Chapter 87: Deception
Forsyth's face changed the instant he heard that name.
The smile vanished from his round, pleasant looking face, replaced by immediate caution.
Of course he knew who Adelaide meant by "Joker."
What he could not understand was why a matter involving something as small as human cargo had suddenly been connected to that man.
After a brief pause, he asked in a lower voice, "What exactly do you mean?"
Adelaide leaned back against the sofa and spoke with deliberate slowness.
"There are some things that are better left unknown. The more you know in our line of work, the faster you die."
The tone carried a faint threat, but instead of getting angry, Forsyth laughed awkwardly and raised both hands.
"You're right, Brother Adelaide. I spoke too quickly and forgot the rules." His gaze shifted toward Axel and the others. "Then who are these gentlemen?"
Adelaide pointed one by one.
"These two are the goods. That one is my bodyguard."
By "goods," he meant Axel and Issho. By "bodyguard," he meant Hawkins.
Since they were already letting him perform his little act, none of the three interrupted him.
Forsyth let out an intrigued hum and stepped closer, looking them over.
His gaze passed over Issho without much reaction, but the moment it landed on Axel, his eyes lit up.
That greasy smile returned at once.
"This batch is excellent," he said, sounding genuinely pleased. "With quality like this, they'll definitely sell for a high price."
As he spoke, he reached out toward Axel, intending to touch his face.
Axel's expression cooled.
He had already decided that if that swollen, greasy hand came any closer, he was going to break every finger on it. Whether there was a plan or not, he was not going to let that thing touch him.
Even if his reflection would stop direct contact anyway, the mere sight of that fleshy hand reaching for him made his stomach turn.
Adelaide, who had spent enough time with Axel by now to know exactly how bad his temper could get, felt his heart leap into his throat.
If Forsyth really laid a hand on him, everything would blow up on the spot.
He hurriedly stepped in.
"Forsyth, you can't do that."
Forsyth froze halfway through the motion and turned back in confusion.
"Can't?"
He did not understand the problem at all. In this business, inspecting merchandise was normal. That was how things had always been done.
Adelaide lowered his voice and lied without hesitation.
"This one is a gift for Joker. If you touch him with your bare hands, what do you think will happen?"
The instant he heard that, Forsyth jerked his arm back as though he had nearly touched a Sea King's mouth.
He even took several steps backward.
Cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
The beautifully pale child he had been admiring a moment earlier now seemed less like a piece of merchandise and more like something that could bring disaster.
Axel, meanwhile, felt his eyelid twitch.
A gift for Doflamingo?
Could this old bastard not come up with a slightly less cursed lie?
Even claiming he was ill would have been better. No, actually, that would have been bad too. In a place like this, "sick merchandise" probably would not fare well either.
Forsyth exhaled hard, then forced out a laugh.
"So that's how it is. Good thing you stopped me, Brother Adelaide." He quickly changed the subject. "Come, then. Let me take you to inspect the merchandise."
"No need to rush." Adelaide waved a hand and lowered his voice again. "I might as well tell you directly why I came."
Forsyth immediately replied, "Some things are better not heard."
He said that, but the curiosity in his eyes was obvious.
If Adelaide was willing to mention it, then either it was not something truly fatal, or it was something he wanted something in exchange for. Either way, Forsyth could not resist listening.
Adelaide grinned and leaned closer, playing the part of an old friend sharing a dangerous secret.
"Why be so formal between us?"
The sight of the thin old trafficker leaning in toward the fat merchant would have looked ridiculous to anyone outside the room.
Then Adelaide dropped the bait.
"I'll tell you this much. Someone has set their sights on your Forsyth Chamber of Commerce. More specifically, on the merchandise you're holding."
Forsyth shot to his feet.
"What?!"
His face went pale.
If something happened to the Chamber of Commerce itself, that was one thing. But if the merchandise disappeared, that would be a completely different matter. In their business, losing cargo meant losing trust. Losing trust meant losing your protection. And without protection, death came quickly.
"But I work under Joker," Forsyth said, his voice turning tight. "Who would dare touch my operation?"
"Distant water won't save a fire at your doorstep," Adelaide said meaningfully. "People in our trade have to be cautious. Kill the people on site, take the goods, clean up the traces, and who would know who did it? I came the moment I heard, didn't I?"
Forsyth did not believe for a second that Adelaide had come here out of kindness. Most likely, the old fox simply wanted something from him.
Still, that did not change the danger.
He forced a smile. "Then I truly have to thank you."
Adelaide waved it off like a generous benefactor. "No need for thanks. You just need to move quickly. Gather your people, move the goods, put everything together where it can be protected. Isn't that the safest option?"
Forsyth nodded at once.
"Of course. Of course."
He did not suspect Adelaide's identity.
After all, who would use Joker's name so lightly unless they truly had ties to him? And even if he did not trust Adelaide as a person, there was no reason to think he had arrived with enough people to do anything drastic. Forsyth had already had his men check. Adelaide had only brought three companions.
A child.
A blind man.
And one sinister looking young fellow.
At worst, the third one looked useful in a fight.
That was all.
In Forsyth's mind, he still held absolute control here.
So he moved immediately.
"I'll go gather the goods at once," he said. "After that, I'll arrange a safe place for myself to lie low for a while. If you want, I can arrange another place for you to hide as well."
Once he finished, he strode out, sweat glistening on his face while the flesh at his waist wobbled with each step.
The door closed behind him.
Only then did Axel speak.
"You could have just asked to inspect the goods directly. Instead, you told him someone was targeting the Chamber of Commerce and had him gather both people and cargo into one place. Why?"
He looked at Adelaide with open suspicion.
"By making him panic, you're only making him more cautious."
Adelaide's answer came a little too quickly.
"If I asked directly, he'd never agree. Our roles don't overlap. I'm only responsible for acquisition. Why would he let me go through everything? This was the only way."
He tried to sound calm, but there was tension in his voice that he could not quite hide.
Axel watched him in silence.
He knew the old man was lying.
The real reason was obvious. Adelaide wanted Forsyth to mobilize his people, move the merchandise, and create as much confusion as possible. In the chaos that followed, he would have a chance to slip away.
As for whether that trick could fool Issho, Axel did not even need to ask.
He turned slightly and glanced at Issho.
The blind swordsman had been silent the entire time, but there was no way he had missed the old man's shifting emotions. He had simply chosen not to expose him yet. Probably because, for the moment, the operation mattered more than Adelaide's life.
Hawkins, too, said nothing, but the look in his eyes was faintly mournful.
That alone was enough for Axel to guess the old man's future did not look promising.
Since there was no point exposing him right now, Axel simply picked up another piece of fruit from the table and bit into it.
It was surprisingly sweet.
Time dragged on.
Forsyth took far longer than expected to return. During that waiting period, the VIP room was practically turned into a lounge for honored guests. Fresh tea was served. New dishes were brought in. At one point, they were even offered a proper meal.
At last, Forsyth came hurrying back in, sweatier than before.
"I've already hidden the goods," he said, panting faintly. "I'm planning to move myself somewhere secure as well. Brother Adelaide, would you like me to arrange another hiding place for you?"
He still did not want Adelaide anywhere near his own hiding spot.
Trusting his background and trusting him were two very different things.
The moment the words left his mouth, Issho, who had remained quiet until now, finally spoke.
"Hidden?"
.....
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