Chapter 12: Acestes Teumessian and the Scammer

My one hour soon ended, and then the two extensions I asked for ended as well. I spent all the time digging deep into the Teumessian family.

Like all foxkin, they were pretty tight-knit when it came to family. The child I saved was the nephew of the family and the son of the family head's direct brother. These guys were fairly rich, definitely the type to be using private cars. There were a lot of them going out with the said brother, though, and it wasn't like trams or anything are particularly unsafe or unused transport methods, even rich people like to use them once in a while.

Them being at the tram station despite their status was uncommon, but not strange.

After that, I looked into the guilds they had invested in. Such people investing in small guilds must have some kind of preference or parameters they use to judge whether a guild is worthy of their investment or not, a code of conduct of sorts.

After looking into the leaders and policies of all the guilds and their top brass through various websites and interviews, I tried to set up a common ground in all of their behaviors.

{This doesn't even make sense, host.}

The system quipped like that from time to time, and to him I say, fuck off. Not only was general agreeability between two parties necessary, but even things like subliminal suggestions mattered a lot. And where else to find a way to succeed other than people who have succeeded already?

After everything was done, I took down the Teumessian house's address in Ternet and went home for the day.

Four more days were left for the entrance examinations.

***

-HONK! HONK!

-BEEEEEEP!

The sounds of traffic rang out mercilessly as I got off the tram. Walking through a civilian overpass to get to the other side of the road, I walked on for a few minutes before taking a turn left. As I walked on, a boulevard eventually came up in front of me.

Mansions filled both sides of the road, the already giant houses increasing in size with each step I take past the last one. Somewhere in the middle of the street came the mansion I was looking for.

From the outside, the mansion looked posh and extravagant. It was stacked with bricks, but I could see no render as the antique look and texture of the bright bricks added to its allure. White paint covered the lines where the bricks met one another and tan stone decorations brought in a nice variation. Large, octagon windows add to the overall look of the mansion with their symmetric layout.

{Wow, they seem richer than I thought}

"Pfft. It's an inherited home."

{Of course}

I shook my head and prepared myself to go inside. I was dressed modestly in a plain shirt and pants. In my hand was a small cake that I had taken from a little patisserie not too far away. I looked good, but not extravagant in any manner, and the gift I had brought along complimented that look.

With a sigh, I walked towards the gate of the mansion where a single security guard stopped me from within the guardhouse.

"Yes, how may I help you?" the guard asked.

"I would like to meet with the Teumessian family," I answered politely. "Please let them know the child they paid the hospital charges for is here."

"Ok, wait a second."

The man then turned back to his desk and rang up a number on the telephone placed there. It was slightly odd, to see a telephone, but I had heard it was common to see where people needed to have internal communications.

After bobbing his head at the telephone for a while, the man turned back to me.

"Alright, Mr. Rubinstein?"

"Correct."

"You may go in."

I thanked the guard and stepped inside the mansion. A foxkin butler wearing a tailcoat soon came up to me. Without saying a word, he bowed and gestured at me to follow him, and so I did.

{Will this really work, host?}

"Who do you think I am?" I whispered back under my breath. "I am the best scammer—I mean, convincer around."

{Not even a word}

I ignored the system as we stepped through the front gates and into the similarly aesthetic interior of the mansion. He led me to a room with a guest room with a giant sofa set in its center. A blue carpet with intricate designs covered the floor of the room while tall chandeliers hung from the top.

Sitting on the seat right inside the room was a foxkin that looked in his middle ages. Dark red fur covered his fox ears and tail while three whiskers stuck out from both his cheeks. A dark red and short french beard covered the man's face while frameless glasses sat atop his slightly long nose. The man had an undeniable regal air.

He stood up as I entered the room and the butler backed off towards the gate.

"You're here, please come in," the man said as he extended his hand.

I bowed a little and walked closer, meeting the man's handshake. "I am very sorry for barging in so suddenly. I hope it wasn't too much of a bother."

"Oh, not at all! We will always have time for you! I am Acestes Teumessian, the head of this family. I have seen you before when you were unconscious, around three days back. It is a pleasure to meet you formally."

Just as I expected. He made it clear that he was very grateful for me, but did not act as if he owed me for a lifetime. Foxkin were very serious about their debts, they were forever grateful for any help, but they only returned it to those who deserved it.

"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Teumessian. Here, I brought this little gift for you," I said and handed him the cake I had brought. The scamming had to begin from here.

Acestes Teumessian took the cake with a smile and looked at his butler. The butler rushed in and took the cake away from the table. We both sat down across from each other.

"The—"

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"Mr. Teumessian," I cut him off and bowed down. "I can't thank you enough for covering my hospital fees."

{Right, he looks perturbed}

Just as I had instructed it, the system gave me a real-time update of Mr. Teumessian's reactions.

"It has been a great help, truly. I am indebted to you."

"Please, raise your head." Mr. Teumessian said, his voice a little shaky. "You not only helped my family get out of that place, but you also put your life on the line to save my nephew. We are the ones who are indebted to you, to a great extent at that."

I raised my head and nodded at him. Phase one completed, I had managed to land a blow on his psyche and took control of the conversation. Next was.

"How is that child doing? I heard he faced some injuries."

"Oh, no no, not at all. He's very fine. My brother has gone back to our home with the children, that child would have loved to meet you."

A show of humility! Of course, that child wasn't hurt! Who do you think threw him?

I faked a sigh of relief. "I am glad to know he's alright."

"You're a very humble and brave child," Mr. Teumessian said, his expression softer than it had been yet. Haha, the second step was completed. His delude of being the one in power here was reduced in front of a child that went against his standard thoughts.

Another important bit of persuasion was to take away some power from the one holding the strength in a conversation. Taking control of it was still easy, but as long as the opposing party thought themselves superior, there were chances of losing control and your allure.

Almost as if on cue, the butler stepped in at the perfect time with a tray in his hands. He served some tea along with slices of the cake I had brought in. The butler laid out the items and left with a bow.

Mr. Teumessian pointed at the tea and asked me to go ahead.

I leaned ahead and picked up the cup of tea from the tea table in between us. My eyes were fixed on the cup as I subtly pushed something out of my pockets with my elbows.

{He took notice}

The system let me know as the envelope fell on the sofa.

I took a sip of the tea and sat back, not even glancing at the envelope. Avoiding suspicious movements like this was a breeze with the system around.

Mr. Teumessian took a sip from his own tea, his eyes fixed on me. He lowered the cup and said. "Is that, a letter from Agriche academy?"

I feigned surprise and turned to my side. Picking the envelope up, I awkwardly smiled. "Ah, yes. I was getting registered for the entrance examination... that day,"

"Oh? Then did you..."

"Ah right, I got registered."

"That is great, congratulations."

Now was time for the pitch.

"When I was a small kid, I was caught up in a similar incident. At that time, it was an awakener who saved me. Since then, I've been involved in all kinds of things to become stronger and help others in a similar way. It's not much, but I've become quite good at martial arts and magic." I blushed and scratched the back of my head as I said all that.

"Is that so. Not only are you talented, but you're also kind and brave." Mr. Teumessian leaned ahead. "I am sure you will be a splendid awakener in the academy."

"Ah... I won't be going to the academy, actually."

"Hm?! Why?"

"We don't exactly have the ability for my family to send me there. They insist, but I would never manage to see my single mother live with the liabilities that will put on us. My family is my world after all..."

{My, my, host. You really don't hold back}

Mr. Teumessian seemed shocked again. "You don't have a father?"

"No... he left us long back."

Mr. Teumessian sighed and leaned back. He took another sip of his tea and crossed his legs.

Finally, this was the last stage now. He was considering just what I wanted him to consider now.

For another push. "Please don't worry about it. I won't be giving up on my dreams, I can't do that."

His eyes widened. Mr. Teumessian uncrossed his legs and leaned toward me again. "Ralph Rubinstein," he said. "What does it take, to be an awakener? To be a hero?"

It was here.

The thing I had extensively looked for. The common ground.

"The awakeners these days have changed." I clenched my fist and narrowed my eyes. "Just like the great hero a hundred years ago, his noble sacrifice as he gave his own life to defeat the demon king... What heroes need is selflessness! A purpose, a love not for strength, not for their title, not for fame or money, but a love for the world. For people!"

"Ralph Rubinstein!!" Mr. Teumessian stood up as dropped the cup to the ground and grabbed my hands in one go. "Do it! Go to Agriche! I shall fund it for you!"

{You bastard}

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