Book 3 - The Merchant from the Depths: Chapter 16; Hasty Schemes

The screen turns on as the chapter title card plays "Chapter - 16; Hasty Schemes''.

Yuu, Grim, Jack, Ruggie, and Leona had headed into the cafeteria for breakfast after their morning Spelldrive game.

Grim is nearly bouncing around as he shouts "Nothing beats a good breakfast after workin' up a sweat! Grim craves protein – bring on the MEAT!" But Jack is the only one paying attention to Grim, although even he is only partially paying attention.

As for Yuu, Ruggie, and Leona they are in the middle of their own conversation.

Leona asks Yuu "So, like, what were you thinking, cuttin' a deal with that cephalo-punk? How stupid can you get?" He then partial glare at her as he finishes with "Now you're crampin' MY style as a result."

Yuu sighs as she looks to the side and tells him "Well, it's like this…" as she explains what had happened.

Leona laughs as he asks "You made a deal to free all the chumps who contracted with him to get ahead in their finals?"

She reluctantly nods as Leona laughs even harder.

Poking fun at her "That's rich. I shudder to imagine being that dumb."

But Ruggie only shrugs as he says "Rumor has it that Azul's study guide is the real deal, though. I kinda get why people would wanna get their hands on that."

Jack proves that he was listening in, although not actively participating as he asks his two Savanaclaw seniors "So you guys steered clear of Azul's scheme, huh?"

He continues without thinking as he admits to Leona "I figured you'd go for the easiest out of you could get, Leona…" He then realized what he said, and who he said it to as he apologized "Ah, no offense, of course!" as he awkwardly rubs the back of his head.

But Leona only scoffs at the mere suggestion of it as he asks insultingly "Are you kidding? Who in their right mind would voluntarily keep making deals with that swindler?"

His tail swishes angrily behind him as he puts his hands in his pant pockets and tells them "I've made a few deals and paid the piper for 'em. There's always a steep catch." Ruggie's ears also flatten against his head as he advises them "Yeah, he ain't the kinda guy you wanna turn to as your first resort."

His ears stay flattened as he admits, complementing Azul, "He's definitely a capable magician, though. He can grant some real tall orders just like that." Leona also joins in on advising them "The guy who wants something outta a deal is always the one at a disadvantage. That's Negotiating 101. When dimwitted herbivores sign contracts on a whim, they always end up getting suckered somehow."

Yuu knows she had gotten agitated and pressured while making the deal so she mumbles "Can I really win this bet…?"

But forgot she's with beastmen, who all have above average hearing. So Leona shrugs and he asks her "Y'know what? Let's hear it. What were your terms, exactly?"

She then explains the terms to mainly Ruggie and Leona, although Grim was kinda listening as his head was empty when the contract was being signed and the terms negotiated.

Leona restates "Before the sun sets on the third day after signing…" as Ruggie finishes for him "You have to sneak into the Atlantica Memorial Museum, steal a photo, and bring it back?"

The two share a look as they stay silent for a second as Yuu waits nervously for what they're gonna say.

Ruggie sheepishly pats her shoulder as he says "Boy… Stinks to be you."

Which makes Yuu buries her face in her hands as Grim shouts at them "Hey, we ain't even gotten started yet! Don't go jinxin' us!"

Ruggie rolls his eyes as he asks Grim "Isn't the Atlantica Memorial Museum underwater? How are you gonna get there, brainiac?"

Grim answers Ruggie "They gave us water-breathing' potions." rather smugly at that. Jack rubs his head as his ears flatten and he admits "No idea how well they work, though."

Ruggie puts his hands behind his head as he tells them "Huh. If Azul gave 'em to you, they probably work just fine. He's got his pride. I doubt he'd ever give someone a wonky potion."

Leona hums as he smirks telling them "I'd get the ball rollin' now, if I were you. Time is money, as they say."

Yuu does like the look of that smirk.

But Grim and Jack don't seem to catch the same message as Grim shouts enthusiastically "Myah! Good idea! Hey, Yuu, let's hit up the Atlantica Memorial Museum right now!" Jack nods as he agrees saying "Good call. With only three days, we don't have any leeway here."

Grim then starts to head off while shouting "I'm bringin' Ace and Deuce along, too. Let's mosey!"

As Jack drags Yuu along with them to steal the painting from Atlantica Memorial Museum.

Even if this was her deal, she felt now wasn't the right time to go, especially since Leona suggested it with that smirk.

After they leave Ruggie puts his hands behind his head as he smirks and tells Leona "Aaand they're gone. I gotta say, Leona – you're a real piece of work." But he simply chuckles as he tells Ruggie "I've got no idea what you're talkin' about."

The screen then fades to black as "To be continued" plays on screen before it fully turns off.