In a certain house on the northside of Orario, inside the basement there are two people who was cleaning the entire room. They are Aol and Koth and they are scrubbing everything. The wall, the floor even the stairs. Not a single place was safe from Aol scrubs. Koth was just there to help.
*SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB
"Mm….don't you think you overdid it?" Koth asked hesitantly. He was concerned with Aol's condition right now. It was a new level of OCD. "I know you have a strong nose and all, but you need to calm down."
"You wouldn't understand!" Aol shot back. He didn't even lift his head, his tone alone was certain how determine he is to clean everything. "None of you will! I won't be able to sleep if this basement still smells like hell!"
"I am pretty sure hell smells like the forge that I used to use."
"Does it bring you pain?"
"….no…..I get your point, but our job is to guard the base. We can't really see the front door if we are here."
"Why don't you go up and guard it. I'll be down here cleaning this room." Not even a single time in the conversation does Aol stop his hand. He was scrubbing each floor with so much effort, that it made the moon landing feels like a nice walk on the park. "I can't concentrate defending the base if my nose keep bringing me here."
"…"
*SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB *SCRUB
"…sigh…..you won't finish this place alone if that's how you do it. I'll keep helping you, It is better than doing nothing up there." Koth get back to what he was doing. "Hey, Aol."
"Huh?"
"Do you think we are in deep trouble?"
"…." For the first time, Aol's hand stop. His face was still looking down on the floor but his body language indicate that he wanted to get up. "…..don't think about it, we already report our findings to Zhul. He'll figure something out, I hope."
"Don't you think we put too much pressure on him?"
"His role is the brain, we have discussed it and nobody could do it better than him. So just stay with what you got."
"I don't know. If he falls, who would be the brain then? We can't just wait."
"Every single time Zhul have fallen, none of us stand idle." Aol tucked one of the chairs and sit on it. "And neither does he. Stop worrying about someone who could beat you in a game of chess with a blindfold on."
"Let's be real here. He could beat any of us in a game of chess." Koth said toward Aol. What come next was another voice coming from the doorway. Totally different from anyone voices and tones.
"Can't denied that."
"!" Koth and Aol were surprised and quickly stood up from their chairs. They turned their head towards the door and see the little figure. A prum with yellow hair and yellow vest over a purple long-sleeved shirt. He was someone everyone knew about and couldn't be mistaken with any one else. "Braver. If I could ask, what bring you here?"
"Oh nothing. Just want to greet my new neighbours." His ever so smile was latched on his face.
"In the middle of the night, you have to do better than that you know." Koth raised his eyebrow. It's unusual for this person in particular to made a big mistake like that. "Unless you were busy with something."
"Well you could say that. May I ask where Zhul is?"
"Sorry, he went out. We don't know when will he return." Koth said and then he pulled another chair. "For now come in and sit here, I don't think Zhul would appreciate if someone saw you in front of the base."
"The base?" Finn asked as he walked inside. "This isn't your house?"
"No, but if you wanted to called it that then you are welcomed to." Aol said before he went to the kitchen. "What kind of drink would suit you fancy?"
"Just normal water please." Finn answer Aol before his eyes focus on the pile of papers on the table. He caught a glimpse of the contents before Koth flipped all of them.
"Zhul is going to kill me if he knows I let you see our status."
"As an adventurer, I know how important it is to keep your status a secret." Finn said in response toward Koth's action.
"So what really bring you here? I thought you had just come home from the expedition."
"Just want to let out some steam I guess." From underneath the table, Finn brought out a chessboard. "Want to play?"
"Before we play, just let me say. I am not as good as Zhul is."
"It's okay. I just want to play."
*THUMP
"Okay, okay I talk!" A desperate plead cried out from a battered body. It came from a tied up person asking for forgiveness, but to no avail as another kick flew at it.
*THUMP
"I SAID I'LL TALK!" The same voice could be heard pleading even louder and even more distress in the tone.
*THUMP *THUMP *THUMP *THUMP *THUMP
"PLEASE! I BEG OF YOU! STO-UGH!"
*THUMP *THUMP
As the person swings his leg forward, another leg stopped it dead in it track. The sound of meat colliding at high speed rang inside the tower. The leg belongs to his friend.
"Could you stop that, Sutr? You are wasting my time." Tez said as he pulled back his leg. "He said he'd talk."
"Nothing trustworthy would come out of his mouth without a further beating and beside I am getting bored of the psychological torture. Just once I want to do the physical." Sutr grab the person's collar and punch his face. "It really help you relax."
"No it didn't." Tez quickly separated Sutr and the person. He threw the person into the corner where he crawled up into a ball. "….maybe you are right." Tez approached the person and asked. "Talk, before he went relaxing again."
"Okay okay! We were just selling low qualities weapons with a high price to the outside world. We just wanted to make quick money man. We didn't hurt nobody! I swear we buy the weapons without extortion or anything!"
"And how about this?" Tez brought out a dagger and showed it. "Who did you sell this to?"
"I don't know. We just sell them to merchants who come and go. We couldn't possibly remember who we sold every single weapon to! We sold them inside of crates so we don't know which one this dagger come from!"
"…Sutr." As Tez said his name. Sutr approached and ready to do his dirty work. He pulled back his leg and the person screams.
"NO! NO! NO! I ALREADY TOLD YOU EVERYTHING!"
Tez pushed Sutr's leg aside and said to the person. "Tell me where did you buy all those weapons."
"Why would you want to know that?"
*THUMP
"Okay, we bought them from every single store in this city. We don't know which sold which, we just bought them and sell them. I swear that is everything I know."
Tez and Sutr was still doubtful and wanted more information, but before they could ask further, Zhul stopped them.
"That's enough you two. We are just wasting our time." Zhul close his notebook which he carries everywhere. "Let's get down to business. Bring the boss here."
"Which one was it? There are a lot of person here." Sutr asked. He was interrogating a single person while a bunch of them was tied up on another corner of the room. Every single one of them was in bad condition and could use some medical attention. "All of them look the same to me since they are filler characters we won't see in the future."
"What did I say about breaking the forth wall? And besides, it would be easy to find the boss. Just look for the one with the different hair." Zhul said that as he walked toward the bunch of tied up people. He reaches for the most different person and pulled him out of the bunch "Found him."
"I WON'T TALK!" The tied up person talk. He is human with a big body that was nicely built with his muscle showing even under his blue shirt. There are scars on his face that made him look intimidating for a couple of people. "YOU GUYS AIN'T GOT NOTHING ON ME!"
"No, we just want to make a deal." Zhul squatted in front of him. He brought out a parchment that was filled with words from the top to the bottom. "Sign here and the deal would be made."
"WHAT DEAL!? I DON'T KNOW WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!"
"Could you stop screaming and start reading." Zhul said with an annoyed face as he clog one of his ears. "I got a nice deal waiting for all of you."
"Release me first and we can talk about some deal." The person asked which Sutr immediately do with his sword. He was missing just a couple of inches from the person's skins. "Give me that thing!" He took it forcefully from Zhul's hand and read the content. His head bopped up and down as he read it. "Are you for real now?" The person asked clearly interested towards proposal.
"Yes and it's either yes or no from you. Do it quickly, I don't want to waste more time."
"What if I said no."
"We'll report you to the guild like a normal citizen and it's not like you committed any kind of crime right? You guys just scam some people."
"We'll take it." The person said. He gives the parchment back to Zhul and said. "Give me something to sign this thing."
Zhul brought out a knife and sliced his fingertips. The blood accumulated and he press it again the parchment. "Do it like this. Don't be a coward and do it."
"Interesting way." The person took the knife and do the same thing as Zhul. "Now we are deal."
"Nice working with you and we are not sorry. You would be much better if you talked willingly rather than forcefully." Zhul rummaged inside his little bag and brought out 5 little healing potions. "Here. This is a sign of my good faith to you guys."
"This is not enough for all of us."
"WALK IT OFF!" Sutr screams out of boredom. "Use it on five important people."
"Let's go. We are leaving." Tez said as he walked outside the building first. Sutr and Zhul soon followed him. They walked under the night sky alongside each other.
"Before we go home. I need to picked up something." Zhul said as he walked faster than Sutr and Tez. "Follow me."
"?" 2X
"So, how much is this place?" Sutr asked as they stopped in front of a small house. Zhul unlocked the door and they went in.
They immediately meet with another door to a room that took the entire house. No, it could be described that the room was the house. The door was made from metal. It certainly look strong and could stand a couple of bomb explosion.
"Okay seriously, how much does this place cost?"
Zhul didn't answer Sutr question as he open the metal door. He brought out a necklace with a magic stone attach to it. He presses the magic stone on the door and then the door swings open. Cold air that dwarf the night wind quickly rushes at them. Sutr could feel ice forming on his skins the more he made contact with the air.
"Okay seriously dude. You need to answer my question. How much does this place cost? This could made us go bankrupt."
"Don't worry, I have already pay for all of this." Zhul went inside the room. The room was filled with ice and sealed metal baskets. Basically, the room is a big freezer.
"You made all of this? How advanced is your enigma skill again?" Tez asked for the first time after he felt the cold air.
"Unlike Perseus, I know what I want to make, so it's a lot easier. It's like going to maze with a compass and knowing where the exit is, you just need to find the path to it." Zhul open one of the baskets. He nodded a couple of time before saying. "Sutr, bring this one home. Tez, follow me downstairs."
"What's inside this?" Sutr looked inside the basket. He saw fresh fishes pile on top of each other. "Fish? From Melen?"
"Yeah." Zhul answer before he and Tez went downstairs using the stairs inside the freezer. Zhul scanned the entire room before focusing on a single basket. He approached it and look inside of it. "Tez, this is the one."
"…..Vegetables? You stacked them down here?" Tez asked as he lifted the basket and walked up the stairs.
"I stacked every type of food in here." The three of them walked outside and Zhul closed the freezer door. Zhul locked the house before they continue on.
"So you are prepared in case something like this happens huh? How many of this 'little houses' that you own in Orario?" Sutr asked.
"As much as I need."
"Well clearly not. If it did, Orario would be empty." Tez said sarcastically.
"Ha ha ha very funny." Zhul let out a dry laugh. "Come on, we need to get going."
"Checkmate."
Zhul heard Finn's voice from outside the door. He had just arrived and wanted to open the door but was utterly stopped when he heard Finn's voice coming from inside.
What is he doing here? Zhul asked himself as he opened the door. He was met with Koth, Aol and Finn playing chess in the living room.
"What are you doing here, braver?" The one who asked was Sutr as he walked in with a basket on his hands. "Your familia had just came home from an expedition, aren't you supposed to be resting?"
"Well I am right now. I need to blow out some steam."
"Koth and Aol, help Sutr and Tez unload the food. I'll handle the Braver." Zhul said as he pulled out a chair and sit across from where Finn was sitting.
"Okay." Koth, Aol, Sutr and Tez soon went into the kitchen leaving Finn and Zhul alone.
"Talk. We are alone now so that's should be better."
"No, no, no. I am just here to let out some steam. Want to play a game of chess?"
"…sigh…..okay." They put the pieces together and start playing.
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"Please say your real intention." Zhul asked as he moved another piece.
*Tap *Tap *Tap
"I don't know what you are talking about."
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"I know you don't want to burden others with your problem, but what you are doing now is more troublesome."
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"Don't worry. It's just about the expedition."
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"It failed didn't it?"
*Tap…..*Tap
"I don't really know your definition of fail."
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"Fail in general should be good. So?"
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"We don't necessary fail, but yeah. There's something that weigh on my mind."
*Tap *Tap *Tap
"Thanks for opening up. It would help both you and me."
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"It's your turn?"
"?"
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"What happen on the bar?"
*Tap…
"Check. Not much I if we are talking with your standard."
*Tap *Tap *Tap
"The bar blew up, that is something big even with my standard."
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"…..sigh…..you really are a pain."
*Tap
"Check. Well, you won't open up if I don't. It's not really beneficial for both of us."
*Tap *Tap *Tap…
"I still don't know what attacked us but it brought a bomb. They were using robe to hide themselves."
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"So what are you going to do?"
*Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap *Tap
"What are you going to do, Braver?" Zhul asked with pressing tone.
*Tap…..
"…are you suspecting me?"
*Tap *Tap *Tap
"Don't flatter yourself. I suspected everyone and beside…"
*Tap
"Checkmate, Braver." Zhul said as he laid done the final piece. There are nowhere for Finn's king to go except death.
Finn smile. He released all of his steams when he goes toe-to-toe with Zhul on a game of chess. After the failed expedition, this kind of things really help him relax. "You win."
"Yeah and now what do you want? I already give you my part, so you better give yours. Full."
"Maybe next time. It's getting kind of late." Finn stood up from his chair. "Before I go, here is a souvenir from me. Let's meet again." He placed a magic stone in the table before walking out the base.
Zhul took the magic stone and watched it closely. What kind of monster drop this? I never seen this kind. He put it inside his pocket. Better find out, it could be connected to whoever attacked us. With another goal made in his mind, Zhul walked up the stairs and went to sleep. Huh, what a pain.