"Then we will start the negotiation for the artifact blood rose!" he then removed the cloth that covered. It reveal an rose dripping in blood incased into a glass cage with a metal bottom.
"Then who be the first to named their pric.... hmm do you have a question my dear customer?" I raised my hand getting the attention of a man wearing a mask of a fox.
"Do you have something that's prove this a real artifact?" with my question the entire atmosphere shifted all of the people are now looking and me with murderous intent.
"My dear customer are you doubting our legitimacy. What a bold move!" he was exuding bloodlust that make my skin shiver.
"So do you have it or not? because if dont have one I can do it myself." I tried to appraised the artifact but he covered so quickly my eyes couldn't appraised it in time.
"Why did you hide it? is not the real artifact?" with my words the ones sitting on around table shifted their attention to the man in a fox mask. From the murderous intent of the people sitting around the table the man with a fox mask gulped down his saliva in nervousness.
But someone suddenly appears in front of me wearing a clown mask and miss Scarlet got in front of protecting me.
He clapped as his eyes stared at me. "You're pretty sharp dear customer.... and you fox go back I will handle this trade!"
"But si--." His words where cut off as the one with a clown mask throw a card that pierce his noggin and he fell down into the floor spilling blood everywhere from his head.
"Haaaa... bunny clean the mess." A woman on a bunny suit snapped her finger and all of the blood along with body vanished.
Senior Alister then leaned in and whispered "Arron get ready to escape at any moment. Because the one on top of the table is a criminal leader named clown!"
With the mentioned of that a memory appeared inside my head. 'Then this the guy who has been making fake copies of items! fuck ! how unlucky am I not encounter a dangerous guy on my first mission.' Although my mind is going panic mode my eyes showed no emotion.
"As a reward my dear customer I will trade with you one on one!" he extended his hand towards me ignoring miss Scarlet.
'What should I do? Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think, Think! should I withdraw from this mission? there is probably some kind of punishment but--'
"I don't have enough reason to follow you alone! especially after that stunt." My voice sounded confident hiding my fear. He then kicked miss Scarlet sending her flying through the wall as senior Alister tried to move but he was already in front of me chocking me.
"If I want you to follow me you will follow? you understand me mister white mask! now say yes if you don't want to die!" his is sadistic as his grip around my neck tightened.
"....." I didn't say anything and just endured the pain and he let go of me.
"Fine you can bring your friends. Hey Snake take care of the other cust---!" but before he finished his sentence the other people sitting around the table stood up and confronted him.
"What us we are also paying customers!" a man with bulging muscle, yellow hair and a lion's mask spoke.
"Exactly mister clown we been a loyal customer for a long time!" the woman with silver hair and antelope mask added.
"Are you giving that newbie a special treatment because he is new!" a man with black hair and an bull's mask clearly showing his displeasure at the moment.
"Hmm... what do you want do white mask? its your choice whether to let them come or not?" He playfully passed the decision to me as the other began to release murderous intent trying to pressure me.
"Why would I share the opportunity I got by myself to others? I do not care how much murderous intent do guys use on me! I gained this with my own skills so pissed off you parasites!" I declared clenching my fist as the bloodlust intensified but my anger was greater than their blood as memories from earth emerged into my mind.
'I help build that project I should get credited too'
'We are friends right Lucas can please help me with this project..'
'Look the push over is back'
'Hahahahaha.. this mine now'
'Just let him do the work we can just swooped in the last second to get the credit'
I stared at them as those unpleasant memories rush through my mind. If there one thing I truly hated with every fiber of my body and that is the parasites. They will only cling onto someone who got the skills or brains and won't work for themselves and if they found another opportunity they will abandoned you without a second thought and attach themselves to the new person as act like they made it with their owned skills. The last reason why I hated them is that they will pretend to be your friend only for them to ditched you for others in the end.
"Well there you have it." The clown masked man clapped his hands together amuse at the situation happening in front of him.
"And lastly quit it before I kill you. Haaa.... your guys are sure boring as hell! now mister white mask follow me along with your friends." he commanded I followed him together with senior Alister who holding Miss Scarlet from the side because the injury she sustained when that clown attacked her.
We entered a big room that was decorated with luxury in mind. The clown sat down onto the sofa and I followed suit. While senior Alister gave miss Scarlet a healing potion. The clown then materialize the same artifact that was presented previously.
"Is that the real one?" I looked the blood rose while raising my other eyebrow in suspension.
"Yes it is, you can even check if you want mister white mask." I began to gather the celestial energy into my eyes as I silently muttered. "Appraisal!"
{Blood rose(Original)}
It is a crystal from a dragon that molded into a shape of a rose but don't to be fooled by its appearance it an artifact containing the will dragon. It chooses its owner and will devour the mind of someone it deem unfit to wield it.
[Artifact abilities]
Physical enhancement: After equipping the artifact the user's physical strength, endurance, agility, stamina and durability will be increased by ten times the user's based physical stats.
Dragon sense: Allow the user to have the senses of a dragon that can allow user to predict incoming attack as well detect anything within five hundred meters.
???:
???:
???:
???:
'This is a good artifact for the combat team to use.' I turned off my skill.
"What is the price of this artifact?" the clown then looked my eyes with a hint of amusement while muttering. "You are really one fun toy!"
"Hmmm... for the price, I should give a bonus for amusing this much. So about fifty million and I will give you the artifact." he presented his offer. I then called senior Alister t know if our budget is sufficient.
"Yes, our budget is sufficient." As he slowly put down one of briefcase onto the table while miss Scarlet watched. Senior then opened the it and slid to he clown across the table.
"Crow, count and verify the money!" he commanded and someone wearing a crow mask with a robe the covered their entire body. The crow mask began to count the money as well as use some kind of machine to verify whether the money is real or not.
"Alright the blood rose is yours!" He then put the artifact in a big briefcase and handed it to me.
Once I got the artifact we exited the building and saw the ones who pressured me just a while ago. They were looking at my direction with anger and envy but I simply ignored them. We got into the car and senior Alister drove us out of the north port, we all sigh in relief.
"Man, your incredible Arron you manage to gain an opportunity even when under immense pressure!" he smiled while driving.
"Well I just got lucky." I replied in a unimpressed tone.
"Don't underestimate that feat Arron. You challenged clown one of the strongest and still manages to stay alive while getting the artifact!" Miss Scarlet slap my back.
"Thank you!" I couldn't help but to smile.
"Hmmm.... guys get ready someone's following us." I turned around and saw multiple cars following us.
"Its those guys!" I clicked my tongue in annoyance.
"Hold on to the yours seat!" senior Alister then pressed a bottom and the car just accelerated so fast. I was planted to my seat due to the speed and senior Alister hit the brake and I was almost flunked towards the front seat but miss Scarlet caught me.
"Guys prepared to fight!" with senior Alister declared, we then came out of the car. Both senior Alister and miss Scarlet got into combat stances while they gave me the briefcase the artifact is stored on.
"These fuckers put on a barrier huh!" miss Scarlet then took out a dagger from her back.
"Arron hide." I followed senior Alister command and began to find a hiding spot.