Chapter 25: Black Market (5)

Author's Note: Here's the chapter. As always, let me know if you find a mistake, and please follow, rate, and favorite since it really helps bring more visibility ^^

"You-you can't do this!" the bookie stuttered, causing Caellum to laugh and slap his cheek playfully.

"You also can't just take my money without paying up just because the house lost the bet. We're both at fault, so it cancels out, no? What's your answer? Are you paying up?"

As the bookie, Maxwell, stared at the figure wearing a dark mask with circular dark lenses instead of eyes who reeked of blood, he looked over to the side, where he caught a glimpse of a figure wearing a coiling serpent mask gently laying his unnaturally still, with guards who were frothing at the mouth on the ground.

As if sensing his gaze, the person with the serpent mask turned to face him, and Maxwell swore that the serpents on the mask seemed to begin writhing and hissing as if they were about to attack him.

Maxwell felt his eyes go blurry, and he began to feel dizzy as a slightly sweet scent cut through the bloody stench surrounding him.

"W̴͖̭͇̑Ě̴̢̫L̶̢̖̱͌L̵̨̫͈̍̚ ?"

As the nighmarish voice sounded in his ears, Maxwell felt as if he were being held underwater with the air being squeezed from his lungs.

When Maxwell looked back at those dark lenses, all he could see was his reflection with the writhing snakes with venom dripping from their fangs poised to strike him.

"P-please let me go. I-I'm sorry-" Maxwell begged.

He was just doing his job as told when payouts for a particular bet were too high, but this demon, who reeked of blood and his serpent assistant, were clearly above his pay grade.

"Aiyah~. You make it sound like I'm a bad guy when you're the one being bad to me. Why are you crying when it should be me weeping because I can't get my money?" Caellum replied, trying to shake the bookie threateningly.

Unfortunately, due to his weak arms, only the bookie's head bobbled a bit, but the man looked sick, as if he were going to vomit.

Caellum absolutely didn't want vomit on him, but he also needed to maintain his imposing demeanor so the bookie knew he wasn't joking and would call out his boss.

As Caellum turned to Yaga, wondering if she had anything to scare the bookie, a calm voice interrupted him.

"Please let him go, sir."

Caellum turned to the side and saw an older man with silver hair wearing an outfit similar to Red's, mask and all, except his was all black, and he had no cane.

"And you are?"

"I am the assistant of Sir Red. You're Mr. Morte, correct? I'm sorry for the delay in my arrival and miscommunication with our staff, but I'm here to fulfill your request. Please release Maxwell." The assistant repeated, staring first at the guards lying on the ground, then at the serpent-masked person who gave him a bad feeling.

"Oh, yes, of course, there was a miscommunication. You should have said so earlier. Now, I've gone and scared an innocent man for nothing. My apologies, Maxy. And don't worry, your guards are still alive and well. They're just taking a short nap." Caellum quickly released the bookie and began dusting his shoulders and patting his back to convey his friendliness.

But as the bookie kept flinching, his gaze wandering from Yaga to the guards on the ground and back to Caellum, Caellum realized the man's expression was fear.

He was shaking in fear.

Caellum immediately nodded sympathetically, completely understanding his feelings.

'After all, he was also afraid of Yaga, and if he saw someone wearing a scary serpent mask, causing grown, tough guards to fall to the ground, frothing at the mouth, he would be afraid and want to vomit too.'

'It was only weaklings like them who understood each other.'

Patting the bookie consolingly on the back once more while whispering words of encouragement, Caellum turned to follow the person calling himself Reds' assistant while Yaga walked right behind him, her footsteps silent even though she was almost touching him.

The assistant led them toward one of the cavern's far tunnels, and as they walked through it, Caellum glanced at the dimly lit tunnels branching off either side before making friendly conversation.

"This place is much bigger than I thought. Where do those lead?"

"Apologies, I can't share that information, sir. Additionally, do you mind speeding up, Sir Morte? This walk is taking longer than expected."

"Shall I carry you, young master?" Yaga added quietly.

"….."

'What?'

'Can't a man take his time taking in the sights while trying to catch his breath anymore? Do you know how hard it is to breathe with a stuffy nose and a wet mask that stinks of blood?'

'I feel like I'm going to pass out!'

Instead of responding to the disrespectful request, Caellum quickened his pace, continuing to look around the tunnels and memorize their current path.

Red's assistant continued leading them through tunnels that seemed to get warmer, and just as Caellum was about to say something, they finally entered another open cavern-like space that had several similar buildings to the large cavern they had just left.

'It seemed that this was quite a big operation, hmm? Wonder what was going on over there.'

There were people at the far end moving things in large, cloth-covered carts, and others carrying boxes slowly, but before Caellum could take a better look, Red's assistant blocked his view, guided them into the first stone building, and quickly led them to an opulently decorated sitting room.

"Both of you, please be seated comfortably while I go get refreshments and retrieve master Red to have a discussion with you. Do you have a particular preference?"

"Not at all. Anything is fine with me."

"Understood. I shall return."

As Red's assistant bowed and left, Caellum comfortably sat on an armchair while Yaga stood behind his chair like a guard.

And the moment the door shut, Caellum turned to Yaga.

"Anyone looking or listening in on us?"

Yaga glanced around the fancily decorated room and ceiling, knocking on a few things before shaking her head.

"Not of the non-magical variety. I don't spot any magical observation devices either, but that's not my field of specialty."

"Good enough. Then let's look around comfortably."

"Look around?"

"Aren't you curious as to what the most valuable things here are. We were clearly brought here so he could show off. I'd like to admire the taste of the owner."

"Need I remind you that the owner is a mage?" Yaga replied incredulously.

"I know, I know. Don't worry~, I won't touch anything, I just want to admire them."

'Of course, I know I can't touch it now since Red's a mage, but with proper preparation, can't I come back later to borrow a few things forever since this dang punk keeps wasting my time?'

'It's better to scout early in case the possibility opens up in the future.'

Yaga tilted her head but eventually said nothing as Caellum got up and began pacing around the room.

He checked the items on the display cabinet and examined the furniture and tapestries.

As he was making his second round around the room while wondering where the assistant was, Yaga got his attention as she leaned against a wall.

"Young master, there seems to be an argument going on."

"An argument? Can you hear the details?" Immediately interested, Caellum approached the same wall and stuck his head against it, but couldn't hear a single thing.

"Yes. It's between Red and that Hollow fighter, hold on, ahem." Yaga cleared her throat before beginning to speak.

{"Please have a seat, Hollow. While I admire your energy, it would be prudent of you to watch your tone and behavior before you find out that you're a small fish that's about to get burnt to a crisp."}

Hearing Yaga speak in the exact same voice and cadence that Red did, Caellum got chills from how creepy it was.

'This…this was probably an even scarier skill than poisoning somebody and knocking them out.'

'And if it were used properly in the political landscape, it could do immense damage. Conversations could be fabricated, people would be set up, or worse.'

'No wonder the 13th prince highly valued her, especially when he began getting rid of all of his siblings who were a threat to him for the throne.'

Once again, Caellum was relieved knowing that he would be leaving the palace soon and would have absolutely nothing to do with anyone in it again.

As Caellum stared at her, Yaga's voice changed again, this time coming out slightly deeper and rougher with an edge of frustration.

{"Stop using flowery words. I know what I signed, so give me my money and let me go. Or else."}

{"Or else? It seems you're threatening me, Hollow, which violates our contract. Very good. Hold him down."}

As Yaga switched back to Red's voice, suddenly-

BANG!

A crashing sound so loud that Caellum could hear it sounded out, and before he could react, Yaga yanked him to one side while something flew through the wall and landed on the opposite side of the room.

CRASH!

Staring at the newly created hole in the wall, the unconscious person who had gone flying through it, who looked a bit like Red's assistant, a dead-eyed Hollow who seemed to be behind the violence, and Red, who was standing behind a desk while stroking the large red gem on his cane, Caellum cheerfully waved before stepping over the rubble and making his way into the room.

"Wow, it seems that the discussion is not going so well. Hello, Hollow. You don't know me, but I'm Morte. I want you to know that I'm a huge fan of your work. Honestly. Fantastic job down at the pits. Red, lovely to see you again."

At Caellum's flippant words, Hollow flinched before glaring at Caellum viciously while clenching his fists as if he wanted to swing or something.

Ever the one to read the room, Caellum graciously allowed Yaga to pass ahead of him before continuing to enter the room.

"Mr. Morte, I apologize for the disturbance and the delay. As you can see, my discussion is taking a bit long. If you don't mind stepping out-" Red began to speak through gritted teeth, but Caellum quickly cut him off.

"No, no, it's fine, my friend. I couldn't help but overhear you both, and since the wall between us is literally and figuratively broken, let's just think of it as fate because I think I might have a solution that can make everyone happy."

'More importantly, I can't have you turn my future employee into charcoal just because you're a bit upset that he killed off your house champion.'