"Arthur, do you need company?"
The man with short blonde hair and deep blue eyes asked; he was the one who was sowhat 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 so n, but do you plan on joining? You have sothing 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 soone 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, rembering 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 beca scared and thought that you had sothing 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 Alie. She's been very obedient to your orders and did them perfectly during the past two months. It'll be a sha 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 sothing 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 sothing 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 Ergence Anniversary, Arthur confird 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.
...
[Announcent]
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 resu of classes.
May your vacation bear fruit.
– Vice Chancellor Dexter Rainfall.
...
After reading the announcent posted on the Obelisk Website, Russell closed the high-quality laptop he bought at the Thorn of Rose.
"Alie, Arthur said that it's tonight, right? When did he send the ssage again?"
He looked at Alie — who was sitting on the couch with her feet on the table — and waited for a response.
"Why are you asking about the ti he sent the ssage, Oppa?"
Freya – who just ca back from the kitchen with plates of Etherian Bacon Sandwiches – asked casually.
"Well, maybe he sent the ssage after midnight, so it'll probably an tomorrow night instead of this night, right?"
Alie cackled at Russell's trivial, but logical reasoning.
"Hahaha, no, he sent the ssage around 11 P.M., it's just I kinda forgot about it and didn't manage to tell you as soon as possible."
Alie answered with a soft tone.
"Tsk. Oppa, just what are you saying? Anyway, don't leave 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 seed hellbent on getting rid of you because you killed him. Well, technically, it was Alie who did it, but you're the one who exposed yourself during the Ranking of Exchange when you used sothing 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 mber 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 Alie, causing her to be slightly embarrassed.
"Sorry... I just explained his tendency."
"It's okay, it's true anyway."
Alie said with a faint smile, recalling bits of mories 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 sothing.
"...Ehh?? Is that for real? What an unfortunate man."
Alie reacted in wonder about Arthur's situation while Freya fell silent for a mont.
"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 Alie arrived at a luxurious bar with various lights inside, half-naked won, round tables with players enjoying themselves, and the counter in which two bartenders were catering to so 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 inford aside from Arthur Wolfson.
Russell asked his younger sister, but this ti 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.
Alie cheered her up as two formal-looking n 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 ergency exits, and quite a several rooms for guests who wanted to spend the night in. It's more of a dium hotel than a bar if the na of the place was to be disregarded.
Freya replied while Alie interjected.
Russell and Alie 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."
Alie 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 rember you... you're the one who won in the Ranking of Exchange against Bailey Clarkson; though the reason I rember 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 Alie 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 Dinsional 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 Alie 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 paynt. I'm a man of my word."
Arthur revealed a grin as he said those words while looking at Russell.
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 confird that the paynt has successfully been sent.
But, at that mont, 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 Alie.
"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 ca out of the bathroom.
"Sir Arthur, thank you for accommodating in this luxurious bar. I'll make sure to rember 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 mont, Arthur was about to respond when a sword protruded from his chest, which ca from behind, causing him to spit a mouthful of blood.
Reinhardt and Ruina didn't manage to react in ti or quickly process what just happened.
Behind Arthur Wolfson, a woman with deep blue eyes was standing; exuding the sa atmosphere as the man whose deep blue eyes turned cold.
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