Chapter 89: Financial--Freedom starts now...

--Chapter 89–

Sharp and attentive, the duo of Dean and Olsen tried to fit in while they waited for the results of the bet.

Though he was still a bit nervous, Olsen played along with the confident Dean, making small talks about the city...

About thirty minutes later, Dean noticed the betting board near the center of the hall had silently been updated.

The numbers were shifting continuously for about a minute then it stopped.

Olsen immediately leaned forward. He had caught the change as well.

His eyes widened but it wasn’t shock but excitement.

"We won!" He said rather recklessly.

The atmosphere near the counter changed instantly. A winning ticket wasn’t something that wouldn’t draw attention. No matter how small.

The small talks became calmer and calmer till it was only the staffs talking. Which somehow felt worse.

The woman from before approached their table politely. Her motion extra sensual, turning heads with each shift of her hips.

"Gentlemen," she smiled professionally. "The manager would like to process your payment privately."

Dean almost laughed. But caught himself mid his crazy attempt.

’Absolutely not.’ he thought, as he stood smoothly, shifting the chair back without making any noise.

"That won’t be necessary."

The woman’s face contorted but she maintained her smile as best as she could. "It would be faster sir."

Dean nodded casually like he understood her point. "Okay..."

Then he paused mid step again. "I would still prefer you process it publicly."

A short moment of silence followed and Olsen began looking nervous.

The woman studied Dean carefully, trying to see if she could catch any form of nervousness on him, before speaking again.

"If that’s what you want," she turned and walked to the back while another staff positioned at the counter.

Dean walked toward the counter beside Olsen while noticing two large men near the hallway suddenly stop moving.

They were watching... As Dean expected. But it was still something weird to him. This attention, was it because they were kids or was it the amount they won.

The payout clerk finally spoke. "Name for payout registration?"

Dean answered calmly. "Dean Gray."

The clerk paused slightly. Before he began writing it slowly. "Gray?"

Dean nodded affirmatively. That changed things. It wasn’t too obvious but the name made a difference.

The clerk’s eyes sharpened slightly while another employee farther behind arranged himself.

Olsen quietly stared at Dean like he had just discovered a second head growing from his neck.

But the workers no longer looked at them like naive litle students anymore.

Atleast they didn’t look at him that way. Olsen was a mountain. Nobody looked at him like a child in the first place.

The eyes in and around them, didn’t linger anymore. They stared and looked away quickly.

Because underground dealings and illegal betting circles. Absolutely knew the Gray name.

Not the blacksmith side of the family. But his cousins, the side that had a "Null" so powerful he was part of the Exploration regiment in the military.

Even the perfect swords like his family have the rough and more dangerous edges.

***

After that, the payout process suddenly became extremely smooth.

It was a bit funny, how they suddenly became a lot more professional outside mere words.

The fear of retaliation was real in their hearts.

The woman from earlier walked out of the back with a black payment envelope in hand.

She slid it across the counter with a smile and a bow.

"Thanks for your patience."

[30,000 Quid]

Olsen nodded at the weight of the amount but Dean simply pocketed it.

"Pleasure doing business with you," he said with a straight face.

The other clerk who registered them earlier, forced a smile. "The feeling is mutual."

But Dean knew it wasn’t...

***

Outside the building, it was getting late already and the gray clouds had grown thicker and settled over the upper district.

The streets glowed softly beneath silver flux core lamps while expensive vehicles moved through the roads.

Dean and Olsen walked toward their exalted car without rushing.

That part was very important. They couldn’t show any form of weakness.

It was a rule Dean had instilled in himself even in his old life.

Never show fear... And especially when people were watching.

..And right now, they were definitely watching.

Dean noticed two men exit the hall shortly behind them. But he didn’t turn.

Not because they weren’t approaching them but because they thought they were sneaky.

’Amateurs,’ Dean thought.

Olsen lowered his voice immediately. As he moved closer. "...Dean?"

"I know," Dean said in a relaxed tone.

The gentle giant swallowed as he shifted even closer.

"What do we do mate?"

Dean kept walking normally as he smirked. "Relax... And act like nothing’s wrong."

That confused Olsen even more. This boy was used to bullying but his suddenly felt even more dangerous than that.

They might actually get robbed right now. And to think all he wanted to do was get the thrill of betting.

Dean unlike Olsen was calm as ice. And he continued walking calmly.

They stopped at the car as he whispered at Olsen, giving the sheltered giant a lesson in how this things worked.

"People looking for easy targets, hate witnesses."

And almost immediately, Dean raised his voice slightly while he moved to the back of the car.

"Honestly, it’s a shame Richard Vaughn is still waiting for us back at the academy."

Olsen blinked once before it suddenly made sense.

That was the trick. Since he didn’t want to cause any more ruckus, Dean had to make their connections obvious.

And their disappearance or potential extortion an inconvenience even idiots would deliberate against.

The two men behind them began to slow down. Moving to the side to hide, while Dean noticed another two waiting somewhere behind the car.

This was why he moved to the back to get a clearer view, the alley they parked which a bit cramped, so they had to be smart.

Dean continued speaking casually.

"And if we’re late again, Leona might actually kill us this time."

"Yeah.." Olsen said, scratching the back of his neck.

That last exchange sold the ruse perfectly as Dean predicted.

All four men completely stopped following after that. Olsen released a slow breath after they entered the vehicle.

He quickly pulled the lever by his right and the car started moving. "...That was crazy mate!" Olsen said.

Dean looked outside calmly. Even as the car rolled out of the parking space.

"Money makes people stupid."

Olsen gripped the steering wheel tighter. "I honestly didn’t think somebody would try anything over only thirty thousand quids."

’Only?’ Dean thought as he looked at the sheltered giant for a moment.

"You grew up rich, Olsen," Dean said, and leaned back into his seat further, still paying attention to all the [Do not touch ] buttons in this car.

The giant frowned slightly at his statement.

"---People kill each other for far less," Dean concluded.

The vehicle moved further on the smoothly tarred road as the building behind them grew smaller by the second.

But this time Olsen drove much slower than before. Probably because he now understood how desperate people can be.

Even in a district supposedly meant for the wealthy.

Dean rested his head against the seat quietly while staring outside the window again.

The entire ordeal had gone well. Maybe too well...

And Dean had already lived long enough to know one simple truth.

Easy money always came attached to someone else’s greed.

***

--Inside the Vermith Mansion--

Raenar waited quietly near the window while Astrea removed the black gloves from her hands one finger at a time.

Moonlight entered through the curtains and spread softly across the room while the fireplace crackled by the side of the room.

Raenar watched Astrea carefully, she was anxious to get details of her day.

Unable to keep waiting, she finally spoke.

"So... how did it go?" Raenar’s lips curved slightly. "Did he react to the book trick?"

Astrea’s sluggish movements paused for a moment. Then she continued removing the second glove like it was made of glass.

"He noticed immediately," she finally said after a low hiss.

Raenar blinked once. "Immediately?"

Astrea sighed and placed the gloves down on the table beside her.

"He knew the excuse made no sense."

Just thinking about it made her want to bury her face into the ground.

It was so vivid in her memory, how he looked at her with that suspicious expression that somehow felt worse than words.

Astrea frowned lightly to herself. The boy was always so observant.

Far too observant, for a supposed human.

But even though he saw through her ruse...he still accepted the book politely instead of embarrassing her for it.

Raenar’s smile widened knowingly.

"He still took it. Didn’t he?’

Astrea glanced away. "That is not the point."

"That’s what you think my lady..." Raenar said.

Astrea rolled her eyes and moved toward the large mirror near the wardrobe.

She looked at her own reflection with a sense of longing. Her expression shifting to one of worry.

"The attempt failed regardless," she murmured. "I couldn’t look at him after that, so we barely spoke."

Raenar tilted her head slightly. "It’s not over yet."

Astrea looked back at her. She wanted to know more.

Raenar folded her hands neatly behind her back.

"We already know Master Dean is a gentleman, he wouldn’t judge you," she paused

"Also if you had worn what I suggested, the result may have been different."

Astrea immediately turned red. Her voice was a lot louder. "Absolutely not."

Raenar blinked innocently.

"The black dress would have suited you very well. My lady..."

"It barely covered half of my body."

"It covered enough," Raenar rolled her eyes.

Astrea stared at her in disbelief.

"My father would disapprove immediately."

Raenar looked genuinely thoughtful for a moment before answering calmly.

"The Marquis would tolerate many things if they benefited your mission."

Astrea’s face somehow became even warmer. "You cannot seriously be suggesting this."

Raenar walked closer with an unreadable expression.

"My lady, if your task is to approach Master Dean emotionally, then standing stiffly like a royal statue will not help you."

Astrea crossed her arms lightly.

"I do not stand stiffly."

Raenar bowed slightly. "I apologise but you do, my lady."

Astrea looked away with a puffed jaw and a small frown.

Walking closer, Raenar’s voice became even softer now.

"Master Dean behaves differently from most nobles. He does not seem interested in status or appearances."

Astrea quietly agreed with her. Most people treated her differently, the moment they learned who she was.

Some became nervous. Others became desperate to impress her.

But Dean? He simply... continued acting like himself.

It was irritating. And strangely refreshing at the same time.

Raenar continued calmly. "If you wish to get closer to him, then perhaps you must stop acting like a Vermith noble all the time."

Astrea’s brows narrowed slightly.

"What does that even mean?"

With a faint smile, Raenar continued.

"It means you must act free. My lady."

Astrea slowly lowered her gaze toward the crimson pendant resting against her chest.

Freedom... That word again.

Dean had spoken about it so naturally before.

And that ginger haired Ymir moved with it effortlessly.

Even ordinary students inside the academy seemed to understand it. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

But Astrea did not.

Not truly...

Her fingers closed gently around the pendant while her thoughts drifted again.

What exactly did this freedom feel like?

And why did the idea of learning it somehow always lead her back to Dean Gray?