Chapter 86 86:Striking A Deal[2]
After beating Helena, there were a lot of gossip about how a zombie beat Helena after getting beaten to death.
People even commented that he might have a zombie bloodline ability. All these rumors disappeared eventually, and Lucas recovered greatly after putting a layer of fat on his face.
Swish!
A layer of paper fell over him.
"This is too much, "Lucas screamed in frustration.
His rotten fish eyes had been squeezed out of moisture due to working day and night.
Training and studying were already a toll, but now he also had to work for the President. His figure ready started to revert to zombie Lucas.
Planning to get himself kicked out, Lucas deliberately made many mistakes, but all of them were handled by Julian smoothly, who also saw through his plot.
She was a master at taking care of things.
"Lucas…"
"Huh!" Lucas raised his chin, staring at the maid with dead eyes.
"President said you can take a rest."
"Really?" Lucas jumped up from his seat in happiness and was about to run away when he heard the maid's next words.
"The President wants you to go to the gymnasium."
"Why?" Lucas glared.
"Pardon me, but I don't know."
"Okay…" Lucas, shoulder, drooped down, and his body tumbled as he walked with an unsteady gait.
Grumbling inwardly, Lucas entered the huge open-top gymnasium used by the Princess.
'Being a President and a member of the Student Council had its perks.'
Lucas thought inwardly staring at the mass number of equipment, training room, dummies, sparring golems, and weapon stands filled with all kinds of weapons.
Swish! Swish!Swish!
The sight of Julian skidding through the ground with marvelous footsteps seemingly as eloquent as dancing steps reflected in his eyes.
The scene of after images left behind a dazzlingly brilliant light of white snowy particles was quite intriguing.One could never get bored enough of such a sight.
There was a movement technique that was invented by Julian that was known as the burst step, which explodes the mana under the soles to propel oneself. Maybe, she was practicing that now.
"Have you seen enough?"
Lucas's body jerked, as a crisp voice echoed from behind.
"What?"
Lucas's neck creaked as he rotated his gaze.
'She was right before my eyes, so when did she appear behind me.'
This was enough to prove the speed of a 6-Star. With such speed, how can the guns be of any use?
"What were you watching so keenly?" Julian asked, walking back toward the weapon stand.
Lucas just bowed down, trying to think of a response.
"Your footwork."
"Your Highness, your footwork is praiseworthy. It's as nimble as a cat and as fierce as a tigress."
Julian frowned, giving Lucas a weird gaze.
She could sense the faint feeling of unfairness in his speech.
And no matter how many times she reprimanded, he was hell-bent on addressing her as Princess and Highness.
If Julian did not know about Lucas's motive, she would have punished him severely for his mistakes.
People try to snuggle towards her, but this guy is attempting to run away as if she were a plague.
"Why do I feel you are mocking me?"
"Your Highness, you know better than anyone else that if I had that much guts, I wouldn't be here."
Pfft!
The servants almost choked hearing Lucas's words and attempted to hold their laughter.
They had served Julian since she was young, so they knew how much Julian disliked men who flatter and had vain pride. Lucas's behavior was refreshing to watch as both of them fought with their tongues.
"Your Highness, did you want something?"
Julian waved her hand.
"I heard about your deeds. It seems some mongrels have eaten something to gain so much courage. So, not to embarrass myself, I will oversee your training."
GULP!
Lucas swallowed his saliva, sensing the tension in the air. She seems to be really in a bad mood, and he doesn't have the courage like Parth to keep messing with her in this situation.
"Will you train me?"
"Nah! I will just spar with you," replying to Lucas, she pulled out an axe from the stand.
'Woohoo!'
Stepping back, Lucas asked, "Your Highness is not your main weapon Greatsword so the axe."
"Who told you that?" Julian inquired sharply.
"Ahhh! That is something, I observed." Lucas back became drenched in sweat for a moment.
As far as he knew, Julian was proficient in many weapons and swordsmanship was her main profession.
Her dainty, tender hands holding a massive sword are a great sight to marvel at.
However, using other weapons and being proficient in them, is an entirely different thing.
He had beginner-level swordsmanship and marksmanship. Even though he used a dagger, he was unable to get the profession nor did his sword skills rise.
"No, I can use most of the weapons here."
"What is your level in the weapon arts?" Lucas asked.
Checking the axe, Julian spoke, pursing her lips.
"I am at an advanced stage in swordsmanship and spearmanship. Intermediate in axes, daggers, pole arms, and various others."
The world around Lucas suddenly spun, causing his feet to stumble back.
'What is this?'
'Frederick, how the hell did you become a protagonist? It should be her. Before her, you are like a small puppy. Is she even a human?'
"Enough talk, let's begin."
"Wait! I am not ready, and you are too strong, so…"
"Save those excuses for your enemy."
"Wiaittttttt?" Lucas squealing hard, pulled out his sword to defend, but his whole body crashed onto the wall.
Struck on the wall, he saw flakes of snow carried by strong gales coming at him as Julian walked towards him with a bloodied smile.
"Get up, Lucas. I hadn't even used 10% of my power."
'I… I fucked up.'
A few moments later, Ami entered holding numerous documents.
She had not even stepped into the gymnasium when he heard a mad roar of pain and misery.
BAAM!BAAM!BAAM!BAAM!
CRACKLE!CRACKLE!
Seeing the brutal scene of a boy getting dismantled and bullied without mercy, she wanted to step in but stopped, sensing the coldness in the air.
"Miss Ami help…." Lucas's words trembled.
"Sorry perhaps, I came at the wrong time." Ami then turned back and ran away while burning incense for Lucas in her mind.
'Damn, Lucas, I warned you not to play with fire with so much.'
'Lucas, you can only blame yourself for offending her. I have given many subtle hints not to piss her, but you didn't listen. Don't blame your teacher.'
...
After getting his ass kick,Lucas visited skies to finish the task.
"Hmm!"
Reading the contents, he rubbed his chin.
Then he stared at the boy wrapped in bandages all over his face, giving him a grumpy look. It seems he hadn't used potions.
"You want me to find all this, huh."
"I will give it a try, but you have to give 10% of the remuneration fees to us."
"Why?" The boy blinked.
"Why…" Letting out a chuckle, Reynolds leaned back on the sofa.
"Because we are not doing charity work. Since I am working as a middleman, I ought to have my fee. And let me tell you something, I am one of the very few who could find this currently."
"I understand that much, but 10% is too much is not." Lucas pleaded.
"Don't give me that look, and don't think that I will go easy on you. This is business." Reynold snorted.
'One should mature as early as possible because there are even people who sell their children just for some meager money.'
Reynold sighed, thinking about those days when he loitered around alleyways just to fill his stomach.
"2%." Lucas offered.
"9."
"3."
"8."
"Let's stop this at 4." Lucas spat, gasping heavily.
"5, "Reynold muttered without baiting an eye.
"No. Why are you hell-bent on looting me? Just how much does this material cost? A mere hundred or thousand." Lucas spoke helplessly, seeing Reynold blink his eyes confused.
"You…'' Veins bulge over Reynolds's head.
"You don't even know the cost of this thing, and you are bargaining with me. You should learn basic things in business before putting your mind to it."
Taken surprised, Lucas stared down at the list to take a proper look and asked" How much does this cost? I searched on the net, but I did not get useful information?"
Reynold sighed and pointed at the things" Just 30ml Phantom's tear would cost you 400,000-600,000 depending on the purity."
Hiccup!
Lucas, clutching his chest, rubbed it to suppress the burning sensation.
"The Bitter weed is the mushy liquid of a bittersweet gu worm and is very hard to find. It will cost 100,000R, but it's quite hard to store. One needs to pay an additional, 25000R."
"The entire cost of these materials would amount to 3.6 million R if nothing goes wrong. Now, do you know why I am haggling over the price?"
Lucas gazed at Reynold's expression and realized the gravity of the situation. If it were before, Lucas wouldn't be careless as he was on a tight leash.
Having 100 million to spend had spoiled him. This was not a serious matter, but this attitude of negligence might harm him eventually if he manages his business. He should have researched well or asked Linda to explain all this.
'Haaa… It seems money has gotten into my head. If it were before, I would have researched it and then come here.'
Not only did he not check the things, but he also did not even know the amount of material that can be made in one purchase.
Seeing Lucas darkened expression, Reynolds sighed" Okay, 4% is enough. I will not go easy on you next time."
Lucas's expression brightened.
"Thanks."
'He is surely a great man. I can hire him for the market department after James finishes the orb armor project.'
Thinking about this, he decides to take the next step now.
He had waited for a suitable opportunity and a reason to pull him in.
"By the way, do you know where Scotch is? I have some work with him." Lucas asked.
Question marks appeared over Reynolds's face.
"He is working on the server maintenance of some company. You can find him on the second floor."
"Give me a call after you find the things." Lucas bowed slightly and ran away before Reynold could ask something.
"From where did he get so much money?" Reynold scowled, staring at Lucas back while hoping that Lucas didn't end up doing something shady.