Subaru, his stomach burning and his head spinning, delved deeper into the maze of alleys. The plan was precarious, but it was the only one he had.
He couldn't face Elsa, but he could use his knowledge. The key was Rom, the friendly ogre and Felt's guardian. If he could win Rom over, Felt would be more manageable.
And to do that, he needed to arrive before Elsa made her star appearance.
Every step was a test of his stamina. The system blinked again.
[Warning: User's vitality in critical decline. Seek medical attention is imperative.]
""I know, thanks for the heads-up," he muttered, cold sweat beading his forehead.
The streets narrowed, the stench of decay more intense. He recognized the graffiti, the distinctive markings.
Rom's Lair. A small antique shop, more of a chaotic warehouse, with a worn sign barely holding up. The wooden door was ajar, a dim light emanating from within.
Subaru approached, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear voices from inside. Too late. Felt was already there. And if Felt was there, Elsa...?
He forced himself to take a deep breath, ignoring the pain. He pushed open the door and entered. The interior was a jumble of antique and curious objects: rusted swords, dented armor, broken jewelry. And in the center, two familiar figures.
Felt, sitting on a stool, fiddling with Emilia's shiny badge. And beside her, a An imposing man, over two meters tall, with reddish skin and a large mallet resting at his side. Rom.
"Rom! I'm back!" Felt exclaimed, unaware of Subaru's presence.
Rom snarled a reply, his voice deep like distant thunder. Then his eyes settled on Subaru. They were large and piercing.
"Who are you, kid?" Rom asked, his hand slowly moving toward his mallet. The atmosphere grew tense. Subaru felt the razor's edge on his neck, even though he wasn't there. Time was running out. Elsa.
"Wait! I'm not a threat!" Subaru raised his hands, his movements clumsy and painful. "I'm coming for the badge!"
Felt chuckled, a harsh, distrustful laugh. "Ha. The badge? And what are you going to do, try to take it from us by yourself?" You're hurt, and Rom here isn't in the mood for games."
"I know," Subaru said, trying to sound as confident as possible, despite the tremble in his voice. His Charisma was low, but his Intelligence could make up for it. "I'm not here to fight. I'm here to negotiate. And I have something the 'buyer' doesn't have."
Rom narrowed his eyes. "Say it quickly, kid. My patience is short."
"Money," Subaru said, straight to the point. "And a promise to spare."
Felt laughed again. "Everyone promises money. How much do you have?"
"Not right now," Subaru said quickly. "But I know who the 'buyer' is. And I know what she really wants. It's not just the badge, it's the girl who's after it." And she's paying a lot for the insignia because she needs it for a contest, a contest to be the next queen."
Felt's eyes widened slightly. Rom snarled, but didn't attack. They were listening.
"Today's 'buyer' won't pay you a good price for the insignia, Felt. I'm telling you. She wants the insignia, but more than that, she wants the information on where the royal candidate is. She's a murderer, not an honest shopper." Subaru took a risk, using his knowledge.
"Her name is Elsa Granhiert, the 'Undercity Hunter'."
Silence fell in the shop. Felt paled slightly. Rom frowned, his expression hardening.
Elsa's name was known, even in the underworld.
"How do you know that?" Rom asked, his voice deeper.
"I have... my sources," Subaru shrugged, trying to sound more enigmatic than he actually was.
"The point is, she's not trustworthy. She'll give you a payment and then... disappear, or worse. I can offer you a better deal."
"What deal?" Felt asked, his tone now serious.
"The girl you stole the insignia from is a royal candidate, her name is Emilia. The reward for the insignia is enormous. I can help you get it if you give me the insignia now." And if you help me survive this night, in return, I'll guarantee you a better life, Felt. You won't have to live off the slums anymore."
The system blinked, this time with a positive notification.
[Charisma Obstacle Overcome: Establishing Credibility.]
[Reward: 10 EXP, Charisma Increase: 3 -> 4.]
[Intelligence Obstacle Overcome: Strategic Use of Knowledge.]
[Reward: 15 EXP, Intelligence Increase: 10 -> 11.]
Subaru felt a slight buzzing in his head, a small "click" as his Charisma increased. Small steps, but important.
Felt hesitated. His gaze went from the badge to Subaru, then to Rom. Rom, for his part, was still assessing Subaru, his expression unreadable.
"And why should we trust you?" Felt asked, his voice filled with skepticism.
"Because I'm injured," Subaru pointed to his bleeding belly. "And yet, here I am, risking my life to warn you and offer you a deal. I have nothing to gain by lying. My goal is for the badge to return to its owner, and for you two to be safe. Once the badge is with Emilia, the reward will be yours. And I... well, I'll have what I need."
Before Felt or Rom could respond, a soft knock sounded at the door. A sound that made Subaru's heart stop. Elsa Granhiert.
The poker game had begun.