Chapter 11 - Showing That Diamond

Clang!

The sound of metal meeting a metal was echoed from outside. It was disturbing the sleep of the man who had his shoulder bandaged. 

After having some talk with Logy, Drake finally was able to rest his eyes. No dreams were disturbing his sleep right now.

As the sound became louder, Drake finally got up and peeked from the brown rust curtain. 

He didn't recognize the two people that had sword sparring. But what he was sure of, both of them were users. Probably a Bismouth.

Drake decided to come out from his room. When he showed his face outside, they stopped and looked at him. 

Wiping his face with a towel, Ash looked at the boy, "What a stupid decision roaming in that forest. You must be one of the morons who thought they could find any treasure inside." 

Ash was a young masculine teen boy with a black hair. His dark skin matched with the color of his sharp eyes.

When Drake watched how he was sparring with the other person, he knew this person had been trained so hard for a long time. 

Different from that guy, the girl behind was totally giving a different vibe. Red hair and green eyes. She's surely such a sight.

"Hi. Are you feeling better?" The girl said approaching Drake.

"Who are you?" 

"My name is Delany, and that rude boy is Ash." The girl said, "We found you before some monster tore you to shreds." 

"You mean from a panther?" As he remembered his last memory before he fainted, a panther was jumping toward him.

"Well, Puca is a good girl." Actually, Ash and Delaney never imagined they would meet their master pet in that forest. But who was to blame for that. Not just an animal, a bandit could just attack and kill him and no one got the blame. This was a red zone after all.

"Don't tell me that panther is yours." Drake asked. 

"Is there any problem?" Ash stepped in front of Delaney. Somehow, he felt Drake was a dangerous person. As he sensed Drake's energy in the forest before, he thought Drake was a high tier user. 

Or it could probably be something different. Either way, Drake's mana was completely dissimilar with other common Bismouth. 

"Problem? Do you think I don't have a problem with that?" He knew he couldn't blame these people. After all, if they wanted him to die, he would had already been dead. He just didn't like them putting more trouble for him. "If not for that panther, I would have already escaped."

"Do you think I care about that? you are lucky Puca didn't eat you." Ash said, looking down at him.

The tension between those two were noticeable. 

"Come one Ash, let's go back sparring." Delaney said, breaking the strain vibes. 

"Where's Logy?" Drake asked, but none of them were answering his question. "Hey!"

Not caring how annoyed expression was formed on Drake's face, Delaney pushed her sparring friend away from him. They then continued her training. 

As the sky turned dark, the door to his room was finally opened by that old man. 

Drake, who was waiting for him, finally could hear the answer he brought. "How is it?"

"Follow me," Logy said. 

As he took Drake to another room, he noticed that his condition was improving so fastly. Normal people would not be able to move for days with a wound like that.

This boy's self recovery was at different level.

Drake and Logy arrive in front of the basement door. As he knocked two times, a man with white hood welcomed them.

The room was so dark with only a little bit of light coming from the old lantern. It reeked of alcohol and cigars. 

Inside the room, a huge man was visibly sitting in the center. He had a scar on his face that lined from his chin to his upper mouth. And his aura was unbelievably dominating the surroundings.

Drake took the step inside, "You are the leader." it's a statement, not a question. He saw a symbol of samoa on the back of his hand. And by the appearance itself, this strong man was surely the Samoa leader. 

Before, he told Logy to let him meet his leader. No one could deny a lot of money. After all, Samoa was one of the criminal gangs.

The other man beside him poured a glass of drink for Drake. He then, let Drake sit in front of the leader. 

Drake used his mana a little because right now, he was alone inside the rooms with other three high tier users around him. And all of them were Bismouth, so it meant they could fight. 

As Drake's mana were slightly shown, a man in the center slightly chuckled "No need to put on guard. We respectfully protect our customers." 

That man knew. This boy's energy was different. That's why he let his subordinate follow him in the first place.

"Tell me the deals," Asked Drake. 

"Hm.. How long do you want the protection, And what are we protecting you from?" 

"Well, more than that, I need a safe place. I'm a fugitive."

That man laughed, "You came from Wouster? Is this Venus doing? Or Jack?" 

Drake never met with the woman called Venus before. Thanks to Jeff from the pub, He only knew she was the one who helped him escape. And this Jack might be the man who saved him from getting killed that night, the one who promised to help burying his grandma's body.

Playing along, Drake replied to that man. "I might know who Jack is. But I was in debt with a woman named Venus."

"That vixen!" It was a long time ago from the last time he saw them, "Sure sure.. no one could realize who they are."

Drake brought the topic of his purpose again. "Let's do the business. I need a place to stay. As well with the guard. They don't need to trail me wherever I go. Only when I told them to."

"For how long?" 

"How much is it for one month?" Drake asked, surely, with those treasures he had, he could pay for more than a lifetime. 

With a sinister smile, that man told Drake. "Hmm.. let's see. Usually It charged one gold for one mission." 

These guys really are a leech. Not a sliver but a gold! A single gold coin could provide one small commoner family for ten years. And he just charged people for one coin of gold for their services. 

That man showed his ten fingers. "How about ten gold coins a month. Surely it's a fair price, right?" 

"Then, I also want to train using swords and mana. You have a lot of skilled Bismouth. Send me your best one." 

That man laughed again. "How much money do you have then? Let's just triple the price shall we."

Drake slightly smiled, "Sure, why not ten times more? I'm fine with that."

As the man heard what Drake just said, he stopped his laugh. He really thought Drake was not a usual person. But ten times? How rich a fugitive could be? "Allright, we will serve what you need, food, place, even a best teacher if you want. But a hundred gold coins for a month."

Didn't want to get played by a mere person like Drake, that man took his blade and stabbed it onto the desk. "But if you lie, we will cut your limbs."

Drake stood up, stretching out his hand, "Deal, let's make a contract." 

The leader then, shaking his hand with a strong tight grip. He wanted to see if Drake could fulfill the contract payment. But what Drake did later, brought him into a cold sweat. 

Drake pulled out something from his pocket. It's only a small bag, yet the price inside was so sumptuous. "Ah, did I tell you how long I want your service?" 

Throwing the bag on the desk, he said, "I want it as long as I want. Put this in the contract: it will stop until I say so." 

___ 

It's already been more than an hour since Drake left the room. That man, right now was still sitting in the same place as before. But never once did he move from his seat.

He gripped his hand so tight, as the cold sweat formed on his forehead. He couldn't believe what he just saw. 

A diamond as big as his thumb, was glazing under the dim light from the room inside. He could never believe that in his lifetime, he would see the most precious stone on earth. 

This single little thing could buy half of the small kingdom. In reality, not all of the kingdom could get a chance to own a diamond. They were always seeking this stone to barter with other jewels or gold.

Seriously, how could a young person like Drake have it?

"Marven.." Logy called him. He was also shocked and wondered about that boy's identity. 

"Did you check his belongings before?" 

"He didn't have anything with him before. I'm curious how he hid the diamond."

Thinking more deeply, Marven then decided to get Drake whatever he requested. "Logy, give that boy everything he needs."

Later at night, Drake read again the contract he had signed. He could never forget the expression on that man's face. 

What is his name again? He was sure someone called him Marven.

As he succeeded in making a deal with one of the powerful criminal gangs, Now it's the time he enhances his power. Closing every window in his room, Drake finally called his spirit guides, "Hora."