Leaving Coinmaster Bell’s mansion, Malakai made his way back to Oner’s place, much to Octavia’s chagrin.
"What the hell are we doing here again?" she demanded, glaring at Malakai.
But the boy simply approached the mansion, ignoring her.
"If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume you just love walking and want to torture me!" she seethed.
Renlo tried his best to stay the hell away from the furious vein, lest she vented her anger at him. He stuck close to Malakai.
"Hey Malakai, wouldn’t it be better if you just answered her questions?" Renlo whispered.
"Then she’ll keep asking me more questions. I don’t want that."
"But..." Renlo sent an uneasy glance at Octavia, who was practically stomping the ground as she walked, her expressionless guard trailing behind her. "...isn’t that a bad idea? It looks like she could explode any second now."
"Don’t worry," Malakai said. "Don’t be fooled by her acting. She’s just like her mother, don’t take anything she says or does at face value."
"Yes," Malakai nodded. "So just ignore her."
Entry back into Coinmaster Oner’s mansion was simple. As the butler came out to greet them, Malakai went straight to the point and asked to be shown the room where the wife disappeared.
With the coinmaster still broken, the butler didn’t waste time and took them to the room. There, Malakai confirmed his assumption.
’The window was also left open. No struggle.’
Though the wife was reported to enjoy fresh air and would often leave the window open, Malakai still believed it was too much of a coincidence to ignore.
’The other victims will reveal if I’m right or not.’
They left the mansion after that and began their journey to the next victim.
Unfortunately, due to her knowledge of the case, Octavia knew their next location.
"Wait!" she said after a few minutes of walking, raising her hand to her chin.
"We’ve met Oner and Bell. Those are the only two in this district!" she realized.
Malakai frowned. He could see where this was going.
"Don’t tell me you plan on walking to the next destination too..."
Seeing the calm look on Malakai’s face, Octavia’s eyes widened.
"No, no, no, no! Hell no!" she screamed. "I’m not walking to another freaking district! We either get a carriage or I’m going back!"
Though hesitant, Malakai could see how serious she was.
’It’ll save time,’ he thought before agreeing.
Just like that, the group took a quick detour to one of the carriage rental stores nearby. Wisely, he left the proceedings to Octavia.
The store owner, who Malakai quickly determined was also a member of the Umbrella Group, paled the moment he sighted the two veins, especially the child of the Chaos Bringer.
"Give me your most expensive carriage and Gravethorns!"
"O-of course. R-right away!"
Rather than sending one of the attendants, the man hurried back himself and soon returned with a golden carriage that screamed luxury, pulled by two thick looking Gravethorns.
"This carriage is the best quality you’ll find in the entire district, tenth vein," he said eagerly. "And these Gravethorns are well-fed, well-bred, strong as oxen! They won’t disappoint!"
"Good!" Octavia rushed toward the carriage and threw herself into it.
Malakai wasn’t sure if she was excited about the carriage or just relieved she wouldn’t have to walk anymore.
’I reckon both,’ Valentine said in his mind.
"This is great," Octavia said, stretching comfortably. "We’re taking this!"
"Excellent! You won’t be disappointed!" the man said, forcing a bright smile.
As Malakai and Renlo entered, her guard climbed to the front and took the reins.
The man rubbed his hands together, half-closing his eyes as he cleared his throat. "A-about payment..."
"Payment?" Octavia asked. She reclined on the soft couch, clearly savoring the comfort.
"Y-yes, tenth vein," the man said nervously. "Payment for the goods."
"Oh! I get it now," Octavia said with a sweet smile. "Just ask my mother."
The man blinked. "Y-your mother?"
"Yes, my mother," she replied simply. "I’m sure she’ll be happy to pay."
Malakai and Renlo exchanged glances. The Sixth Pulse? The same woman they all knew? If that happened, the man might as well say goodbye to store.
The man’s eyes trembled. "I... I see..."
He was about to step back when Malakai spoke.
The man froze. "M-me, ninth vein?"
It was the first time Malakai had spoken since coming to the store. His heart pounded. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel·fire.net
’Did I do something wrong?’ he began to wonder when Malakai spoke again.
"How much is the money?"
"Pardon?" he stammered, looking up in disbelief. But all he received was Malakai’s cold stare.
"The carriage and the Gravethorns," Malakai said. "How much are they?"
"Twenty thousand, ninth vein."
"Stretch out your life guard."
The man obeyed without thinking, and Malakai raised his own. A flicker of light passed between them, and the transfer was complete. The man’s eyes widened in utter shock.
"Th-thank you! Thank you, ninth vein!" he bowed repeatedly, trembling. "May the Dome grant you eternal peace!"
Malakai only gave a curt nod.
The man kept bowing as the carriage pulled away, still muttering his thanks under his breath.
Inside the carriage, Octavia’s glare could have cut through steel.
"There was no need for that," she said. "My mother would’ve paid for it."
Malakai glanced at her, then shrugged. "Then I helped her."
"Hmph!" Octavia turned away with a flick of her hair.
The silence stretched. Then, after a moment, Renlo muttered under his breath, "Very good friends."
Both Malakai and Octavia turned to stare at him. He cleared his throat quickly and looked away, still muttering,
"What was that?" Octavia asked.
Just like that, their journey continued in utter silence.
As it turned out, using a carriage had been the right choice. The group left the vein district and entered the pulse district. The roads were still paved, and the streets crowded. People went about their business.
The next victim was also a Coinmaster. Just like the others, the only difference was that she lived in another district. Malakai was starting to sense a pattern.