One night, in the mansion, inside the boy's room, Arthur and Neizan gathered to discuss a matter they had previously agreed upon.
『Arthur: Hey, Neizan.』
『Neizan: Have you heard anything about Lina yet? 』
『Arthur: I'm afraid not... There's still no news. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that she's not in this mansion. They must be holding her somewhere else. 』
Neizan frowned, clearly frustrated.
『Neizan: Then I'll have to talk to that old man and strike another deal. 』
『Arthur: Yeah... It seems like we don't have any other choice in the end. 』
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『Alberto: Well, it seems you've called for me. What do you need now, boy? If you're asking for my presence, it must be because you want to discuss something important. Or am I wrong? 』
In that luxurious hall, Alberto sat while a painter captured his likeness in a portrait. Next to him, as always, stood the knight Miguel, keeping watch.
Alberto was a middle-aged man, just slightly taller than Neizan, with a stature similar to Arthur's. He had long chestnut hair and dark green eyes that seemed to analyze everything. He sported a well-groomed beard, and his build was that of an average man—neither thin nor bulky.
At Alberto's confident words, Neizan gave him a serious look. A bit behind him, Arthur furrowed his brow, realizing that the noble's accurate observations were steering the conversation towards a sensitive matter.
『Neizan: Where is Lina? 』
Alberto smiled calmly.
『Alberto: Oh, it seems your little friend has figured out that she's not here. I know everything that happens around here, as you surely understand. 』
Neizan shot a quick glance at Arthur, but his expression made it clear that he knew nothing. It was evident that the noble was fully aware of their intentions.
『Neizan: I don't care about that. I asked you a question. 』
『Alberto: Let's see... If what you want is to know if the girl is alright, aren't the letters she writes enough for you? It seems they aren't, right? 』
Alberto let the question hang with a light, almost taunting smile, as his gaze studied Neizan, gauging each reaction.
Neizan clenched his fists, making no effort to hide his distrust.
『Neizan: I don't trust you or any of your people. But since you claim to know so much, why don't you tell me what you're plotting and save me some time? 』
Alberto's smile didn't fade. Instead, he crossed his arms, completely at ease.
『Alberto: I'm sorry, Neizan, but I can't tell you where the girl is... at least not right now. The only thing I can offer you is a contract. A vow that will guarantee the truth of my words. 』
Neizan narrowed his eyes, his patience clearly wearing thin.
『Neizan: What kind of contract? What are you talking about now? 』
Arthur, who had been silently watching, stepped forward, his eyebrows rising at the unexpected revelation. He brought a hand to his chin, thoughtful, while trying to figure out what the noble was planning.
『Arthur: I think he's referring to a spiritual contract, Neizan. 』
Arthur said, without taking his eyes off Alberto, weighing the implications of the proposal.
Neizan furrowed his brow even more, confused and irritated.
『Neizan: What do you mean by "spiritual"? Explain yourself. 』
『Arthur: A spiritual contract establishes a magical connection between the souls of the contractors. Thanks to this bond, both parties can sense whether the terms of the contract are being fulfilled or if one of them is lying or betraying the other. 』
Arthur explained calmly, carefully watching both Alberto and Neizan, making it clear how delicate the matter was.
Alberto nodded with a smile of satisfaction.
『Alberto: That's right. It seems the young merchant is well-informed about the terms of such agreements. Therefore, I see no problem in starting the negotiations. 』
At that moment, Miguel, the knight who had been standing guard, intervened with a firm but respectful tone.
『Miguel: Excuse me, my lord. This is not something to be taken lightly. A spiritual contract carries significant risks. 』
Alberto raised a hand, signaling Miguel to remain silent.
『Alberto: I know, Miguel. Don't worry, I'll take care of establishing the terms with caution. 』
Arthur, still thoughtful, looked at Neizan seriously.
『Arthur: Neizan, I would also advise you to consider this carefully. 』
Neizan, without breaking his gaze from Alberto, responded firmly.
『Neizan: First, I'll hear what he has to say. Then, I'll take the time I need to think about it. 』
『Alberto: …Well. I would like to remind you that, in exchange for the girl's safety, you must fulfill what was agreed. For that, you need to win all your matches in the coliseum. 』
『Neizan: I already told you. I have no intention of running away from my responsibilities for the rest of my life. So nothing has changed: I plan to win. 』
『Alberto: In that case, I offer you the chance to see the girl safe once we reach the coliseum. What do you think? 』
『Neizan: …I'm going to add something else. 』
『Alberto: I'm listening.』
『Neizan: Besides Lina, promise that once all of this is over, not only she, but also Arthur and I, will be free from any further blackmail attempts from you. And that both of us will have clean records. 』
『Alberto: Perfect. I have no problem with that, kid. Tomorrow, I'll bring a mage, since one is needed to establish a spiritual contract. Does that sound good? 』
『Neizan: As you wish. I still need to discuss this thoroughly with my companion. 』
Neizan nodded briefly, hiding the tension in his eyes, and turned around, ready to head back to his room. Alberto watched as the two young men walked away, already contemplating his next move. However, just as they were about to leave, Arthur stopped, clenching his fists. He took a step forward, turning back towards the noble.
『Arthur: Um… I have something else to say. I have a request. 』
Alberto raised an eyebrow, showing a slight expression of surprise on his face, and turned his head towards Arthur, who was now standing with rigid shoulders.
『Alberto: And what is it? 』