《Winter Wonderland》The Merchant from the Depths: part 37

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"Okay, I'm tired of chasing 'em around," Floyd said, exhausted from the fight that had been going on for a while.

"There's not long to now. Let's just enjoy it" Jade grinned.

"Hey, Yuuna!" Jack said, getting her attention. "The sun's close to setting!"

"Yuuna, are you SURE you know what you're doin'?" Grim asked Yuuna. She nods as she looked at the Leech brothers with a look of determination in her eyes. "I'm positive. They'll come through for us!"

Meanwhile, with Y/n, she was busy singing for the guests to prepare for her part of the plan.

Jazz style started to play. Signaling the start of the next and final song.

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"Tu-tu-tu-tu

Tu-tu-tu-tu

Tu-tu-tu-tu

Tu-tu-tu-tu"

Y/n appeared on stage, wearing a Victorian-styled dress

Y/n then sway her hips to the beat.

"I'm surprised to find

These shadows, far and wide

No life, no sigh, an empty doll inside

Without a self, I know that I'm a lie

Or am I?

I'm clear, can't find the answers here tonight

But I don't mind, it's not for me to try

I want to thank you, but who you could be?

All these answers come to me"

Y/n then grabbed the mic with her gloved hands as the customers cheered for her.

"In the end, I'm still nobody at all

I still can't do anything at all

Is it a waste of time to live like this?

Is it wrong just living at all?

Something's lost, oh why, oh why, oh where is it now

Myself? My soul?

Look away, deny, deny, deny my presence

Shut me out and just say goodbye

I'm so lost, no joy, no misery just feeling empty inside

I know that I'm damaged, broken, so ashamed, no

Not me, not me, not me

Can't laugh, I'm nothing at all"

Y/n sang as she put the mic back on the stand as "I'snapped her fingers to the beat.

"Hide your eyes, and try to clear it from your mind

The ash flies by, but still, I will comply

But suddenly, I feel the need to cry

Stop it now, don't ask, don't try"

Y/n sang as she dance a bit, as everyone clapped to the beat of the song and her gracefully dance moves.

"I'm so lost, no home, no place that I can go to

I feel so lonely insideBut I haven't made a fatal error, have I?Not me, not me, not meOh please, just tell me what's right"

Shadow figures emerged from Y/n's shadow. They were shadows of Y/n as they became to hum

The shadows then went back into Y/n's shadow with a giggle.

"It would be so easy if these shadows would slowly lose their shape

And we took each single ash, and one by one, we all could start again

Something's lost, oh why, oh why, oh where is it now

Myself? My soul?

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Look away, deny, deny, deny my presence

Shut me out and just say goodbye"

The crowd then went back to clapping to the beat as Y/n sang the final verse, as her hips swayed side to side, along with her hair flowing with the music.

"I'm so lost, no joy, no pain, no misery just feeling empty inside

I know that I'm damaged, broken, so ashamed, no

Not me, not me, not me

Not me, cause I want to stay, without all the lies

(it hurts) but it hurts (but it hurts)

I'll laugh, 'cause I want to try"

"Heh...It seems Jade and Floyd have matters well in hand. Angelfish, Amaryllis Dorm, and the photo are as good as mine" Azul smirked. "Hm hm hm...ha ha ha ha ha!"

Suddenly there was a knock on the door that interrupted his thoughts.

"Pardon me. Mr. Manager!" one of the Octavinelle residents who worked in Mostro Lounge rushed in the VIP room.

"What is it, and where's your indoor voice? Is Angelfish still here?" he asked.

"Sorry, sir and yes, she is still here. She went to have some air after her last song" the resident reassured Azul who let out a sigh in relief that she wasn't completely out of his hands just yet. "But the Mostro Lounge is dealing with a problem right now..."

"Of what nature?" Azul asked, standing up from his desk.

"Some customers are arguing and getting rowdy, and Jade and Floyd are out right now..."

"Really, now. What kind of unmannerly lout starts a scene in a dining establishment?" Azul questioned before letting out a sigh. "Very well. I'll be right there. I'm sure Jade and Floyd will handle things well enough on their own. Dear me..."

Azul walked out of the VIP room to settle the situation but was completely surprised about the amount of chaos. "What is the meaning of this? We've barely opened our doors for the day and just finished angelfish's performance. How is everything already in such disarray?!"

"HEY! a student shouted. "I want my drink and I want it NOW!" he demanded.

"Have Y/n sing again! Where is she?!" another student yelled.

"Meat! Meat! Hyaaa ha ha ha!" a student snickered.

"Hey, that's MY meat! I ordered that!" a fourth student snapped.

"Clear the way. Coming through!" Azul commanded, going through the crowd. He got too distracted by what was happening that he didn't pay attention to his surroundings, causing him to bump into a student. "Excuse me!"

"It's cool, you're excused" the student he bumped into was Ruggie, who had a smirk. "Shyeheehee"

"Hey, waiter! I need a refill!" a student shouted. "Yessir! Be right there, sir!" a waiter shouted

Two Octavinelle workers rushed towards Azul "Housewarden! We've been so flooded with orders that our stock of food for the day has run out!"

"We're running low on beverages, too!"

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"Already?! Fine. So be it. I'll get some cash from the vault. You make a quick run to the school store and...hm?" Azul reached to his pocket but he didn't feel anything. "Ah!" he gasped. "I-it's gone! The vault key is gone! Oh, no...Oh, no!" Azul rushed back to the VIP room.

"Hey, there, cephalo-punk" Leona greeted, lounging in a chair.

"Leona Kingscholar...!" Azul hissed.

"What's a calm, collected guy like you doing in such a tizzy?" Leona asked.

"It's none of your business" Azul grumbled. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"Funny you should ask. Y'see, I've got this key here. Yours, I believe?" Leona sat up from his chair, twirling a key around his fingers. "I found it on the floor and had a feeling it was yours. So I'm bringing it back"

"H-hey! That's-" Azul went pale when he saw the keys in Leona's hands.

"I knew it. Bingo" Leona grinned.

Azul tried to snatch the key from Leona's grasp but failed. "Give that back this instant! Theft is a serious crime!" he snapped.

"Hah," Leona scoffed. "Here I'm playing nice and bringing it right to you, and you're treating me like a common thief?" he asked, as Azul narrowed his eyes. "Fine. Here, it's all yours" the lion gave Azul back his keys.

"Phew" Azul sighed in relief to have it back.

"That's all I'm here for. See you around" Leona said his goodbyes and walked out of the VIP room.

"The contracts...Are the contracts there?!" Azul rushed to the safe and opened the door. "Gh-!!!"

"They're...gone" he muttered in shock, trembling as well. "Gone, gone, gone! The contract scrolls are nowhere to be found! Was it...him?!" Azul turned around and ran after Leona.

"Shyeheehee!" Ruggie laughed. "Managed to swipe 'em without a hitch, huh?"

"Y'know, your compulsive pickpocketing never ceases to amaze me" Leona grinned.

"Yeah. That was quite impressive, I dare say" Y/n smirked as well, standing next to the lion.

"Hey, if you wanna keep somethin' safe, you gotta keep your pockets secured too" Ruggie snicked. "I'm still not over how many contracts scrolls there are. I count around five to six hundred"

"Fufufu, that sure is lot. I love that diligence" Y/n giggled.

"Hmph" Leona then took a look at the piles of contracts on the ground. "He's probably been trapping people in contracts and stockpiling 'em since long before he enrolled."

"Now that we've got the contracts outside of the VIP room, that just leaves one thing to do...Leona" Y/n turned to the lion who nodded.

"I am the one who hungers. I am the one who thirsts" Leona chanted. "I am the one to rob you of your future-"

"Hold it!" Azul came running towards them, panting from all the running.

"Ara ara~ That was was quick" Y/n said, as the trio turned towards Azul.

"Don't come any closer, or the contracts are toast" Leona threatened with a smirk.

"G-give them back..." Azul pleaded. "Give them back now, if you please!" he demanded in a desperate tone.

"Hey, now, at least try to sound composed. Have you decided to drop the cool act altogether? Judging by the way you're panicking, they were right on the money" Leona said.

"Wait...what?"

"So what you're saying is that the contracts could be breakable when they're stored in the vault?" Leona asked Y/n.

"Indeed" she answered.

"Huh? 'scuse me? What? How would that work?" questioned Grim.

"Ooh, now that you mention it, yeah! Something doesn't quite add up right, huh?" Ruggie stated.

"Mhm. If Azul and the Leech twins are right, and the contract is totally unbreakable and jolt anyone who touches them..." Yuuna started. "Why would they need to keep 'em locked up tight in a vault at all?" she added.

"They could just leave 'em around anywhere as Leona does with his wallet" Ruggie snickered

"Oh! Now that you mention the vault...Remember how freaked out he got when the vault got a little dinged up?" Grim recalled.

"No..." Azul mumbled, looking shocked. "The door's damaged! The dial and hinges aren't shot, are they?" he shouted before sighing in relief. "Phew. Okay, good"

Azul then turned his attention back to Floyd, narrowing his eyes. "How many times have I told you not to use your signature spell so carelessly?! What will it take to get it through your head?!"

"I said I was sorry, okay?" Floyd pouted. "You don't gotta get all bent outta shape over one little ding"

"You'd have me save my protestations for when it's completely demolished, then?!" Azul angrily questioned

"Yeah, huh? It's just common sense to put valuables in a safe, so I didn't even question that part" Ruggie grinned. "Who knew our pampered prince's inability to tie his own shoes in the morning would be the key to solving this mystery" he chuckled.

"Tch. You always hafta get in a dig" Leona scowled.

"To be honest, I'm starting to think that whole bit about the contract electrifying people was another bluff on their part" Y/n noted.

"What did mew say?!" exclaimed Grim.

"He knew you froshes were watching them, so they conveniently 'forgot' a contract scroll and left it on the table. All they'd have to do at the point is wait for one of you to touch it, then use some lightning magic to jolt you. Maybe don't fall for such an obvious trap next time. Even Y/n warned you" Leona explained.

"Asul ain't just duplicitous! He's like, octaplicitous! We've been had again" Grim hissed, crossing his arms.

"Regardless, the quickest way to test our theory is to remove the contracts from the vault," Y/n said.

"This was Yuuna's idea?!" Azul asked. "Why? Why am I being hassled like this?! Yuuna stands to gain nothing whatsoever from releasing the anemones! W-why...why does everyone getting in my way to Y/n?! Angelfish...IS MINE!" he cried out.

Leona growled, putting a protective arm in front of Y/n who looked at Azul with an emotionless look. "Frankly, I disagree with you there. So, Azul...How about you and I make a deal?" the lion grinned.

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