Kaito was pleased with the way things went so he silently celebrated the outcome.
As Kaito walked away happy with negotiation. Nanami did not slow her pace as she caught up to Kaito, her expression tight with concern. The noise of the bustling guild hall, faded behind her words.
"We don't know these people," she said, voice low but firm. "You trust too easily, Kaito. That's going to get you in trouble one day."
Kaito glanced back at her, hands tucked behind his head in his usual careless posture. "You worry too much," he replied with a grin. "They haven't given us a reason to doubt them yet."
Nanami held his gaze for a moment, searching for something, anything, that resembled caution. Instead, she found the same easy confidence he always carried. It frustrated her… but somehow, it also steadied her.
She exhaled, her shoulders loosening just slightly. "You're impossible," she muttered.
"Yeah," Kaito said lightly. "But I'm usually right."
Nanami shook her head, though a faint smile threatened to betray her. His carefree attitude didn't erase her worries… but it made them easier to carry.
The day stretched on, and the same unease echoed elsewhere.
Jin leaned against the doorway, arms crossed as he watched Haruko calmly sort through a stack of papers.
"You're really not concerned?" he asked. "We just let a bunch of outsiders walk into something this important."
Haruko didn't even look up. "Concerned about what?"
Jin frowned. "About them being a threat. About Kaito."
At that, Haruko paused, but only briefly.
"Kaito isn't a threat," she said simply. "And neither are his friends."
Jin let out a quiet breath through his nose, clearly unconvinced. "You're putting a lot of faith in them."
Haruko finally looked up, her expression calm, almost amused. "No," she corrected. "I'm trusting my judgment."
That was the end of it, as far as she was concerned.
The next morning arrived faster than anyone would have liked. The boys had all got their own room to sleep inside of. However Haruko made Nanami bunk with Patty and Ashley and the atmosphere of the room was… less than ideal for Nanami who had got little sleep.
Haruko stood in the center of the room, hands on her hips, staring down her new "team" with growing frustration.
"No, no, this won't do at all," she said, circling them. "There are going to be important figures at this trade auction. Nobles. Guild leaders. You cannot show up looking like that."
Kaito tugged at the stiff collar of the formal outfit he'd been forced into, clearly miserable. "I can't breathe in this thing."
"You're breathing just fine," Haruko snapped.
"I'm dying."
"You're dramatic."
Across the room, Dante adjusted his sleeves, far less bothered by the attire. Toni, meanwhile, leaned back with a grin, eyeing Kaito.
"Not gonna lie," Toni said, nodding approvingly. "You actually look pretty good."
Kaito shot him a glare. "Don't encourage this."
Ashley sighed, shaking her head as she stepped in beside Haruko. "We can only do so much," she said. "Honestly, I still think I should be the one going instead of them."
Haruko waved her off. "No need. The newbies can handle it."
Ashley didn't look convinced, but she didn't argue further.
The trade auction hall was… overwhelming.
The moment they stepped inside, the group collectively slowed, eyes drifting upward toward towering ceilings, shimmering chandeliers, and rows upon rows of rare items displayed behind reinforced glass.
Dante let out a low whistle. "We're supposed to watch over this?"
He turned to Kaito, ready to make a sarcastic comment… and froze.
"…Where'd he go?"
The others looked around. No sign of him.
Toni shrugged. "He'll turn up."
Dante stared a moment longer, then sighed. "Yeah… probably."
Deciding not to waste energy chasing him down, they settled into the flow of the event instead.
Toni's attention quickly shifted as he spotted a particularly refined-looking group across the hall. "Hey," he murmured, nudging Dante. "Check them out. There's a lot more guilds here than I expected."
Nearby, Haruko attempted to sit quietly and "meditate," as she'd claimed… but her focus lasted all of thirty seconds before her eyes drifted toward an extravagant wine display.
"…Just one glass," she murmured, already moving.
Kaito hadn't meant to go downstairs.
At least, that's what he told himself as he drifted past the velvet rope and the polished brass sign that clearly read AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. His feet slowed for half a second… just enough time for common sense to whisper, but curiosity drowned it out almost instantly.
And just like that, he slipped through.
The air downstairs felt different. Quieter. Heavier. Like the walls themselves knew they were guarding something important. Kaito wandered forward, hands tucked behind his head, trying to look casual despite the way his eyes widened at everything in sight.
Weapons lined the room, no, not just weapons. Masterpieces.
Blades that shimmered with faint auras. Spears etched with glowing runes. Armor sets that radiated a pressure he could feel in his chest. These weren't ordinary items. These were the kind of treasures people whispered about.
"S-class sacred artes…" he muttered under his breath, stepping closer to a display case. "No way…"
Each piece looked like it could level a city block. Maybe more. Kaito let out a quiet whistle, completely forgetting he wasn't supposed to be there.
He kept moving, drawn deeper into the collection, until something, stopped him cold.
A Crystia.
It sat alone inside a glass case, smaller than the others but somehow demanding more attention. Kaito stepped closer, his reflection faintly visible on the surface as he leaned in.
"…Whoa."
The orb shimmered with shifting colors, reds bleeding into blues, gold flickering into violet. It wasn't just glowing. It was alive. The light pulsed gently, almost like a heartbeat.
And somehow…
…it felt like it was calling him.
Kaito raised a finger and tapped lightly on the glass.
Tap.
The orb reacted instantly. The colors flared, swirling faster, like it recognized him.
His eyes lit up. "You seein' this?" he whispered to no one. "That's insane…"
"To me," a voice cut in sharply, "it looks perfectly ordinary."
Kaito froze.
He turned slowly to find a woman standing a few feet behind him. Her posture was straight, her gaze sharp enough to pin him in place. She looked between him and the orb, her expression unreadable.
"What are you doing down here?" she asked.
Kaito scratched the back of his head. "Uh… exploring?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Exploring," she repeated flatly. "Or stealing?"
"What? No!" He waved his hands quickly. "I wasn't gonna steal anything. I just—this thing is crazy! Look at it!"
She glanced at the orb again.
"…It's blue," she said.
Kaito blinked. "Blue?"
"Yes. Plain. Unremarkable." Her gaze returned to him, colder now. "But it is valuable. And I intend to acquire it. So if you're thinking of trying anything…"
There was a subtle shift in her stance, barely noticeable, but dangerous.
"I'll remove the problem."
Kaito opened his mouth to respond, and suddenly jerked upward as a hand grabbed the back of his collar.
"HEY!"
His feet left the ground as he flailed, kicking uselessly. The grip didn't budge even an inch.
"…Chex?!"
"Nope."
The voice was calm. Correcting.
"It's Rex."
Kaito twisted as much as he could, squinting up at the massive arm holding him like a misbehaving cat. "That's what I said!"
"No," another voice chimed in, amused. "You definitely didn't."
Kaito's struggling slowed as he spotted her approaching.
A grin spread across her face as she leaned in and poked him square in the cheek.
"Well, well, well… if it isn't the wild child himself."
"Karin," Kaito groaned. "Tell your guy to put me down!"
She tilted her head. "First of all, his name is Rex," she corrected casually. "Second… hmm." She tapped her chin, pretending to think. "No."
"Come on!"
But Rex was already walking, carrying Kaito with ease as they headed for the exit. Karin followed alongside, clearly entertained.
"So," she said, clasping her hands behind her back, "what have you been up to since we last met?"
Kaito huffed but gave up resisting. "Stuff."
"Stuff?"
"…I beat Renji," he started. "Took down the Hunter. Uh… kinda destroyed the Veloria bridge."
Karin stopped walking.
"…You did what?"
Rex paused too.
Kaito shrugged as much as he could mid-air. "It was Dante's plan."
Karin stared at him for a moment longer, then slowly, a smile spread across her face.
"That's… actually impressive," she admitted. "Especially for a D-rank."
"Told you I'm built different."
"Oh, I've noticed." She stepped closer again, eyes gleaming with interest. "Which is why you should work with me."
Kaito didn't even hesitate. "Nope."
Her smile didn't fade.
"In that case," she said smoothly, "how about a temporary arrangement? I need an extra hand for the auction today."
He squinted. "Doing what?"
"Helping with the show." She held up a finger. "Fifty thousand blastie."
Kaito blinked.
"…Fifty…?"
"For one day."
He went quiet.
His mind immediately jumped to his friends. Supplies. Food. Gear. Things they actually needed.
"…Fine," he said finally. "I'll help."
Karin clapped her hands together, delighted. "Wonderful!"
Before he could ask anything else, she turned and snapped her fingers.
"Get him ready."
"Ready for….?"
A mascot costume was shoved into his arms.
Kaito stared at it.
Then his face lit up.
"…Okay, this is actually awesome."