War on Crime #4

Arthur wearily opens his eyes, blinking a few times, basking in the light protruding through the window and in the realization of his current state. "I'm not dead..." he whispered, almost surprised. "That's...good."

"You're awake!"

Arthur groaned, his ears being assaulted by loud high-pitched squealing and a dying man's pleas. Looking down, as his back was on the bed, Arthur could see Sabine smothering Vincent in her chest, much like how a teddy bear would.

"You're awake, that's good to hear," Alexander said, walking in with a glass of water. "I could hear Sabine from downstairs."

 Arthur gave him a wryly smile with much sarcasm in his eyes. "Thanks," he said, receiving the glass of water. "How long was I out?"

Vincent freed himself from Sabine's hold and fixed himself. "Just the whole night, it's actually quite early," he said, fixing his glasses. "it's about 6:30 am-- hey! you're injured!"

Arthur got up from the bed, much to their shock. "I've always healed fast," Arthur reassured. "I nearly passed out on my way here, so I drank one of the potions I made from club activities." he thought, trying to stretch as slowly as possible. "Funnily enough, I've broken, strained, sprained, and injured myself trying to get stronger and I found out about my extraordinary healing factor. That was a win."

Alexander effortlessly drags the largest and most comfortable chair next to the bedside. "Well, I'm sure it's because of your hard work in training," he said, crossing his legs. "Enough about that, I heard you purchased a good apartment for very cheap--"

"--And I heard about the robbery that took place." Vincent finished. "My sources from the police department have reported seventeen bodies. Ten were gunned down by sniper bullets, six were killed by revolver rounds, and one witness dead." he listed out. "Care to explain?"

"I was househunting, saw an opportunity, took said opportunity, and reap the rewards," Arthur replied shortly, not mincing his words. "I got careless and one managed to witness it."

"I see," Vincent nodded. "Extra training will be added to your regiment." 

Arthur frowned. "Really? It's not like I'm instantly a bonafide assassin within a month." He internally complained. "I haven't learned all of the basics of the craft, let alone master it."

"Fine," He relented. "How did your night go?"

Sabine smiled, taking a small box from behind her. "It was very fruitful! In fact, I got you a souvenir!" She pointed at the box. 

Arthur received it with gratitude. "At least something nice came out of me getting riddled with bullets." He joked, opening the gift slowly. "What's the occasion?"

Sabine smiled wryly. "Nothing really," She shrugged. "You see I'm too old to have a child, so I see you like the son I always wanted. " 

"Corny," Arthur cringed with a smile. "You go at it with Vincent every night, why haven't you-- procreated yet?"

vincent shook his head. "By the time we discovered our future in each other, we were too old, and adoption is not an option in our lifestyle."

The box opened with the ribbon resting on Arthur's hand. "Well," he said, looking at the gift in his hand. "I've only known my caregiver, and I've never had parents. I'm not against the idea."

Sabine and Vincent brightened up, almost instantaneously, their eyes which were filled with the sadness of reality turned happy and exuberant with his words. "D-Do you mean it?" She asked, almost childlike.

Arthur put on the gift they gave him. It was a black-skull signet ring, with blue diamonds for eyes, and he wore it on his right thumb. "I've never lied to you so far."

Arthur smiled again, looking at the signet ring on his thumb, both from the sentiment it carried and the worth of the item. he looked at his mentors, noting their happy faces.

"Don't get sappy on me now." He joked.

Despite his attempts, he was engulfed in a soul-crushing hug from the lady. A few tears streamed down her cheek, and also her husband's, as she muttered thank you.

"It must've been a very dear wish." Arthur sighed, rubbing circles on her back. "Let it all out, I've got all day."

A few hours of heartfelt tears later, they gathered around one of the bar's longest tables, sitting side by side for breakfast. Served on four plates was Vincent's special steak meal.

"She's very happy." Arthur thought, chewing on his food. "That must've gotten a lot out of her chest. Good for her." He looked down at his plate, particularly the ring on his thumb. "To think they got an artifact. How in the world did the auctioneers get their hands on this?"

Alexander noticed Arthur sneaking glances at his ring. "Is it really that to your fancy? We managed to get that on a great deal from a peddler"

Arthur smirked at the man, "You can't tell what it is, can you?" he asked, smirking, garnering the attention of the couple across from them. Looking at them, he raised the ring in his hand. "This is a magic artifact, I can tell just by looking– though I don't know what it does."

"That's a lie, I know exactly what it does. It was one of the many artifacts the heroine couldn't use because it's a dark-element type, the complete opposite of her light-magic specialty."

While Sabine and vincent were boasting about how they got the item for cheap, Arthur continued eating. "The Great Deceiver's Ghastly ring– I'd know what this is from a mile away."

"If memory serves right, It's a ring that creates illusions of any chosen object, organic or inorganic, within five meters of the user. Another thing about it is that it's so ancient that scripture magic was used in its construction– so any type of magic could be channeled into it and dark magic would still be in effect."

"It's an A-rank artifact, and with the game's coherent clothing feature, the rings on your character can be hidden–"

[ New Feature in Inventory has been unlocked ]

"Speak of the devil." Arthur thought. "Status."

A window of Arthur's person appeared, in the form of a character customization window. five slots for each hand, one for each finger; one slot for each wrist; two slots for your ears; and lastly, one necklace.

"If it's as a necklace artifact– I'm going to need the Silver Jeweler's Necklace. It's a necklace that gives two more slots for your neck." Arthur thought, stacking the plates for vincent to put away.

While Arthur was experiencing good fortune, David was experiencing difficulties, specifically bullying difficulties.

"Ugh!" he croaked, taking a strong kick to the diaphragm, which knocked the air from his lungs. "It hurts! I can't breathe!"

"What are you going to do?" The leader of the pack sneered, sitting from a distance, with a glass of wine in his hand. "Arthur is suspended for a month! No one is going to protect you!"

David was on the ground, in a secluded alley, just hidden away in an unpopular hallway. "You common folk have gotten too arrogant! Your central figure is gone!"

David clutched his head to protect his face, Sasha has no need to worry about his health, and if George were to catch wind of his misfortune, he'd fight; and the standing of the commoners could plummet even further. "I- I need to stay strong… or else…" he thought, slowly fading from consciousness.

"Hmph!" The leader said. "That's enough, we can do this again tomorrow."

The architect squinted at Arthur, who held a floor plan of the apartment, the sketches, and the material list. Compared to the excessive amount of plaster, carpet, and other materials other houses cost, this young man approached him with a unique design, different from the current standard.

"Hmm, interesting." The chief architect said, rubbing his mustache. "This design is unique and original." "The overall ambiance of the house exudes comfortability instead of an excessive show of wealth, or the lack thereof, how interesting-- It would be best if I could..."

He was about to mentally memorize the color palette produced by the rustic-modern Brick loft brought by the customer, the bottom-left corner of the large page, noticed it was signed by three different people. "Ah-- it's been signed..."

Arthur smirks at the man, who originally was blooming with greed now deflating into bitterness. "Nice try, Asshole. vincent told me this place charges an extortionate amount of money for house designs, and if the client brings an original design-- they steal it, and patent it."

"The materials and tools with be delivered by the end of today. How will payment be paid? Installments or cash?" The man begrudgingly asked, writing down his authentication of the building permit. 

Arthur took out his wallet and began to write on the cheque. "Cash," he replied as he passed the check to the head architect's secretary.