Chapter 53: The Three Oligarchs (Part 2!)

“You will be rewarded with the highest honors we can bestow, seeing as you all are very different and have a versatile skill set. You stealing the Tripolian plans is proof enough.” Ruto addressed every member of the party except Sorbet and Kaliba, who was resting on top of Sorbet.

“How did ya guys even know we were here-here?”

“It was a couple things really. One, we always interview people after they go into Jantok Sky. You’re the only ones that have gone into the palace as of recent. Second, and I need you to be honest with me, you suddenly appeared here without a boat.”

“Well… we had a boat but a problem occurred with that.” Bolato scratched his head and his eyes went all sad.

“What would that be?”

“A weight loss-loss program.”

“It was a bomb.” Valiato corrected.

“Understood…” Glatrix stepped in front of Ruto and slowly approached Vega. “Finally, and… this is the least pleasant for me to admit… you’re the only ones that have opened a tower made by Kaliber.”

“What?” Everyone blurted out. Everyone except the scarecrow herself.

“I don’t get it. Ya just push it open, it's that simple.”

“Y-you don’t understand.” Ruto said, all exasperated. “We tried drilling, breaking-”

“Ev-en tr-ied bo-mbing it on-ce.” They soldiers all around started groaning and complaining simultaneously about the bomb attempt. “It di-dn’t wo-rk.”

“Yes, and none of them worked.” Glatrix bent down to Vega’s eye level, and looked at her like he was admiring a tool. “Until, you came along…”

Everyone really wants a piece of you! Well, not the personality part, but who cares about that?

“What we need you to do is a couple things-” Ruto began to explain.

“Here we go.” Skaldi rolled his eyes.

“Don’t you mean ‘here we go again’?” Florato joined in. Sorbet saw this and tried to mimic it but fumbled.

“It isn’t a lot. Dare I say, with the aid we’re providing you and the benefits, we offering you the deal of a lifetime.” Glatrix turned to them both, with his mustache flaring like a porcupine.

“Are you guys and Tibato related or something, because I’m starting to see some similarities?” Sorbet muttered to herself.

“We need a payload of black powder. Take it from any gangsters, but make sure it’s discreet.”

“That’s a not very discreet duty your asking us. And we’re not exactly stuffed with gold.” Bolato replied and put a hand and Vega’s mouth before she’d correct him. “How’d you expect us to source that?”

“It’s actually quite easy. There are gangs that manage small black powder operations underneath the city. Watchmen don’t typically head underground since it's all dark, so it's normal guards that have to deal with them. Either try to pose as a bandit or follow some guards. Get enough to fill ten carts. As for cash, Roka can handle that.” Ruto gestured toward the Oligarch as he did his best version of a bow.

“Okay, I like that. What else would you have us do?” Bolato requested, pleased by the clear directions and support.

“This is also close to the black powder, but we’re going to need gangsters helping us out. We don’t care who, but make sure there are a ton of them. A hundred men strong will be good, more is even better. Don’t worry about equipment, we can get that too.”

“Hmm.” Skaldi was starting to like the sound of it. Sure, it would involve their lives being threatened again, but that was an almost daily occurrence.

Vega however, started to feel off. As the details piled on, she felt… like a pawn. She wasn’t helping them, she was being used. Like a tool.

“A question, are any of you skilled in music or acting?”

“I played a tornado once. That was pretty cool-cool.” Vega's own reminiscing was still sour, as she eyed Glatrix with a mean spite.

“Actually yeah. I’ve done plenty of productions, why do you ask?” Florato raised her brow and smiled, feeling like she’d be of some use.

“If everything goes well, we'll need you for the final part.” Ruto smiled sweetly, as if promising this task for her. “We’ll need more details on the Lai bank, so if one of you could get some information out of the family, it would be crucial.”

“How would we do that?” Skaldi hoped that Ruto would provide a guide. “Why would you even need to go into the Lai bank?”

“Unfortunately we have nothing besides that they live in the Cloud district, north east of here. As for the Lai bank itself… we can deal with that later.”

“And finally… the last part involves you…” Glatrix laid a hand on Vega’s shoulder and her annoyed mood slowly shifted back into anger.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

“What-what is it?”

“This tower… I assume you know who it belonged to, seeing your reaction from earlier.”

My, he is pleasant, isn’t he?

“Yeah I know-know. So?”

“We need you to open up the second one. So we can see use… it contents.”

Oh… I wonder where this will go?

Her soul couldn’t take it. But why? She had followed orders from people before, so now she wondered. She felt a great hatred, a venomous spite, for Glatrix. But for what reason, for what purpose?

Next to Sorbet, the Soul Gem started to glow once more.

Come on! You know you want to hurt him…

“Hold on. I think you guys shouldn’t do that.” Florato moved beside the two, noticing how upset Vega was.

“Why not? We know Kaliber was in contact with the previous Oligarch, the tower could have some crucial details. Some… weapons or such… Soul gems perhaps…”

“Still, you don’t know what Kaliber… means to her.” Skaldi joined her.

“Means? What does it matter? She’s just a construct.”

She squeezed her fist hard, like she was trying to squeeze his throat or heart.

It would be so easy. So good. Who would care anyway?

“You shut your mouth.” Bolato put himself directly in front of Vega, but she didn’t notice. “She’s dealing with a lot right now, and I think she should explore the tower on her own terms.”

“Really? Striker brother, you should understand what could be in there.” Glatrix tried to appeal to him, but Bolato shook his head.

“That doesn’t matter…” Valiato joined Skaldi’s side, holding her fist high. “Vega’s fought tooth and nail in search of Kaliber.”

“She even owns the deeds to the properties.” Florato added on.

“Got it from the Nymph Yukos!” Bolato pressed a finger on his Mermaid badge, which caused many of the soldiers and men to shake their heads and consider their side. Even Roka had hopped onto Ruto’s shoulder and began to reconsider their approach.

“Enough! It is irrelevant, since I am an Oligarch.” Glatrix addressed the whole room, his beard shaking as he spoke.

Amir, who had been observing and had the conversation translated to him the entire time, stomped his way slowly towards Glatrix, with Sorbet following in his footsteps, figuratively and literally.

Glatrix was infuriated and went to met the Tripolian but Sorbet got in his way. Her sparkling eyes made him reconsider his action.

“You know… I haven’t experienced much in this life.” The ice cream lady held her hand before her eyes. “But, Vega is pretty nice. Probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I’ve known Oligarchs in my time, but no matter what, good Oligarchs aim to respect the rights of those they rule over. If they don’t… if you don’t… you’re no better than Tibato!” Sorbet composed herself quite well, moving both the soldiers and the two other Oligarchs.

And finally… Amir went to oppose Glatrix.

“~This… Vega is odd. She is different in ways I cannot comprehend. And she annoys me so often…~” Amir paused, giving Valiato and Florato a soft look, and giving Vega a caring one.

“~And yet… she is kind. She doesn’t like to hurt or be hurt. And yet, despite this, she has aided everyone she has met so far. She has shown great kindness to my daughter, displayed incredible bravery on the field, and gone beyond most mortal men. And certainly accomplished more in her time with us than you have in your entire life. She has earned Kaliber and whatever secrets she holds. Your claim is forfeit on the grounds of heroism.~” The moment Amir finished, the translators finished relaying the words to Glatrix as well, leaving him bitter and upset.

“If… you dare defy me… I’ll-”

“Hold on-on.” Vega’s voice put everyone in silence. The team were surprised seeing that Vega was going to agree with their terms. Florato had a pained look on her face, saddened that Vega wasn’t going to fight for herself.

“Oh! So now you wish to spea-”

“I’ll work with ya. On two conditions.” Again, stunning the party. Florato’s expression changed to confused. What was she going to request, she though.

“Conditions? Ha! Alright… go on.” Glatrix pressed his fingers together, staring hot fire at Vega.

“…My friends… I want them to safe after this is over. All the money, or whatever they need-need, they get it.”

“Vega… you really want that for us?” Skaldo smiled but it cut off shortly as Vega’s eyes kept downward.

You know this is futile! This won’t make sure they’ll stay with you.

“Yeah… because I want you guys to have normal lives.” The scarecrow’s eyes aimed to where the Voice was speaking, which Skaldi had guessed it was talking to her. The Voice and the Soul Gem would have to be figured out later.

“How adorable. And your second one?”

“…Whatever we… whatever I find in the towers… I get to keep it.” Silence, all admiring Vega’s boldness. The three Oligarchs turned to each. Roka whispered close to Glatrix, but the empathic look on Ruto’s face stopped it. Glatrix closed his eyes and bowed his head forward.

“Indeed. If you succeed in what’s requested of you… You will all be taken care of, and the contents of the towers belong to…” Glatrix struggled to finish his sentence, not able to believe a scarecrow bested him.

“Ve-ga.” Roka stated, with the rest of the soldiers nodding in mild agreement.

“Now get to work folks, we only have forty five days to do this. For Love! For Honor! For the Oligarchy!”

The scarecrow, as the Oligarchs went out, stepped outside of Kaliber’s tower. She hadn’t even realized it, but the day had come to an end. It was a blissful night out, as the white embers of the moon rained seductive light down on her.

All the gamblers had finished their games, and all the gangsters had taken their spoils home or to their hideouts. Only the lonely wind on the dice littered paths were the only bit of rhythm that could be heard.

For a reason she couldn’t quite understand yet, she was still afraid. In this place, where she was stuck she was afraid that her friends might not stay around.

An irrational feeling that often comes from pure emotion. Vega couldn’t help but to fear that in the coming days, her friendships wouldn’t last.

Vega felt a nostalgic pang, like she had suffered something like this before. Like someone she had loved and defended her had left her forever. She took out the letter from Kaliber and lifted it to her eyes.

There, in that emotional night, the scarecrow hoped only she could be with her friends only forty five days longer. The scarecrow hoped that her creator would be found.

The scarecrow had a belief that she hoped would become truth.

“My dreams and my desires… things are-are so colorful… and it's possible that I’ve found…” A tear fell from the scarecrow’s eye, and she continued to sing.

“I’ve found a fountain in you… a familiar youth in me… whenever I’m around it, I feel so-so wonderful and I’m trying to be myself… but I-I can’t help it! I’m so selfish!” The scarecrow sang, hoping that her voice would reach Kaliber.

“Can I live it again…?”

Huh… She reminds me of when I made my own Construct… wait…