Chapter 23: Merchant of the underworld (3)

Rivan sat himself in front of Johan, not moving away the cover over his head. However, the merchant could see the confident smile on his face.

Johan didn't hesitate to whistle slightly and say with amusement.

"Ho~ so you didn't come here for an official deal nor that you seem completely clueless about the underworld trading methods."

The merchant used his pipe to point at the Duke.

"If no paper is used to mark a trade, then how could there be a confirmation?"

The merchant moved his pipe to the other two presents, Siva and Nile.

"The answer is the face."

Deeming that what he said was clear for all listeners, Johan took a breath from his pipe, watching carefully the only one who hadn't shown his face yet.

Rivan was well aware of the way trades works in the underworld. If the merchants share a secret, keeping a trade's whereabouts shouod not be an issue. On the other hand, the king of every region's underworld is responsible for having at least one of his subordinates to handle each deal.

In other words, if you want to get involved in the underworld business, you have to show your face to more than one person, exposing your identity and risking putting your trust in that legend of a world.

Yet, Rivan has not shown his face, making it clear he isn't involving in a deal or a trade.

'That's yet to be decided. What else to ask the underworld's most known merchant for?'

Rivan, who kept quiet for quite the while, smiled under his hood.

He spook calmly ignoring the piercing stare the consultant is giving him.

"Johan, what can you say about the population in the Southeastern region?"

Johan widened his eyes. This was an unexpected question. However, he decided to play along and see for himself.

"I'd say it's not the least lacking. No. It's more crowded than it seems."

Rivan nodded and asked more.

"What about the number of children? Is it little?"

This time, Siva narrowed his eyes watching the hooded man. He couldn't understand what those questions were about and where was he going with.

'Does he want to know the number of people involved in the underworld? So what's with the children? Could he be looking for someone?'

Just as the train of Siva's thoughts was going further away, Johan answered.

"On the contrary! There's an overflow of the kids here obviously."

Johan smiled teasingly.

"Why ask dear Rivan? Would you be running a children's slavery business~?"

"Johan!"

Siva exclaimed at the merchant's serious accusations. Johan chuckled at such a reaction.

But they stopped in shock when he heard a light sneer.

"Heh. Then I'd like to ask..."

The hood moved up a bit as green glow flashed from underneath. Suddenly, the room became colder by the moment. A feeling of sharp daggers staring at you creeping at your soul and whole being.

'I...I can't move...!'

Siva felt the extreme danger and was about to unconsciously reach for the blade on his back.

His instincts was telling him to watch out from the unknown danger.

Yet he stopped.

Tap.

He felt Johan's hand tapping his arm slightly which got him back to his senses.

"Mm"

Johan made sure that Siva has calmed down before speaking.

"Ask whatever you'd like dear Rivan."

The merchant winked one more time before taking a breath from his pipe.

The voice that followed from under the hood was cold and emotionless. The never ceasing cold aura made sound deadlier.

"If the number is overflowing, then no one would notice the disappearance of a few children now and then, right?"

For the second time, the merchants' eyes opened wide.

Siva took a defense position, not reaching for his blade this time.

'What did he just say...?!'

Rivan's question struck on the listeners.

The pair of aqua blue eyes became cold staring at Rivan.

Nile watched this with growing unpleasantness. However, the gray bird servant did nothing in the matter. Everything was going as his master wanted.

Rivan broke the unbearable silence and the again growing tension.

"Hahahahaha."

The young Duke broke into laughter as he removed the hood over his head.

The moon pale face twitched into an amused smile as he spoke with his honeyed voice and bright yellowish eyes.

"I am Rivan Whishipper. Johan Lauzin, I want to make a deal with you."

"Wha-"

Siva stopped mid-word. This weird Duke have made him nothing but surprised since he came.

Yet now, not only did he reveal his face to announce an official trade with his name, but also wanted something only the Merchant of the underworld, Johan Lauzin could only offer!

The more Siva thought of it the more Johan's thought about this Duke seems to be accurate.

'He's either an idiot or a sly fox.'

End of chapter 23