By the ancient Chivalrous Calendar, the date was the 23rd of Aprilia. The auction was just two weeks away.

Hmph.

The room was occupied by Scar, Amber, Purple, Marvel, and three of Scar’s underlings from the casino.

"Are you certain they went by the Chivalrous Calendar for this event?"

Scar asked in a skeptical tone.

Herd obediently nodded in agreement.

Marvel sighed.

"Then this isn’t good."

"Yeah, I know."

The Chivalrous Calendar was invented long before the Red Day. The Romans had made it. They were a group who had once ruled the world through religion, though evolution had long since eaten away at the majority of their power.

They traded in faith, demanding obedience and devotion in return. And yet they turned those very principles against the weak and poor, using them as tools to make the rich and powerful flourish.

Their authority over the masses ran deep enough that even most aristocrats bent the knee, making the Romans more powerful with every bow.

The Chivalrous Calendar had one true purpose, tracking taxes. Thirteen months of thirty days each, and on the last day of every one of them, the Chivalries, the holy armies of the Romans, would make their rounds and collect thirty percent of every commoner’s monthly income. While the rich only paid ten.

The Romans still existed, and they were the same people who had devised the brutal training behind weapons like Nuns and Fathers. They were hardly ever seen, yet word was that they held tremendous power in the underground market.

Tsk.

"This could be a problem. Does that mean Amber won’t be able to assist? She is a Nun, after all."

Amber was quiet for a moment.

"That must be it. No matter what, even above my oath to serve you, I can’t defy the Romans. But..."

Her expression darkened.

"Technically, I should report you to the Romans for conspiring against something under their protection. But why would I? They can go fuck themselves."

Purple was startled, just for a moment, before a teasing smile found its way to her lips.

"Oh my, Amber... I didn’t think you had it in you to say something like that."

Scar watched in a daze as they teased Amber. But he understood her decision. If she had done nothing and Scar died, her oath would have killed her alongside him.

Reporting them offered no escape either... if Scar was arrested, so was she. That was the nature of her oath. Whatever fate was handed to Scar was handed to her as well. Even death.

But if she were caught participating, there would be no quick end for her. They would torture her for the fun of it, slowly, until she was nothing but a broken shell.

He exhaled deeply. This was a pickle.

"The Romans’ involvement demonstrates the level of seriousness and commitment the Supreme Council has dedicated to this. We must plan our approach carefully."

The calendar was never used randomly. Even in casual conversation, the months were reduced to slang. Aprilia simply became April, a subtle deference to the Romans’ authority.

But to use the full name was deliberate. It spoke of arrogance. Of pride. Of someone who wanted the world to know exactly where they stood.

"Scar, why don’t you involve your family? At the very least, the Rovers could attend the auction and secure it. Stealing it ourselves could have serious consequences."

Amber motioned negatively.

"It can’t be done. Our family prioritizes freedom. Even though blood is the first loyalty, when freedom and blood clash, it often divides the family. That’s why it’s an unspoken rule not to involve the Rangers in such matters."

She gave her words a beat.

"Once more, the family focused on keeping Scar alive, rather than helping him master his Inheritance. Their intervention only comes once he’s already in danger."

Scar motioned in agreement. This was his quest alone, and as a Rover, he had the freedom to move however he pleased so long as it brought no shame to the family.

Finances wouldn’t be an issue either, the Rovers could cover what he needed, though consulting Amber’s siblings would be a necessary step. Not that it would be much of a problem.

If they were doing this, then they were on their own.

Purple’s gaze shifted to Crook, Herd and Bend, stationed at the entrance like sentinels.

"You mentioned something else... can you tell me what it was?"

Bend hurried to speak.

"I was informed the one who proposed that the Chosen One tablet be placed on auction was, Elder Lotus Morales."

Scar’s eyes bulged in horror. This confirmed what he had been anticipating all this time. He had wondered whether Dain knew about his attempt to claim the Chosen One tablet. Now he was certain. The bastard had known all along, and he was the one setting him up for failure.

Purple gave Scar a lazy look.

"What do you think, Scar? Lotus wouldn’t move without Dain’s command. That alone suggests this is a trap."

Scar’s heart hammered. Harder than it ever had before. Harder than it had even when death stood before him. And yet through all of that, he smiled.

"Dain’s Precognition of Fate ensures he already knows of my attempt. By staging an auction and bringing the Romans into play, he’s deliberately compressed our window of success to the smallest possible margin."

Purple nodded in agreement.

"So the outcome is simple... you either die in this operation, or something disastrous happens, and Dain is the one who gains from it."

Sweat beaded on Scar’s brow. The terror was real. And yet he couldn’t stop smiling.

"Yes. And that is precisely why this must be done. I’m challenging not only my fate and the weight of history, but also an opponent whose strength lies in seeing the future itself."

He exhaled, easing his pounding heart.

"What hope do I have against Dain if fate cannot be altered, even after it has been perceived?"

Everyone motioned positively, supporting Scar’s claim.

"This operation will require considerable manpower. Unfortunately, Julien won’t be available... I have another assignment for him."

Scar agreed.

"Now, I need some time to think this through and come up with a better strategy. We’re not just facing the powerhouse of the underground market but also an adversary who can see the future."

Scar took in everything around him. No one in that room would go against him. No one would breathe a word of what had been said within those walls. Not even Crook, Herd and Bend. Those weren’t their real names, but Purple had her fingers wrapped around them all the same.

He knew Purple had her own reasons for helping him. Whatever they were, they had proven powerful enough to stand against fate.

As long as he kept letting Purple believe she had him under her control, she would keep helping. Not to the best of her abilities perhaps, but enough.

Working for that psychopath was never easy, and going against her was something no one dared even entertain.

She was strong and confident enough to stand against fate, and that alone made him anxious. He wasn’t nearly as smart as her, and perhaps, without knowing it, he had been caught in her threads all along.

But that wasn’t what weighed on Scar the most. What sat heaviest on his mind was whether he could go against a future that had already been foreseen.