"Holy shit! Are you throwing gold around, or is rlin made of the stuff?" Souma stared at him wide-eyed.
A billion, just like that? Did money an nothing to him?
Damn it, the most ancient of filthy-rich landlords!
"Look around—who else is willing to help you? You think it’s expensive? I think it’s too cheap!"
Gilgash gave him a disdainful look. "That Child of Nightmares is at least a candidate for Grand Caster. Did you really think he was just so pig waiting to be slaughtered?"
As much as he hated to admit it, the guy was still on the sa level as him.
Standing at the pinnacle of all heroic spirits, just one step away from transcending the ultimate threshold.
It was precisely this overwhelming strength that allowed him alone to elevate Uruk into a world-class power.
To even consider taking action against an existence of this caliber, a re hundred million would be considered an insult.
"Fine, can you guarantee you’ll catch him?"
Souma gritted his teeth and decided to agree to the other’s terms.
When you’re already covered in lice, a few more won’t itch. When you’re drowning in debt, a little more won’t hurt.
He was already 110 million in the hole—there was no way he could pay it back anyway.
What was another hundred million on top of that?
"Are you taking the deal or not?"
The King of Heroes coldly stared at him.
"Ahem, I just wanted to ask if you can actually catch him. If you can, of course I’m willing to pay."
Souma coughed lightly.
Asking him to deal with a Grand Caster candidate was indeed a bit like forcing a strong man to bend—
No, forcing the impossible!
But he was desperate.
Having raised a troublemaker since childhood, constantly worrying about daily necessities, he had naturally learned to pinch every penny.
"Do you want my help or not?"
The King of Heroes snorted, turning as if ready to leave.
"Of course I do!"
Souma hastily reached out to stop him.
Without the golden bastard’s help, he’d never be able to track down that damn dream-walking scoundrel, rlin.
He rubbed his hands together. "So, uh, mind giving a bottle of that?"
"Oh? If you want to drink it, I’ll give it to you for free!"
The King of Heroes smirked at him.
"Piss off! It’s for rlin!"
Souma rolled his eyes.
What kind of logic was that—turning your bro into a girl and then offering them up first?
Once this was over, he needed to stay far, far away from this guy.
"One million, as a friendly discount."
The King of Heroes retrieved a potion from the [Gate of Babylon].
With a gentle, almost affectionate reminder, he added, "You now owe a total of 220 million. If you don’t pay up, I’ll send the recorded footage to those won."
"...You’re ruthless."
Souma was utterly speechless.
All this talk of friendship, yet everything was just business to him!
...
anwhile.
rlin, currently in Academy City, frowned in confusion. "So, where the hell is that Naless guy?"
He had ticulously prepared a grand spectacle, yet there was no trace of the man.
If the lead actor went AWOL, the show wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining.
As a incubus, he could traverse countless dreams, going wherever he pleased.
Yet.
No matter how much he wandered through Fuyuki City, he couldn’t find Naless.
That boy Artoria had t earlier was slightly suspicious.
But alas, it was just a hunch—not the real Naless.
Soone as domineering and unyielding as Naless would never submit without a fight.
"Hmm? The King of Heroes is calling?"
rlin suddenly sensed a faint ripple.
Last ti they t, the guy had nearly lashed out at him for not showing the Unlimited Blade Works footage.
Fortunately, after watching it, the King of Heroes had chosen to act against Naless, just as planned.
But now, with Naless nowhere to be found, things were getting awkward.
Might as well go see what he wants.
rlin made up his mind instantly.
Hum~
The Magus of Flowers traversed the realm of dreams.
Amidst a shower of blooming petals, he arrived at his destination.
In the distance, a radiant golden figure standing atop a streetlamp was impossible to miss.
Yet, despite the many people passing by below, not a single one looked up at the other.
With rlin’s world-class illusion skills, he easily saw through it—it was a Concealnt Noble Phantasm.
Clearly, even the illustrious King of Heroes didn’t want to be noticed.
rlin feigned confusion and asked, "King of Heroes, what brings you to summon ?"
"This king has found Naless."
Gilgash looked down at him, speaking in a perfectly natural tone.
"As expected of the King of Heroes, achieving sothing I could never dream of!"
rlin didn’t hold back in praising him.
Too strong.
Even Naless, who walked through human history and battled countless formidable beings, couldn’t evade his notice.
No wonder he could compete with him for the title of Grand Caster.
rlin’s smile widened.
A good show couldn’t go on without its lead actor.
If you want to leave, I’ll drag you back and force you to perform on stage for !
Ah, Naless, how I love seeing that frustrated look on your face when you want to punch but can’t!
Suppressing his amusent, he asked, "So, where is Naless?"
"Right behind you."
Gilgash answered with a smile.
"Behind ???"
rlin instinctively sensed sothing was wrong. The mont he turned around, he saw a familiar figure.
A red cloak billowing in the wind, short hair gleaming snow-white under the light.
It was unmistakably Naless!
rlin finally realized what was happening, staring blankly at Naless, then at the King of Heroes. "Gilgash, you set up!!!"
Yes, this ti, he had clearly been played.
The King of Heroes, seemingly unbothered by having his hand sliced off in Unlimited Blade Works, was even willing to help Naless.
Why?
Even after being publicly humiliated, with his darkest secrets exposed to the world, why would he still help him?
Damn it!
At this mont, rlin suddenly felt like he had beco the actor on stage.
Despite ticulously planning everything, it had all fallen apart at the last mont.
The ally he had called upon, the King of Heroes, turned out to be Naless’s mole!
A complete reversal!
Under his tense vigilance, Souma stepped forward. "rlin, it seems you’ve been looking for trouble with lately?"
"Ahem, I’m just an innocent and pure Flower Magus. I have no idea what you’re talking about."
rlin didn’t hesitate to play dumb.
From what he knew of Naless, the man had traversed all of human history, his strength long surpassing any asurable limit.
He might have even taken the final step, reaching the level of a Grand!
"Hah, a incubus trying to play the good guy?"
Souma’s voice dripped with mockery.
Now he wanted to feign ignorance? There was no way he’d let him off so easily.
He had spent a hundred million to hire the King of Heroes to lure rlin here, locking down the surrounding space to prevent his escape.
Not even God can save you now. I said it!
Souma pulled out a potion he had bought from the King of Heroes for ten million and smiled. "rlin, ti to take your dicine."
***
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