When he saw the message, Deorc looked down from the window.
A figure stood under the streetlight, dressed in all black, helmet on, face completely hidden. He leaned casually against a motorbike. When the figure looked up and saw Deorc, he waved and pointed at the phone in his hand.
Deorc checked his phone and saw An's recent chat:
An: Toss the bag down and I'll throw the ring up.
"Tch." Deorc frowned. "That's risky. What if he just grabs the money and bolts?"
The woman scoffed. "Then don't do it. No one's forcing you. You're the passive one here."
Deorc hesitated. 7 million wasn't a small amount for him but the ring was something he really needed. He couldn't pass up this opportunity.
He gritted his teeth and decides to risk it.
"Fine," he muttered. "We'll do it his way."
He tied the pouch tight and walked to the edge of the window. He dangled the bag outside so that it will be visible to the man below.
The man on the road gave him an "okay" sign as he rode on his motorcycle.
Deorc took a deep breath threw the bag out the window.
The man immediately started his motorcycle and sped past the fallen bag of cash. He caught it, and just when Deorc expected him to stop, the man suddenly accelerated and went straight past the window without any pause.
Deorc was stunned, and when he realized what's happening, he couldn't stop himself from yelling, "Scum! Where's the ring?!" He nearly toppled out the window.
His shout echoed down the street, but the motorcycle just kept going.
He stared after it in disbelief. Despair started to overwhelm him. His body lost strength, and he almost collapsed at the sill.
Lucy grabbed his coat. "Damn, you wanna die?"
Deorc felt wronged, "That guy stole my money!" His voice cracked. It wasn't just about the cash. "Lucy, I'd be dead if I didn't get that ring today! That was my last hope!"
"Deorc, calm down!" Lucy sighed. "Dealing with those dealers is always risky. You're lucky you only lost your money. Most people who fall for their tricks get sucked dry and hanged on the electrical pole like air-dried meat!."
Deorc slumped to the floor, his head spinning. He had known it was a gamble, but he'd taken the risk anyway.
At first, he thought the seller was just some regular guy, so he planned to lie about the ring's worth. Even when the guy offered a reasonable price, Deorc didn't believe he was a professional dealer.
But looking back, that guy was definitely a dealer. The sadistic type that enjoyed toying with people.
"Dealers be damned. They can go to hell. Sadistic bastards." Deorc gritted his teeth. This was the third time he'd been a victim of dealers. The first dealer was a bastard who's prices were up to heavens (very expensive), the second was a spy from his enemy, now the third is a scammer. Deorc feel like it's the heavens telling him that 'just stay put and die obediently'.
He's turning white from fear. The moment he thought of his upcoming fate, he wanted to commit suicide. Being used as a puppet? Or being gutted alive? Either way, his end won't be good.
Lucy sat beside him and poured him a glass of water. "Maybe we should talk to Sellene.
Isn't she close with the Tyrant? Maybe she'd be willing to help."
At the mention of those names, Deorc's face darkened. "Those noble children of the Ascenders? You think they'd help a wild void adventurer like me?"
Lucy went silent and sighed. She also felt headache whenever she thought of Deorc's situation. She wanted to help him, but those people targeting Deorc are people that Lucy doesn't want to mess with.
Lucy though of many ways to help him, but those ways involved Deorc being affiliated with an organization. Deorc adamantly rejected those ideas saying that it was not any different from being a puppet.
Then Deorc's phone buzzed.
He ignored it, so Lucy picked it up.
An: Third table near the second window. Check the condiments container. There's a ring box under the salt shaker.
Lucy's eyes widened. "Deorc! Look!"
Deorc looked up and saw the message. His could feel himself tearing up.
He rushed over to the named table, grabbed the container, and spilled its contents. The moment he saw the ring box, the tears that he had been holding back finally bust. This time, he was crying for real.
He plopped down into the ground. His knees gave out. "Oh my god. Oh my god. Thank you, thank you!" He didn't care about the weird stares that he was getting. No one could understand what it felt like to just sit there and wait for your death, only to be handed a rope of salvation.
Lucy pulled him up, noticing they were starting to draw unwanted attention.
Deorc sat down and tried calming himself while clutching the ring in his hand dearly.
Lucy was happy for him, but she couldn't help muttering, "What a bastard."
This time, Deorc's impression of the dealer improved, frowned and scolded Lucy. "Don't talk about sir like that." Deorc was back to his hypocritical gentlemanly self now that the danger was lifted.
Lucy clicked her tongue. "You're quick to switch sides."
No matter what they thought of the dealer, it was lucky enough that he'd actually completed the deal. Dealers who complete deals are very rare ironically.
Little did Cail know, because of his twisted antics, he had now been categorized as one of those crazies.
Well, that was the future Cail's problem. Present Cail was living his best life.
---
Riding his motorcycle, Cail laughed inside his helmet.
"Hahahahaha, the way his face twisted!" He had to admit, it was his bad taste to not tell Deorc about the ring, but that was the whole point.
He knew exactly how desperate Deorc was from the messages that he received before and after the deal was concluded. That's why he wanted to mess with him.
Before the meeting, he'd gotten a brilliant idea.
He hid the ring in the place before the deal, well, just in case. Although he had no idea why Deorc values the ring very much, there is no way he'll remain that passive. If the buyer's attitude didn't suit his taste, then no ring for him.
Luckily for Deorc, he had been very compliant.
"Money, money, money, money!" Cail chanted, speeding through the streets like a blur.
"Hahahahaha!" The feeling of controlling someone's emotions, it was addictive. He had done this before but it wasn't this thrilling.
He'd memorized the route. One sharp turn and he'd vanish into the alleys. No cameras. No trail.
Grinning, he hummed. "I'm gonna be rich."
As the wind howled past his helmet, a voice echoed in his mind—
"Don't ever let them see you sweat. Cail, just smile then twist the knife."
His grin faltered.
Just for a second.
Then it came back, sharper than before.
"Why am I feeling bothered by the words of the dead?" He murmured, "Just stay there and burn in hell."
The night was just getting started, and now that Cail had loosened his reins, he wanted to go even more unhinged. He was planning to enjoy every second of his adventure.
"Let's get this money to safety first, then we will have some fun." Despite the adrenaline, he knew better than to be careless.
His getup was perfect. And tomorrow was Sunday, no class. It's fine to have a bit of indulgence right?
While he's probably gonna be berated by his mom, she can't just hogged the fun by herself right?
One could say that, like mother like son, living like there's no tomorrow.