The Cornflower Witch

Book 3: Chapter 19: Negotiation Methods in the Underground World

"This is Miss Hedra."

Led by a tall tiger-headed beastman, a young girl dressed in a black long gown with dark gold trim appeared. She had beautiful jet-black hair, holding a book in one hand while the other stretched out, her fair and slender fingers brushing over a chair before she sat down.

Since the conclusion of that serial murder case, many beastmen in the district had come to know that this young girl was the assistant who helped uncover the murderer, and also the girl who had previously defeated the bullies of Agate Street.

Because she had helped with the aftermath, Sylutia had visited many beastmen in the district, generously offered assistance, and used medicinal herbs to cure many beastmen who couldn't afford medical treatment. After several interactions, her reputation gradually grew within the beastman district. Sometimes, when encountering difficult problems, they would also seek solutions from this young girl.

"This is the situation, Lady Hedra." A tall, thin lizardman came over to explain the situation to the young girl.

"Many schools and facilities in the Asra District regularly clean their exterior walls and roofs, as well as complex large statues and equipment. During these times, the management contacts fixed 'headmen' to find labor. This is simpler and more convenient than directly hiring scattered cleaners. If damage or accidents occur midway, they can also find the 'buyer' to resolve it, preventing situations where the workers suddenly run away and can't be found."

"The Asra District has four 'headmen' in total: 'Fire Pig,' 'Vertical Eye,' 'Four Fingers,' and 'Spider Woman.' Under these 'headmen,' there are also cadres responsible for different streets. They find workers from their own streets when short on labor, while also managing various small businesses in this area."

"This time, while working at School No. 64, Duss accidentally damaged some equipment in the classroom there. To prevent this from affecting future job opportunities, 'Four Fingers' has already compensated the school. Afterwards, 'Four Fingers' had 'Spicy Face,' who is responsible for Agate Street, cover the loss."

"Duss doesn't have much money, only a 14-year-old daughter. 'Spicy Face' wanted to sell his daughter to 'Spider Woman' to get some money, but Duss absolutely refused, saying he would definitely repay the debt. However, Spicy Face didn't believe him and brought people to forcibly take his daughter. Then Duss fought with them."

"Afterwards, Duss was beaten half to death. Other neighbors and friends who were close to him came over, feeling Spicy Face had gone too far. Then both sides reached a stalemate."After listening, Sylutia looked at the unconscious beastman on the bed before her and asked the tall, thin lizardman beside her.

"How much was the compensation for the equipment he damaged?"

"Reportedly, it was 5 gold coins, but we suspect the actual amount might not be that high. 'Four Fingers' is very cunning; he probably only compensated 2-3 gold coins."

Five gold coins, Sylutia thought for a moment, preparing to simply take out money to solve the problem. But the lizardman beside her saw her intention.

"Lady Hedra, you can't just give money directly."

"Why?"

"This... it's rather complicated to explain. You can understand it as: giving money is showing weakness. They'll keep causing trouble, and then you'll have to keep helping and giving money endlessly." He explained the rules of the underground world.

So complicated? Sylutia lightly pressed her forehead, thought for a while, and then spoke.

"What about the 'Spicy Face' who wants the money?"

"He said he'll come back tonight, telling us to prepare the money or Duss's daughter."

"Where is Duss's daughter currently?"

"Currently hiding in Aunt Hulu's cellar."

After listening, Sylutia sat on the chair, thinking carefully. The other beastmen gathered in the room lowered their breathing and voices to avoid disturbing her.

Directly giving money would be seen as 'cowardice' and surrender—this is the beastman worldview. Given her current identity, she indeed couldn't keep giving money, otherwise this goodwill would be continuously exploited by those with ulterior motives, making her keep paying out.

But if she didn't give money, how could she settle this matter?

Directly beating up 'Spicy Face'—she could indeed do it, but it would offend the headman 'Four Fingers.' Afterwards, the other party would keep causing trouble for her. Restricted by her 'Hedra' identity, she couldn't reveal too much, which would leave her constrained. If a situation ever became truly critical, forcing her to expose additional abilities and create vulnerabilities in her identity, the losses would outweigh the gains.

How could she resolve this matter while also ensuring 'Four Fingers' couldn't find reasons to keep causing trouble?

...

Nighttime. 'Spicy Face' returned with a group of fierce beastmen. It seemed after suffering losses in the morning, he had also gathered quite a few thugs. No wonder he said to wait until night to discuss a resolution.

"Where's that guy Duss?" Looking at the empty space in front of the house, Duss didn't come out. Spicy Face scanned the few people standing outside and arrogantly asked.

These people didn't speak, but soon the door of Duss's simple, crude hut opened. A young girl in a long gown walked out. Her black long hair had a golden butterfly hair clip that complemented the floral ornaments on her black dress, appearing particularly conspicuous in this simple environment. Such a person seemed like she shouldn't appear here, but rather at grand ceremonies or upper-class noble banquets.

"Who are you?" Spicy Face frowned.

Sylutia's gaze swept over the beastmen behind him, instantly assessing their situation. Eleven beastmen in total: four at Second Tier, seven at First Tier. No wonder the beastmen in this street district didn't dare to confront them head-on.

The leading beastman wasn't tall, wearing a crocodile-skin vest, with a mouthful of rotten yellow teeth. His face had accumulated dark red pigmented patches, as if he had suffered from some strange disease. However, Sylutia recognized at a glance that this was the result of erosion by the 'Scorching Sun' Aspect, causing skin burning, ulceration, and blood vessel congestion. Even after recovery, some traces remained.

No wonder he's called 'Spicy Face.' Nicknames truly aren't given randomly.

"You can call me Hedra." Sylutia stepped forward.

"I've heard about Duss's matter. I hope this matter can be resolved peacefully." Although the meaning was peaceful resolution, there was no trace of timidity or weakness on this young girl's face.

"Peaceful resolution? Heh heh." Spicy Face laughed, somewhat mocking.

"You say peaceful resolution? Fine. How do you plan to compensate? You can't just make empty statements."

"These are three gold coins, considered as a loan from me to Duss, given to you first." Sylutia opened her palm, revealing three gold coins.

Immediately, three white birds materialized beside her. Each picked up a gold coin and circled around her.

Seeing her manipulate the bird spell so flexibly, Spicy Face frowned. "Still a top student, huh."

"Three gold coins? Fine, hand them over." Hearing him agree so readily, Sylutia knew 'Four Fingers' definitely hadn't compensated as much as 5 gold coins; probably only 2-3 gold coins.

"I can give them to you, but how will you compensate for severely injuring Duss? He's now seriously injured, can't work. How will he manage his life?" Sylutia didn't immediately hand over the gold coins.

"That's his own problem. Who told him to make a mistake?" Spicy Face shrugged, showing an expression of "not my business."

"His mistake and compensation are justified, but you and your men severely injured him. This matter can't just be dismissed either." Sylutia shook her head.

"Tsk tsk, ha ha ha." Spicy Face looked at Sylutia and suddenly laughed.

"You dare speak to me like this? Do you know who I am? Don't think good academic performance at school is everything. You're just an apprentice."

"If you insist on interfering, don't blame me for reporting you to the school, making you drop out and never become a mage, ending up dying like a stray dog on the roadside, unnoticed."

"You're the type who's become foolish from studying, daring to meddle in everything. Haven't you heard people say: in the adult world, children shouldn't interfere randomly?" After speaking, he laughed again, as if seeing something particularly funny. The group of beastmen around him also burst into laughter.

Some among them had also heard of Hedra, but in their view, this young girl was just a slightly better-performing Second Tier apprentice. Being able to defeat a down-and-out failed graduate wasn't particularly impressive. Headman 'Four Fingers' had hidden 'Third Tier' thugs under him, and his connections ran deep.

"Whether I can become a mage or not has nothing to do with you. But if you doubt whether I have the strength to intervene, I can demonstrate it."

When dealing with beastmen, relying entirely on words is impossible. Only with overwhelming strength can you make these guys shut up and be willing to sit down and negotiate.

The three white birds beside Sylutia, trailing long threads, charged toward this group of beastmen. Seeing this, several beastmen immediately let out fierce roars. The sound waves spread, making the surrounding onlookers so frightened their legs went weak and they collapsed.

Afterwards, these beastmen unleashed their respective abilities. Some even directly revealed huge, curved, thick horns, charging toward the incoming white birds.

Under Sylutia's flexible command, the three white birds dodged attacks, weaving through the crowd. Threads tightened and entangled. Some beastmen tried to use the threads to pull down the birds, but soon their fingers were cut and bled by the sharp threads.

Feeling these birds were too agile and troublesome to deal with, the beastmen at the front directly charged toward Sylutia. Their thick fingers were several times larger than the girl's head. If caught, the outcome wouldn't be good.

Sylutia, holding her book, retreated. When the people in front continued chasing, they were caught by threads hidden in the air. If Sylutia hadn't held back and hadn't used sharp threads, these guys would likely have been dismembered on the spot.

"How can these threads be so tough and sharp?" One beastman, after having his neck constricted, had to slow his steps under the stinging pain, not daring to move recklessly anymore.

Abyss Jellywin spent nearly ten years studying and improving from learning 'Sobis Magic Thread Manipulation' to perfecting it into 'Decapitating Threads' that could kill at will, which allowed him to commit the serial murders in the Asra District.

A Second Tier apprentice, even if mastering the secret art 'Sobis Magic Thread Manipulation,' would find it difficult to wield it to such an extent. That's why the beastmen present found it particularly unbelievable.

Although Abyss Jellywin didn't become a true mage, his research direction was indeed correct. The threads' construction didn't require much Aspect power, but as long as the skill was deep enough to make the threads sharp and tough, they could unleash lethality far surpassing peers. Sylutia realized this while studying, which is why she constructed the 'Thread Bird' spell model.

In the subsequent fight, Sylutia continuously used birds and threads to restrain the beastmen present, subduing them one by one, until finally Spicy Face unwillingly knelt on the ground, his joints and neck tightly wrapped by sharp threads, unable to move.

After ending the fight, Sylutia opened her palm. The three circling birds shattered into light, and the gold coins they carried fell in front of Spicy Face.

At this moment, Spicy Face also had to admit that this young girl before him was indeed different from the ordinary apprentices he had seen.

In the beastman worldview, if you can defeat them, naturally you have the qualification to set conditions before them.

After acknowledging Sylutia's strength, the subsequent negotiation became smooth. Spicy Face accepted the three gold coins, saying he would hire a doctor to treat Duss's injuries and exempt him from work for one month.

With this outcome, the matter was considered peacefully settled. The surrounding neighbors and friends also breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'll go bring Duss's daughter over." Now that it's safe, there's no need to hide at Aunt Hulu's place anymore.

While waiting, Sylutia asked the tall, thin lizardman beside her.

"Videli, why did you advise me to agree earlier? I feel he won't hire a very good physician. The treatment is probably just lip service."

"I know, but this result is already quite good, Lady Hedra." He answered the girl's doubt.

"If you want to help Duss, you can privately find additional physicians or medicines. That's not a problem. But we must publicly agree to let Spicy Face casually find someone for treatment, because this must uphold his 'prestige' and 'face.'"

"He can serve as 'Four Fingers' cadre and subordinate on Agate Street precisely by relying on 'prestige' and 'face.' If you make him completely lose face, you'll make a mortal enemy."

"Making him hire an excellent physician and spend a lot of money treating Duss—such behavior would be seen as him completely losing this dispute. This kind of 'major defeat' is a dangerous signal, causing him to lose prestige completely, facing various eager challengers, shaking his position. Once he loses status, previously accumulated resentment will erupt, leaving him dead without a burial place."

"So, if you made such demands during negotiation, he would absolutely not agree. The negotiation would definitely break down. And we can't kill him or forcibly detain them—that would be equivalent to declaring war on headman 'Four Fingers.'"

"Solving problems while maintaining face for both sides is the norm in the underground world. Otherwise, it's war. Because the underground world is maintained by 'prestige' and 'dignity.' If you make someone lose all prestige, you're destroying the foundation they stand on."

"I understand." Sylutia quickly grasped the rules within.

Seeing her become familiar and clear so quickly, the lizardman beside her couldn't help but sigh. This young girl truly lived up to being a genius student of the Mage Alliance, exceptionally intelligent, understanding immediately upon explanation.

While the two conversed, Duss's daughter was also brought back. Sylutia saw this 14-year-old cat-eared girl. She wore simple coarse cloth clothing, with a slightly swaying cat tail behind her. Seeing Sylutia, she was very grateful, but also somewhat awed and afraid, because she had heard about Sylutia's deeds on the way.

"Lady Hedra." She tried her best to bow respectfully, bending almost 90 degrees.

"It's alright now. During this time, just take good care of your father."

"Yes, thank you, Lady Hedra." She answered gratefully again.

"What's your name?" Sylutia saw she had black cat ears and tail.

"My name is Mirica."

"Alright, Mirica. These are 40 silver coins. Use them to buy food and daily necessities during this time. As for your father, I'll come check on him regularly."

After receiving this bag of silver coins, the black cat-eared girl was immensely grateful. She raised her head, seemingly wanting to memorize this young girl's appearance, and nodded solemnly.

The matter is handled. Sylutia's mood also became much lighter and more pleasant. However, the biggest gain this time was increasing her understanding of beastmen customs and worldview. She thought she could probably write a book describing and analyzing beastmen culture when advancing from Second Tier to Third Tier. The day such a book is completed would be the day she advances.

"This is how the practice of the Threefold Law of the 'Secret Word' Aspect works: from memorizing knowledge to mastering it, then from mastery to exploring, analyzing, summarizing, categorizing, and creating one's own understanding of the world. It represents reshaping all past information, thereby influencing the future."

"'History lies within words; the past forges the future.'"