Negotiation

At the order of his lord, the fairy brought back the two girls that his highness saved, guiding them to the modest house of the mayor, very modest in the eye of the librarian, but he was used to luxury out of reach for normal people. The ground was just dirt, the place was more akin to a workshop, but there was a kitchen where a woman was busy doing... Whatever qualify as cooking for this place, he guessed. As the lich took a seat, that wooden chair was as pityfull as it could be, made the drowned wish he was ordered to tidy up the place with his book, but as Lord Ainz didn't say a thing, neither did he. He could however notice the stares thrown his way, and to some degree, Albedo's way. As he wasn't concelling his wings or ears in any way, same for the demon and her horns, the survivors could tell they weren't humans, and a strange sense of awe and fear made them unable to look away.

"Sorry for making you wait."

The mayor was a farmer, through and through, his build refleted that, and his gray hair his age. His wife too had muscle that reflected a lifestyle spent at the whim of mother nature, her hands were rough, the fairy took notice when she presented a cup to his lord. None for him, as he refused it, nor for Albedo, sent on a round, checking everything was in control. Falthène could guess why he was kept here, for negotiation. Now, he too was refusing the hot water, probably because it was barely clear water, or some other reason he didn't bother thinking about.

"I'm sorry to decline after all the effort you have put into making it."

"I-it's fine ! Please rise your head !"

At least, they know their places, thought the drowned. It's the bare minimum, granted, but he can hardly hate someone who shows respect to his master. Although, he saw no use in using a mask to hide his species. Falthène didn't need to, as fairies it seems in this world were known as a peacefull race, so he could wander with no disguise. All he would have needed to mask his specie anyway would be a ring, but he'd rather keep his fingers free, as it was a condition for one of his class. He nods along a bit as the humans put into words their gratitude towards the generous monarch, he was really starting to appreciate them a bit.

"Then, without waiting, let's get down to the matter, shall we ? Like i told you previously, i did not save your village without reason. I'd like to be compensated."

"Y-yes, of course."

"How much can you pay me."

"I'll have to count every copper and silver pieces we have, but i'd say... around three thousand copper coins."

If they used the rarity of the metal as value, then it was not a lot. Falthène kept his mouth shut, his lord was too smart to not realize it.

"Can you pay me in bigger coins ?"

"Sorry, we do not use gold coin around here..."

"I see." He was smilling, and it's comprehensible. With a few words, he managed to put himself in a good position in thoses negotiations. "Then, i'll buy what your village has to offer, and with the money i use to pay you, you will pay me back."

That way, the overlord could get his hands on ressources from this world, for free. Ressources could be more interesting to get than money. Speaking of, Lord Ainz puts two coin on the table, one old and one new.

"If i was to use thoses coins, what could i buy ?"

"A-are those ?-"

"They are the currency of a very, very far away country. Destroyed now. Can you tell me how much it's worth ?"

"Yes of course, give me an instant..."

They weights it, and emit a slight doubt about it's authenticity. But no, this was pure gold, and apparently, worth two of their gold coin.

"So, assuming i can use thoses coins for two gold coins in your currency, how much ressources from your village i can buy ?"

"SIR AINZ OOAL GOWN !"

"Lower your tone, mayor." It was not the masked sorcerer that answered, but the fairy, instinctively. Seing a lower being raising his voice towards his master made him lose a bit of his composure. He was not about to kill them for this, he could understand what was going through their head, but still. Understanding was not tolerating.

"Falthène, it does not bother me. Ainz will suffice, mayor."

"I-i-i, uh... Sorry, Sir Ainz. I understand you are a very powerfull fellow, with a reputation i'm sure, but i do not lie to you when i say three thousand copper coin is all we have."

Mentally, Falthène was smirking. This was a perfect opportunity here for the taking, and Lord Ainz did not let it slip.

"Very well, then i don't want a compensation."

"U-Uh ? Why ?"

"Let's just say, that i'm a mage. I come from a place called the Great Tomb of Nazarick. I do not want a physical compensation, but i seek knowledge. Me and my childrens have lived reclused for centuries, so we might as well say we do not know anything about this world anymore. Knowledge is a tool for mages, so pay me by giving me thoses tools, and most of your debt will be covered."

"M-most of it ?"

"Yes. See, even you, humans, have changed a lot since i last saw you. So, as an aditionnal compensation, i wish to study you. Nothing crazy, i simply wish for my children to be allowed here, and for their existence to be kept secret."

The two of them looked at each other, then at Falthène, not at Ainz. Even Falthène was looking at Ainz, not sure to grasp what he was trying to do. Wasn't it a given after the help they have provided, that they would be granted access to this poor village as if they owned it ? His lord might be thinking years, centuries in the futur, just like Demiurge said he told him. So he did not doubt him one bit, but tried to understand why so he could meet his expectations better.

"Are your childrens fairies ?"

"Not only. My childrens are varied in nature and species. I will order them to cohabits with you lot, of course, i do not wish for bloodshed, but for them to learn as i will thanks to you."