The Plan

The crowd in the auction hall slowly began to filter out. Don and Uncle Dior looked at the closed stage for a while, imagining the fate of the woman that was just sold to Minister Brian.

Uncle Dior clenched his fists so tightly that the nails caused his palms to turn red. The matter that depressed Uncle Dior the most was that he couldn't save a member of his race from the horrible fate in front of his eyes.

Don looked at Uncle Dior and saw his clenched fists and body trembling in anger. It was true that he didn't know Uncle Dior very well. But he knew that even if the bandits attacked the elven tribe, he didn't react like this. Don knew what Uncle Dior was feeling right now; the hopelessness, the resentment towards society, too angry with himself for being so weak...

"We'll save her," Don patted Uncle Dior's back lightly and reassured him.

It was simply four words, but it felt like finding a lake in the middle of a dessert to Uncle Dior. He knew that if anyone could save her, it was Don. Uncle Dior personally experienced his power when he slew the black panther in a matter of seconds. So when Don said "we will save her," a sliver of hope appeared in his heart. He let go of the anger and resentment as he let out a sigh.

"Let's go collect our money and get the hell of this place."

While they were walking out, Uncle Dior saw Minister Brian in the VIP area. He gritted his teeth in anger when he saw the happiness and excitement on Minister Brian's fat round face. But Uncle Dior's angry face let out a small smile under the hood when he saw Don staring at Minister Brian for a moment with cold murdering eyes.

"The Devil has laid his eyes on you, fat pig," Uncle Dior muttered.

  *************************

An old man with a bald head dressed in a gold robe stood in the center of the room. He had a human-sized cage with a person inside beside him. He was the old man who appraised the great master-level magic core before. Next to the old man stood the manager, with Whitehoney Amara who was the auctioneer a moment ago. 

Minister Brian was led by the beauty he was playing with earlier, shadowed by Rosaline's group as they went to the center of the room.

Manager Xing waved his hands, approaching Minister Brian with a big smile and greeted him, "I assume Minister Brian had a good time?"

Minister Brian rubbed his palms together and licked his lips in excitement.

"Not like I'm about to."

Minister Brian stared at the woman in the box like a dog looking at a bone. However, he retained a respectful posture when he saw Whitehoney Amara.

"Oh, miss Amara. I didn't notice you. Pardon my manners." 

Amara's lips curved into an arch as she outstretched her hands towards Minister Brian. As he stepped towards Amara, he took her outstretched hand and turned his palm downwards gently by the fingertips. He bent his hips and kissed her hands without touching her hands.

"Would Miss Amara grace this humble Minister's house by coming to dinner tonight?"

Rosaline was grossed out to see his etiquette and gentleman acting.

"Sorry, Minister Brian. Miss Amara has to leave Slav...Windsville City as soon as possible," Manager Xing answered Brian before Amara could say anything. He hadn't thought this idiot would hit on her the moment he saw her. "A toad wanting to eat swan meat," he thought.

She only came to this backwater city because manager Xing called in a favor from his friend in the capital city Thousand Arms branch. Who then asked Whitehoney Amara to come and be the auctioneer here as a help.

Manager Xing never wanted this insolent fool to anger or even slightly irritate Miss Amara. Everyone knew the influence and the power the Everlasting sect has in the Empire. Flirting with her was like asking for a disaster to befall down on the Slave city.

Luckily for Manager Xing, Amara didn't mind Minister Brian's invitation or his intentions, "Manager Xing is correct, Minister Brian. My master wanted me to return as soon as possible to the sect."

"Oh, another time then," Minister Brian said, making a disappointed face.

"Besides, I bet Minister Brian has an appointment tonight," Whitehoney Amara giggled and winked at the cage near her.

Minister Brian looked at the woman in the cage again. Both of his fists were clenched tightly, barely able to contain the excitement he felt at this moment. Even so, his body trembled slightly.

"Here, Minister Brian. The key to the cage." Manager Xing gave the key to Minister Brian. 

The old man stepped forward and asked, "Please give me your hand Minister Brian." 

Minister Brian kinda had an idea about why he was asking, so he outstretched his arms. The old man closed his eyes and chanted something as a white light appeared near his chest and moved towards Minister Brian's heart and merged with him. The body of the woman in the cage jerked when the light merged with Minister Brian.

"Minister Brian, the Master bond has been successfully transferred to you. The creature is already marked in her magic core with the slave bond, so you can do whatever you want using your master bond." The old man took out a scroll from his robe and handed it over to Minister Brian, "This scroll contains the instructions and the spell to transfer ownership of this creature, Minister Brian."

"Minister Brian, we can immediately transport it to your mansion after you sign this."

Manager Xing gave a parchment to Minister Brian as the latter took out a card from his pockets and held it against the parchment. A small projection came through the card, showing '-2500.' This was the payment procedure of wealthy people, as they only carried a magic payment card which can be instantly frozen if someone stole it instead of a pouch full of coins.

"Wonderful. Always a pleasure doing business with you, Minister Brian. Hope you enjoy the product."

"The pleasure is mine, Manager Xing."

Minister Brian waved at Manager Xing and headed out to his mansion, licking his lips.

***************************

The sun sank lower in the sky, the light of day draining away to give way to the velvety dark of night. Crickets chirping, the stars began to glimmer in the dark blue sky.

Don and Uncle Dior were watching the big beautiful manor from afar.

Guards dressed in chainmail and armor were walking around the manor with spears and shields. Don scanned the manor to figure out a way to get into the manor without alerting Minister Brian or his five great master guards. He was not afraid of the guards, but he was a person who never gives the enemy any chances to prepare a counter-attack.

Eventually, while Don was looking at the patrolling guards, a fancy-looking carriage pulled by four pegasi arrived at Brian's manor.

"Brian," Uncle Dior confirmed. "So what's the plan?"

Don leaned on the tree with arms crossed, "What do you think?"

Clearly, Uncle Dior thought of himself as more of a brain than brawn guy. He knew Don also valued his input, so he racked his brain for a better way to reach Brian.

Don already had a plan, but he wanted to get some input from Uncle Dior, as he might give some ideas or ways that he might have forgotten in his plans.

"We saw that the guards looked tired, so the guard changing may come at that exact moment. There will be some holes in the security, especially at the back because of that huge wall. No one would think that someone will climb or fly over it."

"Why?" 

"You're kidding. Except for that huge wall in the back, the other walls around the manor are covered with magic runes to detect intruders. As for flying, there are also security measures in place, especially in someone's home like Brian's. So if we can figure out a way to climb over the wall..." Uncle Dior started to formulate a plan.

"You are right, mostly." 

"You have a plan?" Uncle Dior saw Don's-I mean Mike's relaxed face and couldn't help but ask.

"Yes. As you said, the guards are tired but they won't switch them all at once. They'll do it, group by group."

"Hmm... Makes sense doing it like that. Minimize the security risks. But it will be bad for us, right?"

"Yes, if there aren't any great master magis."

Uncle Dior was confused to hear that.

"You lack battle experience," Don explained and continued, "The guards were so alert before because if anything goes wrong, they'll be the ones that will be blamed. But we saw the great masters return, so the guards will relax and let down their guard a bit."

"Hmm, what about that huge wall? Did you also plan to climb it?"

"You really think that huge wall is not covered with magic runes?"

"Yes, I couldn't see any magic fluctuations around it."

"As I said, battle experience. They want you to think that way."

"What? Are you telling me it was covered in magic?"

"Yes. If someone wants to get inside, they'll choose that wall because they'll think there are no magic fluctuations. But it's similar to walking into a trap."

"So, how are we going to get inside and save the poor girl?" Uncle Dior started to shake in fear, thinking about the half-elf girl.

"We are not. I am," Don corrected. "The walls only detect someone with a magic core. In other words, everyone else besides me," Uncle Dior noticed a sudden mix of anger and sadness in Don's voice as he talked about the latter part.

Don's plan made sense to him. The guards or even the great masters won't expect someone from another world without a magic core would come knocking.

"But what about the five great masters? Are you sure you won't get noticed?"

"There is no such thing as 'SURE' in a plan. But since Brian brought that girl, he wouldn't let the great masters look at him while he is playing."

He was going to say raping, but by noticing Uncle Dior's reaction before, he went with the word 'playing.'

"Didn't that Akihiro guy mention that they never left his side?"

"Never leaving his side does not mean keeping him in front of them all the time. Don't worry."

As they were discussing the plan, the guard switching time arrived. A group of guards went inside the barracks as a new group of guards came out. Just as Don said, the new guards seemed relaxed.

"It's time. You change into your robes and go wait for me outside the city walls. Don't talk to anyone, and don't act suspicious."

"Alright. I'll see you there." 

As he heard Uncle Dior, Don started to walk towards Brian's manor.

"Ah, Don..." Don looked over his shoulder. "May Corellon be with you," Uncle Dior said as Don nodded and initiated his plan.