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Chapter 90: Book 3 - Merchant from the Depths: Chapter 10; Collateral Demanded

The screen turns on as the chapter title plays "Chapter - 10; Collateral Demanded".

It opens to this 'VIP room'. The floor is concrete but due to color and details it looks almost like wood. Then for about 2 and a half feet up the right, left wall with a little bit on both sides of the back wall as well, is an aquarium of sorts. Although it is only one long aquarium, pillars for upper areas go all the way down to the floor making it seem like a bunch of littier square aquariums line the walls. On each such pillar there is a mini seashell shaped light, as well as some lights in the aquarium itself allowing the floor and lower areas to be well lit. Above each of the lights are small indigo wooden pieces as it separates to a higher area. The area of the aquariums are just bookshelves, with books in every spot possible. Then for an easier time seeing the titles, little circular lights are on the bottom part of the shelf or wall piece above it. Then in the very back against a wall is a safe door, reaching all the way to the tops of the bookshelves. The door is rather elaborate and rather cartoony in some ways. On the corners there are also some blue seashells. There is a bit of regular wall before the quarter of a circle glass roof, allowing for easy views of the ocean from above as well. The main colors of the walls are a pastel purple at the bottom with a bit of white around the top of the aquarium windows. The linings of the bookcases are in an indigo color as well. Then the top bit is amethyst with some shiny purple seashell and waves designs with a deep komaru color strip across the middle before some more designs in that shiny purple. Then moving back to the actual room design. On the ground there is a black and gray rug with flower and vine designs on it. Then there are two black leather settees with a shell like design on the backrest, on either side of a small coffee table. The coffee table has a thin piece of wood that lays on the floor with four legs holding up the main part, creating a small cubby. Then the main coffee table has a bit of depth to it, as there is an aquarium built into it, with the top piece being glass with a thick light pastel purple border. In front of the safe door, there is a desk. The desk is rather basic. But on top there is what seems to be a box with one of those same lamps on the Mostro Lounge tables sitting atop of it. There is a tiny black mat at the back part of the desk, and lastly towards the front there is an old fashion style quill and ink piece, with it being black as well while the quill is a white feather. The chair behind it isn't basic as well, with the boning of the seat being gold while the main cushion parts of the seat are a deep violet. The seat also has some extra design at the top also in gold that looks kinda like a crown or pieces of coral are atop of it.

Azul leads the two first-years inside, with Jade and Floyd ending up following closely behind and standing on either side of the door, prohibiting escape possibilities.

Jack and Yuu look around the room in amazement at the detailing. Jack spins around as he asks "What IS this place? Are we really still on school property?" Yuu also stares in amazement but can't find any words as her mouth hangs open in shock.

Azul goes and takes his seat behind his desk.

Jack then nudges Yuu out of her shock as he tells her "Look at that huge vault… It's like some kinda bank."

Azul smiles as he tells them "All right, that's enough rubbernecking. Please, have a seat." As he motions to the two settees in front of the desk.

Yuu and Jack sit on opposite couches, both choosing the one closer to the desk.

Once they're both sitting Azul folds his hands on his desk as he asks them "So, what would you like to discuss with me?"

Yuu decides to just state her request right out the bat, "I'd like you to take those anemones off everybody's heads."

Azul laughs and is slightly taken aback at the straightforwardness. He then says "Goodness me. That's quite the demand to make right out the gate."

He regains his full composure quickly as he asks "You would ask me to release all 225 students from their contracts with me?"

Now learning the actual amount of students pulled into his deal Jack shouts "You bamboozled that many people?! That's nuts!"

Azul doesn't deny the bamboozled part as he answers "Yes, well, Jade and Floyd did a bit of proactive market outreach this year. Thanks to that, I've had no shortage of clients ready to strike up deals with me."

He then puts his elbows on the table as he folds his hands and puts his head atop of it as he turns his head towards Yuu. He then addresses her, saying "Now, Yuu – as for your request to free these students… I am not forcing them to labor under any undue duress. They made a contract with me, and they willingly consented to the terms laid out in writing. Contracts are ironclad agreements not subject to intervention from outside parties on any emotional basis. 'Poor, unfortunate souls' they are not. To put it more bluntly: your protestations will avail you nothing, no matter how much you might kick and scream." In the middle he had sat up straight again with only his hands folded on the desk, only occasionally moving them to push up his glasses.

Yuu's eyes hardened and she frowned, before closing her eyes while sighing. Then telling him "Fine. Let's make a deal." deciding to just be straight out of the gate with this one too.

Jack wasn't expecting this so he yells at her "Wait, what?! Have you lost it?!"

Azul is now a lot more interested as he asks "Oho. You want to make a deal with me?" Which gets only a nod in response.

Azul leans back in his chair a little as he says with a smile "Now there's an interesting proposal." Floyd also laughs before saying "Little Shrimpy's got some guts!"

Azul takes the conversation over again as he says "Hm. Now, while your interest is duly noted… There's a wee bit of a snag."

Which makes Yuu raise an eyebrow, in questioning about what he means.

Azul takes note as he explains "You see, Yuu, my understanding is that you have no innate magical power. You're not gifted with a beautiful voice, nor are you heir to any kingdom. You're an utterly run-of-the-mill human in every possible way. Considering the big ask you're making of me, I would need considerable collateral."

Yuu's frown deepens, and spreads to Jack as well, as he asks "Such as?"

Azul plays ignorant as he says "Hm, I don't know… Just off the top of my head, how about usage rights for Ramshackle Dorm, which is presently under Yuu's supervision?"

Yuu and Jack are surprised as Jack starts to yell "Hey… Was that your whole angle from the–" at Azul.

But is cut off by Grim bursting through the door, which almost hit Floyd in the face, shouting "SIGN ME UP FOR THAT!"

Grim is covered with soap though, which makes Yuu not recognize him and shout "Who is this strange, foamy creature?!"

Grim shouts "I can't TAKE it anymore! My fur ain't for washin' dishes!" Jade and Floyd then step forward.

Jade then scolds Grim "Ducking out of work to eavesdrop on others is hardly employee-of-the-month behavior, Grim." Jade then looks over to his twin and tells him "Floyd, eject him." with his arms crossed. Floyd happily shouts "Can do!~" as he steps towards Grim, who starts backing away in fear as well.

But Azul raises his hands as he tells the tweels "Now, now. Let's not be hasty, gentlemen." Floyd frowns, but listens as backs away from Grim.

Azul then looks at Yuu with a wicked smile as he asks "Yuu, the lone student at your dorm has weighed in on the matter. What say you? Will you put Ramshackle Dorm up as collateral and make a contract with me?"

Grim puts forth one option begging "Pleeease, Yuu, I'm beggin' here…" But Jack shows the other option as he tells her "Yuu, don't do it! You know he's just gonna name some unreasonable terms you could never meet."

Yuu looks back and forth between Jack and Grim before her eyes fall on Azul's evil grin. She sighs as she knows what she has to do. But doesn't agree immediately and instead asks him "What are your terms for the contract?"

Azul's smile widens as he says "That's the sporting attitude I like to see." He then goes to grab a blank contract document from one of the drawers.

Jack then shouts at her "Hey! Are you serious?!" in surprise and disbelief about her choice. She sends back a pity and helpless smile.

Azul sets the contract down and to the side as he tells her "Here's the deal…"

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


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