“So,” at long last, King turned to the one harboring a silent hatred for him. “What is this business you have to propose that even our great Miss Baker here was convinced to help you through?”

The little man’s grin was all gone now, and a stern gaze was what had arrived in its place, one which did not relent to search every nook and cranny of Elmer’s features. Maybe even his spiritual one as well, Elmer deduced, that deduction of his presenting itself from taking himself into consideration.

Whenever he came into direct contact with a new person, he always made sure to confirm their status in this world ridden with the supernatural, so he felt every other Ascender with even a single hint of experience would be the same. After all, it was the most basic sort of precaution in such a world, since it helped determine how a person should be followed in a conversation to prevent fatal results for reasons that could have been avoided.

That aside, he was not willing to let King in on what business plans he had. Whatever information he had prepared on that was for the boss and him alone. Now, if the top head wanted to let his minions listen in while he was being told then Elmer could not object to that. But as of now, he’d rather keep his mouth shut.

Also, it was not like King was the one who would employ him, so what use was it to have to explain the same thing twice, and to two different individuals.

Elmer did not fancy wasting his saliva.

“I’d rather state my business directly to the one who has the power to approve of it,” Elmer answered with a single blink of his eyes, his face clear and his gaze without quivers. He could also feel his left cheek burning from the intense stare Patsy was raining down on him.

King, on the other hand, was silent for a moment, after which he scoffed. “Miss Baker, your friend is a rather sassy one, isn’t he?”

“The name’s Floyd,” Elmer interjected, unwilling to let himself be lumped in as Patsy’s friend any longer.

King acted as though he had heard no one speak. “Do you mind telling him that this scenario is sort of equivalent to a border checkpoint? You know, the one where entrance into a city is quite impossible if your purpose isn’t pleasing enough to the border patrol agents on duty?”

Elmer knew all that, but still, he was not of the mind to have to repeat himself.

Moreover, if this was equivalent to a border checkpoint then that meant getting through without one stating their full purpose was possible, wasn’t it?

He had an idea.

“Is that what you really want to know?” Elmer asked suddenly, putting a stop to whatever words King had had in store within his lips, or rather, changing them.

“What?” There was apparent confusion on the dwarf’s face.

Greetings flew by from the tattered workers fearfully going on about their duties, but none were heeded as Elmer continued, “I’m asking if my business plan is really what you want to know? Aren’t you one bit curious as to how I found out about the Underground Cartel?”

Considering what Hanky told me then this guy would want to take care of that person, probably without news of such reaching his boss’s ears; I’ll use that to my advantage.

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It was a rather simple but efficient tactic Elmer was employing.

When a conversation was headed in a direction one didn’t like, or was unwilling to entertain, it was common sense to bring up one just as important as a means to deviate away from the initial conversation.

And Elmer, who was quite certain that King was a rather cantankerous person from his earlier parley with Patsy, was positive that something so easily noticeable would fly over the little man’s head.

A few seconds later, he was proven right.

“Oh-ho,” King hooted. “I was of the mind to save that for later, but now that you’ve brought it up I should engage you, no?”

Elmer scoffed. “Trying to save it for later was foolish.”

There was a prod on his elbow from Patsy; even though her mouth was sharp against King, she seemed to be somewhat scared of him deep down.

Well, Elmer couldn’t blame her; he was an Ascender, and Heaven’s be good, the kind of face he was wearing now was similar to that of a serial killer out of a horror picture book.

“You should mind your tongue, you know?” The little man’s displeasure was evident, and Elmer was satisfied. He wanted his feeling of hate to be mutual. “As of now you’re still a probable business partner, but the next few seconds will determine if you turn out to be an enemy. And a single word from me could make that happen.”

I’m not really interested in being anything besides an enemy to you, but…

“I’d prefer I remain the former,” Elmer said with a sigh.

“Then start talking. I do not enjoy standing, I’ll have you know.”

Wouldn’t hurt to have a seat. I don’t enjoy standing either.

Though he could understand why that was impossible. The Underground Cartel was not like a newspaper headquarter where they had guests and offered them coffee and the sort, sitting down here either meant you were a patron or you were a high ranking staff.

The patron’s owned the lounge and the private booths, while the high ranking staffs…

—Elmer stole a glance at the doors flanking the corridor he was in, the somewhat clear sounds of conversations or forced pleasure coming from them confirming his thoughts—

…owned the hidden rooms.

There are ten high ranked staffs in total, including Patsy and King. He was not sure if all the staff were Ascenders, since people like Patsy were included, but that didn’t dwell on his mind for long as his attention shifted towards the peculiar door of plated gold edges down the hall. And that should be where Sir Redgrave is.

“Divination,” Elmer finally answered the man who had been listed as the latest of his enemies. “But you knew it was that, didn’t you?”

Patsy had helped him with most of the processes leading up to him becoming an Ascender, but she hadn’t been there to witness it. Of course, she should have figured it out as soon as she’d seen him here in the Black Market, or even due to the sort of mien he gave off currently, but if she hadn’t then what he’d said now was more than enough.

“Exactly, and we both know how a divination works,” King replied and stretched forth his right hand as if requesting for something. “So hand over the information of the one who had given you the description of someone in this cartel and an item of theirs.” King turned to Patsy with a probing gaze. “Because I’m very sure our Miss Baker here wouldn’t be so foolish as to orchestrate your arrival here herself.”

Elmer exhaled deep within with a smirk. The way he keeps talking, he thinks I’m a Baseborn, doesn’t he? Such shoddy profiling skills.

“Don’t you worry. The young lady had no hand in anything besides guiding me in. And even that was because she believed more money for the establishment meant more money for her.” King’s gaze returned back to Elmer. “As for the one who had given me the information… I killed him myself.”

It took a moment, but a few seconds after his words had lingered in the air long enough, an audible gasp was heard.