168 Blackmailed (1/2)

Those words grated on Jack's ears. It was unexpected and Jack couldn't even take back the sword because Argyle had already stored it away.

”HUH?!”

”My daughter will be in your care, Jack, so make sure to treat her right,” stated Argyle, oblivious to Jack's response. ”I still feel like I'm the one losing out in this deal, but I can make an exception this once.”

”What are you talking about? I can't marry your daughter, I've got way too many things to do!”

”You will marry my daughter, whether you like it or not. I've already accepted your gift, so you must accept mine. If you can't accept my kindness, then I'll be forced to act in anger and take everything you have, including your life!”

”Really? What makes you think you can pull that off?”

Argyle showed Jack a wry smile. ”You've kept so many secrets from everyone, including the association. You covered all your tracks and somehow managed to enter into our auction house without anyone even knowing it was you. In other words, other than that girl on the sofa, there's nothing linking you to being here in my home, right?”

”But--”

”But what? You only told me who you were and gave me that sword for your own benefit. Don't tell me that you were willing parting with something so great, not when it only appeared after I'd found you out,” explained Argyle.

”You're right about one thing; I don't want to kill you. As a former friend of Tralon and partly from the slight chance I'm found out, but I should be fine considering I can say you hid your identity and offer treasures to pay for your death. Does any of that sound illogical?”

Jack's face twisted as he looked back at Argyle. ”... So, you're blackmailing me instead?”

”Correct!”

”And you think I'll just accept it?”

”You have no choice!” laughed Argyle. ”You may have been stronger than me in the past, but now you're nothing more than an ant for me or the association to play with to our hearts desires.”

”If anything, you should be thanking me! My daughter is beautiful and has many suitors, but we both know I'll never meet a man more capable than you. Plus, with her as your wife, you'll always have the Fat Goose as a backer, no matter what you decide to do!”

Giving Argyle a strange look, Jack asked, ”No matter what I do? Even if I start a war or have the gods themselves chase after me?”

Still laughing, Argyle put his hand firmly on Jack's shoulder. ”That doesn't matter to me. I get bored and tired of living like this, so why not? I've always wanted to try and help Tralon, but never had a reason to.”

The high-level swordsman suddenly stopped laughing and looked Jack in the eyes. ”Would you like to know why I opened the Fat Goose in the first place?”

Jack relaxed and nodded.

”So, I looked for the fastest way to create a background for myself. I didn't dare be someone else's pawn, so it was my only option. Now, after twenty years of endless grinding for EXP and collecting countless treasures, I own the Fat Goose.”

”But what does that have to do with me,” asked Jack.

”Everything, now,” answered Argyle. ”My wife's tragic death was impossible for me to stop and all I have left is Eliza.”

”In other words, your passing responsibility to me so that you're not worried about protecting her?”

”Correct. For you, it's only a matter of time that you'll reign over the continent, so long as you survive till then. The association is a great backer, but you and I both know that you're like me. You refuse to be someone else's pawn in their scheme.”

”So I should be your pawn instead of the association's?”

”Wrong, you will be no pawn of mine. I wouldn't dare control every action of someone as wild and ambitious as you,” answered Argyle with a shake of the head.

”But you'll blackmail me into marrying your daughter?”

”That's not me controlling you, that's me forcibly making us permanent allies,” added Argyle. ”Wouldn't you rather have the freedom to roam with us, then be at the beck and call of Lorwynn?”

Trying to think of something, Jack asked, ”And what if I'm interested in someone else?”