DC:The dark merchant

Chapter 7 – The Merchant's Reward

(Silas' POV)

I sat in the grand living room of the mansion, sipping tea from a fine porcelain cup. The aroma of black tea with hints of honey wafted into my nose, a pleasant contrast to the lingering traces of dark magic that once infested this place. The crackling fireplace bathed the room in a soft, golden glow, casting flickering shadows along the antique furniture and polished floors.

Beside me stood a maid, trembling slightly as she held a silver teapot with both hands. She was nervous. Not because of me, but because of the unknown aura that surrounded me. The energy I had just wielded in the exorcism still clung to my being, like wisps of smoke after a fire.

"Sir... do you need more tea?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I glanced at my half-empty cup and shook my head. "No, thank you. You may go." My tone was calm, but my presence alone seemed to unnerve her.

She bowed quickly and hurried out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The exorcism had been simple. Too simple.

The demon was young—weak, even. A parasite latched onto Joseph's soul, draining his mana like a leech. And yet, it had remained undetected for so long. That in itself was concerning.

Whoever orchestrated this knew exactly what they were doing.

A curse like that wasn't designed to kill Joseph, at least not immediately. It was meant to erode him—slowly, subtly, until he was either completely drained of his magic or desperate enough to seek the wrong kind of help.

A sloppy mage wouldn't have been able to sense it. Even skilled magic users might have overlooked it. But to someone like me, someone who had ripped apart entire demon clans, it was painfully obvious.

I sighed and leaned back into the velvet armchair, gazing out of the large window. Moonlight painted the vast gardens in shades of silver and blue, a stark contrast to the dark truths lurking beneath this world of luxury.

Then I felt it.

A presence.

Someone was watching me.

I turned my head sharply toward the corner of the room—where the candlelight didn't quite reach. For a split second, I thought I saw something move. A shadow? A flicker of mana? But when I focused my vision, there was nothing.

Tch. A trick of the senses, or something more?

Before I could investigate further, the door opened.

Joseph entered, walking slowly with the aid of a cane. He looked healthier now—his once-pale skin had regained its warmth, his mana no longer leaking from his body. His golden hair was neatly combed back, and his trimmed beard gave him the regal air of a nobleman.

Beside him was Janet, smiling widely.

"You must be the man who saved me," Joseph said, his voice rich and authoritative, yet carrying an undercurrent of exhaustion.

I stood, offering a small bow with a practiced smile. "Silas. Merchant of Wonders, at your service."

Joseph chuckled. "Ah, a man with manners. Unlike my daughter here."

"Father!" Janet gasped, pouting. "You're embarrassing me!"

Joseph let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head. "It's been so long since I've been able to tease you."

His laughter was genuine, but I could sense something else beneath it. Relief.

He had been close to death. And now, standing here with his daughter, he was grateful.

"Regardless," he continued, his gaze settling back on me, "I owe you my thanks. You saved my life. And for that, I intend to pay you properly."

He snapped his fingers.

The butler entered, carrying a sleek black suitcase. He stepped forward, presenting it to me with both hands. I took it, flipping open the silver latches.

Inside, neatly stacked bundles of cash gleamed under the chandelier's light.

Fifteen million.

I raised an eyebrow. "I only asked for eight million."

Joseph waved a hand dismissively. "A mere eight million for saving my life? Nonsense. Consider this a proper reward."

My fingers traced over the crisp bills, my mind already calculating the many uses for this money. Materials, talismans, artifacts—I could expand my inventory significantly with this.

My lips curled into a small smirk as I closed the case. "A pleasure doing business with you."

As I turned to leave, Joseph's voice stopped me.

"You used soul magic during the exorcism, didn't you?"

I glanced over my shoulder, meeting his sharp, assessing gaze. "I did."

Joseph hummed, nodding to himself. "Then you must be a powerful dark mage. Are you from the Constantine family?"

I frowned slightly. "No. Why do you ask?"

"The Constantine bloodline has produced some of the strongest dark mages in history. If you're not one of them, that means you're either self-taught or something worse—a follower of the demon cults." His eyes darkened.

I let out a low chuckle. "Rest assured, I have no interest in cults. My power is my own."

Joseph studied me for a long moment before nodding. "Good. You may leave, then. I have... things to discuss with my daughter."

His voice had softened, and when I glanced at Janet, I saw a flicker of confusion—and maybe apprehension—in her eyes.

I didn't need to eavesdrop to know what they were going to talk about. Magic. Their heritage. The things Janet should have known all along.

I didn't concern myself with family matters.

The butler escorted me out of the mansion. As we walked through the halls, I could still hear Janet and Joseph inside the room.

"I'm sorry, Janet," Joseph's voice was heavy, regretful. "I only wanted to protect you from this world... from its dangers. After I lost your mother, I swore I would keep you safe, no matter what. But maybe... I was wrong. Maybe I should have told you the truth from the beginning."

Silence. Then, soft sobs.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Janet whispered.

The sound of footsteps approaching the door reached my ears.

I exhaled, adjusting the weight of the suitcase in my grip.

As the butler opened the entrance for me, I allowed myself a small, knowing smile. A family reunited. A contract fulfilled. A hefty reward earned.

"Not a bad night's work," I muttered to myself, stepping into the cool night air.

And with my hands in my pockets and fifteen million in my possession, I walked away into the darkness.

To be continued...