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"Don't try to read or predict your opponent's moves, instead, make the opponent believe that they're still playing against you" - Ryuta Takehara
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Ryuta arrived at Hephaestus workshop, in his hands he held a book with the title [Captain's Game], unseen by anyone he entered the workshop and headed for Hephaestus office.
As he entered the office, Hephaestus let out a sigh as she turned her gaze away from the papers on her desk and towards the man who had just entered.
"You really need to learn how to knock at least"
"Sorry, old habits die hard"
The two had such an exchange before Hephaestus' eyes turned to the book in Ryuta's hand. She smirked, a sly expression on her face as she teased-
"Never thought you were into "those" kinds of stories"
"What kind?"
Ryuta asked curiously, his gaze tracing Hephaestus' eyes as he found them focusing on the book in his hand.
"Oh this? Nah, I kinda picked it off the street, was an accident but I did pay for it"
"Ho? Well, enough of that, how sure are you that the Loki familia will be asking for special weapons?"
Hephaestus wanted to probe more but she could tell that Ryuta was not really in a "playful" mood. Moreover, looking at the time, she knew that the Loki familia would be arriving soon and this was going to be a big deal but whether or not it followed the "predictions" made by Ryuta was something she had to see for herself.
"It's simple really, but if I explained it, there would be a high chance that it would fail"
"How so?"
"Hm… let me put it in the words of a certain redheaded beauty, Keep your friends close, and your enemies guessing-"
Ryuta smiled as he did not explain more.
"Fine, but how are you going to disguise yourself?"
Hephaestus asked the most important question, but Ryuta simply smiled at her as he said-
"Trust me"
A look of frustration could be seen on the face of the Goddess of Smithing as she massaged her temples.
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Early afternoon came, outside the workshop a small group had attracted quite a bit of attention.
"Isn't that the Loki familia?"
"Yeah, all their executives are here too"
"Are they planning an expedition?"
Various words were being thrown around but none of the members of the Loki familia stayed quiet.
"It seems you really brought everyone"
Hephaestus appeared at the entrance, she saw the top three executives, Riviera Ljos Alf, Gareth Landrock and Finn Deimme, there was also another executive, a pretty infamous adventurer, Maria Rose in the group.
But none of the executives said anything as the one to reply to Hephaestus was a flat chested woman wearing extremely revealing clothes-
"Well we did get a good taste of those "trinkets" so how about we have a more private talk?"
"Come on in"
Hephaestus invited them in and led them to her office which now had a table prepared.
But the office was not empty, upon entering Loki and her familia were immediately greeted by the face of a young man with silver hair and bright blue eyes.
He had a top hat and wore a finely tailored suit.
Upon seeing the people entering, the young man stood up and lifted his top hat as he offered them a greeting.
[Insert Image here]
"It's a pleasure to meet you all, I'm James Barthomeloi but I do prefer you call me by my nickname, PIerrot"
His greeting not only shocked Hephaestus it also shocked all the members of the Loki familia, Loki was especially intrigued as a rather- interesting smile formed on her face as she said-
"Pierrot? What an interesting name~"
Her words were light and her tone showed amusement but her executives could all feel the shift in her emotions.
The man who called himself Pierrot did not seem to notice this as he replied.
"Yes, it's a nickname given to me by a friend of mine. He said that I acted a bit too much like a clown so I should just label myself as one"
"Is that so?"
A silence enveloped the room, but none dared to speak.
"Did you know that in Orario, titles or Aliases are given by the God's to worthy Children?"
"Hm~ I seem to have heard of that before but my nickname is not an Alias or a title, it is simply a nickname, much like how people shorten names such as Alexander to Alex, or Samantha to Sam. Unfortunately, my friend had decided to give me a nickname but shortening "James" or "Barthomeloi" does not sound good so I ended up with the nickname"
"Oh? But how about JB?"
"It doesn't sound cool apparently"
"Then why not a clown?"
"I'm too smart to be a mere clown"
"How about Jester or Trickster"
The room went quiet, everyone watched on with bated breaths but the white haired man was unfazed as he replied-
"Too common"
"..."
Loki went silent, she exchanged warm and welcoming smiles with the white haired boy. This exchange lasted for a few minutes before Loki started to burst out laughing-
"Hahaha! I like you, wanna join my familia?"
Her words shocked not only Hephaestus but all her executives as well but the man's response shocked them even more.
"Unfortunately I have already joined a familia, and I am not the type to back out on a promise"
He remained vague with his words but Loki kept his words in mind.
The way the man acted, his response, all of it was planned. She could even tell that the appearance he was revealing right now was but a mask.
She had no evidence to prove it but she had a gut feeling- no, there was something about the man. It was as if he was baiting her to say it.
None of her executives noticed it, but she could tell that he was wearing a disguise.
'Is it his movements? Or is it something else?'
She tried to find the inconsistencies that were causing her to think this way but-
'Now this is entertaining~'
When she sat with her executives on the chair opposite the man, she immediately realized it-
'What an interesting game'
She thought as she gazed deeply at the man before her.
'Well then Pierrot, entertain me~'
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