“Let me go!” The coral-haired boy yelled as August tried to help him up.
He slapped away August’s hand and helped himself to his feet. He glares at August as he wipes the blood from his nose.
“Why did you intervene?! I don’t want your help.”
“Then are you able to pay them back?” August asks, “You don’t want my help. You need it.”
“I’m working, so given time I could’ve paid them back.” He answers.
“Time? You could do those odd jobs for the rest of your life. And you still wouldn’t be able to pay them back.”
Hearing August’s words he averted his gaze and clenched his fist. He knew it was the truth but he didn’t want to accept it. And he still doesn’t want to accept it.
“T-Then I can just work for her like those damn debt collectors.” He says to a skeptical August.
“Work for her? Hah! Don’t be so stupid. To be a debt collector, the first you’ll need is the ability to handle yourself in a fight.”
“You don’t know a thing about me! I can more than handle myself in a fight.”
“Oh yeah? I don’t know a thing about you?” August says sarcastically as he chuckles softly, “Jaku Orion, currently 14 years old. Your element is water and you’re ranked Pawn. Want me to continue?”
“...!” The boy was too stunned to speak.
“I’ll take your silence as a yes.” August says, “Last year the lord of House Orion, your father, died of unknown causes. And your mother followed suit shortly afterward. Not only that, your father’s second wife kicked you out of the family claiming you were cursed, all so that she could take everything your family had to offer.”
“H-How do you know that? Why do you know that?” The shocked boy asks.
“Because I’m a people person. And I’m also interested in you.” August answers earnestly.
“You want my body?” Jaku asks as he takes a step back.
“What? No! The fuck. Why would you think that?”
“Probably because of the rumors,” Zachry explains as he walks over.
“What rumors?”
“Trust me you don’t want to know,” Zachry warns.
“But if you don’t want my body then why are you helping me?” A puzzled Jaku asks.
“Because I’m weird that way. Now let’s be off my young apprentice.” August answers with a bright smile.
“Go where?” Zachry and Jaku ask simultaneously.
“I’m going to introduce you to the squad of course.”
Night approaches as the light blue sky turns to a brilliant pink. By this time most of the students have finished their classes for the day and are all returning to their respective dorm rooms. But in one of the smaller outside pathways at the academy, Jabir and Blake make their way to the back of the academy.
“Hey, where the hell are we going?” Blake asks as he follows Jabir, “Aren’t we supposed to be reporting to the mistress about what happened?”
“Didn’t I tell you to just shut up and follow me?”
“I don’t like where this is going…” Blake says nervously.
“Trust me.” Jabir reassures him, “In the next few days we’ll be swimming in credits.”
‘Swimming in credits?’
“You aren’t planning on doublecrossing the mistress are you?” Blake asks as they go around a corner and through an opening in the wall.
“Remember what happened to David?” Jabir asks rather ominously, “I wouldn’t dare try such a thing.”
“I heard he can’t even go to the bathroom by himself these days. Poor David…”
“Anyways we’re here. And please let me do all the talking.”
‘Talking? To who?’
They arrive at the back of the school. However, they aren’t the only ones there.
“Jabir what the hell?” Blake whispers to him.
“Just shut up and follow my lead.”
A group of over twenty students is present with a few familiar faces mixed. And with a closer look, they are all wearing a phoenix brooch instead of the academy-issued wolf brooch.
“Hey, Rex!” Jabir yells.
“Hm? What’s one of Avarice’s debt collectors doing here?” One of the students asks.
“Maybe they’re here to collect from you.”
“Very funny. Like I’d ever get indebted to that greedy bitch.”
“She might be a greedy bitch, but you’ve got to admit she’s got a pretty nice rack.”
“Indeed.”
“Rex! Get your ass out here! We’re here to do business.”
“What kind of business?” A familiar face asks presumably Rex.
“Hey, aren’t you one of the guys that got creamed by Zachry?” Blake asks failing to obey Jabir’s simple order.
“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?! Anyways, word on the street is you’re gathering students to beat down August and his posse. And from what I can see here it’s right on the money.”
“Yeah, and what of it?” An irritated Rex asks.
“Well, you see I have some valuable information on August Stride,” Jabir answers.
“We’re not going after August directly so I suggest you take your leave.”
“If you knew what I know you could probably do it and come out on top,” Jabir says confidently.
“And what exactly do you know? A curious Rex asks.
“That depends. How many credits are you willing to part with?”
‘You conniving piece of shit. So money’s what you’re after.’
“How about we find a more appropriate place to talk?” Rex suggests.
After relocating to one of the classrooms in the old school building, Rex and Jabir start their negotiations.
“So you’re telling me the info you’ve got on August can make us win against him?”
“Win? It can make you destroy him.” Jabir replies confidently.
“How much do you want?”
“Oh, I don't know. How about five hundred thousand?”
“Five hundred thousand?! You and your info can go fuck yourselves!”
“Suit yourself. My business here is done.” Jabir says.
Just as he’s about to go through the door Rex calls him back.
“Wait… How about two hundred?”
“What?! Two hundred thousand? That’s less than half. You can’t even meet me in the middle, you damn cheapskate.”
“Alright, alright. Two hundred and fifty it is. Now tell me what’s the info you’ve got on August.”
“He’s sick.” Jabir says quietly, “For whatever reason, he’s not at full power, hell he’s not even at half of his regular strength.”
“And how do you know what his full power is like?” A judging Rex asks.
“I was there when he fought Leo on his first day. And my sensory abilities have never failed me before.”
“So what? You want me to have faith in your abilities?”
“Believe what you want Rex. But if you’re going to attack him do it in one week.”
“Why in one week?”
“So that both sides win,” Jabir answers with a mischievous smile, “Now, I have to report to my mistress so I’ll be taking my leave.”
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