It was Bones, the one with the melodic, scratchy voice, who was now standing just a few feet from Hoku's face.
"Hee hee hee." He dances back to join the rest of the group as they all turn around to look at their awakened Captive, Baldervich; however remains with his back turned.
Hoku returns the scattered stares, trying his best to bury his hands just out of sight.
Eventually, after a tense stare-down from the other scavengers, Baldervich finally opens his mouth.
"You 'ave a good nap did ya?" he says with an uncharacteristically flat tone.
"Ya know, it's an honour to meet a distinguished knight of the kingdom like yourself. Actually, it's my second time getting to know one like this."
"Tied down like an animal," he growls.
An innocent expression blossoms on Hoku's face.
"Good to know there's another guy like me, makes me feel alot better."
Baldervich finally shot a sharp glare across his shoulder. Suddenly he burst into an uncontrolled fit of laughter, making all the grunts around him cackle in tandem.
"What 'appened? When'd they start hiring gutless cowards?" He jeered.
"They were running low on regular cowards."
The scavengers all stopped laughing and shot each other strange looks. Baldervich, however, just lightly chuckled in response.
"Gups, where'd you find this guy? He's way better than your little device." And though Guppy wasn't paying attention to what was just said, he came to life as soon as he heard his name.
"Can I ask something?"
The youngest scavenger opened his mouth, making everyone look at him blankly.
"Do they make these at the academy?" Guppy asked earnestly, holding the soda cup in his hand.
His earnestness was eating into Hoku's satirical persona.
"Gups", Baldervich said despondently.
"A man should know when to shut the hell up."
"..." Guppy gave one last look to Hoku, then ultimately gave up, averting his gaze.
Baldervich retook the conversation.
"So. what made ya take a trip to the Shifting Dunes?"
Hoku didn't answer out loud, only thinking: 'This was my spawn point, asshole.'
The scavenger ignored his silence and continued.
"I wouldn't suppose it would have to do with that oversized rock we found ya at?" He theorised.
Hoku raised an eyebrow, then started to talk, but stopped himself again to think. At last, he said:
"N-not really, it's just a rock."
The scavenger rubbed his beard.
"Just a rock e' says! Just a big ol' black rock in the middle of the dunes!"
The intensity of his expression lowered.
"Ya know, I had some time to think while you were out."
"Took me a lil bit but before I knew it:"
"It hit me."
"That barrier couldn'ta been from you, not in a bazillion years"
"If some scrawny kid managed to knock you down, there's no way you could make a somethin' that strong!" he whaled, making Hoku's eye twitch slightly and Guppy's lower his head.
"Makes me wonder if you're even a knight." He commented, inviting Hoku's glare.
"There's really nothing special at that rock. I was j-just sent to explore the cave" Hoku stammered convincingly.
"So you did go inside?!"
"But I didn't find anything really."
"I see"
"That's a damn shame."
Baldervich stopped for a moment, then twitched his nose, turning to the surrounding scavengers.
"Hey, d'you lot smell that?"
"I don' know."
"It smells like a load of shit to me!" he burst out with full teeth, making them all cheer.
Guppy narrowed his eyes at Hoku, who had a slight mischievous grin painted on his face.
Baldervich's hardened face lit up with glee as he turned to the bald scavenger.
"Whadya think, Bones, a butt loadv'e treasure? or some ancient weapon, somethin that'll sell good."
"Abomina'll be real happy when he hears about this," He snickered.
"Perhaaaaps. I suggest we focus on our real goal before pursuing any... distractions," Bones glancing at Hoku who quickly wiped the smirk off his face.
"Couse, I avent forgotten, but..."
While he was busy arguing with the scavenger named Bones, Hoku dropped his head a little lower, hiding his mouth behind the wooden segment.
"System, can you bring up a visual of how far the signal is now?" he asked in the quietest voice possible.
A small screen popped up, overlapping the front of the stat menu interface.
[350 Netas]
'Just a little longer,' he thought, returning his eyes to the scavengers whose discussion had ended.
"So errr. what's yer name anyway?" Balldervich asked.
"Lord Hoku the 5th."
"Argh, that's too goddamn long!" He shouted.
He scoffed and cupped his chin.
"Hoku, you're definitely somethin's else, I'll tell you that"
"How bout I strike you a deal?"
Hoku's eyebrows furrowed.
"I'll let you go..."
Every one of the scavengers looked at Baldervich with a hint of anticipation.
"But you gotta do something for me."
"What?" Hoku responded with a tired and an annoyed tone, knowing full well it would be something unreasonable.
As if he read his mind, however, Baldervich said, "Don't worry, it's nothing unreasonable, kid."
"You just gotta say one little thing"
Hoku hadn't expected that.
Truth be told, he was willing to say anything to get out of whatever else they had planned for him.
However, he didn't hold up any hope that they were men of their word, so in the end, it would depend on how humiliating it was.
"Alright, ready?..." Baldervich asked as if he were still coming up with whatever Hoku would have to say.
"You gotta sayyyyy."
"That the king should choke on his next meal, and drop dead!"
"Simple, right?"
The goons giggle like hyenas.
Hoku looked at him and, after a whole 2 seconds of thinking it over, he said, "Sure"
The laughing stopped completely.
"Go on."
[!Warning A Penalty Will Be Issued!]
"Wait, what, for what?"
Baldervich's eyebrow raised. "Eh?"
"For what?" Hoku whispered lower down.
[Disavowal Of The King Is Against GAngel-9 Rules]
"You're kidding."
"Oi speak up!" Baldervich demands
Hoku gulps.
"Ok, I'll just bear through it", He whispered.
[There Is Something That User, Hoku Should Be Made Aware Of]
[Extermination Of Unboud Class Monsters Without Alphasuit -> Tier 2 Penalty]
[Expressing Negative Notions Or Wishing Harm To The King -> Tier 4 Penalty + Report To Council]
"Uh. Ok, what is tier four like?"
[Rapid Deterioration Of Bodily Functions]
'Yikes.'
Hoku scrambled his head 'Okay, okay, okay.'
"Uh"
"Do I get XP if I say the king is actually a really nice guy?"
[No]
Hoku let out a nervous chuckle.
He glared at the scavengers who were now chanting at him, buckets of sweat dripping down his brow.
"Do it!"
"Do it!"
"Do it!"
A consumptive shadow deepens within his eye, drowning his thought.
He sinks into a cold abyss.