I had no intention of being part of the scam, so I decided to walk away. However, the female who walked up to me had no intention of letting me go.

She reached out to grab my wrist, and that was in no way as romantic as movies made it out to be.

"M-Miss…"

I asked, masking the concern and panic that threatened to overtake my voice. I tried to tug my hand out of her grip, but she was holding on too tight.

And there was one more reason I could not walk away, and that was because I was not physically able to.

I had heard many people tell me that they felt weak in front of a beautiful woman…and others tell me that they felt weak in front of women in general…but that was not what was happening to me.

When I said I was not able to move, I meant that the woman was too strong for me to break her grip. How her small frame had that much strength, I had no idea.

The only thing my brain could think of was that her power came from a supernatural source, but…then I had even more of a reason to not get involved.

"T-That magical device…you have masked its presence as well. Don't you want to bask in its glory even more? If you come with us, you will get to do just that."

The female told me, and now she was beginning to sound more and more like a psychotic criminal.

My experience as a professional told me that she was at a point where it was impossible to treat her condition by normal means.

So the best course of action for someone like me was simple.

"Miss, I'm sorry, but I just don't feel the same way you do. Now, if you would excuse me, I need to head back."

I told her, and her grip lightened in shock.

"You don't…feel the same way…? Then you are our enemy. You better watch your back."

The female told me before she walked away. Her parting words sounded like a threat and a promise at the same time.

"I better head back quickly. These streets suddenly don't feel safe to me."

I told myself as I headed back to my bookstore. I felt a sigh of relief as soon as I entered, and all the tension that my frame contained suddenly melted away.

Awooo

Fenrir rubbed himself against my legs to give me support, and I picked up the puppy to take him back inside and get started on dinner.

I was out like a light as soon as my head hit the pillow, and once again, the morning sun woke me up.

My morning routine was the same, but my first customer arrived far too early in the morning. And she was also not someone I expected to see this soon.

"Shopkeeper, have you heard what happened-! That m-magical machine at the station that told the future…it got stolen by someone. W-What do you think would happen now?"

The customer…rather, the intruder was the gossiping neighbor who often came around to tell me about stuff.

Even now, her steps had a bounce to them as she spoke about the theft that had been made.

I blinked as it took some time for me to come to terms with what I had just heard, and my heart skipped a beat in fright.

"Excuse me, but what did you say? Can you please repeat it once more for me?"

I asked the excited female as she bounced around. She needed no further prompt to speak up.

"I just heard about this, so I am not sure how true it is. But someone I know heard the station police talking about the loud noises they heard last night, but due to a sudden emergency, they could not check out what was happening. And when they finally got done with their emergency and went to check on what happened—boom! The magical machine was no longer there."

The animated female spoke with her whole frame. Her plump form gave her words even more volume somehow.

But all I could focus on were her words.

"That machine…got stolen?"

I asked, and the female in front of me nodded.

"Yup! Stolen, as in gone, never to be seen again most likely. I wonder what will happen next. Aren't you surprised, shopkeeper? Honestly, I am shocked that it took this long."

The female kept speaking, but most of her words went in through one ear and out through another.

I had a feeling that I was supposed to feel shocked by this news, but all I felt was a mild…discomfort.

The panic I waited for to come never came. Instead, I had a feeling that I would see that machine soon enough.

"-Anyway, shopkeeper, I have spent too much time here. I should get going now. I will see you soon."

The female told me before she rushed to leave. I only watched her back as she disappeared out of my door.

I took out my phone to recheck the instructions on the shop regarding the claw machine, and the clause that told me that the machine won't remain stolen for long looked back at me.

And then, I went back to work with a calm mind. I did not want to think too much about this topic.

Evening came, and I chose not to head to the train station today. I also had enough food to get me by for today and tomorrow.

I spent some time with Fenrir, unaware of the chaos that had occurred because of the claw machine…not that it was my mess to clean up anymore.

__________

Somewhere in the middle of an abandoned warehouse, the people gathered around the stolen machine they had risked their lives for.

"Finally, we have the magical tool that would help us grow and take over the world. The lord has heard our pleas. Now, we shall try it out."

The female who spoke was the same one that had grabbed Cyrus's arm and tried to drag him to this cult.

She was one of the most avid believers of this…gathering (which was a cult in all but name), and she headed toward the claw machine.

The cheerful and colorful menu looked back at her, and she nervously reached for it.

All her life had been lived for this very moment—to know her destiny and to serve the source of power in front of her.

"My Lord, please tell me what the future holds for us. We have rescued you from the clutches of evil, to be used by those unworthy of your favor. Please…guide us toward the future that we desire…"

She spoke as she put her hand on the dial, and the machine spun to give her a capsule with a paper inside.

The female opened the capsule, and with a nervous look on her face, she opened the paper.

But the words that looked back at her were not ones she ever expected to see.

[Put me back where you got me from, or you all shall suffer the consequences.]

_________

Drop Power Stones Please

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