Chapter 72.2- Doom Days

“So we can expect him to have a horde of halfbreeds at his defense when we go for him. What else?”

“What else, indeed” Nicholas chuckled before continuing.

“He will be expecting us. In fact, by now he should be aware of the fact that I am aware of his theft. If he has any wisdom, he would have gone to ground in Japan where I will not be able to touch him”

“You will not be able to touch him there? I thought you said we were going to Japan?”

“We are. But beyond getting you there, you will be doing the bulk of the work for stealing my stone back”

“What?”

“I will, instead, create the kind of distraction that will be necessary to give you the opening you need. Magical Japan is unlike anywhere you have ever been, so trust me to say, you will need to be prepared”

“Yeah yeah, but I still haven’t heard why I will be doing the bulk of the work as you say.”

“Well, you are the one who lost the stone”

“Nah uh, you knew he was after that. Either him or someone else. Why else would you have left me with the stone instead of taking it yourself?” I asked, letting one of my suspicions out.

“I had not expected him to make his move the way he did. In truth, you were bait so I would find out who had corrupted Julian. If I had known Ojin had begun operating in Europe again, I would have taken my stone and gone to ground”

“Well, either way you can’t blame me for the loss of the stone when you were the one who chose to use it as bait in he first place”

“Good argument, but you are the apprentice here”

“And so?”

“And so you have to do whatever it is I say”

“No dice, Nicholas. I am willing to do the stealing if you prepare me well enough. But let’s just say I’m going to charge a lot more for it”

“What do you want? More vials of the elixir? I am willing to bump your payment to five” I laughed at the suggestion.

“Nice one. Twenty vials at the minimum. Plus twenty million galleons”

“Yes to the gold. Six vials of the elixir at most” He said, saying yes to what I felt was a ridiculous ask easily. Fuck. I should have gone higher with the gold

“Ten vials and twenty five million galleons” I said.

“Nope. Already said yes to your gold offer. Next time be a bit more ambitious. As for the vials, seven is the highest I am willing to go. That gives you seven whole lifetimes. Who would need more?” He asked. I gave him the best ‘are you fucking with me’ look I could manage.

“So says the immortal alchemist”

“Be that as it may. Seven is my final offer. Don’t act like you aren’t aching for the trip to Japan already. You want your revenge on Ojin just as surely as I want my stone back.” He said.

“Fine. Deal.