The pressure of a Grade 3 wasn't easy to endure with my current strength, but compared to other opponents I had faced, it was nothing insurmountable. However, the role I was playing was that of an ordinary person, gravely wounded and terrified.
I groaned in fake pain and dropped to one knee, pretending to breathe heavily, as if his pressure were crushing me.
The other two men at the table stopped eating and exchanged a glance, wondering if I would survive this meeting.
"Nothing? Cat got your tongue?" he asked, amused.
"Boss… I doubt he can even breathe right now," one of the generals noted.
Paul made an expression as if the thought had only just occurred to him.
"Foolish of me… I almost forgot." He withdrew the pressure, then looked straight at me. "Well?"
With a fake tremor, I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out the artifact.
"F-For you… artifact."
Paul gestured to one of his men to come and take it. The general stood up, visibly annoyed, and grabbed it roughly before handing it to his boss. Paul inspected it carefully.
"Ooooh!" His interested expression caught the attention of the two generals, while a small smile formed on my lips.
"This is good… very good. Hahahah!"
"Boss, what kind of artifact is it?" one of the generals asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"A beautiful Grade 2 artifact, with a minor healing blessing."
The two generals widened their eyes in surprise.
On the archipelago, because of the dungeon's low level, Grade 2 artifacts were extremely rare, and finding one that could slowly heal wounds was even more exceptional.
"If you barely had my curiosity before, now you have my full attention, kid. Tell me how you found this little gem."
I opened my mouth as if to speak, but suddenly faked a violent cough and collapsed to the floor. I reached out my hand, almost begging. "P-Potion…"
Paul didn't seem disturbed at all and turned to the two generals with an annoyed look.
"Can't you see my guest is dying? Then why are your lazy butts still sitting there?"
"Y-YES!"
They jumped to their feet, rushed over to me, and made me drink several potions in a row, while Paul shook his head.
"Bunch of brainless idiots."
It was more of a mutter, but still audible to everyone. Neither general dared to say anything.
The wounds on my body quickly closed, and my color improved.
"T-Thank you, boss," I stammered, keeping my gaze low, as if I were frightened yet grateful, the kind of attitude a man like him liked to see.
"Compared to the gift you brought, it's nothing, my boy." He smiled, then, as if suddenly remembering something, tapped his head. "But where are my manners? Sit with us and eat something. I doubt you've ever tasted food like this."
With a snap of his fingers, several maids entered and quickly set a place for me.
"C-Can I really accept?"
"Well, you could refuse… insulting my generosity. Do you want to insult me?"
He said it smiling, as if it was a joke, but no one there was stupid enough to miss the threat behind it.
"…I'll sit."
"Good boy. Remember, if someone offers you something, just accept it."
I sat at the table, and under his watchful gaze, I took a forkful of food and swallowed it.
"Good?"
"Very… boss."
"Good. Now, before you tell your story, what's your name?"
"Leda, boss."
"Leda… Leda… why does that sound familiar?"
I saw Paul rub his chin, trying to remember.
"He's one of the recruits. Completed quite a few missions in a short time," one of the generals added.
"Exactly! That's why you seemed familiar. Looks like you're a bit famous around here."
At his words, I scratched my cheek, "embarrassed," as if I didn't know how to respond.
"But let's move to the subject I really care about. The artifact."
Feeling his heavy gaze, I took a deep breath and began to tell my story.
"After the storm a few days ago, which also changed the dungeon, I spent all my time searching for artifacts. And I must say, I was lucky."
While speaking, I showed two rings, but they didn't react at all.
It was clear that Grade 0 artifacts meant nothing to them. Also, no one found it strange that an "unawakened" like me wore them, since even ordinary people could use objects of that level.
"While I was exploring for more artifacts," I continued in a low, hesitant voice, "I ran into a group from the Pirate faction. They looked excited… and soon I understood why: they had found an interesting artifact, but a Grade 2 monster guarded it."
Paul's eyebrows rose slightly, while the two generals exchanged a glance.
"I followed them secretly," I went on, "and saw them fight the creature. It was a tough battle… they lost several men, and even the survivors were badly wounded. But in the end, they managed to kill it."
"You stole it while they were recovering?" Paul asked curiously.
"They were indeed hurt, but I wasn't crazy enough to attack people who could handle Grade 2 monsters," I said quickly, waving my hands.
I took a deep breath, letting a fake tremor crack my voice.
"While they were resting… I decided to act. I lured a pack of monsters in their direction. In the confusion, I stole the artifact."
"Hah! And you said you weren't crazy." Paul laughed softly, amused.
"But not everything went as I planned," I continued, tilting my head as if remembering a bad moment. "Some of those monsters noticed me and started chasing me. I ran until I found a crack in the rock and hid there… but it wasn't deep enough."
I paused for a moment, lowering my gaze as if reliving the pain.
"They managed to hit me several times, tearing my flesh. Luckily, after a few tries, they gave up, since they couldn't reach me completely. And in that state, I made it back to base."
I sighed, letting a shadow of fatigue fall over my face.
"All this… just to bring you the artifact, boss."
Paul stared at me silently for a long moment, his fingers tapping on the table. Then, a thin smile appeared on his lips.
"Clever. Very clever, kid." He stroked the artifact, then asked me a question. "And could you take us to where you got it?"
He's not convinced.
Even if my acting and condition supported my story, it wasn't strange for him to doubt.
"Of course. Once I recover, I can guide you," I said, nodding quickly.
As a precaution, before leaving, I took everything that could link those people to the Explorers. So, even if I brought them there, all that would remain would be blood stains, flesh, and maybe some bones.
Paul watched me closely, as if trying to read me, but beyond what I allowed to show, he'd need a lifetime to know the real me.
"You know what? Who cares where and how it was taken. The important thing is it's in my hands," he said, laughing. "So, what do you want?"
"N-Nothing, boss, I just did my duty as a faction member."
Paul frowned at my answer.
"Don't lie, boy. This is a world of give and take, nothing's free and nothing's without reason. I'm the kind of man who's generous to those who please me, and you've made me very happy with this gift. So tell me, what do you want?"
I stayed silent for a long moment, as if weighing my choice. Paul didn't seem to rush me, but he kept watching.
"I… I want money… a lot of it."
"Money? That's all?"
Paul's expression quickly turned disappointed.
"You know you could easily ask for permission to enter the Pantheon and receive the blessing of the gods."
"That was my goal at first, that's why I worked so hard, but…" I let my words drag, trembling slightly. "After almost dying, I don't see the point anymore. If I awakened, I'd be forced to go back in there, and I—"
"So basically, you'd rather live a mediocre but safe life than take risks and hope for more?"
"Y-Yes."
That final answer was what completely killed Paul's interest in me.
"How disappointing." He shook his head. "I thought I'd found someone with guts, someone worth raising, but in the end, I just get someone no better than these two clowns."
Paul spat the words coldly, and both I and the two generals lowered our heads.
"Giorgina!" Paul shouted.
"Y-Yes, boss."
The woman's head peeked through the slightly open doors.
"Give this guy a house in the citadel, a couple of slaves, and make sure he gets enough every month to live decently. Now, get him out of my sight."
"Y-Yes. This way, please."
Following Giorgina, I left the room, and as soon as the doors closed, I smiled coldly.
"Something funny?" Giorgina asked curiously.
"Oh?"
Seeing my plan go exactly as intended must have made me lose focus for a moment.
"Nothing special, I'm just happy with the reward."
My answer seemed to satisfy her, and we kept walking. Now, all I had to do was prepare the ground and watch the chaos unfold.