Cabrera escorted to the first floor, where he was then led to a door made up of something that seemed like wood but wasn't. Intricate runic inscriptions were engraved on it in a myriad of patterns, and when Cabrera tried to trace this pattern, he found himself being drawn into an illusion as his mind began warping, when…
"I wouldn't do that if I were you" the girl escort pulled on his shoulder, forcefully taking him out of his reverie.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he found himself utterly defenseless against whatever that was.
At that moment, a voice full of serenity called out from within.
"Come in"
"Sir, you are to go in to speak with the sentinel" the escort said as she retreated.
Cabrera firmed himself and calmed his beating heart as he remembered why he was here.
'I have to go all way' he thought before heading inside.
The door that seemed unpenetrable before, now became seemingly transparent as Cabrera walked right through it and found himself in an office that was too well organized.
The floor was spotless, with no windows in sight, yet the air was refreshing.
"Come and sit"
A voice full of calmness rang out as Cabrera found himself looking at a man clad in a short blue robe with long brown hair, short white beard and brown eyes to match. He sat in front of a desk, with a neat pile of paper beside him, while he sipped something from a tea cup.
"Well, we don't have all day" the man said, smiling lightly.
*Clears throat* *Clears throat*
Cabrera coughed to hide his embarrassment as he quickly moved and sat down on a chair in front of the table.
"Hello Sir, how's your son doing?"
"Oh he's fine, thanks to you"
"Surely you jest, Sir" Cabrera said.
The man watched Cabrera for a few seconds before saying…
"So, my assistant told me you came to collect your gift. So tell me, what is it that you want?"
Cabrera took a deep breath before saying…
"A loan"
The sentinel raised a brow in astonishment and intrigue.
He was expecting the boy to ask for money, an item or an expensive scroll, but a loan? He couldn't quite get it.
Seeing his expression, Cabrera said…
"Let me explain properly. I am someone who toiled from a boy in the slums and is now a guild leader. I wish to go higher, but several roadblocks are in my way. So, I researched and made a plan to propel into greatness, but the one thing I lack…is money, and a very significant amount of it"
Cabrera stopped as he perused the look on the sentinel's face, who nodded with a thoughtful face as if to say 'it was to be expected', before Cabrera continued.
"I came today to borrow an astronomical amount that would allow my plans to proceed unhindered" he said.
"And how much is this 'astronomical' amount you speak of?" the sentinel said, still holding a smile with hidden meanings on his face.
"Huuu…25,000 platinum" Cabrera said with a straight face.
*Crack*
The tea cup cracked as the sentinel put too much pressure on it.
His smile had been completely wiped off as killing intent leaked into the air.
"Do you take me for a fool?" he asked angrily, but…
"No, I do not, and I dare not do so" Cabrera answered without flinching.
The sentinel calmed down somewhat before saying…
"Then what is the meaning of that insane amount?" he asked, trying to fix his poker face but failing.
"It is an honest amount, and that is why I asked for a loan instead of trying to act smart" Cabrera answered.
"Hmm, continue" the sentinel said, a little pleased at this brat's courteous nature.
"I have come to negotiate a loan contract, one of the soul" he said.
"And why do you think I will accept such a contract?" The sentinel asked.
"One, because the contract is entirely in your favor. And two, no one would resist free gold items" Cabrera said.
"We'll get back to the first part, but what do you mean by free gold items?"
The sentinel was becoming more and more surprised the more he heard.
"I kept a bunch of silver and gold items I obtained in this missionary, as for why I said it was free, that brings us back to the first reason" Cabrera said as he brought out a bronze soul contract and handed it over to the sentinel.
"You must be joking, right?"
The sentinel wasn't talking about the terms, but the rank being bronze.
After all, how was such a contract supposed to be reliable with someone of Intermediate rank.
"I know you can easily transfer or strengthen a contract with someone of a higher-rank, and I intend to do just that. For now, the terms are what you need to pay attention to"
The sentinel then unfurled the soul paper and began to read through it.
Five minutes passed as the sentinel read through it and his killing intent was completely doused.
After re-reading the terms almost ten times, he sighed deeply, looked Cabrera in the eye and asked…
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, extremely so. It's not an amount I calculated on a whim" Cabrera said with a look of determination and conviction.
The sentinel saw this and didn't bother trying to persuade him, instead proceeding to the next pressing question.
"Hmm, but how are we supposed to make sure you don't run away using some unknown means?"
Cabrera looked at him before saying…
"I highly doubt that being a problem for the missionary. After all, you should have something called a soul compass"
The sentinel was surprised again as he thought…
'It seems he really did plan things thoroughly'
The soul compass was an item which attaches itself to one's soul, thereby keeping track of the person's location, going as far as tracking someone's position in another continent.
Well, not the exact location, but would allow easier tracking.
It would alarm the sentinel if Cabrera moved an inch out of Niton territory.
'So, he wants to propel himself to the top, and he seems to have a plan to do so, but why did he say the deal shouldn't be leaked at any cost? Is that how he plans on paying back the loan…no, how does he plan to pay the interest?... should I accept or reject it?'
As the sentinel perused on what decision to take, Cabrera was thinking something else entirely…
'I really can't fathom how that guy is five years old!'
The current situation was calculated in the grand machinations Ezra was planning, which only served to awe Cabrera.
'Having him as an enemy…I almost feel sorry for his brothers'
This was the dominant thought in Cabrera's head as he shook his head with a pitiful expression.
For him, the next Emperor was already crystal clear.
At this moment, the sentinel spoke up.
"Alright, we have a deal"
"Thank you for such a chance, Sir" Cabrera immediately expressed his gratitude.
The sentinel looked at Cabrera while thinking…
'I'm just worrying over nothing. The terms stated, as well as the soul compass, will make sure he can't take the money and run away. There is also fact that he can only spend the money in this city, for as long as even a dime remains to be paid'
Yes, horrifying conditions were stated, not by the sentinel, but by Cabrera himself. Some were to remove all doubts about his intentions, while others made sure that, even if he ran away, the city wouldn't lose much.
That is, if they lost anything at all.
After all, this was 25,000 PLATINUM!
Not Copper, not Gold, but PLATINUM.
One should remember that the exchange rate was:
100 Gold coins = 1 Platinum coin
So, 25,000 Platinum was…2,500,000 Gold! Or 250,000,000 Silvers!
No wonder the Sentinel thought he was joking and released killing intent.
No wonder Cabrera willingly stated horrifying conditions on the border of almost becoming a slave.
How else were they supposed to hand over such an amount to a first-time lender?
"Hmm, so does that mean the money is available as of this moment?" Cabrera asked.
The sentinel looked at him with a weird gaze and said…
"Give me a moment" before pulling out a scroll with runic markings and gold dust seeming to fall off it.
It was an item Cabrera had heard a lot about, but this was his first time seeing the real thing.
'A Gold-rank soul scroll' he thought.
The sentinel then took the bronze scroll, which housed the terms and conditions of both parties, put it on the unfurled blank gold scroll, and said…
"Absorb"
The gold scroll shone a bright gold light as the bronze scroll was absorbed in mere seconds.
The written terms of the contract had been transferred onto the gold scroll.
The sentinel nodded at the sight, before saying…
"It is done, the money is now available"
"Hmm" Cabrera nodded as he took out another scroll from his pocket and placed it on the table, before saying…
"Should anyone know about this, I would be hunted by all guilds"
The sentinel nodded at such insight.
"So, in order to prevent that, I wish to ask If I could utilize the missionary to process my needs. Of course, I'll pay a processing fee of thirty Platinum" Cabrera stated as he saw the sentinel burst into laughter as he said…
"It seems you're more insightful than I thought. I can't believe I still underestimated you" he laughed.
"That's an exaggeration, Sir" Cabrera replied, making the sentinel smile as he thought…
'He's not only insightful, but modest as well'
But the sentinel didn't know that it was not so.
After all, how was he supposed to know that Cabrera had been taking writing and etiquette classes for a month, from a slave who was the illegitimate child of a Baron?
And the fruits of that lesson were now showing themselves at this moment.
"Alright, the missionary accepts the request" he said smiling, before adding…
"My assistant will be waiting behind this door, give her this" he said as he handed Cabrera a small note.
"She'll naturally understand"
"Thank you for your kindness, Sir" Cabrera said perfunctorily.
"The pleasure is mine. And now, it's time for you to go" he said as I found myself floating towards the room's exit.
"I look forward to seeing what you'll achieve with all this"
This was the last thing Cabrera heard before he found himself standing in front of the room's door.