The plan on traveling to the tavern was to ease off himself and try building his reputation, but it went awry so fast.
Lucius dragged the man out of the crowded tavern along with him like they were kids running from trouble.
"S-sir…!"
"Quiet!"
He shushed as they made a turn to the quiet alleyway of town and he swore he could hear shouts and yells for the man he'd dragged out of the tavern.
"That adventurer got away…!"
Lucius looked up at the confused man, his blonde hair was sticking on his forehead and green eyes were staring right through his ruby ones.
He let go of the stranger's wrist, "What are you doing causing trouble at a public space?"
The man almost flinched at his question as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. Why does he feel like he had to explain himself to a stranger who just dragged him out of the tavern?
"I… Uh… I was just doing my job…"
Lucius didn't listen further to the man explaining himself almost cowardly in front of Lucius. Poor man, he looked like an easy target for everyone but holds a very good strength.
An asset.
Those words crossed his mind as he observed the man before him. As what he had seen earlier, his body showed the strength he had displayed earlier – built like someone who could break a wall but somehow managed to look apologetic about it.
Lucius Von Hastings couldn't quite remember his name, but he swore that he had definitely seen this kind of familiar description before in the novel. This man was definitely someone as unimportant as Lucius.
Before Lucius could speak once more and stop the man from overexplaining himself, a status window appeared right in front of him, just what he was hoping to see.
[ NAME: Tobias Hunter ]
Of course, another minor character he had expected. Why did the world keep giving him minor characters? Then again, he was one himself.
He shook off the thought, Tobias Hunter, another character who had died in [Ousting the Demon King]. He had died from the war if he remembered correctly, since he remembered the description of the man's death from Merlyn Hart's perspective.
Then, Lucius saw it — from the bottom of the details of him other than being a ranked e adventurer and a fighter in combat.
[ POTENTIAL: Locked ]
The word potential was enough to convince Lucius that this man before him was more than just throwing men in the tavern and being gentle.
Could he possibly unlock the hidden abilities that Tobias might hold if he takes him into his plan?
Lucius let out a chuckle that halted Tobias from talking, "...Sir?"
"You're an adventurer right?"
Tobias nodded his head slowly, oblivious to the fact that Lucius didn't pay attention to his entire explanation.
Lucius took off his hood, half-expecting for Tobias to recognize him.
"I want to hire you,"
The man looked at Lucius, immediately recognizing him — he was none other than the infamous son of the Viscount!
"Pardon?"
Tobias was confused at the entire situation, but at the same time… he felt like refusing a noble's offer seemed like a dangerous decision.
"Are you available to hire?"
"I… I am, but–"
"Alright."
Lucius nodded as he took out the pouch of coins from the merchant he had received back then as if about to give Tobias the payment already.
"S-Sir…! My job is still not–"
"Not done? How much is that job of yours?" Lucius interrupted once more.
Tobias swallowed, "Twenty coins…"
"Pfttt…!"
Lucius almost laughed, but immediately stopped it before it could escape from his throat as he handed a few coins to Tobias.
"Your job will start tomorrow, this is the down payment."
"D-down payment…?"
Lucius handed him five coins, it was like he was a cheap adventurer but Tobias didn't comment on it — instead he was focused on the fact that a noble like him would be interested in hiring a low ranking adventurer for something.
"Don't ask questions, you're just going to make things complicated." Lucius shrugged like he offered Tobias a huge sum, he put his hood back on as if to remain mysterious before emerging from the alleyway.
"Meet me at the center in two days."
"At the center of the town?"
"Yes, yes. Whatever that's called…" he mumbled under his breath. Time to think about money, Lucius thought to himself.
Tobias stared at the coins in his palm, looking at it like a helpless dog before he watched Lucius preparing to leave him at the alleyway.
"I'm sure you'll be good at this job,"
"Huh?"
The compliment almost threw Tobias off as Lucius just shrugged, "Stay hidden, the man you just targeted might let his men get you killed." He simply warned Tobias from getting bitten by dogs.
Lucius then turned to leave, putting his pouch back inside his pocket as he continued walking, disappearing at the crowded market where the sunlight hit.
"Damn… I just forgot to drink my beer back at the tavern." Lucius suddenly remembered as he walked back to the other side of town where the nobles closely resided with the commoners.
"What a waste of money."
***
Two days had passed ever since that encounter and Lucius had already perfected a convincing deal for his uncle, Elijah.
At the Von Hastings mansion, it was early in the morning and Lucius had got up earlier than he usually does as if he's excited for what's about to happen today.
Plates clattered at the dining room as Lucius took a handful of bites of the turkey on his plate and his parents watched him devour every bite — as if his parents haven't been feeding him for days!
"My! Has something good happened? You've been eating quite a lot!" Gertrude chuckled as she took a bite of beautifully cooked potatoes.
"I haven't told you that our son had thought of an incredible way to earn some money easily?" Lawrence happily chimed in, the proud grin on his face says it all.
"Is that so? I expected that he might've met a beautiful lady,"
"I did."
Lucius said as he blankly looked up at both of his surprised parents, "Her name is gold mine." He made a lame joke that had Gertrude and Lawrence cracking up on their seats.
It seemed like his parents weren't aware of his disappearance two days ago to hire an adventurer cheaply.
"I can go outside on my own now, right?"
Those words stopped his parents' laughter as they both turned to look at Lucius.
"Well… I… suppose you can, your injury seemed to have healed so quickly,"
Did it? Lucius almost forgot he had an injury on his head as he reached up to touch it, it seemed to have closed already before he could notice it for himself.
"But Astor has to still accompany you, we worry that something might happen to you."
Lawrence's words halted Lucius from his seat, there was something chilling behind those concerned words but Lucius couldn't quite figure it out just yet.
Lucius brushed it off as just an overly parental concern since it's the first time he'd felt this familial love, he never experienced his own parents' love before they passed.
"I'll be fine, Astor has been with me for the past days."
"It's not fine, we have to know you're really alright." Lawrence insisted, as if desperate to keep watch on his son and that made Lucius flinch from his seat.
"Forgive me, I only worry for your safety."
Was it really concern and safety? That word crossed his mind as he warily stared at Lawrence.
"I'm sure our son can manage on his own," Gertrude reached out and gently patted her spouse's arm.
"Our Lucius is tougher than he looks, look at him – he recovers quicker than we expected."
Surely it was the system who's healing him, probably getting him on track of his goal. Seems like Lucius had to be more desperate in order for the system to grant what he needed then.
"Mother is right, I can handle it on my own." Lucius tried to assure his father and a moment passed before Lawrence reluctantly agreed.
"Just be safe."
"I will."
Once those words were enough to soothe his father's concern and Lucius had finally got out of the mansion with full permission from his parents — no more escaping like a teenager running away from the house to party.
He had also learned that his uncle will be arriving at their house in the afternoon, more time for him to strategize with little time he had left.
Now that Lucius was walking freely with a small bandage on his forehead, his cape fluttered as he walked through the crowded town of Cinderspine.
When he got to the center, he saw a familiar man wearing a cape, almost exactly like he wore yesterday but a bit dirtier and worn-out than his.
He knew that man was Tobias.
So Lucius approached him by the water fountain where he sits and tapped his shoulder.
"Didn't know you have a knack for copying people's style, huh?"
"H-huh…? Sir…!"
Tobias quickly stood up from the stone and turned around to really face the person he had hired him.
"You're not wearing…"
"You think I'm actually that mysterious?" he shrugged as he crossed his own arms to his chest.
"Let's get back to business now, shall we?" Lucius added before Tobias could say anything else.
Lucius took out a pouch, but heavier this time. "This will be your reward after this job, you'll just have to accompany me for a week. Would that be alright?"
"I-It's fine, but…"
"Do you need a place to sleep? I'll ask my parents."
"N-no..! It's just—"
"Food? I can provide that, need anything else?"
Then finally, Tobias interfered to make his words reach him. "Sir!"
Lucius stopped as he raised a brow, "I'm listening,"
"It's just that… I can't accept this job if you're not going to provide further details about the job. I stopped accepting odd requests like two days ago."
"Oh? So you stopped throwing people to get the information you needed?"
Tobias nodded slowly despite Lucius wording it wrong, then Tobias held out the coins Lucius had given him two days ago.
"And I'd like to return these to you."
Had Lucius' plan not worked for him? The thought was impossible and Lucius refused not to get his asset.
"Keep it, because I'll give you more than just those coins." Lucius offered, handing him the pouch of coins.
"H-huh..?"
Tobias stared at the pouch filled with money and when he opened it, his eyes couldn't believe it — with this kind of amount, he could already flee from Cinderspine with his ill father.
"A-are you sure, sir…?"
"I'm more than sure." Lucius nodded as Tobias finally accepted his offer.
"You're just going to accompany me for my business and convince my uncle for the budget investment."
Tobias couldn't quite understand what Lucius was explaining, but he nodded anyway since it sounded important.
"I'll give all my best."
"You really should." Lucius muttered as he nodded back towards the nobles' district in town.
'Because if you don't, hiring you will be the biggest regret of my entire life.'