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So, you huff, not particularly eager to hear what the Hellspawn has to say, he all but <span class="mu-i">rushed</span> you out of Trier’s place the minute you met the guy… What happened? Cold feet? The entity quivers.
<span class="mu-r">”What happened,” RED</span> grumbles, <span class="mu-r">”Is that I saved your soul, amigo. For myself, granted, but saved nonetheless.”</span>
Yea, you picked up on that, you retort as you idly drum your knuckles against the desk’s surface.
<span class="mu-r">”You don’t sound too thrilled, pard.”</span> The devil remarks, sending a pang of irritation through your skull. Dude takes your soul hostage and expects a pat on the back every step of the way… <span class="mu-r">”Look, I took one glance at the guy and made a judgement call–I ain’t about to bench one of my star players when we’re still in the first quarter, you feel me?”</span>
You blink. You… you really <span class="mu-i">don’t</span>! Is… was that a <span class="mu-s">SPORTS</span> metaphor? What <span class="mu-i">IS</span> he?!
<span class="mu-r">”The guy lookin’ out fer’ ya, Tex. Can’t wait ta’ get ya’ down here full-time and all, but there’s too much work to be done on your end… and that means we gotta play things smartlike.”</span>
And what, pray tell, does ‘smartlike’ look like, exactly? Because when you agreed to that contract you assumed he knew what he was doing!
<span class="mu-r">”Valid feelings, valid feelings…”</span> The devil replies with a nod in his disembodied voice, <span class="mu-r">”All said, my knowledge of your world’s magic is about as fuzzy as a mid-Winter Jackalope-”</span>
It’s not really <span class="mu-i">your</span> world, you retort with a frown–you’re still trying to find a way back to yours!
<span class="mu-r">”Right again… but the point still stands, pard: unless we hash out how that spooky sonnovagun splits his soul up, we’re deader than a polecat at the bottom of a cistern…”</span> An unseen force compels you to lift your hand to your chin and give it a contemplative stroke. <span class="mu-r">”This academy… I’d bet my britches that if we track down any information, it’ll be there. Or from that mobster Trier pals around with.”</span>
So what, we just keep an eye out for dirt on Trier while we’re skulking around, you reply with a derisive snort! That was your plan already!
<span class="mu-r">”But wait… there’s more!”</span> Answers the Archdevil with that raspy laugh that still makes the hairs on your neck stand on-end! <span class="mu-r">”I know it makes you… squeamish… but if you could get your hands on someone with a bit-a know-how, well…”</span> The demon pauses, no doubt licking his lips wherever the hell he is.
He’ll what? Suck out their soul and figure it all out?
<span class="mu-r">”Cripes, Anton, you make the process sound so VULGAR!” RED</span> groans with a good-natured sigh! <span class="mu-r">”But yea… folks tend ta’ become a LOT more talkative when we roll out the welcome wagon for ‘em in CHAA’TAI… and I figure we can save a whole lotta’ time that’d normally be spent negotiatin’, fightin’, that ole’ song-n-dance.”</span>
>CONTD.
