As Arlo soars through the cloud-dappled sky, his eyes set on the chest.
Meanwhile,
Remi finds himself transported to the residence of the prospective buyer.
"How much longer must I endure this?" Remi grumbles, his vision obscured by a black blindfold. His only sense of his surroundings is the hum of a car engine.
"CLAP!" "CLAP!"
"What originality, putting a blindfold on someone," Remi remarks, his words dripping with sarcasm.
Abruptly, the car grinds to a halt.
"Step out," a voice, unfamiliar and cold, instructs him. As Remi complies, he feels the warmth of sunlight on his skin.
"Oh... What's happening now?"
Suddenly, Remi feels himself being hoisted up by two men. Suspended in the air, he quips,
"Who is this paranoid freak? Going to such lengths just to buy a weapon," Remi jests.
"My name is Ryan Andrew Yusaf, and I appreciate your flattery," a voice responds, its owner still unknown.
As the two men lower Remi back to the ground, he falls silent, recognizing the significance of the name Ryan Andrew Yusaf.
The blindfold is removed, and Remi finds himself in a vast room, its walls glistening with gold. To his right, a library shelf groans under the weight of countless books.
The room is shrouded in silence. As Remi surveys his surroundings, he spots two men behind him, dressed in black suits. They hold Remi's weapon briefcase and are armed with swords and holstered guns.
Before him, a massive prism window refracts the sunlight, momentarily blinding him.
Observing this, Ryan Andrew Yusaf commands his men to obscure the window. With a click of a button, it transforms into a wall, mirroring the golden hue of the room.
"Please, have a seat," Ryan Andrew Yusaf invites Remi.
As Remi's vision adjusts, he takes in the sight of a man with raven-black hair and an oval face, clad in a dark coat over a checkered shirt. Sakura flower tattoos embellish his exposed neck.
Remi also notices two other men behind him. One is his black-market dealer, Vincent Griffin, who appears visibly anxious. The other is dressed as a butler, a badge reading "Butler 1" pinned to his chest.
"Vincent has told me much about you, Mr. Remi Endrick. Can I offer you a drink?" Ryan asks, his tone cordial.
"No need, let's get down to business, shall we?" As Remi speaks, he notices Vincent behind Ryan, shaking his head frantically.
Confused, Remi continues, "You're already aware of our weapons and their condition, correct? Let's cut to the chase, what's your offer?"
Ryan replies patiently, "Where is your friend Arlo? I was under the impression we would meet the discoverer of these exquisite weapons."
Remi retorts, his tone icy, "We never said anything about Arlo finding the weapons to anyone. How did you know about this?"
"I don't know either. It was merely a guess. So, it's true then. My father often quoted when I was a child…" Suddenly, Ryan trails off.
Ryan snaps his fingers, signaling his security to place the weapons on the table. Remi inputs the passcode to unlock it.
Ryan picks up a sword, comfortably seated on his chair, and adds with a smile, "
Where was I? Ah, yes, my father used to say: 'If you believe the product you've created will revolutionize the world, always keep a man by your side who can captivate others with his words, so he can sell your product and bring in the money.' Quite the quote, isn't it?"
Ryan sets the sword down and lifts the shield. "If you're here to discuss money, then these must have been found by Arlo, correct?" Ryan states calmly.
Remi chuckles, "Yes, you're correct. I'm here because that stubborn bastard trusts me to handle this. So, I have to ensure I do just that, right? Let's get straight to the point, what's your offer for our weapons?"
Ryan responds, "Just for the weapons, how about 10 Billion Nion?"
"But sir, we agreed to purchase them for only 2 Billion," Vincent interjects, his voice trembling.
"Silence!"
Ryan commands sternly, causing Vincent to gulp as one of the security men escorts Vincent out of the room.
"That's why I detest dealers; they always interfere! As I said before, I will offer 10 Billion Nion solely for the weapons," Ryan proposes.
Remi giggles nervously, "Deal. That's exactly the figure I had in mind." But in his mind,
'AHHHH...'
He lets out a scream of joy, a scream louder than Arlo's when he plummets from a building.
Remi rises to his feet and extends his hand for a handshake.
"Hold on," Ryan halts Remi and adds, "If you disclose where Arlo discovered these weapons, I will add another 10 Billion Nion."
"Sorry, that's not going to happen," Remi rejects immediately, without a moment's hesitation.
Ryan rises from his seat and approaches the bookshelves, standing there in silence for several minutes.
After a while, Ryan speaks, "Your house was burned down and collapsed, correct? We will apprehend the culprits and ensure justice is served. All you have to do is tell me where Arlo found the weapons and receive an additional 10 Billion Nion. It's that simple. You have nothing to lose, everything to gain."
Remi mirrors Ryan's actions; he remains silent for a few minutes, not to ponder, but to irk Ryan.
After some time, Remi responds to his proposal, "Mr. Ryan Andrew Yusaf, my father also had a quote: 'If you couldn't accomplish something in the present despite your best efforts, don't attempt it again in the future. It will bring great misfortune.' Quite the quote, isn't it?"
Upon hearing that, Ryan settles back into his chair, and Remi continues, "You either purchase only the weapons or there's no deal. That's it!"
Ryan extends his hand towards the butler, who places a card in Ryan's hand. The word "Unlimited" is inscribed on the front of the card, with a QR code encrypted on the back.
Ryan sets it on the table and remarks, "Here is the money you requested, 10 Billion Nion."
Remi snatches the card and rises to his feet, not even bothering to thank Ryan, and begins to depart. Suddenly, Ryan calls out loudly,
"Why are you selling this? With these, you could have become the top Dungeon Rider. What's the rationale behind selling them?"
Remi smirks, "The owner of these weapons despises them, that's why."
"The offer still stands; disclose the location and the culprits, and the money will be yours," Ryan says.
"Remember my father's quote," Remi replies, and he exits the room.
After Remi departs, Ryan sits with his hands clasped together, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Don't attempt to alter the past in the future. Then, what will you do if something transpires in the future? Will you wail in agony or fight to your death?"
[End of Chapter]