Chapter 19: Purchase

Five days passed since Amon proposed his crazy idea and the entire group just arrived in front of what looked like an abandoned building which was located on the periphery of the Coln district. They were planning on buying it and were scheduled to meet with the owner today.

"So… this is the place?"

Amon asked Renfri who also seemed a bit uncertain as the building was in a really bad shape.

"I guess so. Let's head in and hope that the whole thing won't collapse on us"

They went in and were surprised to find out that at the very least the inside was not as bad as the outside.

"See? I told you today was going to be different. It's still leaves plenty to wish for but I think it would be a solid start"

Arthur spoke up as they walked through the corridor. It was already the fourth building they visited in the past few days.

"Let's hope so. I am already getting tired of those scammers trying to sell literal rubble but I guess some paint job would suffice for now in case we buy this s*ithole"

Amon was not as optimistic as Arthur and seemed a tad tired.

It was hard to find a good building in a district which is synonymous with the word poor and for a reasonable price at that. He really wanted to get it over with already.

"Hahaha! Welcome! Welcome!"

They entered a room which appeared to be some sort of reception and were instantly greeted by a very enthusiastic owner. He was wearing an expensive looking purple robe and had a ring on every single of his fingers. His whole appearance basically screamed that he was rich.

"My name is Edmund Greadey but you probably know that already from the notice in the newspaper and you must be Renfri, correct? My secretary told me quite a lot of things about you. Oh? And don't mind my bodyguards, they are quite serious about their job and might appear a bit off putting"

He spoke fast to Renfri who led the group and gestured with his hand for them to take a seat at the table where a woman was already seated and appeared to be the aforementioned secretary. She had glasses on her nose and wore a bit too revealing for comfort clothing.

She hardly acknowledged the group with a simple nod and started to look through the documents which were laid on the table seemingly in order to make sure that there were no mistakes. Edmund's pair of bodyguards that stood behind him had a bit of a clearer reaction and stared at them with full focus, making sure that they were not up to anything funny.

"Might I know the names of your companions?"

As soon as all of them sat down Edmund inquired about Arthur and Amon.

"They are quite shy so you will have to excuse them"

Renfri did not introduce them for obvious reasons.

"I understand. I myself know a lot of similarly shy people"

Edmund nodded and put on a knowing smile.

He revealed his teeth which were all extremely white, a bit too white in fact and sure enough on a closer inspection it turned out that every single tooth in his mouth was replaced with a prosthesis made out of vintren which is this world's equivalent to gold.

"My secretary already prepared the draft of the contract. Why don't you take a look? I am sure you will find it more than acceptable"

Edmund took the contract from his secretary and handed it to Renfri but she only took a glance before giving it to Amon. After all, who could be more capable in handling contracts than a literal devil? This was probably the only thing Renfri could entrust him with without any worry in her heart.

This action caused Edmund to raise his brow. He expressed his slight surprise in hopes of getting some sort of explanation but Amon only chuckled in response without saying anything.

He took out a monocle from his pocket which he appeared to simply own since always and he put it on his right eye. He read through the entire document and couldn't help but sigh in resignation.

"Sigh…"

Amon put away his monocle and gently threw the contract back at the table. He looked at Edmund with an expression of great conflict and struggle.

"Is there something wrong with what I wrote, sir?"

Instead of Edmund it was his secretary that spoke up.

"Well there are a few things I found fault it, no offence"

"And that is?"

Amon smiled in his iconic playful way.

"You want us to pay 20% of the total price upfront and split the rest in a total of 180 instalments, totaling about 15 years worth of time not to mention the annual percentage comes to an outrageous 8% and the clause saying that the failure in just two payments on time would result in a seizure of property. I can't help but find this contract quite predatory. Makes you think why was this relatively decent building not sold long ago… or maybe it was, even a number of times?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Edmund's smile froze and sweat appeared on his and his secretary's foreheads. Even the bodyguards tensed up a bit.

What they did was basically a legal form of fraud and even though they couldn't be punished for it they couldn't help but feel nervous when they were called out on it. One's image and reputation was quite important after all and although some people could be easily silenced Amon clearly did not belong to that group. He was not a typical uneducated resident of the Coln district they dealt with so far that did not even bother to read the contract.

"Why the long faces? I am sure we can come to an understanding…"