"As for what we will do with them? It's just as I said, Miss city protector. Stick to your script."
The broad-shouldered man instructed Ari in a cold, commanding tone while flashing a gracious smile. When he said this, a part of his mana signature fluctuated and his aura briefly erupted. Ari felt the chills in her bones when she sensed his signature that wasn't quite human.
'This guy is F-Rank? Some of these Anthrope cultists are a crazy bunch of degenerates with equally crazy techniques, I must say. Their heretic paths take them further away from who they once were. Sad and scary at the same time.'
Ari cleared her throat and spoke up:
"Al… alright. I understand. But I can't just hand them over right away. They are the city administration's property after all. I'll need to buy them from the administration and then I can…"
The broad-shouldered man shook his head in denial and said out loud:
"No, miss Arizihana. That'll take a long time and raise suspicion. Instead, you can make up a false Beast Bloods case related to their hideout and ask the city administration to lend Renar and his teammates to you.
Then your official report will say that you were attacked by Beast Bloods while investigating the case and Renar and his colleagues were killed in the ambush. This way, the city administration won't have to look for their human resource and the case will be closed then and there.
This is the way you'll do it. There will be no getting around it. Do we understand each other?"
'Damn it. There goes my plan to buy time.'
Ari cursed the broad-shouldered mind in her head but nodded at his instructions outwardly.
"Oh yes, we had four Beast Bloods with us as prisoners. But only three of them are serving the city as slaves. Do you want me to fetch that remaining member as well?"
Ari asked innocently. She sounded helpful, but the man laughed mockingly before answering:
"Miss Arizihana, you underestimate us. Do you think we didn't do our background check before contacting you? She's been taken as a legal slave. Bringing her into our fold will only raise our risks of being apprehended by the kingdom."
Ari had to try sabotaging the man's plans. But she sighed after seeing her silly trick getting caught by the man before nodding at him.
"Good. Rest assured, I'm not trying to stir up trouble, Arizihana. You'll find that I'm as easy-going as an innocent newborn lamb if things work out my way."
'Comparing yourself to a newborn lamb? You sure can lie as easily as you breathe, Mr Mask. Hehe!'
The broad-shouldered man could hear the petite lady's laughter and mockery in the back of his head. He just outwardly shrugged his shoulders before replying in the same telepathic manner he had heard the lady's voice:
'What? I said, "if things work out my way". Which is true if you think about it.'
"Um… Mister?"
The broad-shouldered man's telepathic conversation with the petite young lady was cut short by Ari's words:
"Oh, you can call me Mr Mask."
"Alright. Mr Mask, you are from the Beast Bloods, aren't you? It's fine if it's just these slaves that you want. But if you have any other schemes you are hatching right now, I'll remind you that my connections with the Beast Bloods aren't completely severed. Even if they've turned sour because of the recent events.
May… Errr… XXX will have to intervene in our exchange if you try to pull something I wasn't expecting in this deal. This is my warning to you. As you said, let's just stick to our scripts."
The broad-shouldered man's narrowed eyes suddenly exuded a cunning light when he heard Marie's name. This time, he didn't threaten back but just replied with a nod of his own.
"Alright. Let's finalize our plan then."
Ari said and started discussing the finer details about the plan. There were so many questions she wanted to ask the duo. For example: what was so special about Renar and his colleagues? And what use could they be to the man?
But she had come to realize that this man in front of her was not willing to share any information. So she thought of doing a thorough check on Renar and his colleagues herself before turning them over to the man. They might be able to help her approach the man from behind without him being aware of it.
Ari started to plot as she discussed a few things with the duo.
Ari wanted to include May in her mess from the get-go. But the latter was nowhere near her when this blackmail incident took place. So she decided to use her name as a deterrent.
Ari discussed and finalized the plan's details with the man. Any attempt at buying time or introducing loopholes was foiled by the man's wits. So she just gave up trying to outsmart him in the end.
***********************
A long time after Arizihana had left.
"Reen, the coast is clear, right?"
Eren asked Reen while he was in the form of the broad-shouldered man. He had shapeshifted into Ron Damien for a meeting with Arizihana. Reen had been there in the form of Elena.
"Yes. There's nobody following or tracking us as far as I can tell. This woman has kept the secret about her involvement with the cultists deep in her heart it seems. She doesn't trust anybody to have her back during this situation."
Eren agreed to Reen's line of thoughts and replied:
"It has turned into our advantage. Damn, I love messing with criminals. They just can't ask for help openly. Suits me just fine. Haha!
But hold on a moment. Who is this May? Or "err Marie" this woman was talking about? And why do I feel that I've heard that name before?"
Eren stroked his chin as he was walking away from his blackmail site. His colt was located at a distance from this place.
"Marie is the name your teacher Levine spoke about when she was telling you about her previous apprentice."
As she walked beside her master, Reen casually reminded him of this. The latter froze in his tracks and slapped his forehead after he remembered Levine's talk with him.
"Haah! If I am lucky again, then this would be Marla's sister. *Sigh. Let's hope she doesn't get involved in this mess."
Eren thought this out loud and followed after Reen who had gone ahead. The die had already been cast.. He might as well play the game to the best of his abilities to come on top in the end.