Rise of the Godking - Chapter 98

Daneel breathed in and out for a few seconds, observing those lines on his face that wound down, around his cheeks, his jaw, his chin, then back to what was left of his nose before crossing over others that crossed yet others that seemed deeper, as if they had been inflicted with more ferocity than the rest.

He took his time. This was one issue that he always considered relentlessly before making a decision. Back on Angaria, all of the companions he had picked had been those that he had spent a lot of time with. Each and every one of them had given him reasons due to which he could trust them with his life. Here, in this place that was much more dangerous than Angaria could ever be, he did not want to have someone who might betray him following his every step, seeing him make his every move. Only…if he left now, he would be abandoning both a potential risk and a slave who had gone through hell to escape, and of course, because the man represented a vault of knowledge that could be gained immediately if he relented, Daneel found himself thinking of the offer once more.

Folding his hands behind his back and seeing how tattered his clothes were, for the first time, he let his mind work. He felt the pain emanating from all the wounds over his body, but with the system working on them, they weren't nearly as bad as they had a right to be.

First, he wanted to know whether the man was lying, again. So, after asking the system to analyze his face, he waited for the answer that could shed light on his past.

[Deep image analysis completed. Target's face was cut extensively before the burning occurred. Target's face was drenched with a flammable substance and ignited before being put out in a methodical manner so that whatever was left would be enough to let him continue living. The most rudimentary healing was done so that he would not die. The cuts that were inflicted afterward were targeted at the places where nerve endings are clustered the most, which would in turn cause the most pain. This could also be because the burning incident might have removed many of the spots that should have been painful, leading the torturers to pick those parts which still had a chance of being sensitive. At one point, a tool was also used on targets that remained on his face, drawing blood and digging deeper for an extended period of time before it was removed. More data is required to find the identity of torturers.

Probability of target being a slave is high because of additional reason of the status of target's hands, which are heavily callused.] 

Daneel let out a breath he had been holding as he heard the horrific things that the man had been through. It was something that no one should have had to endure, and the fact that the man had resisted and been punished even after being subjected to being burned alive definitely said something about him, for sure.

Right as he noticed what was happening, though, he also found out the reason behind it. His heart had always been weak in matters like these, going out to causes that might seem lost. In fact, he didn't know whether this was a weakness of his or not…but right now, it was what it was, so with a sigh, he opened his mouth to give the man an answer.



The sigh seemed to have completely thrown off Alex, though, as he gave a dejected sigh, too, and bent his head as if thinking of something. Curious, Daneel decided to wait, correctly interpreting the air and seeing that he was like a customer in a shop who was about to leave, and had been stopped by the shopkeeper who wanted to guarantee the purchase, at any cost.

Finally, with a shrug and a violent shake of his head, Alex exclaimed, "Okay, fine! If this won't convince you, then nothing will! It goes against each and every ideal I've set for myself…but here goes! I'll give you half of the store of crystals I found with Hopkins! That greedy fucker was a damn hoarder…but I grabbed his hoard after you killed him! He left it behind as it would have obstructed him when he fought, so it was just sitting there. In fact, in a way, it can be said that you deserve it as you're the reason he won't be coming for it…but still! This is all because my gut is also telling me that going with you will be quite a profitable venture! I don't know how…but I believe it! Come on, you have to accept now, at least! I'm actually paying you so that you can eat my food! You won't get a better deal anywhere in the world!"

Daneel acted as if he was still doubtful, but within, his heart was racing. Right now, crystals were a drug for him as he was strapped of these incredible resources that could be experimented with to reveal a lot of things. He had been holding off on this as he needed as many as possible for a rainy day, but if he had more than it would make sense to hold in reserve…then potent magic might be back at his fingertips, and he wouldn't need to fear much on the way, at all.

With an exasperated look, Alex almost seemed like he was going to start wailing as Daneel was still deliberating. Knowing that it might not be wise to aggravate the man even more, Daneel finally nodded and said, "Alright, fine! A few conditions, though. You should never ask me anything that I'm not willing to give an answer to, and I decide where we go. Also…no thieving when you're with me, unless I give the say-so. And, oh, yes, you should answer everything I ask about, unless it deals with something personal to you."

The joy that bloomed in Alex's face was nice to look at despite everything that marred it. Like a flower jutting out of concrete, it glowed with the essence of life, but in barely a few seconds, it was tucked away.

Picking up the mask, Alex placed it back on his face once more and reached inside his long, dark coat. When he took it out, his palm held over ten processed crystals.

Daneel frowned at the number, but also at the fact that they were processed ones, in the first place. True, they had more value than crystals that had been mined…so had the man actually exchanged the ones that he got from travelers for these, which could be said to be a higher denomination of the same currency?

"What are you looking at? One of these is equal to ten of the crystals you have. It's a damn fortune…and I'm having to share it with you. It'll all be worth it, though…but that doesn't mean I can't be bitter about it today. Well, what the fuck are you waiting for? Come on."

With a nod, Daneel walked forward. It was only after placing the processed ones along with those that he brought from Graiton securely that he turned back to Alex, and when he did, he saw that the man was making good on his word.

From a rucksack that hung inside his coat in a manner that made it almost invisible, he had taken out flatbread, of some sort. Breaking off a piece, he handed it to Daneel who took a bite.

Even if it was poison, the system would have no problem with egesting anything dangerous before it could do him harm. Alex ate the bread, too, which meant that that wasn't the case anyway, and when he was done, he said, "It is sealed, then. Sharing bread means that we share a bond, now. At least, that is what my people believe. Because there are so few left, one might say that their traditions hold no value, either. I believe otherwise, though. Well, I don't know about you, but I'm itching for a good night's sleep…in a proper bed. There is a village that accepts travelers a few islands over. If it's alright with you…we can go there, before planning the rest of our journey, assuming that you know where you're going. Sounds like a good idea? Great! Then follow me!"