Merrick gulped, "Wh… What do you mean… Everything?"

"Exactly what I meant," Emilia answered as a matter of factly. "I think it's fair to say that everything that you have today is thanks to me, yes?"

"I… That… That's not true… I put in my own effo--"

Emilia raised her hand again and I cast the [Air Pocket] spell on Merrick once more.

The Merman gasped as he was once again suffocated by my spell, cutting off whatever it was that he wanted to say.

This time, Emilia let him stay suffocated as she started to pace in front of him, "How interesting… I feel the need to remind someone that I found them basically on the verge of death. If it weren't for me, that someone would have died as a nobody. Not to mention the fact that they had literally nothing to their name and had to receive starting capital from me, guidance from me, contacts from me, and even starting clientele from me. Yet it's a wonder they have the audacity to claim that their success was not due to me."

She then turned back to him, "That's why… It'll be completely fine if I were to take everything away from you and have you start all over right? You can build back your little kingdom down here again without any support whatsoever~"

I may not be as business savvy as Emilia, but I'd think with his current condition, Merrick would be hard pressed to even survive after this, much less thrive and return to his former glory.

Emilia waved her hand at me and I released my spell to allow him to breathe again, the Merman taking in deep lungfuls of air as soon as the water filled in around his head.

"I… I apologise… Boss… Please… Please don't do that…"

"Ohohoho~ Why not? You were going to deny that everything you have today was all due to me, weren't you?"

"N… No, no… It… It's true that everything I have is all thanks to boss…"

"Oh, so you know you are nothing without me? So tell me, my little fish… If you know you are nothing without me, why did you think it was such a great idea to betray me?"

Merrick went back to avoiding eye contact with Emilia as he could not answer her. Or rather, the answer was exceedingly obvious and too shameful for him to admit.

Emilia acted like she was surprised by his reaction, "Oh? Why aren't you saying anything now? I thought that you would have a really good reason to turn your back against the person who helped you get to where you are now! Isn't there one?"

He remained silent.

"Should I take your silence as a sign that there actually isn't a good reason? Perhaps… You did it for something like greed?"

He clamped his mouth shut even tighter.

The Nekomata leaned back and laughed out loud, "Ohohoho~ You know, there's nothing wrong with being greedy! In fact, I'm a very greedy person myself! Given the choice, I would definitely want all the money in the World for myself!"

Just as Merrick looked up in hopes that she would actually forgive him for such a reason, Emilia reached through the wall of water and wrapped her hand around his neck, squeezing it tightly

She growled at him, "But even so, I at least will remember the people who have helped me and I am fair with my money. I don't just stab someone who helped me in the back for money like you did."

Now that she pointed that out, I realised that Merrick and her are basically mirrors of each other. The both of them like money and would do pretty much anything to get more, but in Emilia's case, she had morals that she holds higher than money.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

And considering that she took in Merrick and taught him what he knew except for the morals part… I think I can safely say that she actually made him that way…

Not that I would say it out loud of course.

Merrick gulped, "I… I will make amends, boss… Just… Just give me one more chance…"

Emilia faked surprise, "Oh my? You seem very sure of yourself that you are deserving of another chance? Even after stabbing me behind my back with no remorse?"

"Pl… Please… I… I will lead you to where the Grey Powder is being kept… I… I'll lead you to where it is… Then I… I'll accept any punishment you wish to give me… Boss…"

"Oh my? Already making promises again, I see~ Very well. Let's go to where the Grey Powder is first before I decide what to do with you~ So, where is it?"

Merrick hesitated for a moment, "Umm… As I said… I will need to bring you there… So… Perhaps I can be released?" He asked.

"Ohohoho~ So that you can stab me in the back literally before escaping from us, right?"

"No! Please, I swear I will not do anything of that sort to boss! It's just… It's just that the place is difficult to get to and also full of traps! So allow me to guide you there safely!"

How determined. Though I guess when the choice is between living for a while longer or getting killed here… The choice that he should pick is quite obvious.

Emilia pretended to think for a moment before turning back to him, "Hmmm… Very well, though in that case, I would require you to first make amends you owe me for betraying me~"

He looked at her, clearly wondering what amends she was thinking about when her sword was raised into the air.

He only had time to widen his eyes before the blade was brought back down to cut off his right hand.

The Merman screamed as blood spurted out from the wound while Emilia turned back to me.

"Lady Aster? Would you be so kind as to cast [Close Wounds] on him? We can't have him bleeding out now."

Odeta snorted, "Maybe you should have thought of that before doing it."

Well, I understand this was all to teach this guy a lesson and it kind of felt good to see him tortured like this, especially when he lied about my sweets. Thus, I went ahead to cast the spell without complaint.

The gaping wound slowly closed up until only a stump remained at where his hand used to be, the Merman breathing hard and looking exhausted.

Emilia wiped her sword clean with a rag and turned her back on him, "Now. I shall wait for you outside the Undertown. I hope for your sake you have yet to sell them."

Merrick suddenly started to panic, "N… Now? Can't… Can't I just pay you… The agreed amount… Instead?"

"Pay me? With what?"

"Mo… Money of course…"

"Oh my, you still think you have any money left? I meant it when I said I want everything, you know? Everything you own is now mine, including every single Crea you have. You don't even have the money to buy yourself some dried fish anymore."

"Wha… What? You… You can't do this!"

Emilia giggled at him, "Oh you silly little fish, of course I can~ Why couldn't I?"

"Who… Who else can help you get rid of those boxes of Grey Powder for you?"

"Ahahaha! Just because you became the biggest Deepsea smuggler, you think you're the only one around? Do you take me for a fool, you trash?"

"N… No… But.. But… Just give me another chance! Please don't do this!"

"Oh? Why are you so desperate now, little trash? Don't tell me… You already agreed to sell it to a buyer and even took their money before delivering a product? Oh dear, oh dear, did I not teach you that this was something you should avoid doing? Looks like instead of worrying about returning back to your former glory, you'll have to worry about your buyers coming after you instead~"

"No, no! Please! At least… At least let them have the Grey Powder! Whatever I earned from it could be yours!"

"Ohohoho~ What are you talking about? The money is already mine isn't it? I just want those boxes of Grey Powder back since they were stolen from me, which still makes me the rightful owner of them~"

"I… I'll pay you for them!"

"Again, with what, little fish? You're broke~"

"I… I…"

"Ahahaha~ Are you thinking of using your secret stashes? Do you think I don't know about them? Ohohoho~ As I said, you may be the biggest Deepsea smuggler around but you aren't the only one~ Do you think this is my first time doing business or something? I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket~ Aside from you, there are other small time smuggler groups I am in control of, all of them would definitely jump at the chance of taking your place!

Merrick was staring at her with wide eyes, probably not expecting such a response from her.

Emilia continued, "And do you really take me for a fool? I know your drop off points and I know exactly where you placed the Grey Powder. Traps? Please. There's no traps there. You were already thinking of taking the boxes and running away, aren't you? Nice try, little fish~ I'll just take those boxes from you and assign another smuggler group to deal with it~ So you see, from the start, I don't actually need you."

At this point, his face had turned white, his mouth opening and closing like a dying fish.

As though that wasn't enough, Emilia gave him the final blow, "It's been nice knowing you, little fish~ So have fun starting from the bottom again~ If you are still alive after this, of course~"

With that, she fully turned her back on him and walked off, gesturing for the two of us to follow her out.

Ok… That's all good and everything, but where's my sweets?