"That's right, Richard," he replies, quietly pleased to see that Pickman can see where he's going. "I'm sure that a clever and resourceful ghoul has already found and made such arrangements, so neither the Sheriff, nor the Militia, nor guys like me need to be called. A ghoul could live a very long time without trouble, that way."

Now that they've established this, Hellboy is going to outright pretend that this is the case, for the time being. He takes a deep, cleansing breath, and his mood lightens considerably as he stands up and puts his sword back on his back. "I'll consider it."

The shopkeeper, briefly relieved by not having a fight break out in his store, is then just as quickly dismayed. "...'Consider?'"

"'Consider.'" Now that he isn't keeping a raging temper in check, he can manage a bit of a scowl without it threatening imminent mayhem. "I still have some other shops to look at today, and don't think I haven't forgotten your earlier stunt. I'll let you know what my decision is, when I make it."