"Is he dead…?" Henry whispered.

"No," I replied, knowing the future. "But he'll never be able to fight again."

Today was the last day of The Ogre's long-standing career. Even if he had the strength to destroy a mana-infused steel cage, Kleave had broken down his mind. In the original timeline, even the slightest whiff of anything remotely flowery had caused this once great man to cower in fear. From what I recalled, he moved to a desert village to avoid flowers altogether.

Tsk.

It's such a shame. A mighty man with a Strength of 412 would be helpful in the upcoming war.

I rubbed my chin in thought.

Perhaps I can find a way to reverse the effects?

My eyes glanced towards Kleave.

Maybe I can even ask him for help? His girlfriend made the concoction. She should have an antidote.

“LAAAAAADIES AND GENTLEMEN!! We have an unprecedented winner! Kleave has taken down the long-standing champion of two long years!" The announcer cried out.

The booths sounded with gleeful cheers, along with a few angry wails. The reality of this fight's outcome was that practically everyone who bet on it lost all their money. Not that most of the audience even cared; they weren't here to gamble but to pay for a unique entertainment experience.

The only two people that won this gamble were me and her.

My eyes moved towards a young woman dressed in all pink, with enormous bug-eyed glasses and two large pink buns of hair on either side of her head. She sat in a booth on the first floor near the arena. She had the veil covering removed, and Kleave was blowing kisses in her direction, making it impossible to miss her.

"What's this?" The announcer called out. "I just got word that Kleave had entered to fight against The Ogre to erase the debt his girlfriend owed! Now, if that ain't love, I don't know what is!"

It was my first time seeing Kathy, but I had heard many descriptions of her from Kleave. She and Kleave had grown up in the same orphanage within Adovoria's capital. It was a dismal and abusive place; they ran away when they were only ten to survive on their own within the streets of Eastern Adovoria.

I knew three things about Kathy. One, she was exceptional at preparing concoctions and unusual poisons. She had gained a steady business for her products in the underground markets. Second, she had an unfortunate love for card games and gambling on them. It may have been fine if she had Jasper's skills, but she was a godawful card player. Third, she loved the color pink. Kleave dyed his hair pink and even kept it that way long after her death because it was her favorite color.

While the audience cheered on Kleave, a group of guards ran into the arena. By some incredible miracle, the six of them managed to lift up The Ogre and take him away.

"Luca Frey?" The concierge that had brought me here from before entered the booth with a red velvet plate stacked with golden chips. "Congratulations on winning this round. As the odds on this round were 1:82, after the percentage fee taken by the House, your total winnings are 369 golden chips."

Henry's eyes bulged at the mountain of money these coins indicated I had won.

"How would you like to proceed with the next round?" The concierge asked. "I haven't obtained the odds for the next round yet, but since Kleave managed to beat The Ogre, it is highly likely that for the next six rounds, most other clients will bet on Kleave."

"Cash me out, please," I told her.

"Young master! But you made so much!" Henry excitedly spoke. "You could make even more in the next six rounds."

I slanted my eyes towards him.

Where did the cautious guy from before that discouraged gambling go?

"Cash me out. This is enough for me," I reiterated to the concierge. "And please ideally exchange them for phoenix eyes. They're easier to carry."

"Most certainly, I can have it prepared." The concierge bowed. "Please allow me a moment, and I will return with your payout."

Henry was correct. I could have made an even greater profit, but I was in a time crunch. I had an egg I needed to go buy before the Daylan servant swept it from under my feet.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Miss Kathy? Here are your winnings." The smiling concierge presented the pile of golden chips on a plate. "How would you like to proceed?"

Kathy adjusted her thick glasses, made a quick count, and frowned. "This is less than I expected. What happened?"

"I'm afraid the odds changed at the last moment. Another client had placed a bet on Kleave, and thus the winnings were split," the concierge explained.

A smile appeared on Kathy's face.

Oh? Someone else had the brains to bet on my Pookie Bear?

"Who was it?" Kathy intertwined her fingers and rested her chin on her hands.

"I'm afraid I cannot divulge information about other clients," the concierge said.

"Oh, I didn't mean to tell me. A clue is fine, right?" Kathy smiled and slipped two golden chips into the concierge's hand.

The concierge's red lips widened.

"Of course, that's not a problem." She leaned into Kathy's ear and whispered.

Kathy clicked her tongue.

One of the Frey boys? It can't be Micah Frey. Or the youngest one. That leaves Luca Frey.

Kathy's smile widened.

I suppose I can learn a little more about the infamous troublemaker. I hadn't planned on attending it myself, but perhaps he'll attend the royal ball tonight? It could be fun to go if he does.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Thirty-two phoenix eyes clanked against one another in a velvet pouch of my jacket's inner pocket.

The remainder would be delivered via guarded transport to the Frey Manor. I couldn't very well be carrying such an amount on me. There was the obvious impracticality.

And I don't want to start Round 8 prematurely because some hooligans got wind of my good fortune.

"Henry, keep alert," I told him as we exited The Gilded Siren casino.

Even if I didn't have hundreds of phoenix eyes on me, thirty-two was more than enough to be killed over.

"Of course," Henry nodded seriously. His hand rested on his sword. His eyes swept the surroundings for trouble.

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Looking at his expression, I was again reminded that he was, in the end, a proper guard.

"Take us to Ebony Alley," I told the carriage driver. "Quickly."

"Certainly, young master Luca." The driver tipped his brown cap, and the carriage began to move when Henry closed its door behind him.

I tapped the leather seating of the carriage.

I didn't quite remember when the Daylan servant would come by Ebony Alley, but I had spent quite a bit of time in The Gilded Siren. Looking out the carriage, the sun was relatively high in the blue sky.

I could ask the System when the Daylan servant went to the market.

I glanced at Henry, who was continuing to remain on alert, looking out each window.

However, to do so, I'd have to speak out loud.

Tsk.

I gazed at my reflection in the glass carriage window. My golden eyes stared back at me.

No. I don't want to gain a reputation of having lost my mind. And I'm already trying to get there as quickly as I can.

My eyes picked up something beyond my reflection.

It's him!

The Daylan servant in his top hat and a soft yellow suit walked down the paved street, a cane in his right hand.

The carriage halted.

"Young master, we've—"

I didn't listen to Henry any further and bolted out of one of the carriage doors.

He's only half a block away! Damn it.

I ran with all my might up Ebony Alley towards the orange tent.

"Young master, please, give more of a heads up. And why are we running?" Henry had quickly caught up to me.

I didn't reply. I needed my remaining strength to get to the merchant.

Why did it have to be uphill? Damn it.

"Hah. Hah…" I tried to regain my breath once we reached the orange table.

The merchant looked wide-eyed at my undoubtedly disheveled appearance.

I pulled out two of the phoenix eyes and pocketed them. The remaining thirty I placed on the wooden table between us.

"Here. Now the egg," I gasped out the words.

Henry handed me a handkerchief, and I wiped the sweat beads on my forehead.

The merchant gazed in glee at the gemstones before him. His hands began rubbing together like a fly.

"Bring it quickly," I added.

My eyes turned towards the entryway into Ebony Alley. The Daylan servant was making his way up. His yellow top hat was unmistakable.

"Of course," the balding merchant grinned. He disappeared inside his tent and brought out the crystal-enclosed box. Inside, the egg sat proudly on a red silk cushion.

I picked up the box and tossed Henry's handkerchief over it to hide it from prying eyes.

"It's been a pleasure doing business with you," the merchant quickly pocketed the phoenix eyes and disappeared back into his tent.

No doubt he's running away before any unwanted attention befalls him.

"Henry, let's go." I turned and walked at a comfortable pace down Ebony Alley.

Henry walked beside me, his hand firmly on his sword.

We passed the yellow-suited Daylan servant; however, neither he nor I attempted to acknowledge one another.

He no doubt didn't remember who I was. And I didn't need his attention on my egg; he was as desperate as me to get his hands on it.

"Where are we going now, young master Luca?" Henry asked. He opened the carriage door, and I sat on the leather seat.

"Home," I replied and uncovered the crystal box to reveal the egg.

I pulled it out and inspected it closely, eyeing the little golden flakes that glistened under the sunlight. My fingers gripped it tightly as the carriage lunged forward.

Can't have you crack open on the floor on me now, after all the effort I've put into obtaining you.

I placed the egg back into safety in its crystal box.

Now the question is, how does one prepare a phoenix egg?

I highly doubted there was a recipe somewhere on it. Or at least I didn't know of one.

Perhaps the System might know. It did say I needed to ask the right questions.

I glanced toward Henry.

The problem was I wasn't alone.

"Henry, please plug your ears in and hum something to yourself," I ordered.

Henry blinked his eyes in confusion and opened his mouth to speak.

I cut him off before he could ask any useless questions. "Just do it. Don't ask why. And look out the window."

[ Charisma : +1 ]

[ Charisma : 9 ]

Really? I increased it for ordering something so silly? Perhaps it accumulated over time? I'll ask the System about how it works later.

Henry obediently covered his ears and began humming some lullaby while gazing out one window.

"Hey System, how do you prepare a phoenix egg? I want to feed it to Jasper, so he feels better." I still whispered, paranoid of being heard and thought to have lost my mind.

[ Hello Luca, unfortunately, the players I've followed and those around them have never attempted to cook a phoenix egg, so I do not have that knowledge. ]

I sighed.

"Aren't you supposed to be sooooo much more intelligent than me? What's the point of all your knowledge if you don't even know something like this," I grumbled.

[ One can be highly knowledgeable in some areas while entirely clueless in others. ]

[ For example, if someone studies botany all their life and knows every plant and utility of them by heart, but doesn't know the names of all the capitals on the continent, are they an idiot? ]

"No," I replied.

[ Exactly. You are asking me the wrong questions, Luca. ]

I rubbed my chin in thought.

Perhaps the System was right. Rather than asking the System, I should ask Fiona, the head cook of the Frey Manor. She was the expert when it came to matters of food.

The carriage came to a halt.

"Henry," I tapped his leg with my foot. "You can stop humming now. We're home."

We stepped out into the manor's courtyard. Remlend was waiting on me.

"Young master Luca, you've missed many of your lessons. Will you be attending the remainder of them?" Remlend asked.

I looked over his ordinary appearance.

I wish I still had the Random Character Checker skill available today to try on him.

Not that I had much of a choice on whom the skill worked. It popped up entirely at random.

"No, I will not," I said. "Prepare a bath for me, however."

"Very well." Remlend bowed and went ahead of us.

"Young master, since we're home, I'm going to go and take care of a few matters," Henry said.

"Sure, go ahead," I said.

Henry bowed and dashed ahead as well, while I walked at a normal human speed towards the entrance.

"Meow."

A shiver went up my spine at the sound. I looked back and saw a brown spotted cat trotting through the courtyard.

"You two," I spoke to the men guarding the front entrance. "Can you please get rid of that cat? I don't want a single cat on the manor's property."

"Is there a problem?" The guard on the right asked.

"Yes," I said. "I seem to have developed a deadly allergy towards them. So toss out any cats you see. Especially if it's white with violet fur."

The guard on the right looked confused. The guard on the left had a little smile. They probably assumed it was one of my usual pranks.

I sighed.

I decided to pull the trump card that got everyone to shut up and do as told. I never used it because of the ridiculous reaction it caused. But I wasn't about to die by something so stupid as a cat in this round. And I suspected it wasn't an ordinary cat.

"Keep every cat out. Or I will tell Micah that you didn't listen to me," I told them.

Their faces turned ashen white, and both began to nod their heads furiously.

"Of course! We will! Just please don't bring it up with your brother." The first guard tried to open the door for me but attempted to pull it instead of pushing it open.

He kept yanking it forward until I told him he was attempting to open it the wrong way.

"I'll get that brown cat out! And I will go and inform everyone else." The second guard tripped and fell down the steps in his hurry.

Tch.

I rubbed my temples.

This was why I hated pulling this trump card. Sure they took me seriously, but it made everyone act somehow significantly dumber. It was as if half their brains had stopped functioning.

"DON'T LET A SINGLE CAT THROUGH!" I heard a loud yell followed by a dozen furious agreements behind me as the front doors closed.

Damn it. I hope I didn't make things worse.

The last, and only time, I've pulled the Micah card, a few trees caught fire and the dungeon exploded. And two Frey staff members ran away, never to be seen again.

I didn't understand why everyone acted like complete morons when I mentioned telling on them to Micah.

Two guards raced past me as I neared the kitchen with my crystal-enclosed egg clenched between my hands.

One of them stammered out. "Don't worry. We'll keep every cat out."

I felt a headache coming over me.

Maybe it would have been better to just face the damn white and violet cat instead of this circus. It was just one cat, after all.