Chapter 118 - Quarrel

There were only two weeks left of the king's bet.

"Your highness, here's the thing you asked for." Finn finally finished the artifact commissioned by Mikael.

The Almagi handed an earring to the prince, keeping one of the pair for himself, "I tweaked the mana circle configuration so that you only need a drop of blood for the artifact to recognize you as its owner. However, that means the range by which you can be detected is greatly minimized. Also, I could not put any additional item effect because any more would make it parasitic."

"I understand, Sir Finn. Thank you." Deon received the silvery-white earring topped with a minuscule carving of a complicated mana circle.

"Ah!" Deon winced as he put the piercing on his right ear lobe. The blood flowed from his wound but instead of dripping down his shoulder, the thick liquid agglomerated and settled on top of the mana circle.

Sshhh…

The blood simmered as if sizzling on a hot pan, the mana circle beneath it subtly glowing.

"Now, look at the other pair, your highness." Finn instructed, pointing to the unused earring on top of his palm, "If you ever get lost, all I need to do to find you is say the incantation [Search]"

As soon as the word left Finn's mouth, the artifact on his hand vibrated and a moment later, the earring suddenly flew toward Deon's piercing and strongly stuck there like a metal attracted to a magnet. 

"As you can see, the other pair in my possession reacts strongly to yours. But that's only because you are right in front of it. In truth, the effectivity of this artifact decreases with increasing distance. Conversely, IF you get kidnapped, I'll know whether you are near depending on how strongly the pull of attraction this one is subjected to."

"I-I understand, Sir Finn…"

Deon rubbed his aching earlobe, brows scrunched as he dreaded the moment when he would need to use the artifact.

But more days passed by with no signs from the kidnapper.

And as the clock continued to tick, unperturbed, the stress ate up the young prince.

The long wait was slowly but surely taking its toll on his mentality.

'When? Just when is that kidnapper going to move?!'

As they were forced to be constantly on guard for any unnatural noise, Deon's nerves inevitably frayed to an irreversible degree and he broke down into a nervous mess.

"Sir! You said that this is a sure method! How come a week has already passed yet nothing happened?!" Deon kicked the sheets in his bed out of frustration, "I told you this isn't going to work because I do not fit the criteria but you didn't listen to me! No. You never had any intention to listen to me from the first time we met, have you?"

In this past week, the young prince became constantly annoyed with his partner who pushed him into such a stressful situation.

The investigators in the Bureau mocked him-- not for being a coward like they used to-- but for being a big-mouthed idiot and a liar. They no longer ask him about the witness as they thought it was just his arrogance talking.

Deon felt it so unfair that he was branded a liar when he was literally NOT the person who went on the interview.

The people gossiped about the prince's deceit. The victim's families sighed in regret, almost resenting him for giving them false hope. Declaring to the whole kingdom that they would soon catch the criminal had backfired with twice the force.

The reputation they had painstakingly built had crumbled like a sandcastle.

Now, even the partners were falling out.

"Am I nothing but a tool for you, sir?" The prince heatedly asked.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Mikael's irritation soared along with the boy's tantrum.

"If you had partnered up with George, would you be able to ruin his future like you do with mine? Maybe you are thinking that I wouldn't be angry even if you do this to me, but I am also human, sir! Whenever people talk about me behind my back,-- for the things that I DIDN'T do—I feel terrible!"

"Hah! So, now that things aren't going the way you want, you're putting all the blame on me?" Mikael pointed out.

"Then, who am I to blame, sir? myself? For signing that universal contract with you?"

"Whoaa…Am I hearing this right?" Mikael's eyes widened at the incredulity in his partner's statements, "You regret partnering up with me?"

Mikael swooped right in front of Deon.

<Skill: Psychokinesis Lvl. 2 is activated>

The angry ghost grabbed the boy by his collar, almost choking him from the sudden tug. 

Then, he whispered the words that he should never have.

"If I wasn't with you, you'd still be a coward hiding behind your brothers' backs.

If I wasn't with you, would you have survived the hunting competition?

If I wasn't with you, would Finn and Nora even become your subordinates?

But, now that the situation turned out like this, you're blaming me? How about the times when YOU enjoyed the fruits of MY LABOR, Huh?

If there's anyone disappointed with this contract, then that would definitely be ME.

If the Ascension system could turn back time, I'd rewind it to the day when I chose a hypocrite like you. I'm so disappointed with you, Deon Hensworth."

Mikael's harsh words slapped the young prince back to reality. 

Shame bubbled from the pit of Deon's stomach.

Deep inside, he agreed with Mikael's words.

He was a hypocrite.

But he only realized it now.

Average appearance.

Talentless.

Stupid.

Coward.

Maybe in some corner of the young prince's mind, he subconsciously thought that if he was not a good person, he would really have no redeeming features.

The boy's hazel brown eyes watered.

He felt like crying, but he would never forgive himself if he broke down right then.

He may have agreed with Mikael, but that doesn't mean he wasn't hurt. He didn't want to give Mikael the satisfaction of seeing him cry and having him apologize for being a shameless hypocrite.

As the silence stretched between the quarreling partners, Mikael canceled the skill and swooped out of Deon's bedroom.

He wanted to get some fresh air--To put as much distance as he could from Deon.

Because staying with him in this situation may only break down their relationship further.

'5 minutes. Just give me 5 minutes to cool my head.'

What Mikael didn't know was that 5 minutes later, he would deeply regret this decision.

--Chapter end--