"Vitalis Flower Garden" was using Corpse Fertilization. Arnold had long been aware of this rapidly spreading rumor, and it was part of the reason he chose Rosalind as his target.
Corpse Fertilization. Apparently, by using human corpses holding deep, unresolved grudges as fertilizer, it was possible to grow high quality, precious herbs at unbelievable speeds.
This forbidden technique had a long history of causing bloodbaths, so it had been banned by the Temple decades ago.
"At this rate, let alone the shop, the Cathedral might even come after my l-life. Hik, sob."
Rosalind squeezed the young Merchant's hands. 'Dio' understood her fear all too well.
After all, he had lived with that fear for so long, and still wasn't immune to it.
As a beggar, every guard that passed by was a death variable, not finding food meant starving, and storms meant frostbites and pneumonia. At any moment, any day, he could die a dog's death and no one would bat an eyelash.
And now, Arnold felt like the countdown to finding his sister was constantly ticking down, and he had lost his only friend.
Arnold comforted the crying Rosalind.
"Miss Vitalis–"
She placed her hand on his mouth and said in between sobs.
"...please call me Rose."
'Dio' smiled.
"Rose, I have a feeling that you know the one behind these rumors?"
Rosalind stiffened in his arms. She opened then closed her mouth repeatedly, finally letting out a whisper.
"Y-yes."
The young woman closed her eyes and stopped crying. Her aura seemed to change as she laughed.
"Hehe, it's my… uncle."
Those words were spoken with so much hatred and venom that 'Dio' had goosebumps.
"He definitely did it. He always hated my father for being more skilled than him, and he hates me for being my father's daughter. He must be doing this to drive me out and take ownership of my shop."
Rosalind seethed.
Having confirmed the girl's feelings, the young Merchant struggled to hide his satisfaction. He had her where he wanted her.
It was time for the grand finale, to drive the nail into the coffin. His Persuade skill would be put to good use.
'Dio' wavered for some time before saying.
"I had a suggestion, but it's no longer appropriate. After all, it could cause serious harm to your uncle… even death."
Rosalind's eyes lit up as she showed no hesitation at all.
"Please tell me what to do, Sir Dio! No matter the price, please let me have my revenge. That bastard, he… he might have killed my father!"
Rosalind didn't cry this time. Her misty blue eyes held a deep darkness, pleading with 'Dio'.
The young man walked up and down the shop, deep in thought. Rosalind noticed his occasional glances at the door and panicked.
Because of moral issues, Sir Dio might be unwilling to help her. After all, a niece who killed her uncle would definitely be arrested and even executed.
As her accomplice, Class Holder or not, Sir Dio wouldn't have a good ending.
She needed to convince him, but how?!
The girl's gaze darted around, all sorts of possibilities going through her mind.
She first looked at her coin purse. Unfortunately, she didn't have many gold coins left, no precious jewels, and no valuables. She then looked at the rest of the building, but even this precious shop had been slandered and left with no business prospects.
Coincidentally, her eyes wandered to the mirror behind her, and she froze.
Rosalind blushed as she thought of one last thing she could offer Sir Dio. She tried to ignore this possibility, but as she remembered her father's wrinkly face kindly smiling at her, she clenched her fists until her nails drew blood.
In this first and largest gamble of her life, Rosalind Plumeria Vitalis chose to raise, and the stakes would be herself.
She would give her everything to the young man in front of her.
...
Arnold smiled as he heard the sound of a robe falling to the floor.
His first business was a resounding success.
…
At noon.
Rose laid in Sir Dio's arms, blushing. She couldn't believe she had done such a shameless thing in broad daylight.
Arnold thought she was cute and decided it was time to reveal a few things to his first lover.
"To be honest, my name is not Dio, and I'm not from the Eastern lands."
Just as he felt Rose's heart drop, he continued.
"But I am a Merchant Class Holder. My name is Arnold."
He could still feel some tension from the girl in his embrace, but he couldn't blame her. She probably would've contemplated reincarnation if he said he didn't have a Class. After all, he was now her only hope.
"Could you… could you show me your System?"
She whispered. This bastard made her develop trust issues.
Arnold stroked her hair and nodded. Of course, he didn't include his Main Class.
[Arnold Grim
Level 1
Class : Merchant
Class level : 0
Skills : Haggle, Persuade, Flatter, Mind Arithmetics
Alignment : Lawful Neutral]
Because his overall level was that of his Main Class, he would have to level up every new Subclass from zero.
However, when he advanced, he vaguely felt something.
Subclasses would be easier to level up, but couldn't go beyond the Main Class' lvl.
In the end, Arnold Grim would always be a Beggar first and foremost.
A sad thought.
The good thing was that he wouldn't need to spend years making his Subclasses play catch-up. In fact, he felt that his Merchant Class might level up in a few days if he focused on trading.
'Do Subclasses get a massive XP bonus or something? Hmm.'
Anyways.
Rose was in awe, seeing a Class Holder's System for the first time. Arnold could feel at ease showing her his different levels, because she wouldn't understand the bizarreness of it.
She showed hers in return.
[Rosalind Plumeria Vitalis
Level 0
Alignment : Lawful Good]
Compared to Arnold's, it was exceedingly simple, but he appreciated her gesture.
He then mentioned her alignment.
"Rose. Soon, your alignment might change dramatically."
Executing his plan, even as an assistant, would instantly convert her away from the Good faction. Going back might be impossible in her lifetime.
His lover smiled eerily, her blue eyes shining.
"I hope so."
Arnold still couldn't get used to that cold tone, but he liked it.
He needed her to be ruthless if she were to be a capable helper and lover.
Of course, she was only hiding her fear and pretending to be cruel right now. Her trembling hands betrayed her real self.
But Arnold didn't care. He wasn't really a bad guy either, after all.
Right?
That evening. Two figures in black hoods sneaked away from the Vitalis Flower Garden. The taller one led the way through a complicated maze of mostly deserted alleyways. The odd drunk or beggar they encountered pretended not to see anything.
Curious people didn't live long in these times.
Suddenly, the taller figure stopped. He nodded towards his companion and they made their way to the only other person in this alley.
Dressed in dirty rags, with filthy hair and a bottle of booze, he looked like a typical bum. But his eyes showed pride, something that would've long been beaten out of any real beggar.
Arnold carefully approached this man and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Are you Stonehead Hubert?"
Stonehead Hubert. Arnold had heard about him in the beggars' circle, an unlucky chap who offended some scummy noble. In the end, his wife left him for that noble, his house and belongings were all stolen, and the poor guy was beaten and left to die on the streets. Somehow, he ended up surviving and becoming a beggar.
He was Arnold's target tonight.
Stonehead Hubert had to die.