BXBX NOVEL Chapter 111: Necessary Evil
"Well, well, well! Look who decided to grace us with their presence early," Rick teased, readjusting in his seat, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
Evelina shot him a dissatisfied frown, clearly unimpressed by his cheeky banter. She turned toward Geoffrey and gesturing to him. Geoffrey, following her unspoken command, exited the room and soon returned with two other servants, each pushing a trolley. The contents of said trolleys had Rick's eyes widening with unabashed interest.
Yet, what caught Rick's eye, however, wasn't the servants but the glittering content on their trolleys—cold, hard cash.
A mischievous glint danced in Rick's eyes as he ambled over to the trolleys, practically salivating at the sight of the wealth before him. With an eager grin, he snatched up a stack, a neat bundle of $100 bills, examining it with the kind of satisfaction only money could induce. Rick even took a moment to savor the distinct smell of crisp banknotes.
Inhaling the fragrance of freshly minted dollars, Rick couldn't suppress his grin. "Ah, the sweet scent of success." caressing the green paper in his hands.
Evelina, her countenance etched with unfiltered displeasure, dispensed with pleasantries, "This is $20 million. It's more than what you asked for. The extra amount is for the antidote. Give it to me, and then you can get lost."
Rick continued to smile as he let the stack of bills fall back onto the trolley. Well, well, isn't someone feeling extraordinarily generous today? Desperate for that antidote, are we?"
Rick, enjoying the power play, leaned against the trolley, nonchalant. "But you know, Evelina, money isn't everything. Sometimes, it's about the experience, the journey, the thrill of the—"
Evelina's stern expression halted his rhetoric. "Cut the theatrics, Rick. The money is in your hands. Now, fulfill your end of the bargain."
Rick's chuckle lingered in the air like an unwelcome guest. "Sure, sure, no need to hurry. But, you know, there is a little hiccup."
Evelina's eyes narrowed. "What problem?"
"I have been thinking," Rick said, leaning against the trolley, "this antidote business— it's quite a tricky thing. Takes time, resources, and let's face it, the market for mystical cures isn't exactly booming..."
"Enough with the excuses, Rick," Evelina interjected, her tone slicing through the air. "I don't have the luxury of time for your elaborate charades."
Rick's chuckle danced in the air, relishing the unfolding drama. "Okay, okay. No need to let your silk panties get all wet."
Taking a moment to gaze at the trolleys overflowing with cash, Rick affected an air of contemplation. "You know, I have developed a liking for this place. Maybe I will stick around for a while."
Evelina's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "Don't push it, Rick."
"Come on, Evelina, ease up. This covers all the money you owe me. We haven't even delved into the price of the cure for your grandmother yet," Rick chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the power play. "Face it, sweetheart, you need me. I am that Necessary Evil in your life."
"But I will be taking this, thank you very much," Rick said, picking up a stack of bills and tossing it in the air.
Evelina's frustration radiated palpably as she demanded the antidote from Rick. "Cut the games, Rick. Just hand it over," she snapped, her irritation slicing through the charged atmosphere. "Or else I might have to..." Her threat hung in the air
Rick, seemingly unaffected, responded with a sly grin. "And what if I don't, hmm?" he teased, relishing in Evelina's growing vexation.
Evelina's frown deepened, her face contorting with exasperation.
Rick, persisted in playing the jester. "Come on, Evelina, what's the worst you can do? Enlighten me." His taunting tone hung in the air, daring her to reveal the limits of her frustration.
[
1. Continue twisting Evelina's arm. And she will hate you (Temptation - 40. Love: -1)
2. It's time to bend a bit. Tall tress often get uprooted in storms. (Temptation +15, Ero Points: 2,000)
3. Just take the money and leave. (Temptation - 20)
]
A sly grin played on Rick's lips as he thought, 'Well, would you look at that? The system's decided to show a rare streak of kindness,' In truth, he had discerned the undercurrent of desperation in Evelina's voice from the moment she stepped into the room. The recent ordeal with her grandmother had undoubtedly rattled her to the core.
He was about to stop pushing her to desperation, even if the system did not ask him to. Even for someone attempting to embody a less-than-savory persona, there were boundaries he wasn't willing to cross. Blackmailing someone over their dying relative, he knew, was a descent into pure malevolence.
As the palpable desperation painted across Evelina's features became undeniable, Rick finally allowed himself a theatrical sigh. With an exaggerated expression of pity, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Okay, okay. No need to put a brave front in front of me," he quipped with a smirk. "But let me be straight with you, sweetheart—I don't have the antidote just yet. I need to make it."
Evelina's brows furrowed in confusion and a hint of anger. "You don't have it? So, was everything you said just a facade?" Her voice betrayed a mix of perplexity and frustration
"I never claimed to have the antidote," Rick shrugged nonchalantly, his shoulders lifting in a casual gesture. "I merely asserted that I knew what could cure her. And I stand by that," he declared with an air of confidence, maintaining his poker face.
Evelina's suspicion lingered, her gaze scrutinizing Rick. "Are you genuinely telling the truth, or is this another web of deceit you're spinning?" she questioned, a note of skepticism coloring her words.
Feigning innocence, Rick gently cupped Evelina's face, his expression a blend of mock sincerity. "Why, my dear, would I ever lie to you? Especially when you look so adorable with that 'I need an injection' expression?"
Caught in the crossroads between annoyance and a reluctant amusement, Evelina huffed audibly. "You better not be pulling another stunt," she warned, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Still maintaining his hand on her chin, Rick offered a reassuring smile. "I promise, no stunts this time. But, darling, I need something from you before I whip up that antidote for your grandmother. And that's where you come in."
Evelina, wariness etched across her features but curiosity evident in her gaze, shot back, "I am not giving you the house, if that's what you're after."
Chuckling, Rick shook his head. "No, no, no. This time, it's not about the house. I will deal with your grandmother about that. But you see, darling, the antidote won't make itself. I need ingredients, and you're going to help me get them.
Evelina, her annoyance now mingling with intrigue, raised an eyebrow at Rick's proposition. "What do you need?"
Maintaining his mischievous grin, Rick leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "First, we need a phoenix feather. Next, a sprinkle of unicorn tears. And, of course, a dragon scale for that extra kick."
Evelina's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?"
"Look at your face," Rick couldn't contain his laughter, the mischievous glint in his eyes amplifying. "I am just messing with you. I need some herbs, roots, and magical plants—easy stuff. Nothing from the enchanted realms, I promise." His laughter echoed through the room, the tension momentarily broken by his playful admission.
Rick ambled over to a nearby table, seizing a pen to meticulously list out everything the mysterious rabbit had conveyed. Once satisfied, he handed the list to Evelina, who took it and gave it a quick once-over.
"Pig Skin?" Evelina furrowed her brows as she perused Rick's inventory of items.
"Don't judge me. It's the recipe," Rick quipped with a nonchalant shrug, a playful grin dancing on his lips.
Evelina, still skeptical, shot back, "And how long will it take for you to provide the cure once I manage to arrange all these items?" Her tone held a mix of impatience and doubt, demanding a straightforward answer.
"Can't guarantee anything. I might succeed on the first try, or fail even on my hundredth," Rick admitted to Evelina, honesty permeating his expression. It was a half-truth; at this point, Rick wasn't entirely certain if the Rabbit could deliver. He was banking on the promise the Rabbit made earlier – that he would create an antidote if Rick could extract information about it.
"Alright, you will have everything in front of you by night," Evelina nodded, signaling for Geoffrey to proceed with the task at hand. Geoffrey began to make his way out, but Evelina halted him abruptly. "Leave it. I will do it myself this time," she declared, a flicker in her eyes.
"Miss?" Geoffrey looked puzzled, his confusion evident.
"Don't ask. I will take care of it," Evelina responded dismissively, not bothering to delve into the details.
"Do whatever you have to, but make sure everything is perfect to the 'T'," Rick instructed, a seriousness overtaking his demeanor. "When I talk about the milk of a goat, it should not be pregnant for more than a month. Otherwise..." Rick halted mid-sentence, offering a warning to Evelina.
"You don't have to worry about it. You just need to get me the antidote. Otherwise..." Evelina interrupted, this time issuing a warning of her own to Rick.
"I will, just don't get me killed in my sleep," Rick jested with Evelina, though his gaze shifted subtly toward Geoffrey, injecting a hint of unease into the room.
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