Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 26

"Damn that kid, making us wait like this." tila mauubos na ang kakapiranggot na pasensya na meron si Asta noong ito'y nagsalita. Nakaupo sila sa isang pabilog na lamesa at hinihintay ang kinse anyos na binata na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin. Bumuntong hininga ito, "How can we eat if our wallet is still not here? Was it right to make him handle our financials?"

"Hmm.. I hate to admit it but he knows how to handle money." saad ni Trois habang ang baba nito ay nakapatong sa mga brasong nakapahinga lamang sa lamesa.

"He's 20 minutes late," Sinbad sighed while his arms are crossed on his chest. "Fine. Dinner is on me tonight."

"Yes!"

Zai wasn't interested in their conversation. She was sure that Shane must've just planned to steal from some rich gamblers along the way. She just looked around the eatery of the inn they are staying in. She looked at the kitchen and saw the man she noticed earlier that day. He was chopping some meat. She squinted her eyes. The man was cutting it in thin portions without any wasted time and he seemed like it was normal as breathing.

After a few moments, the food that they ordered came. A bowl of salad was placed in front of Zai but Trois grabbed it and replaced it with his meat dish. Asta just stared at the boy's action. She immediately noticed that Zai doesn't like vegetables which is pretty much against her elite-like looks and atmosphere. Trois knew her well enough to even exchange dishes with her. Asta shook her head. If only she didn't know how much Trois respect Zai as a family, she would assume that the blond has feelings for the woman.

The waiter, which is Ero, slightly bowed his head as he holds the salver or the tray that he used to serve them their foods. He turned his back to leave but, "Wait." Zai called.

The man looked back but he didn't bother to turn his back again. His lazy eyes gazed into Zai's hawk-like ones, "Ero, was it?"

"Yeah, do you need anything dear customer?" he asked but there was no hint of interests nor concern in his voice.

Zai showed a sly smile, "You're a swordsman, aren't you?" The man didn't show any reaction whatsoever. He just waited for her to say what she intends to say. Zai slightly tilted her head, "Join my crew."

Their table fell silent with what she said. Asta and Sinbad's attention was on their conversation but Trois and Rui just continued eating like the atmosphere surrounding them didn't die.

"Well sorry to disappoint you but I'm not. I'm just your normal old waiter serving you food."

Zai chuckled, "I know a samurai when I see one."

Asta's and Sinbad's eyebrow twitched with the foreign word. Trois stopped from putting his spoon in his mouth. Samu..rai..?

Ero slightly squinted his eyes at the young girl who is just showing him a sly smile and cold eyes. "Sorry but I don't know what you're talking about, ma'am."

Zai's expression suddenly changed and the atmosphere became completely heavy because of it. Asta and Sinbad acted like they weren't affected by the sudden change of aura but they were barely keeping themselves calm in the heavy air surrounding them. Ero's eyes remained the same as he stare at the girl's serious expression. Her smile disappeared in an instant.

"State your reason." she demanded.

"I see no reason to." but the atmosphere only got a lot heavier. Zai squinted her eyes at him, not fond of what he said. Sinbad and Asta are already sweating. Trois and Rui couldn't ignore it any longer and they also began to grow uneasy.

Ero squinted his eyes at her as well and he turned his back to face her. What a spoiled kid. "Don't go showing off your bloodlust at me, you damn brat. The others are barely breathing."

Asta gulped when she heard what the man just said. You're only making it worse..!

Ero glanced at the small kid with them and saw how he held the spoon tightly to vent his fear on. Ero clicked his tongue, "Even if there's a sly chance that I became a swordsman, I wouldn't join your group. Don't try pulling someone in to become a criminal, you shitty brat."

Asta pursed her lips. He just called her a brat two times. This guy got balls.

Zai smirked at him. Annoyance is very evident in her eyes, "You're one shitty old man."

Ero turned his back and began to walk away, "Back at you."

Zai threw a toothpick at his direction but Ero blocked it with his tray without looking back and just continued to walk to the kitchen. Zai gritted her teeth, "Damn that old man."

The atmosphere finally got lighter and the others finally had the chance to breathe. They all glanced at Zai and they were quite surprised to see an amused smirk on her lips, "How interesting."

Pagkatapos kumain ay nagbayad na si Sinbad at nagsimula na silang maglakad patungo sa kanilang kwarto. "Oi, hindi pa dumadating si Shane. Ayos lang ba 'yon?" saad ni Asta.

"It's been almost an hour. Should we look for him?" tanong naman ni Trois at binuksan na nila ang pinto ng kanilang silid. They walked in at ang kauna-unahang napansin nila ay ang isang sulat na nasa sahig. Zai picked it up and she already noticed that it is a high quality paper. She opened it with her one hand and saw an elegant cursive.

Come.

--

"Sinasabi ko sa inyo! Hindi magandang ideya ang pagkuha sakin!" sigaw ni Shane habang nakatali ang dalawang kamay nito at nakaupo sa isang upuan. "Hindi ko sinasabi 'to para sa sarili ko. Para sa kapakanan niyo! Hindi pa kayo nakakakita ng demonyo diba?!"

"Manahimik ka nga bata! Kanina ka pa! Nakakarindi na 'yang bunganga mo." saad ng isang guwardiya at pinagpatuloy ang pagkalkal sa bag na palaging dala-dala ng binata. May nakuha itong isang pitaka sa bag at ito'y binuksan.

"Hoy! 'Wag 'yan! Ibalik mo yan!" ngunit hindi siya pinakinggan nito at bigla na lamang ibinulsa. "'Wag mong ibulsa, tarantado ka! Malalagot ako kay Zai 'pag nalaman niyang ibinulsa mo lang 'yang pera! HOY!"

Ngunit hindi naman ito pinapansin ng mga lalaki, "Pre, mukhang sinuwerte tayo dito sa ipinautos ni Ser ah. Daming laman oh." saad ng isang tauhan habang hinahalungkat ang bag na may mga lamang alahas.

"Ano 'to?" inilabas nito ang isang garapon na may lamang itim na bagay. Binuksan niya ito at naduwal na lamang noong ito'y inamoy. Nabitawan nito ang garapon, dahilan ng pagbasag nito. "Pweh! P*ta ano 'yon?!"

"Ay lintek! Alam mo ba kung gaano katagal gawin 'yang gamot na yan ha?! Bwisit!"

"Tapalan niyo nga ang bibig niyan! Naaalala ko yung putak ng putak kong nanay!"

"Hoy! Ano tingin mo sakin, nanay mo?! Haha.. G*GO! Mukha ba akong matandang hukluban sayo?! Magpatingin ka nga sa albularyo! Fresh na fresh pa 'to! At para sa kaalaman mo, lalaki ako! Wow ang galing! May titi nanay mo?!"

"Tang*na.. asan na yung pantapal?!"

"Eh pa'no yung tatay mo? Ano~?! Ituloy-tuloy na natin 'to! Nag-espada--!!"

"Lintek na bibig 'yan." saad ng tauhan na tinakpan ang bibig nito gamit ang isang tela. "Kakaiba ka!"

Bigla namang bumukas ang pinto at lahat sila ay yumuko agad dito. The man wearing a white tuxedo walked near them. The sound of the heels of his shoes are heard in the spacious room. The golden rings on his fingers glimmered because of the lights. Shane glared at the man who was obviously the one behind his abduction, Fedrino Velisiente. The man who owns the richest city in the world, the "Entertainment City," Rotrine.

"Hm? Is this it?" he asked as he lift Shane's chin with his hand that is covered with a white glove. "Would that girl truly come for this dirty little rat?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Is that so?" the man smirked and let go of Shane's face. He also removed his glove and threw it away like it was just infected with germs. "Lady Shaera would be pleased if I bring that girl to her. How amusing."

He turned his back and began to walk out of the room, "Has the preparations been finished?"

"Yes, Sir." said the man who is acting as his personal bodyguard.

Fedrino let out a loud evil laugh, "Then let the party.." he smirked, "Commence..."

***
Sorry for Shane's foul mouth😂