Clock were ticking as usual but it feels like time itself slow down compare to before.
But Lawrence state keeping getting worse. The table front him, floor under his chair all place around him dyed under his crimson blood.
Not only his body but his face also not any good condition.
Leaking stream of blood from eyes,nose and ears. His face coloured in blood and pupils became extremely dim like any remaining life is now gone.
He was barely breathing now, he is not any metaphorical way but literal at death door.
While all this happening man still sit on his chair and quietly observing this all.
He had countless questions, thoughts, possibilities in his mind but he choose to become spectator.
Man was observing his body condition with precision. His prediction came right, within ten minutes Lawrence's body started multiple organs failure and he start dying.
His calm mind stormed by series of relentless question.
Nothing was happening, not any if or but he thought. It was just person front of him dying.
Man now give up for any hope for Lawrence and thought about leaving.
But for his surprise, any plan, miracle or anything he was waiting for start happening.
Like some sought for restraints remove from his body. Lawrence body start healing itself.
His burst out organs, dead tissues and cells regenerating at abnormal rate.
He was no indifferent to different types of regeneration abilities but what pique his interest so much that was abnormal high rate his body reacting and healing itself.
If he had awakened then it's nothing unusual for man but for unawakened person showing this terrifying rate regeneration ability significance of overall high grade talent and promising future.
Seconds and minutes pass by, within hour Lawrence's body completely healed itself. His pale face regain usual complexion, limbs stops trembling, pulse became stable, breathing became normal and devoid eyes now full of life.
Hour may sound too much time and not much intriguing for suspected high quality talent but remember poison he used now has over ninety percent mortality rate if not antidote given in initial 5 to 10 hours and that's also for standard awakeners.
" Let's restart our conversation but before that I have some questions for you."
Man speak to him with cold glazes but can't hide hint of excitement on his face.
"I am alright with you game but make it two way. You are not the only one who had lots to ask." He speaks up and make man visibly annoyed.
" How did you stop your healing talent and why their is no traces of any sort potion or enhancement in body to achieve it?"
Man asked first question he curious of most.
He didn't answer instead he picked up suit he put out before and pass the empty syringe from same pocket he pulled the box before.
" Your enhanced vision reacts things which have traces of or create ripple to mana photons. But what I take was synthetic drug which temporarily reduces body's response and recovery rate to extreme. It response more of neutral to mana photons than that poison. Also coat's inner pockets not made concealing material, lower the use mana photons than usual and you see through them."
"Ha, maybe I am staring for too long that coat. Now your turn." Man spoken without any embarrassment or bother to apologise.
" You already tell me a lot of things for price I am paying. My question is you still have plan to eating me alive and I wants to know knowledge about those what more those powerhouses his."
Lawrence start to smile again and it was mischievous one.
"No, while I personally enjoy eating troublemaker like you but you are too smart to go after. Initial twenty minutes I give you became two hours now and you are still here. Also hang something so tempting around my neck to control. More over I can't kil irrationally because of core's trait and rationally for God knows what next card pulled from your sleeves. Next question even if we not talk about first core, how did you get hands on second one?"
Man didn't waste time and asked his second question.
While one can buy low and mid cores from black market or hunter's directly but no one same person going sell core with monster will without strict precaution and hidden channels. Man want to confirm his suspicion
with this question.
"I got lucky, finds it hands of man who doesn't even know it's true value. It was more like his family's heirloom for generations and that man think of as large gemstone or something." He replied.
" What did you do to that person?" Man asked with his devious smile.
"Don't look at like that, it's creepy as hell. I am a merchant by profession. Give him an offer he can't resist but he got greedy over my generosity so I killed him and take the core."
Lawrence state incident in short. He was able locate with roughly two years storyline and events. While they provide nothing significant in game but being reality helps him manipulate, exploit them at ease.
"Don't count previous question but this one as advance. I am really wants hear. What do you think people you killed? Did you acknowledge your sin or hide them under your values and necessity of survival?"
Man question him and clearly wants a honest answer for judging what kind of monster he was compared himself.
"My mentor was former hunter like you mock and pity one. He teaches me that their is absolute no reasoning, values or goal that can justify or rationalize life we take away. But that doesn't means you must stay idle and do nothing for protecting yourself under bubble of morality, rules or anything. We more animals like any other beings in world. We like being strong, defiant over masses, driving ourselves in pit of all sorts emotions and desires. That's why rather than hiding and lieing ourself about beast we are, do everything and anything to satiate our primal instincts and face the consequences of them at end without any hesitation or streds of doubts. I give that man an offer, first and most efficient choice but he didn't comply so go with second one. Thugs l killed before also because of same reason and that's most eye catching, efficient way for getting attention psychopath like you. Also I don't consider killing as sin or anything because ones relative circumstances changes, I will receiving end of it."
Lawrence complete his little speech and look at man, who is now staring at him with unreadable, complex expressions.
"That's a good mentality." He replied shortly.
"Now my turn for questioning now. Asking more about system useless currently so give me some other helpful information and what do you really possess so invaluable to hide in this slumps?"
His first question purely for getting more knowledge but second one more about trying to find some clues over this man's past.
In original mission's of game, player needs to complete series of tasks and based on their performance and choices this guy decide to help or eat them.
Those missions gives players some clues about this guy's background and among them was single line which Lawrence clearly remembers.
'I should never touch that damn thing, who the fuck create such curse of bad omen!'
His hands starting trembles a little and his breath became irregular. His gazes shift from Lawrence and start to checking his surrounding frantically.
His facade of veteran awakener, a cannibal psychopath starting to crumble.
"Don't worry there is no one else and second question more of bluff. If you don't want to answer then we can skip it."
He start to console the man. Even before whether he was stunned, annoyed or excited, man was still restrain and have aura of self control but now he was more of scared animal fleeing for life.
" I am not became that much weak to console by kid like you." He speaks with while gasping air with heavy breaths.
"Let's end this quick. I am telling last thing you need and seal the transaction."
" I am okay with it." Lawrence replied with little disappointment but he can't do anything about it.
This living monster from his perspective to get panic attack by mere mentioning of something. While he was extremely curious for some hidden information but he doesn't want meddle in anythings beyond his current abilities.
"You need to play role and become character itself. A hunter will say talent and abilities you awaken will random and completely based on luck. But for true awakener it was more on his actions, perception of abilities. Like you said your a merchant so doing negotiations, mind games, looking for new product is your thing but does it include everything of your job?" Man question him and trying gets his view.
"No, there are much more things and factors to be included. Also person's personality, relative experience, personal principles and ethics also came into picture"
Lawrence replied to him and man nodded to him witapproval.
" Early talent and abilities are awakened based on your innate potential but how you used them, understand and develop it set you apart from others. Because of lack of this information hunters only rely on their early crude talent. Once you progress forward you also need to act according to your talent. Like if you are swordman then you need to act like one in not just learning sword but also in behaviour, characteristics, mannerisms, etc."
'Not just use class abilities but also act according to class.' He got into inner thoughts while man continue little more.
Both now shake their hands and end the conversation. Man was not interested in it but followed immediately after hearing more questions from Lawrence.
Lawrence change his shirt with another one from briefcase. One was he wearing already coloured in his blood.
"You get a core on awakening day and this my contact." He speaks to man with usual smile.
"Don't that drug have major side effects." Man question him with curiosity.
"Still curious? Well drug side effects also healed once it's effects worn down. Fill my curiosity now. Why are Characteristic and Traits are latin in greek out of all languages?"
Man look at him with blank face.
"Are you idiot? Obviously by those motherfucking top dogs. If you want block information then nothing better than dead language after all."
Lawrence now leave the bar and head straight towards nearby intersection. There was his car waiting for him hours.
He was greeted by familiar faces of Ross and driver.
Car move swiftly through traffic because conversation take almost three hours than he initially thought and delay his next meeting on schedule.
He was himself quite amused finding how much time they talked.
Car now slow down now because of traffic. It was almost evening time so they starting encounter considerable rush now.
In uptown, at Michael's bookstore a car stops. Both Lawrence and butler Ross walk out of car then enter the shop.
They were greeted by as usual bickering of Michael and Andrew.
" Don't you both get tired of this game?" He question them with mischievous smile.
"Oh! It's you, we are arguing for hour now." Michael speak first and followed by Andrew's annoyed expressions tell the whole story.
"Sorry that guy also like to talk too much. More over there are many things I want to share. Can we go to break room?"
He questioned the duo with voice full of excitement.
Three of left to break room and Ross take over the reception desk naturally. He was butler trained under Andrew from young age.
So such minimal task under Lawrence was heaven for him.
Lawrence explain various details, his own opinions with both mentors for half hour. Their world view quite shaken because of all those sudden revelations.