Chapter 11: Accepting the Offer, Problem Knocks

Chapter 11: Accepting the Offer, Problem Knocks Damian was excited to finally test his new abilities. No matter how fast that rat was—Damian was faster. He dodged to the side, completely avoiding the attack. And then it was his turn to strike. He activated the skill he’d just acquired—the one that transformed his fingernails into sharp claws. There was a slight pain in his fingers as his nails were torn away and replaced by long, jet-black claws. Just one look was enough to know—they were sharp. Damian charged toward the rat and slashed with the claws. The moment they made contact, a huge gash tore across the creature’s body. It wasn’t fatal, but it was serious. But his attack wasn’t just physical—his claws were laced with poison. That was one of the passive abilities he had gained after absorbing parts of the demon. Strangely, the rat began fleeing, searching for someplace to hide. It had felt the poison enter its body and clearly knew continuing the fight was a bad idea. Damian didn’t chase to kill it—he simply followed. "I want to see how strong this venom really is," he thought. It was the perfect practical test. He already knew the claw transformation was strong—but what about the poison? The rat managed to stay mobile for about thirty seconds. After that, it collapsed to the ground, unable to move. Behind the abandoned building, Damian observed the fallen rat. It still looked alive—but completely paralyzed. A minute later, the creature died. The venom was decent. Damian was impressed. Of course, that rat was a low-tier demon—a weak creature. If it had been more powerful, the venom would’ve taken longer... or maybe wouldn’t have worked at all. Still, the fact that his System showed he could evolve his abilities—and that he was getting stronger fast—excited Damian. This was just the beginning. He’d soon become someone important in the demon world. Damian first took out a demon part of that rat and put it inside his backpack. He wanted to check if it would be possible to absorb it to gain more powers. After that, Damian decided to head back to his apartment. He was a little uneasy—because of the demon who had spoken to him earlier. He knew that guy worked at the café. But did he also know where Damian lived? Once he arrived, Damian made something light to eat. The apartment was strangely quiet—and outside, he noticed a moving truck. One of the residents was leaving. "You’re moving out?" Damian asked. "Of course I am. And you should too. I don’t feel safe in this building anymore." All of this stemmed from the recent demonic attack that had killed one of the tenants. No one felt safe in that area anymore. Damian would move too... if he had the money. For now, the rent was cheap enough to make it livable. Maybe things would change down the line. While he was eating at the dinner table, his phone rang. It was the demon he’d spoken to during lunch. "Did you like the gifts I gave you?" the demon asked. "There’s plenty more where that came from." Damian had liked them, yes. But the demon sounded more like he was trying to seduce him—or reel him in emotionally. "Yeah. I did. Was that the only reason you called?" Damian replied. "Of course not. I also wanted to know if you’ve thought more about my proposal." That demon sounded eager—maybe even desperate. The call came sooner than expected. Suspicious. "I’m still thinking," Damian said. "Tell me—do you need that place so urgently?" The other end went silent. All Damian could hear was the demon’s breathing. "No hiding anything from you, huh?" the demon finally said, exhaling. "Yes—I need that place fast. There’s internal fighting among demons, and the hunters are organizing. Things are getting complicated." Damian was seriously considering the mediator role he’d been offered. High-ranking demons were starting to approach him. If he didn’t move soon, they’d keep coming—and eventually realize he wasn’t as powerful as they thought. That would end badly. Or worse. Taking the mediator role could secure him protection. And constant access to demon parts. That meant power. Soon, he’d be strong enough to defend himself—even against high-ranking demons. Still, he didn’t jump in right away. Sensing the demon’s urgency, Damian saw an opening to negotiate better terms. "I could accept today... if we improve the deal a bit—and bring in more transparency," he said. "How often will I receive demon parts?" The demon had no idea Damian absorbed those parts to grow stronger. He likely assumed it was some twisted fetish—typical of beings who’d lost their sense of purpose. "I can deliver five demon parts per week. Every Sunday. How does that sound?" That was solid. Damian knew it wasn’t wise to ask for too much upfront. Better to lock in a good deal now and renegotiate later—once he’d proved himself. "Alright. And can you guarantee there won’t be chaos in my café? I want to keep my human clientele and make good money. You know I love working there—I enjoy the people and the atmosphere." He phrased it carefully—not like he was chasing wealth, but emotionally attached to the place. A personal touch. Someone with power who values simple things. "Absolutely. Security will be tight. No one will touch you—or anyone working there. We’ll have strict procedures in place." "Good. Then if you promise me that... I accept the offer. When do we start?" The demon sounded genuinely excited. "I’ll buy the place first and make a few modifications. Expect my call in about a week, alright?" "Fine. And don’t forget the demon parts on Sunday." Even though Damian hadn’t officially started his mediator duties—or taken control of the café—he already wanted the promised parts. "No problem. And hey—you’ll be listed as a co-owner of the café. Talk soon." The demon hung up. Damian sat there, thoughtful. Had he made the right move? It felt like the right decision... but only time would tell. Damian had spent the day in his apartment, and by nightfall, it was time to clean up another crime scene. But this time, he was called for something different—and that made him uneasy. Troy took him to the location. Along the way, Damian realized that some of the buildings looked familiar. When they stopped in front of the abandoned building Damian had visited earlier that afternoon, he was in shock. "Who died here?" Damian asked. "This time, it’s something different," Troy replied. "It looks like a demon attacked another demon. Now we’re trying to figure out what happened. After all, when demons kill other demons, it’s usually an evolutionary type—and those are the worst." "Evolutionary demons?" Damian echoed. "Yes. A rare kind of demon that grows stronger by killing others. They devour parts of the other demons, absorbing power. The last time one showed up around here was decades ago. So we’re on edge." Damian felt a knot tighten in his chest.