"Hey… finally! You're out. I've been waiting forever," Rat whispered. This guy was seriously dedicated—he even had to sneak around while waiting for someone.
"Right on time," Adam praised.
"I was early. You guys are late," Rat grumbled, then got serious. "So, what do you need me for?"
"Do you know the Athena Library?" Adam asked.
"Of course I know it. Everyone in Athens knows. No—everyone in the world knows," Rat said with pride, like a true Athenian resident.
"Can you take me there?" Adam asked. In Athens, you needed a local guide—and preferably one who took money and asked no questions.
"You want to go in?" Rat countered.
"Yes."
"Impossible," Rat sneered. Not mockery exactly—just his natural, sleazy expression.
"It's closed at night?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you're Corsican nobles, right?" Rat pointed at the crooked doorplate. "The Athena Library is run by the giants. Only Greek nobles of viscount rank or above can enter. Corsican titles don't count. People like me… just peeking inside could get us arrested."
"Any way to get in?" Adam pulled a gold coin from his pocket and tossed it. He trusted Rat knew the tricks.
Rat caught the coin, beamed, polished it on his sleeve, and pocketed it. "Honestly… I don't have a surefire plan. People like us aren't welcome among the nobles. But judging by your build, you can fight. The eldest of the Rising Sun family is recruiting personal guards for his campaign. If you get chosen, maybe they'll grant you a viscount title."
Rat hesitated, then added, "Could be a baron, a lord, or nothing at all. Depends on your performance. If you become his head of guards, viscount is realistic."
"No other way?" Adam asked. "Buy a title? Bribe the guards?"
Money could solve most problems—but unfortunately, it didn't work the same here as in his past life. Adam wasn't keen on risking exposure just to buy a seat at the library.
"Nope," Rat said. "Athens is strict about noble ethics. Commoners and nobles are clearly separated. Noble privileges are tightly controlled. And unless you're a Greek-granted noble, they treat you as a commoner."
Adam noted: Athens in this life was even stricter than Washington in his past one. That explained why Biggs, the deputy captain guarding the mansion, dared to act so arrogantly.
He couldn't help smirking. If Athens' officials were a bit more corrupt, maybe he could just buy his way in.
"Then tonight, take us to see the legendary Athena Library," Adam said.
He didn't fully trust Rat's words. If possible, he still wanted to sneak in. Campaigning for a guard position? A roundabout suggestion. Worst-case, he got the title but had to join the army—and no amount of gold could make sunscreen fast enough for that. Of course, he could always consider robbing the Athenian treasury… if the giants looked the other way.
"Now?" Rat rubbed his coin, hesitating. "Fine. But the place is heavily guarded, especially at night. We can only watch from a distance."
"Fine!" Adam's ears twitched. Face darkening, he whispered, "Someone's coming." Then, in a voice humans couldn't hear, he told Yinling, "Protect them both."
While Yu Jia and Rat were still confused, Adam lunged into the shadow around the corner.
"Ah—!"
Two screams rang out. The trio hurried over, guided by the weak moonlight. In the shadows, Adam pinned Chenu—the chubby secretary—against the wall with one hand, thumb pressing hard on his throat.
"St… stop…" Chenu choked.
Adam glanced up. Seven or eight thugs were shaking, clutching their weapons.
"Don't tell me you brought them by coincidence," Adam said, eyes cold.
"You… even if I didn't, so what? This isn't Corsica, it's Athens. Drop the noble act… hand over the funds… maybe…" Chenu realized arguing was pointless and admitted, but quickly tried to threaten Adam.
Adam's fingers tightened. Chenu's words were cut off. Breathing became almost impossible.
"'Maybe' what? Save that for the cops."
Within moments, Chenu twitched twice, then went limp. His gang, terrified, dropped their weapons and scattered.
Adam released Chenu, who collapsed. Rat ran over, checking. "Not dead."
"Handle this too," Adam said, clapping his hands.
"You mean him, or the ones who ran?"
"Just him," Adam said.
He couldn't take Chenu to the police—too risky. Just a threat for intimidation.
"How do you want it handled?" Rat asked. "To what extent?"
"Lock him up. Police, or prison. For a few months, six months even. Until I leave Athens, I don't want to see him again."
Chenu was trouble. Adam would've preferred to kill him, but doing so in this city could trigger investigations. If Chenu died, authorities would first check the Corsican mansion. His group was too distinctive; exposure would be easy.
The best solution? Lock him up. Preferably, the authorities themselves do it.
Hiring Rat for this made sense. In a city, a thief needed official channels to survive. Even here, money still had power. Couldn't buy a title? Buy a guy a few months in jail—reasonable.
"Price?" Adam asked, watching Rat.
Rat held up two fingers. "Two gold coins per week. One for cost, one for profit. Deal?"
Not cheap. In Athens, average families didn't make a single coin a month. But Adam didn't care.
"Done."
They high-fived. Adam added, "Keep the charges light. A fight is fine. Don't cause worry. Prepay twelve weeks—twenty-four coins." He handed over the coins.
Rat pocketed them, grinning, then searched Chenu's clothes, pulling out a single coin.
"This… my tip, I guess."
"Sure," Adam shrugged.
"Wait here. I'll lock him up and deliver him to the police in the morning." Rat effortlessly hoisted the twice-as-big Chenu and walked off.
Yu Jia watched Adam spend money like water, heart aching. But money was Adam's—he couldn't complain. To Adam, money was just numbers. Without use, it had no meaning.
As long as he could learn the secret arts, the world was his. And a few gold coins? Mere trifles.