“Yes,” Eira replied immediately, his eyes unwavering from the Hydrophant’s body. “Hundred gold Cilliacs.”

“That’s too low,” Rick rejected. “Two fifty.”

“Okay fine,” Eira agreed without any hesitation.

“Eira, don’t just agree to any price outright,” Azer snapped. His hand on his bald head.

‘Fucking idiot! I have to pay him another two fifty,’ he glared at Eira.

The golem disintegrated and Rick put the core in his pocket.

“And I take Dale,” Rick said, looking at Azer.

“What did you say?” Eira roared. “Dale will die tomorrow. Nobody is taking him away.”

“I will take him,” Rick spoke, enunciating every syllable slowly.

“Why do you think we have him here? He isn’t a guest. He is here to die!” Eira took a step forward towards Rick.

“Tell me. What will your boss say, when she finds out that not only did you not get the golem core, but even insulted away the person who was willing to supply more of them?” Rick questioned.

“Eira, calm down,” Azer swiftly moved to stand between the two.

“Dale Stoudenmire might be the one of the strongest I have seen,” Eira said. “But Azer no, he defended the man who killed Alex. Dale has to be punished.”

“Eira. Listen to me. Rick killed Alex. For that we will find him, even if he hides in hell. Dale is strong. He is unworthy of becoming a Devotee, but he is a worthy soldier. If someone can assure us that he will not set foot in the territory of the Celestial Devotees, we should take it,” Azer said.

“Nobody buys a mad horse Azer, no matter how fast it is,” Eira scoffed. “Either he is out of his mind or he is lying.”

“I will take the risk,” Rick replied unperturbed by Eira’s threats.

“I don’t trust him. He definitely cannot force Dale to become his servant, when we could not” Eira shook his head.

“It’s actually not that. Mr. Kir knows Dale from before,” Azer said. Azer repeated the story Rick had fed him of knowing Dale from before.

“Besides, Mr. Kir is right. If we don’t get the golem core,” Azer’s stopped midway.

“Fine. But know this, I will kill you, if Dale ever returns back to this place,” Eira snarled, suddenly changing his mind.

“Sure,” Rick stood up with a smile. “Here, you can take the golem core. I will explain how to use it once Dale is safely out of here.”

Rick tossed the golem core over to Eira.

“And please don’t try anything funny. I hope you know I can still destroy the core in your hand,” Rick gave a thin-lipped smile.

---

Eira and Azer escorted Rick down to the basement. The underground vault of the Bank was now being used as a prison to hold Dale.

Walking down the empty corridors they finally reached the place.

“Open it,” Azer ordered the two guards standing guard outside.

The guards quickly rushed to compy and started opening the large door.

The large steel door slowly creaked opened revealing the interior.

The first look Rick got of the inside was of a Devotee dressed in white, his face drenched of colour, on his knees his palms and holding the ground.

As the door opened completely and the entirety of the inside came to view, Rick was stunned by the scene before him.

An unconscious man was held by chains in the middle of the vault. His hands were held up with chains while. the body below the waist was buried in Earth, reinforced by what Rick immediately realized must be an Earth mages work.

Dale’s clothes were ripped all over and he hung limply by his shoulders

“Dale,” Rick finally uttered after a moment of silent shock. He looked straight at Eira and spewed with disgust. “What’s wrong with you lot?”

“I have been told that he just asleep,” Azer replied from the other side.

“He killed six Celestial Devotees and injured another eight other. You should be happy he is not dead already,” Eira scoffed.

“If you could even kill me,” a tired chuckle came from inside the vault.

Eira clenched his fist and grinded his teeth, choosing not to reply.

“Mr. Kir, You should ask first ask if he is willing to come with you. And afterwards, if he tries to cause any trouble, I am afraid we will blow up the vault. And everyone inside with it,” Azer said shaking his head.

“ Ya ya sure,” Rick agreed. He could not back out now!

“Hey Dale, remember me?” Rick called out walking into the vault.

“No.” Dale snapped. Opening his eyes swollen eyes in slits he asked, “Who are you?”

“Hey, how can you forget me? Remember you gave me those three rocks,” Rick spoke.

“Rocks?” Dale replied confused.

“Yes, and I gave you that small bamboo stick in return. Remember?” Rick continued.

Dale’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“Rick?” he asked.

‘Fuck!’ Rick cursed.

“No no! Forget about that bad luck. It’s because of him that you are in such bad shape now. Think about yourself for a change,” Rick quickly interrupted. “I am your friend, not Rick. I still have those rocks you gave me you know,”

The room fell silent for a moment before Dale spoke catching on to the happenings, “I remember, but why did you not reply to the messages I sent?”

“I am sorry, we can discuss that later,” Rick grimaced at the line of discussion. “Will you come with me?”

“Ya,” Dale nodded his head. Ya, I will come.”

“You can’t return back,” Eira spoke from outside the vault.

“I do not want to come back here anyway,” Dale agreed.

“So can we go now,” Rick turned around and asked.

“Everyone get out of here,” Azer ordered.

The six guards inside the vault slowly retreated.

“Mr. Kir, I will see you in the office later. Keep this with you in the meanwhile,” Azer tossed a coin towards Rick, with a meaningful look.

Rick caught the coin and put it in his pocket.

One by one all the guards left and Dale and Rick were left behind all alone.

“Are you-”

“No,” Rick interrupted. “My name is Kir.”

“Thank you for helping me Kir,” Dale said.

“Can you get out of this yourself?”

“Help me out with the chains,”

The Celestial Devotees treated Dale like a walking bomb, keeping a watch from a distance but not daring to come close.

Once outside the Bank, Dale stopped.

Looking at Rick he asked, “Seriously thank you. But who are you?”

“Here,” Rick passed the note he had already prepared from his pocket and handed it to Dale.

Dale opened the small folded paper and read it.

Both of you are idiots. No questions here.

Dale smiled and nodded his head in agreement.

---

“So, can you tell me now?” Dale asked. Rick and Dale a short distance away from the edge of the Library Settlement.

Rick took a discreet look around.

“No I am not Rick,” he answered in a whisper. “That idiot works for me. I am the one who asked him to look for those beast cores.”

“Where is he? Is he fine now? I sent him a couple of messages on the scroll he left with me, but he didn’t reply back,” Dale asked.

“He is fine. Don’t worry,” Rick said. “Listen, I need to go back now. I was hoping you could help me out with something.”

“Of course, I owe you,” Dale nodded yes.

“First don’t be an idiot. Don’t go sacrificing yourself for someone you hardly know. Second, I need more beast cores. The more the better. Can you get them?” Rick asked.

“You don’t understand. Rick is like a protégé. And I leave no soldier behind,” Dale replied solemnly.

“What! Did you ask him before making him you your protégé?” Rick clenched his jaws in anger. ”Fine, whatever. And what about the beast cores?”

“Ya sure I can get them,” Dale replied.

“You don’t have anything with you. Here, take this knife,” Rick offered.

“No need. I always keep my important things at a safe place every night. It was definitely a good choice,” Dale refused with a half-smile.

“Good, good. Then send a message on the scroll Rick gave you once you have the cores. We can arrange for a meet-up,” Rick instructed.

“Sure, see you later then,” Dale bid goodbye. Without pause, he turned around and walked away.

---

“Well done Mr. Kir. That went better than expected,” Azer said.

Rick was sitting on the chair back in Azer’s office.

“Enough chit-chat, I tried tossing this-” Eira spoke holding the golem-core for Rick to see, “-this golem core, but nothing happened.”

“Of course nothing happened,” Rick let out a wide grin. “It’s still my golem core after all.”

Eira did not reply back. His face taut with anger at being mocked.

“You will need to establish a connection with the golem,” Rick explained. From his pocket, he removed the two crimson Soldier Ghostvine leaves, “with this.”

“What is that??” Eira asked.

“It’s a special talisman. It resonates with golem core in your hand. With it, you will also be able to summon the golem” Rick explained. He handed over one of the leaves to Eira and said, “Give it a try.”

Eira took the crimson leaf in one hand and threw the golem core.

The Hydrophant golem immediately took shape before them.

“Amazing,” Azer voiced.

All three of them smiled happily.

Of course, this was a lie. The Soldier’s Ghostvine leaves had one property. It can absorb Mana of the person touching it and mimic his Mana signature. All Rick had to do was keep the leaf with him for a while and imprint his Signet’s symbol on both the golem core and the leaf.

This way even without him, the golem-core would mistookEira to be Rick and worked. But there was just a small problem.

“These are very valuable talismans, so be careful,” Rick said pointing at the Ghostvine leaf. “They need to be recharged, like- like internet plans. Don’t worry, you will know when you are running low. Then you can switch to the second one. Besides the first two are for free, don’t worry.”

Once Rick’s mana absorbed by the Ghostvine leaf disappeared, it would absorb the mana from someone else. This would break the resonance with the golem, and the golem would come to a halt and become a golem-core again.

‘My first repeat customers,’ Rick smiled politely, and thought, ‘Just wait and watch how I repay you for all that you have put me through.’