Clatenis first asked Otto to describe the circumstances in which he had saved the government worker's life.
He listened quietly as Otto gave a simple explanation.
Even for a long time afterward, he didn't make a sound.
His face indicated that he was deep in thought.
Otto could only wait quietly on the other end of the line.
"I believe I have an inkling as to the identity of this group of people."
At this point, Clatenis's voice was hushed.
"This is a force that has long been spoken of in rumors."
"They call themselves the Vagabonds."
A chill crept up the back of Otto's neck. It sounded really ominous.
"Supposedly, they exist as a secret group rumored to have the power to overturn the entire Area."
Clatenis began to speak carefully once he arrived at this point.
"To be frank, I am originally doubtful of these rumors. Should they really hold this power, why have they waited for so long to use it?"
He continued,
"How could they be a completely unheard-of force in Area 1? Where do they get their money?"
"But given what you just showed me," he sighed, "I can only begin to believe."
His voice suddenly lowered to a whisper,
"It is said that the Vagabonds, or at least some of its members, are immune to some of the [Tower's] rules."
Hearing this, Otto's expression hardened even further. He scoffed,
"What are these rumors used to scare children?"
Clatenis ignored him as he recited calmly,
"Take the safe zone, for instance."
"Toto, I myself have items that can circumvent or briefly ignore the safe zones set up by the [Tower]."
"However, even after all these years, I only have a few."
"I asked myself: would I be willing to use one of these precious tools just for the sake of silencing a small government worker who knows next to nothing about me in the first place?"
Otto nodded, and closed his eyes for a second, then opened them again. His tone was casual, and hid the depths of his thoughts.
"They have not shown me any hostility."
"I do not have reason to believe they wish to be my enemy, though I dare not speak for certain."
Clatenis took a deep breath, then solemnly warned,
"It is best for you not to get involved."
"No matter their intentions, being a part of something like this may prove detrimental rather than beneficial for your growth."
Otto rubbed his chin and pondered.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at Clatenis.
"I disagree."
"Without understanding the point of the card they gave me, how can I possibly know if there is something or nothing to gain?"
"Dear Clatenis, let me ask you this: are you worried for my safety? Or are you worried about complications arising in our deal?"
Clatenis looked at Otto for a long moment.
Suddenly, he laughed heartily.
"Indeed, you are correct. Obviously I am worried about our deal."
Then, Clatenis clicked his tongue,
"If you are gone, how much easier would it be to pick those kids up…"
He looked slyly at Otto's unamused expression,
"Only joking, only joking."
"More seriously, I would be the first to doubt it if a group like this could possibly be involved in our little faction struggles."
He sighed,
"Perhaps our fights would be akin to children playing in the mud to them."
Otto nodded.
"Thank you for the information. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Clatenis hung up the call.
Otto sat on a couch in silence.
What he was most worried about is the rumored 'power to ignore the [Tower's] rules.'
But was that really true?
Or was it a smokescreen to hide behind?
For now, Otto didn't have enough information.
But he firmed his resolve to attend the 'golden club' meeting written on the card he'd received.
Perhaps only there could Otto find some answers.
Otto began to train his spells once more in his virtual pod and mental space.
The night passed slowly.
Otto was broken out of his training session by yet another call from his communicator.
The sender was unexpected.
His screen read: Aeselvell.
Otto had called her once almost immediately after he returned to Area 1, and directed her to come at once to the [Challengers' Pantheon], no matter the cost.
Even still, it would take her another few days or so to arrive, as there were no teleportation gates on Erkolls-13 that were able to travel such a distance.
She was currently resting inside a cabin on the space vessel she had chartered.
Her tone was harried.
"Boss, we have a problem."
****************************************************************************
Otto's eyes glinted in the darkness. They harbored an unyielding chill that threatened to spill into the room.
He twirled the glass of wine in his hands as he looked at the vaguely triumphant expression on the man opposite him.
They were, once again, eating at Dille's restaurant.
The kids were absent this time.
As the conversation they were about to have may not be quite as…pleasant.
Otto fixed his dark gaze on Clatenis, who looked calm and unruffled despite the terrifying pressure Otto was emitting.
It was evidence of his own exceptional achievements in the [Tower].
Actually, even Otto didn't think it'd be so easy to kill this old man, despite his power. Anyone who had occupied a position of status for as long as he had would definitely have some hidden cards.
Otherwise, how could Clatenis still be alive in Area 1?
It was a lesson Otto had recently been taught after an attack on his dear assistant.
There was no such thing as gentlemanly behavior for these big shots.
They would resort to any and all means to control and take him down.
Otto's voice was low and dangerous,
"Clatenis, was this intended as a declaration of war?"
"War? No, no, my dear Toto, war was never in the cards. After all, if I truly intended to declare war, you would not be able to sit here."
Clatenis continued, demeanor casual, though his words were anything but,
"Think of it rather as an ….ultimatum of sorts."
He stared directly into Otto's eyes, voice filled with meaning,
"You are too weak to take on my entire organization."
It was intended as a statement of fact, but Otto raised a brow.
To him, this was a provocation.
"Are you certain?"
"Certain?"
"That this is the path you wish to take?"
"To call our deal off? Well, Toto, while our deal was initially enticing, I decided it might be better to get rid of the middleman."
Clatenis smiled,
"To be precise, I don't believe your role is necessary."
Otto's face further darkened.
In the corner of the restaurant, a man stealthily opened an expensive magical recorder, and connected it to his communicator, where he dialed a number.
Otto's eyes glinted slightly, then immediately pretended he hadn't seen the action.
"Please, if you don't mind, hand the kids over to us."
"We will be sure to take good care of them."
"In return, we will prepare a one-off payment, and you will be able to freely climb the [Tower]."
"It's a win-win, no?"
Otto glared at Clatenis, the chill in his eyes once again on the verge of erupting.
"Let's see who will win this war of yours, then."
He furiously stood up, actions just shy of directly flipping the table over and spilling the entirety of the food onto Clatenis.
Otto left Dille's ('accidentally' leaving Clatenis with the bill) and watched as the man who had been on his communicator the whole time stealthily followed him.
Otto kept his footsteps measured but deliberate, each move radiating his 'inner fury'.
However, with his back turned, the 'anger' in Otto's expression was nowhere to be found.
Yes.
Clatenis had joined him in acting out a grand scene.
They wanted to hook a big fish this time.
Suddenly, once Otto arrived at a back alley near an edge of the pantheon, he slumped to the ground.
His posture screamed 'helpless.'
He dialed a number on his communicator.
"Aeselvell,"
Otto rubbed his forehead,
"Hold out for as long as you can. Perhaps after the next floor, we will…"
But his words were suddenly interrupted.
A man dressed in black, the same man who had been stealthily tailing him all the way from Dille's Garden, suddenly grabbed Otto's communicator.
He took it in his hand, and crushed it.
Otto 'didn't have time' to react to the man's speed.
His shocked expression barely hid the slight upward quirk of his lips.
The fish had bit the bait.
Otto glared at the offending party.
"What are you trying to do?"
The man smirked at him, and fiddled with something for a second.
He then handed over a communicator and stood silently at the side.
A woman's voice entered Otto's ears.
"Is this Mr. Toto?"
Her slight laugh tinkled through the communicator.
Otto's response was suitably wary.
"What do you want with me?"
"I apologize, I couldn't help but overhear your words at the restaurant. But, I believe I may have a solution to your little problem."
Otto's eyes widened, and he clenched his fists in 'agitation.'
He took a deep breath before glancing warily at the man in black who stood silently at Otto's side.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"Now, now. Nothing more or less than old Clatenis, I imagine. It's just…our means are a bit different."
"I suddenly saw an opportunity for, shall we say, collaboration, perhaps a side dish of revenge while we're at it…"
A few seconds passed.
The woman heard Otto's heavy breathing.
Indeed, it really was the right move to go after him immediately after the argument, unable to think straight from his anger and frustration.
"What did you have in mind?"
The woman smiled to herself.
Hook, line, and sinker.
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