Chapter 218 Hard And Painful Decision

Suzuka, unflinching in the face of Valerius's callous proposition, regarded him with a calculating gaze. After a brief pause, she responded with a cold indifference that mirrored his lack of empathy.

"Fine, Valerius," she said, her voice devoid of sentiment, "A few eggs and a healthy goblin slave for your experiments. What happens to the rest is not your concern. Got it! That sounds reasonable and doable enough. I suppose we can arrange something."

"As long as my share of goblin slaves is intact and ready for my use, we have a deal," Suzuka added, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Valerius's sinister grin widened at her agreement, and a gleam of satisfaction lit up on his face. 

"Excellent, Helen," he purred, "I knew we could come to a mutually beneficial arrangement."

As if a passing thought had just struck him, Valerius leaned in with a cunning grin.

 "Ah, Helen, one more thing before we conclude our business. Considering your grand vision of uniting all races and monster kin in your town, you might want to have a word with Guild Master Wara. He shares a similar aspiration, you see."

Valerius leaned back, then said, "He's been seeking unity among diverse beings for quite some time. And there's a fellow, a minotaur named Bill if I recall correctly. A rather unique creature, but Wara's friend nonetheless. Wara might offer valuable insights and, dare I say, support for your ambitious project."

Suzuka's response to Valerius's suggestion was marked by a faint smile, her eyes revealing a level of amusement he hadn't anticipated.

 "Ah, Wara and Bill, you say?" she mused, her tone seemingly casual.

 "Funny you should mention them. I've already had the pleasure of meeting them. We've had some interesting discussions, and they might be intrigued by the idea of coming to my town. It seems like our visions align more than you might think. Bill, the minotaur you mentioned, once saved me when I got kidnapped by this sick bastard from MIS and got lost in the forest. He's proven to be a reliable friend."

Valerius, caught off guard by Suzuka's revelation about her connections with Bill and Wara, maintained his composed exterior despite the subtle shift in the dynamics. He chuckled, a hint of amusement coloring his response.

"Well, well, Helen, it seems you're more well-connected than I anticipated," he remarked with a wry grin.

 "Bill, the minotaur, and Wara, the guild master, both in your circle. Quite the fortuitous network you've built for yourself."

He paused briefly, a thoughtful glint in his eyes, before continuing, "Ah, the man from MIS, you say? Quite the accusation. If you happen to know his name, I would be most interested in that little tidbit of information, and knowing the identity of those who cross our paths can be quite enlightening."

Suzuka, meeting Valerius's inquiry with a casual demeanor, revealed the name without hesitation. 

"Ah, the man from MIS who snatched me was named Derrec," she stated, her tone carrying a tinge of nonchalance. 

"Quite the character, if I may say so. His little experiment ended up being more trouble for him than he bargained for."

A faint smile played on Suzuka's lips as she continued, "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't amusing to see him scurrying about, attempting to play a game that was clearly beyond his capabilities. But, well, let's just say, such is the fate of those who underestimate the resilience of their prey."

Valerius, in response to Suzuka's revelation about Derrec, leaned back with an air of nostalgia tinged with a touch of disdain. 

"Ah, Derrec," he spoke, his voice carrying a tone of reminiscence.

 "A bright mind, indeed. He held one of the higher seats in MIS, and his intellect was a valuable asset to the cause. But, as you've witnessed, his actions were... less than desirable."

A subtle grimace crossed Valerius's features as he continued, "Derrec went missing, disappearing without a trace almost two years ago, if my memory serves me right. The details surrounding his disappearance are shrouded in mystery. Perhaps you, being the last one to encounter him, might have some insights into his fate."

Suzuka's response carried a cold tone, devoid of any remorse.

 "Derrec is dead, killed by the very monster he created," she stated bluntly, her eyes meeting Valerius's with a steely gaze.

"A rather poetic end for Derrec, I must say," he replied, his tone carefully neutral. 

"Monsters, creations turned against their creators - it's a common theme, isn't it? But how did you manage to witness such demise? It must have been quite the show."

His words carried a subtle undercurrent of probing as if Valerius sought to unravel the details of Derrec's demise for his profit.

Suzuka, well aware of Valerius's subtle probing, decided to deflect the conversation while maintaining a facade of vulnerability. She feigned a tremor in her voice and averted her gaze as if recounting a harrowing experience.

"Oh, it was a terrifying experience, Valerius," she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of distress.

 "I was but a frail woman back then, with no powers to speak of. The beast that tore Derrec apart - it was beyond anything I could comprehend. I found myself hiding, unable to witness the gruesome details. Fear took hold of me, and all I could do was pray for my safety."

Valerius, maintaining a facade of politeness, acknowledged Suzuka's narrative with a nod.

 "I can only imagine the terror of such a situation," he said, his tone laced with a hint of skepticism that he skillfully veiled.

 "It's a harsh world out there, especially for those without the means to defend themselves. My apologies for bringing up distressing memories, Helen."

His words carried a subtle undercurrent, suggesting that he might not be entirely convinced by her portrayal of helplessness. Valerius, the master at manipulation, decided not to press the matter further. Instead, he gracefully shifted the tone of the conversation toward a conclusion.

"Well, our business here seems to have reached its conclusion. For further notice, I will inform you through Larry. We still have a bit of planning to do with the goblin breeding farms," Valerius remarked, his smile unwavering. 

"I look forward to the success of your town, and should you require any further assistance, you know where to find me. Until then, Helen."

"Yeah, bye Valerius. Until next time."

With a polite nod, Suzuka made a discreet exit, leaving Valerius alone with his secrets and the lingering echoes of their intricate exchange.

Suzuka stepped out of Valerius's study, her eyes adjusting to the dim lighting of the room where Larry and Hermit awaited. The goblin, caught up in a state of perpetual excitement, spotted Suzuka and erupted into an overhyped and silly reaction. He leaped up from his seat, arms flailing, and let out a series of high-pitched squeals that echoed through the room. It was as if every nerve in his tiny, scrawny body had been electrified with joy.

"Master Helen! Goddess! You're back! Oh, how I've missed your majestic presence!" Hermit cried, hopping around like an overjoyed squirrel. His ears, which were large enough to wrap his tiny body in, fluttered with unbridled enthusiasm. Hermit bounced around Suzuka with unrestrained joy. He attempted to wrap his oversized ears around her as a makeshift hug, his eyes brimming with tears of happiness.

Ignoring the hyped goblin's endearing approaches for comfort, Suzuka turned her attention to Larry, who was watching the scene with an amused grin.

Larry asked, "So, how'd it go with Valerius? Did you seal the deal?"

 "Yeah, Larry, my pitch with Valerius went well. We reached a mutual agreement," she announced, avoiding the details of her deal with Valerius in front of the hyperactive goblin.

"That's great news! I knew you'd handle it smoothly," Larry replied with a hint of pride in his voice.

Suzuka shifted her gaze back to Hermit, who was now attempting to perform an acrobatic feat to impress her. 

"Now, Larry, where and how can I meet you later? And where will our little friend Hermit be stashed? I'll need him for some business later." she asked with a subtle edge of business in her tone.

Larry brushed his hair, thinking for a moment, then said, "You can find me at the usual spot in the marketplace. As for Hermit, I've got a remote shed in the back of town outskirts. He'll be safe there until we find a better place for him and his fellow goblins to stay."

"Good. I'll swing by the marketplace later."

She leaned closer to the goblin and whispered, "Hermit, behave yourself. Next time you see me, we will go on a little adventure. We will go treasure hunting."

Hermit's eyes widened, he stirred and slowly nodded in silence, his tiny form radiating a newfound sense of tension. Suzuka playfully patted Hermit on the head, the mock gesture filled with a touch of jest.

"Goodbye, Larry. Take care of our little friend here," Suzuka said with a wink as she turned to leave Valerius's place.

 The weather outside had taken a turn for the worse; raindrops began to fall, casting a veil of mist and melancholy over the cramped medieval streets. Suzuka, now wrapped in her raincoat, ventured into the wet avenues.

The narrow alleys were transformed into glistening pathways, the cobblestones reflecting the dim light from flickering lanterns. The rain whispered a soft, rhythmic melody as it pattered against Suzuka's raincoat, creating an ambiance of quiet meditation. The scent of damp earth mingled with the cool breeze, a soothing contrast to the warmth emanating from the quaint houses with glowing hearths.

As Suzuka strolled through the rain-soaked streets, her mind engaged in a different kind of downpour - a torrent of thoughts about her next move. Pondering where to procure the tools needed for construction and how to equip the goblins for the job, she found herself considering the only name that surfaced in her thoughts - Walter, the blacksmith.

She decided to seek consultation from her favorite blacksmith, and altered her course, making her way through the labyrinth of wet streets toward Walter's forge. The rhythmic rain accompanied her, creating a backdrop to her thoughts and ambitious plans.