Chapter 22 – Floor 2: Part 4

Mathew walked the streets of Bellmare unescorted, although it didn’t matter much. He stood out enough that anyone could track his movements by the crowds. Traffic and activity came to a halt as he passed.

He needed time to clear his head and think through the problem. But even after a few hours of walking, he was no closer to an answer.

The expectation from the gods was clear: he was to retrieve the six crystals from the Houses and return them in time for the ritual. If he didn’t, he would be punished. So, his options were to force six others to die or risk himself by entering a floor designed to dissuade him from failure.

If he were being honest, he would prefer that they die rather than him. He wasn’t a saint, nor was he without a sense of guilt at what he was about to do, but he wouldn’t die for strangers. Besides, the Mayor had made it clear that thousands of people would starve if they didn’t perform the ritual.

At the end of the day, the choice was simple. Kill six to save thousands. And thankfully, he wouldn’t need to do the deed. He just needed to convince them to go through with it. Maybe he could just remind them of the cost.

Letting out a deep sigh, Mathew turned to look at the first place he would visit. House Livermore was responsible for overseeing the Mercantile District. They had a large mansion on the waterfront, where they controlled the warehouses and docks.

Coming upon the building, he noticed that half of it was on stilts, or piles, that held it above the water. A crowd was gathering around the structure. Roughly dressed sailors and merchants in expensive clothing were coming and going.

The Mercantile District smelled like fish and spices, and there were items on display in shopfronts and at kiosks that Mathew had never seen before. Not having any desire to stay on this floor for longer than necessary, he made his way through the crowd and through the open doors of House Livermore.

The interior was a combination of office space and a brokerage house. He could see people sitting together at tables, discussing deals with contracts open on the tabletops. Employees bustled about, all wearing similar uniforms with a set of golden scales on the chest.

All conversation stopped when Mathew stepped inside. The busy employees halted what they were doing and stared at him.

One young woman was so shocked at his appearance that she dropped a small chest of coins that she was carrying. They crashed to the ground loudly, and the clinking of silver coins filled the room until they finally stilled.

“I’m here to see whoever is in charge of the House Livermore Crystal.” Mathew stated, looking around the room for someone to step forward. Eventually, an older man wearing the same uniform as the others walked toward him.

“Of course, Champion. Right this way.” The man said, leading Mathew to a set of stairs. At the third landing, they reached a set of closed doors with the same set of golden scales on them. Knocking sharply, the man opened them immediately after.

The room Mathew entered was a large office. Piles of silver coins covered a large wooden desk that dominated the center of the room. Bookshelves line the walls, along with paintings of men and women who all wore similar clothing and bearing the set of golden scales.

The man who had been sitting behind the desk stood as soon as they entered. Wearing fine robes, he was young and handsome. He had a cocky grin on his face, and Mathew was instantly reminded of a similar type from New York.

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Young venture capitalists and sons of the city’s elite, with more money than sense. All were looking to make a name for themselves with expensive suits and dining at the finest restaurants.

In a way, they were similar to Mathew, except they lacked the work ethic. While they were playing at business, he had been working to make a name for himself, separate from his parents.

Mathew instantly took a dislike to the young man.

“Champion, I’m Padraic Livermore. I understand why you are here and would like to propose a proposition. Please, sit.” Padraic greeted him, gesturing to an empty wooden chair in front of his desk. The employee who had guided him bowed deeply before leaving.

“I don’t know what there is to negotiate. I’ve been sent here to collect six crystals and bring them back to the Mayor before the Harvest Moon. Otherwise, I’m going to be punished. I doubt you could offer anything of interest.” Mathew replied casually, taking a seat and crossing one leg over the other.

“You misunderstand, Mathew. May I call you Mathew?” Padraic asked, and Mathew quirked an eyebrow at the man’s casual admittance to knowing who he was. He had only left the Mayor’s house a little while ago. The word carried fast in Bellmare.

Better yet, if Padraic knew his name, then he also knew that the Mayor had told Mathew to do whatever it took to get the crystals.

“Yes. Is that it?” Mathew asked, pointing to a side table on the room's far end. A clear crystal was placed on a pedestal. It caught the light, sending rays across the wall and floor around it.

“Yes, that’s the Livermore Crystal. It has been in our House for five hundred years. And has cost five hundred of our lives.” Padriac replied, his face creasing in a deep frown.

“And brought prosperity to your City. The Mayor mentioned something about a blight. I take it your House wouldn’t have survived without their sacrifice.” Mathew reasoned.

“It infects all of our crops, a deep rot within the soil. Without the ritual, everything would die. Even the fish in the lake rely on it to survive. And as I said, you misunderstand. I have no issue with House Livermore making the sacrifice. It’s who that’s been selected that I have difficulty accepting.” Padraic explained.

“And who had been selected?”

“Me. Hence my proposition. By the will of the gods, I have been chosen as a ritual sacrifice, but, as Champion, you may select a new martyr for our survival. I don’t expect you to do so for free. You will be well compensated for your mercy toward me.” Padraic said, and his sly grin deepened.

“I’m not interested. Whatever you have, it’s no good to me. Wealth doesn’t mean much where I’ve come from and where I’m going.” Mathew responded immediately. He doubted he could carry it to the next floor, and there was nothing to spend it on anyway.

The dislike he felt toward Padraic deepened toward loathing.

“But there is one thing that I have that will interest you. Our records speak of a substance gathered from the prayers and piety of the faithful, condensed into physical form.” Padriac opened a drawer of his desk and removed an object.

He placed it carefully on the top of his desk, and Mathew leaned forward to inspect it closer.

It was a cube filled with bright blue light. It gave off a feeling of warmth and comfort to him. Mathew felt the mana inside his chest stir in desire for whatever it was.

“Allow the selection of a new candidate to replace me, and this is yours.”

Mathew’s wristband began to vibrate, and the burning letters appeared when he held it up to his face.

Padriac offers you a Bargain.

25000 Aether in exchange for the ability to choose a new sacrifice for House Livermore.

Do you accept?

“Aether.” Mathew whispered, and the desire in his voice was impossible to mask. Every ‘player’ had a craving for Aether. It could purchase levels and Blessings, making his body more robust and mind intelligent. It could buy life-saving items and things to help him climb the Tower.

This Floor seemed like it wouldn’t be a charnel house like the first, but what about the next? Every unit of Aether would help him in ensuring that the subsequent floors would be easier.

“Who would you select?” Mathew asked, licking his dry lips and not taking his eyes from the cube. He didn’t care where Padriac had gotten it. All that mattered was that Mathew needed it.

“Does it matter? Would it make it easier to accept if I told you it was someone old? Or sickly?” Padriac replied, and Mathew could hear the lie in his voice.

It wouldn’t be anyone like that. It would be someone young and healthy, some hidden requirement which was why Padriac had been chosen in the first place.

Even then, Mathew was tempted. What did it matter if it was this loathsome jackass in front of him or someone else? A person was going to die regardless. All that mattered was the cube and the Aether inside.

But why did Mathew feel like he was being offered a deal with the devil?