Close but so far

After a moment of awkward silence, Mihak said, “Doesn't anyone know where to go? I thought you guys must know about it. I didn't hear anything about it.”

“It's been happening in an unknown place from the start. Isn't it common knowledge?” Gigi replied, looking around in confusion.

“At least let's leave from here and look around,” Gigi added, trying to sound hopeful.                    “Looks like we are not alone,” said Mihak, noticing a whole crowd roaming around in search of a lead.

“Let's follow this crowd for now,” Momo suggested. Soon, they all arrived at the bus stand, following the crowd. It seemed everyone was boarding a particular bus that had a sign saying, “To the event site 30 miles away.”                                                                                                       “Let's enter it,” Mihak said eagerly, running towards the bus.                                                      “Wait, what is written on the front?” Guta asked, stopping in his tracks.                                      “Eeh... In respect to the deceased last time winner, Ahna,” Momo read while squinting his eyes. “Ooh, it looks like it is going to the previous event site,” Mihak replied in disappointment.

“What shall we do now?” asked the anxious Stark. "I have an idea. The number of people here is quite good for getting information. Wimpy boy, get all the cash from everyone's account,” Vel commanded Mihak.                                                                                                                                “Everyone? Okay, I'll come back in a while,” Mihak rushed off, taking everyone's ore passbooks     After a while, Mihak returned, looking a bit exasperated. “This should do,” Momo said, eyeing some boards he was making.                                                                                                              “What do you mean everyone? All of you were almost broke except for a few pennies. Aah, my hard-earned money,” Mihak shouted irritably and lamented, arriving with 456,000 grains.         “So, what is the plan?” the fuzzy-headed person asked, looking at the preparation.

“Hehe, everyone will now take these boards and roam around the whole sector,” Momo told everyone while smirking. 

Written on the boards: “Win 500,000, challenge against a woman named Vel, participation fee: new information about the event site.”                                                                                               “Ooh, nice idea but why are you smirking? It is not your idea nor your money,” Mihak complained.                                                                                                                                             “But why is it 500,000 and not 456,000? Isn't it a mistake?” Balloon noticed.                                     “No one is going to count that,” Momo replied.                                                                                “What if we keep receiving the same and fake information?” Mihak questioned with doubt.           “We cross-check and people tend to lack imagination to create lies in the excitement of winning. And yes, we might get fooled if we're not cautious. Well done,” said Momo while combing his hair.

Soon, everyone else except Vel, Guta, and three members of the crew took off and wandered around different places. People started gathering around a bench where Vel was sitting.          “So what game are we playing?” a buffed guy with muscles and a full beard said, looking down on Vel.“It is Push-it-Off,” Guta, who was standing behind Vel, said.

“All you have to do is decide which position you would take defender or assaulter. Both players will place their hands; in the assaulter's case, you will place your hand on the ground and hook grip with the defender. The assaulter's goal is to lift the defender's arm from the ground to an angle greater than 90 degrees. If the assaulter succeeds, they win. If the defender prevents their arm from being lifted past 90 degrees and keep assaulter arm on ground for 3 second, the defender wins. The only rule is the prohibition of weapons,” explained Guta.

“Let’s start with it then,” said the man and sat on the stool. Both of them took their place "Make it look like you are struggling” guta whispered in vel ear.

“I will take assaulter” said the man                                                                                                        “Start” one of the 3 member of crew name Etir have long hairs covering his eyes                            “Hrrngh..” The beard man making sound as he used his full strength from start and lift the hand to half the way and got completely pressed down with a sound.The person was in shock that he lost to a woman. “Are these muscles just for show, weakass?” someone in the crowd shouted, and everyone burst into laughter as he was leaving

“What legitimate information would you give as a participation fee? Remember, if it is not valid, I will come to your house and make your face clean,” Draven Silas one of the members that stayed said with a sharp razor in hand and a sweet smile.

“You see, to reach the event site, there are two ways: the first is general, and the second is secret. You also need a recommendation from the inside, but I don't think you would be doing this if you had such connections,” he said, flustering and covering his beard with his hand.

“Looks like useful information and true from his expression,” said Draven, noting it down. “           "Next" Draven shouted 

I will try next with the defending position,” said a man with a hunched posture and a sharp voice.

“Start!” Etir shouted.

As the match started, Vel lifted her hand and slowly ascended by each degree. “Shhhk...” sounded the sharp knife sliding out from under the man’s nail, trying to pierce Vel’s skin. Her hand started to go down. “Weak!” she shouted and slammed his hand on the table, breaking his bone. To her surprise, he didn’t cry or scream but just looked at his hand.                            “So, what do you mean by that weapon?” Guta asked, staring.

“Sorry, it was an instinct against a strong opponent. I was an assassin and dealer until today but just retired,” he said, bowing down.                                                                                                 “It should not have poison on it,” he added.                                                                                       “So, what information will you give?” Draven asked, with no welcoming tone.

“You see those buses over there? Out of every 25 buses, one is supposed to take you to the current event site. It is legitimate information; believe it or not is up to you,” the man said.        “Please take these as an apology,” he offered Vel a token for an all-you-can-eat day at his newly opened shop.

“He's going to regret that,” said Renard Thorne, the third remaining member, to the other two, who both nodded and left. "Why do you think he even challenged me?” Vel asked Guta.

“Maybe money for the shop or something else. Who knows, it could be another reason,” Guta replied.

“Renard, I want you to go near that stop and take a report of each bus until I call you back,” Draven said and sent renard for seeing the condition.

Almost all the next people provided either fake information or tried to find loopholes in the rules, but nothing worked against Vel’s strength.

“Is it right what I am seeing?” an old man asked Mihak, who was advertising.                                     “Oh, it is happening near the public Amboit bus stand,” Mihak answered.                                       Soon the man arrived at the scene where it was all happening and observed from afar for a few minutes.

“Looks like only the crooks are left now. Should we close it up?” Draven asked as most had given up, unable to win.

“Let's call everyone and look for a new way,” Etir suggested, and Draven nodded in agreement.

“Can I also try?” the old man asked slowly, emerging from the crowd.

[^9]: The event site is changed every time, and its information is generally leaked purposefully and gathered by information hoarders in the black market and sold for a high price. The class of the information can vary from E to B.