Ⅸ
Arthur thought of his talent.
Instinctively, a few guesses surfaced in his mind-
Could I be connected to "Death"?
Was that connection precisely why "Death" couldn't act against me directly?
That couldn't be possible, could it?
I've never even met Death!
As these thoughts turned over in Arthur's mind, he ordered Kili to act a little more resolute.
Kili, who looked like a husky, immediately bared his teeth at Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith paid no mind to Kili's display.
He knew perfectly well that the "Death Hound" before him was simply protecting his master. That was only natural, and it was also characteristic of "Death."
Compared with the "Death Hound,"
Mr. Smith cared more about the message being relayed-
"Three times?
That's too many!
Twice!
Twice, provided it doesn't cross my bottom line!"
Smith stressed his condition.
Mr. Smith knew "Death's" way of doing things all too well.
Calling him ruthless, merciless, and inhuman would have been a compliment.
Even people who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals were kind compared with "Death."
"Death" was an utter bastard.
And this "bastard" was powerful, too.
During the "Seven-Year War," they had been roughly evenly matched. But after the "Seven-Year War"?
He was no match for him at all.
In fact, if an unexpected interloper hadn't upset things, the other party would already have achieved his original goal-and they, who had been played for fools... no, back then, they should have been called gods.
They would long since have become slaves, no better than clowns.
And now?
They were still clowns.
Just not slaves.
Mr. Smith certainly didn't want to become a slave.
So naturally, he had to emphasize the necessary conditions.
At the same time, he secretly observed the "Death Hound" before him-dogs had expressions too, and for