Hearing this, Damian couldn't help but realize how fickle a human heart was.
Even if he was involved in something unknown, she said it didn't matter to her.
So, getting a prosthetic arm for Asher Ollon and working hard for a while didn't seem like such a bad deal.
Damian narrowed his eyes like a fish contemplating whether to take the bait.
“So how much is the wage...?”
“With the exception of the prosthetic named Asher Olun, we offer an official contract fee of fifty thousand herek, paid immediately.
After that, we are considering a monthly salary of ten thousand herek, but this is negotiable if you want more.”
Damian coughed slightly, choking on his own saliva.
“Then what about the contract duration?”
“I'd like to set the contract length as long as you want, Damian, but we also have an investment to consider...”
Damian was ready to hear a lifetime contract from Pascal's mouth.
But the duration I suggested was much shorter than that.
“We would like you to work for at least three years.
Longer is fine too.
After that, we can renew the contract annually if you wish.”
It was Liliana who was surprised this time.
“Auntie, isn’t three years a bit long?
You said the treatment period was one year!
Should I stay here for three years?”
“We can't predict the future, so there's nothing we can do.
If we have to leave Nishio before three years, we can terminate the contract and pay severance pay.”
Liliana and Pascal seemed to think three years was a long time, which surprised Damien.
“Are you willing to spend hundreds of thousands of herxes to hire someone for just three years?”
Damian looked skeptical, and Liliana shrugged.
"I told you you could die.
It's cheap if you consider it a life insurance premium."
“No, even if I went to war, a soldier’s salary wouldn’t be close to that amount.
Besides, let’s say I accept this job and get a prosthetic limb produced by Asher O’Lon.
It’s not something you can use freely overnight just because it’s attached to your body.
I would need at least six months of rehabilitation training...”
“Can't you do it in three months if you work hard?”
Pascal's words sounded serious, but Damian couldn't tell if she was joking with him, being honest, or just telling him to make a living.
“Damien, these aren't bad circumstances, are they?”
Pascal said in a gentle voice.
As she said, these conditions were not bad; In fact, she was very generous to Damian.
That's why it was even weirder.
He still couldn't understand what was happening.
Damian put his chin on his hand, thought for a moment, then asked Pascal,
“Did you...make this offer to anyone other than me?”
"No, this is the first time I've discussed this with anyone but you, Damian."
“What will happen if I refuse?”
"Then, of course, I'll have to ask someone else."
“With similar circumstances?”
“Well, it depends on the situation.”
“Hmm...”
When Liliana saw Damian lost in thought with his eyes lowered, she sighed.
"So, don't feel pressured and just say no if you want to.
Damian, I know my aunt is bossy.
So it's okay if you say no."
Liliana continued, trying to ease Damian's burden, and he nodded briefly in response.
"I see.
So I guess I'll…"
“Yes, it was a rather unreasonable request.”
"I will accept your offer."
“You rejected him well...what?”
Liliana muttered, nodded, then added a strange voice with a strange tone at the end, staring at Damian.
"You're going to do that?
Are you serious?
Do you even know what this is…"
Pascal interrupted Liliana, pushed her aside and approached Damian.
“Really?
Would you accept the bodyguard job?”
"Yes"
Pascal was very pleased with Damian's simple answer, but Liliana, the subject of the request, grabbed her head.
“Why?!”
“Liliana, after thinking about it, I realized that even if the world is ridiculous, it doesn’t mean that there are no solutions.
I was offered a job that solved my problem with prosthetics and work at the same time.
Why should I refuse?
And with money, I can solve the housing problem as well...”
“Oh, I see!
So, you have been staying in a hotel like this because your living situation is unstable!
Then don’t worry.
To facilitate your duties as a bodyguard, I will arrange an extra room in Liliana’s house!
Will that be convenient?”
Thanks to Pascal's proactive support, Damian looked to Liliana.
“My housing problem has been solved as well.
Now all my worries are gone.”
"No no!".
Liliana seemed to have a lot to say but she couldn't organize her thoughts.
She shook her hair and said to Damian:
“You said you could die?”
"Why am I in danger of death, Liliana?
As a friend, I think I should know."
Damian lowered his eyebrows, and Liliana spoke in a frustrated tone.
“Didn't you hear me say you could die?”
“That doesn't mean much to a retired soldier...”
Of course, he didn't want to die.
If it were possible, he wanted to live.
But it seemed a bit silly for him to so desperately avoid something that might kill him now.
So Damian remained indifferent to the mention of death.
"You don't want me to take this job, Liliana?"
"It's not that I don't want you to do it...
I'm just worried!"
Liliana's voice rose involuntarily, and Damian's expression turned serious.
"I'm worried about you too, Liliana.
That's why I accepted it."
"What…".
“I don't know the details, and I don't know why you're making this offer to me instead of someone else, but the fact that Ms.
Pascal didn't stop you from asking me about it means that you kind of trust me as a friend.
So, as your friend, I need to know why you're in this situation.
This way, I can figure out how to help you.”
“Damian...
I'm glad you said that, but still...”
“Plus, I can make a good income from this.”
Liliana was speechless.
As Damian said, Pascal's offer solved all his immediate problems: finding a job, getting a prosthetic arm, and securing housing.
Having Damian as her bodyguard wasn't a bad thing for Liliana either.
She knew how worried Pascal was about this.
However, involving Damian in her complicated personal affairs made her feel uncomfortable as a friend.
She felt like she was being so selfish, even if he was getting paid.
Liliana moved her legs, and her face expressed disapproval, but she said in a resigned voice,
"Okay, do whatever you want."
"Okay then."
Damian pushed his cold coffee aside and said,
"So, what should I do now?
You said you didn't want to tell me the details, but I would appreciate it if you at least told me what you can.
How am I supposed to protect you?"
Pascal looked at Liliana and then spoke.
"Someone is trying to harm Liliana.
They will likely show up unannounced.
It's your job to protect her when that happens."
"Who's trying to hurt Liliana?"
“It's a little hard to say this now.”
Damian tilted his head at Pascal's words.
"Why not?
I need to know how to prepare accordingly.
Please tell me as much as you can."
“Well, for now...”
Pascal took a sip of her tea, then glanced at the café, then continued:
“There are many eyes and ears here.”
With Pascal's words, Damien also watched the people in the café carefully without turning his head.
Almost all the tables were occupied.