"Don't be threatened. They are only countermeasures in case any of you decides to not remain until the very end." grinned Intruder.
Kadaski's POV
"Huh? So you're going to kill us? A cowardly move." commented one man who was unfazed of their current situation. "Bring out the first item!" he demanded.
"May I request everyone to pipe down, so that instructions would be heard loud and clear. I'm not here to kill but to sell my goods." continued Intruder.
Seryoso naming pinagtuunan ng pansin ang intsructions ika nga ng payasong lalakeng ito. Ngunit bago ito magsalita ay nginitian muna ito ng isa-isa ang lahat ng guests sa tagong auction na ito. Sinigurado niya talagang lahat ay nakatingin at nakikinig sa kaniya. Aaminin kong hindi ito komportable, at mas nanaisin kong makabalik na agad sa Arcacia Academy sa lalong madaling panahon.
"Each one of you should leave the dome successfully winning an item through a bet. It's mandatory or death. Some items are worth your lives after all. Some literally requires a soul in exchange. At syempre, hindi kayo mananatili sa bahaging ito ng auction kung hindi ninyo alam 'diba?" saad ng Jester bago pasikretong bumaling sa grupo namin.
Kinilabutan ako sa paraan ng kaniyang pagsasalita. Binalingan ko si Drago at Phantom upang makita ang kanilang mga reaksiyon para lamang maalalang nakamaskara kaming tatlo. Mabuti na lang at tumingin rin sa direksiyon ko si Drago. Nakita kong hindi pa rin nawawala ang determinadong aura na pumapalibot sa kaniya.
"Reality check, this is a do or die situation now?" tanong ko kay Phantom.
"Like he said." answered the Wind Enchant.
Ang mga naunang auction ay purong mga kagamitan o hindi naman kaya ay mga mamahaling armas. Totoong ang nahuli ay isang dragon, pero iyon lamang ang nahanap kong interesante sa buong event na ito.
"Albus Canis, you doing good?" tanong sa akin ni Drago.
Ugh, again with this Albus roleplay. Tumigil ka Drago o matitikman mo rin ang kamaong lumanding sa pisngi ni Phantom kanina. Tumango na lang ako bilang pagsagot dahil baka mamura ko na ang kaibigan kong ito kapag umulit pa siya.
"Is everyone ready?! I hope that I already helped the mood of this great event!" pagtawa ni Intruder.
Noticing that his guests are finally tensed more than ever, Intruder removes the cloak covering the cage besides him, unveiling the next item for the auction, a little boy with bandages all over his body.
"What the?" I murmured under my breath, not wanting to get any attention from the people around me.
Intruder ordered an assistant who seemed to have the power to manipulate light particles to create a ball of light similar to the appearance of the sun and to hold it in front of the boy. To my and everyone's surprise, the boy began screaming in pain. He pleaded Intruder to cover the cage with the black clothing, but the King of Merchants just laughed at the kid.
"Oh my, I'm already seeing lovely reactions from my buyers. Allow me to tell you a little something about our first item." smiled the Jester of Retromalus.
"T-This is cruel." I cursed under my breath, attempting to stand up, but Drago was quick to stop me.
"Drago? Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?" kunot-noo kong tanong sa kaniya.
"Do not draw attention, Aski." he warned me.
I glanced at Phantom to see her reaction, but she looked as uninterested as ever. Hindi ito nakaupo ng maayos, at sa halip ay nakapalumbaba na para bang inaantok na sa kaniyang nakikita. 'Tch, bakit ba nag-a-assume ako na may pakialam ang babaeng ito sa mga tao sa paligid niya?'
"This unnamed boy is a Restovakian," began Intruder, immediately earning gasps of disappointments. "Ang bilis niyo naman mag-si-react. Makinig muna kayo ng mabuti, hindi lang siya kagaya ng ibang mga Restovakian. Ipinanganak ang batang ito mayroong Berserker ability!"
Naguluhan man ang iilan, nagsingitian naman ang nakararami. Hindi ko naiintindihan kung bakit biglang nagbago ang mood ng mga guests ng auction. "Berserker?" tanong ko sa wala naman.
"Bago ka ba dito? Ayon sa mga tsismis, pinag-aagawan sa underworld ang mga taong Berserker. Maganda silang alagad o katulong. Kada limang taon lamang may isinisilang na Berserker sa angkan ng Restovakia. Bukod pa rito, isa silang rare na kaso ng mga taong napag-gagamitan ng Forced Blood Contract." paliwanag ng isang lalake sa kanan namin na may suot-suot na aviary bird mask.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mabanggit ng lalake ang High Tier Spell na iyon. Ang Forced Blood Contract ay isang uri ng High Tier Spell sa kategoryang Elemental Incantations. Isa itong delikadong mahika na maaaring makatapos ng buhay ng sinumang pag-gagamitan nito, dahil kapalit ng kapangyarihan ay ang sapilitang katapatan sa magiging amo nito.
Lalo ko lamang akong nanginig dahil sa galit.
"Maraming maitutulong ang isang Berserker sa larang ng pagnenegosyo, mapa-legal o ilegal man na industriya. Kaya ganoon ito kabilis na nakapuna ng interes ng mga dumalo sa Cauldron Auction na ito. Kawawang bata, won't you agree?" pagpapatuloy pa ng lalake.
"Aski? Maupo ka muna." sabi sa akin ni Drago na lalo pang humigpit ang pagkakahawak sa aking kanang braso. "Hindi mo ba nakikita na ikaw lang ang sobrang apektado? Wag mong sirain ang misyon, nagmamakaawa ako sa iyo."
"Oho? I can see that everyone is surprised. I'll help you start the bidding ladies and gentleman. Let's begin with 50 million Psyver Bills Ha-Ha!" sigaw ni Intruder.
The moment Intruder announced the prize of the child, almost everybody in the stadium stood up and started clapping their hands. "That's more like it!" nakangising pahayag ni Intruder.
"Lakasan mo ang liwanag upang makita ng ating mga kaibigan ang tunay na anyo ng bata." utos ni Intruder sa kaniyang assistant.
Tumango ang assistant at mas pinalaki pa ang bola ng liwanag. Ilang segundo pa lang ang lumilipas ay nagsimula nang magbago ang kulay ng balat at itsura ng batang Restovakian. Humaba ang buhok nito at tumangkad rin ito. "Ilayo niyo iyan sa akin!" sigaw ng bata sa isang distorted na boses.
"80 million!"
"95 million!"
Nagpatuloy ang betting sa auction. Hindi ako makapaniwalang walang mga puso ang mga negosyanteng ito. 'Pasensiya na Drago. Hindi ko kayang manood sa kapangahasang nagaganap sa harapan ko.'
"IKAW! LUMAYO KAYO SA BATA!"
Drago's POV
Umalingawngaw ang boses ni Kadaski sa buong dome na sapat na para matahimik maging ang mga nagkakatuwaang negosyante at personalidad. Mabuti na lang at nakamaskara kaming tatlo. "What did I tell you?" galit kong sumbat sa kaibigan ko.
Aski snapped his head towards my direction, and I saw the fury in his eyes. "Just stay out of it. I'll save the kid."
Hindi ito maaari. Muli ko siyang pinigilan ngunit pinagliyab na nito ang kaniyang mga kamao. Binalot niya ng apoy ang kaniyang mga braso at hinarap ako gamit ang isang attack stance. Napa-atras agad ako, hindi ako magaling sa malapitang labanan.
"The mission will be jeopardized." I told him.
I noticed that he clenched his fist even tighter. He dashed towards me to close the gap and delivered an uppercut to my face. I was almost sure that I would end up flying to the roof of the dome, but his flames suddenly disappeared, surprising the both of us.
Turns out it was Virdjana's work. Itinutok niya ang kaniyang palad na mayroon pang residue ng itim na usok. Gumamit ba ito ng nullifying magic? I don't think so, whatever she did was surely effective enough to put out Kadaski's flames.
Hindi pa lumilipas ang ilang segundo ay sumunod ang nakaririnding halakhak ni Intruder sa likuran namin. "I was racking my brain earlier as to why those masks are so familiar to me," he began, "ladies and gentleman, you may or may have not heard of this little tale, but have you heard of the Cursed White Cat that ruined the auction three years ago? No? Well, I clearly remember every single thing that happened." his voice became eerier.
Are we in trouble? Damn it Kadaski.
"Ha! But I'm willing to forget it, including this whole cacophony. Albus Feles, if your subordinate is so kin enough to quote-unquote save the Restovakian kid, we can always solve our problems through betting. No need for any rough-housing." Intruder grinned, his gaze landing on Virdjana before he snaps his finger to order his assistant to back off from the child whose in his Berserker form.
The fact that Intruder handled the situation immediately, despite seemingly having beef with Virdjana in the past proved that this auction is important to him. That's good.
"And what if I don't agree?" Kadaski states as he point a finger to Intruder.
"Aski, stop it." bulong ko sa kaniya.
"Oh, you don't want to know young man." grinned the Jester of Retromalus as he subtly looks on the upper level of the Cauldron Dome.
"Crap. Kadaski his minions are pointing their weapons at us. We won't be able to dodge all of that." I informed him.
"I don't really care." saad ni Kadaski bago ito tumalon paakyat sa entablado at nagsimulang sugurin si Intruder. "I'll burn you, and I'll save the child!"
"What the heck?!" bulalas ni Intruder.
Virdjana's POV
Kadaski went up the stage to start a brawl with Intruder, swinging his punches, but unfortunately misses every attempt. While that was happening, I glanced at the guests to check for any sign of animosity, none so far. This auction will continue as expected. It does not matter whether Kadaski chooses to unleash his impulsiveness and idiocy upstage.
"Open the cage. This is great demonstration." we heard Intruder order the assistant. The assistant did so, and the child who was in Berserker mode roared, voice echoing across the dome.
I almost falter from my seat, the sound reminded me of Ruby's ability, thankfully this kid is still very young so the effect was not as powerful as that female gangster's. To think that there would still be something outside of the academy that would remind me of that annoying girl.
"Now, my guests. Witness its power!" with that statement, Intruder spun like a tornado before jumping directly to the second level where Kadaski cannot chase him.
"Bumalik ka dito!" naiinis na sigaw ni Kadaski.
"Virdjana." bulong sa akin ni Drago, direkta kong tiningnan ang kaniyang mga mata para lamang makita ang labis na pag-aalala sa mga ito.
"We can't do anything, but bet Drago." I whispered while walking to his side, "I'm sure you know what to do to stop that best friend of your from ruining this occasion." I told him before returning to my seat.
Bumuntong-hininga si Drago at ibinigay sa akin si Ryoline, "w-wait, why are you giving her to me?" pagrereklamo ko.
"I trust that you will protect her." he answered with a smile.
"100 million!" sigaw ni Drago.
Dahil iyon ang unang beses na sumali ang grupo namin sa pag-taya sa auction, inaasahan nang ilan sa mga betters at Hazbins sa lugar ang bumaling sa aming direksiyon.
Tumaas pa ng tumaas ang mga taya, habang nagmukhang beta tester si Kadaski sa harap ng mga guests dahil kinakalaban at iniilagan nito ang mga atake ng Berserker sa entablado.
'Alam kong mayroong mas mayayamang betters sa auction na ito. Imposibleng may mapanaluhan kaming kahit isang item. Mukhang bluff lamang ang bet ni Drago. Kailangan mismo naming kunin ang Chronicle Book, at kung sa tutuusin kaya ko na itong nakawin ngunit iniwan sa akin ni Drago si Ryoline.'
"300 million!" sigaw ng lalakeng may aviary bird mask sa tabi namin.
This guy is fishy as hell, why did he strike a conversation with Kadaski earlier? It was as if he meant to trigger our impulsive Fire Enchant, or am I overthinking this? I need an answer. I used my mind-reading to the man, but to my surprise he suddenly took one step away from where he was standing. 'The hell? That's exactly the limit of my mind-reading radius.'
I can't afford to glance at him, because that would be too obvious. Just when I was about to leave him be, I noticed a viper sneakily crawling towards my feet. I stepped on the snake's head with the heel of my shoe, crushing its head in the process.
Ryoline gasped. Our eyes met as I grab her left arm. "So, you're awake already." I whispered.
Tears started forming in the corner of her eyes. She was probably still scared from what she witnessed in that alley. I would not blame her for trying to escape us, since she just wanted to get her job done, whatever it truly is. If I would be honest, I was really planning to let her go. I don't really care if Drago and Kadaski fails the quest with me. Unfortunately, I heard what she was talking about with that other man whom I beheaded.
They were talking about the family where Drago Arcedes came from, including their influence in the military of the city of Arcacia. That fact was not surprising, because I already assumed that Drago is from a wealthy household since he studies at the Prestigious Academy of Arcacia.
However, the man was planning to go after Drago. I couldn't care less, but the moment I saw his expression when he stepped out of the alley, my hands moved on its own and blood was spilled.
"D-don't kill me Senior. I won't cause you trouble." Ryoline whimpered. Note that this girl was still lying down on my lap.
"I've no means to do that. I was just mad earlier." I stated, chuckling. "After all, I would not undermine what you did to us as 'trouble'."
I felt her body shiver after hearing my statement. Actually, her body was frozen. I could tell that she would not be so naughty for now.
"Listen up. I'm no goody-two-shoes Nanami. You witnessed that first hand. I am here to get that book, and you will help me. We need to go backstage, my guardian would guide us." I said with seriousness.
"You know that I can't trust you, you literally stabbed me." Ryoline whispered-shouted.
I closed my eyes. 'Lengthen your patience, lengthen your patience.' I studied her expression, she was feeling uncomfortable, uneasy.
"As much as I don't want to work with you, I am walking on a tightrope right now." I began with a sigh.
"Don't be foolish, if you do that I'd also have chances to strike you from behind." grinned Ryoline.
"I'd like to see you try Junior Nanami," I responded coldly, and waited for her to talk back, "it's a deal then."
In silence, I casted a wind spell that turned me invisible, while Ryoline harnessed the camouflage ability of the chameleon. While invisible, we walked around the people in the auction and made it successfully to the backstage.
Drago's POV
Tumigil na ako sa pagtaya dahil alam kong wala na akong mapapala. Mukhang palpak na ang planong manalo sa pagtaya sa batang Restovakian para mapakalma si Kadaski.
This best friend of mine is so impulsive that he rushed to that stage on a whim without any plans against the child. He does not look like he was planning to take defeat the kid in order to save him. "I have to knock some sense into him" I created my Fire Whip, and with a swing I wrapped it around Kadaski's waist in order to pull him down the stage.
"Anong-?!" gulat na bulalas nito. "Drago? Sabing huwag mo akong pipigilan, hindi ako kagaya mo na natitiis ang ganitong mga palabas."
"Palabas? Alam kong seryoso ang bagay na ito. Nakikita ko ang punto mo, pero walang mangyayari kung palagi kang magpapa-kontrol sa emosyon mo. Kahit pa makuha mo ang bata, mas marami ang taong nais rin ito. Isa pa, nakalimutan mo na ba ang patakaran ng auction na ito?" seryosong pahayag ko.
"Manonood lang tayo ganoon?" tanong ni Kadaski bago dinakma ang handle ng enchanted weapon ko. "Tingnan mong mabuti Drago. Akala ko ba ay naiintindihan mo kung bakit ganito ang galit ko?"
Natahimik ako sa sinabi ni Kadaski, dahil na-guilty na ako nang mapagtanto ko kung bakit nagkaka-ganoom ang kaibigan ko. "Right. We shouldn't turn a blind eye, when we can do something about the problem." I smiled.
Intruder suddenly laughed from the upper level. He jumped down again only to easily subdue the Restovakian child using a black cage that materialized from thin air. "And the first item was sold at 300 million! Thank you seat number 24! Let's give him around of applause." announced the King of Merchants.
"Ah, no need to congratulate. I am, but a humble, merchant too." smiled the aviary masked man.
My eyes widened when it was announce that the man who was talking about how he pities the kid earlier, was actually the same person who won the kid.
"We should also thank this young volunteer that kept us entertained while bidding. Round-of-applause for Albus Canis!" said Intruder before giving a wink at our direction. "That was certainly a show. Are you amused as well?" he asked the audience.
I clenched my fists, and slammed the whip on the red carpet. "I guess the book could wait."