"My name is Isaac. May we speak for a few minutes?"
Isaac stood over Ava as they stared at each other, both fashioning an innocent and friendly smile.
"I'm sorry, I'd love to, but I'm in a hurry. My friends are waiting…"
"Please, it'll just take 3 minutes at most." Cutting her off, Isaac took a seat opposite her.
Seeing how adamant he was, with a difficult expression, Ava reluctantly accepted.
"Okay, how can I help you?" Ava asked with a smile, to which Isaac stayed silent, instead summoning an item from his dimensional space.
Pushing aside the countless dishes before them, Isaac placed a green berry-sized ball on the table.
Ava was instantly able to notice the glow that emanated from the berry, as it pulsated with the rhythm of a heartbeat.
"It's beautiful. But, what exactly is it?" Ava asked as she tilted her head.
"It's an Aroze. A miracle herb said to cure a thousand ailments." Isaac confidently stated as he straightened his back and placed both hands before him.
"That's quite a bold statement. If something like that really existed, it'd change all of Spawn."
Typically, Ava was sceptical.
"It's the truth. It's one of the rewards from my Scenario."
Upon saying this, the smile on Ava's face faltered for a second as she couldn't help but pause.
'Isn't he an F-Ranker?' She thought.
In truth, telling her this was risky. Especially if she decided to reject Isaac's offer.
But Isaac had already decided he wouldn't fail here today. He couldn't.
"Why are you telling me this?" She asked, to which Isaac quickly responded.
"Because I want you to help me mass produce the Aroze."
Ava stared at Isaac, her smile never leaving her face.
"Please excuse my manners. This is a lot to take in. But why me? Something like this would be far more suitable for Amara or the Khans to handle."
Isaac nodded upon hearing this. He too thought the same.
"That isn't exactly wrong. But you see, there are aspects of the Aroze that are better suited for a doctor."
This was both the truth and a lie.
The truth was, the Aroze was more suited for the Khan's to oversee.
However, the same couldn't be said for the Sanguine.
Despite this, Isaac would have preferred the Khans, however, he needed Ava for something else.
"Additionally, the Longfields work closely with the Khan's. I was hoping to use their insight while also compensating them in some way. Although, these are future plans."
If this were to turn into a company which produced the Aroze, Isaac would simply sell a small percentage of the shares to use the Khan in cultivating it.
Ava stared at the Aroze for a few seconds, before a defeated expression showed on her face.
"I'm sorry. This all sounds extremely intriguing, but I must reject the offer. I don't know anything about this…Aroze, I just have your word to go off of. And even if I did, how am I supposed to explain to people where I've received such an item?"
Ava shook her head, letting out all the worries that had been bugging her.
"With Spawn's technology and the resources you have, it should be easy to run a few tests and realise I'm not all talk. And don't worry, I plan to deal with the latter problem."
Isaac fired back as if he were prepared for the problems she presented to him.
Although, in reality, he didn't know what 'Tests' would be done. He just knew Spawn technology could work wonders.
"I guess. Would you let me borrow the Aroze for a certain amount of time?" Ava asked, to which Isaac nodded.
"Yes, although, we'd have to sign a contract."
This was the only Aroze Isaac had, he was going to keep it safe at all costs.
Ava pondered for a few seconds, staying silent as she stared at the Aroze.
Despite all the reassurances Isaac had given her, it was clear she was unsatisfied.
"I'm sorry. Even if what you say is true, I'd rather stay focused on my studies. It all seems like a risk that may end up wasting all of our time, you included." Ava smiled as she stared at Isaac.
Meanwhile, Isaac was inwardly left speechless.
'I've given her every reason to, at the very least, come to a conclusion herself and see the miracle the Aroze holds. An opportunity like this could be profitable for both her, her father, and the Khans.'
"Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?" Isaac asked as Ava stood from her seat, ready to leave.
"Yes, I'm positive about my decision. I hope this doesn't taint our relationship as classmates, and please try to understand where I'm coming from." With a slight bow, Ava finished, preparing to leave.
'I'd have preferred my first attempt to work, but oh well. Onto Plan B.'
"I'm sorry, Ava. But unfortunately, you don't have a choice."
Ava paused in her steps as she slowly looked back.
Walking toward her, Isaac summoned a few pieces of paper from his dimensional space, placing them on the table closest to Ava.
As Ava took a glimpse of them, the smile on her face quickly disappeared as she widened her eyes.
"Y-You…"
***
~One day prior~
Within Aurelius Campus, on a grassy plain as the sun was minutes away from disappearing over the horizon, Isaac sat under a tree as he stared at the screen before he projected from his watch with a difficult expression.
"These are amazing."
Scrolling through the market, Isaac had made a regular hobby to indulge in when bored.
He could not help but admire the items for sale.
[Artifact: The Ripper's Gloves (A Rank)
Requirements: N/A
Description:
A divine weapon, once used by the great Jack the Ripper, the Ripper's Gloves can transform any object into a weapon with a single touch.]
'Anything into a weapon? That could prove useful. How much…'
Looking at the price, Isaac couldn't help but pause for a second.
[Price: 56,000,000S]
[Balance: 91,428S]
Isaac quickly scrolled away with a defeated expression as his past thirst for money started to make more and more sense to him.
With the Mage's Nucleus he sold giving him just over 720,000, and his dimensional space and few potions all costing a fortune, Isaac was left with this much.
In reality, this was a fair amount of money to have on hand, but for the plans Isaac had, it wasn't enough.
'Who knew the gap in B- Artifacts and A rank had such a difference in price? But I guess the Mage's Nucleus being forged had a lot to do with it.'
The Ripper's Gloves, unlike the Mage's Nucleus, were not forged by Inheritors, meaning they came straight from a Scenario, making them far more valuable.
[Artifact (forged): Caster (C+ Rank]
Requirements: N/A
Description:
A forged version of the Caster pistol from the Verse 'Outlaw Star', this forged Caster uses mana bullets to shoot bullets of different effects.
Price: 450,000S]
'Hm, I have to pay for the bullets too. No thanks, besides, I'm not a gun type of guy.'
As Isaac continued to scroll, laughter and chatter came from afar as he dismissed the screen before him and watched a group of girls intently.
Not too far away from him was Ava, Heather and their usual clique.
"Oh, we should check out the new restaurant that opened up on Campus. I hear they have some great beverages." Heather said, to which the group collectively nodded their heads.
"Sorry, I can't. I have some things to do." Ava rejected the offer as the group glanced toward her.
"Again? Mark my words, Ava Longfield, I will one day meet this mystery man you are so keen on hiding." Heather teased, watching Ava's demeanour fluster and her face turn red.
"Heather, I already told you I want to keep this relationship a secret. I already have a hard time with my private life being public." Ava retorted.
"Yeah yeah, oh Ms Golden Six. I'll call you later." Ava and the group laughed as Ava turned the opposite way to the group, waving them off.
'Relationship? Well, who cares? As long as I can get her alone for a while.'
Isaac stood, preparing to follow behind her.
He'd long since activated Zetsu, allowing him to mask his presence. It felt slightly peculiar at first, seeing as not too long ago, he needed to hold his breath to accomplish this.
But he quickly got used to it.
He'd thought to feed his Nen to the Thing in his abdomen, but it only allowed for a result that made Isaac seem like a regular human who hadn't learnt Nen.
Meanwhile, Zetsu masked his presence altogether.
Following Ava, he noticed her leaving campus, and entering the forest which encircled the school as he raised an eyebrow.
It was rare for any student to traverse inside the forest, seeing as there was nothing there, and the distance between the city and Aurelius was too gruelling to walk. Usually, one would teleport there.
However, he didn't stop as he continued.
Hiding behind trees, hiding amongst the leaves, and after sunset, Isaac was comfortably able to hide in the shadows like a boogeyman.
Additionally, he constantly found ways to adapt so his steps were quieter and find more efficient ways to tag someone.
If he weren't so focused, he'd count this as training.
However, as Ava continued to walk, Isaac grew more and more impatient.
'Where is this girl going?! We've been walking in a straight line for over an hour!'
They'd been walking for so long that they were starting to near the city.
Isaac wanted her alone, however, upon seeing her suspicious activity, Isaac saw an opportunity. This might prove useful in the future.
However, just as he thought this, Isaac caught a glimpse of a man in the far corner.
A man Ava seemed to be walking straight toward.
And it wasn't long until she'd reached him.
Before she did, what seemed to be a cloak appeared in her hands and she quickly slipped it on.
Doing this, she then reached the man in the distance.
'What are they…'
However, Isaac was cut off as an explosion of power exploded from the man before Ava.
Although this bloodlust was directed at Ava, since Isaac wasn't too far behind her, he also somewhat suffered from it.
The man exuded an aura that made Isaac want to rethink approaching him. The same feeling one would get after entering a beast's territory.
Isaac froze as he continued to watch Ava stand firm, pulling something from under her cloak and showing the man.
As she did this, the bloodlust retracted an instant as Isaac returned to normal.
'What the hell was that? It definitely wasn't Nen.'
Isaac was too far away to hear what they said, however, he could see them exchange something before Ava walked past him
'I don't know what's happening, but I think this is as far as I go.'
This was the same feeling he'd gotten from when Netero fought the black skeleton. He was way out of his league.
"This is disgusting. Why must I, an esteemed noble, trod upon this filth like a common wild animal."
"Please sir, it's just a little further."
A voice came from beside Isaac as he turned his head, only to notice three large men and a fairly short and smaller man, all wearing the cloaks that Ava was.
Now that he saw it closer, it was clear the cloaks were not ordinary, as they shrouded the wearer's face in a thick veil shadow, as well as distorting their voice a little, making it seem as though they were speaking through an old radio.
It seemed the smaller man was the one making all the ruckus.
'Interesting.' Isaac stared with a menacing grin.
***
"When you told us we'd be working as an escort, you didn't say it'd be so…bothersome."
One of the large men spoke as he leaned closer to his partner.
"Stop with the whining. This gig is paying us fruitfully, so just deal with it for a little longer." Another large man responded.
"I don't care how much money I'm getting. I put up with this abuse from why wife every day at home, now I gotta take this crap at work too?" The third large man turned to them, whispering in a tone.
"Just shut up and do your job…wait, where did he go?"
As they looked back, they failed to locate the small man they'd been escorting.
"You idiots! You had one job yet you still complain like little girls!" The large man, who seemed to be the leader, spoke, his previous lowered voice rising considerably.
The two other large men panicked as they called out but to no avail.
"Sir!"
"Sir, where have you gone?"
"Enough with the yelling, I'm right here."
The small man emerged from the shadows, behind a tree, wearing his cloak.
"Sir, please stay close to us. We thought we'd lost you." The leader spoke, his tone returning to a respectful one.
"Like I said, this is no place for a noble. I can't even navigate between all this plant life and darkness." The short man spoke in an annoyed tone as he continued to walk.
Shaking his head and sighing, the leader nodded to the other two large men as they formed a triangle formation around the short man.
"How long?" The short man asked.
"We're here, sir."
The group of men exited the forest as they came across a man standing not too far away from them.
With styled black hair, the man stared at the group with an intense gaze as they approached.
"That's for enough." The man spoke in an authoritative tone, to which the group complied.
It was clear he was some sort of guard.
Without saying anything, the leader pulled something out from under his cloak.
It was a long piece and golden piece of paper that adorned black text across it.
Tossing four of them toward the guard, the leader waited as the guard caught the piece of paper.
In just a second, the guard stared at the paper, soon throwing all four into the air, to which they dissolved, never reaching the ground.
"The most common way people give up their power…" The guard paused as he stared at the leader.
"...is by thinking they don't have any." The guard finished.
With a satisfied nod, the guard gave a slight bow.
"I welcome you to The Arena."
Meanwhile, the short man in the middle of the three men couldn't help but pause.
'The Arena?' Isaac, in disguise, thought.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
I've been asked for longer chapters, so here you are. This is the longest yet.
Next chapter title: Targeting Ava Longfield
Thanos: I have the 6 stones...but there's one more missing...
Where...are...the..POWERSTONESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Also not my joke XD. If you got funny jokes, I'll use them in future chapters.