"My apologies if my actions hard you in any way. And yes, I indeed wanted to have your attention."
I looked into Arthur’s eyes, taking a slow breath.
He remained silent, waiting for to continue.
"As you might already know, my relations with my family aren’t at their best. I had even left my house a year ago. So you don’t have to worry about any direct involvent of the Frosts here."
I took a mont to let Arthur process the words.
But before I could speak again, he got up from his seat.
"If it isn’t about the Frosts, then I see no reason to entertain you... kid."
As he got ready to leave, I leaned back on the sofa without panicking.
I had expected this reaction.
Aside from being a Frost, I had nothing worthy to offer him.
But I couldn’t let things end like that.
"You sure you want to leave?"
I paused as Arthur’s ears slightly twitched at my provocation.
He shook his head slightly in disappointnt at my cheap antics and began walking towards the door.
"You may not find worth your ti, but could you say the sa for your daughter?"
Arthur froze.
He slowly turned his head to face , but instead of the calm expression that he previously had, his face was now twisted in a frown.
He clearly disliked the ntion of his daughter.
One thing that Arthur hated the most was soone talking about her.
He always hoped for her recovery, but the world never favored her.
The re ntion of her turned the gears in his head.
It was like reminding soone of everything that they could lose anyti soon.
Applying salt on the wounds.
It was a risky gamble.
I could end up dead without even knowing what killed .
Still, I needed to take the risk if I wanted this man on my side.
"I hope you have a good excuse for ntioning her. It would look bad for a Frost to die in so random gambling den due to his foolishness!"
Arthur’s eyes bore into .
I felt a shiver down my spine.
It felt like a predator evaluating the taste of my flesh and whether I was worth hunting.
"She’s ill, isn’t she?"
"So what are you implying!?"
Arthur asked, releasing a bit of his bloodlust.
I felt my knees buckle under the pressure, but I maintained a calm expression on my face.
"I have a cure for her."
I observed him.
"Interested now?"
Arthur didn’t say anything.
He was contemplating.
He knew the statent had to have so truth for to stake my life on it.
"And how should I believe you?"
I gestured for him to sit on the sofa before answering his question.
It earned an intense glare, but he complied.
He really cared for his daughter.
I glanced at Julien once, so as to reassure him.
Although he didn’t show it on his face, the guy was scared for his life.
His presence of mind was comndable.
If he had shown signs of fear, I would have lost my edge against Arthur.
My strategist!
"You do have the Silent Judge to verify my claims!"
I smiled.
Though he didn’t show it on his face, Arthur must have been shocked from inside.
The Silent Judge.
It was one of the highest-grade artifacts in the world.
Its origins were a mystery.
There were three of them in the entire world.
And Arthur possessed one.
It was a secret that none should have known.
How did I know about it?
In the ga, Arthur had used it on several people whom he thought would have a cure for his daughter.
There was a shift in the air.
The way Arthur looked at had changed considerably.
He knew that I wasn’t as incompetent as I appeared to be.
The Frosts had no way of knowing about the artifact, and even if they knew, my father would not share sothing like that with a failure like .
The conclusion was obvious.
I had my own sources... capable ones at that.
That must be what Arthur was thinking.
Well, he wasn’t far from the mark.
I indeed had the knowledge from the ga, so it could be called a capable source.
Heeh.
Feels good to be in control.
"So what do you want in return?"
Arthur asked after composing himself.
I raised a brow.
"Don’t you wish to hear the cure first?"
"It seems your understanding of the Silent Judge is still shallow. It’s bound to my soul. I don’t have to actively use it to verify your claims."
That was new to .
Damn those developers!
Couldn’t they explain everything in the ga?
"The mont you spoke of having the cure, I knew it was the truth. Partial truth, but truth nonetheless."
The artifact sure had crazy powers.
Yes, what I had said was not the complete story.
"I have only one condition."
Taking a small pause, I looked into Arthur’s eyes.
"Serve ."
"..."
"..."
"..."
All the guards in the room froze.
Everyone stared at in disbelief.
As a matter of fact, I indeed looked crazy to say sothing like that to his face.
But contrary to my expectations, Arthur didn’t react in any way.
"Although I would like to cure my daughter, you do know that the deal isn’t balanced. I am one of the strongest individuals in the world, and you expect to serve you for a lifeti, if that’s what you ant."
"Yes, for a lifeti."
I said with a straight face.
"And if you say the deal isn’t balanced, does that an you value your freedom above your daughter’s life?"
"..."
"That’s disappointing."
Shing!
I could see the nearby guards drawing their swords from their scabbards, their eyes fixed on with hostility.
Ah.
Quite the loyal bunch.
I had basically insulted their boss.
It would have been weird if they didn’t react.
Arthur raised his hand, signaling for them to calm down.
Although they retreated, their hostility remained.
"You sure love to play with fire. As for my freedom, I don’t care for it as long as you can cure my daughter. I was just confirming your stance."
He paused and let out a tired sigh.
Years of searching for a cure had led him to dead ends.
The mont he saw a light of hope in , he grabbed it without an ounce of hesitation.
Is this what they call love?
A foreign thing for .
I never felt it for anyone other than myself.
To sacrifice yourself for soone else.
It was the last thing I would ever do.
But that didn’t an I wouldn’t take advantage of it to force others into my dealings.
That’s how the world works.
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