The Achievement Junkie Chapter 317 Chance to Cha

Chapter 317 Chance to Cha

'He never told me what treasure he was after, but he never appeared to be against the Leisure Guild. If anything, I felt he was quite accommodating with his offers and his clear intentions to receive a single item from the vault.'
'This Vixus never did anything like colluding with other councilmen against you?' Jack questioned, trying to figure out the man named after his one and only former party member.
'No. He's usually the one to help me defend my cause in the council meetings, one the only ones to do so openly. For that reason, I'm shocked to see him down here,'
'So Mr. Nice-Guy turned out to be more rotten than you expected. What's so uncommon about that?' Argyle shrugged.
'It not that he's working with other councilmen, it's that he's deliberately working with these councilmen in particular,' explained Tralon. 'Both Bikkem and Quallace have always been against anything involving the growth of the Leisure Guild. They've made sure to treat us partially, and Kims has been taken under their wing as the least experienced council member.'
'So, in other words,' Jack started to lay out the facts more clearly, 'this Vixus has never tried to harm the guild and has only ever treated it favorably, yet he's now decided to work with the councilmen that most hate the guild, daring to enter our storehouse directly and possibly aiming for your life, Tralon. Did I miss anything?'
With a chuckle, Tralon shook his head. 'No. That's exactly what I've meant to say. I'm baffled by why he is here.'
'But are you?' Jack asked, catching Tralon off guard. 'It's clear that this Vixus is after a single thing and that's something hidden in our vault. Since you've always told him no, wouldn't raiding the tomb be the next best option? That's what I would've done, right?'
'Yeah… That's definitely what you would've done,' laughed Tralon.
'Now the question is what item is he particularly after and why.' Jack scratched his head for a moment before he asked, 'Where are they now?'
'They're about to reach the fifth floor.' Tralon checked again with God's Eye.
'When you see him alone, I want you to call him.'
'What?'
Jack nodded. 'I want you to call him via your contact crystal when he's alone and can talk without the other councilmen overhearing him. You'll question him about his intentions in the storehouse, maybe ask about the treasure he's after. Then I want you to pass me the crystal so I can talk to this Vixus.'
'But why would you talk with--'
'Tralon, please, just do this and then let me talk with him,' Jack restated. 'If he decides to tell the others that we're onto them, then so be it. I'm just curious about a few things, that's all.'
'Alright… then I'll do as you ask. I'll let you know when I'm able to speak with him.'
'Jack, what are you up to now?' Argyle asked with a raised eyebrow. 'Mind filling me in so I can join the fun?'
Chuckling, Jack shrugged. 'Maybe I'm just curious how they bribed him, is that wrong of me to wonder?'
Argyle leaned closer to Jack. 'What I want to know is what you'll do with that information.'
'You'll see soon enough. If I don't get the chance to show you, then I'll tell you later.'
The party patiently waited around the campfire while snacking on roasted meat. Jack rubbed Bowzer's belly and scratched behind his ears every now and then. Argyle was sipping on some wine, occasionally reaching down to feel Bowzer's luscious fur. Tralon was the only one who wasn't fully relaxed as he spied on the other councilmen with God's Eye.
Finally, Tralon found an opening to make the call.
When Quallace, Bikkem, and Kims began to bicker about what to do next, Vixus walked away to better inspect the fallen giant mimic. Not letting this chance go, Tralon smiled and retrieved his contact crystal.
"Vixus? What are you doing here?"
As the startled councilmen doublechecked on the other three councilmen traveling with him, he took out his contact crystal and whispered, "Tralon, what is it you need?"
"I need you to get some space so we can talk without Quallace, Bikkem, or Kims overhearing you," Tralon calmly stated.
"That… How did you know that--"
"There are many spells that you don't know about from ancient times and I happen to have a few of them. I can see you inspecting the Giant mimic as we speak, so do you believe that I know you're in the storehouse now?"
"I… I never knew you had such a spell…" Vixus sighed. "Give me a moment."
"You three, don't disturb me or come near here while I inspect this beast further. I want to learn more about it and the battle they had. It will help us prepare for our confrontation to come," shouted Vixus, already turned away from the council members and walking to the other side of the house.
"Alright. Us three will wait here," replied Bikkem.
Quallace smiled, "Does that mean we can inspect the troves while he's busy?"
"Quallace, we' already--"
"I'll go with you!" Kims happily nodded. "If you fail again, then I get to kill the mimics."
"You two… Fine, but we're only going back to the nearest trove." Bikkem agreed with a sigh. "Vixus! Us three will go inspect the past trove of treasures while you're busy. No rush, so make sure to learn all you can."
"Of course!" Vixus shouted as he turned the corner around the house and went out of sight of his party members.
"Now that they're leaving you alone, we can talk more freely, yes?" Tralon asked, already noticing the other three councilmen walking away.
"Fine, since you've caught me red-handed, I'll talk."
"Why is it that you've agreed to work with those three? Is it so you could get that one treasure you're after?"
Vixus nodded. "You're correct to assume such."
"And how did they know that you were after such a treasure in the first place?" asked Tralon.
"That… They dogged me about the offers I made to you and investigated them. Once they connected the dots and learned that I was after the storehouse, they've been constantly egging me on about some minor things to slow down your guild. I've refused all up until now, as you can guess from our council meetings."
"Then you only agreed because you want that specific item, and you felt this was the best chance to get it?" assumed Tralon.
"Correct again," sighed Vixus.
"Then what if…"
"Tralon? What were you going to say?"
"Hi, sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I was dying to speak with you."
"I… Who is this? Is this… Jack, Argyle's son-in-law?" Vixus was surprised by the sudden interruption to his conversation, but he was astute enough to figure out that if it wasn't Argyle who interrupted them, there was only one other person.
"You're quite a smart cookie, aren't you Vixus?" Jack laughed. "Since introductions aren't needed, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. What treasure are you after exactly?"
"That… That's not something I'm privy to reveal so easily."
"Well, depending on what the treasure is, then I might be able to give it to you free of charge… But you don't want to reason with me."
A long pause took place as Vixus digested Jack's unexpected statement. "... What do you mean by that?"
"What? I thought I was pretty clear with that statement."
"But how can you offer me something that even Tralon has been refusing me all these years?" questioned Vixus.
"Oh, so now you're interested in speaking with me, I take it?" Jack chuckled. "I'll say it again, depending on what treasure you're after, I can simply gift it to you."
"But what are you after? What agenda do you have? Also, how can you promise me what Tralon can't give up?"
"One question at a time, okay?"