Meeting (2)

"Just tell me, Mark, what was that all about, hmm????" Mary said while closing into Mark. "Are you finally doing illegal business for money? What a downfall you got Mark, to think you would fall this hard, I AM DISAPPOINTED."

Mark who was on the other end of all that verbal abuse couldn't help but cover his mouth. This action however made Mary even more suspicious.

Mark then turned his head towards one of the employees only to be ignored completely. They seemed scared as if they sense that involving themselves in this conversation can only go to the worse.

But before Mary could fully gouge Mark to talk, Shea cut in.

"Umm... Do you know this guy?"

Noticing the girl behind Mary, Mark decided to use this opportunity to change the topic.

"Uhuhu~ What is this, the Mary that could not have feelings have a girl with him. How about I lean more about this, oh Mary."

"It's not what you think about, this girl is just an acquaintance, a friend."

"Are you sure~~" Mark said as he stares at Shea.

Shea who noticed Mark looking at him hid behind Mary's back and tugged at his shirt. This is the first time that Shea met Mary's friend, knowing how strong he is Shea was scared of Mark. She was thinking that Mark is on the same level as Mary because they were friends.

"Anyways, let's change the topic. What are you doing working on a game shop, was the pay on that little convenience store too little for you to live?" Mary said.

Hearing the question asked Mark was hesitant at first until he suddenly realized that he could just make an excuse to escape this question.

"Yes that is right Mary, I have decided to work on this game shop to get more money." Mark acted horribly, his voice was choppy and he couldn't even speak properly.

"Your horrible at acting, you should get some classes. So it is about that box huh?"

After Mark noticed that his excuse didn't work he started to feel anxious. Sweat was dripping on his forehead and the corner of his mouth started shaking.

"Uhh... Umm... About that... I... The thing is..... Uh..."

"Can't think of an excuse huh? How about this, I'll negotiate with you in exchange of keeping my mouth shut. Technically speaking I don't need to know what you are dong in your private life, but since it is serious I'll blackmail you for it."

"Go on..." Mark said as he gulp

"Go look at the back of the store, or search for any places that could contain the game eldin ring and give it to me. I'll even pay you for it."

"Oh, just Eldin Ring? Then there should just be one under this counter." Mark said as he looks under the counter. He then pulled out a copy of the game and presented it on the counter.

"There we go, still fresh." Mark said

"What the, why is a copy under the counter."

Mary then proceeded to try and grab the copy of the game when suddenly Mark pulled the copy back into him.

"I can't just give you this if you don't swear that you'll keep your mouth shut. And honestly, I hid this copy of the game under the counter on purpose to take it later but since you figured out one of my secrets then I'll give it to you for free, ONLY if you swear."

"Fine I'll swear. It's not like I want to get involved in your shady business." Mary then snatched the game off Marks hands.

"Well I'm glad that that was over, whew. Now then... Are you not gonna introduce me to that girl of yours?" Mark said while pointing on Shea behind Mary's back.

Shea, was staring hard at Mark baffled while she stares at Mary on surprise.

"Oh yeah, this girl is Shea, a friend of Mine."

"I see, nice to meet you Shea, I'm Mark." said Mark as he introduce himself. However, there was no immediate reply from Shea and she just continued to stare at him.

"Shea?" Mary asked curiously.

Then, Shea finally decided to reply.

"Mark, you're strong."

Mark who was caught off guard with the sudden compliment started fidgeting.

"Eh? Am I really. Shocker... HAhaha"

Mary who was surprised by the sudden compliment from Shea, decided to ask her about it.

"Shea, why do you thinks Mark is strong?"

"Because he managed to negotiate with you!"

"Eh? just that?"

"I mean, he is strong, I can sense an aura of a warrior from him. But, this is the first time I ever saw someone negotiate with you and getting equal exchange!"

Mark who heard what Shea just said turned silent.

"So it's just that huh..." Mark said as he lowered his head feeling depressed.

"What do you mean???" Mary asked Shea.

"Whenever I try to negotiate with you, you never accept unless it's relevant to you! I remember the time that you never wanted to go to this place called the mall to shop for dresses until I broke the rice cooker and that game that you wanted to buy got release!"

"Really? just that!"

"Yup! that's why I was surprised just now. To think there was someone who was in equal footing with you!!!"

"BAHAHAHAHAHAHA" Mark laughed hysterically. "Shea you're interesting you know, is this your first time seeing a friend of Mary?! Let me tell you this, you'll meet others who are stronger than Mary"

"Someone stronger than Mary?!?!"

"He meant on standing, not on power." Mary whispered to Shea.

"You know I never really asked you this." Mark stopped laughing "Is this girl a foreigner? I never really saw someone with natural white hair like hers."

"Foreigner?" Shea asked Mary curiously

"Someone from another country that isn't from theirs."

"Oh, I see! So a visitor or a wanderer. Then I'm actually from another world- Hmggh ghmm" Shea was about to reveal that she's from another world when Mary covered her mouth.

"She's from another country, that's right from another country, yep."

Mark turned silent. The once smiling Mark from laughing was now serious. His eyes were covered with darkness.

"Mark?"

"I'm pretty sure I heard her say that she was from another world just now." Mark glared at Mary with eyes that are dark.

"Mark, what's wrong with you? You've probably just hallucinated."

Mark's aura suddenly got darker and the air got heavier. Then all of a sudden, laughter appeared out of nowhere

"Hahahaha, you're probably right."

Mary hearing Mark laugh was now calm.

"What the hell was that about!" Mary said as he slaps Mark's back

"Hahaha, You should've seen the look on your face! It was so funny."

"You rascal... Anyways we gotta go, I still have to buy a new rice cooker." Mary said.

"Okay, see you soon..." Mark raised his hand in a gesture of saying bye,

As Mary and Shea disappear outside of the store. Mark, dropped his hands and started to go under the counter. There he reached out for a walkie talkie taped under the counter top.

Mark then started typing a radio channel on that walkie talkie.

"Tssrt... Hello... Who is this, over."

"Tssrt... This is agent SPIRIT. We have received confirmation. I repeat, we have received confirmation. Over."

"Understood, preparing for plan Alpha. Just sit still and keep watching. Over."

"Understood... Over."

Mark stared at the glass windows of the shop. There he was reminiscing on something.

"We'll see each other again sooner than we thought, Mary. Until then I can't tell you anything, but they will."

...

"Um, hello can I buy this..."

"Oh sure..... Just wait a minute."

-

A/N: Wow, I finished this chapter... Never would have thought that I would gain motivation again... But still won't proofread thouughghhh.