-Elesis, isn't it...?- Black Spider stared at the girl curiously, then spoke. -I don't know what Rick promised you, but without my permission, his word is worthless, so what do you want?
Elesis frowned slightly and looked at Rick with narrowed eyes. Rick gave a stiff smile and didn't answer, looking away. Elesis rolled her eyes and spoke directly to Black Spider.
-I want to hire you.- She finally said.
-For what?- Black Spider asked without much interest, walking past her and heading to the bar area, grabbing a bottle of wine while they chatted.
Elesis followed him quickly, her rigid posture almost faltering with irritation, but she restrained herself.
-A mission to exterminate pirates!- She continued. -300,000 Enas!
She thought offering that amount would be enough to get a mercenary moving, even a Grade A one, but Black Spider knew that when something seems too good to be true, probably isn't.
If he were just a regular mercenary, it would be a considerable sum, of course, depending on how strong the pirates were. Unfortunately for Elesis, Black Spider wasn't just any mercenary, he had long since stopped caring about money.
-What pirates?- Black Spider asked, more out of curiosity than genuine interest in the mission.
The woman thought he had accepted, so she felt more relieved and spoke up immediately afterward. - O'manir, Black Tide O'manir.
Black Spider was thoughtful for a moment, trying to remember that pirate, but it was Vanessa who spoke.
-A super Grade A member of the pirate trio known as Triple Tide.- Vanessa said. -Black Tide, Red Tide, and Silver Tide are the three members, all Grade A. They don't operate in just one star field, constantly moving around.
Black Spider blinked, stunned. -How do you know that?
-I know a lot about criminals.- Vanessa shrugged.
Black Spider stared at her for a moment, stunned, then shook his head and looked back at Elesis.
-Black Tide, right? You know that this kind of mission, killing one of them, usually makes the mercenaries targets for others in the same organization. That amount is barely enough to make me act against a Grade A, let alone three.- Black Spider explained, looking at her with interest.
Elesis frowned, biting the corner of her lips, then made a decision and took something out of her bag, actually, it was several items.
Black Spider was surprised, there were several good things, the soul crystal of a Grade A creature, a curved red dagger that emitted a negative energy that even made Black Spider frown, and a yellowish fruit resembling a mix of mango and apple. Black Spider felt a very strong vital energy from this thing.
Blinking, what surprised Black Spider most was that engraved on the blade's hilt was a stone he knew well, a Lich Phylactery emitting at least Grade B energy.
Black Spider's lips trembled as he looked around, searching for Feidin, as if he were about to jump out of nowhere shouting: "Surprise, Motherfucker!"
-Choose one.- She said.
Black Spider wasn't surprised, each of those things was quite expensive. However, Black Spider remembered the Star Silver he still hadn't obtained from the Mage on Austin's planet. That strange fruit, full of vitality, would probably be enough to trade for the Star Silver.
Along with the Planetary Cornerstone of Ames, it would be the second Grade S material that it would acquire.
-The fruit and the dagger.- Black Spider finally spoke.
Elesis frowned. -Killing a Grade A super isn't worth all this, even with the risk of being hunted down by his organization.
-That's true, but even if they don't dare act against me because of Ames, they can still act against you, so it's best to get rid of all three at once, right?- Black Spider winked at her.
Elesis was stunned for a moment, thoughtful, then she clenched her teeth and nodded. - In that case, I won't pay in cash, just these two.
-Done. - Black Spider, who had no interest in money, accepted without a second thought.
With a wave of his hand, the two things disappeared. Elesis, who was only a Grade B, didn't care much, she kept the soul crystal while a fire flared in her eyes. She was very excited for the next event.
In fact, if it weren't for the video of Black Spider fighting Dark Star the last few times leaving a deep impression on her, she wouldn't have gone looking for Black Spider, even if he were Ames' subordinate.
However, after watching the video, Elesis knew that Black Spider was far from weak, especially with Ames after him. This request had a high chance of being accepted. Unlike other mercenary groups with Grade A members who avoid fighting against very strong criminal organizations, Ringo fought against Dark Star not once, but twice.
It was worth a try.
She thought the money would suffice, but luckily she had a plan B.