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ลำดับตอนที่ #4 : The Bizarre Bargain
Chapter 4 - The Bizarre Bargain
[Alex]
My once pristine home had morphed into a carnival of chaos. Strangers with grubby hands roamed freely, turning my sanctuary into a chaotic playground. If I had a tendency for heart palpitations, this would’ve been the grand finale.
Malus Malikos, the enigmatic party host responsible for this topsy-turvy soirée, made me an offer that was hard to turn down. Well, technically, I could refuse it, but with Malikos’s piercing eyes and the beefy hooded goons surrounding me, cooperation seemed oddly appealing.
“So, let me get this straight,” I said, trying to regain control of my house, my voice wavering like a seesaw on an emotional rollercoaster. “You want me to track down a fancy amulet that can control water and... life, or something like that?”
Malikos nodded, his smirk rivaling that of a villain auditioning for a B-movie role. “Exactly, Mr. Azklepioz. The Aquamendus Amulet. It’s been hiding from me for eons, and I think you’re the one to bring it back.”
It made the right choice, I thought. If I were the amulet and my self-proclaimed owner was someone who looked like a maniac trying to be polite while invading other people’s home freely without removing shoes and making a mess, I would’ve run away as fast as I could. Who wouldn’t?
I couldn’t resist raising an eyebrow. “And what’s in it for me?”
Malikos’s grin expanded like he’d just won an evil genius contest. “Answers, Mr. Azklepioz. Answers to all the questions that have been plaguing your mind. Who am I? What is this amulet? Why is your life suddenly a whirlwind of weirdness? All will be revealed.”
I should’ve questioned the allure of these answers, but curiosity had me in a headlock. “Alright, fine. I’ll help you find your amulet. But I’ve got conditions.” My plan was to be as ridiculously annoying as possible.
Malikos leaned in, clearly amused by my audacity. “Oh, do tell, Mr. Azklepioz.”
I smirked back. “First, I need a daily supply of nutritious meals. No fast-food nonsense. I need my protein, rainbows, and vitamins.”
Malikos exchanged glances with his puzzled goons, probably wondering why his latest recruit had dietary demands. I believed some of them probably thought rainbows were a new superfood. “Very well, Mr. Azklepioz, you shall dine like royalty.”
I wasn’t finished. “Second, I need access to a gym or some workout equipment. My physique mustn’t suffer during this... adventure.”
Malikos chuckled, thoroughly amused by my priorities. “Agreed, you shall have your exercise. Anything else?”
I took a dramatic pause, as if announcing the most critical condition. “Lastly, I need your solemn promise that my house will be returned to its natural pristine state when I return. No more chaotic parties, deal?”
Malikos nodded with a twinkle of mock sincerity. “Your humble abode shall be restored to its former glory, Mr. Azklepioz.”
Liar, I thought, positively convinced that he wouldn’t clean my house. Anyway, I could restore my house to its former pristine glory later as long as they won’t return to make a mess. I thought about setting up some traps for potential house-wreckers in the future. But, that’s another story.
With the terms of our peculiar pact ironed out, Malikos instructed me to close my eyes and journey back to that fateful moment when the Chapter of Scorpio decided to throw a cosmic party in my head.
Then, I sensed it. An unfamiliar, almost serene voice began to whisper in the depths of my mind. It was as if the water itself had decided to join in on this strange conversation.
“In Southern waves, a relic hides,
An ancient place in Neptune’s tides.
Rottnest’s embrace, a trio tomb,
Misguided moves shall spell your doom.”
Riddles. Who needs straightforward answers when you can have a cryptic treasure hunt?Fantastic, just what I needed, I thought, my inner sarcasm performing a standing ovation.
As I mulled over whether to divulge the entire riddle to Malikos or just feed him the appetizer version, considering the mess he’d made of my house. Maybe withholding a few lines was my silent revenge?
After a protracted mental debate involving the pros and cons of bargaining with mysterious amulet hunters, I decided to throw Malikos a bone, or in this case, the first half of the riddle.
He responded with a sly grin, an expression that could make Medusa blush. He swiftly dialed a number on his phone, gloves still covering his hands. I guessed he must’ve mastered the art of using smartphones while wearing gloves. After a brief conversation, turned to me with an unsettling promise, “We shall see, Mr. Azklepioz.”
A chill slithered down my spine, leaving me to ponder whether I’d played my cards right or set myself up for an even weirder twist in this unfolding tale.
Malikos signaled his goons to escort me out of my own house. As they tied my hands and silenced my chatter, I focused on a single thought – how to stage a heroic escape.
I soon found myself crammed inside a grimy SUV. I was enveloped in the scent of last week’s leftovers mingling with the unmistakable aroma of leather and sweaty socks. Imagine being tied up and squished in a car trunk infused with the fragrance of Eau de Pollution. Truly, a sensory overload.
The SUV came to a halt in an open field. Then, I was unceremoniously transferred onto a jet. I couldn’t hide my itching concern over the carbon footprint of this escapade – a Jurassic-era SUV followed by a jet plane? A two-act play of environmental recklessness.
As it turned out, this flight was courtesy of Malikos’s personal jet. They wasted no time untying me, and the cabin crew? More hooded figures. It was like being trapped in the world’s oddest secret society meeting.
Surprisingly, the journey was comfortable, despite the environmental travesty unfolding outside the window. And, much to my surprise, they were able to provide me with nutritious meals. I savored grilled chicken, steamed broccoli, and a quinoa salad – a culinary oasis in this bizarre adventure. I even managed to sneak in a few push-ups and sit-ups, garnering a mix of admiration and bafflement from the crew.
Hours elapsed, and it became clear that my life had taken an absurd twist. I’d gone from a nutritionist to an amulet hunter. Who would’ve guessed?
As we started our descent, a cocktail of anxiety and curiosity swirled within me. What awaited me in Australia? Wait, I got a better one: how did Malikos know it was in Australia? Answers were as scarce as unicorns on city streets.
One thing was for sure – I was buckled in for a wild roller coaster, and my amusement park adventure had only just begun.
And so, with the absurdity of it all washing over me, I thought, I sure hope this amulet thing is worth the chaos.
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