The cunning NPC and the return of the gang leader (part 5)

"Ava would get around ten big golds at the absolute best if she could sell the renovated mansion – but she can not as she isn't the official owner yet, and it's only a place that the royals allow her to reside in. Even so, she spent around one big gold to have the place renovated from her own pocket. Similarly, despite having the royal soldiers stay at the mansion, she pays for their meals according to the arrangement she made with the royals. Since two years ago, the cases of Foul Reaper had become scarce, so her miraculous tonic isn't bringing nearly enough to make a difference. For whatever reason, she isn't creating other types of medicine or potions... And that dimwit demands a non-negotiable five big golds up-front when one big gold would be the final price I would settle after haggling with Ava!"

Medea started to rant while walking as Gerard followed him, listening closely.

"We might as well just raid the mansion and slit everyone's throats before pillaging everything in sight because there is no chance that anyone would be stupid enough to agree to that price!"

The black-haired boy continued furiously, and a knife simply popped up in his hand as the practice with it showed its results.

"Boss! Please, calm down!"

"..."

Gerard could endure it any longer and raised his voice, causing the black-haired boy to stop in place and straighten his back as the light of the lined-up torches reflected in the blade of his knife.

"The price is outrageous, but there is a chance that we are the ones without the full picture! Oliver claims to spent the past year in the capital around some powerful crimelord – there is a chance he got his hands on information that was unavailable to us! There is a chance that there was a deal between the royal castle and that girl before any of our informants started working in the mansion, and there really is a stash of gold hidden in place only the girl and her uncle know!"

"..."

The copper-haired man said hurriedly and breathed out in relief, seeing that Medea's knife disappeared from his hand as the silent boy took a deep breath.

"You are correct. A possibility like that does exist. I was so focused on that buffoon being utterly incompetent that I forgot to consider that even a blind chicken can stumble upon a stash of grains."

Medea nodded and rubbed the side of his head as if the words he said weren't really to his liking.

"Thank you. But try not to call me Boss when mister Oliver is around, just in case."

"It's nothing, and I understand."

The black-haired boy nodded at the copper-haired man and made him lose the tension with his serious expression.

-------

"Ten gold coins."

"Wha...?! So your Boss just wants me to slit my wrists and bleed out?! This whole mansion wasn't worth that much before I moved in!"

Medea said, and Ava choked on the afternoon tea that she was sipping elegantly.

|I know...!|

Medea wanted to join her in complaining, but instead, he just smirked mysteriously.

"What's your offer?"

"...ah...!"

He wiggled his brows and asked encouragingly, making the girl gasp.

"Hey... I'm asking this for your sake too... are you sure that you are in a position to negotiate the price...?"

"..."

The pixie-cut girl put down her teacup and glanced at the dismissive guard in the corner of the room before leaning in and whispering conspicuously, taking the black-haired boy by surprise.

"Don't worry about me. I've heard you aren't the best at haggling~"

"Ghh...!"

Medea chuckled while Ava hissed in annoyance, losing the empathetic light in her eyes.

"Hmph, then I guess you are receiving a chunk of the final price, like a commission fee or something? One small copper coin!"

"Ten big golds."

The girl scoffed and crossed her arms while puffing up her chest proudly before naming her offer but got countered instantly.

"At least lower it by one small copper coin!"

"Then be reasonable. I also got the amount I am not allowed to get below."

Ava cried out a complaint, but Medea could only shake his head.

"...Medea, listen..."

The pixie-cut girl glanced at the guard again before scuttling over to the side of her seat and leaning in really close.

"You said before that we are the same, or similar at least. Cut me a deal, please, without that haggling and stuff. I promise you, hell, I can give you a written agreement to compensate you – you, Medea – in the future as I monetize the next big potion IF you will just tell me the absolute minimum price that your Boss told you that you could accept. We're basically comrades already. If you are willing to let go of the commission now, I will really make it worth your while in the future. You know I can, right? Because I'm Ava."

"..."

The girl declared heartily, reaching out and grabbing Medea's hands, going for maximum empathy take.

|...is she an idiot after all..? The written agreement would only be used as proof to link me to the case and could be used against me by either the lawful or the criminal side of the world...|

The serious-faced Medea thought, glancing down at their joint hands and looking up at Ava's face.

"Please...? I'll go for pen and paper at once...!"

"Hold on."

The hazel-haired girl fidgetted cutely and tried to stand up, but the black-haired boy stopped her.

"Haa... it's okay. There's no reason to write anything down. It's not like I would get that much of a commission even with the initial price I told you."

"Ah...! Thank you~!"

Medea sighed and dropped his shoulders, which in turn caused Ava to perk up and let out a happy squeak.

"Alright. But this is really, honestly, the price that Boss ordered me not to go below. You understand?"

The black-haired boy took a deep breath as if he was preparing himself to plunge into the depths of the uncharted ocean and looked the hazel-haired girl in the eyes.

"Okay. I already know that your Boss is really greedy, so I won't falter!"

Ava cheered back and braced herself, going as far as to hold her breath.

"Six big golds."

"Urgh...!"

As the boy revealed the amount, the girl winced and leaned back in her seat as if she had received a mortal wound.