31 A Meeting 2 (1/2)
'Taking…vitality?'
Just the notion of what the man had just mentioned left Daneel speechless. He glanced at the succubus, lying motionless at a corner of the room, discarded, forgotten… pitiful. He had been convinced that it was a one-way street, but just like so many things in recent days, he had been wrong.
However… it wasn't important, right now, as he had a certain goal that he wanted to accomplish here. Hence, he kept quiet and waited for the enforcers to speak.
”B-b-boss! This guy… saw us eating the food we stole! We didn't know what to do with him, so we brought him here!”
In the light of the chandelier hanging in the room, Daneel observed the man clearly for the first time. He had grey, rumpled hair that had been fashionably styled into spikes before it had been disturbed in his recent act of exertion. His eyes were also a deathly grey, their intensity such that they would make anyone feel pressure and look away. Not an ounce of fat could be seen all over his body, and it was mostly blemishless, except for a single, long scar that ran down his right leg, from hip to foot.
He had a long nose, high cheekbones, and a very sharp jaw. The smile from the pleasure he had just taken so violently faded as he heard the enforcer, and frowned.
Daneel saw both the men in front of him shake as they saw this. They were much, much more afraid now than they had ever been in their house below, and in a moment, the reason behind this became clear.
”You do know how much I hate incompetence, right? Did you forget what happened to the last two enforcers who worked with me and were lax in their duties?”
”Y-y-yes, sir! We've been most diligent, Sir! We do not want to end up in pieces like them, Sir! We have kept that sack at home as a reminder of what awaits us if we are even a little lazy, Sir! It's just that…”
Daneel suddenly felt sick. He now wished that he had searched around more for something else to store the food in, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
The old man waved his hand, making the enforcer stop.
”Alright, alright, enough. I guess this is an exception. This one is like no other slave, of course. I'll deal with him myself. You can leave. But remember… if something even remotely like this happens again, there will be two sacks in that house, and two new enforcers in your place.”
With a gulp, both the men saluted and almost ran out of the house.
Finding himself alone with his target, Daneel was blank, at first. His plan had revolved around getting to know the man, somehow, and going back after getting whipped, if that was what it took. The pain would be worth it, as he would have clarity regarding what he could do next.
Now, he could tell that he would be able to call it a good day if left with all of his limbs. This man was far, far crueler than he had imagined, and just a single misstep might lead him into much, much more danger than he had reckoned for.
Lord Burrow just stared and stared for an entire minute. Daneel held his gaze, but with every moment, it began to get more and more difficult. Doubts began to pop into his mind, and panic was only close behind. His gaze was such that he even forgot everything else in the room; in the world, it was as if there were only the two of them.
It wasn't normal. It wasn't natural. So, with a hunch, he asked the system, ”Is something… Being done to me?”
[Utilising body scan skill. Host is being subjected to a minor hallucination. Strength of hallucination is such that it would have worked on anyone that host has come into contact with, yet, except for the target known as 'Madeira'. Hallucination will not work in host due to the strength of mind granted from host's locked consciousness.]
He couldn't make any sense of that last part, and he resolved to ask the system about it later, but for now, the rest of what it had said was worrying.
Finally, after 30 more seconds passed, the old man… smiled.
”It's been a long time since this petty trick hasn't worked on someone, so I guess I should thank you. Motivation is such a frail thing. I was once very motivated to grow powerful enough to be able to bring anyone under my grasp, but after seeing that that little trick was enough for almost everyone in this town… I gave up. Well, now, it's back. Come on. Let us speak inside the house proper.”
The man began to get dressed, then, picking up the clothes that were strewn around the room. In just a few seconds, he was ready, garbed in long, flowing purple robes of the same color as the guards outside.
He swept towards the door, but just as they were about to leave… they heard a whimper behind them that made them look back.
The succubus had woken up. She looked around dazed, at first, before latching on to Daneel. Her eyes widened as she recognized him, but before she could say anything, Lord Burrow said, ”Same time next month.”