tHe ArT oF tHe DeAl

"You think you can give me the five gold now?" Idalec whispered to Sato as they returned to the lobby, “It will be easier to cut a deal.”

“Go off, king,” Sato said, carelessly dropping five gold coins into an amused Idalec’s hand.

Prix’s eyes nearly bulged out as she got right into Sato’s ear. “Why did you give him the gold? Take it back! Now!”

Francis motioned for Prix and Sato to take a seat, then invited Idalec to talk with him in his private office on the second floor.

Once the two had settled into the small room, which was big enough for at most three chairs. A couple of wooden boxes filled with paper lined the wall, and a coffee table was rammed in between the two seats in the room.

Francis spoke frankly, “Look, I can't take a copper over 3 gold for 92.” Francis looked with pity at Idalec. “Contractor’s pride.”

‘Why did Sato blurt out that he'd pay six gold coins?’ Idalec kept his hand in his pocket, silently fidgeting with the gold coins. “Thank you.” Idalec said, gritting his teeth, “He’s new- I thought everyone knew that all slave auctions started high and went down over time.”

"I can definitely sell you 92 for 3 gold, though," Francis said, as Idalec started methodically putting down three coins on the table,

‘What leverage do I even have here!?’ Idalec thought, looking at the list. “Could I also buy Luna? Number 40?”

“Are you sure?” Francis asked, baffled, to which Idalec gave a slow and heavy nod,

“Can you just throw her in as a bonus? Look, you're already selling 92 at full price, and Luna’s worth what? Two silver at most?” Idalec said, leaning back in his seat,

“Sure. Number 40 and 92 for 3 gold, then?” Francis took the money before standing up to grab the two cat girl’s deeds,

“I can transfer the deeds to Sato,” Idalec called out to Francis as he pulled out the two pages,

“Oh, ok-” Francis shrugged before beginning to chant and maintaining eye contact with Idalec. “I hereby transfer this deed to its new true owner.” There was a small flash of light, and just like that Idalec owned the contract for Luna. Francis repeated the chant, and just like that, Idalec had number 92’s deed.

“I’ll arrange everything for you,” Francis winked as Idalec stood up, leaving downstairs, pocketing Luna’s deed.

Prix's eyes were anxiously sweeping the room, and as soon as she spotted Idalec, her eyes locked onto him. "I got you a big discount," Idalec sighed, handing back Sato’s two gold coins and then handing over 92’s deed. “I hereby transfer this deed to its new true owner.” Idalec finished chanting before Sato even realized what was happening. “You now own 92.” Idalec pulled back his hand into his pocket.

“Now what?” Sato asked excitedly as Prix eyed up Idalec, her anxiety settling down a little.

“Francis should come down soon, and then we'll grab you 92,” Idalec said, looking towards the small stairway.

"How did you manage to get a 2 gold coin discount? Are those two gold coins real?" Prix interrogated Idalec,

“I could have gotten a bigger discount if our friend, Sato, didn’t say anything.” Idalec, holding back his voice,

“How?”

Idalec rolled his eyes. “Have neither of you ever been in a slave yard before? On that thread, have you ever bought anything before?” Idalec looked into Prix’s suspicious eyes. “By yourself?”

“I have not,” Prix said, shifting her gaze, feeling seen in a certain way.

'She's definitely not a merchant’s daughter then.' Idalec’s eyes moved to that indigo necktie. ‘So I was right that Prix must be nobility… So who is Sato to her?’ Idalec remained standing,

"Sorry to make you wait." Francis walked urgently to them, holding a ring of keys. “Let’s get going.” Francis smiled as he led Idalec, Prix and Sato out the back.

This time, the guard by the door followed to provide protection to the group.

“Ok,” Francis said, approaching 92’s cage and unlocking it. 92 watched with an unreadable expression as the door swung open. “This is your new master, 92.” Francis pointed at Sato, arms outstretched,

A moment passed before 92’s eyes refocused on Sato. “Hello, master. I knew you would buy me~” 92 said, crawling out. She stood at around Sato’s shoulder level.

“You're so fluffy!” Sato squealed as he embraced 92, wrapping his hands around her, feeling her up.

“40, you have also been bought,” Francis said, deflated as he motioned for the guard to be more alert as Francis unlocked Luna’s cage.

Luna looked confused as the door was opened. "I bought you," Idalec said, locking eyes with her.

Luna's eyes darted around for a jiffy as her mind worked on her next move. Luna tried to put on that same cutesy expression, tilting the corners of her mouth the way humans liked, as she crawled out, to Francis's surprise, acting cooperatively. “Nice to meet you,” Luna grunted,

‘Revrho, Revrho, Revrho.’ Idalec laughed to himself, ‘A plan so blatant yet thoughtful. It’s just like you. I guess you're just looking for an opportunity.’ Everyone started moving out, and Idalec turned his back on Luna, knowing for certain she wouldn’t attack him now.

"What if Idalec joined us?" Sato blurted once the five of them left the slave market. While scratching 92’s head, completely incapable of taking his hands off her.

Prix looked a lot more resolute than she felt about the matter. “Well, he’s studying at Roux Academy, so he wouldn’t be able to join us right now-”

“I’m on break right now.” Idalec corrected Prix, lifting his suitcase.

“...”

“The more the merrier in a hero’s party, Prix! Now what should I name you?” Sato purred, which made 92 look squeamish.

“Can you give me a pretty name, master?” 92 suggested with a forced smile as Sato rubbed her chin,

“I would like to join you.” Idalec added, ‘A party sure sounds fun. And it might even give me a taste of youth and adventure again.’

"What’s in it for us if you join?" Prix asked; she wanted it to just be Sato and her defeating the coming calamity, but with Idalec, Luna and 92 they’d be at five.

"I was going home, so I don't care either way," Idalec confessed to Prix,

"Please join us, cuh!" Sato whined,

‘The past is really the best indicator of the future behaviour that we have.’ Idalec smiled to himself, “I will join then-”

“Let’s get a move on it!” Sato said, taking his hand off 92 to strike a pose and pointing sideways out of town, “...” Sato looked like he was about to explode, holding back the cleverest phrase, except- the detonator was never pressed.

Sato dropped his silly pose, stalking off in embarrassment.