After bringing out the forty masks with a depressed and pained expression, Simon observed every single mask and made sure that all the masks were of good condition.
None of the masks had special abilities. They were not artifacts, just normal sturdy masks.
After checking all the masks, Simon refused to pay the shop owner a single dime unless he bent down and wiped his shoes and clothes clean.
Much to the immense embarrassment of the shop owner, he had no choice but to do this, and Simon had an indifferent expression as he sat on the shop owner’s chair, watching him clean his shoes.
Akaza saw this, and he had a strange feeling as he watched the shop owner wipe Simon’s feet .
He knew that the shop owner deserved it since he was the one that literally spat on Simon, but it still felt strange to him.
’It’s like...he always seems to get what he wants.’
Akaza glanced at Simon, then he looked at the shop owner.
’I wonder how he’d react if he knew that he was a slave.’
He shook his head slightly in disappointment, but he was obviously not going to tell the shop owner.
How would he have the face to look at the shop owner when he puts two and two together and asks why Simon was acting like the boss and not him.
When Simon was satisfied with the cleaning of his shoes and cloth, he told the shop owner to stop, then he told Akaza to pay.
After paying, Simon stored the box of masks in his spatial ring and walked out of the store without saying another word.
Akaza followed him, leaving behind the store owner who decided to focus on his account balance instead of the loss and embarrassment he just faced.
"If I win a gamble, I can double the money and have extra money to pay all my debts and still have a little money left."
The shop owner mumbled with a greedy glint.
"I’ll go to the casino later this night."
A bright smile appeared on his lips as he grabbed his win gourd and sat on his chair.
While the shop owner was thinking about how he could double his money, Akaza was wondering what in the world was going on in Simon’s mind.
He couldn’t hold his curiosity, so he decided to ask.
"Why do you need so many masks?"
Simon shrugged. "You’ll know soon enough."
Akaza frowned, but before he could ask what Simon meant, Simon entered another shop.
This time around, it was a shop that sold random things.
Unlike the previous rundown mask shop, this was a proper shop.
Akaza was even more confused.
’What in the world is he doing?’
Some minutes later, Akaza paid for forty ropes, forty adhesive gloves, twenty smoke bombs, and a few other things.
Eventually, the total cost of everything combined with the masks was four hundred and ninety (490) merits.
They both left the shop, and Akaza’s expression behind the mask was one of immense confusion as he walked behind Simon.
"What do you need all these things for?" He couldn’t help but ask again.
"Like I said, you’ll find it soon enough."
Akaza frowned deeply, and though he had the urge to strangle Simon, he restrained himself from doing such.
"Reach out to the three leaders and give them the location I gave to you earlier."
Akaza’s eyes flashed at Simon’s words.
"We’re going there now?"
Simon walked past him and began to approach the exit of Market Square.
"Who knows. Just follow me. Let’s meet up with the Iron Fangs."
Akaza’s left eye twitched in frustration and anger because Simon was not telling him anything, and even though he understood that it was because Simon did not trust him, it was still frustrating whenever Simon dodged his questions.
Without saying another word, Akaza followed Simon, but he did as Simon said.
He sent a message to Balafar, Tibat, and Agramormos.
Meanwhile, in one of the gyms in the academy, the three leaders all received the same message and looked at one another.
"Hmm. He said we should give him twenty minutes." Agramormos voice rumbled in the gym as he placed a dumbbell on the ground, causing cracks to appear on the floor.
"I still don’t trust that slave bastard." Balafar scowled as he dropped a barbell and sat straight.
"Doesn’t matter whether you trust him or not. If all the members of the Iron Fangs are in one place, then there’s no problem. The location he gave us isn’t bad. It’s quite far from the academy entrance." Tibat said as she dropped to the ground after performing a set of pull-ups.
She shifted her gaze to the other Initiates in the gym.
"In twenty minutes, I want thirty of you to go the location I’ve sent to you. Make sure all the members of the Iron Fangs are present, especially Akaza."
"No problem."
"Sure thing."
"An easy task."
This was the gym of the Vipers Nest, Stone Crushers, and Black Thorns, and only members of the three gangs could enter the gym.
Tibat nodded at the response of her gang members and the other gang members.
She then looked at Balafar and Agramormos.
"Even though they’re first years. Don’t take them lightly."
Agramormos nonchalantly shrugged without saying anything, but Balafar scoffed.
"What can a bunch of milk sucking babes do?"
Some of the members of the Vipers Nest laughed loudly, and Tibat shook her head slightly and chose not to give a response.
Twenty minutes later, the trio received another message from Akaza, and Tibat ordered thirty of their gang members to go to the location.
Ten were from each gang, and they all left the gym and went to the location separately so as to not draw too much attention.
Won’t it be bad if the Iron Fangs caught wind of their approach?
These were the thoughts of the gang members and their leaders.
Meanwhile, Tibat, Agramormos, and Belafar went with some of the other gang members to block the academy entrance.
A battle that would cause waves upon waves in the academy was about to occur.