Tamer of Cosmic Beasts

The 1st round of the tournament ended, and the participants were given 2 days to rest. Akash Tagar didn't want to waste his time and called Chand Gandraf, who then arrived after some time. The mayor of Slave City knocked on the door and Haji Tea opened it.

"Hello, Mr. Haji."

Chand greeted him first, he was a greedy man who would do anything he deemed necessary to gain wealth, power and influence. To him, Akash was a golden sparrow, one that could raise his standing to a new level. In his mind, he and his allies were mere employees of Slave Planet that were tasked with establishing a new business and, as a result, Akash, and to a lesser extent his subordinates, were of a higher position than him. He surmised this by the respect Akash displayed for Haji. Thus, he behaved in a respectful manner with Haji as well.

"Good to see you again, mayor."

Haji Tea replied with a smile and continued.

"His Majesty is waiting for you inside."

Chand had become familiar with these formalities and didn't think much of them calling Akash their king. As he went inside, he saw Akash sitting on a sofa with a newspaper in his hands. Chand laughed softly and spoke.

"It's rare for someone to read a newspaper in this technologically advanced world."

Akash wrapped the newspaper up and put it to his side.

"I am an old-fashioned guy, Mayor Chand. Not to mention, there's a reason they're still being printed in this day and age."

"Haha, well said, Mr. Akash."

Chand Gandraf uttered with a smirk on his lips. The more Akash interacted with him, the more familiar he became with his antics and way of doings things. Akash continued.

"Mayor Chand, we have already visited everything there is to see in this city, except one…"

"The Slave Auction?"

Chand Ganraf asked without a second thought.

"Indeed, you are correct."

Akash replied.

"No worries, I myself have been thinking of showing you our well-known auction. By now, you should know that this city's limelight falls not on the Slave Arena, but the Slave Auction."

"Yes, we have heard that here and there. So... when will this auction be held?"

The King Akash Tagar asked.

"That's not your business, Mr Akash. It's mine."

Chand told Akash, causing his expression to change. After which, the latter hummed and replied.

"Indeed, it's yours. I apologize."

"And I can open my business anytime I want."

Chand replied with a smile as Akash finally understood his words and smiled back before Chand continued.

"I wanted to give you a slave of your choice as a gift from the auction. And as it happens, now would be the perfect time to visit the Slave Auction. We can go now."

"Wait, mayor."

Akash stopped the leaving Chand.

"What is it, Mr. Akash?"

The mayor asked.

"Will you keep your word regardless of who I pick?"

Akash inquired, making Chand wonder about this peculiar question before he answered with a grin.

"Haha, anyone in my possession can be yours. Even my right-hand man, one whom I deem as my treasure."

"I'm not interested in your right-hand man. I have my own."

Akash refuted him as Chand raised his brows and asked.

"Mr. Akash, this old man has always performed poorly in riddles. Please make it clear."

Akash sighed.

"Haah, leave it, Mayor Chand. I know you won't give him to me, so let's just find some other slave from the auction."

Chand Gandraf became anxious and inquired further.

"No, tell me who you want. We are here for the same cause. I can even sacrifice my most beloved one for my cause."

Akash Tagar looked at him with a side eye and stated.

"What about your most hated person?"

This puzzled Chand as he thought.

"Who is in my possession that I hate most?"

He looked at Akash and spoke.

"Mr. Akash, I don't recall anyone like tha..."

All of a sudden, a certain face came to his mind. He stared at Akash and asked.

"Are you talking about..."

"Yes, I am talking about the God of Guns. Erwin Cloude."

Akash revealed his piece as Chand Ganraf's body shook in anger as if he was about to erupt like a volcano. He furrowed his brows with veins popping up on his forehead. Feeling the oncoming anger, Akash quickly spoke.

"It's okay, mayor. You can have him, just don't lose your calm."

"Why do you need him?"

Chand questioned Akash more aggressively than before as the lords prepared themselves for anything. Mehak Pitafi flinched while Riassuba Rosehip signalled to her with his eyes, and she went inside her room.

"Do you need a reason? I believe that out of everyone, you are the only one who know him the best."

Akash answered indifferently.

"Sorry, Mr. Akash, but he is not part of the auction. You can choose anyone else once we've arrived at the auction. There are tons of slaves more capable than him."

"Hmm, I see. It's okay, I thought you really meant it, when you said you would give anyone in your possession for the cause. Sigh, well, let's go to the Slave Auction then."

The words of Akash were focused on checking and testing Chand's loyalty to Slave Planet and they clearly agitated him. He thought that if he refused now and contradicted his earlier words, his position would be lowered among the Slave Planet subordinates, if not even worse. Finally, he relented before he gritted his teeth and agreed.

"Alright, I'll give him to you."

A surge of happiness rose in Akash's heart, he was planning to abduct Erwin Cloude. However, who would've thought that he'd actually get him by simply taking advantage of Chand's loyalty.

"But not now."

Chand clarified right after, making Akash squint his eyes before asking.

"Then when?"

"After this tournament ends."

"Done, you can continue to torment him till the end of tournament. Just make sure he doesn't die."

Akash added with a smile whilst Chand's eyes widened.

"What do you mean?"

He asked.

"We have our means of gathering intel, Mr. Chand. Don't underestimate the representative of guardians."

"…I understand."

Chand could only utter these two words as a response.

"Alright, now that everything is settled. Let's go to the auction."

Haji Tea clapped his hands while stating this.

"Huh! You still want another slave after him?"

Chand asked in annoyance, his mood already ruined.

"Oh, no, no, we will buy the rest with ourselves."

Haji corrected him.

"You will have to wait for the slave auction to be held then."

Riassuba Rosehip tsked.

"O' mighty mayor of this burgeoned city, I'm sure ye can pull some strings to open it early for our esteemed leader. I swear on my loyalty, no more than a single slave from your collection will be bought. We are nothing more than the pawns of the paramount guardians."

"Only one slave?"

Chand looked at Akash to confirm and he nodded. Then, Chand scratched his head and replied begrudgingly.

"Fine."