"Wait a minute!" Nagao started to put on an expression of disbelief. "Fight? Did you lose your mind, Old man?! Didn't you already agree with my suggestion before? Why did you ask to fight against her?!"
Mr. Schmidt replied,
"You're right! Your previous suggestion was great," he said with a serious intonation. "However, that's just your suggestion. As for her existence, I haven't seen whether she is useful or not. Simply put, I needed a guarantee. A guarantee for her ability. It doesn't matter who she has or what condition that she has right now. Therefore, fighting against her is one of the absolute answers for me to judge how deserving she has!"
Adolph just kept quiet and didn't reply. On the other hand, Nagao thought...
(This is harder than imaginable. Is this a chance for us to swallow ourselves pride to him? Absolutely not! In fact, this is against one of the main mission conditions. However, looking at Mr. Schmidt's character and what he said before, it's true as fact. Before looking for a way, I must've looked at Adolph's condition!) He thought while looking at Adolph's condition.
Upon seeing her, Nagao saw Adolph's straight and constant gaze as she stared at Mr. Schmidt. Not only that, Adolph displayed a straight posture. From Nagao's point of view and his intuition, Nagao believed that the posture she displayed was the posture of a confident person...
(So, you've made up your mind, huh? Even so, determination only isn't enough in here situation. The differences of physical between them couldn't be put aside. At the very least, this fight must be fair for both of sides!) Nagao thought while looking for a way.
While Nagao on thinking condition for finding a way about this problem, Mr. Schmidt said,
"So, how was it, Mister Negotiator?" while looking at Nagao. "Have your head run out of ideas?"
Hearing the words of Mr. Schmidt, Nagao just fell silent. Adolph glanced at Nagao for a moment. Finding that condition, Mr. Schmidt said,
"If you can't—!"
Not finished Mr. Schmidt spoke, Nagao said,
"Wait a moment!" he said in a firm tone.
"What's wrong? Weren't you unable to answer my question before?"
"Considering what you're saying, that opinion has a point!"
"Indeed! Therefore—!"
However, Nagao said again,
"However!" while looking at Mr. Schmidt. "There are 3 conditions put forward for this fight. First, this fight must be a mock battle with a time of 10 minutes. Second, the weapons used must be made of wood. Third, the fight will be declared over when one of the contestant's weapons touches the neck of another contestant. Touching, not injuring. If one of the contestants is injured, whether intentionally or not, the offending contestant will be declared as a loss side automatically. How about it, Old man? Deal?"
"What did the three conditions just mean? Isn't this condition favorable to her?!" while pointing at Adolph with his left hand.
"According to the offer you made earlier, these terms should be no problem for you, Old man!" Nagao replied in an assertive tone while looking at Mr. Schmidt.
"All those conditions! That's all you did to benefit her, right?!" asked Mr. Schmidt in an accusing tone.
"Benefit for Adolph?" while looking at Mr. Schmidt. "All of those conditions have been thoroughly deeply. Considering various aspects, both of you and her. Moreover, to test whether someone is worthy or not, it doesn't have to be until one of you dies. So, these conditions shouldn't be onerous at all. Or is it...?"
"Or?" said Mr. Schmidt while repeating Nagao's words.
Adolph just kept silent while listening to what Nagao said. Immediately, Nagao replied,
"Are you afraid that your pride as a parent will be destroyed by someone you underestimate?" said Nagao, smiling sarcastically at Mr. Schmidt. "If that's true, then this fight is just a selfish form of a grown man behaving like a "father-wanna-be", isn't that so, you Old-dipshit-man?"
Adolph immediately showed a shocked expression by what Nagao said. On the different side, Nagao thought in his mind...
(Hopefully, with this provocation, it'll make him want to eat my bait. Even so, must be prepared for all the risks that'll occur!) His feeling is filled with a sense of alertness.
Mr. Schmidt was silent for a moment. After a while, Mr. Schmidt laughed as he said,
"HAHAHA! You are such an asshole, brat! Not only gave reasons until reasonable terms for both sides but also did forcefully provocations to agree with the conditions you made, even though you knew it'll endanger your safety!" while looking at Nagao. "Okay, conditions set! As for timing, do you have any suggestions?"
Hearing the words of Mr. Schmidt, Nagao was silent for a moment. Then, Nagao replied,
"A week from now. The location at the training place in the afternoon time!"
"Why must it have to be a week??" asked Mr. Schmidt in a wondered tone. "Furthermore, the sooner it happens, the more it'll be good, isn't it???"
"There's an idiom that said, 'The great food is a food that goes through a lot of processing systems'. Deal?" Nagao said in an assertive tone.
"HAHAHA! You won, brat!" while staring at Adolph for a long time. "Can't wait to look forward to it, you sly damn killer!" he continued with a cynical smile.
"So do I. Can't wait to silence such disparaging words, you old screw bastard!" Adoplh replied his words with a cynical smile.
In the end, an agreement between both sides, with Nagao's help, was made.
***
I still remember my meeting with this person. The meeting that started from the assassination mission. At that time, I carried out an assassination attempt mission on him in exchange for a reward from the nobility person with a full payment system at the end.
Starting from the assassination attempt mission, I've always been involved in some "strange" incidents. My reactions are reasonable because I've always been helped by someone that I didn't know in the first place. The incident at the carpenter's place until the incident of being chased by the enemies was a witness of my journey with that strange person. As for I just found out that the strange person who always helps me is my target person. It's just like I was being protected by an angel and a pervert in one human form.
Even so, I thought out at the first time that this person was the typical same person as most people. Someone who scorns until despises on someone like me. However, all of my assumptions were refuted by the way he spoke and acted. In fact, I still remember some of his words earlier...
'Looks like the adage about "a person's behavior is reflected by the way the person treats others", also applies here!'
'... So, just think of this as a form of my sense of responsibility. Isn't that right?'
'... However, could you say your name as a form of 'thank you' to me?!'
'... Now, this is all your business and I'll be waiting outside. So, have fun!'
However, all of my prejudices changed after he argued with his acquaintance. In one of his spoke, I heard his words...
'... Third is the mentality that she has. Someone who lives in a harsh environment understood the importance of a return favor. Based on that, that are several reasons to choose her! '
Those words seemed to contain a belief. Belief in trust. The trust I've always wanted. The trust in an opportunity to prove the capacity I've.
Not only that, he was able to propose several terms and conditions that could be agreed upon by both sides. Some conditions that didn't make me feel pitied or lowered my self-esteem. Some conditions... that could make me stand on an equal with normal people even though my condition is like this.
After receiving all of this, I looked at Nagao who was talking to his acquaintance. I wanted to talk with him. However, my feelings started to fill with feelings that words couldn't describe. In the end, I said to myself...
(You're an unpredictable person, aren't you...!) I thought in my mind.
***
One week later...
Time passed, and the time came when Adolph would do a mock battle with Mr. Schmidt. While accompanied by Nagao, Adolph walked towards one of the mock battle sites. Upon arriving, Mr. Schmidt already came to the location.
Adolph and Mr. Schmidt stared into each other. After that, Adolph immediately put some preparations into a mock battle. All of her equipment has been installed.
After all of the equipment was installed, Adolph said to Nagao,
"In return for your trust, I'll win this mock battle!" Adolph said in a firm tone.
Nagao just yawned and replied to her,
"Just set it up!" while stretching his hand. "Adolph, Remember what we learned earlier!"
Hearing Nagao's words, Adolph gave a thumbs up while saying,
"I gotcha your point!"
At this moment, both of them had already set in their positions. On the other hand, Nagao, as the referee, started giving on cue,
"Set!" while looking at both contestants. "Fight!"