After thinking for a long time, Candramawa finally opened her mouth. "If I help you, what can Uncle give me?" Candramawa got tired of beating around the bush, she got to the heart of the matter.
"If you catch Reeda, I'll give you whatever you want," said Markus. Candramawa had told him everything, about Vertellar to an old cat named Deluna.
"Which one? Because now Felis isn't the only one left.” Candramawa folded her arms in front of her chest.
Markus decided on a strategy in his head. “Could it be possible for you to get both?”
The girl looked into her uncle's eyes. "What made you stand here, talk so much, and ask me for help sixteen hours after my father died—if you didn't believe what I could do?" Candramawa asked with a serious face.
Markus agreed with a firm nod. “Marlon has to get his justice,” he said, “and the book has to come back before something happens to the coalition. Deluna brought it.” Markus had a hunch that Deluna was making fun of him. Deluna is indeed very cunning. And to this day Markus doesn't know what the book is talking about. He hated to admit this.
"How did uncle know that Deluna took it? Uncle knows about her? Uncle met her recently?” Candramawa cornered.
Markus fixed the tempo of his speech. "I heard that," the excuse sounded raw, but Markus had no other choice.
"Never mind..." Candramawa did not want to extend. "No need to look for the book, I've read it."
"Is it true? How could it be?" Markus was surprised.
“That's no big deal. But, if you want me to catch both of them, you have to help me find the Quartz Bell first," said Candramawa in a mysterious tone of voice.
Markus was instantly excited. Finally his patience has paid off. "But Candramawa, I don't know where the bell is, how can I help you?"
"The bell is under the Coalition Building." Candramawa explained confidently.
"Is that the contents of the book?" Markus felt he was dreaming. Chandrawawa raised her eyebrows. Markus smiled broadly.
“In terms of who finds the Bell, they will not only bring the Lumons to their knees. They will rule over the human race as well. Only that." Candramawa heated up.
"Oh, the late Gregora would really like it." Markus still managed to find face. Even in dead people.
"Wait," said Candramawa, holding the man from leaving in a hurry. "After we find the Bell, you will kill Deluna, I killed Felis."
Markus nodded, before the two of them left for the island—the Coalition building.
***
That night, Felis' search was also fruitless. As things within the Coalition begin to get too chilly for all who want to know justice, the sound of a knock on the door jolts Markus from his bed. The first thing he did was snatch the watch from the table next to his bed.
It was two in the morning when Oscar was standing outside, knocking on Markus' door. He was so panicked, he had just been appointed a month, and he failed to do the first assignment Markus gave him.
"Sorry for bothering you at night." The Oscar man spoke sincerely, his hand clutching an old book covered in velvet with a dull purple color.
“Have you finished reading it? Why so panicked?” Markus too tensed. "Come inside!" he ordered, watching the darkness outside his house.
Oscar was in a hurry, he didn't have time to pay attention to the state of the interior of Mark's house. Even though the living room wall is so striking with the abstract decoration of red aisikla slabs, neatly lined up.
All of them are his collection of the hundreds of Reeda that Markus managed to slaughter in that incident. Markus is so proud of his collection, hoping to add to it one day, sadly Reeda only has two left in the world. But he had prepared a special place. Right above the fireplace, so that all eyes can look at it like enjoying a bright tree in a Christmas celebration.
Markus immediately bombarded Oscar with questions, "What made you come in with such a panicked face?"
Oscar shook his head with a guilty and disappointed face. "I can't read it, all the words and sentences in this book are meaningless. This is not Weesa's.”
Marcus sighed as he leaned back on the couch. Think a minute. "You are sure? Is there no other way?"
Oscar looked down. “I've heard of the Nostraduske book. But, I don't know, why a book is written without meaning, unless—”
"Unless what?" Markus was getting impatient. Talking to a Weesa often drains the endorphins in his body, making him want to just be angry.
"Unless this book was written for a chosen one."
"Okay, let's make another plan then." Mark smiled.
Oscar glanced at his interlocutor for a moment, then put his ear close, so he could hear all of Mark's plans more clearly.
In the morning when Aldora and Gregora went to the coalition building, Markus sneaked into the basement of their house. Offer freedom to Deluna. As long as the woman wants to help him kill Gregora.
Of course Deluna refused at first. Gregora is her best friend. She hasn't died to this day because of Gregora! But Markus is so persuasive. The man talks about peace, and the book of Nostraduske.
Finally Deluna agreed. She wants to live quietly. All she had to do was wait for Gregora to come. Cost her his life. Meet a Weesa man named Oscar, and bring the book to Candramawa.
Furthermore. Yes, next. Deluna is free to make her own plans.
And now, Markus got what he wanted. His strategy worked, now it remains only to get the Quartz Bell, then he will rule over the Lumons.
Candramawa, Felis, Deluna, they are quite strong, but no one can match them when the bell belongs to them. It feels good when you feel the world will bow at his feet.
With pride Markus opened the gate of the Coalition building, as if he already had super powers just by hearing about the bell.
"Which side?" Markus asked confidently. There was nothing he didn't know about this building. Every day he spent until night. Observing every corner of the Coalition building. Count all the ant and mouse holes, if any.
Markus let Candramawa go first, while he still had time to fantasize about the seat of power that would soon be his.
Chandrawawa raised her hand. "We are not alone." The girl pushed open the meeting room door. Hope Felis is the one who was sitting in one of the chairs there. Candramawa stood where she was, while Markus, who was curious, finally preceded and entered the room.
"Sit down, there is important news," Aldora called without turning his head.
***
Elsewhere, Laureen looked at the ceiling of her room with moist eyes. She wasn't sure how many thousands of nights she had spent out there, getting drunk with the pine tree. Or wandering around the city of Este with no clear purpose. While her room she only used as a warehouse for storing goods without occupying it.
The house already smells musty, only the bed hasn't shown any signs of mold. Thankfully. Because this time, when she opened her eyes, Laureen was not alone.
"What are your plans after this? Oscar's voice deepened. So orderly and soft. Oscar wrapped his arms around Laureen's body, kissing her bare shoulder. The woman turned, smiling.
“Are you feeling hungry?” Laureen asked, noticing the man's eyes, his lips, then the glass pendant necklace with a light purple tower micro diorama hanging from the man's neck.
“If you don't mind, shall we eat at a human restaurant? Or do you prefer hunting?”
Laureen's answer was delayed by someone entering her house through a peephole. She pushed Oscar's body back onto the bed, forcing the man not to make a sound.
Laureen reached for the blanket to cover her naked body. Little by little she pulled the door of her room. She could read what was in the person's head, but her eyes needed to be sure that the intruder was Deluna.
"What are you doing here? I told you—”
“Shhh!” Deluna covered her own lips with her index finger.
It was only when Laureen kept her mouth shut that she spoke.
"Felis, I found her," Deluna said seriously.
Laureen stood across from Deluna. So interested in the discussion raised by the woman.
"How? Where?" she asked.
“Gregora's house. Are you going to help me?”
Lauren paused. She didn't give any response when in her bedroom Oscar was eavesdropping on their conversation. The man quickly put on his clothes, then jumped out of the house without a sound at all.
“I'll catch up. I have to change my clothes," Laureen argued for an excuse, not wanting Deluna to get suspicious or start talking too much. In her room was a member of the Coalition. It's not funny if fights happen where they shouldn't be.
"Is someone in your room?" Deluna seduces, once.
Lauren shook her head. "No, I was just about to take a shower when you came." She accidentally glanced at her room. "Go ahead."
Deluna didn't say anything else but a nod before she left Laureen's house the same way she had entered.
After taking two deep breaths, Laureen finally turned around and went back to her room. Hearing no sound, Laureen thought Oscar was asleep so she opened the door quietly.
"Of course." Laureen convinced herself. Oscar is gone. He probably felt bad, or, this woman didn't dare to be suspicious. Often the Coalition makes a person's character change. Laureen immediately put on her clothes and went after Deluna.