Chapter 124: Self-Exploring, Nordic, Squabble (2/2)
And in this world, with the presence of magic, there existed Nordic magicals, who called themselves Nordic warlocks. A sub-group of magicals that practiced and developed magic that was rumored to have destructive capabilities that could wipe out areas without traces.
Quinn didn't know if the rumors were true or not. He didn't know if the records were exaggerated to boast the power of Nordic warlocks. All he knew was if there was smoke, then there must be a fire.
The Vikings had their own laws, art, and architecture. Most Vikings were also farmers, fishermen, craftsmen, and traders. Popular conceptions of the Vikings often strongly differ from the complex, advanced civilization that emerged from archaeology and historical sources.
This meant that the romanticized picture of Vikings as noble savages must've come from a place where people really felt despair. And Quinn believed that it was those Nordic warlocks' actions that completely changed the conception of Vikings as it was today.
So when Quinn came to Denmark, which was once part of the Viking's homeland, he couldn't let a chance like this get away from him. Quinn wanted to see if there was a way he could find the tomes from an age that closely preceded even the Hogwarts founders. And to his luck, Quinn was able to find a single book that held magic inside. Quinn's razor-sharp magical focus, which allowed him to do spells without an external focus, picked up the traces of esoteric magic hidden behind the old tome.
The clever old Gamel, too, realized that this tome was somehow significant, so he jacked up the price. And Quinn had to come back every day because he wanted that book, but he would not fork the ridiculous amount Gamel asked for. At least not until the very last moment, at which point he would give the money and take the risk.
Quinn didn't know what the book held; it could be a tome with basic-level spells or even a memoir preserved like a magical tome. Meaning that it could be useless to Quinn, and he would've wasted his time and money.
”You know the price,” said Gamel, still persistent on the price he had quoted to Quinn yesterday.
”That's ridiculous, and you know it,” sighed Quinn with the voice he had chosen for John. ”I'm going to be generous and raise my offer by a hundred. But this is my last offer. Any more than this, and it won't be worth it.”
Gamel remained silent for a moment before returning. ”Two hundred.”
”One twenty-five and not a single more,” said Quinn shaking his head.
”One seventy-five.”
”One twenty-five.”
”One seventy.”
”One twenty-five.”
Gamel sighed and nodded in acceptance. ”I will take it.”
Quinn put down the pouch in his hand on the table and then took out two more pouches and slid the three to Gamel.
”Do count.”
Gamel didn't need to be told as he counted the golden currency of Denmark's magical society and checked random ones with his wand for authenticity.
”It's the correct amount. You can take the book.”
”That's good,” said Quinn, picking up the tome and slipping it inside his expanded pocket. ”It was a pleasure doing business with you.”
Quinn turned back towards the door to leave, and just as he was about to exit, two men appeared and blocked Quinn's path. Quinn recognized both of them as he had seen them every time he entered and exited Mørke Gade.
Quinn stopped for a second before trying to get past the two men standing at the door, but one of them stepped directly in front of Quinn and stared down at him. Quinn looked at them and saw that both of them had wands in their hands.
”The price has doubled, John,” heard Quinn from his behind. ”You need to give me the other half.”
Quinn turned back towards Gamel and saw the old man looking at him with an apathetic gaze and a natural smile.
”Gamel, I don't want any trouble,” spoke Quinn, trying to reason. ”We already did the exchange. I got my book, and you got your coin. You don't have to make it like this.”
Gamel shrugged, but his look didn't change. ”Pay me or leave the book behind.”
Quinn stared at Gamel for a second before asking. ”If I give the book back, then will I get my money back? Let's pretend this purchase never happened.”
”I'm sorry, but I can't agree to that, John. I will be keeping that as a service fee.”
Quinn sighed and groaned as he covered his face with his hands: the illusion of John did the same.
”Alright, I understand,” spoke Quinn from behind his hands.
Gamel and his two helpers smiled when they heard Quinn. They were going to get paid double the price for a stupid book that Gamel had lying around from before he could remember. And he wouldn't get in trouble because he realized that Quinn(John) was a foreigner and not a local. Tourists were always an easy target.
”It's good that you understand, John. It's good for everyone this way,” replied Gamel, his smile widening. But then he felt confused when he saw Quinn remove his hands, and there wasn't a single touch of worry on his face.
Gamel saw Quinn raise his hand, and suddenly his two helpers went rigid. He watched as his two helpers turned pale and started to shake and struggle.
”I warned you, Gamel,” said Quinn, walking towards Gamel.
Gamel hastily turned his eye to Quinn and raised his wand in a warning. ”Don't come near, or I will attack.”
Quinn looked at the wand lazily, and it went flying away out of Gamel's hand, shocking the old man.
”I'm feeling good today, Gamel,” said Quinn as he picked up the three pouches that he had paid Gamel while staring into his eyes. ”So I won't do anything to you. You brought me this book and because you're old. I will leave you alone. But the other boys won't be so lucky.”
Quinn blinked, and cracking was heard in the store. And then muffled screams filled the store as the two men collapsed on the floor. They couldn't move an inch, and it was like something had bound every inch of their body. And then they felt the pain come in, but because they couldn't even open their mouths, the screams were muffled.
”I broke every bone in their arms and legs,” answered Quinn. ”They are in a tremendous amount of pain. I did it in a way that small shrapnels of bones are digging away at their flesh from inside. They won't die from this, but those small pieces of bone will continue to tear through their arms and legs.”
Gamel's gulped when he looked into Quinn's eyes and heard his words.
Quinn tapped his knuckles against the table and continued.
”It's easy to rid them of their pain. You just have to vanish the bones, and they will be fine.” Quinn twitched his finger, and Gamel's wand came flying up from the floor. ”But the deal is that you won't be able to vanish anything because-”
Quinn held Gamel's wand in his hand and snapped it.
”- you don't have a wand anymore.”
Quinn dropped the pieces on the counter and then stroked one of Gamel's cheeks.
”I know you do shady business, but do it honorably. Because someday, someone like me won't be in a good mood. Someday, you might just be lying on the floor with your bones broken. I hope you have a good day, Gamel.”
Quinn pocketed the gold pouches, turned back, and walked away. As he walked away, he broke the two men's wands. Just before he exited the store, Quinn turned back and smiled at Gamel.
”Oh, before I forgot. I can't have you call for help, can I?”
Gamel's eyes widened before everything went black as he was stunned.
Quinn closed the door behind as he exited the store, and as the door closed, the binding charm that holding the two men in place broke, and they started to thrash around in pain. The bone shrapnels dug deeper into their bodies, causing more pain.
It would be a couple minutes later when someone passing by would hear faint screams and look inside to see two men limp on the ground on the verge of fainting and an old man hunched over a counter.
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Quinn West - MC - My name is John... just John: no Wick, no Doe, no Cena.
Aksel Thorn - Chaperone - Code: Red! I repeat, code: red!
Gamel - Store owner, horrified - Messed with the wrong foreigner.
FictionOnlyReader - Author - Explanation in the next chapter.
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