Chapter 108: Chapter 108 Cooperation.

As the atmosphere in the room took a sudden turn because of the change of expression from Malik after listening to Soma, the duo Eiji and Eri were unaware of what happened but could feel the tension between them. It was because Malik directed his oppressive force to Soma alone, which shows his skilled control over power and his emotion, for he is the former High-rank awakener.

Seeing the unperturbed gaze from Soma. Malik closed his eyes, sighing as he removed all the oppressive force he blasted on Soma. Malik stood up and turned his gaze at Eiji and Eri.

"...Wait here, I will be right back".

Upon receiving the order from his customers. Malik retreated to the back door. It gives Eiji and Eri a sense of liberation as they slump their tensed shoulders.

Soma, who saw the retreating figure of Malik, exhaled all of the breath he had held up after enduring that fierce suppression directed at him. His restrained limbs feel light as a feather after being liberated, and he feels he grows some wings on his back for the freedom he feels.

He puffed out his chest, inhaling the oxygen to calm his racing heart, exhaling it and doing the things several times until he regained his calm.

He turned his gaze to the side, seeing the two who loosened their stance after Malik's disappearance. Soma's lips parted away, seeing the frightened people as he started to ponder about his next move. He covered his mouth using his right palm and submerged in his thoughts.

The gold he currently has is still not enough to buy the items that will be auctioned tomorrow. In the novel, he remembers clearly that the highlight item of the auction was sold for one billion gold, and it landed in the hand of the demons who disguised themselves in the VIP room.

However, Soma recognized the demon who attended the auction after describing their figure and no text picturing Gura in it. This is happening due to the plot changes that the author had mentioned.

Soma's head started to throb as he felt a slight headache for reminiscing about the author. So he put aside that for now and focused on the main things.

"...Sorry for the wait".

Malik showed himself carrying a huge shield towering two meters in height and width for about seventy centimeters. The shield was covered in silver color. It reflected a small light that streamed down from the window of the shops, creating a gleaming light that blinded one eye.

"Here you go".

With a heavy thud, the shield makes contact with the floor. Malik also put the longsword on top of the counter, let the body of the shield lean on the counter, and let Eri, who stood before it. She begins to inspect the shield with a gleam in her eyes.

Malik turned his attention toward the boy whose eyes couldn't leave the gleaming silver light that reflected upon the shield's surface.

"Here for you, boy".

"... Ah, thank you".

Eiji extended his hand to receive a small necklace with its tiny silver chain adorned with little white gems. He starts to inspect the item in hand with the same gleam in his eyes. Soma chuckled, seeing them feel elated by watching some weapons.

Soma felt a stinging ache in his neck. He turned his head and saw Malik's gaze was boring a hole in his existence. He shrugged his shoulders and tried to be frank with the man. Soma put his torso on the counter as he lowered his voice.

"...I know that tomorrow, the auction will be held at night. I am currently in a pinch because I didn't know how to enter the venue with VIP status in hand?".

Malik, who had a sharp ear, managed to catch all of the words Soma had spurted. His gaze remained solemn. Malik contemplated it for a bit before opening his mouth.

"...Why are you so fixated with the auction?".

A hoarse and solemn tone echoed inside the quiet building, and it aroused the curiosity of the two kids, who got distracted by their respective items and now turned their attention to Soma with eyes wide.

Soma didn't know that the situation would end up like this. He raised his torso and straightened his spine before opening his mouth.

"...Yesterday, I spotted two demons lurking in this district".

After that, lines were spilled from Soma's words, and the time turned still as the surroundings stopped hearing each second that ticks, creating an eerie silence that suffocated everyone in the room. Eiji and Eri's faces had turned pale. As for Malik, his gaze was shrunken further. He slammed his palm to the counter and opened his mouth.

"Kid, are you telling the truth?".

Soma knitted his brows. It seems Malik was a recluse character who distanced himself from world affairs. As Soma recalled, Malik was a character who devoted himself to his craftsmanship after he lost his important person. Soma intends to push the conversation a bit, trying to open his old wound.

"Aah?! Soma, don't tell me?".

"You…".

Eiji and Eri, who noticed the circumstance from Soma's words, interrupted their talk. The news regarding the demons spread fast, and they also saw it on their phone. Eiji, with a suppressed voice, spoke.

"...You are the one who beat up a demon disguised as a woman in the park".

"Yeah, that's me".

"I can't picture it well at that time because your face was covered by blood, but. It is truly you".

Eri, who, out of nowhere, had already held her phone while looking at some articles that are still becoming hot issues in the Ark.

"Let me see it, little girl". Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Malik closed his distance to the counter and extended his hands, asking Eri to lend him her phone. Eri hesitated briefly, then put her phone on Malik's huge palm.

After receiving the phone, Malik starts to skim through the article as his eye starts to shrink further the way he scrolls down.

Soma understood this was still insufficient to convince him, so he destroyed the filter in his mouth. He tried to let loose the information he had even though Eiji and Eri were present.

"...I know the demon after. They are after the items that will be auctioned tomorrow. So, I am currently trying to foil their plan by buying the items they are after".

Malik turns his attention to Soma, who directly faces his gaze head-on, unperturbed. He started to find it hard to believe that the kid before him had such crucial information, but it made him wonder where the kid got it.

However, all of those thoughts start to crumble as he recalls the kid used to say to him that he was "I am the survivor from Project Red". Soon, everything becomes clear. Malik's mind compiled all the pieces the boy left him.

The buying of the disguised item, and the demon in town, the information regarding the entrance to the highest venue. How far does the kid know the demon operates?

"So, how was it? Can you help me, Mr. Malik?".

Soma extended his right hand, hanging in the air, feeling empty, for it needed a companion to keep it firm and help to build trust between people.

"...Fine, I will help you".

Malik grabbed Soma's hands as they shook their hands in the air. They were creating a first start to build a strong connection between them.

"Thanks".