Chapter 102: Rewards
On the refined wooden table a lamp burned softly, slightly illuminating Charles’s face.
His presence only fed the silence, plunging the trio into an uncomfortable atmosphere.
"My condolences, Alfred," said Charles, observing their afflicted postures.
"It is the trade, my lord. The riches and the beauties of life open before us, but the rope slowly closes." Answered Abyss, without abandoning his professionalism.
Charles lightly passed his finger over the shine on the wood and asked:
"Did you obtain what I desired? I do not want to be insensitive, but the sacrifices must be worth it."
Gabriel felt how next to him Abyss suddenly tensed. But even so he responded at the height: "It was obtained. After suffering arduously inside those ruins, the statue was successfully recovered."
Applause began to be heard in the personal office; slow and prolonged, until finally stopping.
"You know the procedures to perfection. The widows and the mothers will receive the stipend for the fallen. Make sure that object reaches the adequate hands."
"Thank you, sir." Answered Abyss, continuing: "The jester also had an excellent performance. He fulfilled his functions to perfection."
Charles lightly struck the table, laughing under his breath.
"Did he earn the trust of the trade? He is an excellent boy. I will take care of him as is due."
A little behind them, Gabriel looked without direction between the two. They practically acted as if he did not exist.
Finally he was pushed forward by Abyss, who abandoned the room in silence. Remaining face to face with Charles.
"Don’t worry, I will not ask excessive questions. Both of you have had your own experiences in those so ancient ruins. I will ask Alfred about it personally."
"I fulfilled my part of the deal." Answered Gabriel dryly. His eyes never abandoned the eye contact.
Although the difference in forces was still extremely large, his perspectives had increased enough to face him without any kind of fear.
"You gained guts, I like it; sharing a wagon with assassins must be quite revealing." Said Charles, continuing with an even darker tone: "But seeing them die one by one must be worse, right? Seeing them sacrifice themselves like pigs, condemning their souls, falling without any kind of glory."
The room had cooled, drastically descending its degrees. It was the kind of energy transmitted by one of the giants of the Frozen North, a glacial aura capable of turning the bravest into a gelatinous disaster.
"No one would follow a leader who speaks that way about his loyal followers. You are garbage, Charles."
The space froze for a few infinitesimal seconds.
Suddenly the same man he had insulted gave him a few pats on the shoulder. He smiled and nodded.
"No one would follow me, it is true. I would be catalogued as garbage by everyone and they would betray me from the shadows. But, Gabriel, many times strength turns into one’s right." He said smiling.
He understood the message immediately, giving him reason. It would not be the first time he observed something similar. The worst leaders usually became the heads of enormous groups.
Egotistical, sadistic, and arrogant... There was of every kind. Strength defined in large part the hierarchy.
"Now go outside and ask Alfred to take you to collect your reward. You will discover that I am not garbage." He said smiling with irony.
With those words, he immediately disappeared through the door. For the first time he had obeyed quickly.
He was greedy by nature and would not allow any opportunity to escape from his hands. He would collect down to the last possible cent.
Outside he found Abyss, who guided him to collect his reward. He had guarded the door the entire time, allowing him a moment of privacy.
"Do not allow your perception to be affected by Charles’s actions. He is cynical, he offers only a glimpse of what he desires others to see."
"I will have to get used to it if he pays so well," answered Gabriel while feeling the weight of the linen bag in his hand. It had been the reward for participating in the treasure hunt.
A funny description for a tortuous experience.
"Now go. He may call you at any moment. Do not forget our oath." Said Abyss, shaking his hand.
Gabriel reciprocated, answering: "You made me a deep cut. I will not manage to forget it until I visit a hospital."
With those words they said goodbye, converging in different directions. Gabriel needed to abandon the Frozen North to perform an analysis of his gains.
This time I gained a lot, but it was proportional to the risk. There might not exist a second time... Or worse, more than once.
His internal thoughts mixed with irony. They converged between the danger and the rewards. It was directly a discussion between his rationality and his greed.
But at no point had he forgotten his final reward. They had an authoritative name and overflowed with personality; even so, originally he had not received much information, guiding himself by impulse.
The daggers of the primordial night probably guarded a great secret that he needed to discover.
With accelerated step he traversed through the abandoned corners eroded by time, distancing himself from their depths. He was fast, cautious, and powerful.
He was even willing to start a fight to test his new forces, until he spotted a familiar figure in the distance. His walk was erratic, thoughtful, and sunk in silence.
He stalked him among the shadows, observing his rare behavior. Evidently he was deeply shocked by his expression.
It was Francis whom he had seen in the Ruins until the final stage. His presence was a mystery that still needed to be resolved.
With his classic recklessness, he approached stealthily until him and captured him between his arms. The inexperienced young thief had no opportunity before the shamelessness of his mortal enemy. Disappearing into a poorly illuminated corner.
"I will give you everything, let me go!" Exclaimed the thief, shocked and frightened.
But he quickly recognized the mask that had been participant and protagonist of his rawest nightmares. The jester that for a long time he had ignored. His recurrent nightmare.
"It’s you again! What do you want to do to me? I am an innocent young man, ignorant of your perversions!"
He began to babble with professionalism, dictating ten words per second. At some point he stopped understanding what he was really saying.
"Francis, shut up. I know you have been in the ruins and I want to know everything." He said in a solemn tone.
In reality, it was an empty foundation. A simple threat disguised as truth, seeking to obtain some type of information.
And apparently it took effect, causing Francis’s expression to decay absolutely.
"Are you part of the ring?"