Ranko was still playing her violin when Mr. Kuno sat down. He let out an irritated growl. "Could anyone tell that little slave girl to stop fiddling? I'd like to have this meeting in peace."
TWANG! One of the violin's strings snapped violently. Ranko's face was turning a deep red.
"You're talking about my daughter?" Genma said quickly.
"She is? Then make sure she doesn't bother us again with that infernal noise."
He cleared his throat and looked around. "Well... Let's start with this house, Mr. Saotome. It hasn't the correct aspects of a stronghold of a Dark Lord. You should turn it into a black fortress, with towers and such... and you should guard it with evil minions, perhaps imps, and the tourists expect at least one demon."
Nodoka gulped. She remembered the blue demon as well.
"I'll take care of the demon," Cologne said quickly.
"Besides," Mr. Kuno continued. "The main attraction of this year's tours is going to be the appearance of a god that predicts them good luck..." His mouth snapped shut when he noticed the nervous murmurs around the table.
"Is there a problem?" he shouted.
Cologne was the only one that was courageous enough to speak up. "Indeed, Mr. Kuno. I don't think that gods appear just out of thin air to tourist groups."
"I don't see any problems with this," Kuno replied. "Ask High Priest Tofu. Tell him that the god his religion is worshipping should appear to the tour groups. Really, I see absolutely no difficulties."
He scratched his nose. "Now, Mr. Addis will take over. He will inform you all about this year's tours."
While Mr. Kuno sat down, Mr. Addis stood up. He was a big man with broad shoulders and a silly grin that seemed to be frozen on his face. With a cheerful voice, he explained the travelling route to the assembled mages. He also reminded them that this year, the tourists main goal was to find special cues that point out the Dark Lord's weak point. He also told them the places where special events, like big battles or attacks of wild beasts, should happen. Some of the tourists are being marked as 'disposable', those shouldn't survive those encounters. Of course the tourists don't know about this. But some people payed Mr. Kuno's company for disposing of certain persons they prefer to be dead.
All the time, certain brochures and booklets appeared at the mage's seats, also at Ranma's. Those were instructions and rules they had to learn and follow. Ranma's head was spinning, he would never be able to remember all of this.
Some time during Mr. Addis' speech, Ami came down from the cellar. She was told to bring the barrel of wine when most of the beer was empty. Without saying a word, she carried it over to Mr. Kuno's chair, and put it down heavily. The red liquid inside splashed around and over the edges. Several splashes landed on the suits of the assistants and Mr. Kuno's face. The woman jumped up while crying: "Oh, Mr. Kuno! That's blood!"
Kuno didn't stand up. He just pulled out a tissue and wiped his face clean.
Genma walked over to Ami. "Ami..." he said quietly. "This is no wine..."
Ami looked down into the barrel, like she wanted to say: 'This is NO wine? How can THAT be?'
Genma sighed. He really didn't know what the blue griffin was thinking. "Go down and fetch the right barrel," he told her. Ami just nodded and carried the barrel of blood away.
"I'm sorry about that," Genma assured Mr. Kuno. "I apologize for my griffin daughter."
"Accepted," Mr. Kuno said. "But make sure that it doesn't happen again."
Ranma watched Ami as she entered the house and shook his head. What was wrong with her? Ami normally always thought carefully before acting... it wasn't like her to make such a mistake.
But... she was not the only griffin that acted strangely. Her sisters behaved like they were domesticated animals and never spoke a word. Could this be part of the plan Rei came up with?
After Mr. Addis was finished, he sat down and let his partner, Mr. Bennet, continue. Mr. Bennet almost looked like Addis' twin, but he had a really monotone voice that almost made Ranma fall asleep. He was explaining the financial details to the wizards. He gave them some sort of electronic device which he called a 'calculator'. With these, the mages could calculate the exact amount of money that Mr. Kuno had to pay additional helpers, like the servants of the Dark Lord, but also, how much money they owe to him.
Ranma was fascinated by this little device, when Ami came back with another barrel. And this time, it really contained wine. After putting it down, she came over to him, took a short look at the calculator and snatched it out of his grasp with her paw. "Okay, but give it back to me later," he shouted.
After Happosai was elected to be the Dark Lord's right hand (a really popular position), the meeting was almost over.
Everyone else was already getting ready to leave, even the assistants. But Mr. Kuno spoke up one last time: "Mr. Saotome, I have a suggestion: As payment for the ruined suit, why don't you let your wife play the role of the glamorous enchantress? I think this will make up for the damage.
Nodoka and Cologne exchanged a quick, satisfied look, as if they had conspired something. Genma was angry. He always was angry when his wife did something without telling him. He felt that they would drift apart even more.
Then Mr. Kuno got ready to leave. He gave the suitcase back to the woman and lead his assistants back to the car.
When he was approaching the front gate, Rei suddenly came swooping down from the skies and sat in his way.
"Get out of the way, creature," Mr. Kuno shouted. Rei didn't obey. She looked at him with a wild stare and crouched down, like she was getting ready to jump.
"I said, get out of my way," Kuno repeated. "If you don't, you'll be sorry!"
Suddenly, Rei pushed herself off the ground and flew above the heads of the assembled mages. She let out a shrill screech and landed on the roof.
Genma hurried to Mr. Kuno's side. "I'm terribly sorry," he said again and again. "Rei is only sixteen..."
"Know that you owe me a compensation of 100 gold pieces," Mr. Kuno said in a dangerous voice. "Have a nice day."
And then he left.
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(Posted Thu, 27 Jul 2006 20:01)
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