Mercenary system: Let Me Die , B**ch

Andrew's POV

"No doubt about it, this city is crawling with disgusting souls," I say while drawing my magic circle to start the sacrifice ritual.

I didn't really need music since I have a contract with the demon himself.

So, a few candles and a magic circle drawn with blood were more than enough.

The nameless demon could probably find me in this dimension if I summon him.

Worst case, I'll just waste some mana with my summoning skill.

"I figured you had a natural emo look, but I didn't think you were gothic or satanic," Eda mumbled while watching me, her face marked with a frown.

"Sorry if I've fallen in your esteem," I replied with a slight smile.

I'm not one of those people who have such a huge ego that they forbid themselves from flattering others.

My survival depends on this woman and the others I've hired.

There's also the fact that my influence on her isn't absolute, since her morality oscillates between gray and black.

[Why is it always the best guys who have weird hobbies?]

Eda's current attitude is also one of the reasons why I apologized.

"Sigh... Anyway, I'm used to seeing weird guys in this city," she said while leaving the room.

"If you're really sorry, you can always invite me for a few drinks."

"Sure, if you escape that crazy Balalaika," she responded while closing the door.

"I'll survive, since you're a professional," I said behind her.

I heard a *tsk* before the sound of her footsteps faded away.

"Now for you, my dear rascals."

I turn my attention to about fifteen (18) people tied up in front of me, in the center of the magic circle.

Now that Eda's gone to watch the surroundings, I can sacrifice them without worrying about her opinion.

Normally, it would be impossible to kidnap so many people without attracting attention from small gangs or major criminal organizations.

Fortunately for me, things are extremely different tonight.

Right now, I can hear explosions and bullets echoing in this cursed city of Roanapur.

"I summon you to this world..."

I hadn't even finished my sentence when the candles suddenly went out, before it appeared, bathed in an eerie glow.

"YoU AlReaDY HaVe ThE SaCriFiCeS FoR ThIs MoNtH!!" declares the supernatural entity while observing the tied-up humans I captured thanks to Eda.

"Yes, but I'm planning to add a bonus for a little extra deal."

The demon approaches the tied-up men but stops abruptly before turning to me.

"SpEaK, HuMaN."

As expected, he's really greedy.

"I'm not giving you a dozen souls this month, but fifteen, if in exchange, you can neutralize this person for just this night."

I show him a photo of Balalaika, easily obtained from a newspaper.

The entity stares at the image for a few seconds before his voice resonates again:

"MoRe SoUlS!!"

I frown at this demand.

"Why?"

"I didn't ask you to kill her, just to put her to sleep or into a coma."

My tone involuntarily rises against the creature before I realize my outburst and apologize.

"Sorry for my tone, but could you enlighten me?"

The entity observes me for a moment before sketching a drooling smile through the black sphere that serves as its body.

"YoU HaRbOr ImPuRe ThOuGhTs FoR ThIs MoRtAl... So YoU'rE NeEdY HeRe"

I see...

This guy is just taking advantage of the situation.

But... wait a minute... how does he know what I feel for Balalaika?

Does he have an empathy-related power too??

I remember he can see the nature of souls... maybe it's related.

"Forget about Balalaika. But I want you to weaken those who have bad intentions toward them."

I show him the photo of the twins, obtained thanks to Eda.

This time, the entity doesn't refuse the deal.

He just specified that he would weaken the humans using the price paid by me as a base.

"Now I only have you three left."

I immediately activate my "Soul Devourer" skill on them.

Unlike the other victims whose souls had simply been stolen, these ones temporarily disappear when my shadow extends to their location.

Of course, once their soul was devoured, their body was ejected from my shadow.

"Status"

Name: Andrew Graves

Species: Human

Class: Demonist

Age: 22

Alignment: Purely evil (developing)

Mental status: Excited

Strength: C

Speed: D

Potential: B+

Intelligence: S+

Durability: D

Mana: B

Passive skills:

• Eyes of Truth (Weakened) (Rank D)

• Five Points Star Mark (Rank C)

Active skills:

• Weapon Basics (Rank F): Level 1 (new)

• Evil Sponsorship Contract (Rank B): Level 1

• Demonic Summoning (Rank C): Level 1

• Soul Devourer (Rank A): Level 1

Talent:

• Jack of All Trades (Rank C)

[You now have a total of 370 PK.]

"Seriously?"

"I haven't increased my stats despite devouring three people?"

[It seems you really need Hamel's legacy, since you still don't understand how difficult it is to increase a statistic, particularly Mana.]

The system AI's voice resonated in my mind.

"I understand... And I assume that if I had a meditation or cultivation method, I could have increased my Mana stat thanks to the amount of souls I just devoured?"

[Indeed.]

[The souls of three people would have been enough to significantly increase your Mana, making a visible change in your status.]

[The problem comes from your inability to refine the devoured energy from the digested souls.]

In summary, it's my poverty that's the problem.

"It's fine, I still have the people captured by Bunny."

I hurried to the cemetery since I had to negotiate with Dutch, the head of the Lagoon company.

I think the twins will soon reach their destination, especially now that the demon's involved, besides Frederica and Shenhua.

....

Narrator's POV

"Who are you, bunch of idiots?"

It took just a moment for Revy to draw her revolvers at the three figures in front of her.

(Image)

"You better calm down, since me come bring work to you," declared Shenhua, taking the lead of the group.

She and Revy know each other, but their relationship isn't as good as with Eda.

"I doubt you can bring anything interesting, China girl."

"I suggest you better scram, 'cause I'm really pissed right now," she said while tightening her finger on the trigger.

Revy really wasn't in a good mood.

She had spent a good part of the night chasing after the reward published by Hotel Moscow, only to leave empty-handed.

She and the other killers in the city had clearly underestimated these damn kids.

"Did you see that, little brother?"

"Yes, little sister, the lady doesn't look nice."

"Hehe..."

The two small figures covered in a coat behind Shenhua caught Revy's attention, but she preferred to ignore them and change the conversation.

"You've gotten into human trafficking now, China girl?" asked Revy, with a mocking tone in her voice.

"Calm down, Revy, she mentioned a job, right?"

"I'm a bit curious."

Dutch's calm voice slightly eased the heavy atmosphere between Revy and Shenhua.

(Image)

"Me not mandated to negotiate payment. You must negotiate with Eda and interesting boy."

She threw a phone of an extremely old model toward Dutch.

As he caught it in mid-air, he noticed the call was already in progress.

[Hello, this is the Lagoon company]

Dutch took a cigarette.

[Hey Dutch, it's Eda.]

Eda's familiar voice took Dutch and Revy by surprise, but neither of them showed anything.

[How can we be useful to the church? Hope it's nothing troublesome.]

He observed the two disguised children.

[Don't worry, Dutch, it's not really something above your capabilities.]

[I want you to drive these children out of Roanapur and ensure their protection for six hours.]

Dutch remained silent for a moment before sketching a wild smile.

The smell of his cigarette smoke tickled his nostrils, but it didn't cloud his mind.

[Tell me, Eda...]

[You wouldn't be trying to pull one over on me?]

[What do you mean?]

[These kids... They're the ones Hotel Moscow is looking for, right?]

At Dutch's words, all present members gripped their weapons, on guard.

'Shit, Dutch!!! Why are you messing around, you bastard!!'

Revy had already considered this possibility, but she had preferred to dismiss the idea and avoid bringing up the subject.

If you want to live long in Roanapur, you need to avoid getting involved in complicated affairs.

Unfortunately, she had underestimated her Taiwanese acquaintance's greed... but not just hers.

Because right now, Dutch was wearing that facial expression that usually got him into trouble.

[Yes, you're right.]

Eda didn't deny Dutch's hypothesis.

[They have money on hand. They know their lives are worth much more than those bills, and my employer decided to pay more to ensure their protection for six hours outside the city.]

Eda was following Andrew's instructions to the letter: ensuring the twins' mandatory survival for six hours.

Dutch remained silent before speaking in a universal language that any sane person understood:

[How much are these kids going to pay me, and how much is your employer going to pay me to play against Balalaika?]

"Damn it, Dutch!!"

Revy couldn't help cursing, much to Shenhua's satisfaction.

[You'll get a transfer of 50,000 dollars now, and 50,000 dollars after the six hours outside the city expire.]

[For the kids' money, negotiate with them.]

Eda's tone left no room for negotiation, and Dutch understood that.

[Okay, that's indeed a correct amount just to keep kids alive for six hours outside the city.]

After hanging up, it didn't take long before Dutch's phone displayed a message confirming a bank transfer.

'I see Eda's paying me with laundered money.'

He was intrigued by the person capable of hiring people like Eda, Shenhua, and Frederica Sawyer.

The latter had just arrived, covered in blood.

'This guy chose professionals.'

Dutch couldn't help nodding in approval.

"You heard, right?"

"I'll get them away from Roanapur, but if they have a specific destination, then they'll have to pay extra."

....

"There, I'm done with Dutch and the Black Lagoon company."

Eda hung up her phone before throwing it to the ground and crushing it with her heel.

She didn't want to take any risks with Balalaika.

"By the way, can you explain the state of the people since you passed through?"

She pointed to the unconscious people on the ground.

No matter how much she shook them or hit them, no one would wake up.

"I'll explain someday, but right now, I have other priorities."

He left his makeshift chair, which was nothing more than a tombstone.

"What? I'm telling you right now, I won't do anything else crazy with you!!" Eda declared categorically.

'I already got into huge shit using the church's name to deal with Dutch' Eda inwardly hoped that her superior would never discover this.

"Do you really take me for a madman, or...?"

The look from Eda and Bunny said a lot about Andrew.

"Okay, I just wanted us to have a drink, but you don't seem receptive."

As Andrew was walking away, Eda quickly grabbed his arm in a more intimate manner.

"I'm warning you right now, I only drink high-quality alcohol."

Andrew sketched a relaxed smile while nodding at her.

'I already know how I'm going to waste my six hours.'

He materialized from his inventory the remaining unused pills from the One Chi Chi universe, the ones that Yuuki hadn't completely used on his mother.