Daseos's mind churned.
'Well… I do need the money, even if I do manage to get into a Villain Institute, I'd need money for rent and expenses.'
'Villain, huh? Even if it's the lowest-ranked one, that's still leagues above what I've faced,'
He thought, his mind racing. Alucard was offering him a golden ticket, but it came with spikes. Really sharp, life-threatening spikes.
"Kid, this could be the opportunity of a lifetime. Think about it,"
Alucard nudged, his eyes like two burning coals.
Daseos looked at Alucard, then looked away, his gaze drifting to a dimly lit corner of the room.
'Opportunity or not, this is risky. Insanely risky. But maybe...'
Daseos started speaking again, "What are the handicaps?"
Alucard smirked, feeling the tension in the air lighten.
'He's considering it, the lil' fishy is on the hook!'
"Haha! Smart boy, Of course we're not gonna send you to your doom. Your opponent will be without weapons. You? Go nuts—no guns or explosives, though."
He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his decision.
His eyes met Alucard's once again, this time firm, resolute.
'This is all or nothin'... Well then…"
"1:10 odds, you say? Give me 1:20, put my potential 50k winnings in as my bet, and you've got yourself a deal." Daseos proposed
Alucard took a moment to size him up, ashing his cigar.
"And what happens if you lose? The 50k is your payment IF you win, you know how the Underground Fight Club works… No participation trophies."
Daseos shot back,
"The upside outweighs the risk. 50k is peanuts compared to what you'd rake in."
"The keyword there my boy is 'risk', do you know how much I stand to lose if you fuck up?" Alucard replied.
"Far less than what you'd make if I win. Let's not kid ourselves; this is more about your Fight Club's reputation than it is about gambling."
Daseos leaned back, adopting a more measured tone, like a seasoned negotiator.
"And don't think you can talk me into a string of fights later. I'll probably be in a Villain Institute by then. One victory might be a fluke, but a streak? That's a legend in the making."
Alucard was taken aback for a moment. This kid had spunk.
"Hoho, confident aren't you?"
Daseos replied firmly,
"That is my birthright."
Alucard's thoughts raced, a mental whirlpool suddenly storming.
'That's right… his last name… is Demon.'
'NO… Don't tell me…'
Alucard's eyes widened in shock as he asked,
"You… are… a Demon? THAT Demon?"
Daseos didn't answer.
He just gave Alucard a confident smile, one that spoke louder than words.
'If he really is of that infamous clan… the rebirth story… the last son of the villainous Villain Clan… I could—''
Alucard's savvy business mind ran in overdrive, he had found an uncut gem in its truest sense, the never ending list of business opportunities flashed before him.
'This kid's not just full of hot air. If he's truly a Demon, this could be more than just a profitable gamble.'
With a sly smile, Daseos moved closer to Alucard and slung his arm onto his shoulder.
Pretty awkwardly, due to their height difference, but we digress.
"Look, right now you're just managing a branch in a backwater place like Darkspire. But if I rise up the ranks, it changes everything."
Daseos swept his other hand through the air, a mirror to Alucard's earlier grand gesture.
"With my name and eventual status, the sky's the limit, money, fame, women—everything you ever wanted will be at your fingertips!"
Alucard froze in his seat, but his eyes were sparkling with the bright future ahead.
Alucard was practically frozen, but his eyes shimmered with visions of a future too brilliant to ignore.
*Cough* *Cough*
He coughed awkwardly, regaining composure as he reached forward to grasp Daseos's hand with both of his, shaking it enthusiastically.
"We have a deal Young Master De—"
Daseos put a finger to his lips,
"This remains our secret, I'm sure you can appreciate the profits that can come with a grand reveal?"
By now, Alucard's eyes weren't just shimmering; they were practically shooting stars.
"Yes… yes… profits, no, I mean grand reveal! HAHAHA"
Daseos smirked and asked,
"So about YOUR 50k investment?"
Alucard stuck his chest out and pounded it in affirmation,
"Leave it to me Young —"
Daseos raised a hand, cutting him off.
"Just Daseos, for now… Get that contract ready and make the arrangements."
He winked as their hands met in a final, firm shake.
Alucard stepped out of L.U.S.T Inn, his posture straight, and a jaunty spring in his step.
Today was a good day.
No sooner had the door closed behind him than Faye, the door girl with her unique purple bob-cut and tiny horns, rushed over.
With an agility belying her small frame, she hopped onto the seat next to Daseos.
"What did that bad man want, big brother?"
Daseos chuckled softly as he patted her head.
"Bad man, you say?"
Faye looked down, her voice dropping to a near-whisper.
"Every time he comes here, you leave at night and come back covered in bruises and scars..."
Daseos flashed a warm smile, his fingers playfully pinching her cheeks.
"You're not wrong. He's bad news, for sure. Watch out for him, okay?"
With a sly glance, her eyes darted around, to ensure no one was listening.
Faye leaned in close, covering one side of her mouth as she whispered,
"Should I add his name to our blacklist?"
Daseos laughed, ruffling her hair affectionately.
"No need for that, little Faye. Believe it or not, he's going to work for me one day."
Just then, a seductive voice sliced through the room's ambient noise, echoing from the darkened hallway.
"My my~ Big words for a little man~ kekeke~"
Both Daseos and Faye turned as they heard footsteps, their eyes locking onto the figure emerging from the dim hallway.
Sable, one of the courtesans of L.U.S.T Inn, was a pretty popular succubus, because of her ample, juicy, massive…
With a hair of straight silk black hair, framing her angelic face and cascading down her devilish figure, she cat-walked toward Daseas.
Every movement, every look oozed with temptation——an intoxicating dance of allure.