Story 8 - Tribulation Trepidations (18/24 ?)
The rchant’s figure trembled.
It would be a sha to just kill her off. She was an incredible Black Market Dealer with fantastic connections.
Should I try to use the classic trope of turning an enemy into a subordinate? It was usually done by the main character, but maybe it would work out. It wouldn’t be too late to kill her if she betrayed later. Of course, I would have to get so assurance first.
“If the Demonic sects sent those assassins after , then you have ties to them. How can any righteous cultivator let you off easily after knowing that?”
“Hey! If they were, then I didn’t know. I wouldn’t help evil cultivators on purpose!”
I hated those last two words. It was what fake white lotus types always spouted in those translated web novels from my past-past life. I almost killed her just to save myself a massive amount of trouble. But I had to think about this logically. She may have betrayed , but she hadn’t been trying to kill herself. While she was an unscrupulous, greedy bitch, she wasn’t beyond redemption at this point. And I was absolutely not being blinded by the amount of spirit stones I could collect from her if I was patient.
“Then tell , if I allow you to live, what will you do for to make up for your betrayal?”
“If those cultivators who bought your location return, I can set them up for you.”
“That’s a start.”
“I... I can sell you everything at cost?”
Was she kidding ? I guessed a rchant would always be a rchant. “Still not enough to make up for almost getting your Great Martial Aunt and Uncle killed.”
Her voice seed like it was going to crack as she said, “Dear custor, y-you won’t make give you the spirit stones I received from them, will you? Because I’ve already spent it all!”
I held in the urge to kick her. “You expect to believe that?”
She winced. “The easiest way to increase your inco is to let your money do the work. I’ve already tied everything up in investnts.”
That made sense. But I doubted she’d spent everything already. “Give what you have left as your first installnt of reparations.”
Slowly, as if it physically killed her, she took out a storage bag. Then she handed it to with both hands. Her hood was bent low, and I could practically hear sniffing noises coming from it. If I weren’t so pissed at her for selling out, I might have felt like a bully.
I scanned it with divine sense first to make sure there wasn’t so kind of trap, then took it.
“Dear custor, would you mind telling how many more installnts there need to be for you to allow this poor rchant to live freely?”
“I don’t think you understand what’s going on here. You’re working for like a loyal dog or you’ll get handed to the Sect Leader. Those are your only options.”
“B-but, my spirit stones!”
She really was a business woman. “Are they more important than your life?”
The girl spent way longer than I thought she would on the question. “No, but it’s still as important as breathing.”
I sighed. “I’m not going to prevent you from earning an inco. In fact, I’ll encourage it. Because I’ll be taking 80% of your profit from now on.”
She choked.
I grinned.
“How is it? Does it fit well?”
“It’s good. I was a little worried since it was very large when I first put it on but once I shrunk it down, it fit perfectly!”
I nodded. Of course it did.
“Why was it so big, anyway?”
“Because you’ll grow very tall in the next ten years.” I wouldn’t spend this much ti and effort on armor that would have to be replaced in a few months when Shrinking Vermillion Powder could solve that issue.
I turned around. “So, do I look like the fierce warrior I am?”
Reviews
All reviews (0)