"Arthur, do you need company?"
The man with short blonde hair and deep blue eyes asked; he was the one who was somewhat obsessed with Samantha Hall, not because of her looks and body, but rather because of her reputation and family's business.
"I've already called some men, but do you plan on joining? You have something against that bastard, right... Reinhardt?"
The Student Council President — who was sitting on a high-back chain in his villa-like dormitory room — spoke casually as he looked from his side.
"It will be fun, you see. So tomorrow, when the Tower of Growth or whatever the hell is that opens, we'd have less to think about.
"I'm planning to get rid of him because I don't like someone who's getting in my way even slightly.
He said firmly as he clenched his fist that was on the armrest of the high-back chair, remembering the supposed-to-be one of his toys.
"It's unfortunate for Kevin Springer, he got so much potential, but he was mysteriously killed and never been found. Though it worked out better for you, others became scared and thought that you had something to do about it.
"Hmm... Arthur, do you think it's a bad idea?"
Reinhardt said as he fell into deep thought before he looked to Ruina, who was leaning with her back on the wall.
She's the one who stopped Reinhardt from making a commotion during the Banquet of Obelisk after Samantha had ignored him.
Her crimson eyes reflected in the dark before she interjected between the conversation of Arthur and Reinhardt.
"...I don't know about Reinhardt's thoughts, but I won't be coming; though I'm curious about what you'll do with Amelie. She's been very obedient to your orders and did them perfectly during the past two months. It'll be a shame if she gets disposed of."
Arthur and Reinhardt pondered about her words.
Although they didn't have evidence about her; faking her actions or having ulterior motives, Arthur felt that something was amiss with her even though she was able to keep a straight face when she was talking to him.
"I don't have solid evidence, but it's clear that she's onto something with that Russell bastard.
"...Have you two noticed that she's the one who offered the artifact I needed, and said that Russell, the one who killed Kevin, is the seller of the artifact?"
During the Ranking of Exchange, after watching Russell — their suspected killer of Kevin — on the 40th Emergence Anniversary, Arthur confirmed Russell's skills and the acupuncture he used to humiliate Kevin by moving him to the Obelisk Tracking Field.
"That makes sense... I guess I'll see what's about to happen."
Ruina spoke, seemingly interested in what was about to unfold.
...
[Announcement]
Congratulations on finishing your Midterm exams!
As per Obelisk rules, everyone will have an Academic Break for two weeks starting on October 15, 2062, at 6:00 P.M., until November 06, 2062.
But it is advised that every student shall go back to the academy on November 04; two days before the resume of classes.
May your vacation bear fruit.
– Vice Chancellor Dexter Rainfall.
...
After reading the announcement posted on the Obelisk Website, Russell closed the high-quality laptop he bought at the Thorn of Rose.
"Amelie, Arthur said that it's tonight, right? When did he send the message again?"
He looked at Amelie — who was sitting on the couch with her feet on the table — and waited for a response.
"Why are you asking about the time he sent the message, Oppa?"
Freya – who just came back from the kitchen with plates of Etherian Bacon Sandwiches – asked casually.
"Well, maybe he sent the message after midnight, so it'll probably mean tomorrow night instead of this night, right?"
Amelie cackled at Russell's trivial, but logical reasoning.
"Hahaha, no, he sent me the message around 11 P.M., it's just I kinda forgot about it and didn't manage to tell you as soon as possible."
Amelie answered with a soft tone.
"Tsk. Oppa, just what are you saying? Anyway, don't leave me again in this issue, alright? I'm probably the center of this issue because of Kevin Springer.
"But... Oppa, it's kind of suspicious, why Arthur's obsessed with Kevin Springer that he seemed hellbent on getting rid of you because you killed him. Well, technically, it was Amelie who did it, but you're the one who exposed yourself during the Ranking of Exchange when you used something like acupuncture, right? Similar when you left Kevin naked in the Obelisk Tracking Field."
Freya said curiously after considering what happened.
"Hmm... simply because he likes ordering his toys, that's why the member of his factions are those who didn't have or estrange with their family. It's like with Kevin's death, I stole one of his supposed-to-be toys.
He looked at Amelie, causing her to be slightly embarrassed.
"Sorry... I just explained his tendency."
"It's okay, it's true anyway."
Amelie said with a faint smile, recalling bits of memories about what she had gone through.
Russell then continued describing Arthur's personality based on his unpublished novel, but from these two's perspectives, he had seen them in the future and wanted to change something.
"...Ehh?? Is that for real? What an unfortunate man."
Amelie reacted in wonder about Arthur's situation while Freya fell silent for a moment.
"Even though that's the case, he can not justify everything he had done."
Freya nodded at her older brother's words as the Sun on the horizon set itself down while the bluish moon started to show itself up.
...
8:30 P.M. Blue Circle Bar, South of Obelisk City.
Russell and Amelie arrived at a luxurious bar with various lights inside, half-naked women, round tables with players enjoying themselves, and the counter in which two bartenders were catering to some guests.
With the Player License they received according to the Soul Contract, they were allowed to enter the bar, or at least that's what it appeared to be because Arthur Wolfson had ordered the security to let them in while he was in a certain VIP room.
The Blue Circle Bar was one of the businesses that were owned by the Shadow Guild, though these people had no idea about the faces of the one who attacked the Shadow Guild Branch in the Western Olympia, or there's a possibility that they were not informed aside from Arthur Wolfson.
<Freya, where are you? Don't forget the Junain's Blanket.>
Russell asked his younger sister, but this time it was done from the Star Quest Party 'Party Chat' for a certain reason that's included in their plan, and not through telepathy that they usually do.
<I'm at the table, near the counter. This is f*cking hard to navigate, Oppa!>
<Hey! You can do it, it's what we practiced for a while now.>
Amelie cheered her up as two formal-looking men in black suits assisted them to the certain VIP room where Arthur, Reinhardt, and Ruina were in.
The Blue Circle Bar has three floors; two magic elevators, though the quality wasn't like the one in the Obelisk Academy; two emergency exits, and quite a several rooms for guests who wanted to spend the night in. It's more of a medium hotel than a bar if the name of the place was to be disregarded.
<I'm on the other elevator, see you there. Just signal me if it's a go! Don't forget it!>
Freya said through the Party Chat in the System.
...
Arriving at the near-end of the corridor, VIP room number 01 on the third floor, one of the two men knocked and said that the guests have arrived before slowly opening the door.
"Come in."
Arthur Wolfson spoke, prompting Russell and Amelie to enter the room that was quite spacious with a long glass table full of delicious delicacies and beverages.
There were two long couches facing each other with the long glass table separating them, and then three small-sized couches on the one end of the long glass table where Arthur, Reinhardt, and Ruina were sitting, while there was only one couch on the other end, meant for Russell to be seated on.
Click-!
The door behind was closed by one of the two men, but Russell and Amelie didn't bother to look back, instead, they scouted the surroundings and reported to Freya how many were inside this certain VIP room.
<Freya's there are 5 here including them, then two in front of the door outside, making it 7. Their ranks, including the guards or goons, were about C+ to B; Arthur is B- rank, Reinhardt and Ruina, the one I talked to you about with Amelie are both C+ rank, but almost breaking to B-, while the guards are on B rank.>
<Copy that, Oppa. I'm here on one of the floating debris. This is dangerous but hilarious at the same time.>
Freya replied while Amelie interjected.
<Oi! Stop babbling, and focus. We'd be dead if you failed your job. You know very well that the downside of my Skill: Dark Resurrection (Forbidden) is that I can't resurrect myself, right?>
<Right, right! Just tell me if it's a go. I'll be waiting.>
Russell and Amelie fell silent and didn't reply anymore to Freya; they focused their attention in front of them.
"Good evening, Sir Arthur. This is Russell, the seller of the artifact called Ela's Needle and Junain's Blanket."
Amelie politely introduced Russell, as though they didn't know each other from the start, and didn't have any kind of closure aside from business.
"I see... Russell right... I remember you... you're the one who won in the Ranking of Exchange against Bailey Clarkson; though the reason I remember you were due to Azalea's senseless bet.
"By the way, I'll be frank, I don't have enough money to buy both of them, so I'll be buying the Ela's Needle first."
Russell and Amelie knew it was a lie, he might not have the money for both artifacts, but he never intended to buy Junain's Blanket from the start.
Arthur Wolfson — by nodding his head — signaled one of the guards that's under the Shadow Guild that he could mobilize to check the artifact that Russell took out from his Dimensional Inventory.
It was a short thick rod that didn't have a pointed tip unlike a real needle, but there were illusory blue threads that were circling around the artifact that could only be seen with Mana-related Sense skill.
Russell handed the artifact, along with his Bank Account details to Amelie before she handed it to one of the guards, who then checked its authenticity by using a certain device that every Guild "must" have: Artifact Identifier.
...
"It's real, Sir Arthur."
Reinhardt and Ruina glanced at each other upon hearing the words of one of the guards. They knew that it's been a while since Arthur started looking for that certain artifact.
"I see... Hahaha! Hahahahaha! Finally!
"Send the payment. I'm a man of my word."
Arthur revealed a grin as he said those words while looking at Russell.
<Arthur, are you going to proceed with your plan?>
Ruina asked via telepathy, though it's a skill that's rather bought unlike what Russell and his companions have.
Arthur, who heard Ruina's words in his head, slowly gritted his teeth after the guard confirmed that the payment has successfully been sent.
But, at that moment, an unusual excuse ruined his mood.
"Thank you, Sir Arthur, for the transaction. If you still need Junain's Blanket, don't forget to contact Amelie.
"Anyway, Sir, can I go take a bathroom first?"
Without minding the behavior, he nodded, and then Russell went to the bathroom that's inside VIP Room 01.
...
After a minute or two, Russell came out of the bathroom.
"Sir Arthur, thank you for accommodating me in this luxurious bar. I'll make sure to remember your kindness."
Before Arthur could process his words and the tone it was spoken, Russell revealed a grin, but his deep blue eyes turned suddenly cold.
At that moment, Arthur was about to respond when a sword protruded from his chest, which came from behind, causing him to spit a mouthful of blood.
Reinhardt and Ruina didn't manage to react in time or quickly process what just happened.
Behind Arthur Wolfson, a woman with deep blue eyes was standing; exuding the same atmosphere as the man whose deep blue eyes turned cold.
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