n

n

nElijah was very interested, but he didn't show it in his smile.

nIf Master Giovanni said that there was progress, then there must have been some significant progress.

nHe couldn't help but wonder what kind of progress could have been made in this project that had been moving on and off the shelf for years.

nYet still remained on that very same shelf until now.

nMaster Giovanni and his disciples were only one of the many hackers he had contacted, or more accurately, the hackers he slowly hooked into contacting himself.

nThough Master Giovanni thought that he had brought up the agreement and bet himself, Elijah knew better than anyone else that he had a lot to do with the bringing up of that topic.

nOr else it would have been impossible for Master Giovanni to simply bring it up out of nowhere and make a bet with such bad terms and inadvertently or advertently put his reputation on the line.

nThus, the emotional investment.

nElijah didn't hesitate, giving Master Giovanni a wave to signal that he was all ears.

n

"You are looking to come in contact with TWO to get information about M right?

"

nElijah's smile widened a little.

nThis reminded him of something, and it wasn't exactly something pleasant.

nHe felt like his wound was rubbed with salt while the other person didn't even know it.

nAt first, his goal was not simply to come into contact with TWO, but to directly obtain the necessary information.

nIt would be best if the other side wasn't even informed of this event.

nYet somehow his standards had been lowered time and time again, to the point where he would be quite happy with even just the smallest of hints, just to know that there was hope.

nIt was quite saddening when thinking back to it.

nHe seemed to have been too arrogant just because he knew some people.

nElijah realized that now, but still, that realization did not reign in his pride and ego.

nHe felt like he was being suppressed by his low IQ at times, but still, his training and experience didn't allow him to make an awkward facial expression.

nHis movements didn't look unnatural, it was as if he were simply smiling to confirm what the other person had said.

n

"Indeed.

"

nMaster Giovanni nodded before officially opening the negotiations with his words.

n

"How would you like to compensate me?

"

nNo matter how muddleheaded Master Giovanni was, he would never forget his goals, though one would have to admit that he was being incredibly straightforward here.

nElijah's expression didn't change.

n

"I guess that will have to depend on what you have. What are you exchanging?

"

nMaster Giovanni answered with his counterproposal of sorts.

nHe clearly wanted the other person to state his range so that he could work according to that.

nAfter all, he wanted to know what chips the other person had in his hand so that he wouldn't dig himself a pit and lose out.

n

"I guess I could either sell you information or a connection. Now, won't that depend on your sincerity?

"

nMaster Giovanni's confidence in his own hand was growing the longer he played this game of theirs.

nAfter all, though he only had one card, it was a high-value card that the other person hadn't been able to obtain.

nHe could tell it was a high-value card simply knowing TWO and the other person's hacking skills.

nMaster Giovanni just didn't know how high the value of this card was, after all, he was not in the medical industry nor did he pay attention to anything related to it.

nHe didn't have any family member that had some incurable illness or anything and his girlfriend was pretty much his computer.

nAnything unrelated wasn't of his interest.

nMaster Giovanni also didn't know of Elijah's other attempts at looking for this person, so it was easy for him to assume that Elijah had simply set this high difficulty mission to mess with his disciples.

nThough he wouldn't be convinced if Elijah said that himself as he rarely did anything without a purpose.

nOn the other hand, he had just come out of seclusion and he had only heard the general idea of the proceedings.

nMaster Giovanni had also been too immersed in how his disciples had nearly ruined his reputation.

nHe didn't pay close attention to just who M was nor did he know this person's identity.

nThough he did believe M held some significant importance to Elijah, Master Giovanni also took into consideration how Elijah didn't rush his disciples on the matter.

nThat made him almost believe otherwise.

nIn retrospect, Master Giovanni was very ill-prepared for this battle.

nIt was like a chess pro was playing with someone who had forgotten to read the instruction manual, this being his first time playing.

nOkay, that was exaggerated, but that was the difference in their preparations, which would also go on to determine the winner of the game.

n

"Sincerity huh?

"

nElijah pretended to ponder for a few moments as if looking into past events.

n

"I guess if sincerity is what you want, then we could take the chance here to settle some accounts. After all, we can't be doing business without sincerity, right?

"

nElijah said playfully with an undertone of a sly craftiness.

nMaster Giovanni's face tensed and froze for a second.

nHe had a bad premonition.

nBut Elijah didn't wait for the old man to process properly before he started revealing some of the chips he had been accumulating.

nAll for this little bet, or more accurately... this deal.

nWell, even if they weren't revealed now, the accounts would still be settled later, Elijah would just be trading these favors for other things or other information.

n

"Well, we can start with our first meeting, right? I do recall compensating you appropriately for that event... yet the next time, when you came to me asking for assistance with that situation with your brother, I seemed to have been given a

"We're even

"?

"

nElijah pretended to be seriously confused, but his sly smirk couldn't be hidden behind those two long fingers of his that pressed against his lips.

nMuch less the small scoff that came afterward.

n

"Being the kind-hearted person that I am, and one who respects his elders at that, I just put that one on credit.

"

nMaster Giovanni only had one thought.

nHow can someone be this shameless?

nAre you born like that? Or does the think skin have to be cultivated? What did he eat growing up to grow such thick skin?

nWell, the ******* family surely didn't mistreat this kid!

nWhatever it was, I'm sure they didn't skimp on his meals of skin thickener!

nKind-hearted?

nRespect?

nCredit?

nI don't think kind-hearted and respect are in your dictionary!

nAs for credit... credit your butt!

n

"As a part of the government, it was your job! I clearly only said that out of courtesy!

" Master Giovanni spoke through gritted teeth.

nElijah proceeded to do the world's fakest gasp along with an equally awfully exaggerated shocked expression.

nJust short of becoming a depiction of The Scream by Edvard Munch.

nAt least that's how it felt from Master Giovanni's perspective.

nIn reality, it was just a short gasp with a slight change in tone from Elijah's side. His composure didn't change a bit.

n

"There must have been a terrible misunderstanding! Did you not know that as a person who had yet to reach the age that one could consider an adult at that time... there was simply no way for me to be working for the government back then.

"

nElijah tapped his cheek, still with his original calmness.

nHis tone didn't fluctuate much either.

nThough he liked playing with his words every now and then, as in always. He didn't find the need to go on a full-blown act when Master Giovanni already knew some of his true colors.

nThat would be a waste of energy and effort.

nPlus, he was confident that he could get things done without the whole act.

nJust the lines were enough.

n

"But... you wouldn't go as far as cheating a child just because of a misunderstanding, right?

"

nElijah continued, and at this point, Master Giovanni's previously stiffened face started to twitch all over again.

nHe couldn't believe that THIS KID, out of ALL PEOPLE, would suddenly be playing with the moral high ground card!

nThen again, he should just believe it.

nSomeone like him should be able to do just about anything without even a change in his expression if he wanted to! No matter how shameful a normal person may feel doing and saying the very same words.

nMaster Giovanni couldn't say a word, but in his heart, he convinced himself.

nNo matter how many tactics the kid had, they would never be able to beat a stronger hand.

nWhat Master Giovanni failed to realize at that time, was that he only had a vague image of the true value of his card, while Elijah still had the ultimate skill, bluff.

nNot only that, but the list of things that Elijah had prepared for this rainy day was… so absurd in number that Master Giovanni highly doubted that the man would ever have something as crude as poor memory.

nEither that or he held grudges like a midwife going through menopause combined with a teenage girl with a one-sided crush going through some serious stuff.

nOne thing Master Giovanni was certain of, however, was that he was going to clear all debts today, sever all ties, and stay away from this kid.

nOr so he dreamt.

n