

What Heka had been observing outside was the quantity and quality of the food being sent inside.

The amount and grade of food needed to capture someone were different from those needed to protect the boss.

Although he couldn't see exactly how many people were inside before entering,

during the time he watched, the servants had been bringing in wine and food that didn't even appear on the menu.

If they were merely enforcers sent to capture someone, they wouldn't order such things, nor would they order so much.

"Hello, little friend."

The man looked at the boy before him. After a brief pause, he sheathed the short sword in his hand and pressed it against the step beside him.

"I'm very interested in you. You know that, don't you? Everyone outside is looking for you. I never expected you to come here. Are you seeking protection?

"Also, I like honest children."

"I came here because I probably couldn't go anywhere else."

Heka shrugged, then propped himself up slightly. He plucked a grape from the low table beside him and put it in his mouth, all while watching the man's reaction.

"Last time I went out, I was chased terribly. They even blocked the entrance to the rich district.

"To be honest, when I saw them seal off every sewer entrance with men, I was almost scared stiff."

The man opposite Heka nodded with interest, then added with a smile,

"And then you casually killed a first-level adventurer, two adults, and a child?"

"Everyone wants to stay alive. There was nothing else I could do.

"The person who ambushed me was extremely meticulous. If I had been even a little slower, I probably wouldn't be able to speak with you here now.

"So when I saw how chaotic things were at the sewer entrance, I decisively chose to come and talk to you instead of throwing myself into a trap at the harbor.

"After all, judging from what happened before, the person who wanted to capture me should have had some men under him.

"But he didn't take control of those chaotic entrances. That could only mean one thing: he also knew that controlling every sewer entrance under such chaotic circumstances was unrealistic, but controlling the exits by land and water was feasible."

"The trouble you've caused isn't small. Quite a few people saw you come here. Give me a reason to preserve your life.

"Shh!"

Just as Heka was about to answer, the man raised his index finger and placed it before those thin gray lips.

"Think carefully before you speak. I don't like children who lie. Blood Sparrow does.

"You killed one of their members. Their boss was extremely rude earlier—he kicked in my door and warned us not to shelter you, or he'd start biting indiscriminately.

"I heard you obtained a money pouch. I'm very interested. I want to hear you tell me about it."

The boss of the Black Mountain Merchants leaned back. Two enforcers immediately understood. They came from behind and seized Heka's arms.

Heka's muscles tensed instantly, but when he saw the sly glint in the other man's eyes, he relaxed at once and simply let them restrain him.

From this angle, he could still use the bucket to knock away the two enforcers holding him.

The reason Heka dared come here was that he had accurately judged that, although the other party wanted the unexpected fortune that might be on him, they were equally interested in his proposal to transport goods through the sewers.

At this moment, the other party was merely trying to have it both ways: first make him hand over the gold, then use protection as leverage to force him to open up the sewer route.

In the end, they might even squeeze one last use out of him and hand him over to that so-called Blood Sparrow whose member he had killed.

Without the system's stat points and skills, even knowing that the harbor had an inescapable net waiting for him, Heka would have had no choice but to grit his teeth and go there.

At worst, he could find a barrel, hide himself inside it, and leave the rest to fate.

Seeing Heka tilt his head back in complete cooperation, the third person behind him, who was holding a towel and preparing to smack it into the boy's face, instead became somewhat uncertain.

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"I've eaten good food and had a bath. What use is being afraid of death? Aren't people alive only to die in the end?

"Besides, most of the little beggars on the streets have only about a year left to live. I could already be considered a well-fed ghost.

"It's just a pity about your business, sir. Taking on those gangs with roots tangled throughout this place for hundreds of years... your future is pitch-black.

"Once I'm dead, the men they've concentrated around the sewers will soon be called back. Then they'll probably continue targeting your business.

"You'd better cherish the good days while they last.

"Ten days? A month? Or should we make a wish for two months?

"You'd better not make a fuss after killing me. Perhaps you could enjoy a few more peaceful days of delivering goods without anyone disturbing you."