Book 3 - The Merchant from the Depths: Chapter 20; Two Days Remain

The screen turns on as the chapter title plays "Chapter - 20; Two Days Remain".

Leona sits fully up and puts a hand to his chin as he says "But, hm… If I were in your shoes…"

Before pausing for a second then telling them "I'd start by brainstorming a way to shred the contract document itself."

Grim counters shouting "But it's invulnerable!"

Leona lays back down with a hand to his head as he sighs while looking at them. He then insults "You guys are seriously pea-brained." Ruggie also looks disappointed as he says "You're like a scammer's dream come true."

Grim shouts "Mrah?!"

Ruggie puts his hands out to the side as he explains "Let's start with the basics. Why would you take Azul at his word when he said his contract was "completely unbreakable"?"

Jack answers cautiously "What? I mean, none of our attacks did a thing to it…"

Ruggie shakes his head as he rhetorically asks "Have you considered the possibility that was an on-the-spot demonstration put on as a bluff?"

Jack's and Yuu's eyes widened at the possible as well as the realization that he's most likely right.

Leona is sitting up again, although still leaning against his spot as he crosses his arms and schools them "All magic's got a loophole. Remember that pampered little redhead Riddle's signature spell/unique magic and how it sealed magic? It seemed unbeatable at first, but it still had a weakness. Even the best magicians can't sling spells willy-nilly. So the idea that Azul's golden contract from 'It's a Deal' is indefinitely unbreakable…" he paused before continuing "...is preposterous. Flat-out."

Jack says "So there's a way to beat it after all." as his tail wags a little bit before he continues with "Challenging the Leech brothers underwater is a losin' proposition, no matter how you slice it. We'd be better off trying to find a chip in the contract scroll's proverbial armor on land instead. I see what you're gettin' at." He looks away as he rubs the back of his head and says "I dunno, though. That sounds an awful lot like playing dirty."

Ruggie throws his head back as his ears flatten in annoyance and he says "Come on. Jack…"

He then looks Jack in the eye as he tells him "Your principles are great and all, but you guys already took a fair shot against Azul and his boys on land. Remind me again how that went?" as his eyes slowly narrow with the more he says.

Jack looks away again as a light blush forms on his face in embarrassment.

Leona rolls his eyes as he states "Let's be clear here: these guys are scoundrels that swindle doe-eyed herbivores and take them for everything they're got. Why should you play fair when they don't? So what if it's underhanded? So what if it's taking the fight off the playing field? As long as the contract is annulled, you win. End of story." Ruggie excitedly shouts "Oooh, that's our Leona! The duke of dirty plays; the tyrant of technical fouls!"

He then leans over to Leona for a high-five although it isn't returned as Yuu exasperatedly asks "You really haven't learned anything from last time, have you?"

Leona shrugs as he says "Hey, it's like I said before. I do whatever it takes to win."

Jack finally seems to come to terms with his morals as he asks "Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, huh?" He then balls up a fist again and as he shouts "Fine. Let's spend the next two days staking Azul out and looking for our chance to shred that contract scroll!"

Yuu exasperatedly throws her hands up as she shouts "So we're stalkers now. Great!"

Leona gets up as he tells them "Well, good luck with that, froshes."

Grim shouts "Whaaa?! After all that talk, you're not gonna help us?"

Leona crosses his arms as he tells them "Why should I? I practically wrote the answer for you in crayon already. You guys can figure the rest out yourselves. Later." Before walking lazily back over to his room.

Ruggie stands up as well with his hands behind his head as he tells them "On that note, I'm out too. Good luck, guys!" Before walking off after Leona.

Grim is held back from chasing after them as he yells "Th-that's just heartless!"

The first years after that start to work on an actual plan for what's happening next.

But the scene is switched over to Leona and Ruggie walking through a Savanaclaw dorm walkway.

There are multiple rooms stacked on top of each-other all connected with what seems like rope bridges. An entire wall isn't really there and instead is just a giant window going from the ground all the way to the top.

Ruggie tells him "Wow, Leona. It's not every day I see you offering such useful advice." Leona raises an eyebrow as he asks "Oh yeah?"

Ruggie puts his hands behind his head again as he teases "For all that talk, you've gained a soft spot for those underclassmen, don't you?" Leona scoffs before telling him "Don't make me laugh. If I play my cards right, I can use those chumps to learn that cephalo-punk's weakness without lifting so much as my pinky finger. Not that I'm holdin' my breath or anything." Ruggie puts his hands back down and into his pockets as he says "Ahhh, I getcha. That's real slick, Leona."

But the scene is switched again to the Octavinelle dorm lounge where Azul is sitting on one of the chairs as the Leech twins stand in front of him, seeming to have just finished a report of some kind.

Azul asks "What? Yuu met with Leona?" Jade nods as he answers "Yes, sir. The contractor appears to have taken up temporary residence at Savanaclaw." Azul pushes his glasses up as he says "Ah, I see. That's…somewhat unexpected." before going silent for a second while thinking.

Floyd asks "What's our play here? Do I give him the squeeze?" Azul shakes his head as he tells them "No. We can let the Leona matter go." Jade puts a hand over his chest as he asks "Wouldn't it be better to nip this in the bid swiftly? He would be a troublesome man to have as an enemy."

Azul answers while waving his hand in a circular motion "He's a lazy lion at heart. He doesn't believe in sticking his neck out for others or seeking trouble. I concur with your view that he would be troublesome to have as an enemy, but rivalry is a two-way street. He wouldn't dream of making an enemy out of me by choice." Jade nods as he says "So you would prefer to let the sleeping lion lie for the time being. All right. Understood."

Meanwhile Floyd pouts while squeezing his shoulder "Aw, maaan… I really wanted to wipe that smug grin off his face, too."

Azul instructs "Just keep up your surveillance for now, thanks." Before standing up and starting to walk away as Jade and Floyd replied respectively "Yes, sir." and "Will do!~"

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