Extra's Descent

There was only a day left before the auction.

And with such thoughts, Brandon decided to visit Ironaxe's shack.

Staring at his shack, as always, there was a line that had formed.

It was quite long. Even longer than last time.

However, since Brandon was now a white ranked member….

"Excuse me."

"Huh?"

He had all the authority to cut the line.

"Coming through."

"The fuck?"

"Excuse me."

"Get in line!"

"Excuse….."

"Hey, what are you doing?"

He had felt ominous glares from behind him as all eyes fell on him.

However, all it took was for him to show that his Twilight Device was white.

All the glares settled down as their expressions changed.

"Ah. We're so sorry, Sir."

"...."

Brandon let it go and entered the premises.

Creaaaak….

Looking around, the familiar sight of Ironaxe's place entered his peripheral vision.

The scent of smoke reached his nose and his gaze lingered on the dwarf who was looking at him with a shocked expression.

At the moment, Ironaxe was currently entertaining a customer. The customer looked at him with wide eyes.

Frowning, Ironaxe spoke up.

"Anyone ever told ye to learn how to knock?!"

"...."

And yet again, Brandon didn't respond as he looked at the customer who looked back at him.

"Get out."

He coldy spoke.

However, the customer didn't budge as he too was frowning.

"Who are you to tell me to leave?"

"...."

Then, Brandon's gaze fell on Ironaxe. His expressions were serious. After all, he was here for an important matter.

"Haaa…."

Realizing the look on his face, Ironaxe massaged his temple and shook his head as he went on to say,

"Come back later, lad."

"Yeah. That's right, leave. Can't you see Sir Ironaxe is busy dealing with me?"

The customer's eyes narrowed.

However, he was quickly shot down by the next set of words that Ironaxe spoke.

"I meant ye, lad."

"Huh….?"

The customer was baffled.

"What do you—"

"That man…. He's a guard and a white ranked. Ye know what that means."

"Ah."

Realization dawned on the customer as his eyes widened in shock.

He turned his head slightly and his gaze fell on Brandon.

"I… I'm so sorry…. Sir."

He stammered.

The man quickly got up and left the premises.

Ironaxe removed his apron then turned around, clapping his hands off dust, Clap–! Clap—!

"I hope ye have a good reason fer this."

"It's about 'that'."

"That… aye?"

Then, Ironaxe grabbed a chair and sat down.

"Why don't ye sit down too, aye?"

Brandon nodded his head in response and grabbed a chair, sitting down.

The first one to have broken the silence was Brandon.

"Did you finish that device I commissioned you for?"

"Aye. But it's not an exact replica. Ye have to configure it yerself."

He tossed two devices and Brandon caught it.

It was a ring.

Sliding both of the rings, Brandon scanned. There were a total of three rings in his hand.

The ring that helps his body feel lighter.

The original ring that granted the guards access to their own way of entering the black market.

And the ring that Ironaxe had given him just now.

Clenching and unclenching his hand, Brandon raised his head and leaned back.

Crossing his arms he looked at Ironaxe.

"Now, for what I came here for. Have you made up your mind?"

Ironaxe's reason to join his side.

It was to finally leave the blackmarket, after being thrusted in the place for nearly twenty years.

He wanted to go home.

To finally go back to the dwarven kingdom that was hidden deep beneath society.

It was lost in history.

According to Ironaxe, the dwarves have been omitted from the textbooks, as well as the other races.

The elves.

Not just dwarves, but elves were also omitted.

They have been here this whole time, hiding, isolating themselves.

It was a fact he had come to confirm after gathering key pieces of information from his memories.

There was something that oppressed them. Something that had kept them sealed, unable to surface and reveal themselves.

And it was the being that Brandon was well aware of.

Ironaxe's gaze lingered on the replica ring he had just made before eventually looking back at Brandon.

"I think ye have yer answer already."

"Okay. Because if you changed your mind…."

Brandon tilted his head as his lips pulled up to a grin.

"I would have killed you for treason."

However, Ironaxe wasn't intimidated.

"Yer as much as a traitor as me, lad."

"You're mistaken."

Brandon stood up.

"I was never on their side to begin with."

***

It was time for his meeting with Matthew, bringing Zed along.

In the human domain.

Precisely, Matthew's apartment.

"Yo, Matthew."

"Ah, boss…."

Matthew's gaze trailed and he flinched as soon his eyes met with Zed.

"....S-Sir."

Brandon walked around and sat down on the couch. Zed on the other hand looked around before eventually, he found a chair.

The first one to have broken the silence was Brandon as he went on to say,

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, boss. I've familiarized myself with the interior. It should be a cinch. But…."

He alternated his gaze from Brandon to Zed and continued.

"....Is my safety guaranteed?"

"Ask that guy over there."

Brandon pointed towards Zed.

Zed responded, nodding his head, giving Matthew assurance.

"Haaa…. Okay."

He breathed out a sigh of relief.

"If you still find yourself conflicted, Matthew. Just remember the benefits will reap from all this."

"Yes, of course."

Matthew nodded his head.

He seemed to have made up his mind. It was good, the tension around him gradually settled as Matthew leaned back.

"Becoming a head…. It's still quite unbelievable."

"You aren't a head yet."

Brandon shot all his hopes down.

"Right, right. I got ahead of myself there. Haha~"

And they began their long discussion, reviewing their plans as each side gave their opinions.

Matthew stood up and walked towards the fridge. Grabbing something from the fridge, he turned around slightly and looked at the two.

"You guys want some?"

It was a beer can.

30 percent alcohol.

Brandon turned to look at Zed who's eyes glistened.

Typical alcoholic.

But Zed's next words…..

"You got anything harder?"

"Ah. I think I got one with 60—"

"What about 90?"

Zed cut him off.

"...."

Matthew's brows raised.

"Uhm. The most I have is 83 percent…."

"Tsk."

Zed clicked his tongue.

"How weak."

"I can't handle too much. This isn't actually mine. It was given by a friend."

"Same."

Brandon spoke, leaning his head back.

"I can't handle too much alcohol either."

"Look at this guy. 'I can't handle too much alcohol either,' my ass."

And Zed mocked Brandon.

Matthew's gaze alternated between the two.

"So do you guys…."

"Sure."

"Alright."

"Okay."

Matthew tossed a beer can towards the two. Grabbing his own, he popped it open.

The night was still young.

The three were engrossed in their drinking as they played a bunch of board games.

"Checkmate."

"Fuck. Why are you so good at this?"

But the board games were set aside as they played chess.

"Checkmate."

".....You're way too good at this, boss."

Brandon kept winning.

"And that's a check."

"Haaa…. You have to be cheating."

Zed couldn't accept it.

"Sore loser."

And Brandon shot him down.

.

.

"Check."

"How? I was definitely winning! You only had pawns left….!"

At the end of it, Matthew was knocked down. It was only Brandon and Zed left as they continued their games of chess.

Brandon scanned the chess board.

"Just move the King."

"...."