Chapter 86: Bring Me the Salt (2)

“There can be good fortune like that; we usually call that luck.”

“I call that fraud, Godfather.”

“So, the point is, you don’t trust me?”

The Godfather didn’t do anything, but Keter’s gaze naturally went up as he grew larger and filled the entire reception room, his head now poking through the ceiling. Soon, he became so large that Keter couldn’t see his face even with his head all the way back.

However, that didn’t really happen; Keter just felt that it did. The presence that the Godfather was purposely showing was far superior to Deyal, the Lord of the East who was the strongest enemy Keter had faced in his past life.

An image surfaced in Keter’s mind: a vivid impression that the Godfather could crush him effortlessly with just his pinky finger.

A smile appeared on Keter’s face—it wasn’t because the fear had driven him insane but because he was full of joy.

“The fact that you are threatening me means that you think I can save Sefira without your help.”

“...”

“You’re cheering me on yourself. I’m truly flattered, haha!”

“

Sigh...

”

The Godfather’s grand presence disappeared like melting snow. Returning to his friendly grandpa-looking self, he chuckled.

“What a disappointment. I should have kidnapped you and taken you in when you were an ignorant child.”

“There are many better people than me, Godfather. I’m sure you will be able to find them.”

Keter was not being humble; he was serious. However, the Godfather shook his head.

“There

are

many better than you, but I don’t like any of them. That’s why it’s hard for me to give up on you.”

The Godfather, who had been sitting back, relaxed, suddenly sat up.

“It’s only natural to be wary of luck, but things like that happen in life. Living in Liqueur, you probably experienced a lot of misfortune for no reason, but the opposite also exists: luck for no reason. The reason you can’t trust me is because you are trying to find a reason for being lucky.”

“There is no such thing as luck or misfortune without reason.”

“What reason would there be for sudden rainfall or finding a coin on the street? It’s simply just fate.”

“Rainfall doesn’t just happen; there is always a sign, like a cloudy sky or the humid air. Picking up a coin on the streets is only possible because they usually observe the streets vigilantly. It’s just reasonable loss and gain about the knowledge one has and the choices they have made.”

“You don’t believe in causality and fate?”

“No, I do. But I just haven’t experienced true causality yet.”

“That makes sense, since you haven’t even lived half of your life yet.”

Keter flinched, as he almost reflexively answered that he had lived as much as him. It was dangerous for him to say something like this to none other than the Godfather. However, Keter had to reply right away because it would be weird for him not to say anything.

“Life is more about quality than quantity,” Keter said.

“Haha, you think exactly what I think. It’s true that no matter how long you’ve lived, it is all for nothing if it was meaningless.”

“Your life seems like it’s brimming with meaning, Godfather, but it’s quite fun bringing a dying noble family back to life. I almost want to recommend it.”

“I envy how you can do anything you want. Do you know you are the first person to turn down my offer twice?”

“Have I become a thorn in your eye now that I have refused an unquestionably great offer twice?”

This wasn’t the first time Keter was given an offer by the Godfather.

He had met the Godfather when he was six years old. Back then, the Godfather had also made an unquestionably great offer to work for him, which would provide safe shelter and power that no one could touch in return. At the time, Keter was living on the streets. He was nothing but bones from starving, and he had injuries all over from protecting his area from the wild men on the street. Keter really had no reason to refuse Godfather’s offer, but he did.

“I’m going to live my life myself.”

Six-year-old Keter, who should be pouting to his parents and playing with toys, had already become an adult.

“You had already become a thorn the second you refused my offer.”

“I have to endure that. Isn’t that my charm?”

“That is what makes you special.”

Keter could feel that the conversation was coming to an end. But for some reason, the Godfather was staying in his chair, which meant he had more business to discuss.

“Enough with the offers. Now, let’s talk about a deal.”

The Godfather raised his hand and pointed at the red cross on Keter’s neck, Dracula, the Blood Sword.

“Sell that to me.”

* * *

Dracula, which was on Keter’s neck, didn’t say a word and kept still, until the Godfather pointed at it. When he did, it began vibrating and exuding its presence.

—You insolent being! How dare you point at me as the priest!

The Godfather drew a circle with his finger, and the vibration subsided.

—Y-you! I made a contract with Liqueur. You, the priest of Liqueur cannot interfere in this contract!

“You run your mouth very easily, just as I worried. That puts me in a very difficult position."

Liqueur’s priest.

Keter inadvertently found out who the Godfather was and what Liqueur actually was through Dracula. Liqueur wasn’t the name of a city, but a living—a god at that. And the priest was someone who the god favored most.

So this isn’t a city but the gaping jaw of a god. And the Godfather is the priest.

It was shocking, but it was nothing more than a bolt out of the blue. It may have been a surprise elsewhere, but definitely not in Liqueur.

I guess that could happen.

The other Liqueurians would be shocked at first, but they would probably soon get over it, wondering what it had to do with them.

To Keter, who remained calm, the Godfather said, “Will you sell it, or will you use it? Choose comfortably. I don’t want to use even my causality to get it.”’

However, Dracula intercepted Keter’s reply.

—Mortal, turn down the priest’s offer. Accept my power and kill him. You will gain the power of a demigod in an instant.

“You’re confident that you can beat the Godfather, huh?” Keter asked Dracula.

—He may be the priest, but he is still human. Humans cannot stand against me.

“Is this true, Godfather?” Keter asked.

“Haha, how many more secrets of mine must be revealed to satisfy your curiosity? Try to understand my situation as well.”

Though the Godfather sounded friendly, Keter knew well it was a serious warning.

Crack!

Keter forcibly tore off the red cross, Dracula, hanging from his neck.

—What are you doing?! You ignorant fool! Without me, you can’t leave Liqueur! Even if you had a fortune, you will never escape this place for the rest of your life!

“You're noisy to the end. Godfather, could you quiet this thing down for me?”

“With your permission, that’s quite simple.”

Snap!

With a snap of the Godfather’s fingers, the noisy Dracula became mute. Keter leaned forward and rubbed his fingers together.

“So, how much can you offer?”

“Considering I’m taking care of something that’s more of a burden for you, I can’t offer too much.”

“I can agree with that. There cannot be another artifact that is this obnoxious.”

“Sell it to me for three hundred thousand gold.”

“Are you a swindler? Ah, apologies, it just slipped out.”

“If you sold it outside, you could get a million easily. But remember, this is Dracula. Vampires who long for Dracula’s resurrection will track you down, eventually leading them to Sefira. You don’t want that, especially in such difficult circumstances.”

“Your logic is sound as always. However, let’s be honest—it's not one million gold but two. If the Vampires truly desired Dracula’s resurrection, they would give everything they own to acquire it.”

“Are you saying that at two million gold, it’s worth facing Vampires in battle?”

“They are a dying race, so there are only a few of them, and they are a common enemy of all other human races; if they show up, they will be hunted. Plus, capturing

v

ampires would even bring honor to Sefira, so it’s a gain.”

“Don’t underestimate the surviving

v

ampires.”

“I’m not underestimating them; I’m confident I’ll win.”

“Haha, I can’t argue against that confidence. Let’s settle for four hundred thousand gold.”

Keter extended an open hand.

“Let’s make it a clean five hundred thousand.”

“Four hundred twenty.”

“You probably have more wealth than Queen Lilian herself. Couldn’t you show some generosity? How about four hundred eighty thousand?”

“Four hundred forty thousand is my final offer.”

“You also owe me a request fulfillment fee of twenty thousand gold for capturing the Red Comet. Adding that to four hundred eighty thousand makes an even five hundred thousand. It’s a nice round number, don’t you think?”

“Four hundred sixty thousand. No matter how wealthy I am, the value of gold doesn’t change.”

The Godfather crossed his arms firmly, signaling the end of negotiations.

Keter hesitated briefly.

Could Dracula be of any use outside?

Cursed weapons often had limited adaptability—for instance, they couldn’t transform from a Blood Sword to a Blood Bow. For Keter, Dracula was hardly useful. There was no suitable wielder to give it to, and finding an appropriate candidate would take significant effort. As for selling it, the aftereffects would be difficult to manage. The Godfather was right—any sale would inevitably involve

v

ampires.

Tsk, there’s no logic left to squeeze more money out of this.

The Godfather wanted Dracula, and Keter saw it as dead weight. The agreed price of four hundred sixty thousand was disappointing but not unreasonable.

“I’ll sell it.”

“I’ll take it.”

Keter handed over the red cross, and the Godfather accepted it.

Fwoooosh!

Dracula spewed blood in a final act of defiance, but it fell silent in the Godfather’s firm grasp.

“I would like the payment in goods, not cash.”

“Name your terms.”

“Five roots of a thousand-year-old mandrake. Use the remaining balance for elixirs and potions without side effects, sorted by grade.”

All items were incredibly rare and nearly impossible to procure, but the Godfather nodded.

“You need all of it for Sefira. Consider it done."

The Godfather finally rose from his seat, and Keter stood as well.

“The next time we meet, you won’t be able to refuse my proposal.”

“I’ll have no reason to refuse if you bring an irresistible offer.”

“Haha.”

The Godfather walked slowly, but Keter matched his pace as they descended to the first floor.

At the lobby, Joyray straightened his posture before addressing the Godfather.

“Are your affairs settled, sir?”

“Thanks to you, everything went smoothly. I owe you.”

“You’re too kind, sir.”

Joyray escorted the Godfather out of the guild without looking back.

Keter stood for a while, hands in his pockets, staring at the door through which they had exited.

Luke approached cautiously and said, “Keter, are you okay? That Godfather guy... he didn’t seem human.”

“Luke, do you see that side door? There’s a shelf inside.”

“Okay.”

“There’s a sack of salt on that shelf. Go get it for me.”

“Sure.”

Luke, sensing Keter’s seriousness, quickly ran to retrieve the sack of salt.

“Here you go.”

“Pour it around the door. A lot of it.”

Keter did not want to meet the Godfather again, who was neither an ally nor an enemy but ambiguously in between.