Chapter 22

This time everything went quickly. I didn't have to wait long in the reception area, and I was immediately escorted to the head of the company.

— Mr. Galaktionov! Greetings!

Raphael Goldsmith rose from his chair, extending his hand to me.

— How are you?

-hello!

I shook his outstretched hand.

— The best of all! Here! I slapped a pack of hundred rubles tied with an elastic band on his desk.

— Thank you!

— the lawyer casually swept a wad of money into the top drawer of the table with the look as if he was throwing a chocolate wrapper into the trash. I suspect that it had almost the same value for him. The monthly income of a poor Family for the Goldsmiths was most likely earnings for a day, and possibly for an hour. There was too great a gap in this world between weak and strong Childbirth.

— Have a seat! Tea? Coffee?

— Thank you, — I sat down in an easy chair.

— Nothing is needed, I would like to know what has been heard about my case.

"Good," the old man nodded, squinting.

— All the preparatory work has already been done on your case. I have also prepared well, and from tomorrow I start working, so to speak, aiming.

— Your forecasts?

- You're at it again, young man!

Raphael chuckled.

— Our people have one good proverb. For a good fee and a good job. Relax, Alexander. Now your problems are a little bit my problems. I'll keep you posted.

— What did you mean last time when you said that I had big problems?

I persisted.

— Let's just say that by deciding to return, without a doubt, the property belonging to you, you have affected the interests of other influential gentlemen. I can't name names yet, because my information needs confirmation, but the time will come and you will find out everything! The deeper you dig, the more dirt you find.

— Interests?

— it's not good to smile at him like that.

— Can I find out what the hell the interests of these respected and still living gentlemen are doing in my ancestral estate? Or is this the order of things here?

— But-but... Alexander!

— he smiled at me condescendingly and calmly, trying to calm me down.

— Do not be nervous and in a hurry in advance. In our business, haste does not lead to anything good. I said that it hurts the interests, not that war has been declared on you. Give me time and I'll find out everything in detail. Your case is not unique, and most often, it is possible to agree amicably.

— When will I get the first information?

— I decided not to prove the opposite to him, and listen to what he has to say. After all, he is more experienced than me, and also - I pay him for it.

And you are an insistent young man! But I like you! Raphael leaned back in his chair.

— Let's do this! Once every three days, drop by my office, and we'll have a delicious coffee and, at the same time, talk. Is it suitable?

— It fits!

I stood up and held out my hand to him.

— I don't dare to distract you anymore!

— Come on, come on!

The old man also stood up and shook my hand with pleasure.

— After all, I'm working for you now! And more... He was still holding my hand, and the grip was strong for an older man.

— You look like a reasonable young man, but I will still give you some advice. I am generally against gambling, but if you like them, then I do not advise you to visit the Gambling House "Delight". There people often lose at cards because of... kings! I smiled. Hah! Slightly prepared? And it's better to keep this person as a friend.

— Thanks for the advice. But I am indifferent to gambling," I smiled, remembering dragon poker from my previous life. How much money I left at the gaming table! Mind boggling! So yes, in this world I have decided... well, fuck him! However, I may enter this gambling house, making an exception for him

* * *

I puffed like a steam locomotive while I dragged a hefty boulder that I found in my second Fault into Arkhip's shop. Why is he lying in my hallway? I just stumble over it all the time.

— Would you ask for a cart or something?

Arkhip was surprised, looking at me.

— We need to pump up!

I panted, then estimated the strength of the counter and decided not to risk putting it on the floor.

— N—n-nada? That's a fucking lie! A phrase from a Sniffer stuck to me.

— What have we got?

— Arkhip came out from behind the counter to take a closer look at my "product".

— I started, but caught myself.

— Some kind of incomprehensible, but undoubtedly necessary and expensive artifact!

— Well, yes! Well, yes!

The old man squatted down and took out a hefty magnifying glass, examining the stone.

— Gee... Gee-gee! Naughty girls!

he suddenly whinnied.

—What's in there?

" No, I tried to see what was scribbled there, but I only realized that these were some hieroglyphs that I didn't know.

— And you look for yourself!

The old man stood up and handed me a magnifying glass. I grunted, but took the magnifying glass, and then brought it closer to the surface of the stone. Enlarged hieroglyphs... yes, these are not hieroglyphs! These are some drawings! Here's a bearded man with a pickaxe who sticks it in... Come on, fuck it! And here's a strange creature with big tits that... Heck! But...

— Fublya!

— I expressed my opinion, getting to my feet and giving the magnifying glass to my grandfather.

— Vulgar... Gnomes!

— I think it's a miner's kama Sutra!

— Arkhip neighed and looked at me mockingly from under his thick eyebrows.

— Very.. hmm... valuable! And yes! Dear! I scratched my turnip and sadly figured out where to put this rock art.

— Maybe... sell it to some perverts?

— I suggested sadly.

- Do you have any friends?

— the neighing grandfather pricked up his ears. One countess immediately came to mind, but... no.

— no!

I shook my head.

— And I have it!

grandfather chuckled.

— Who would doubt it, — gave him a mocking smile.

— Don't look at me like that! Client secret! Leave it, in short! For implementation. Let's see what happens.

— Yes, with pleasure!

I breathed out, relieved that I wouldn't have to handle THIS anymore.

— So, did you find out something?

— Yes,

Arkhip frowned.

"Here's the thing... Then the door bell, torn up by the roots, clanged pitifully from the sharply open door, and a young woman flew inside. Red hair, green eyes, very... hmm... an appetizing figure that could not be hidden by medium armor, capable of stopping a shot from a light tank. I tensed up, and even threw on my armor, it's a pity that I didn't take my sword with me. But when he saw that Arkhip was only smiling happily, he only stepped aside, watching.

— Arkhip! I need a sword! Urgently!

— her face was flushed, her eyes were shooting lightning, it seems that someone made her very angry.

— As usual?

- yes! And quickly! Grandfather disappeared into the back room, and the sudden guest turned her gaze on me.

— What are you hatching for?

— Just like that... Admiring!

I chuckled, trying to at least roughly determine who this guest was. The armor is expensive. About twenty-five or thirty years old. Rings on the fingers are not visible under thick gloves. And she exuded strength. Great power.

"Impudent?

" the girl inquired.

— Yeah!

He nodded contentedly, and continued to examine her. I was wondering what else to add, but then Arkhip appeared.

— Please!

— put the sword on the counter. It was sheathed, so I couldn't tell what material it was made of.

"Thirty—two thousand! As always, taking into account the discount! A card?

- yes!

— the girl instantly lost interest in me, grabbing a sword and waving a bank card over the terminal, which melodiously blared, accepting payment. However! Thirty-two grand! With a discount!

— Thank you!

— she threw, and immediately rushed outside. I think when she was already running out the door, I heard something like: "Tryndets to you, goats!" But this is inaccurate... I grunted and reached into the tablet. To the nearest Fault... 19 km. There were no cars on the street. Why does she need a sword?!

— Who is this?

I asked the owner.

"An honorable client,— Arkhip smiled. Of course, there will be no details.

—Okay, let's get back to our sheep," I suggested. The old shopkeeper took out the info. One of the gangs "under the King", engaged in robbery and racketeering, rented a mansion on the outskirts of the city. It was possible to start "untangling the tangle" from them. So far, this was all the information, but the old man promised to ask around further. It had to be done carefully so as not to arouse suspicion, and I understood him well. Well, there's already a lead. The second one, too, thanks to Goldsmith. There is something to think about.

* * *

I returned home and saw that Caramel had broken down the door to the attic, and now she was lying and basking in the sun, lazily yawning and washing her face. She looked at me, and again began to bring "beauty". Why does it seem to me that she would not agree to the free forests of Siberia? She couldn't want comfort, could she? I chuckled. The door is bullshit, I wanted to put a guard on the apartment, but now it's superfluous. I saved, so I almost earned it! I sat down next to the big cat, and gently stroked her head. She looked up from her occupation, and looked at me in bewilderment.

—Here's the thing," I said, scratching her behind the ear.

— We need to sort out our relationship somehow. We're going to be together for a long time now. For life, or maybe... and even longer. As long as you don't want to communicate with me, I accept it, even though I don't understand. But, how about a little help with one delicate matter? The panther frowned, not understanding what I wanted from her.

—Okay," I sighed.

— We need to go somewhere and kill someone. Are you in? Caramel squinted, and then licked my hand.

— Well... Then let's go! And this... I ordered a truck... They don't want to take you to the salon, so, soryan! There was an angry snort.

— Yes, yes, I understand! I'll buy a car, so be it! That's just not enough money, but today's operation should fix this a little bit. So, let's go! We didn't get to the right place. It would be foolish to land so close. Instead, I used the map on my phone to find a cafe near this place, and gave the address to the driver. It's only four o'clock in the evening, and I probably need to show up to them a little later. That's what I'll be for a troublemaker if I show up in broad daylight? People are busy during the day, and most often they work, and everyone else may not be there. And if you are very unlucky, then it will be empty at all. Although there is an option that there will be people with the same Gift as me, then I myself will not want to appear there. So let's go eat ice cream and... whatever the Caramel wants. I understood that she would specifically squander my finances. The main thing is that there is a benefit.

The fact that I now have three fewer squirrels living under my house is a dubious benefit. But special thanks for the pigeons. Those now fly around my balconies by the third way.

— Rrr-rrr?

— said Caramel.

— no!

— I told her sternly.

"We're not going to kill anyone here. Let's eat and go. Do you want to eat? Stupid question. As far as I know, animals with such strength have no less appetite. It needs to be fed a lot and often. Although, you can not feed, then she herself will go to look for food, and a couple of neighbors may become less. By the way, it will be necessary to send a Sniffer to check the neighbors, maybe some old man is already missing there. A small cafe on the corner of the street was not a popular place here, and maybe it wasn't the time yet, but apart from two couples, there was no one here. My appearance aroused some interest. It's not every day you see a beast from the Rift.

— Wait! Wait!

— when the waitress saw me, she hurried to me.

— You can't come here with an animal!

— Can't you?

— stupidly asked again, and then turned his gaze to the Caramel.

— See? They called you an animal. Will you eat her too, like the last one? Well, don't be shy, just warn me, and I'll move away. Blood is so hard to wash... The waitress turned pale. And I didn't wait for her reaction and walked past, and then sat down at an empty table. She will tell me what I can and can't do. I've read about animals. An aristocrat has the right to be anywhere with his beast. Damn... She's not wearing a collar. That may be the reason. Everyone thinks I'm controlling her training, but she might snap. We need to think about how to solve this issue. Then the girl pulled herself together, and was already silent. Especially looking at how Caramel sat down in front of me on a chair and patiently waited for her food.

"Bring her some meat, and I'll have two portions of ice cream," he lazily threw to her and stared into the distance. I don't like to behave this way too much, but as soon as you start communicating with commoners from the servants in a good way, they immediately climb on your neck. I specifically did not give the task to the Sniffer, but waited to place an order.

"One portion is yours, but first the mansion," I whispered into the void, but the void heard me and licked its lips. Less than ten minutes later, the Sniffer began to show the first broadcasts. From the very first moments I really liked this house, and I was interested in it. It seems that there is not only a den, but also a small warehouse. Pancake... Sniffer, don't eat it! He found boxes of canned food, and began to open them quickly. Here's a curious muzzle, I've already destroyed ten pieces... When I found out enough, and the ice cream was safely destroyed, two hours passed. I thought it was time to gradually move there. Still walk around the house, or suffer garbage nearby, but not fate.

— Alex!

— at the moment when I was about to ask for the bill, a familiar voice sounded next to me.

- hello! Oops... A woman's voice... I slowly turn my head to the side and see Zhanna Garkovskaya, my classmate from the Center. She is so joyful, standing and smiling.

— Hi, Jeanne! You're blooming and smelling like always. What fates! Or are you deliberately chasing me?

— he smiled sweetly and stood up to help the lady sit down next to him. Jeanne accepted my courtship and elegantly sat down.

"You, as always, Galaktionov, are arrogant and gallant at the same time," the girl began to sing like a nightingale.

— Probably, you're waiting for a girl, and I'm in the way? Although, no...

— How much do you know about me, — smiled at her again and called the waitress.

— Well, we studied together, and there you know how rumors spread quickly...

I know these rumors... Andros, a head and two ears... He talked about my adventures, and I was immediately recorded as a womanizer. We talked with Jeanne for two hours. She was one of those people who is always positive. And surprisingly, we had a good relationship with her. She liked to talk non-stop, and I didn't mind listening. I couldn't believe at first that such a girl had forgotten in the Center. She should be an exemplary wife, not a warrior who climbs the Cracks and looks for trouble. I realized this after the first joint sparring. She does not like cruelty and everything connected with it. But she is ignoble, but only a girl from a successful merchant family, and she has to achieve everything in this world herself. I liked her in some way, I felt sorry for her, or something, and it was I who convinced her to leave her studies at Ista and try herself in something else. Well, it's not hers. Just think... She devoted her whole life to financial education, and then something didn't work out, she had to go to Isty. Her family are hereditary financiers, and she is as smart as Androsov, and maybe she will be smarter in terms of finances. As it turned out, she owed seven hundred rubles for her last training, and here she decided to earn them as quickly as possible. Alas, but here she can only find death with such skills. I decided to help the girl and lent her the right amount to repay the debt. Well, what about it? Androsov said that the Family always needs loyal people. We agreed with Jeanne that she has some time to solve all her problems, and then she will start working for me. I had to promise that I would not molest her, and we would have a purely business relationship. I don't know how she agreed to this adventure, but I think that deep down she knew very well that she herself would not survive. She's too non-combatant, and her family... Everything is complicated there.

— You're stuck, Galaktionov!

— the girl waves her hand in front of my face.

— Or are you already tired of me?

— she pouted cheerfully, but it was for a few seconds, and she returned to her cheerful mood again. — Yes, I was thinking about what a beautiful employee I managed to lure to me, — I looked around her.

— Hey!

— she immediately showed me her fist.

— Don't forget, you promised - business relations. And, by the way, haven't you even told me who I'm going to work for you yet? And I'm also interested in the salary, you know! And I haven't forgotten that you gave me the opportunity to refuse. Aren't you afraid that I'll leave you? With a sly smile, the girl waited for my answer.

— Well, you don't even let me dream, — I sipped the juice that the waitress had just brought.

— As for who you will work with, there are two options here. Either my secretary, who will take care of my affairs, or a financier, but most likely the former. Everything as you like, in general.

— Mm-hmm... Coffee with cream and no sugar?

"What is it?" she asked cheerfully.

— Where are you from...

I was surprised at her awareness.

— You only ordered this in the Center, and it wasn't difficult to remember, — the girl explained with satisfaction. I have already said that she is very smart.

— Oh, I'm late for the course!

Jeanne was alarmed.

— I'm sorry, but I have to run! If anything, you have my number. I'll call! And she ran about her business, not forgetting to hug me goodbye. That's Jeanne... I like her as a person, and I know how to understand people. She has an unconventional mindset. She and Androsov should do business together, but that's the only way they can both disappear. I think she said that I have her number, but she will call me herself. That's a woman's logic, damn it. I called the Sniffer and gave him the task to follow her. I need to know how the person who will soon be doing my business lives. I had to sit here in a cafe for another hour and drink coffee with cream, but without sugar. She hailed a taxi and headed to the university. Well, who would doubt it. Okay, that's enough! It's time to act. I've already been here too long. Jeanne, of course, kept me here a lot, but I don't mind a bit. It was interesting and pleasant to communicate with her. A selfless and kind creature. I didn't even want to take money, and then I thought I wanted to buy sex. You'd think! Hah!

Moved to the house... eh... I wanted to unwind, but I have to do everything quickly. Approaching the house, I already knew the whole situation. Sniffer got into it again, and now he was showing me what was going on there. In total, there were twenty people in the house. They don't look like bandits, they are all well-groomed, in expensive suits. They looked more like office plankton than muggers. As I understand it, they are engaged in racketeering and squeezing goods for fictitious or overbought debts, so the house was packed with various goods. There were three beads in the parking lot, in which they carried the goods. Hmm... And what... if? Precisely! We check if there are cameras on the street, and we approach the first car, and then we imbue the fist with strength, and we hit the hood. My blow left a specific dent there, at the same time, causing the alarm to howl. And now we quickly make our feet. As I expected, the pathetic people bought into my trick. At first, three ran out and, by the way, they held trunks in their bosoms. Seeing such a setup, they called for help, and seven more people came out. In total, ten in the house, and ten near cars, go and look for who could have done it. All with weapons in their hands and turned on their weak armor. In general, I do not understand who they are and what they could squeeze. Okay, so what do I need? Take the language, and the rest at a cost. Standing at the door, I pull the handle, and the first problem arises. The door is closed. So why close the door if your Kents have just come out? Okay, let's knock.

— Who?

— an exclamation is heard, after a minute. He also walked, such a bastard, for a long time.

— I

answer him in the same tone, and the door opens. He died instantly, without even having time to understand who killed him. And just a blow to the head, and his brains fly out through the back of his head. It's not bad so I applied it. And now you can have fun. I summon the souls of two wolves, and create bodies for them, and then I put them there.

— Why are we growling? Find everyone and kill them!

— I give the order to the wolves and they happily execute it. That's just they made a lot of noise. There was shooting and shouting. I don't care, the main thing is that they act competently. Two were able to run into the attic, and close there. Alas, but the door there was strong, and the wolves can not cope with it. Weaklings... I head there and look through the eyes of the Sniffer. Standing at the door, I created the illusion of a bat under the ceiling, and sent there a small soul of the same mouse. More screams... and the shooting. And then I kick the doors off my feet and fly in there to finish off the wounded who killed my mouse. Bastards... Her head was smashed. What I like about my creatures is that they are alive, and they cannot be distinguished from the real ones. Even the blood is the same until they are killed or they complete their task. Then they disappear, leaving no clues. Everything in the house was cleaned.

— Sniffer, put all the corpses in the attic! There's nothing for us to frighten the next guests, — I quickly threw him a plan of action. The little one managed to do everything before the others came, but all I did was just cover the place at the entrance with rags, where there was a large pool of blood. There was an idea to wipe it off, but I rejected it. There is no time. Instead, he threw on more rags, and soaked everything with them. Then I asked the Sniffer to take out these, and covered the puddle with new ones. Then he opened the door a crack and waited for the others. He got up in the first room he came across near a mountain of boxes, and created a similar illusion, which he covered himself with. Now it will seem to everyone that there is another mountain of boxes here. They all returned together.

— I'm going to call Alexander now! Let him come and figure out what it was," one of them said, making me tense up.

But I quickly realized that it wasn't about me.

— When I find the one who did it, I'll rip out his legs...this asshole," the big guy with the keys in his hands was angry, and apparently, its owner.

— Timur, come on, come down! We have a problem!

— they called the dead Timur, not knowing that he could no longer walk. I waited until they passed by my room and summoned two more spiders and six bats. I'm sure that's enough. Only this gave the order to kill seven, and leave three alive. Not necessarily whole, but even better, wounded.

— And you, come on, drag the corpses to the attic!

— Sniffer is the best loader in the world.

- what? How? From where?! Aa-a-a—a-a...

— the fun and shooting started.

— Hey, who are you?

— they noticed me. And they wouldn't have noticed, I went out into the corridor myself, and began to follow them. A bald guy in a gray jacket raised his gun and fired the whole clip at me. My armor didn't even sink, but a spider grabbed it, taking advantage of such a moment. It didn't last long, the spiders took the initiative, and they dragged the wounded to me. I was sitting on a chair with my legs crossed, and I was holding a large combat knife in my hands, with which I was slowly cleaning my nails.

— Listen to me carefully! I will ask only once!

I turned to them with a lazy look.

— Who ordered Galaktionov? We respond quickly! You can tell by their faces that they don't know who he is in their hearts.

— You can't live, asshole! Do you even know who you attacked? No, you don't, otherwise you wouldn't have done it! You're already dead!

— one guy decided to threaten me.

— Wrong answer! — I smiled, and threw a knife at him, with which I pierced his chest, pinning his body to the boards, preventing him from falling completely back.

— Repeat the question? He glared at the others, but they were silent.

— Okay, I get it, you don't know anything. Then the next question. Where can I find the King? I spent an hour on questions and torture, and as a result, everything turned out to be as I thought. Simple pawns who are very far from important things. All I could learn from them were the same houses in which their partners worked. It will be necessary to check this information, otherwise they suddenly decided to incite me against their competitors. I was slightly disappointed and had a good time. As for the King, I already realized that I would not learn anything here, but I took my soul away. And also, I hope, earned some money. I dialed Arkhip, and called a team that will take out all the goods from here as soon as possible for a percentage. So let's check how profitable his services are. Sniffer found all the money that was there and brought it to me, as well as jewelry. Apparently, they had a daily cash register, they took it away once or twice a day, because there was a little more than five thousand money, which by the standards of commoners is very good. Well, let Arkhip evaluate the gold and jewelry himself. After talking to Arkhip on the phone, I went up to the attic in order to cover my tracks. I have the right creatures from my past life. I create the illusion of a green slime, and then I infuse a soul into it.

— Bon appetit, baby... — Ulk!

— he made a strange sound, and began to move slowly towards the bodies. A couple of minutes, and all the bodies were dissolved in acid. An interesting creature that I adored in a previous life. How easily and quickly it removes unnecessary bodies.