Book 1: Chapter 86: The Fox's Winner and Just Peter

Book 1: Chapter 86: The Fox's Winner and Just Peter

Gilbert sighed. "It's one twist after the other. Well, I was ordered to ensure the safety of the final lot, but seeing as how it's just a fox... What're you going to do, Son?"

"... I'll buy it. I don't trust for a second that everything is as it seems. If Milindo has taught me anything it's to be sceptical of fuckin' everything. Worst-case scenario I get Soph a nice new cuddly pet," Lone answered. 'Plus, something feels... off about that fox... Like it has something to do with me...'

Gilbert nodded. "Very well. I do wonder if those rumours about a Golden Foxkin were false or not... Perhaps one did exist once upon a time but was swapped out to make a statement."

Grimsley nodded. "Aye. Seems mighty suspicious if ya ask me. Ah can feel ma beard tinglin'. 'At can only mean one ah two things; ah need a shite or 'ere's bullshit afoot. Either way, this 'ole thing reeks."

Gilbert grimaced. "Ever the lovely imagery with you, isn't there?"

Lone ignored the two old men as they started bickering and he instead glanced over at the empress of the Taslo Empire's booth.

'That old man is back...' He tried to look around and use his advanced foxkin hearing to see if he could pick up on anyone commenting about the hunched-over rag-wearing figure, but not a word was being spoken regarding him as he whispered into the empress' ear.

For whatever reason, the only person Lone couldn't hear even when focusing as best as he could was the decrepit old man.This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.

Lone's heart almost stopped when the sun staff-wielding man turned his head in an unnatural manner to stare at him.

His face was horrid and grotesque beyond mortal comprehension. Puss-filled spots littered his every wrinkle as the corners of his mouth stretched rigidly into a toothless smile at Lone.

Lone was forced to close his eyes just to avoid expelling his dinner all over the smooth gem flooring he was stood on.

When he opened his eyes again the man was nowhere to be seen.

"Odd," Gilbert noted. "Empress Okuldia isn't bidding on the fox. Surely someone as old and wise as she would have her suspicions as well... Is she avoiding butting heads with the church since they're actively participating?"

Lone shook his head to snap out of his stupor. He didn't humour Gilbert with a response and instead focused his attention on the fox in question.

Whoever or... whatever that old man was, Lone felt it would be wiser to try not to dwell too long on the subject. That's what his gut told him, anyway.

The Golden Fox was a bit on the plump side, which was a good thing. That indicated that it wasn't being starved, at the very least.

Lone couldn't see a slave collar which was yet another good sign.

After staring at the soft-looking creature for about 10-seconds it yawned itself awake and then turned its head to stare right back at Lone.

It seemed curious and almost happy to see him.

'Does it recognise me as a fellow fox or something? Is that possible? Is that normal? Gah, it fuckin' sucks living in a country full of demi-haters. Why can't there be more info about demis and their relationships with their more animalistic counterparts? Well, Gilbert seems to hate dragons, so maybe this isn't normal or this particular fox is just weird...' Lone thought. 'Maybe we really are connected somehow...'

Regardless, Lone joined in with the bidding.

It didn't take too long for the number of contestants still trying to win the fox to dwindle down to only two.

Lone frowned. 'Why the hell does the church want the fox so badly? Is there actually something special about it?'

During the bidding, Grimsley had commented that Golden Foxes usually sold for about a single gold coin as pets and 50 silvers as pelts.

Honestly, Lone didn't really like the idea that such a beautiful creature was actively hunted for its pelt, but such a thing was actively done with hounds and shot for sport back home in Scotland.

There were bans and laws against the practice when dogs were involved, but the traditional old countrymen who had gone through the whole rigamarole of actually obtaining a gun license - something incredibly difficult to get in Scotland - were exceedingly close-minded people.

Lone nodded and reached into his pocket. "Here," he said as he pulled out exactly 5 ruby-gold coins from his Dimensional Storage and passed them to the man.

Peter inspected each one closely and then nodded his head. He stowed the large coins away in the chest pocket of his coattail before smiling widely. "Excellent."

He picked up the sleeping fox and passed it to Lone.

He'd never had a pet before because his mother was allergic to both dogs and cats. Anything not of those two species wasn't deemed to be a suitable pet by his father but were rather seen as rodents to be killed or food to be eaten, like with hamsters or rabbits respectively.

Lone held the fox a bit awkwardly but it didn't seem to mind as it remained asleep even as he handled it.

Peter maintained his business smile as he said, "She is a young child, but I trust you shall treat her with care, yes?"

Lone nodded mutely, not really paying attention. 'She's so soft and... light.'

"Now, I have two additional requirements that you must agree to meet if I am to properly transfer ownership of her to you, Mister Immortus," Peter claimed as the look in his eyes deepened.

Gilbert frowned. "How do you know his name? He's far too unimportant for someone of your stature to be aware of who he is... unless... Also, what do you mean there are 'additional requirements'? I have never heard of such a thing happening before in any of the Deposit Corporation's auction halls."

Peter turned slowly to face Gilbert. "I fear that you do not have the right to know such things."

He waved his hand and all of a sudden everyone bar himself, Lone, Sophie and the baby Golden Fox were removed from the room.

"Now that we have some privacy, I trust you wish to hear these additional requirements, yes?" Peter asked as his lips curled in a friendly and warm smile.

Sophie's hands hovered over the pommels of her sheathed shortswords. "What is going on here? Where have our companions disappeared to?"

Lone was equally confused and on guard. "... They're fine, aren't they? And this isn't just a fox, is it?"

"Ah, trust the Primals' Shackles to have such a keen awareness. You feel a connection with the fox, do you not, Mister Immortus?" Peter asked knowingly.

"Primal Shackles? Are you somehow referring to me?" Lone asked, not understanding the name or title or whatever that was.

"Well, you are a 9-tailed Golden Foxkin, are you not?" Peter asked rhetorically. "Regardless, I do not mind answering questions within my ability to answer... just so long as you first agree to the additional requirements."

"Lone, we should leave," Sophie advised. "This man makes us feels uncomfortable, and not in the same way as that slimy hero does."

"Oh, of course. How could I forget about Miss Vladimirovich? Perhaps you'd prefer I called you Misters Immortus? Not yet? No matter. All in due time. Sir Deposit offers his condolences for your... condition," Peter said in a very sincere manner.

"Condition?" Sophie narrowed her eyes beneath her helmet. "What condition?"

"Of course, what condition indeed, as you likely do not have it yet. Well, at least not in an obvious manner. Regardless, I must, for a third time, stress the importance of the additional requirements," Peter stated.

"... Fine. Let's hear them th-"

"Lone!" Sophie yelled. "You surely cannot be willing to listen to this man? He speaks in riddles! Let us leave the fox and let him keep the money for the trouble. No good can come from conversing with him."

"You wound me," Peter said. "True, I come across as... suspicious, but I have only the best of intentions at heart. She needs care. She needs love. She needs protection. I will not ask a fifth time. Will you listen to the additional requirements?"

Lone made a quick decision given Peter's... imposing demeanour. "We will."

He turned to face Sophie and said, "If he can seemingly teleport even a powerful mage like Gilbert at will and have it so he hasn't broken into this room as we've been talking, then he's got to be pretty fuckin' powerful. It's wiser to listen and consider what he says. He hasn't threatened us or anything. Talking in riddles seems pretty normal for a guy who goes by the title of the Undying Teller."

Peter sighed. "Please, I really would appreciate being called Peter the Host, or just Peter."