"Found you."
The ferryman said pointing down at us as he enters the room. But which one is he talking about? It could be me, but we'd never even known each other, then it should've been Klemmon. They must've have a connection for him to also look for him.
"Ashford. What are you doing here?"
Klemmon questioned as he glared at the ferryman or Ashford as he advance.
"Klemmon huh. It's none of your concern."
Ashford then continued his advance toward us, giving him a question i asked.
"What brings you here?"
Ignoring me, he sat in the chair right by our side before answering.
"The queen told me, someone peaked her interest."
He looks at me before continuing.
"She told me a young person was asking everyone he sees the whereabouts of Klemmon. I wonder why would that be."
Looking at me as he speaks, but i could only look at him rather than giving an answer. But queen? Who? Indeed it's the truth that i had questioned everyone within my eyesight about that man yet to think a queen would thought of that as interesting. With that i muttered.
"The queen sent you here then."
"It might not be the case, he probably just wants to interfere with us."
Klemmon answered before Ashford was even able to open his mouth. With his answer Ashford laughed snorting as he picked up a fork and feast on the food in the table. It's disrespectful. Narrowing my eyes he then opted to speak as he opened his mouth once again.
"Alright you got me. Well just don't misunderstand, I'm not here looking for an enemy."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Klemmon asked.
"Oh don't mind me. So what are you gonna talk about?"
"Ashford. It's none of your business."
Bickering at the man that's larger and bulkier than him. He continued to glare at him for quite the long time as the man just eat there obliviously. Whether he doesn't have a room for embarrassment or he just purposely making him mad and snap at him is that i don't know. But one thing i know of is that all of these are the food i took and for me to share as the negotiation was underway. Now he's ruining it.
"Bring your own food."
"Huh? What's the problem here? You can just go and take another bunch of food."
"Then bring your own food. You're uninvited here."
I said. Shooting daggers at him as we stared eye to eye. Ashford then once again laughed before speaking.
"Alright alright I'll stop eating the food. But you see, there's no rule saying here that you can't go to a dining room even of it's private or not."
He chuckled as he stated what he's trying to convey at us.
"... Then i must force you out."
Everyone looked at me appalled by what have i said. The three looked at me seemingly to question my sanity, no it was rather only Klemmon and his retainer. Ashford on the other hand just only looked at with an unnoticeable expression.
"You. You don't know who this person is?"
Klemmon asked. Pointing his finger at Ashford eyeing on me and his, switching his stare frantically.
"That, i don't know."
"Sigh. You see the person you're threatening right now is-"
"Ha ha ha ha ha. How could someone like you don't know me? Alright alright I'll introduce myself first then."
Ashford cutting Klemmon's dialogue uttered loudly and proudly stretching his arms sidewards he stated.
"I am Hamelin Ashford Euritidueus. I am one of the ferryman from this Empire and of course it is that i am one of the supreme commander leading the Yellowstone fleet. Well it's the short summary of my life which was the most known for my name."
"I see."
In short, he have the authority over this place, regarding his position in the military. A ferryman he said, that is something i do not know off. But in his word's something such that must be and equivalent to a marine. No wonder his worth was 4★.
"That is why you shouldn't picking a fight to someone like him."
Klemmon whispered leaning a bit for me to hear.
"Indeed, it must be troublesome."
Without a doubt this person, Ashford was quite a powerful person. But of course given that I'm not just a person but the devil, surely he would not be able to defeat me in a battle. But his position is also with power. After all there's a general rule that peasants no matter how strong they are couldn't lay a hand on nobility due to their titles. Although that doesn't apply to me of course, i could just eradicate this place after all.
I took a stare at Ashford. Noticing me, he then narrowed his eyes glinting a smile before speaking.
"Ha ha ha. You would still force me out of here even knowing me, are you? Well of course we can just fight."
Stopping mid sentence he continued.
"But you know it to right? That i wouldn't be able to overpower you?"
Klemmon, surprised at Ashford's statement he asked. As sweat drips from his face.
"Hold on! What do you mean?"
"Ha ha ha ha! What i mean is that this person is not who you think he is."
Klemmon narrowed his eyes, sweating profusely as he took a look at me.
"Now that i think about it. You said you're looking for me to trade gold isn't that right?"
"Yes."
Finding it that a person who only look like a teenager was trying to trade gold with him was in of a suspicious itself. Calculating for a moment a silence came. After a long pause he sighed wiping off his face before speaking.
"Very well. We'll negotiate... Now, Ashford shouldn't this be the time for you to leave?"
Klemmon said taking his eyes off of Ashford. Yes, knowing that he doesn't stood a chance against me, Klemmon can surely use this to make him leave given that he's trespassing right now. But to think Ashford can see through me is something.
Ashford looking at Klemmon closed his eyes and once again smiled. He then spoke, directing his words at me.
"You see, ever since the Queen told me about you, I'm actually been looking for you up until this point."
"Didn't you just told us that a moments ago?"
Klemmon bickered. Ashford, ignoring him he continued.
"Now that i see you, looking at you, you don't seem that strong. You looked young and was pretty skinny. But for some reason, whenever i thought of a way to fight you, i couldn't think of a way to beat you."
"..."
"A person just came out of this hotel out of nowhere without being a regular, no titles, no achievements, and no background. He then asked people the whereabouts of Klemmon obliviously not knowing who are the people here. It made me wonder. Just who are you?"
Ashford stared at me. Klemmon also took his look at me anticipating an answer. But it seems my decision up to this point came biting me down. I didn't know i approached the queen, only i know is that they are important person. That might have been my blunder, i failed to foresee the consequences thinking it might leave me no problem. And yes, something like this will leave me no problem. I have my background after all.
"See my identity then."
"... Sure thing."
Opening up their panel. One appeared right infront of me.
[Individual identification request. Pending...]
[Would you like to accept?]
[Yes] [No]
Pressing the yes. They stared at their own panel as another one appeared infront of them.
"Renhe isn't it?"
Ashford asked to clarify.
"Yes. That is my name."
"... Outdated."
Klemmon stated, whispering to himself before continuing.
"This doesn't clarify your own background thought?"
Yes. Something like this doesn't confirm who I'm actually am. Of course the identification doesn't answer my background after all. I can tell them my fake one but of course i won't cause why should i? I already told it to Thomas and Lucas because they are investigating, but these person are just curious. Even if it's fake i still need a privacy for realism.
"There's no need for me to tell my story to you all."
"... Yes, you're right."
Klemmon couldn't argue. Judging at him and Ashford thought, they might send someone to investigate me. Of course the only thing they will get was my fabricated background. I don't mind, after all it will only aid me.
"Doesn't this is the time for you to actually leave now?"
Klemmon said directing it to Ashford. Ashford stared back before laughing.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Alright alright you beat me to it. But nah, i won't leave."
"I see."
Narrowing my eyes i stood up. I just have to force him to leave, but i made me wonder. Knowing that he stood no chance he is still here sitting without a thought of leaving. I'm getting impatient, there was no need to chat with them without any purpose other than to question me.
"Now now, hold on. I wasn't leaving yet was because i still something to tell you."
Stopping my tracks, I let him continue.
"Renhe. You're looking for Klemmon was because you're trying to trade gold with him, am i right?"
Klemmon then clicked his tongue as he narrowed his eyes at Ashford's question. But before me answering he continued. Raising his hands and stretching it sideways he stated.
"How about this? I'll also trade with you."
"That's impractical."
Klemmon retorted. But maybe Ashford's proposal wasn't that bad. After all, to me, the more the better. But that seems to be not the case to Klemmon. I sat right back at my seat, i answered.
"Very well."
Ashford nodded in satisfaction while Klemmon sighed in dissatisfaction. But still, if he has just told me this from the very beginning, this wouldn't take longer. Now that we're at this moment though, there's no turning back time. But it's the only time I'll let this pass.
"Let's get straight to the point then."
"You're right. Let's continue now, may i see the gold? You're trying to trade?"
Nodding at Klemmon's request, i then took two bar of gold putting it on the table for the both to observe. Ashford took one in his hands, so does Klemmon. Observing it in every nook and cranny Klemmon then hold his right hand behind him, asking for something with his retainer.
Picking up something the retainer then out a piece of metal in Klemmon's hand. Judging by the components it's highly for it to be a magnet. Pressing the object at the bar of gold, nothing happened. He kept on pressing it in every surface but once again, nothing happened. Placing the metal to the table he once again handed his hands behind him asking for another at his retainer.
Picking up another object, the retainer then again gave it to Klemmon. It was solid cylindrical plastic, with a liquid inside. Scratching the bar of gold, using his nail. It made a scratch mark. Putting the gold on the table, he opened the lid of the plastic container and poured a small amount of liquid at the scratched mark on the gold. It must've been an acid test.
Silence clouded the room as the four of us stared at the gold. We waited, and waited. After a time has passed nothing has happened to the gold. It didn't changed it's color, it didn't rust off. Ashford looked at Klemmon before asking a question.
"So it's the real deal?"
"Yes. Without a doubt it's a real bar of gold."
The retainer then handed him a weighting scale with both hands. Setting it in the table, Klemmon put the gold on the object. Weighing it down. It weighs at around 10.3 lb. Sighing for a moment, he then looked at me.
"Each bar of gold that weights exactly the same cost for about 176,400 frinz. Now, since i could only trade much for about 10 bars at the moment, do you have a credit card?"
"No. I do not."
"Figures. Sigh. Alright, alright let's start of with the procedures."
"Hold it. I should finish my business if you're gonna take a long time."
Ashford, interrupting Klemmon at the moment pulled off a container and violently brought it in the table.
"What's in here was exactly 1 million frinz, and I'll even trade it to you with just five bars."
5 bars of gold that weights 10.3 lb would only be for about 882,000 frinz. Giving me a profit of 118,000 frinz. I shouldn't pass this up but, knowing this person even if it's just for a while. With his expression there must be something he's planning. Thinking for a moment i asked.
"What's the catch?"
Ashford, hearing my question grinned. Giving the expression of like a someone has fallen down to his trapped. He then answered.
"Let's have a mock battle."