Dakota: So, are you guys ready for the mission?
Henry: Yes, we are.
Dakota: Okay then, let's go to the auction.
After two hours of driving, we finally arrived at the auction.
Dakota: Well, we finally arrived at the auction.
Henry: Yep, and this house is huge too.
Dakota: Yeah, well of course it's going to be big.
Dakota: Okay then, let's go in.
As we approached the entrance, a person in a black suit stepped up to us.
Random: Hello there, are you the students from the Hero Academy?
Dakota: Yes, we are.
Random: Would you mind showing me your student ID?
Dakota: Ah, yes, here.
The man took the ID, examined it for a moment, then nodded.
Random: Okay, this looks real. You can go in.
Dakota: Thank you.
With that, we all entered the auction. It was a massive hall, filled with people from all walks of life, some of whom wore masks. The air was thick with a mixture of anticipation and excitement.
Dakota: Oh wow, look at how many people are wearing masks.
Henry: Well, looks like a lot of people want to hide their identities.
Dakota: Yeah, I wonder why.
Dakota: I mean, it's pretty obvious why. Those masked people are either Djinns or humans who are planning to steal something.
Henry: So when is the auction going to start?
Lucas: I think it's going to start in about half an hour.
Henry: So, what do we do for half an hour before the auction starts?
Dakota: I don't know.
Just as I was about to suggest we find something to pass the time, a voice interrupted us.
???: Well, hello there. You are students from the academy, right?
Dakota: Um, yes we are, but who might you be?
The woman who had approached us smiled warmly.
Miko: Ah, sorry, I should have introduced myself first. I am Miko, the guild leader of the Blue Wolves.
Henry: Oh, the guild leader of the Blue Wolves, the number two guild in America.
Henry: What business do you have with us?
Miko: Well, my sister and I are interested in all of you and would love for you to join our guild.
Jack: Oh, so you're trying to recruit us?
Miko: I guess so, yeah.
Just then, a second woman walked over to us, a bit more serious in demeanor than Miko.
Mako: Oh, there you are, Miko. What were you doing here—
Mako froze mid-sentence, her gaze falling upon us.
Mako: Wait, is that… the top students from the academy?
Miko: Yes, indeed. It's them, older sister.
With a nod from Miko, we all greeted the guild leader of the Red Thieves, and we had greeted the Blue Wolves leader earlier as well.
Mako: Hey, Henry, would you mind if I asked you a question?
Henry: No, I don't mind. Go ahead and ask your question, ma'am.
Mako: Oh, wow, how respectful. In the future, which guild do you think you'll join?
Henry: Oh, which guild I'll join… Well, I don't know yet.
Mako: Well, you can join mine anytime you want.
Henry: Wow, really?
Mako: Yes, really.
Miko: And you, Dakota Leal, can join my guild anytime you want as well.
Dakota: I appreciate the offer.
Miko: And all of you are welcome to join my guild too.
Mako: And mine too.
We all responded in unison.
All: Thank you.
Miko: So, why are all of you here anyway?
Dakota: We're here because of a mission we accepted.
Mako: Oh, you have a mission? What kind of mission?
Dakota: Our mission is to protect the items here so the Djinns or the humans don't steal anything.
Miko: Oh, that's quite a dangerous mission you've accepted.
Dakota: Yeah, I know. But there aren't many people here who could defeat all of us.
Mako: You sure have a lot of confidence.
Dakota: Of course I do. After all, I killed a mid-ranked Djinn. Or should I say, we killed the mid-ranked Djinn.
Miko: Well, that's true. Congratulations on killing a mid-ranked Djinn while not even being heroes.
Dakota: Thank you.
Miko: Yeah, no problem.
Mako: But it looks like the auction is about to start soon, so goodbye for now.
Dakota: Yeah, bye.
I glanced at my watch to check the time.
Dakota: Okay, so how many minutes do we have left before the auction starts?
Ava, who had been quietly watching, replied.
Ava: We still have about 15 minutes left.
Dakota: Okay, then. I'm going to eat some of the food over there while I wait for the 15 minutes to pass.
Ava: Yeah, I'm going to do the same.
We all started eating the delicious food they had prepared. It was a welcome distraction as we waited for the auction to begin. We ate in silence for a while, each of us savoring the rich flavors.
Twelve minutes passed.
Dakota: Oh, that was some delicious food.
Liam: Yeah, it sure was.
Amelia: Italy really has some of the best food I've ever tasted.
Mia: I agree.
Dakota: So, how much time is left now?
Luna, who had been keeping track of the time, answered.
Luna: About 3 minutes until it starts.
Dakota: Okay.
Just as we were settling back into our seats, a voice called out from across the room.
???: Oh, well would you look at who it is. It's the American students.
Dakota: Huh? And who the hell are you?
A tall man with dark hair and a confident smirk approached us. He was wearing the academy's uniform, which marked him as one of the top students.
Leonardo: My name is Leonardo, and I'm the top student at the Italy Hero's Academy.
Dakota: And what do you want?
Leonardo's smirk only widened.
Leonardo: Oh, I just wanted to know if you really killed a mid-ranked Djinn.
Dakota: Yes, we did. Are you happy now?
Leonardo: Nah, not really. I know you're lying.
Dakota: Excuse me? Why would I lie?
Leonardo: Obviously to get famous. You tricked the world into thinking that you actually killed a mid-ranked Djinn, which is impossible for someone who's not even a hero.
Dakota's temper began to flare, and I could see the anger building in his eyes.
Dakota: And how do you know that I didn't kill him?
Leonardo: Oh, I just do. After all, all you Americans do is lie.
Dakota's fists clenched, and I could see he was on the verge of snapping.
Dakota: Oh, the only thing we do is lie, huh? Then why don't I prove to you just how I killed the Djinn?
Leonardo: Oh yes, please, show me how you did it.
Dakota gritted his teeth, ready to throw a punch, but before he could, Henry stepped in between them, holding his arm up to stop him.
Henry: Dakota, don't do it. He's obviously baiting you into hitting him so he can make it look like you punched him for no reason.
Leonardo: Ah, so you figured it out, huh? Well, since you did, I'll be leaving now. Bye.
Dakota let out a frustrated sigh, staring at the retreating figure.
Dakota: Tch, that fucking bastard was so annoying.
Henry: Dakota, you really need to get a hold of your emotions better.
Dakota: Yeah, don't worry. This won't happen again… maybe.
Henry: This definitely will happen again, won't it?
Ava, who had been watching the interaction with amusement, spoke up.
Ava: Trust me, it will.
Just then, a voice came over the loudspeaker, signaling that the auction was about to begin.
???: Okay, ladies and gentlemen, the auction is about to start.
Dakota: Oh, look, it's starting.
As the auction began, everyone's attention turned to the stage. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake the feeling that the trouble we had just faced with Leonardo might not be the last of it.