Chapter 74: The Deal
The question hung suspended between them.
The silence extended naturally. Neither of them tried to break it immediately.
It was a game that was planned slowly.
Charles remained motionless, holding the glass with palpable serenity, while observing every minimal reaction from Gabriel.
For his part, Gabriel did not respond immediately. He lowered his gaze toward the transparent drink and with a slow movement began to swirl the liquid inside the glass.
The faint reddish reflection conveyed different ideas each time. His words involved the mysterious ruin, which was potentially deadly, so he needed to think carefully.
It was a place that remained practically completely unknown and there was the story of the missing soldiers.
Probably Charles was not the only one interested in its secrets. There were many powerful people who took an interest in antiquities.
It was a dangerous bet.
But bets were unique opportunities. With immense probability, they would only appear once.
But another thought surged with the force of an earthquake... Could he really reject it?
He already had an answer in his mind. Despite not perceiving defiant hostility, the territory still belonged to the Frozen North.
Charles managed to be cordial and pleasant. His natural charisma allowed him to be deeply approachable without compromising himself.
But behind that personality there still existed a narcissistic man who worshiped violence.
Rejecting him outright could mean much more than losing an opportunity. It could potentially become a serious problem along his path of growth.
Gabriel slowly tightened the glass between his fingers.
He had never been an idealist.
His reality had been cruel enough to consider it an extravagant luxury.
The one who had always played that role was Kael. His old friend was incapable of stopping believing in people, even when reality insisted on proving otherwise.
It was extremely curious.
Gabriel, on the contrary, used to adopt the opposite extreme just to annoy him.
If Kael saw a sky partially clear of pollution and fog, he would get clothes for the pollution.
If Kael spoke about hope, he would respond with probabilities and logic.
It was such a repetitive argument that Noel had started hitting them at a certain point.
It was a fleeting memory that evaporated with his indecision.
He raised his gaze without doubt.
He made direct eye contact and replied:
"I can do it... With conditions."
Charles did not manage to respond and simply began to clap slowly.
Each clap resonated calmly inside the office.
"There are always conditions, Gabriel. Even if many times they are invisible." He smiled calmly.
Then he sat down again. He gently rested his arm on the back of the chair.
His expression acquired a deeply reflective air, as if he were truly evaluating every word.
"Life cannot be bought. But almost everything that makes up life... yes, it can." He took another sip of the drink.
"I will give you what you need and you will accept." He determined with his will.
He opened both arms slightly, clapping again.
"Simple and wonderful!"
His deep laugh traveled through the entire room.
Honest, open, but cold and meticulous. Every step is on a thin sheet...
At no point had he tried to hide or disguise his intentions.
He placed his cards decisively, without allowing the other person to understand the game.
He understood better why that man had become a leader. He did not impose obedience solely through violence.
He knew how to negotiate, listen and, above all, he knew exactly when to show himself dangerous.
Gabriel decided to test him.
"Will you give me anything I want?"
Charles let out a small laugh.
"I would love to answer yes. But we both know where we are, Bérsaic. A small city in the coldest north."
He shook his head slowly. Raising his glass and pointing toward the window, where an exterior battered by the climate could be seen.
"Within Bérsaic." Gabriel proposed instead.
Charles finally nodded after thinking about it for a few seconds.
"Within Bérsaic... We could say it’s already done." He said, extending his hand to shake.
Gabriel shook that huge hand and the agreement was sealed.
In an instant, the tension magically vanished. It was extremely strange and notable.
The negotiations had been carried out with extreme caution.
But the conversation had evolved to acquire a much more intimate tone.
The fact of sharing a common objective had managed to reduce their distance.
Charles lit a cigar for the second time. The smoke began to rise slowly toward the ceiling.
"There will always be adversities. Storms are part of the journey. Only a sailor who has faced enough tempests can afford to love the ocean."
He looked distractedly at the smoke.
His voice sounded much calmer and more relaxed.
Gabriel listened without interrupting at all times.
He occasionally nodded at his words. Charles seemed to enjoy immensely talking and sharing.
He did not limit himself only to business, but also to experiences. About defeats and past mistakes.
He managed to laugh at his past actions with the calm of an old man.
It was difficult to relate those stories to the cold man who moments before had commanded his negotiation from beginning to end.
It was a key difference that made it difficult to determine his true personality.
Fortunately he had always been a better listener than speaker.
After several minutes, Charles put out the cigar.
"That will be enough for today. I don’t want to bore you before sending you to a possible death." He said with a wide smile.
Gabriel responded with serenity.
"It would be discourteous to die after accepting a job."
He tried to imitate his customs to a certain point.
Charles let out another laugh.
"I like that answer. But keeping a promise alive in the field is the hardest thing."
***
He was accompanied again to the exit.
This time by the elegant man who had received him earlier. They walked through the same perfectly organized hallways.
Some men had changed positions, but the discipline remained.
Upon reaching the main entrance, the man finally spoke.
"My name is Jane. It was a true pleasure to meet you, sir."
He performed a slight bow, with an impeccably polite smile.
"Likewise." He nodded.
Then he left the building. The icy wind hit his face again without restrictions.
He had a new objective in mind and it was to prepare.
He had accepted a mission completely different from all the previous ones.
At that moment a notification appeared before his eyes.
______________
[The Ancient Evil]
Description:
A strange ruin has appeared on the outskirts of Bérsaic. Go and complete what has been entrusted by your confidant, Charles.
Rewards:
EXP, money and other unknown rewards.
Status: Accepted.
_______________
After reading the description carefully, some doubts had arisen naturally.
The system itself had attributed the title of ’confidant’ to Charles.
That word seemed curious to him.
It seemed to recognize a certain bond that was beginning to form between them.
But he still did not know if that would turn out to be something positive.
But thinking about his mission, his brow furrowed.
According to Charles, a small group would depart stealthily toward the location of the ruin.
His mission was simply based on entering, finding the object, recovering it and returning.
But one point that had moved him to a certain extent was that Charles never mentioned what object it was. He had deliberately avoided answering every time the conversation approached that point.
For that reason he still did not recognize exactly what they were facing.
Probably he had his reasons.
While descending through the streets of the Frozen North, a doubt kept growing slowly.
What does Charles really intend?
Although his mind was covered by doubts, he probably would not find answers. Certain thoughts were simply unpredictable.
Because his appearance and personality did not reveal common greed.
Nor did he act like a simple small-time criminal.
Many of his actions seemed to respond to much deeper objectives.
Perhaps it was only curiosity.
But there was always the possibility that there was something greater hiding behind.
But he had already given his word and never backed down after committing himself.
***
He had a limited schedule. He moved quickly from store to store, looking for the best deals.
There were countless shops scattered throughout Bérsaic. From the extremely common to the strange ones.
He dedicated himself to stocked up on potions..., including recovery and health. For the first time he bought bandages, which could be necessary if the situation required it.
Torches as consumables and resistant rope, along with a small reserve of dried food. It was all part of his contingency plan.
Every adventure he had experienced over time had managed to teach him that apparently insignificant consumables ended up deciding who lived or died.
He spent a large part of the money he had obtained. He had practically bled his greedy conscience dry.
But he ignored it. One of the most functional uses of gold was when it increased the chances of continuing to breathe.
After finishing the purchases he slowly returned to the agreed point. It was an old road located near the outskirts.
The wind dragged small leaves that traveled through the air.
His characteristic Jester mask once again covered his face.
His worn and expressionless mask once more hid his face. Observing the surroundings directly.
He waited patiently until he finally heard wheels advancing slowly along the road.
A black carriage appeared among the cobblestones, without emblems or adornments.
It was deeply discreet, just like the one driving it.
The coachman remained completely covered by a long dark cloak. Only his old hands protruded, firmly holding the reins.
The carriage stopped exactly in front of Gabriel. Without the old man even descending.
He simply spat on the ground and said:
"Get in the back. They are waiting for you." In a harsh tone of voice.
Gabriel observed how the rear was covered by black curtains.
And without saying a single word, he got into the carriage.