My Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System-Chapter 56 Meeting the Information Broker

"We’re looking for the hideout of the Celestial Wolf King," Zane said, direct and firm.

The dwarf behind the desk blinked once. "The Celestial Wolf King? You want the location of his hideout?"

His voice dropped an octave, eyes narrowing. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"That’s a premium-level request."

All three nodded, their expressions deadly serious.

Sudram tapped his stubby fingers rhythmically on the wooden surface of his desk, the silence stretching long enough to thicken the air.

Erlin saw where this was going.

"Name your price," she said coldly. "Money is all I have."

But Sudram waved her off with a crooked grin. "No, no, no, my dear Princess. You misunderstand. Your money’s no good here."

Erlin’s eyes sharpened. "Then what do you want? Spit it out."

The dwarf leaned forward. "A bottle of his blood."

He nodded at Zane with a greedy gleam in his eye.

"Absolutely not." Erlin’s aura flared as she lunged across the table, grabbed Sudram by the collar, and lifted him effortlessly off the ground. Her voice was a snarl.

"You dare ask for his blood? Do you even know who you’re speaking about? That’s my husband. No one — and I mean no one — drinks his blood except me."

The dwarf kicked and flailed in the air.

"Let him down," Zane said calmly.

Erlin threw Sudram to the floor. He crashed down with a groan, coughing and gasping for air.

Still wheezing, he scrambled behind Zane like a rat hiding behind a lion.

"You may be royalty, Princess, but you’re on the run." His voice trembled but held a sharp edge. "All I have to do is send one letter to your father and I’ll be showered in gold."

"You," Erlin was about to charge. "Such thing will never happen if I snap your little neck."

Zane stepped between them again. "No one is snapping necks today. Let’s stay on track."

He turned to Sudram. "Is there any way we can renegotiate the terms?"

Sudram straightened, wiping his brow. "No. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Just one bottle of your blood, and the deal’s done."

Mana crackled around Erlin as she prepared to strike. This time, she wasn’t going to wait.

But before she could act, a palm pressed gently down on her shoulder. The pressure that followed felt like a mountain crushing down. She froze.

"Enough," Shelby said, his voice calm but absolute.

Erlin’s head snapped toward him. "You—!"

"You’re bullying my wife," Zane glared at Shelby.

Shelby just smirked. "Boy, this is your last shot. We blow this, and you can kiss that ranking tournament goodbye. Like it or not, this dwarf is your last hope."

He turned to Erlin. "Little girl, if you want to come with us, stand down."

Erlin growled under her breath, mana fading reluctantly. She turned her head away and sulked.

Shelby faced the dwarf. "How about this — I’m a pure-blood human too. Take a bottle of my blood instead. That should be more than enough for your creepy collection."

Sudram hesitated.

"And let me be very clear," Shelby continued, raising his right hand. "If you give us the wrong location... if you try anything funny..."

He flicked his middle finger.

There was a deafening crack, and in the blink of an eye, the entire roof of the building was blasted upward — vaporized into dust and ash. What had been a ceiling was now open sky.

Even Erlin was stunned.

He did that... with just a flick?

She glanced sideways at Shelby, her inner thoughts solemn.

I need to be careful with this one. He might be a bigger monster than Zane.

Sudram, trembling slightly, slowly stood upright, his voice a whisper.

"O-of course... This is an honest business. I promise."

"Good," Shelby said. "Now hand me the bottle."

The dwarf fumbled under his desk and pulled out a slender, plastic bottle. He handed it to Shelby with both hands, eyes flickering with anticipation.

Shelby didn’t hesitate. He bit the tip of his forefinger and inserted it into the bottle. A slow, thick stream of crimson flowed from his finger, swirling inside the transparent plastic like molten ruby.

Five minutes passed. The bottle was filled to the brim with pure-blood essence.

Shelby capped it, then placed it gently on the desk between them.

Sudram reached for it, eager.

But before his stubby fingers could touch it, Shelby’s hand landed over it like a trap. "Now talk. Where is he?"

Sudram froze. "Tsar Valley," he said quickly. "Beside the Salt Lake of Tussar."

Erlin, who knew the geography like the back of her hand, frowned. "Tsar Valley is huge. That’s too vague. Be precise."

Grumbling under his breath, the dwarf ducked under the desk and emerged with a rolled-up parchment. He unfurled a map of the valley, revealing a chaotic sprawl of red markings.

He tapped one of the smallest dots. "Here. This was his last confirmed location. But listen carefully—he’s paranoid. Always on the move. And he’s got ears all over Galbaza. He might already know you’re coming. But I give you my word—he was here."

Erlin narrowed her eyes. "You better be right."

"If not," Shelby added coolly, "we’ll come back for a refund—with interest."

Zane, already heading toward the door, called over his shoulder, "Erlin. Let’s go."

Without another word, the trio exited the room, their footsteps fading into the night.

As the door closed, a young man stepped from the shadows near the back wall. His face was tense with indignation.

"Master Sudram," he said, "they were rude. I should’ve taught them a lesson—especially that arrogant princess."

"Shut up," Sudram snapped. "Don’t you dare speak about the princess like that again."

The youth flinched. "But if we keep letting people treat us like that—"

"You know nothing." Sudram jabbed a finger toward the gaping hole where the roof used to be. "See that? Can you do that with just a flick of your finger?"

The youth went silent, staring up at the starlit sky.

"Didn’t think so," Sudram muttered. He reached over and gently stroked the capped bottle of blood, cradling it like it was the most precious thing he’d ever touched. "People like them... they’re out of our league. But I didn’t bow. I got what I wanted. That’s how you survive in this business."

The youth scowled but nodded reluctantly.

Then, with a glint in his eye, he said, "Still, I have an idea. The Arthridian Kingdom has been hunting for their missing princess for years. There’s a massive bounty on her. Why don’t we send the map location—anonymously—to the palace?"

There was a pause. Then—smack.

Sudram’s palm connected with the youth’s cheek.

"You idiot," he hissed. "We only get one life. You want to throw it away for a quick reward?"

The youth clutched his face but didn’t speak.

Sudram’s anger faded, replaced by a calculating grin. "But... that is a marvelous idea." He patted the boy’s shoulder. "Don’t worry. We won’t have to lift a finger. Word will reach the palace on its own. When their spies come sniffing around tomorrow... we’ll just happen to have something they need."

He glanced again at the red bottle.

"And by then, I’ll have doubled my fortune."

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